Khamenei rejects Trump's demand for surrender, Trump says 'good luck'
Iran launches hypersonic missiles against Israel in new attack
Highlights:
- US President Donald Trump calls for Iran's 'unconditional surrender'
- US deploys more fighter jets to the region
- Khamenei rejects Trump's call for surrender
- Khamenei says any US strikes on Iran will have 'serious consequences'
- Israel begins flying home citizens stranded abroad
12:55am
Iran launches hypersonic missiles against Israel in new attack: State TV
Iran launched hypersonic missiles in a new wave of attacks against Israel on Wednesday, state TV reported, as fighting
between the two foes raged for the sixth day.
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The Fattah hypersonic missiles "have successfully penetrated the Israeli regime's defenses," state TV reported.
11:30pm
Trump would need to ask for Congress approval to 'bomb' Iran, Republican lawmaker says
Republican Senator Rand Paul told reporters on Wednesday that Trump would need to ask Congress for permission to bomb Iran or risk violating the US Constitution.
"Let's say President Trump decides that he's going to bomb Iran. He needs to come to a joint session of Congress and ask for permission, and Congress would have to declare war on Iran. That is war on Iran," said the Kentucky Republican, who is widely viewed as a maverick conservative.
"He would have to come and ask permission. Otherwise, he'd be acting in an unconstitutional manner."
The US Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the sole power to declare war and requires that any hostility toward Iran be explicitly authorised by a declaration of war or specific authorisation for the use of military force.
Under U.S. law, war powers resolutions are privileged, meaning that the Senate will be required to promptly consider and vote on the matter.
Paul also warned that an attack on Iran could lead to chaos within the country and raised doubts about the readiness of the U.S. or Israel to foster stability in the aftermath.
10:32pm
Israeli military says missiles have been launched from Iran towards Israel
The Israeli military said in a statement on its Telegram channel:
"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat.
The public is instructed to enter a protected space and remain there until further notice."
09:35pm
We will not negotiate under duress, says Iran's mission to UN
In a post on X, the Iranian mission to the UN addressed some of Trump's comments:
08:06pm
Can't say whether US will strike Iran, Trump says
Donald Trump on Wednesday declined to answer reporters' questions on whether the US was planning to strike Iran or its nuclear facilities, and said the Iranians had reached out but he feels "it's very late to be talking."
"There's a big difference between now and a week ago," Trump told reporters outside the White House.
Trump said that Iran had proposed to come for talks at the White House. He did not provide details. He described Iran as totally defenceless, with no air defence whatsoever.
When asked what he would say to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has said Iran will not surrender, Trump replied: "I say, 'Good luck.'"
Asked about whether US is moving closer to striking Iran, Trump said: "I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do. I can tell you this, that Iran's got a lot of trouble and they want to negotiate. And I said, Why didn't you negotiate with me before all this death and destruction?"
Trump was speaking as he was overseeing the installation of two new flag poles on the White House lawn.
07:36pm
Israel's defence minister says air force destroyed Iranian internal security agency headquarters
Israel's Defence Minister has announced that the country's air force has destroyed the headquarters of Iran's internal security agency.
06:45pm
Israel attacking military targets in Tehran
After a series of blasts were heard in Tehran, the Israeli military says that it is attacking military targets in Tehran.
06:20pm
Russia and US are in contact, Russian official says
Russia and the United States are in contact regarding the conflict between Iran and Israel, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying on Wednesday.
Ryabkov earlier warned that direct US military assistance to Israel could radically destabilise the situation in the Middle East.
05:50pm
Putin and UAE president urge end to the conflict, Kremlin says
Russian President Vladimir Putin and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke by phone on Wednesday and both agreed that there needed to be an immediate end to the conflict between Israel and Iran, the Kremlin said.
Putin reiterated Russia's readiness to serve as a mediator to help find a diplomatic solution to Israeli and Western concerns about Iran's nuclear programme, the Kremlin added.
04:45pm
Khamenei says any US strikes will have serious consequences, rejects Trump's call for surrender
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a statement read by a television presenter that his country will not accept US President Donald Trump's call for an unconditional surrender.
In his first remarks since Friday, when he delivered a speech broadcast on state media after Israel began bombarding Iran, Khamenei said peace or war could not be imposed on the Islamic Republic.
"Intelligent people who know Iran, the Iranian nation, and its history will never speak to this nation in threatening language because the Iranian nation will not surrender," he said.
"The Americans should know that any US military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage."
04:10pm
Erdogan says Iran defending itself is legal and legitimate
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Iran was defending itself against Israel's illegal, "crazed" attacks, and what he called "state terrorism".
He added that Iran's self-defence was natural, legal and legitimate.
Speaking to members of his ruling AK Party in parliament, Erdogan also said Israel had attacked Turkey's neighbour Iran without waiting for an end to nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran, adding Ankara wanted to see issues resolved through diplomacy.He said Turkey was ready to contribute to a solution.
04:00pm
Qatar's emir has received a letter from Iran's president
Qatar's foreign ministry said the country's emir had received a letter from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
It did not reveal the content of the letter.
Qatar is among countries that have appealed to Washington to press Israel to agree to a ceasefire and to resume talks with Tehran towards a nuclear deal, a source told Reuters on Monday.
03:43pm
Iran says it will respond firmly if US becomes directly involved
Iran has conveyed to Washington that it will respond firmly to the United States if it becomes directly involved in Israel's military campaign, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva said on Wednesday.
Ali Bahreini said that he saw the US as "complicit in what Israel is doing."
The US has so far only taken indirect actions in the current conflict with Iran, including helping to shoot down missiles fired toward Israel.
It is deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes, three US officials told Reuters.
03:38pm
Khamenei to make televised statement
A televised message by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be aired shortly, Iran's state media reported on Wednesday.
Khamenei's last appearance was on Friday shortly after Israel attacked Iran.
03:32pm
Israeli strikes hit two Iranian centrifuge production sites, IAEA says
Israeli military strikes have hit two facilities in Iran that made parts for centrifuges, the machines that enrich uranium, the UN nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday.
"At the Tehran site, one building was hit where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested. At Karaj, two buildings were destroyed where different centrifuge components were manufactured," the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on X.
03:30pm
Britain removes family members of foreign office staff in Israel
The United Kingdom said it was temporarily withdrawing the family members of staff who work at the country's embassy and consulate in Israel on Wednesday.
"Family members of staff at the British embassy in Tel Aviv and the British consulate in Jerusalem have been temporarily withdrawn as a precautionary measure," the Foreign Office said on its travel advice page for Israel.
"The embassy and consulate continue with essential work including services to British nationals," it added.
03:17pm
Israel says damaged oil refineries in Haifa expected to return to operation within 30 days
Israel's Energy Minister Eli Cohen said the country's energy sector was operating normally. Cohen added that perhaps gas exports would resume in the coming hours or days.
02:56pm
US embassy in Jerusalem shut from Wednesday to Friday
The US Embassy in Jerusalem will be shut from Wednesday through Friday due to the security situation in the region and to comply with Israeli guidance, the US State Department said.
02:47pm
Iran will respond to strikes 'without restraint', its UN ambassador says
Iran will respond to Israeli strikes "strongly" and "without restraint," its ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva said on Wednesday.
"We will not show any reluctance in defending our people, security and land. We will respond seriously and strongly, without restraint," Ali Bahreini, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in Geneva, told reporters.
Bahreini told the UN Human Rights Council that Israeli attacks represented an act of "war against humanity" and slammed states for not condemning the acts which he said exposed people to the risk of hazardous leaks.
"The deliberate targeting of Iran's nuclear facilities not only constitutes a grave violation of international law and UN Charter but also risks exposition of all people in our neighbourhood to possible hazardous leak. This is not an act of war against our country, it is war against humanity," he said.
He criticised the failure of states to condemn Israel's attacks. "We are hearing almost nothing from those self-proclaimed champions of human rights," he said.
02:39pm
Former Iranian economy minister calls for Iran's control over Strait of Hormuz
Former Iranian Economy Minister Ehsan Khandouzi has said that tankers and LNG cargoes should only transit the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian permission and this policy should be carried out "tomorrow for a hundred days."
It was not immediately clear whether Khandouzi was echoing the establishment's decision or sharing his personal opinion.
"This policy is decisive if implemented on time. Any delay in carrying it out means prolonging war inside the country," Khandouzi posted on X on Tuesday.
Iran's Oil Ministry and Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
02:26pm
US said on Tuesday it is moving fighter jets to the Middle East
The US military is deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes, bolstering US military forces in the region, three US officials said.
One of the officials said the deployments include F-16, F-22 and F-35 fighter aircraft.
Two of the officials stressed the defensive nature of the deployment of fighter aircraft, which have been used to shoot down drones and projectiles.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Reuters was first to report on Monday the movement of a large number of tanker aircraft to Europe as well as the deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Middle East.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the deployments as defensive in nature, as Washington looks to safeguard forces in the Middle East from potential blowback from Iran and Iran-aligned forces in the region.
02:13pm
Smoke seen in direction of Iran's Khojir missile facility
Iranian news websites said early on Wednesday that Israel was attacking Iran's Khojir missile production facility.
Social media footage released on Wednesday showed a plume of smoke in the direction of the facility.
02:05pm
Chinese nations flee Iran overland to neighboring countries
The first Chinese evacuees from Iran have started sharing on social media their desperate efforts to reach the Islamic Republic's borders and the safety of Turkmenistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Several thousand Chinese nationals are thought to reside in Iran, according to state media reports.
It highlights Beijing's efforts to deepen strategic and commercial ties with the theocratic regime over the past two decades.
"My heart was pounding but amid the haze of war, everything became clear: I packed my bags and tried to evacuate to the embassy," wrote a Chinese travel blogger under the alias Shuishui Crusoe, a nod to Daniel Defoe's fictional castaway, Robinson Crusoe.
The travel blogger had decided to leave after sitting through Israel's overnight bombings last Friday when the conflict began, even as the embassy told advised her to stay put.
More than 700 Chinese nationals have been transferred to places of safety and more than 1,000 more are in the process of being transferred, China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
01:52pm
Israeli military begins attacks in Tehran area
The Israeli military says it has begun a wave of attacks in the Tehran area in Iran.
01:50pm
Iran says situation with nuclear facilities is 'good'
Iran's nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said the situation with Iranian nuclear facilities is 'good', according to Fars News.
01:23pm
Israel launches airlift to bring home stranded citizens
Israel began flying home citizens stranded abroad on Wednesday.
It launched a phased airlift operation after the country's surprise military strike on Iran left tens of thousands of Israelis stuck overseas.
The first rescue flight, operated by national carrier El Al, touched down at Ben Gurion Airport early Wednesday morning, bringing home passengers from Larnaca, Cyprus.
El Al has said repatriation flights are already scheduled from Athens, Rome, Milan and Paris.
Smaller rivals Arkia and Israir are also taking part in the operation.
