A senior Iranian diplomat has revealed that Iran’s military and political leadership are willing to abandon uranium enrichment in order to preserve the regime, amid growing fears that the ongoing war with Israel could spell the end of the ayatollah’s regime. Speaking to IranWire on condition of anonymity, the diplomat—who previously served in the Islamic Republic’s intelligence services—said bluntly: “The real priority of the Supreme Leader and our government is survival.

In a dramatic move, the U.S. Air Force has deployed over 30 KC-135 and KC-46 aerial tankers across the Atlantic from bases in the United States, sparking widespread speculation about their role in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. The unprecedented mass deployment, reported late on June 15, has raised questions about whether the tankers are intended to support Israeli Air Force (IAF) operations or prepare for deeper U.S. involvement in the war. According to reports, tankers from multiple Western countries are already assisting the IAF with aerial refueling to enable strikes on Iranian targets. The newly deployed U.S.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was evacuated to an underground bunker in northeastern Tehran just hours after Israeli airstrikes began Friday, according to a report by Iran International citing two sources inside the country. Khamenei, along with his family, reportedly took shelter in the heavily fortified Lavizan complex — the same location he retreated to during previous escalations in April and October 2024, when Iran launched missile attacks on Israel. The revelation comes amid explosive claims that Israeli forces had an opportunity to assassinate the Supreme Leader during the opening phase of the current operation but refrained — reportedly due to pressure from the United States. Axios, citing U.S.

The war with Iran is expected to last weeks rather than days, according to US and Israeli officials, CNN reported on Sunday. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Israelis are stranded abroad after Israel closed its airspace following the launch of the IDF attack on Iran overnight Thursday. Israel’s Airports Authority on Sunday warned citizens overseas to avoid traveling to regional hubs such as Athens or Larnaca in hopes of catching a flight home. “There is no recommendation for Israelis abroad to travel to Larnaca or Athens at this stage,” the authority said in a statement. “Even once flights resume, operations will be limited to minimize risks and ensure safety.

At least 14 Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed in a series of Israeli attacks since Friday, including car bombings, according to two sources in the Persian Gulf. The IDF released the names of nine of the scientists on Saturday, identifying them as key figures in Iran’s nuclear program and successors to Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a prominent scientist widely regarded as the “father of the Iranian nuclear project,” who was assassinated by Israel in 2020. The IDF said that the eliminations were part of a meticulously planned operation, supported by extensive intelligence gathered over several years.

Pipelines and transmission infrastructure at Israel’s largest oil refinery in Haifa were damaged in the Iranian missile attack on northern Israel late Motzei Shabos, the BAZAN group oil refinery company reported to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange on Sunday morning. B’Chasdei Hashem, there are no reports of casualties in the attack. Bazan stated that despite the damage, the oil refining units are still operating. However, several other facilities at the site are currently shut down due to the damage they sustained. During the barrage of about 40 missiles on the Haifa area, one scored a direct hit on a three-level home in the nearby Arab city of Tamra, killing four women in the same family. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot announced on Sunday morning that several buildings on the campus were damaged in the missile attack from Iran in the early morning hours. Baruch Hashem, no one was injured in the attack. “There were multiple direct hits on buildings within the campus,” the statement said. “Thankfully, there were no casualties. We are in contact with the relevant security and emergency authorities and are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our staff and campus.” The New York Times obtained images of the damage and reported that at least one of the institute’s laboratory buildings was hit and erupted into flames. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. had “nothing to do with” Israel’s attack against Iran Sunday morning, warning that any attack against the U.S. will be met with the “full strength and might” of the U.S. military. “The U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,” he continued. “However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel has “paved the way to Tehran,” as the IDF continued to bombard Iranian military and nuclear targets in and around the Iranian capital. The ongoing campaign, now entering its third day, marks the most direct and sustained Israeli assault on Iranian territory in history. “This is just the beginning,” Netanyahu said in a video statement released Motzei Shabbos.

Two of the three victims killed by the Iranian missile attacks on Shabbos were identified as Yisrael Aloni, H’yd, and Etti Cohen Engel, H’yd, A siren had sounded before the attack, but a glitch in the IDF’s alert system resulted in no prior warnings from the Home Front Command before the barrages in Ramat Gan and Rishon L’Tzion. All three victims were not in protected spaces when they were fatally injured. The IDF said that the deaths could have been avoided since there were protected spaces near those killed. “If they had entered the shelter, nothing would have happened,” officials said.