Tehran – In what has been described as its most powerful attack yet, Israel launched a major airstrike on Iran’s capital, Tehran, on Monday, striking key military infrastructure and the infamous Evin Prison. This marked the 11th day of escalating conflict between the two nations.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called the strike an “unprecedented use of force targeting regime control structures.” The targeted sites included the command center of the Basij militia, several military installations, and Evin Prison – a facility known for detaining political prisoners and anti-regime activists.
According to the Israeli military, the operation aimed to neutralize structures involved in Iran’s internal security and regime stability. Additionally, a strike was carried out near the Fordow uranium enrichment facility, located in the mountainous region south of Tehran, with the objective of blocking access routes. The previous day, the United States had already targeted Fordow using bunker-buster bombs.
Both the U.S. and Israel view Iran’s nuclear program as a significant threat. Following Monday’s attack, Iran’s Health Ministry reported over 400 fatalities. On the Israeli side, retaliatory Iranian strikes have reportedly killed 24 people.
Local Iranian media reported power outages in Tehran due to damage to electrical infrastructure. Meanwhile, Israel’s national electric company confirmed that a “strategic installation” in the southern region was damaged, though did not disclose further details.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that the American strike had “completely destroyed” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. However, officials indicated that it would take time to fully assess the damage.
Speaking at the emergency session of the United Nations Security Council, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed visible damage to the Fordow site, but stated that it was too early to assess the full extent, especially underground. Grossi reiterated that nuclear facilities should never be military targets.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the attacks by the U.S. and Israel would severely undermine diplomatic efforts on Iran’s nuclear program, stating that the strikes could “shut the door on peaceful negotiation.”
The escalation has already had global repercussions. Oil prices surged by more than 4% before stabilizing slightly later in the day. China called for restraint from both sides, warning that regional instability could threaten the global economy.
Amid growing fears of a wider war, the U.S. government has urged its citizens worldwide to exercise caution. The U.S. Embassy in Bahrain announced that due to rising tensions, some staff had been temporarily shifted to remote work.
