Israel-Iran Conflict Live Updates, June 19-20, 2025 - Day Seven Sees Escalation, Strikes on Nuclear Sites, and U.S. Decision Timeline Revealed

 June 20, 2025 – The direct military conflict between Israel and Iran entered its seventh consecutive day yesterday, Thursday, June 19th, marked by a significant escalation of strikes, confirmed hits on sensitive nuclear-related facilities, and a critical announcement from the White House regarding the timeline for a potential U.S. intervention.

Intensified Strikes and Advanced Weaponry:

Israeli Strikes on Iran: Israeli forces conducted further intense airstrikes across Iran on Thursday.

• Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz explicitly stated that "preventing [Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's] existence" is now an objective of the Israeli air campaign. He vowed to "eliminate threats to Israel and undermine the ayatollah's regime," signifying a direct targeting of the highest echelons of Iranian leadership. 
• Commercially available satellite imagery confirmed additional damage to the Arak Nuclear Complex (specifically the heavy-water reactor near Khondab) and the Sanjarian site in Tehran Province as a result of Israeli attacks yesterday. The Sanjarian site was a key facility in Iran's pre-2003 nuclear weapons program, used for high explosive tests. These follow earlier confirmed hits on the TESA Karaj workshop and Tehran Research Center (confirmed by IAEA on Wednesday). 
• Human Rights Activists, a Washington D.C.-based Iranian human rights group, reported that the death toll from Israeli attacks across Iran has risen to at least 639 people, including 240 women and children. 

Iranian Strikes on Israel: Iran launched its third major barrage of ballistic missiles towards Israel yesterday, consisting of approximately 30 missiles – the largest Iranian salvo since June 16th.

• For the first time in the conflict, Israel accused Iran of firing a missile armed with cluster munitions at central Israel. These munitions are designed to disperse small bombs over a wide area. One of the submunitions reportedly struck a home in Azor, causing damage but no injuries, with the remaining 19 failing to detonate. 
• A projectile fired by Iran directly struck the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, southern Israel, a major hospital for Israeli troops. The attack injured at least 240 people, though Iranian state media claimed the "main target" was a nearby military intelligence headquarters. The hospital sustained widespread damage and had to move most of its patients. 
• At least 24 people have been killed by Iranian attacks on Israel since the conflict began, and thousands in Israel have become homeless due to damage. 

U.S. Intervention Timeline and Rhetoric:

• Trump's Decision: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced yesterday, Thursday, June 19th, that U.S. President Donald Trump will decide whether the U.S. will join the Israel-Iran conflict "within the next two weeks." Leavitt indicated this timeline is influenced by a "substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future." 
• Approved Attack Plans: Unspecified U.S. officials cited by Western media yesterday reported that Trump has already approved attack plans for Iran but is reportedly withholding a final decision to see if Iran would agree to a deal, specifically regarding zero uranium enrichment. 
• Troop Movements: The U.S. has reportedly begun dispersing aircraft from its Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a significant U.S. military hub in the Middle East, indicating precautionary measures or preparation for potential action. 

Iran's Defiance and International Warnings:

• Khamenei's Resolve: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a televised address on Wednesday, June 18th (widely reported on Thursday), reiterated that Iran "will not surrender" to foreign pressure, including Trump's recent demand for "unconditional surrender." He warned that "any U.S. military intervention will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage" to Americans. 
• Threats from Proxies: Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful Iranian-backed Iraqi militia, on Thursday threatened attacks on U.S. bases in the region and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al Mandab if the U.S. joins the war. 
• Internet Blackout: London-based internet watchdog Netblocks reported a near-total nationwide internet shutdown in Iran yesterday, Thursday, June 19th, severely hindering the flow of information out of the country. 
• Diplomatic Efforts: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to meet with representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the European Union in Geneva today, Friday, June 20th, to discuss the "nuclear issue and the latest developments in the region." 
• International Concerns: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed grave concern on Thursday, warning that the "widescale and continuing attacks" by both sides "risk setting the whole region ablaze." Calls for de-escalation continued from major powers like Russia and China. 

The conflict's rapid escalation, particularly with confirmed strikes on nuclear-related facilities and the use of more advanced and potentially indiscriminate weaponry, raises significant alarm about regional stability and the potential for a wider conflagration involving global powers.