Israel hit Iranian government targets in Tehran on Monday in a series of strikes that followed a salvo of missiles and drones fired by Iran at Israel in the wake of the Trump administration’s massive strikes on Iranian nuclear sites the day before.
The Israeli military also confirmed it struck roads around Iran’s Fordo enrichment facility to obstruct access to the site. The underground site was one of those hit in Sunday’s attack by the United States on three nuclear facilities. The Israeli military did not elaborate.
In Tehran attacks, Israel’s Defense Ministry said it hit targets that included the notorious Evin Prison in the Iranian capital and the security headquarters of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards.
“The Iranian dictator will be punished with full force for attacking the Israeli home front,” the ministry said.
The strikes also hit Tehran’s Palestine Square and other “military command centers belonging to the Iranian regime,” it said.
According to an Israeli official familiar with the government’s strategy, Israel is targeting these sites to put pressure on the Iranian administration but is not actively seeking to topple it. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal government deliberations.
The Israeli move came just hours after President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social website: “If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???”
Israel and Iran press their attacks
Iran described its Monday attack on Israel as as a new wave of its Operation “True Promise 3,” saying it was targeting the Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv, according to Iranian state television.
Explosions were also heard in Jerusalem. There were no immediate reports of damage.
In Iran, witnesses reported Israeli airstrikes hit areas around Iran’s capital, Tehran, around midday. Iranian state television confirmed one Israeli strike hit the gate of Evin Prison.
The report shared what appeared to be black-and-white-surveillance footage of the strike. The prison is known for holding dual nationals and Westerners often used by Iran as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West.
Evin also has specialized units for political prisoners and those with Western ties, run by the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The facility is the target of both U.S. and European Union sanctions.
Earlier Monday, Iranian Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, the chief of joint staff of armed forces, warned Washington its strikes had given Iranian forces a “free hand “ to “act against U.S. interests and its army.”
Tens of thousands of American troops are based in the Middle East, many in locations within range of short-range Iranian missiles.
Iran threatens US with 'serious' consequences after strikes
Iran on Monday warned the United States of severe repercussions following US strikes on the Islamic republic's nuclear facilities, as the Iran-Israel war entered its 11th day.
"This hostile act... will widen the scope of legitimate targets of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and pave the way for the extension of war in the region," said armed forces spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari.
"The fighters of Islam will inflict serious, unpredictable consequences on you with powerful and targeted (military) operations," he said on state television.
Israeli strikes kill 10 IRGC members in central Iran
At least 10 members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting Yazd province on Sunday, according to Tasnim news agency. The report also mentioned that several other IRGC personnel were injured, though the exact number remains unclear.
Israel claims it has eliminated two dozen Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists since launching its surprise offensive on June 13.
Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East continue to mount, with Iran vowing retaliation for the recent US airstrikes on its nuclear facilities, while US President Donald Trump has suggested the possibility of regime change in Tehran.
In his first public remarks since the US joined Israel’s military operations against Iran, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed to punish “the Zionist enemy.” His comments come amid ongoing cross-border attacks between Israel and Iran.
Speaking on the situation, President Trump questioned Iran’s political future, saying, “If the current Iranian regime is unable to make Iran great again, why wouldn’t there be a regime change?” His remarks have fuelled further speculation about Washington’s broader intentions.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has accused the US of "waging war" under what he described as an "absurd pretext" following American strikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan.
The escalating conflict has rattled global energy markets, with oil prices surging. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on China to use its influence on Tehran to prevent the closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route.
In light of the heightened tensions, the US State Department has issued a worldwide security alert for American citizens, warning of potential retaliatory attacks.
Thousands without power in Israel following Iranian missile strike
Around 8,000 people across southern Israel have been left without electricity following Iran’s missile strikes early Monday, according to Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen.
The Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) confirmed that the outages stemmed from “damage near a strategic infrastructure facility” in the south, which affected power supply in several communities.
Minister Cohen said the authorities had “prepared in advance for the possibility of damage to electrical installations” and were working swiftly to restore electricity. “We aim to have power fully restored within three hours,” he added.
In a statement, the IEC said its teams had been dispatched to various locations to carry out emergency repairs and ensure public safety.
“IEC teams are en route to multiple locations on the ground with the aim of restoring power as soon as possible,” the statement said. “The operations include infrastructure repairs and the neutralisation of safety hazards, and are being carried out in coordination with security forces.”
Israel has been on high alert following escalating tensions with Iran. Monday’s strikes mark one of the most significant escalations in recent months. Further updates are awaited as restoration efforts continue.
Trump hints at regime change in Iran
Tensions in the Middle East have intensified after former US President Donald Trump suggested the possibility of a leadership change in Iran — just hours after his team had insisted that regime change was not the objective of recent American strikes.
The situation deteriorated further after Iran’s military vowed a “decisive response” to what Trump described as “monumental damage” inflicted on Iranian nuclear sites by US attacks.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s nuclear watchdog, has since called for an immediate ceasefire to allow inspectors access to the affected areas.
In a sign of growing international concern, Iran’s Foreign Minister is currently in Moscow for high-level talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing what both sides termed “common challenges and threats.”
Meanwhile, the UK’s Foreign Secretary has joined other Western leaders in urging Tehran to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation.
Despite diplomatic calls for calm, hostilities have continued. Israel launched what it described as “one of the most intense attacks” on Iranian military infrastructure overnight, followed by a fresh “series of strikes” directed towards Tehran earlier this morning.
Adding to the geopolitical strain, the United States has called on China to use its influence to persuade Iran not to shut down the Strait of Hormuz — a vital maritime corridor through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes.
