Russia and China express concern over Israeli strikes on Iran

Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts announced the closure of all museums, historical buildings, and heritage sites across the country until further notice, following Israeli airstrikes.

Ali Darabi, the deputy minister and head of the cultural heritage division, said Friday the closures are a precautionary measure “to protect public safety under the current wartime and emergency conditions.”

He also instructed custodians to follow crisis protocols and begin transferring artifacts to secure storage facilities. Security units have been placed on full alert to protect cultural and historical properties.

Israel’s killing of Iranian military and scientific personnel showed its "desperation" and would bring a strong response, Lotfollah Dezhkam, the representative of the Supreme Leader in Fars Province, said on Friday.

In remarks carried by Iranian media, Dezhkam described the airstrikes as "cowardly" and said they signaled the eventual end of Israel’s presence in the region. “Israel must know it will never realize its dream of staying in the region,” he said. “Its end is near.”

He added that those killed in the attacks had long aspired to martyrdom and their deaths would only strengthen public resolve: “If the enemies think by targeting a few prominent individuals the people will retreat from the path of resistance, they are gravely mistaken.”

Calling on the public to remain disciplined, Dezhkam emphasized that all action must follow the guidance of Iran’s Supreme Leader. He warned against any uncoordinated retaliation but affirmed readiness for “any necessary steps” in what he referred to as the “arena of resistance.”

Dezhkam concluded by expressing hope for what he called a "great victory" and said Iran would respond more forcefully than in the past.

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said on Friday that the Israeli strikes damaged parts of the Natanz enrichment facility, but initial assessments indicated no casualties among site personnel and no radiation or chemical leaks beyond the complex.

In a statement, the organization said several military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians were killed in what it described as an unlawful attack that violated international norms.

“The damage at the Shahid Ahmadi Roshan enrichment complex is still being assessed,” the statement read, referring to the Natanz site. “So far, there have been no reports of casualties among staff or any radiation or chemical contamination spreading outside the facility.”

The agency said it had repeatedly warned the IAEA about Israeli threats targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, and criticized the agency’s director-general for what it called silence even after the attack.

“The agency, by ignoring these threats and relying on politically motivated reports based on false information, has lost credibility and risks becoming an instrument of Israeli policy,” the statement said.

The Atomic Energy Organization added that political and now military pressure would not deter Iran’s nuclear scientists from pursuing the country’s nuclear goals.

Iran’s exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, accused Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei of dragging the country into a war that does not reflect the will of the Iranian people, calling the current conflict "Khamenei’s war, not Iran’s."

In a statement shared online, Pahlavi appealed directly to Iran’s military, police, and intelligence personnel, urging them to "separate yourselves from this corrupt and incompetent leadership" and "join the people." He said that the Islamic Republic's leadership “values neither your lives nor the future of Iran.”

Pahlavi characterized the country’s broader crisis as a struggle between the Iranian nation and the ruling system. “The solution is the overthrow of the Islamic Republic through street protests and nationwide strikes,” he said.

Concluding his message, Pahlavi said he stood with Iranians “in these difficult moments” and voiced optimism that “together we will prevail.”

Iran has formally requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council in response to Israeli airstrikes on its territory, according to a letter sent by Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Saeed Iravani.

In the letter, Iran condemned the attacks, which it said were carried out with US support and targeted both peaceful nuclear facilities and senior military officials.

The ambassador described the strikes as “deliberate, unlawful, and premeditated,” saying they violated international law and posed a serious threat to regional and global security.

One of the principal targets, according to the letter, was the Natanz enrichment site, which Iran emphasized is under IAEA safeguards.