Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has vowed a “crushing response” following joint air strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, saying the attacks took place once again while negotiations with Washington were underway.
In a statement, the council accused the “enemy” of wrongly believing that the Iranian people would surrender under military pressure, describing the strikes as cowardly actions carried out during a diplomatic process. It said Iran’s armed forces had already begun retaliatory measures and promised to keep the public informed of further developments.
The council warned that further operations by the US and Israel could continue in Tehran and other cities and urged citizens, while remaining calm, to move to safer areas where possible and avoid crowded shopping centres. It also reassured the public that essential supplies had been secured in advance and that there were no concerns over access to basic goods.
Schools and universities will remain closed until further notice, while banks will continue operating and government offices will function at 50 percent capacity. Additional updates will be announced in due course, the statement said.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged that the strikes occurred while Tehran and Washington were in the midst of indirect nuclear negotiations. Officials said Iran had been aware of US and Israeli intentions but chose to enter talks regardless. The latest round of discussions was held two days earlier in Geneva without a breakthrough.
Tensions escalated further when explosions and air raid sirens were reported in Doha, as Qatar’s defence ministry said it had successfully intercepted several attacks targeting its territory. A Qatari official confirmed that a US-made Patriot missile system had intercepted an Iranian missile. Qatar hosts the largest US military base in the region at Al Udeid.
The strikes mark a sharp deterioration in regional security and come after months of stalled diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear programme, raising fears of a wider conflict across the Middle East.
