Tehran/Tel Aviv, June 16, 2025: Iranian state television resumed live programming shortly after a missile strike by Israel targeted the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) headquarters in Tehran on Monday, intensifying the ongoing military conflict between the two regional arch-rivals.
Hassan Abedini, a senior official at IRIB, confirmed the attack during a live broadcast. “The Zionist regime, enemy of the Iranian nation, conducted a military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran news network,” he said. “But the voice of the Islamic Revolution and the great Iran cannot be silenced with such aggression.”
Footage circulated online showed the moment of the blast during a live news segment, forcing the anchor off air. Iran’s Mehr News Agency and Press TV released images and videos of the damage, while IRNA reported that programming resumed minutes after a brief disruption.
The strike came just hours after Israel launched fresh air raids on residential areas in Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking during a visit to Tel Nof airbase, declared that Israel was “on the road to victory” and claimed that its air force had seized control of Tehran’s airspace.
“We are working to eliminate two major threats—Iran’s nuclear capabilities and its missile program,” Netanyahu said. He also issued a stark warning to Tehran’s residents, urging them to evacuate the capital: “We are taking action. Leave Tehran before it’s too late.”
The latest confrontation erupted following Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear and military installations on Friday, which reportedly killed senior commanders and scientists. Israel insists the strikes aim to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons—an allegation Tehran denies, maintaining its enrichment program is for civilian use.
The conflict has drawn international concern, including from G7 leaders meeting in Canada. U.S. President Donald Trump called for an immediate de-escalation.
“I’d say Iran is not winning this war. They should talk—and they should talk immediately before it’s too late,” Trump said during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Iran responded through Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who accused the U.S. of enabling Israel’s aggression.
“If President Trump is serious about diplomacy, he must first ensure Israel halts its military actions,” Araqchi said on X. “A single phone call from Washington can restrain Netanyahu. That may pave the way back to negotiations.”
Sources told Reuters that Tehran has reached out to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman to persuade the U.S. to press Israel for a ceasefire. In return, Iran is reportedly willing to show flexibility on nuclear talks.
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted an evacuation alert on X, urging residents of Tehran’s third district—home to several embassies, hospitals, the IRIB headquarters, and UN offices—to “leave immediately” as military operations would target the area.
Defence Minister Israel Katz echoed the threat, stating: “The Iranian propaganda megaphone is about to disappear.” He claimed evacuations had begun in the affected areas.
Earlier, Katz had warned that “residents of Tehran will pay the price soon” after Iranian missiles struck Tel Aviv and Haifa, killing at least eight people.
According to Israeli media, the death toll in Israel since Friday stands at 23. Meanwhile, Iranian health authorities reported that at least 224 people, including 70 women and children, have been killed in Israeli attacks, with over 1,200 injured—90% of them civilians.
Amid rising tensions, the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is reportedly en route to the Middle East. The ship was seen moving through the Malacca Strait towards the Indian Ocean on Monday, cancelling its scheduled port call in Danang, Vietnam.
A Vietnamese official confirmed to AFP that a planned reception on the carrier had been scrapped, citing a letter from the U.S. Embassy attributing the change to an “emergent operational requirement.” The U.S. Department of Defense and Nimitz officials declined to comment.
