Israel Launches Air Strikes on Iran's Western and Central Regions
Israel launched air raids on western and central Iran on Monday morning, accompanied by reports of explosions in several Iranian cities, according to Israeli and Iranian media reports.
The Israeli army claimed its air force attacked a military site belonging to the "Iranian regime."
Iranian state television reported explosions in the capital Tehran as well as in Tabriz and Isfahan, while Tasnim News Agency reported explosions near the city of Karaj, Anadolu reported (8/6).
Meanwhile, the IRNA News Agency reported that at least three explosions were heard in Isfahan.
The attack came hours after Iran launched several rounds of missiles towards northern Israel following an Israeli air strike on the southern outskirts of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, which Tel Aviv said targeted Hezbollah's command and planning center.
As previously reported, Iranian authorities stated on Monday morning that the attack on northern Israel was a "self-defense" following repeated violations of the ceasefire and recent attacks targeting Lebanese and Iranian interests.
In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said the attack was carried out based on "Tehran's legitimate right to self-defense" in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter.
The ministry accused Israel of repeatedly violating the April 8 ceasefire and stepping up attacks on Lebanon and Iran, including through cooperation with "terrorist US troops" in recent attacks targeting Iranian vessels and sites in southern Iran.
"The ceasefire in Lebanon is an integral part of the April 8 agreement," the statement said, which stated that the United States was directly responsible for Israel's ceasefire violations and any resulting regional conflict escalation.
Tehran warned that any new "adventure" by Israel against Lebanon or Iran would face a "devastating and comprehensive response" from Iranian forces.
Separately, US President Donald Trump on Sunday urged Iran to return to negotiations after the missile attack on Israel, while calling on Tel Aviv not to retaliate, saying more time was needed for diplomacy, according to media reports.
"You've fired your missiles, that's enough. Come back to the negotiating table and make a deal," President Trump told Fox News, referring to Iran
A senior US official, as reported by Axios, said the Trump administration did not authorize an Israeli attack on Beirut, adding that he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call to delay further action because "we were close to reaching a good deal."
Netanyahu initially refused but eventually "halfheartedly agreed" to step down, the official said, noting Sunday's phone call was much calmer than the tense exchange between the two leaders last week, with President Trump not raising his voice.
The Iranian attacks, which targeted Haifa and Nazareth, were the first in Israeli territory since the April 8 ceasefire and came after an Israeli attack on the southern outskirts of Beirut on Sunday morning.
Responding to Israel's attack on Lebanon, President Trump stressed that the military action was "not coordinated with the United States." He said he was "not happy" with the attack targeting Hezbollah in Beirut.
He also said that Iran's attack "didn't hurt anyone" and that he hoped Israel would not retaliate, because a counterattack "would just continue like the last 47 years or the last 3,000 years."