2 w. ago ‘Helpless and trapped’: political prisoners stuck in Tehran jail with no way to flee bombings

Families of detained activists talk of their fear and confusion as Israeli missiles strike Evin prison in IranWhen Mehraveh Khandan heard about Israel’s evacuation order in Tehran last week, the first thing she thought of was her father. Reza Khandan, imprisoned for his human rights activism in 2024, was sitting in a cell in Tehran’s Evin prison on the edge of the evacuation zone.She fielded calls from her friends, who were breathless from the shock of the Israeli bombs as tens of thousands fled the Iranian capital. Her father, by contrast, had no way to flee. He was stuck. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago UK diplomats quit Tehran and evacuation flights for Brits in Israel announced amid war with Iran

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been working with the Israeli government on flights back to the UK

Politics

3 w. ago Iran threatens US with ‘irreparable damage’ if Trump joins war

Ayatollah Khamenei says his country will not surrender, as reports say it is preparing missiles to strike US basesIran’s supreme leader rejected US calls for surrender and warned that joining the war would lead to “irreparable damage”, as Israel ramped up rhetoric about regime change and ordered civilians to evacuate a district in Tehran.Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also said Israel made a “huge mistake” by launching the war, in his first comments since Friday. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Trump weighs up whether to order US strikes on Iran as Israel pummels Tehran and tells people to evacuate... while Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issues a chilling cryptic warning

Sources say the US President is weighing up whether to join Israel in striking Iranian nuclear sites. It comes as Israel warned residents of Tehran to evacuate before it pummels the city.

Events

3 w. ago Israel and Iran strikes continue into fifth day as Trump demands ‘complete give

US president says he is looking at something ‘better than a ceasefire’ after leaving G7 in CanadaLiving in Israel: how have you been affected?Living in Iran: how have you been affected?Donald Trump has encouraged vice president JD Vance and his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to offer to meet the Iranians this week, the New York Times has reported, citing a US official.Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier indicated that Tehran was open to negotiations, also suggesting Trump could stop the war with “one phone call” to Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu. In a post on X he wrote:If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential. Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue.It takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like Netanyahu. That may pave the way for a return to diplomacy.There is indeed an offer to meet and e...

Politics

3 w. ago Donald Trump calls for 'immediate evacuation of Tehran' as he cuts short G7 trip and Iran launches fresh strikes on Israel

Explosions heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Tuesday as Israeli military warns of incoming Iran missiles

Politics

3 w. ago Israel orders evacuation of part of Tehran after claiming control of airspace

IDF warned of strikes on military infrastructure in coming hours

Politics

3 w. ago Israel strikes Iranian state TV after issuing Tehran evacuation order

Attack interrupting live broadcast came after IDF warned of assault on capital

Politics

3 w. ago Eight killed in Iranian strikes on Israel as Trump threatens Tehran with ‘full strength’ of military if it attacks US – live updates

At least 35 missing after strike hits town south of Tel Aviv; US president also claims ‘we can easily get a deal done’ to end conflictIsrael claims it has gained control of airspace over TehranHours after presiding over an unprecedented military parade in Washington DC, Donald Trump has threatened that if Iran attacks the United States in any way, it would face the might of the US military “at levels never seen before.”In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump also said the US had nothing to do with Israel’s latest attack on Iran overnight and that “we can easily get a deal done” to end the conflict. He wrote:The US had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight. If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before. However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!European leaders will seek an explanation about what persuaded Tru...

Events

3 w. ago At least eight killed in Iranian strikes on Israel while Israeli attacks set Tehran oil depot on fire – live updates

At least 35 missing after strike hits town south of Tel Aviv; Iran says situation at Shahron oil depot under controlIsrael claims it has gained control of airspace over TehranHello and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the Middle East.Israel and Iran exchanged another round of strikes late on Saturday and into Sunday, with at least eight people killed in Israel when Iranian missiles penetrated air defences in the north and centre of the country as well as hitting a science institute near Tel Aviv.At least eight people are dead and more than 100 injured after Iran launched a barrage of missile strikes at Israel overnight, in retaliation for Israel’s Friday strikes which Israel said targeted Tehran’s nuclear program, hitting key sites including its defence ministry.An unknown number of missiles evaded Israel’s air defence system to hit Rehovot and Bat Yam in Tel Aviv, killing a 69-year-old woman, an 80-year-old woman, and two children including a 10-year-old boy, according to...

Events

3 w. ago Israeli military says ‘we are striking Iran’ after Netanyahu vows to attack ‘every site and every target of the Ayatollahs’ regime’ – live

IDF says ‘Iranian attacks are not behind us’ and vows to destroy Iranian missile sitesIsrael claims it has gained control of airspace over TehranEmma Graham-Harrison, the Guardian’s chief Middle East correspondent, has spoken to families who live in a Tel Aviv neighbourhood that was struck by Iran’s retaliatory attacks. At midnight on Friday Sveta’s four-year-old daughter was asleep on the floor outside their shattered apartment block, as the rest of the family weighed up where they should spend the night.A missile from the first Iranian salvo fired at Tel Aviv had landed a couple of blocks away, killing at least one person, injuring at least 16 others and damaging hundreds of shops and homes in this quiet residential area. The 37-year-old was sanguine about her own losses, and backed the government decision to attack Iran even though it had so quickly cost her family their home. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Top adviser to Iranian supreme leader dies in hospital after Israeli attack, Iranian media reports – live

Ali Shamkhani dies a day after Israel launches airstrikes, Iranian media reportsIsrael claims it has gained control of airspace over TehranEmma Graham-Harrison, the Guardian’s chief Middle East correspondent, has spoken to families who live in a Tel Aviv neighbourhood that was struck by Iran’s retaliatory attacks. At midnight on Friday Sveta’s four-year-old daughter was asleep on the floor outside their shattered apartment block, as the rest of the family weighed up where they should spend the night.A missile from the first Iranian salvo fired at Tel Aviv had landed a couple of blocks away, killing at least one person, injuring at least 16 others and damaging hundreds of shops and homes in this quiet residential area. The 37-year-old was sanguine about her own losses, and backed the government decision to attack Iran even though it had so quickly cost her family their home. Continue reading...

Events