Israel-Iran Conflict Live Updates, June 16-17, 2025 - Israel-Iran Conflict Enters Day 4

   Updated: June 17, 2025 | 09:48 am IST

The direct military confrontation between Israel and Iran continues to intensify for a fourth consecutive day, with both sides exchanging strikes and strong rhetoric. International efforts to de-escalate the volatile situation are ongoing, even as nuclear talks face new setbacks.

Latest Developments

Military Actions & Casualties:

Ongoing Missile Barrages and Counter-Strikes:

• Iran has launched a new missile attack on Israel, with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirming missiles launched from Iran toward Israeli territory. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat, and the public has been instructed to enter protected spaces.
• Air defense systems have been activated in northwest Iran following new attacks on Israel. Loud blasts were heard near Iran's Natanz nuclear facility and in Parchin, near Tehran, leading to high-level air defenses being activated in Tehran in anticipation of Israeli strikes.
• Israel's military reported several sites were hit by the latest Iranian missile barrage, including a residential building on the country's Mediterranean coast. Homefront Command Search and Rescue teams have been dispatched.
• New missile attacks launched by Iran triggered air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with Israel activating its air defenses. Iran claimed to have launched some 100 missiles.
• The Israeli military has launched fresh strikes against dozens of surface-to-surface missile targets in western Iran and confirmed attacks on missile sites in Iran. Israeli military officials stated their fighter jets struck 10 command centers in Tehran belonging to Iran’s Quds Force.
• Explosions were heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
• Iranian missiles struck Israel's port city of Haifa, reportedly injuring around 30 people and causing fires at a power plant nearby. Another Iranian missile hit a residential building in Petah Tikva, near Tel Aviv, causing charring and heavy damage.
• The Israeli military also described its attack on an Iranian refueling plane at Eastern Iran's Mashhad Airport as the "furthest strike" since the start of its Operation Rising Lion. Iran's state media reported no damage to Mashhad Airport's runway or buildings.
• Iranian Air Defenses thwarted an attack on the Iranian South Pars gas field, shared with Qatar, which had been struck by Israel on Saturday.

Casualties and Damage:

• At least five people were killed in Iran's missile attacks on Israel early Monday, bringing Israel's overall death toll to 10 following overnight strikes (as of earlier reporting). Rescue efforts continue. The strikes have killed at least 24 people in Israel and over 224 people in Iran since Friday.
• A Washington-based human rights group stated that Israeli strikes in Iran have killed at least 406 people and wounded another 654 across the country. Iran's government has not offered overall casualty figures, but its health ministry attributed a majority of deaths from Israeli strikes to women and children. Iran earlier reported 128 killed in Israeli strikes on Friday and Saturday, and later claimed 224 people killed in Israeli strikes in three days.
• Iranian state TV reported at least five people killed in an Israeli strike on a residential building in Tehran. Two explosions were also heard in central Tehran.
• Iranian media reported that Tehran police headquarters in the city center was hit during an Israeli strike, causing "minor damage" and injuring "a number" of police personnel.
• Iran's Tasnim news agency confirmed that the Chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and two other generals were killed in Israeli attacks on Sunday. Three Iranian Red Crescent workers were killed in an Israeli strike during rescue operations in Tehran.
• The American Consulate in Tel Aviv suffered minor damage from the concussion of an Iranian missile landing nearby, though no injuries to American personnel were reported. The Consulate in Tel Aviv and Embassy in Jerusalem remain closed as a precaution.
• Reports suggest three oil tankers have caught fire in the Sea of Oman, before nearing the Strait of Hormuz. The authenticity of circulating images is not yet verified.

Strategic Targets:

• Israeli military confirmed it struck a nuclear facility in Iran's Isfahan region and completed an "extensive series of strikes on targets in Tehran related to the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons project," including the Ministry of Defense headquarters and the SPND nuclear project.
• Israel also hit Revolutionary Guard command centers in Tehran.
• Iran’s oil ministry confirmed two fuel depots in Tehran were struck in Israeli airstrikes, marking what appears to be the first direct hit on the country’s energy infrastructure. Operations at the Isfahan refinery remain unaffected.
• Israel claims its fighter jets have achieved "full aerial superiority over Tehran’s skies."
• Israel stated its sweeping assault on Iran’s top military leaders, uranium enrichment sites, and nuclear scientists was necessary to prevent Iran from building an atomic weapon.

Diplomatic & Political Reactions:

• Public Safety and State of Emergency: Israeli authorities have informed the public it is safe to leave shelters. Public safety guidelines, including school closures, have been extended until June 17, and the Israeli government has extended the state of emergency until June 30. Iran has advised its citizens that mosques, metro stations, and schools can serve as shelters from Israeli strikes. Israel’s military issued an evacuation warning to 330,000 people in a part of central Tehran that houses the country’s state TV and police headquarters, as well as three large hospitals.
• Netanyahu's Statements: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel "destroyed" Iran's main Natanz nuclear facility and "got" Iran's intelligence chief. He suggested that regime change in Iran could be a result of Israel's military strikes and vowed that Iran would pay a "very heavy price" for civilian deaths. Netanyahu claimed American pilots are shooting down drones headed towards Israel. He expressed that killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei "is not going to escalate the conflict, it's going to end the conflict" and that Israel has "not ruled out" eliminating him. Netanyahu pledged to kill Iran's military leaders "one by one" and vowed to change the face of the Middle East. He also urged Iranians to resist the "radical tyranny" of their regime, stating, "you're not our enemy. We're not your enemy."
• Trump's Involvement and Stance: U.S. President Donald Trump, according to Reuters and CNN, vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump reiterated that the US "had nothing to do with the attack on Iran" but warned of "never seen before" force if Iran attacks US interests. He expressed openness to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a mediator and stated it is "possible" the US will get involved. Trump also suggested that Israel and Iran "should make a deal" for de-escalation, noting "Iran is not winning this war." Netanyahu claimed Iran's Islamic regime targeted Trump for assassination. Trump requested a National Security Council meeting upon his early arrival back in Washington, DC from the G7 summit. White House stated US forces in the Middle East remain in a "defensive posture."
• International Calls for De-escalation: The G7 nations, including Donald Trump, issued a joint statement late Monday expressing support for Israel while labeling Iran as a source of instability. The statement called for peace and stability in the region, affirmed Israel's right to defend itself, and reiterated that "Iran can never have a nuclear weapon." The G7 urged that the resolution of the Iranian crisis lead to a broader de-escalation, including a ceasefire in Gaza. China has called for peace, with its Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaching out to both countries, warning the conflict may spread wider instability. European foreign ministers urged Iran to return to nuclear negotiations with the US and refrain from escalating conflict, though Iran stated its priority was to confront Israel for now. The UK has issued a fresh travel advisory against all travel to Israel.
• Iran's Accusations and Stance: Iran accused Israel of deliberately targeting a foreign ministry building in Tehran, wounding civilians, and stated that the Israeli assault was intended to "derail" nuclear discussions with the US. Iran claimed "solid proof" of US backing for Israeli attacks and called US nuclear talks "meaningless" while under attack, rejecting ceasefire negotiations. Iran denied sending any message to Israel via a third country and called on Cyprus to convey "some messages" to Israel. Iran warned of a "devastating response" to Israeli attacks, stating shelters will not guarantee safety and Israel will soon "no longer be habitable." Iran warned of the "largest and most intense missile attack in history on Israeli soil." Iran has told the UN that its strikes against Israel were self-defense and aimed only at military targets, warning that any third parties cooperating in Israeli strikes would be "complicit." Iran has issued evacuation warnings for Israeli news channels after Israel attacked its state broadcaster's building, which Israel claims was a front for Iranian Armed Forces. Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful, though the IAEA head has warned it has enough enriched uranium for several nuclear bombs. Iran also claimed to have uncovered an Israel-linked Mossad drone factory in Tehran and arrested two individuals accused of working for Mossad.

Regional and Global Impact:

• Israel's airspace remains shut for a third consecutive day, but Jordan lifted its restrictions.
• Tel Aviv stocks dipped as markets reopened.
• IndiGo flights are making technical stops at Doha due to closed Iranian airspace. Etihad Airways and Israel's El Al Airlines have cancelled flights to various destinations.
• Iraq's Iran-aligned Kataib Hezbollah warned it would resume attacks on US troops if Washington intervenes. Iran urged Iraq to block Israel's use of its airspace and territory.
• The Russian embassy in Tehran is working to evacuate citizens by land. The US Embassy in Baghdad issued a security alert for American citizens in Iraq. China has called on its citizens to leave Israel immediately.
• A New York Times report suggested Iran was caught off guard by Israel's strikes on its nuclear facilities ahead of planned US-Iran talks.
• An Iranian general claimed Pakistan has assured Iran it would respond with nuclear weapons if Israel uses nuclear missiles against Tehran, though Pakistan has denied any such commitment.
• Iran executed a man, Esmail Fekri, accused of spying for Israel's Mossad. Israeli police reported two arrests for working with Iranian intelligence.
• The conflict has triggered a fuel crisis in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, heavily reliant on smuggled Iranian fuel.
• India has issued an advisory for its nationals in Iran, providing helpline numbers and asking them to avoid unnecessary movements. India is also helping some Indian students relocate within Iran.

Broader Implications:

The escalating conflict has led to significant disruptions in the region. Delta Air Lines announced the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv through August 31, and Turkish Airlines cancelled flights across Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Jordan until Monday. Concerns are rising about energy supplies, with reports of increased jamming of signals for vessels in crucial oil-producing regions. Global markets have reacted sharply, with oil prices surging and stock futures plummeting, though India has assured it possesses adequate energy provisions. Indian students in Tehran are pleading with the Indian government for evacuation, with India stating its diplomats are helping some students relocate to safer places within Iran.

As the situation continues to unfold, the full extent of the damage and casualties on both sides remains under assessment. World leaders are intently monitoring the volatile situation, with calls for de-escalation dominating diplomatic efforts, as the region grapples with the profound implications of this unprecedented direct military confrontation.