Israel Strikes Isfahan Nuclear Site Again as Iran’s Death Toll Surpasses 400
Israel Strikes Isfahan Nuclear Site Again as Iran's Death Toll Surpasses 400
Tensions soar as explosions rock Ahvaz, internet blackouts hit Iran, and Tehran warns U.S. against intervention
June 21, 2025 | The escalating conflict between Israel and Iran entered a critical second week on Saturday, with the Israeli military launching another targeted strike at Iran’s nuclear research facility in Isfahan. The overnight air raid killed three senior Iranian commanders, marking a new peak in hostilities and prompting fears of wider regional fallout.
Plumes of smoke rose near the mountain regions of Isfahan, as local officials confirmed the Israeli attack came in two successive waves, directly hitting sensitive nuclear infrastructure. These developments follow unfruitful nuclear de-escalation talks between Iranian diplomats and European leaders in Geneva on Friday.
Ayatollah Khamenei Shortlists Successors Amid Assassination Threats Facing repeated Israeli strikes, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has named three senior clerics as potential successors. The move comes after multiple top military officials were killed, with Khamenei’s son Mojtaba reportedly excluded from the list.
Powerful Blasts Reported in Ahvaz In addition to the Isfahan strike, Israeli fighter jets targeted military infrastructure in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran, triggering loud explosions. Simultaneously, an Iranian drone hit a residential building in northern Israel, Israeli rescue services confirmed.
Iran Rejects Nuclear Talks, Rules Out Zero Enrichment A senior Iranian official called European proposals “unrealistic,” making clear that Tehran will not negotiate under threat nor halt uranium enrichment. Iran’s missile program and “defensive capabilities,” the official added, are non-negotiable.
France’s Macron Warns Iran Against Nuclear Weapons French President Emmanuel Macron urged his Iranian counterpart to provide clear guarantees of peaceful intentions, reiterating that “Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons.” He pledged to accelerate negotiations alongside EU partners.
Internet Blackouts Deepen Civilian Isolation in Iran Access advocacy group NetBlocks reported widespread internet outages, with Tasnim News quoting Iran’s IT minister promising partial restoration by 8 PM local time. Internet shutdowns have intensified since Israeli air raids began.
Trump Signals Possible U.S. Military Involvement U.S. President Donald Trump declared he would make a final decision on American involvement “within the next two weeks.” Iran warned that U.S. entry into the war would be “very, very dangerous for everyone.”
IAEA Chief Threatened by Iran A senior advisor to Khamenei said UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi would “pay” after the war ends, accusing him of fueling the Israeli assault with misleading statements. Grossi had warned the UN that Iran has material for a bomb, but no current intention to build one.
Iranian Death Toll Crosses 400 Iran’s health ministry confirmed over 400 fatalities and 3,056 injuries since Israel began its offensive. U.S.-based rights groups suggest a higher toll of 657 dead, including 263 civilians.
Iran Arrests 22 Alleged Israeli Spies, German National Iranian police arrested 22 individuals in Qom allegedly linked to Israeli intelligence, alongside a European national. For the first time, Iran acknowledged detaining a German cyclist on suspicion of espionage.
