Israel strikes Iranian state TV in new attack on Tehran – DW – 06/16/2025

An Israeli strike on northwest Tehran on Monday killed three rescuers of the Iranian Red Crescent, the organization said.

The three workers were helping the wounded in the capital’s Shahid Bagheri district at the time of the attack, the Iranian Red Crescent said.

“This incident is not only a crime against international humanitarian law but also a blatant attack on humanity and morality,” the organization said.

Israeli defense industry exhibitions have been covered in black partition walls at the prestigious Paris Air Show, after reportedly failing to comply with a directive to remove offensive weapons from being displayed.

The incident comes as Israel trades deadly airstrikes with Iran and almost two years into its campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 55,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.

Read more about the Paris Air Show and Israel’s response to the French move here.

Iran has launched a new wave of combined drone and missile operations at Israel, Iran’s state TV announced on Monday evening.

“A new salvo of missiles” was headed for Israel, state TV reported. It added that the attacks are targeting Tel Aviv and Haifa.

Iran has issued evacuation warnings for two Israeli news channels, Iran’s state TV reported, hours after Israel attacked the state broadcaster’s building.

“Iran has issued an evacuation warning for the N12 and N14 channels of Israel,” state TV said, adding that the order was in response to the Israeli attack on Iran’s broadcasting service.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, addressed US President Donald Trump on Monday, saying it would take “one phone call from Washington” to make the fighting stop.

“If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential,” Araghchi said on X. “Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue.”

He also warned the US against “getting … mired” in the conflict, saying this will “destroy any prospect for a negotiated solution, with dangerous, unpredictable and likely UNFATHOMABLE consequences for regional security and the global economy.”

“Let us not forget: Iran did NOT begin this war and has no interest in perpetuating bloodshed. But we will proudly fight to the last drop of blood to protect our land, our people, our dignity and our achievements,” the Iranian foreign minister added.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a news conference Monday evening that, although Israel is not attempting to topple Iran’s regime, he wouldn’t be surprised if it happened.

“We are changing the face of the Middle East,” he said.

He added that Israel was eliminating Iran’s military leadership “one after the other.”

“The regime is very weak,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu said Israel had been “well-coordinated” with the United States since the start of the campaign against Iran. He added that he is in daily contact with US President Donald Trump.

He also said Israel’s strikes had set back Iran’s nuclear program “a very long time.” Netanyahu did not share details to back up the claim.

The Israel Defense Forces on Monday evening issued an alert for northern Israel on X.

The post read “sirens sounding across northern Israel following another barrage of Iranian missiles.”

After Israel launched a new round of strikes on Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would “pummel” Israel until attacks stopped.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that it would organizing flights for nationals to leave Israel via Jordan as hostilities between Israel and Iran escalate.

The ministry said a charter flight was being organized from Jordan’s capital, Amman, to Frankfurt on Wednesday.

Germans departing Israel would need to organize their own transport to Jordan, the ministry said. Israeli airspace is currently closed.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Monday that Germany, France and the United Kingdom are keen to resume nuclear talks with Iran.

The three countries, known as the “E3,” have held four meetings with Iranian delegations in recent months on Iran’s nuclear program. The United States also held parallel negotiations.

Iran insists that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says Iran is enriching uranium far beyond what is needed for civilian use.

On June 12, the IAEA adopted a resolution condemning Iran’s “non-compliance” with its nuclear obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Iran faces the possibility of sanctions.

“We will once again make our clear position explicit there that we can only achieve a contractual settlement and avoid further military conflicts if Iran is fully prepared to refrain from using nuclear technology for military purposes,” Wadephul said during a stopover in Cyprus after a multi-day visit to the Middle East.

After Israel’s attack on Iran on Friday, which included nuclear sites, Tehran canceled a planned continuation of talks.

US President Donald Trump addressed the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran on the sidelines of the G7 summit.

Trump said Iran wants to talk about deescalation and should negotiate with Israel “before it’s too late.” 

“I’d say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately,”  Trump told reporters at the start of a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Iran’s state broadcaster in Tehran was hit by an Israeli strike Monday evening.  

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement after the strike that “the propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority of the Iranian regime was attacked” by Israeli forces.”

A video clip from the IRIB broadcaster showed a live broadcast interrupted by loud explosions. The broadcast resumed after a short pause. 

There was no immediate information provided about casualties or damage. 

Earlier Monday, Katz had issued a cryptic statement that Iran’s state television and radio were “about to disappear.” 

He made the statement after an evacuation warning was issued for a district in northern Tehran where the broadcaster is based.

“We don’t have access to a shelter. There are no shelters in the whole city. I don’t think there are any places people can go to in an emergency,” one Tehran resident said.

Mehdi Chamran, spokesperson for Tehran’s City Council, suggested that residents should also consider sheltering in underground parking garages. Iranian officials say schools and mosques are being used as makeshift shelters.

Read the full story here. 

Israel’s military urged residents of a district in northern Tehran to evacuate “immediately” on Monday evening, saying it intended to carry out airstrikes. 

“In the coming hours, the (Israeli military) will operate in the area, as it has in recent days throughout Tehran, to strike military infrastructure of the Iranian regime,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a post on X in Persian.

The post showed a part of Tehran’s District 3 on a map.  The area is known as an upmarket part of Tehran home to at least four hospitals and medical centers, a major police building and state broadcaster IRIB.

Shortly thereafter, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said residents of Tel Aviv should evacuate, Iranian state media reported. 

At least 20 Palestinians were killed in shootings at food distribution centers in southern Gaza, the Health Ministry reported on Monday.

According to the Health Ministry, the people killed were trying to reach the US- and Israel-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Gaza’s civil defense agency reports that dozens of Palestinians have been killed while trying to reach aid distribution points operated by GHF. The United Nations does not work with the foundation, which it considers ineffective and aimed at catering to Israeli military objectives.

There have been near-daily reports of shootings as Palestinians move through Israeli-controlled areas toward GHF food aid centers in Gaza.

There was no immediate comment from Israel on Monday’s incident. In previous incidents, the Israeli military has said it has fired warning shots at people approaching their positions.

Israel restricts media access to the Gaza strip, meaning that news agencies are unable to independently verify death tolls.

The UN’s OCHA humanitarian agency has warned that Gaza’s entire population of 2 million is at risk of famine. Israel is under international pressure to allow more aid to reach Gazans.

Since Israel resumed strikes on Gaza in March, more than 5,000 people have been reported killed. Israel also cut off aid entering Gaza for two months, saying supplies were aiding Hamas militants who continue to control the enclave.

More than 55,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the October 7 Hamas terror attacks that preceded the war with Israel.

Transport Minister Miri Regev said Israel planned to gradually secure the return of the about 100,000 citizens who are stuck abroad following the closure of the country’s airspace.

Regev said leaving Israel would not be possible for nationals who live within the country for the time being.

Only tourists, diplomats and participants of various exchange programs will be allowed to depart to their home countries.