Iran’s interim defense minister, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, has been killed in an Israeli-US airstrike, according to sources within Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. This incident comes two days after the previous defense minister, Amir Hatami, was killed in a separate airstrike.
The Israeli military claims that the target was a high-ranking Iranian commander, and that the strike was aimed at a military facility. However, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Saeed Khatibzadeh, has stated that the US and Israel have launched an “unlawful war” against Iran, and that the Iranian government has not initiated any military action.
According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, 153 Iranian cities were targeted in the US-Israeli airstrikes, with over 1,000 attacks carried out on locations across the country. The society also reported that 787 people have been killed in the attacks.
US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, stated that it may take time to assess the damage, but that the operation against Iran is “complex, dangerous, and far from over.” He also claimed that Iran’s nuclear negotiations were not the objective of the operation.
The Israeli military has reported that the strike was carried out during a 10th strike sortie, with guidance from military intelligence and Mossad. However, the Iranian government has denied any involvement in nuclear negotiations.
According to a report by the New York Times, Iranian intelligence officials have expressed willingness to engage in talks with the CIA to end the war.
Meanwhile, the Emirati Ministry of Defense has reported that its air defenses have destroyed 121 drones, with 8 of them crashing in the country’s territory. The International Atomic Energy Agency has stated that there has been no damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has called for a moment of silence, with the exact timing to be announced later due to administrative issues.
US President Donald Trump has stated that Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup would not be a concern for him. The Iranian government has not commented on the statement.
A Sri Lankan defense source has confirmed that the Iranian warship, Aries Dana, was attacked in the region. The incident has sparked fear and panic in the area, with a Turkish town reporting that a missile fragment had crashed into the town, causing a fire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to target any successor to Khamenei, stating that the war would not bring about a fair international order or increase salaries.
