June 16, 2025: The death toll is rising fast—224 reported dead in Iran and 14 in Israel, with over 1,200 hospitalized in Tehran alone. Panic has gripped the Iranian capital as air raid sirens wail, prompting thousands to flee.
Amid the chaos, a shocking revelation surfaced via CNN: Israeli intelligence reportedly floated an assassination plot targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, which was allegedly blocked by former US President Donald Trump. Both Netanyahu and his officials have denied such a plan existed.
In a social media post on Truth Social, Trump expressed hope for peace, declaring:
“We will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran! I do a lot, and never get credit… but that’s OK. The PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!” He also claimed “many calls and meetings” were underway behind the scenes to cool tensions.
Meanwhile, the diplomatic fallout deepened after Iran activated its third nuclear enrichment facility, triggering Israel’s latest attack, which Netanyahu said targeted “the heart of Iran’s ballistic missile program.” The IAEA had just issued its first formal rebuke to Tehran in 20 years, adding fuel to the fire.
In a further ripple effect, global air travel to the Middle East is in crisis. More than 20 international airlines have cancelled or suspended flights to destinations like Tel Aviv, Tehran, Amman, and Beirut. These include Lufthansa, Air France, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Delta, Ryanair, and Turkish Airlines, among others. Cancellations are expected to last into late July or even August, leaving thousands of travelers stranded or rerouted.
Key Airline Cancellations:
- Lufthansa: Flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran suspended till July 31
- Ryanair: No Tel Aviv flights until August 31
- Air France, Emirates, Air India: Flights suspended until further notice
- Delta, Qatar Airways, Etihad, ITA Airways: Widespread cancellations
- Wizz Air, Flydubai, Israir: Suspensions till late June
The cancellation of US-Iran nuclear talks, previously set for Sunday in Oman, further darkens hopes for diplomatic resolution. With global leaders calling for restraint, the region stands on the edge of full-scale war as military operations intensify and the world watches anxiously.