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Published 06/21/2025Published June 21, 2025last updated 06/21/2025last updated June 21, 2025Renewed strikes in Israel and Iran come after Tehran ruled out a return to nuclear talks until Israel halts its strikes, and Israel's army told Israelis to brace for a "prolonged campaign."
https://p.dw.com/p/4wGEl
The strikes by Iran were intercepted by Israel's defense systems over Tel AvivImage: John Wessels/AFP via Getty Images
What you need to know
- Iran and Israel exchange fire again
- Israel said its attacks on Iran delayed its nuclear program
- Germany has continued to evacuate its citizens from Israel, along other countries
Below is a roundup of the latest developments on the Israel-Iran conflict and the wider crisis in the Middle East on Saturday, June 21, 2025:
06/21/2025June 21, 2025
Attacks on Iran have delayed its nuclear program by years, Israel says
According to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar's estimates, Israel's attacks on Iran have slowed down the Islamic Republic's development of a nuclear bomb by several years.
"I believe, according to the assessments we hear, we have already delayed their ability to obtain a nuclear bomb by at least two or three years," Saar said in an interview with the German tabloid Bild newspaper.
"The fact that we have eliminated those individuals who led and advanced the weaponization of the nuclear program is extremely important in terms of the results," he said.
"We have already achieved a lot. But we will do whatever we can. We will not stop until we have done everything possible to eliminate this threat," Saar said.
The conflict between Israel and Iran erupted a week ago with Israeli airstrikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists.
The Iranian state news agency Tasnim named the "martyred" scientists as "Abdolhamid Minouchehr, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, Amirhossein Feqhi, Motalleblizadeh, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi and Fereydoun Abbasi."
Israel is convinced that Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon, an accusation that Iranian leadership has repeatedly rejected.
Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is meant for civilian rather than military purposes. However, experts and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN watchdog which inspects nuclear facilities, have questioned and criticized the Iranian claims.
https://p.dw.com/p/4wGGe
Skip next section Germany evacuates 64 citizens from Israel06/21/2025June 21, 2025
Germany evacuates 64 citizens from Israel
The German air force evacuated 64 citizens from Israel who arrived in Cologne on Friday.
The Airbus A400M military aircraft touched down at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
This is the first time the German air force has flown German citizens out of Israel since the conflict with Iran escalated about a week ago.
The group of German citizens was flown out of Israel as part of a "diplomatic evacuation," the German government said.
"The flights were carried out at short notice in close coordination with the Israeli authorities and were primarily intended for families with children and other vulnerable persons."
In the past two days, Germany had begun evacuating its citizens on special flights, though not directly from Israel, but rather from Jordan.
Airbus A400M landed in Cologne with the German evacueesImage: Thomas Banneyer/dpa/picture alliancehttps://p.dw.com/p/4wGGn
Skip next section Fresh strikes reported in Israel, Iran06/21/2025June 21, 2025
Fresh strikes reported in Israel, Iran
Around 2:30 a.m. in Israel (2330 GMT on Friday), the Israeli military warned of an incoming missile barrage from Iran, triggering air raid sirens across parts of central Israel, including Tel Aviv, as well as in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Israel said its defense system intercepted the missiles over Tel Aviv.
The Israeli air force also said Saturday it had launched a new wave of airstrikes against missile storage and launch sites in central Iran, on the ninth day of conflict between the two countries.
https://p.dw.com/p/4wGGg
Skip next section Recap of Friday's main headlines06/21/2025June 21, 2025
Recap of Friday's main headlines
Israel's armed forces chief, Eyal Zamir, warned that his country should be "ready for a prolonged campaign" against Iran, as the war entered its second week.
Zamir's statement echoed earlier remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the fighting would continue "for as long as it takes."
A meeting of the foreign ministers of three European countries with their Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, came to an end Friday in Geneva, with the ministers from Germany and France voicing hope over future talks.
Araghchi, meanwhile, said Iran would not return to talks about its nuclear program until Israeli "aggression ceases and the aggressor is held accountable for its committed crimes."
US President Donald Trump said on Friday Iran has a "maximum" of two weeks to avoid possible US military strikes, one day after stating he would decide within a fortnight whether to take action.
https://p.dw.com/p/4wGG4
Skip next section Welcome to our coverageWelcome to DW's coverage of the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
The nuclear talks in Geneva ended on Friday with no conclusion. The date for the next round of talks has not been decided. Meanwhile, Iran and Israel have resumed attacks against each other.
In addition to the latest news, this blog will bring you photos, videos, analyses and on-the-ground reporting from DW correspondents.
https://p.dw.com/p/4wGFv
