Iran to open gates of hell on Israel, new Revolutionary Guard chief vows

A United Nations-backed conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia to advance a roadmap toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians has been postponed following Israel's military strikes on Iran, Reuters reported on Friday.

A Western diplomatic source in Riyadh said the decision was partly due to the escalating conflict. "The Saudi-French conference is being postponed, in part because of the attacks on Iran," the source said.

A second source familiar said some delegations from the Middle East would not or could not come due to developments.

Some Iranians expressed gratitude to Israel for assassinating military and political military officials they viewed with contempt in video and voice messages sent to Iran International TV.

“I wanted to thank Israel and Uncle Netanyahu for what they did last night and to tell Iran: You are nothing. (You say you are) a power in the region, but three of your top commanders were killed in a single attack,” a viewer said in his message.

“I want people to get out [on the streets to protest] and be united with each other and to topple this blood thirsty government,” she added.

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Iranian media reported on Friday that Davoud Sheikhiyan, a senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force’s air defense unit, was killed in Israeli strikes on Iran.

Sheikhiyan is believed to have played a key role in Iran’s air defense operations within the IRGC’s Aerospace Division, which oversees missile and drone capabilities.

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The European Union on Friday voiced grave concern over rising tensions in the Middle East following Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran’s military response, calling for restraint and a return to diplomacy.

Speaking at the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna, the EU said it remains committed to ensuring Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons and reaffirmed support for a negotiated solution.

"The European Union expresses serious concern about the risk of a spiral of violence in the Middle East," the EU delegation said. "It remains a key security priority for the EU to ensure through diplomatic means that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon."

“We urge all parties to abide by international law, show restraint, and avoid targeting of civilians and any steps which could lead to serious consequences such as potential radioactive release.”

Iran's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Swiss ambassador to Tehran -whose country represents Washington's interests in Iran - to warn the US military against providing any support to Israel, including assistance in countering Iran's retaliatory attack.

"Iran warned against any US military support for the Zionist regime, including efforts to obstruct Iran's legitimate right to self-defense, and emphasized that such acts of aggression by the Zionist regime against Iran could not have taken place without US cooperation, coordination, or at the very least, a green light," the Foreign Ministry said.

The Swiss envoy was also told that "the United States must be held accountable for its unlawful conduct in this matter."