Iran counter-attack: missiles on US base in Doha. Trump: thanks for the weak reaction, now peace

The US special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has been in contact with Iranian officials since the attacks launched last weekend by the US against Iranian nuclear sites. Two sources familiar with the situation told CNN, pointing out that the Trump administration's efforts to reach a diplomatic solution to the conflict are being hampered by communication difficulties between Iranian officials and the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has been in hiding since the start of the Israeli military operation against Iran.

With the attack on the US base in Qatar "the message of the Iranian armed forces to the White House and its allies is clear: Iran will not let any aggression against its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security go unanswered". The Revolutionary Guards stated in a note. "We warn that the time for biting has passed and that the repetition of any wrongdoing will lead to the collapse of the US military pillars in the region, its humiliating flight from West Asia and the materialisation of the cause of the Islamic nations, which is wiping out the cancerous tumour of Zionism," it reads.

There are currently ten Italian military personnel, from the air force, who are in Qatar and were operating at the American base of Al Udeid on the outskirts of Doha, where Iran began the retaliation operation. At the moment, the group of soldiers - we learn from informed sources - is 'safe elsewhere'.

"Qatar's air defences successfully foiled the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles." This was stated by Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari on X, after Tehran fired missiles at US bases in the country. The Iranian missile attack directed against the US base in Qatar caused no deaths or injuries. This was stated by the Qatari Ministry of Defence, emphasising that the country's air force "successfully" intercepted the missile attack on the Al-Udeid base.

Iran claimed today to have launched missiles against the US base in Qatar at al Udeid in a number equivalent to the number of bombs used by US forces to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities. "In response to the aggressive and brazen action of the United States against Iranian nuclear facilities, a few hours ago the powerful Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran struck the US al-Udeid airbase in Qatar," reads a note from the secretariat of Iran's Supreme National Security Council published by the official IRNA news agency.

Donald Trump, Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine and Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth are currently in the Situation Room monitoring the Iran attacks. CNBC reports this, citing White House sources

The air defence system of the US al Asad base in Iraq has been activated for a potential Iranian attack. The France Presse news agency writes this today.

The Iranian news agency Tasnim wrote that Iranian retaliation against US bases in Qatar and Iraq has begun. Explosions were heard in the vicinity of the Qatari capital Doha.

Iran fired six missiles at US bases in Qatar. This was reported by Axios and Walla journalist Barak Ravid, quoting an Israeli official.

Explosions were heard near the Qatari capital Doha. The Reuters news agency wrote this today, after Axios reported that Iran had fired six missiles at a US base in the Arab country.

In particular, eyes are on the al Udeid base in Qatar. The US Federal Aviation Administration FAA has issued a notice (NOTAM) on the closure of the airspace around this US military facility.

Iran will 'respond proportionately' to the US attack on three Iranian nuclear sites, 'regardless of the extent of the damage'. General Abdolrahim Mousavi, head of the Iranian armed forces, said this in a video message, according to the Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards Corps. Mousavi, the BBC recalls, was appointed head of the armed forces after his predecessor, Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, was killed by Israel on 13 June.

In a Farsi message posted on social media, the IDF urges Tehran residents to "stay away" from military sites and security centres "linked to the Iranian regime", heralding more attacks in the Iranian capital. "Dear residents of Tehran, in the coming days, the Israeli army will continue its attacks against military targets in the Tehran area. For your personal safety, we ask you to stay away from war production centres, military headquarters and security institutions linked to the regime," the message reads, according to Times of Israel reports.

The death toll of the Israeli-led attacks in Iran since 14 June rises to 950 (almost double the official figures) and 3450 wounded, according to updated estimates by the Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana), an independent Iranian non-governmental organisation working for human rights. This can be read on its website. The NGO estimates that the majority are civilians. The same source also reports a number of 640 arrests on the home front over the past 10 days, against the backdrop of the Tehran authorities' crackdown on protests and suspicions of espionage and collaborationism.

President Donald Trump will take part in a meeting of the National Security Council at 1pm (7pm in Italy). This is what the White House schedule indicates.

A European citizen was arrested in Hamedan, western Iran, for spying for Israel. State TV reported this. Two other people were arrested for the same reason in the western city of Kermanshah. Several Sim cards and a large sum of money were confiscated from the two Iranians, Mehr reported, quoting judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir.

The US expects an Iranian retaliation against some of their targets in response to last night's attack on nuclear facilities within two days. This was reported by two senior Washington officials quoted anonymously by the Reuters website. They expect it to happen 'within a day or two', one of the sources questioned said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed "several issues, mainly in the context of the possible prospects for a peaceful resolution" in the conflict between Israel and Iran. This was reported by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by the Interfax news agency. But "the parties to the conflict have completely different positions on this issue" and therefore "the situation is still very tense," Peskov added. Araghchi, quoted by Ria Novosti, said he had had a "good meeting" with Putin.

"There is no reason to criticise" the US attacks on Iran. This was said by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking in Berlin, according to Afp.

Around 500' people have died since the Israeli attack on 13 June in Iran. This was reported by Iranian state TV, quoted by the BBC, quoting a tally from the country's Ministry of Health and adding that there are over 3,000 injured.

Donald Trump was aboard the Marine One helicopter on Saturday and was flying over his golf club in Bedminster when he received a call from the head of the Pentagon. Pete Hegseth told him it was time to make a decision: proceed with the attack on Iran or abort the mission. The president, convinced that diplomacy alone would not be enough to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, gave the go-ahead. The reconstruction is from the Wall Street Journal. The president was already inclined to attack when spokeswoman Katrine Leavitt told the press on Thursday that Trump would decide in a fortnight.

Israel aims to end its war with Iran soon. This was stated by Israeli officials to the Wall Street Journal, pointing out that Israel expects to exhaust its list of military targets in Iran in the coming days, thus creating an opportunity to end the fighting. However, they added, much will depend on Iran's reaction. The US has told Arab countries in the region that Israel is seeking an end to the conflict and demanded that the message be conveyed to Iran.

Iran claims that the defence system shot down an F-35 fighter jet in Tabriz. This was stated today by a member of the Revolutionary Guards in the northwestern city, Mohsen Bakht-Shokouki, quoted by Tasnim, adding that the pilot was captured. Iran said that another plane had been shot down on 16 June and that seven drones had been shot down in the city so far. According to a report from Lorestan, a Hermes drone was also hit in the provincial city of Khorramabad.

The air force carried out the largest attack to date in the Iranian capital in broad daylight, dropping more than 100 bombs on the city in two hours. This was announced by the IDF. Dense smoke covers the entire city, as pictures and videos in the Israeli media show.

A university in Tehran was hit today in the latest wave of Israeli raids on Iran. This was reported by concordant sources in the local media, also in English, while various students and researchers denounced on social media how the structure was damaged. It is not yet clear whether there were any casualties. The university in question is Shahid Beheshti University, in the northern sector of the Iranian capital, which was the focus of bombings today that also targeted the electricity network causing temporary blackouts in some areas. This is not the first university to be targeted since Israel's attacks began.

No one knows where the 408 kilos of uranium enriched to 60 per cent by Iran went. The US and Israel do not have the capacity to detect it any time soon. The US military intervention, with 14 GBU-57 bombs dropped by B-2s on Fordow and Natanz, and more than twenty Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from an Ohio-class submarine against Isfahan, has at most delayed Tehran's atomic programme by a few months. It is indeed a thin balance sheet what Richard Nephew, a US official who worked on Iran with the Obama and Biden administrations, makes when interviewed by the Financial Times. Where is Iran's 60 per cent enriched uranium, which used to be stored in powder form in large cylinders in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, and which could be enriched weapon grade, to 90 per cent, in a matter of days if Tehran decided to do so, is the pressing question now, for American and Israeli analysts, to understand whether Tehran's nuclear programme has been pulverised or merely delayed, and if so by how much, perhaps with facilities now distributed to smaller and still secret sites where centrifuges may have previously been placed.

The IDF reports that it hit the Basij headquarters in Tehran, which "represents one of the power bases of the revolutionary guards and is also responsible for enforcing the Islamic code and reporting civilians who violate it to the authorities". The Iaf raids also targeted the Alborz Corps, which is 'responsible for maintaining the stability of the regime'. "These headquarters are important both militarily and in terms of governance and targeting them damages the Iranian regime's military capabilities," the IDF adds.

An Israeli source who maintained anonymity for security reasons explained to ANSA that the attack by Iaf fighters on the gates of the Evin prison in Tehran is part of an attempt to free dissidents as part of a possible internal protest aimed at bringing down the current government in Iran. The aim is also to get the ayatollahs to agree to end the war and negotiate on the nuclear issue. Israeli fighter jets are expected to intensify their attacks against Iran during the day and night in order to achieve important military and consequently political results faster.

Israeli attacks are underway on the Revolutionary Guards headquarters in Tehran. This was stated by the IDF spokesman.

In a telephone conversation today, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani condemned the Israeli and American attacks on Iran, saying they 'seriously violate the UN Charter and other norms of international law' and 'are fraught with extremely dangerous and unpredictable consequences for the stability of the region and the entire global security system'. This was reported in a note by the Kremlin, quoted by Tass.

Iran considers the attacks by Israel and the US illegitimate and is legitimately defending its independence. This was said by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi while meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. This was reported by the Interfax news agency.

A new Israeli attack against Iran's public TV station (Irib), according to Iranian source reports also reported by the opposition channels abroad. A missile fired today is reported to have hit a building in Tehran that houses technical facilities of the broadcaster on which the broadcasts of channels 1 and 5 depend, as well as Quranic, an Islamic religious information programme. It also houses nine radio stations. (

"Unprovoked aggression against Iran has no grounds or justification". Russian President Vladimir Putin said this while receiving Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in the Kremlin, according to the Interfax news agency.

The US bombing probably caused "very significant" damage to the underground areas of Iran's Fordow uranium enrichment facility although no one can yet determine the extent of the damage, Rafael Grossi, head of the UN nuclear watchdog body, is quoted as saying by the Times Of Israel. "Given the explosive load used and the extremely vibration-sensitive nature of the centrifuges, very serious damage is expected to have occurred," Grossi said in a statement during an emergency meeting of the IEA Board of Governors. (

Russia is making efforts to support the Iranian people. President Vladimir Putin said this while receiving Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in the Kremlin. This was reported by Russian agencies

- A regime change in Iran cannot take place by the decision of 'third countries'. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this regarding US President Donald Trump's statements on the matter. "We believe that only the people of a country have the right to decide the fate of that country's leadership, but under no circumstances should third countries or the leadership of third countries do so," Peskov stressed, quoted by the Interfax news agency. (

To the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi "I also expressed my concern, my request not to intervene with the closure of Hormuz, which could cause enormous damage to the economy primarily of Iran, but also to all other countries, including China". Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said this on the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.

The Israeli airstrike also hit the notorious Evin prison in Tehran.Iran International reports that the attack hit the prison's entrance gate, apparently to allow prisoners to escape. The Evin prison is a vast and heavily fortified complex where Iran has incarcerated political prisoners, journalists, academics, human rights activists and others.

The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency has demanded access to Iran's nuclear sites to determine the fate of stockpiles of uranium enriched to a level close to the design threshold for an atomic bomb. "We must allow inspectors to return to the site and take an inventory of the uranium stockpiles, particularly the 400 kg enriched to 60 per cent," Rafael Grossi told an emergency meeting in Vienna. He added that Tehran had sent him a letter on 13 June warning of the implementation of "special measures to protect nuclear equipment and materials".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will hand over a letter from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to be delivered to Russian President Vladimir Putin today in which Khamenei calls for more support for Russia. Reuters writes this on its website. According to Iranian sources, Iran has so far been unimpressed with Russia's support and would like Putin to do more to support it against Israel and the US.

The next 48 hours will be the most worrying for the US in terms of Tehran's possible retaliation against its nuclear sites. Two US defence sources and a White House official tell Nbc News that it is not yet clear whether the retaliation will hit US domestic or foreign targets, or both. The same broadcaster reveals that in the days before the final order given by Donald Trump, Iran sent a private message to the president warning him that they would respond to a possible attack by activating dormant terrorist cells to conduct terrorist attacks on American soil. And the warning was allegedly conveyed to Trump through an intermediary during the G7 in Canada, which the president had left early

The Iranian Red Crescent said the Israeli attack struck near its building in northern Tehran. "New attack near the Red Crescent building...," the emergency service said in a post on its Telegram channel, accompanied by a video of smoke rising from the site of the attack. The Iranian daily Nournews also reported several large explosions heard in the Iranian capital.

The IDF reports that the Israeli Air Force is bombing several military sites in Tehran. (

he Iran International channel today publishes a video of today's briefing by Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari who, at one point, addresses 'gambler Trump' in English, warning him: 'You started this war, we will finish it'.

The Iranian parliament will discuss a bill on the suspension of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (

The IDF claims to have attacked six airports across Iran. According to the IDF, about 15 jets and helicopters were destroyed in western, eastern and central Iran. Among them were F-14, F-5 and AH-1 aircraft. The Times of Israel reported this.

Continuous waves of ballistic missiles, launched within minutes of each other, came from Iran and continue to arrive all over Israel. The IDF reports that it is intercepting the missile vectors. The Magen David Adom rescue service reports that one missile was not shot down and fell in the Galilee. The Idf identified a total of eight missiles launched from Iran towards Israel in four different volleys, most were intercepted, some fell on territory. The Israeli Electricity Company (Iec) reported that as a result of damage near a strategic infrastructure in the south of the country, there were interruptions in the supply of electricity to several communities in the area.

The EU foreign ministers "are very focused on diplomatic solutions and there are huge concerns about retaliation and this escalation of war, and especially a possible blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would be extremely dangerous and would not benefit anyone". This was said by the EU's High Representative for the Common Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, speaking to journalists upon her arrival at the Foreign Council meeting in Brussels today.

"We already had a discussion over lunch about the situation in Iran, but we have to go further" during the Council meeting, Kallas pointed out.

China urges the international community to do more to prevent the fighting between Iran and Israel from impacting the global economy, stressing the importance of the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters for international trade. "China calls on the international community to redouble its efforts to promote de-escalation of the conflict and prevent regional instability from having a greater impact on global economic development," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, before the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels, had two telephone conversations with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Abbas Araghchi. (

Alarm sirens went off in Tel Aviv and northern Israel over missile launches from Iran.

"Mr Trump, a gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it." Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesman for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, said in an English-language video posted on social media that the US should expect 'heavy consequences for its actions'. In another statement reported by the Mehr Agency, Major General Sayyid Abdolrahim Mousavi, newly elected Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces said: 'The United States, by continuing to unconditionally support the barbaric and aggressive Zionist regime, has openly and directly entered into war by violating the sovereignty of Islamic Iran and the sacred soil of our country.

Yesterday, Trump, commenting on the attack on Iran, spoke of 'monumental damage done to all nuclear sites in Iran' in posts on Truth. And he speculated about regime change in Tehran, contrary to what his administration's top brass said yesterday. "It's not politically correct to use the term 'regime change', but if the current Iranian regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why shouldn't there be regime change???? MIGA!!!" (Make Iran Great Again, ed.), he wrote, devising an acronym similar to his 'MAGA'.

"The United States, by continuing to unconditionally support the barbaric and aggressive Zionist regime, has openly and directly entered the war by violating the sovereignty of Islamic Iran and the sacred soil of our country," said Iranian Army Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi. The Islamic Republic will 'never back down', he added, as Mehr reported, stressing that the Iranian armed forces are ready for 'any action'.

Iran has threatened the US with 'serious consequences' after attacks on the country's nuclear sites, a senior government official said.

Oil is up after geopolitical tensions with the US attack on Iran and the latter's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz. Wti rose 1.15 per cent to $74.69 a barrel and Brent gained 1.12 per cent to $77.88. In the past few hours, Brent and Wti reached their highest levels since January, only to reduce their gains. Since the start of the conflict on 13 June, Brent has risen 13% while Wti has consolidated gains of about 10%.

Russia's envoy to the UN has condemned the irresponsible, dangerous and provocative actions of the US against Iran, claiming that with the 'unprovoked' bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, the US, as well as Israel, are playing 'with the security and well-being of humanity as a whole'. (

"It is not politically correct to use the term 'regime change', but if the current Iranian regime is unable to make Iran great again, why shouldn't there be regime change???? Miga!!!': so wrote Donald Trump, paraphrasing Maga (Make America great again) in Miga to adapt it to Iran. It is the first time the president seems open to regime change

"The White House made bipartisan courtesy calls to the leadership of Congress and spoke with Senator (Chuck) Schumer (Dem minority leader in the upper chamber, ed) prior to the attack," while Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (House minority leader, ed) could not be contacted until after the attack (in Iran, ed), but was briefed." White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt writes this on X, calling the CNN report a "fake news" and asking the TV station to retract it.

US military and intelligence officials have detected signs that Iranian-backed militias are preparing to attack US bases in Iraq, and possibly Syria, in retaliation for the US attacks on Iran. The New York Times writes this, quoting a US official as saying that so far these militias have held back and that Iraqi officials are working hard to deter them from acting.

In a warning sent to all Americans worldwide and posted on its website on Sunday, the US State Department urged all US citizens abroad to exercise caution. "The conflict between Israel and Iran has caused travel disruptions and periodic airspace closures throughout the Middle East," the warning explained. "There is a risk of demonstrations against US citizens and their interests abroad. The State Department advises US citizens around the world to exercise extra caution," is the warning

During the night alarm sirens sounded in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and throughout central Israel for missile launches from Iran.

''The punishment continues. The Zionist enemy has committed a grave mistake, a grave crime. It must be punished and we are doing it, we are doing it right now'. This was stated by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) began conducting attacks against military infrastructure in Kermanshah, western Iran. This was announced by the Tel Aviv military itself on Monday morning. The Iaf also intercepted a drone headed for the southern city of Eilat in the early hours of Monday morning. No siren sounded in the city as the interception was made before entering Israeli territory.

The attacks on nuclear facilities in Iran could damage the food safety of several countries. This was stated in an interview with Tass by Sergei Dankvert, head of Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian control and supervisory body in the field of veterinary medicine and food quality and safety. 'The biggest danger,' Dankvert said, 'is attacks on nuclear facilities, which could cause contamination of territories. Iran produces large quantities of plant and animal products. Therefore, such damage would have a serious impact in terms of food supply'.

US President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that Iranian nuclear sites suffered 'monumental damage' in the US attack, although a US assessment is still ongoing. "The greatest damage occurred far below ground level. Target centre!!!" wrote Trump. "Annihilation is an accurate term. The white structure shown is set deeply into the rock, with the roof well below ground level, and completely protected from fire," Trump explained.

The US military action against Iran, 'in gross violation of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, not only increases tensions in the Middle East, but also risks triggering a wider crisis'. The Global Times, the tabloid of the People's Daily, the voice of the Chinese Communist Party, harshly criticises in an editorial the weekend's pro-Israel US intervention in the conflict against Tehran, noting that 'what the US bombs hit is the foundation of the international security order. By attacking nuclear facilities under IAEA protection, Washington has set a dangerous precedent'. Given their unique nature, 'damage to such sites could result in severe nuclear casualties, with the potential for humanitarian disasters and serious regional security risks. The tragic lessons of the past, drawn from the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents, have already shown that the consequences of nuclear losses are not a threat to a single country, but impact neighbouring nations and global security'. By using 'bunker-buster' bombs to 'achieve what Israel has failed to do', the US has 'deliberately increased the level of weaponry used, throwing fuel on the fire of war and pushing the Iran-Israel conflict ever further towards an uncontrollable state', the editorial reads. For Iran, the attack "is a blatant provocation. After responding to reserve all options to defend its sovereignty, its interests and its people, Tehran launched the powerful Kheibar Shekan missile against Israel for the first time on Sunday'. The Iranian parliament then voted in favour of closing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical transit point for about a fifth of the world's oil and gas consumption. Once 'blocked by war, international oil prices are bound to fluctuate dramatically, while global shipping security and economic stability will face serious challenges', the editorial points out.

US President Donald Trump has postponed his departure for the NATO summit in Amsterdam, probably to closely follow the situation of the war between Israel and Iran. This was reported by leading American media, according to which the tycoon is expected to leave no earlier than Wednesday. The summit is scheduled to take place in the Netherlands on 24 and 25 June.

The US administration has made it clear that it wants Iran to halt any development of nuclear weapons, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning on Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures' programme that any retaliation against the US or a rush to build a nuclear weapon 'would endanger the regime'. Rubio also called on China to urge Iran not to close the Strait of Hormuz, where a good portion of the world's oil passes through. "I encourage the Chinese government to reach out to them on this issue, because they depend heavily on the Strait of Hormuz for their oil," Rubio also told Fox News. China in turn condemned the US attacks on Iran, calling them a gross violation of international law that has further inflamed tensions in the Middle East. In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged all parties, especially Israel, to implement a ceasefire and engage in dialogue. "China is willing to cooperate with the international community to unite efforts and uphold justice, contributing to the restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East," the ministry said.