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A fire was burning near an oil refinery in the northern Israeli city of Haifa following an Iranian missile attack, the BBC reported citing a video it said it had verified.
“Shameful: Israel targets peaceful nuclear facilities, bombs homes and kills Iranians in cold blood in blatant violation of international law,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei wrote on X on Saturday.
"Yet #Macron chooses *now* to spin Iran's nuclear program.The hypocrisy is staggering," he added, referring to French President Emannuel Macron.
Israel continued its expansive military campaign against Iran on Saturday, striking energy and military infrastructure across the country, while Iran launched another salvo of missiles into Israeli territory.
The latest exchanges have raised fears of further escalation and devastation, as both sides harden their rhetoric and show no signs of backing down.
Here's a brief summary of the main developments so far.
Israel escalates with oil strikes as death toll surpasses 200
- Israel struck Tehran refinery at Rey, Shahran oil depot, and a facility in Tabriz, intensifying its campaign.
- Strikes also targeted Tehran’s defense ministry and a military base in Kermanshah.
- Rights group HRANA reported 215 killed and nearly 700 injured, most of them civilians.
- The Israeli military said it has hit 150 targets across Iran since Friday.
Iran hits Haifa, Tel Aviv in fresh missile salvo
- Iran has launched over 200 missiles since Friday, with a new wave early Sunday targeting Haifa and Tel Aviv among others.
- Twelve people were killed and at least 385 injured in Israel by Iranian strikes early Sunday local time - with around 35 reported missing.
- Tehran warned the US, UK, and France that any military support for Israel could trigger retaliatory strikes on regional bases and naval assets.
Civilian toll mounts
- HRANA reports 215 deaths in Iran, with over 50 military personnel among them.
- Nearly 700 Iranians have been injured, most civilians.
- About 385 israelis have been injured, most civilians.
Global leaders pleas for calm
- The UK, France, and Pope Leo XIV urged restraint and de-escalation.
- EU officials warned of a “spiral of violence” and emphasized preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
- IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the Natanz site’s enrichment areas were among those destroyed.
- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said President Trump still hopes for “a path to peace.”
Israel claims hits on nuclear and military sites
- The IAEA confirmed extensive above-ground damage at Natanz but said Fordow and Khondab were unharmed.
- Israel said it destroyed missile launch systems at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport and hit radar and command centers.
- Targets included underground storage sites and active airbases.
Iran signals withdrawal from US talks
- Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told EU chief Kaja Kallas that US-Iran nuclear talks are now “unjustifiable.”
- Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei said a final decision on participation in the next round of talks would be made by Sunday.
Israel kill several top Iranian generals
- Israel’s opening strikes killed top Iranian commanders: IRGC chief Hossein Salami, Armed Forces head Mohammad Bagheri, and Aerospace Force commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
- Several nuclear scientists and intelligence officials were also killed.
Markets, global transport feel the shock
- Oil prices surged up to $77 per barrel.
- Wall Street dropped sharply on Friday; volatility is expected to continue.
- More than 1,800 flights were affected due to airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Israel.
- The UK and Greece issued maritime advisories for the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz.
- The exchange rate for the US dollar in Iran exceeded 960,000 rials on Sunday morning.
Diplomatic efforts intensify but falter
- Netanyahu has spoken with Trump, Putin, Starmer, Macron, Merz, and Modi.
- Iran summoned the Swiss ambassador to warn the US against helping Israel’s defenses.
- Iranian lawmakers publicly urged Khamenei to authorize nuclear weapons development.
Strategic outlook: containment or collapse?
- US intelligence sources told CNN Israel may be using the operation to pursue regime change, though not openly stated.
- Iran has reshuffled its top command rapidly to maintain continuity.
- With diplomacy faltering and military exchanges intensifying, both sides appear to be preparing for prolonged confrontation.
United States forces are working to repel Iranian missile launches by land, air and sea, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday citing US officials.
Jets, navy destroyers and ground-based air defenses were activated to defend Israel even before Iranian retaliatory strikes began, it added.
Iran so far has fired about 200 ballistic missiles in four waves and over 200 drones at Israel, the newspaper cited an Israeli source as saying.
Israel has asked the United States to join its campaign against Iran to end its nuclear program, Israeli outlet Walla news cited a senior US official as saying, who added that the Trump administration is not considering such a move.
