Israel-Iran war updates: Iran expects India to condemn Israeli military actions against it

As part of the ongoing Operation Sindhu, two evacuation flights are scheduled to arrive in India tonight. The first flight, originating from Mashhad, is expected to land in Delhi around 11:30 pm, while the second flight, coming from Ashgabat, is set to arrive at approximately 3:00 am.

Britain's foreign secretary said after several hours of talks Friday between top European diplomats and their Iranian counterparts that the Europeans are “keen to continue ongoing discussions and negotiations with Iran.” Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the Europeans were clear in talks in Geneva that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon. ” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that “very serious talks” were held Friday with Iran's Abbas Araghchi.

Thousands of Afghans are fleeing Iran every day to escape deportation and war, a major international aid agency and Taliban official said today. Millions of Afghans have called Iran home for decades. But they have been leaving in large numbers since October 2023, when authorities announced a crackdown on foreigners who it said were in the country illegally. Neighbouring Pakistan launched a similar campaign around the same time. Iran's war with Israel, which started last Friday, is also forcing them to flee as Israeli strikes target the country.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has officially confirmed that Israeli airstrikes carried out on Friday caused damage to key structures at Iran's Khondab Heavy Water Production Plant—previously known as the Arak facility. Among the affected areas was the plant's critical distillation unit, the nuclear watchdog revealed in its latest post on X. This acknowledgement marks a shift from the IAEA's earlier statement, issued just a day earlier, in which it reported that no visible damage had been initially detected. 

In a significant development, Iran on Friday opened its otherwise closed airspace exclusively for India to facilitate the return of the stranded students. At least 1,000 Indian students stranded in various Iranian cities are expected to land in Delhi in the next two days as part of the government's emergency evacuation programme, Operation Sindhu. While the first flight is expected to land at 11:00 PM IST tonight, the other second and third flights are scheduled for Saturday, one in the morning and another in the evening. 

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Iranian Deputy Chief of Mission in India, Mohammad Javad Hosseini, has sharply criticised the international community for failing to condemn Israel during its October offensive, accusing it of enabling further aggression. According to Hosseini, had Israel faced global condemnation at that time—when it was "killing Palestinians under the excuse of eradicating Hamas"—it would have thought twice before attacking a sovereign nation like Iran. He also took aim at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying the body had previously stated it had no evidence of Iran pursuing nuclear activities for military purposes. However, Hosseini argued that recent developments have raised serious questions about the IAEA’s credibility. He accused the agency of aligning with Israel’s narrative, effectively paving the way for a military strike against Iran.

In a strong diplomatic message, Iranian Deputy Chief of Mission in India, Mohammad Javad Hosseini, has called on countries like India to take a firmer stance on the ongoing conflict involving Israel. Emphasising India's role as the "voice of the Global South" and a key advocate for peace, Hosseini urged New Delhi to not just push for dialogue, but to first come forward and explicitly condemn Israel’s actions.

Speaking on national television, Iran’s Foreign Minister announced that upcoming talks with the E3 in Geneva will focus solely on nuclear and regional matters. He firmly ruled out any discussion of Tehran’s ballistic missile programme, calling it non-negotiable.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Khatibzadeh stated that Iran is open to pursuing diplomacy, but only if acts of aggression come to an end, state-run agency ISNA reported.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in an interview with state television, stated that Iran does not target civilian areas, particularly hospitals. He contrasted this with Israel, which he accused of deliberately striking hospitals in Gaza.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that Iran is not ready to engage in talks with any party while Israeli airstrikes continue. In a televised interview, Araghchi said the ongoing aggression leaves no room for dialogue and expressed confidence that, following Iran’s resistance, other nations may begin to distance themselves from the conflict.

In a series of overnight airstrikes on Tehran, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) targeted key military and nuclear-linked sites deep inside Iranian territory. According to Israeli officials, the operation successfully struck industrial facilities involved in missile production and numerous military installations.

One of the most significant targets was the headquarters of SPND (Organisation for Defensive Innovation and Research), which Israel alleges plays a central role in Iran’s covert nuclear weapons programme.

At least 657 people have been killed and 2,037 injured in Israeli attacks on Iran over the past week, according to a report by the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). The agency noted that the casualties include two Iranian soldiers who were killed in Abhar, located in Iran's Zanjan province.

Foreign ministers from the UK, France, and Germany are set to meet Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi in Geneva on Friday, as global diplomatic efforts intensify to defuse rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme.

The high-level talks come amid growing speculation that the United States may join Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Iran. On Thursday, the White House confirmed that President Donald Trump will decide within two weeks whether to authorise a military strike.

“The president will make a decision on whether to attack Iran within two weeks,” the statement said, while noting that communication with Tehran is ongoing and a diplomatic resolution remains possible.

Israel's military has confirmed it conducted a series of coordinated overnight airstrikes in Tehran, targeting critical military and nuclear-related infrastructure. According to Israeli officials, the strikes hit several industrial sites linked to missile production, along with numerous military installations across the capital. One of the main targets was the headquarters of the Organisation for Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), which Israel claims plays a central role in Iran’s secret nuclear weapons programme.

The Israeli military on Thursday accused Iran of firing at least one missile containing cluster munitions at Israel, marking the first reported use of such weapons in the week-long conflict. According to the military, the missile was designed to disperse small bombs to increase civilian casualties.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will not wait for approval from the United States to press ahead with its military operations against Iran. He reaffirmed Israel’s determination to strike all Iranian nuclear facilities, including the heavily fortified Fordo site.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has stated that while diplomacy remains important in addressing the crisis with Iran, Israel is fully prepared to act on its own if the United States decides not to intervene.

In an interview with Politico, Herzog said, “We know what to do. We’ve shown that we know what to do,” when asked about the possibility of the US remaining on the sidelines in the ongoing conflict.

Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Qassem, has pledged full support to Iran in its confrontation with Israel and the United States, according to The Jerusalem Post.

In a speech on Thursday, Qassem defended Iran’s nuclear programme, describing it as peaceful and focused on national development. He argued that international opposition to Iran is driven not by concerns over nuclear weapons, but by Iran’s commitment to “faith, knowledge, and freedom” which, he said, gives strength to the oppressed.

Iran has named a new head of intelligence for its Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), following the death of the previous chief in recent Israeli airstrikes.

According to Iran’s official IRNA news agency, Brigadier General Majid Khadami has been appointed to the post. His predecessor was among several senior IRGC figures killed in targeted Israeli attacks amid escalating tensions between the two countries.

Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, is ramping up efforts to safeguard Israelis overseas amid intelligence suggesting that Iran is planning attacks on diplomatic missions and aviation-related sites, according to a report by Channel 12.

Iran has not yet made a decision to build a nuclear bomb, according to a new assessment by US intelligence agencies, The New York Times reported, citing unnamed officials familiar with the matter.

The report aligns with earlier remarks made by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in March, who stated that while Iran continues to expand its nuclear capabilities, no formal decision has been made to develop a nuclear weapon.

As the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to intensify, governments across the world are urgently working to evacuate their citizens by air, land, and sea.

The ongoing exchange of missile and drone strikes has led to widespread airspace closures across the Middle East, severely disrupting commercial air travel and leaving many passengers stranded, according to the Associated Press.

With flight routes increasingly restricted, some countries have begun moving their nationals overland to neighbouring nations where airports remain open and operational.

The latest round of hostilities, sparked by Israel’s surprise missile strikes on Iran last week, has already prompted the evacuation of thousands of foreign nationals from the region.

Australia has suspended operations at its embassy in Tehran and ordered its diplomats and their families to leave Iran, citing the worsening security situation.

In a statement on Friday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that while embassy staff are being withdrawn, Australia’s ambassador to Iran will remain in the region to support the country’s response to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.

Israel’s defence minister issued a direct threat to Iran’s supreme leader on Thursday, after Iranian missile strikes hit a major hospital in southern Israel and damaged residential buildings near Tel Aviv, injuring at least 240 people.

As emergency teams evacuated patients from the burning hospital, Israeli fighter jets carried out fresh airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Defence Minister Israel Katz blamed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for the assault and said the Israeli military had been given clear orders. “The military has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist,” Katz said.

The Israeli military has issued an evacuation notice for residents in the industrial zone of Kalash Taleshan, a village in northern Iran.

In a statement, the military warned that it would target what it described as military infrastructure in the area.

“Your presence in this area puts your life at risk,” the warning read, urging civilians to leave immediately.

Iran's atomic energy chief has threatened legal action against Rafael Grossi, head of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accusing him of remaining silent during Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

In a letter published by Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency, Mohammad Eslami criticised Grossi’s "inaction" and signalled that legal steps against the IAEA leadership were being considered.

The Israeli Defence Forces reported that its air force intercepted two unmanned aerial vehicles launched from Iran early Thursday morning.

“Following the sirens that sounded between 3:09 and 3:13 in the Dead Sea area due to a hostile aircraft infiltration, two UAVs launched from Iran were intercepted by the IAF. Sirens were activated in accordance with standard protocol,” the IDF said in a statement.

Following meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, UK Foreign Minister David Lammy stressed the urgency of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

“We are determined that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon,” Lammy said. “A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution. Now is the time to put a stop to the grave scenes in the Middle East and prevent a regional escalation that would benefit no one.”