Iran vows defiance as conflict with Israel intensifies
NN Report :
The ongoing military confrontation between Iran and Israel has sharply intensified, with both countries launching fresh missile attacks on Wednesday. Now entering its sixth consecutive day, the conflict has become one of the most perilous escalations in the Middle East in decades, drawing in global powers and threatening broader regional instability.
In Tehran, multiple explosions were reported across the capital, including in the northern districts, leading to the temporary closure of parts of Valiasr Street – one of the city’s most vital thoroughfares. Additional blasts were heard in the eastern parts of the capital, further escalating public anxiety. Israeli military officials confirmed that the strikes targeted “military infrastructure” within Tehran, asserting that the operation was intended to neutralise threats to national security.
Meanwhile, tensions flared further after former US President Donald Trump issued a provocative statement, calling for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.” In a social media post, Trump warned Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei that the US was aware of his location, describing him as “an easy target,” but added, “we’re not going to take him out-at least not for now.”
Responding in a televised address, Ayatollah Khamenei vowed that Iran would not bow to external pressure. “The Iranian nation stands firm against both imposed war and imposed peace. We will not surrender to any form of coercion,” he declared. Later, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Supreme Leader warned that US involvement in the conflict would be “100% to its own detriment.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also sought to reinforce internal unity during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. “No crisis can endanger our country if the people stand by the government,” he said, urging ministers to enhance coordination with neighbouring countries and empower local authorities to respond swiftly to emergencies.
The international community has responded with growing alarm. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed that Moscow remains in communication with Washington over the unfolding crisis. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reaffirmed Iran’s right to pursue peaceful nuclear energy and condemned Israel’s airstrikes as a “dangerous escalation.”
“The nuclear threat in the Middle East is no longer hypothetical. It now represents tangible and immediate risks,” she told reporters.
Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike on Monday struck several residential areas in Tehran, including homes occupied by officials of the Bangladesh Embassy, causing significant damage and raising concerns for diplomatic safety.
Among the properties hit was the residence of Oalid Islam, First Secretary at the Bangladesh Embassy in Iran. According to a report by BBC Bangla, his house was completely destroyed in the strike. Fortunately, he was not at home at the time of the attack.
“My house has been reduced to rubble,” Oalid told the BBC. “There is nothing left around us now. Only a few diplomats’ residences remain standing, but the surrounding area has been devastated.”
Most Bangladeshi embassy staff are based in Tehran’s District 3, specifically in the Jordan area, which is home to several key sites including the Iranian state television headquarters – a location previously declared a target by Israeli forces.
Residents of District 3 had been advised to evacuate ahead of the assault. While the strike resulted in limited casualties, multiple buildings sustained heavy structural damage. In response to the incident, the Bangladesh government issued immediate instructions for all Bangladeshi nationals, including diplomatic staff, to evacuate the affected area. Embassy personnel have since vacated the compound and are currently sheltering in other parts of the capital.
The attack underscores the growing intensity of hostilities between Israel and Iran, with the conflict increasingly threatening civilian and diplomatic zones.
Gennady Gatilov, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, warned that Israel’s actions could trigger catastrophic consequences. “Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, we are witnessing the emergence of a highly negative and unpredictable scenario – one that threatens not only the Middle East but global security as a whole,” he cautioned.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Israeli strikes hit two key Iranian nuclear-related facilities: the TESA Karaj workshop and the Tehran Research Center. “One building at the Tehran site, where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested, sustained damage. At Karaj, two buildings linked to centrifuge component production were destroyed,” the agency confirmed in a statement on X.
In retaliation, Iran reportedly launched a volley of missiles, including a hypersonic missile, towards Israeli territory. The exchanges have triggered widespread alarm among civilians in both countries, with many seeking shelter amid fears of further escalation.
In Israel, Defence Minister Israel Katz announced a phased reopening of certain areas and sectors of the economy, framing the move as a “message of victory” over Iranian aggression. “The fighting will continue until all threats are eliminated,” Katz said in a televised briefing.
In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer chaired an emergency COBRA committee meeting on Wednesday to assess the security implications for the UK and its citizens abroad. A Downing Street spokesperson reiterated Britain’s call for de-escalation. “This is a rapidly evolving situation. We are working closely with international partners to restore a diplomatic path forward,” the spokesperson said.
British nationals in Israel have been advised to adhere strictly to local security guidelines and remain near designated shelters as the security situation remains volatile.
With both Iran and Israel insisting on pursuing their military objectives, and with external powers now drawn deeper into the crisis, prospects for a rapid resolution appear increasingly remote.