Despite no-fly order, passenger planes seen departing Tehran’s Mehrabad airport

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a China-led regional bloc, strongly condemned Israel's military strikes on Iran on Saturday, warning that the escalation threatens regional and global stability.

In a statement, the 10-member Eurasian security and political group said Israel's attacks targeted civilian and nuclear facilities, resulting in civilian casualties.

"This seriously violated the principles of international law and the UN Charter, undermined Iran's sovereignty, and posed a grave threat to global peace and stability," the SCO said.

Two Iranian police officers were killed in a drone strike on Saturday during a reconnaissance and intelligence operation in western Iran, local authorities said.

Habibollah Akbaryan, a major and head of public security police in Asadabad, and Second Lieutenant Amirhossein Seifi were killed in the attack, which occurred in Hamadan province, according to the provincial police commander.

Senior Revolutionary Guard commander Esmail Kowsari said on Saturday that Iran is considering closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz in response to ongoing hostilities and would make “the best and most decisive decision.”

“We have many options to retaliate against the enemy, and military responses are only part of our measures,” said Kowsari, who is also a member of the parliament.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global oil transit route.

Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iran, which targeted nuclear sites and key military figures, suggest a dual objective: not only delaying Tehran’s nuclear program but also aiming to destabilize the Islamic Republic establishment, a Reuters analysis said.

The attacks struck Iran’s nuclear facilities at Esfahan and Natanz, missile factories, senior military commanders, and nuclear scientists, dealing a blow to both Iran’s military capabilities and its regional prestige.

Reuters interprets the targeting of senior officials as an attempt to undermine the security apparatus supporting Iran’s leadership.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly addressed the Iranian people, urging them to rise up, echoing past Israeli operations that contributed to political shifts in Lebanon and Syria.

However, experts caution that deep-rooted opposition to Israel within Iran and strong internal security forces make overthrowing the government uncertain. Analysts also say Israel lacks the capability to fully dismantle Iran’s nuclear program alone and may rely on prolonged strikes and potential US cooperation.

Three Iranian nuclear scientists were killed in Israeli airstrikes, Iranian media reported Saturday, following Israel’s attacks across the country.

Ali Bokaei Karimi, Mansour Asgari, and Saeed Borji were named by Iranian outlets as the victims.

Their deaths follow earlier reports by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency that six other nuclear scientists were also killed.

Israeli military officials said Saturday that nine senior Iranian nuclear scientists were killed in the attacks.