Iran, Israel trade strikes after US airstrikes

KABUL (Pajhwok): Iran and Israel exchanged missile and air strikes on Monday as global concern mounted over Tehran’s potential retaliation following a major US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, media reports said.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump floated the notion of regime change in the Islamic Republic.

Iran vowed to defend itself on Sunday, a day after the US joined Israel in launching the largest Western military operation against the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The strikes occurred despite international appeals for restraint and a renewed commitment to diplomacy, according to Reuters.

Commercial satellite imagery suggested that the US attack on Saturday caused significant damage—possibly destroying the underground Fordow nuclear facility and the uranium-enriching centrifuges it housed.

However, experts have yet to confirm the full extent of the damage.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump boasted of the operation’s success, claiming: “Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran. The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!”

He warned Iran against retaliating, stating that any response would prompt “far greater and a lot easier” future attacks. “The government must now make peace,” Trump added.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that there had been no increase in off-site radiation levels following the US strikes.

Director General Rafael Grossi told CNN it was not yet possible to fully assess the underground damage.

A senior Iranian source told Reuters that much of the highly enriched uranium previously stored at Fordow had been relocated before the assault.

Tehran, which maintains that its nuclear programme is purely peaceful, retaliated by launching a barrage of missiles at Israel, injuring dozens and damaging buildings in Tel Aviv.

However, it has yet to act on its key threats—namely, attacking US bases or closing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route.

Oil prices surged to their highest levels since January. As of 11:22 GMT on Monday, Brent crude futures rose by $1.88 (2.44%) to $78.89 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude increased by $1.87 (2.53%) to $75.71.

Iran’s parliament has approved a measure to close the strait, which it shares with Oman and the United Arab Emirates. However, implementation requires approval from the Supreme National Security Council, which is overseen by an appointee of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

US Defence officials confirmed that additional protective measures had been taken for American forces in the region, including those stationed in Iraq and Syria.

The US State Department has issued a global security alert urging American citizens to “exercise increased caution.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on China to encourage Iran from blocking the strait, warning in an interview on Fox News that doing so would be “economic suicide” for Tehran. “We retain options to deal with that,” he said, “but it would hurt other countries’ economies much worse than ours.”

Early Monday, the Israeli military reported intercepting missiles launched from Iran. Air raid sirens sounded across Tel Aviv and other central regions.

Iranian state media reported that air defences had been activated in central districts of Tehran to counter incoming threats. Israeli airstrikes reportedly hit Parchin, a military site southeast of the capital.

On Sunday, Trump reignited discussions of regime change in Tehran, posting: “It’s not politically correct to use the term ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a regime change??? MIGA!!!”

His comments contrasted with reassurances from administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who stated that Washington was not pursuing the overthrow of Iran’s government.

As Tehran weighs its next steps, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. While Russia has a strategic alliance with Iran, it also maintains strong relations with Israel.

Speaking in Istanbul on Sunday, Araqchi insisted Iran would not return to diplomatic negotiations until it had fully retaliated. “All possible responses are on the table,” he said.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the US strikes, stating they undermined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Moscow also warned of a broader regional conflict.

The United Nations Security Council convened on Sunday to discuss the escalation. Russia, China, and Pakistan proposed a resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the US attacks as a dangerous escalation and urged all parties to resume talks regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.

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