On Saturday, Israel carried out airstrikes on two Iranian military sites near Tehran, targeting facilities linked to Iran’s ballistic missile program and a former nuclear development site. The attack, which Israel described as a defensive response to recent missile attacks from Iran, damaged structures at both the Parchin and Khojir military bases.
The Parchin military base, about 25 miles southeast of Tehran, has long been under international scrutiny. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) previously expressed concerns that Parchin was used for nuclear weapons testing until 2003, although Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful. Satellite images of the site post-strike show at least one building destroyed, with others damaged.
The second site, Khojir, is known for missile production and is believed to have underground tunnels used for storing and building solid-fuel missiles. According to analysts, the strikes hit facilities associated with missile fuel production.
Following the strikes, Iranian air defenses were activated. Iran’s military confirmed the deaths of two soldiers and a civilian was later reported dead. Iranian authorities also suspended flights during the strikes.
In a statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it “considers itself entitled and obligated to defend against foreign acts of aggression.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asserted that Iran has “no limits” in defending its interests and called on the United Nations Security Council to condemn Israel’s actions.
The United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany urged both countries to avoid further escalation. The U.S. clarified that it did not participate in the operation, stressing the need for diplomacy. Saudi Arabia and Jordan condemned the strikes as violations of Iran’s sovereignty, while Russia warned against further escalation.
