Israel-Iran updates: IRGC intelligence chief, two generals killed

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For more on what’s been happening in the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, see our news story here.

If you’re interested in an analysis of Iran’s military and diplomatic options, read this.

“Preemptive” aggression brings nothing but chaos and instability, writes Maximilian Hess, a fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, in his opinion piece here.

We will be closing this live page shortly. Here’s a recap of the day’s major developments:

• Israel has renewed its attacks on Iran, striking the capital, Tehran, as well as other areas across the country for a third consecutive day.
• Israeli strikes have killed 224 people so far, according to Iran’s Health Ministry. Among them is the head of the IRGC’s intelligence organisation, Mohammad Kazemi, and two other generals.
• At least eight people have sustained wounds in Iranian strikes on Israel, including Haifa in the north, the country’s National Emergency Service said.
• The Israeli Civil Aviation Authority has announced a complete closure of airspace and airports.
• Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir has pledged to increase attacks on Iran, as part of a “historic and unprecedented operation aimed at delivering a significant blow to an existential threat”.
• President Trump said the US is “not at this moment involved” in the conflict between Iran and Israel after he wrote in a social media post that the warring countries will have peace “soon”.
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada could yield an agreement on four key points, including the need to create space for diplomacy to help resolve the conflict between Israel and Iran.

Leaders of the G7 countries are meeting from today for three days of intense discussions.

Tensions at this year’s gathering, taking place June 15-17, are likely to be high for many reasons.

Intense discussions are expected about the unfolding crisis in the Middle East after Israel carried out massive strikes on military and nuclear sites in Iran on Friday. This year’s meeting also takes place against the backdrop of aggressive trade tariffs set – and then paused for all countries except China, which has now reached a deal with the US – by President Trump earlier this year.

Read more here.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, has accused Israel of spreading propaganda about its military operations, calling claims of “surgical strikes” with no civilian harm a blatant lie.

“In just three recent strikes in Tehran, 73 women and children were killed,” Baqaei said on X, adding that in one location, the Chamran residential complex, 20 children were killed, with 10 more still trapped under the rubble some 48 hours later.

“Targeting families, kids and women… That’s the routine barbarity,” he added.

Israeli propaganda: "Surgical strikes, no residential damage."
Reality: In just three recent strikes in Tehran, 73 women and kids killed; 20 children killed in Chamran residential complex, 10 still remain trapped under rubble 48 hours later.

Their 'surgical accuracy'?!…

— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) June 15, 2025

Iran’s official IRNA news agency has confirmed that an Israeli strike on Sunday killed the intelligence chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Mohammed Kazemi, along with two other officers.

“Three intelligence generals, Mohammad Kazemi, Hassan Mohaghegh and Mohsen Bagheri were assassinated and fell as martyrs,” the agency said, citing a Revolutionary Guard statement.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran requested an emergency session at the UN Security Council, but the request was turned down due to “interference” by the US.

Tehran also requested an urgent meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.

“We hope this session produces a resolution or at least a strong statement,” Araghchi told reporters.

He also criticised the stance taken by the US and some European countries in favour of Israel.

“It is both astonishing and deeply regrettable that even in the face of a blatant military strike on nuclear facilities – which are protected under international law – these countries failed to condemn the attack. Some even used language that implicitly legitimises it,” he said.

“Western backing of Israel only reinforces our conviction that we can count on no one but ourselves and our armed forces.”

The diplomatic mission in Baghdad has issued a statement saying it is aware of an increased potential for violence targeting US-owned businesses and locations frequented by US citizens, as Israel and Iran continue to exchange attacks.

“We urge all US citizens in Iraq to avoid locations frequented by foreigners and any large gatherings or crowds,” the embassy said.

It comes as Iraqi activists have called for a protest this evening near Baghdad’s Green Zone – where the embassy is located – to demand its shutdown and the departure of its staff from the country.

Yossi Mekelberg, a consulting fellow at Chatham House, said that Netanyahu is pursuing several aims in Israel’s military operation in Iran.

The stated aim is to target Iran’s nuclear capabilities and reduce its regional influence. While Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar earlier denied that regime change is not one of the objectives, “obviously Israel would like to see [that]”, Mekelberg said, adding that this was a “rather unrealistic” outcome.

The current conflict is also helping Netanyahu delay his corruption trial indefinitely.

“In the last few weeks, he gave evidence in his corruption trial and it was cross-examined by the prosecution,” the analyst said. However, Iran’s attacks mean the proceedings are now going to be postponed “for a long time”.

Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, issued a statement declaring support for Iran in the wake of its confrontation with Israel.

“We stand alongside Iran, its leadership, and its people,” the group said, praising what it called the “historic and pivotal” role of Iranian leaders in backing the Palestinian cause and resistance.

The group mourned the deaths of senior Iranian military commanders and civilians killed in what it described as “ongoing Zionist aggression”, and said the Iranian response had “shaken the foundations of the [Israeli] occupation”.

“Our people, especially in Gaza, watched with pride the powerful strikes delivered” to Israel, the statement added.

The Israeli army says its air and navy forces have intercepted more than 100 “unmanned aerial vehicles” launched from Iran.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported earlier today that the Israeli army detonated five car bombs in Tehran.

Citing an informed source, it said the explosions took place after Iranian air defences successfully repelled the latest wave of Israeli strikes on the country.

An Israeli official, speaking to public broadcaster KAN, denied the claim and any Israeli involvement.

An estimated 100,000 demonstrators in the Netherlands donned red clothing and marched to protest the Dutch government’s policy toward Israel.

Protesters walked a 5km (3-mile) loop around the centre of The Hague to symbolically create the red line they say the government has failed to draw to halt Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

“I don’t want to be complicit in these horrendous crimes happening there, and I want to speak out,” protester Marin Koning said.

The protest sent a “clear signal”, according to Marjon Rozema of Amnesty International Netherlands. Dutch officials must “act now, at both the national and international level, to increase the pressure on the Israeli government,” she said in a statement.

Israeli officials have argued that the ongoing military operation against Iran was necessary as the country was months away from producing a nuclear weapon.

Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara said Israel has no credible evidence to sustain its claim, which the US also knows to be inaccurate.

“Netanyahu played into the same theatre of deception that was played before the war on Iraq in 2003,” he said.

In March, the United States’ Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told the US Congress that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei did not authorise the nuclear weapons programme that he suspended in 2003.

Bishara said Netanyahu’s interview with Fox News was reminiscent of a speech given by former US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice in reference to Iraq’s purported possession of weapons of mass destruction.

The claim that Iraq was actively building nuclear weapons prior to the 2003 US-led invasion was debunked.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has called a videoconference of EU foreign ministers for Tuesday to discuss developments in the Middle East.

“In light of the gravity of the situation in the Middle East, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas has convened a meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers via video link for Tuesday,” the spokesperson said.

“The meeting will provide an opportunity for an exchange of views, coordination on diplomatic outreach to Tel Aviv and Tehran, and possible next steps.”