THE International Atomic Energy Agency said on Tuesday it believes Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s Natanz enrichment site have had “direct impacts”on the facility’sunderground centrifuge halls. The strikes are part of an air campaignIsrael launched against its longtime foe five days ago, targeting Iran’s military and nuclear programme. This marks the first time the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has assessed damage from the strikes in the underground parts of Natanz, which is the main enrichment facility of Iran’s nuclear programme. “Based on continued analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery collected after Friday’s attacks, the IAEA has identified additional elements that indicate direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at Natanz,” the agency said.

 

Already, an above-ground enrichment hall had been destroyed, as well aselectricalequipment thatpowered the facility. Israel continuedtopoundIranonTuesday, while US President Donald Trump posted an ominous message warningTehran residents to evacuate. “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEARWEAPON,”Trumpwroteon Monday night before returning to Washington early from a Group of Seven summit in Canada. “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”headded.Trumplater denied he had rushed back to work on a ceasefire, telling reporters on Air Force One: “I’m not looking at a ceasefire. We’re looking at better than a ceasefire.” Asked why he had urged for the evacuation of Tehran, he said: “I just want people to be safe.” Earlier, theIsraelimilitaryhadcalled forsome 3,30,000residentsof aneighbourhood in downtown Tehran to evacuate.

 

Tehran is one of the largest cities in the Middle East, with around 10million people,roughly equivalent to the entire population of Israel. People have been fleeing since hostilities began. Israel says its sweeping assault on Iran’s top military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment sites and ballistic missile programisnecessary topreventits adversary from getting any closer to building an atomic weapon. The strikes have killed at least 224 people in Iran. Iran has retaliated by launching more than 370missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel. The Israeli military said a new barrage of missiles was launched on Tuesday, and explosions could be heard in northernIsrael.DowntownTehranappeared tobe emptyingout earlyTuesday,with manyshopsclosed.TheancientGrand Bazaar was also closed, something that only happened in the past during anti-governmentdemonstrations or at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.Ontheroads out ofTehran to the west, traffic stood bumper to bumper. Many appeared to be heading to theCaspianSea area.Longlines also could be seen at gas stations in Tehran, with printed placards and boards calling for a “severe” response to Israel visible across the city. Authoritiescancelledleave fordoctors and nurses as the attacks continue, but insisted everything was under control and did not offer any guidance for the public on what to do. KILLED IRAN’S WARTIME CHIEF, KHAMENEI’S CLOSE AIDE: ISRAEL: THEIsraelDefenceForcesonTuesday announced that it had eliminated Ali Shadmani,Iran’swartimechiefofstaff and close aide of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an overnight strike. 

 

 

AMID escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, Indian students in Tehran have been moved out of the city, 110 of them crossing the border intoArmenia, througharrangements made by the Embassy. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement, said the Indian Embassy remains continuously in touch with the community with a view to extending all feasible assistance. “Indian students in Tehran have been moved out of the city for reasonsofsafety, througharrangements made by the Embassy,” it said.