TRANSCRIPT
A thick column of smoke was seen rising to the east of Tehran on Wednesday, as Israel launched a fresh wave of strikes, its third in a matter of hours, targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
The offensive comes as Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, flatly rejected President Donald Trump’s demand for what he described as unconditional surrender.
"The Iranian nation stands firm against the imposed war – as it has stood so far – and stands firm against the imposed peace. The Iranian nation will not surrender to anyone in the face of imposition."
He followed with this warning aimed at Washington.
"And of course, the Americans, those who are familiar with the politics of this region, know that America's intervention in this matter is 100 percent to their detriment. What they will suffer in this regard is much greater than what Iran may suffer. The damage America will suffer if it makes a military intervention in this field will undoubtedly be irreparable."
The regional fallout was immediate.
Israeli airstrikes prompted widespread airspace closures across the Middle East, leaving tens of thousands of travellers stranded, including many Israelis attempting to return home.
Among them was 66-year-old Yaacov Bogen, who finally made it back on Wednesday [[18 June]].
"I decided to come back because the family is here, and I belong here, and unfortunately we got used to these fights and war, but we prefer to be here, to support as much as we can."
Meanwhile, a cruise ship carrying evacuees from Israel docked in Cyprus, after Israel’s airspace closure halted commercial flights.
Among those aboard was 19-year-old Neil Shahar, an Israeli-American.
He says what Iran is doing to Israel is unprecedented.
"I've had to go down to the shelter before because I have family there. I've gone down there. I know it's not like, you know, I'm, there's a good chance of like surviving, but you know, it's still a little bit scary because this is something that's never happened before with all these ballistic missiles."
Meanwhile, in Berlin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly praised Israel’s military action, describing it as a service to the wider international community.
He was speaking to ZDF journalist Diana Zimmerman.
"Isn't it very tempting that the Israelis are now doing the dirty work for a regime that is perceived by many in the world as a really big disruptive factor?”
MERZ: "Mrs. Zimmermann, I am grateful to you for the term ‘dirty work’. This is the dirty work that Israel is doing for all of us. We are also affected by this regime. This Mullah regime has brought death and destruction to the world, with attacks, with murder and manslaughter, with Hezbollah, with Hamas. On 7 October 2023 in Israel: that would never have been possible without the regime in Tehran."
Back in Washington, President Trump was pressed on whether the U-S and Iran would resume talks.
REPORTER: "Have the Iranians reached out to you?"
TRUMP: ''Yes.''
REPORTER: "And what did you say?"
TRUMP: "I said it's very late. You know, I said it's very late to be talking. We may meet. I mean it's, I don't know. There's a big difference between now and a week ago, right? Big difference. ... And at the end, last minute, they said, 'no, we're not going to do that.' And they got hit, remember, 60 days. And then came the... 61, is going to become a very famous number. That was one hell of a hit. That first hit, that was one hell of a hit. Not sustainable, to be honest. That's where, it ended, it ended on the first night.''
REPORTER: ''Is it too late though, do you think it's too late now?''
TRUMP: ''Nothing's too late.”
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the military is prepared to act on any decision made by President Trump.
He insisted that Tehran understands the seriousness of Washington’s position.
"We know right now that Tehran understands exactly what the president is saying. He said 60 days. The world can believe it, and the world cannot believe it. He said, 60 days, they had an opportunity to make a deal. They should have made a deal, President Trump's word means something. The world understands that. And at the Defence Department, our job is to stand ready and prepared with options, and that's precisely what we're doing."
Pentagon officials confirmed that the U-S has moved significant refuelling assets into Europe and deployed the U-S-S Nimitz towards the Middle East.
The aircraft carrier can host more than 60 aircraft and 5,000 personnel.
The Nimitz was set to be retired this year but it has now been scheduled to be decommissioned in May of 2026.
In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation, stating that the operation aims to eliminate two existential threats.
"Dear citizens of Israel, we are on the sixth day of Operation 'Am K’Lavi' (With the Strength of a Lion). We launched this operation to eliminate two existing threats to the State of Israel: the nuclear threat and the threat of ballistic missiles. We are progressing step by step toward removing these threats. We control the skies over Tehran. We are striking the Ayatollah regime with tremendous force. We are targeting nuclear facilities, missiles, command centres, and symbols of the regime."
At the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres issued a strong appeal for restraint.
His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said further escalation would endanger not only the region but global peace and security.
"I remain profoundly alarmed by the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East between Israel and Iran. I reiterate my call for the immediate de-escalation leading to a ceasefire. I strongly appeal to all to avoid any further internationalisation of the conflict. Any additional military interventions could have enormous consequences, not only for those involved but for the whole region and for the international peace and security at large. I condemn this tragic and unnecessary loss of lives and injuries to civilians and damage to homes and critical civilian infrastructure. Diplomacy remains the best and only way to address concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear programs and regional security issues."
Meanwhile, according to Gaza’s health authorities, the death toll in Gaza has risen to over 55,600 [[55,637]], with nearly 130,000 [[129,880]] injured since the Hamas-Israel conflict began on the 7th of October 2023.
In the past day, 144 Palestinians were killed and 560 injured in Israeli strikes.
At least 37 were killed by Israeli fire across Gaza, including 14 near two US-backed aid distribution centres.
Witnesses reported Israeli forces opened fire on civilians gathering for aid near the Netzarim junction in central Gaza.
Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat received 11 bodies and treated over 70 wounded.
Separately, three Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in shelling near another U-S-supported aid point west of Rafah.
The Israeli military has told the Reuters news agency that it was looking into the reported deaths of people waiting for food aid.
