Israel strikes Iran’s Assembly of Experts building as war spreads

DUBAI/TEHRAN/JERUSALEM: An Israeli strike targeted Iran’s powerful Assembly of Experts building in the holy city of Qom, Iranian media reported on Tuesday, as fighting between Iran, Israel and the United States intensified across the region.

Iran’s Mehr News Agency said that the attack struck the Assembly of Experts building, the clerical body responsible for overseeing and selecting Iran’s next supreme leader.

Iranian media reported the structure was completely destroyed.

Iran media said that explosions were also reported in Tehran and the western city of Karaj, including near Revolution Square in the capital.

The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for the Hakimiyeh industrial area in Tehran and Payam International Airport in Karaj, saying strikes would follow “in the coming hours.”

Meanwhile, the chief executive of a major Russian nuclear company said contact had been lost with Iran’s nuclear leadership amid the ongoing strikes, raising concerns about oversight of Iran’s atomic facilities.

The Israeli military said that it carried out a strike in Tehran targeting a senior Iranian commander, while also reporting Iranian missile strikes in central Israel.

Israeli and US forces have continued assaults on Iranian targets, including a strike on Iran’s state broadcaster, as the reported death toll inside Iran rose to 787, according to regional media.

President Donald Trump ruled out negotiations with Tehran, saying in a social media post that Iran had requested talks after the US-Israeli attacks began.

Iranian officials have denied any such offer and dismissed reports of negotiations as false.

Conflict spreads across Middle East

Meanwhile, Jordan announced the reopening of its airspace after temporary closures due to security concerns.

Hezbollah said that it launched missiles at an Israeli military position in the Upper Galilee after Israel carried out air raids on Beirut’s southern suburbs, saying it was targeting Hezbollah leaders meeting in the area.

Israel’s military said it is carving out a buffer zone inside Lebanon, with Defence Minister Israel Katz directing troops to advance to 16 additional positions across the border.

In the Gulf, the United Arab Emirates said three people were killed and 68 injured in Iranian missile attacks. A Defence Ministry spokesperson said 186 missiles were launched at the country, though authorities said there were no direct missile impacts on critical infrastructure and that most projectiles were intercepted.

Saudi Arabia’s authorities said two drones struck the US Embassy in Riyadh earlier, causing a limited fire and minor damage.

The US Embassy has also warned of an imminent attack in eastern Saudi Arabia.

The widening confrontation has disrupted regional airspace, shipping and energy infrastructure, fuelling fears of a broader Middle East war with global economic implications.