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Israel launched a direct strike on Iran’s state television headquarters in Tehran early Monday, intensifying a growing conflict and sending thousands of residents fleeing the capital. The strike, part of Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion,” targeted the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) in District 3, a site previously warned for evacuation by the Israeli military.
Footage from the attack shows flames engulfing the IRIB building, with panic erupting inside the studio during a live broadcast. Anchor Sahar Emami’s final words before the signal cut out: “You’re hearing the attacker strike the truth,” have quickly circulated online. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared the IRIB “a mouthpiece of propaganda and incitement,” vowing it was “about to disappear.”
The assault marks a sharp escalation in the regional crisis. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strike in an interview with Fox News, claiming intelligence shows Iran is just “months away” from building a nuclear weapon. “We had to act. It was the last moment,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel aims to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear-armed state.
As the situation deteriorates, traffic in Tehran has ground to a halt. Eyewitnesses described massive congestion as families scrambled to leave. Iranian state media IRNA blamed the gridlock on aging infrastructure and vehicle breakdowns, but scenes from the capital suggest widespread fear. Queues at gas stations stretch for kilometers. Many residents have packed essentials and fled eastward or toward the Turkish border.
One family spent over a day traveling to Rasht near the Caspian Sea. “Now that we’ve arrived, things aren’t much better. There’s a shortage of food and the shops are overwhelmed,” said Zanchad, a 35-year-old teacher. Others have borrowed thousands of euros to reach Turkey. “We’re waiting for the roads to clear,” said one 60-year-old man fleeing with his wife and son.
Israel’s actions have triggered global concern. G7 leaders are drafting a joint statement urging immediate de-escalation. The statement, still awaiting final approval from former U.S. President Donald Trump, supports Israel’s right to self-defense but stresses Iran “must never acquire a nuclear weapon.” It also emphasizes protecting global energy markets.
Meanwhile, Israel is seeking U.S. assistance for more advanced weaponry, including strategic bombers and “bunker buster” MOABs, to target Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility, dubbed “Mount Doom” by the Financial Times. Located 30 kilometers from Qom and buried under 500 meters of rock, Fordow is seen as the heart of Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran, for its part, maintains that its nuclear ambitions are peaceful. President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s right to nuclear research and energy, denying any intention to build weapons. However, a recent IAEA report says Iran has enriched uranium to 60%, far above civilian levels, and accuses Tehran of violating non-proliferation agreements for the first time in two decades.
The crisis has also derailed diplomatic efforts. Renewed U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, scheduled for yesterday in Oman, were abruptly canceled following the airstrikes. The breakdown comes just over a decade after the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Israel opposed from the outset.
The latest developments echo Netanyahu’s past warnings, including a 2012 UN address where he used a cartoon bomb to illustrate Iran’s alleged nuclear timeline. Now, in 2025, those fears have reignited with real bombs, real targets, and rising uncertainty for millions in the region.
With information from Reuters, Athens-Macedonian News Agency, Financial Times, and Kathimerini.gr.
