Conflict enters fourth day
\nIranian parliamentarians preparing a bill that could push Tehran toward exiting the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
\n Tehran
\nThe Israeli military said that after a wave of strikes on Monday, its forces had destroyed one third of Iran\u2019s surface-to-surface missile launchers.
\nAccording to military spokesman Effie Defrin, \u201cwe have now achieved full air superiority over Tehran\u201d. That followed a wave of intense air raids across the country, from the western border with Iraq to the capital Tehran and as far east as Mashhad, where the airport was hit.
\nIn Tehran early Monday, Israel said it hit command centres belonging to the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
\nThe Israeli army later issued an evacuation order for Tehran\u2019s northern District 3, stating in the coming hours it \u201cwill operate in the area, as it has in recent days throughout Tehran, to strike military infrastructure of the Iranian regime\u201d.
\nReza Sayyad, spokesman for the Iranian armed forces, said their targets in Israel included \u201csensitive and important\u201d security sites as well as \u201cthe residences of military commanders and scientists\u201d.
\nSayyad, in a televised address, vowed a \u201cdevastating response\u201d to the Israeli attacks, while the Revolutionary Guards in a statement warned they would hit more \u201cvital targets\u201d in Israel \u201cuntil its complete destruction\u201d.
\nResidential areas in both countries have suffered, with Israel accusing Iran of deliberately targeting civilians.
\nAfter deadly overnight missile fire, Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that \u201cthe residents of Tehran will pay the price \u2014 and soon\u201d.
\nIran mulls NPT exit
\nIranian parliamentarians are preparing a bill that could push Tehran toward exiting the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the foreign ministry said on Monday, while reiterating Tehran\u2019s official stance against developing nuclear weapons.
\n\u201cIn light of recent developments, we will take an appropriate decision. Government has to enforce parliament bills but such a proposal is just being prepared and we will coordinate in the later stages with parliament,\u201d the ministry\u2019s spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, when asked at a press conference about Tehran potentially leaving the NPT.
\nThe NPT, which Iran ratified in 1970, guarantees countries the right to pursue civilian nuclear power in return for requiring them to forego atomic weapons and cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.
\nIran launched 370 ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel over a four-day escalation, according to the Israeli Prime Minister\u2019s Office, CNN reported.
\nSince the hostilities began on Friday, at least 24 people have been killed in Israel, and 592 others injured, including 10 in critical condition. The attacks have struck 30 locations across the country, the statement added.
\nIn Iran, the death toll has also continued to rise. The country\u2019s health ministry, as cited by state media on Sunday, confirmed that at least 224 people have been killed since Friday amid the ongoing conflict.
\nOn the other hand, 224 people \u2014 including 70 women and children \u2014 were killed in Israeli attacks on Iran, Al Jazeera reported. Among the dead were senior IRGC officials, including the intelligence chief and two generals. The strikes occurred Sunday amid escalating conflict.
\nThe figures mark one of the deadliest exchanges between the two nations in recent years, as tensions spiral in the region.
\nUS embassy in Israel closed
\nAccording to Anadolu Agency, US Embassy in Israel will remain closed due to ongoing security concerns following Iranian missile strikes, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced on Monday.
\n\u201cOur US Embassy in Israel & Consulate will officially remain closed today as shelter in place still in effect,\u201d Huckabee said on X.
\nHe added that while the \u201cEmbassy Branch in Tel Aviv\u201d sustained minor \u201cdamage from the concussions of nearby missile\u201d impacts, there were no injuries reported among US personnel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Conflict enters fourth day Iranian parliamentarians preparing a bill that could push Tehran toward exiting the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Tehran The Israeli military said that after a wave of strikes on Monday, its forces had destroyed one third of Iran\u2019s surface-to-surface missile launchers. According to military spokesman Effie Defrin, \u201cwe have now achieved full air […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":484622,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-484605","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n