Israel-Iran Conflict Live Updates, June 21, 2025 - Day Nine Whole Day Updates

      Updated: June 21, 2025 | 08:55 pm IST

The conflict between Israel and Iran has continued to escalate on Saturday, June 21, 2025, marking the second week of direct military confrontation. Both nations have exchanged fresh attacks, with significant developments on multiple fronts.

Here's a summary of today's key updates:

Military Actions and Casualties:

• Israeli Strikes on Iran: Israel has continued to target military infrastructure in southwest and central Iran. Reports from Iranian state media indicate that "powerful blasts" were heard in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan, and air defenses were activated in cities like Mahshahr and Ahvaz.
  
  
  • The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed that a centrifuge manufacturing workshop at the Isfahan nuclear facility in central Iran has been struck. This marks the third nuclear-related facility targeted in Israeli attacks since June 13. Grossi stated there was no nuclear material at the site, so no radiological consequences are expected.
  • Israel also reported striking missile storage and launch facilities in central Iran, claiming to have taken out more than 50% of Iran's launchers since the conflict began.
  • Israel's Defense Minister stated that the military has killed three senior Iranian commanders in targeted attacks, including a Revolutionary Guard commander who allegedly financed and armed Hamas. Another report claimed an Iranian nuclear scientist and his wife were killed in an Israeli attack.
    
    
• Iranian Retaliation: Iran launched a new wave of drones and missiles towards Israel. While Israel's multi-tiered air defenses intercepted most of them, Israeli rescue services reported that an Iranian drone struck a residential building in northern Israel, near the Beit She'an valley.
• Casualty Figures: Iran's health ministry has provided an updated toll, stating that Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of over 400 Iranians and left 3,056 others wounded since the conflict began on June 13. In Israel, officials state that at least 24 people have been killed by Iranian attacks.

Diplomatic and Political Developments:

• European Diplomacy and Iran's Stance: French President Emmanuel Macron held a call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing deep concern over Iran's nuclear program. Macron emphasized that "Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons" and stated that diplomatic efforts, led by France and its European partners, to resolve the crisis would "accelerate." However, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, after meeting with European officials in Geneva on Friday, reiterated that Tehran would not negotiate over its nuclear program while under threat and ongoing Israeli attacks. He stated Iran is open to dialogue once "aggression is stopped and the aggressor is held accountable."
  
  
• US Involvement: US President Donald Trump is still considering potential active US military involvement in the war and stated he would make a decision within two weeks, "depending on the circumstances." Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi warned that any US involvement would be "very, very dangerous for everyone."
  
  
• Succession in Iran: The New York Times reported that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has picked three senior clerics as potential successors, amid fears of assassination in Israeli strikes. He has also reportedly prepared emergency military succession plans for his military chain of command.
• International Calls for De-escalation: The UN Human Rights Commission called for both Israel and Iran to de-escalate to prevent a wider refugee crisis. Turkey's President Recep Erdogan stated that Benjamin Netanyahu's government was the biggest obstacle to peace in the Middle East. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is holding discussions over the next two days on Israel's military campaign against Iran.
  
  

Other Significant Impacts:

• Internet Blackout in Iran: Internet access advocacy group NetBlocks.org reported that the limited internet access that had briefly returned in Iran has once again "collapsed." A nationwide internet shutdown has been in place for several days, isolating Iranians, with authorities citing concerns about Israeli cyberattacks.
• Evacuation of Foreign Nationals: India's Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that a second evacuation flight carrying 256 Indian students landed safely in Delhi, bringing the total evacuated from Iran to 827. India is also assisting nationals from Nepal and Sri Lanka upon their governments' requests.
• Gaza Situation: Alongside the Iran conflict, Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza continues to intensify. Hospitals in Gaza City reported at least 84 people killed and over 120 injured in overnight strikes, with more than 200 bodies brought to hospitals across Gaza in the past 48 hours.

The situation remains highly volatile, with concerns of broader regional escalation and a humanitarian crisis.