Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that the more the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies the greater the risk it poses to the region. 

“One thing is for sure… any conflict has unintended consequences,” Dujarric told Rudaw’s Sinan Tuncdemir during a press briefing.

He added that Guterres believes that “the longer this conflict goes on, the more it intensifies, the more it internationalizes, the greater risk, not only to Iran and to Israel, but to the broader region. And that obviously includes Syria.”

 

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani met on Wednesday to discuss the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, rejecting Israel’s “violation” of Iraqi sovereignty. 

“During the meeting, discussions focused on the overall situation in Iraq and the evolving regional security landscape, particularly in light of the continued blatant Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and its repercussions on regional and global stability. Both sides emphasized the importance of international engagement to de-escalate tensions, deter further aggression, and prevent the widening of the conflict,” read a statement from Sudani’s office. 

It added that both leaders “affirmed Iraq’s firm rejection of violations of its sovereignty by the Zionist entity and the threat posed to its airspace.” 

Iraq has repeatedly slammed Israel for using its airspace to attack Iran. Baghdad has submitted a complaint against Israel to the United Nations Security Council in this regard. 

Iran on Wednesday imposed “temporary restrictions” on the internet as the conflict with Israel raged on, state media reported.

“In light of the continuing special conditions in the country, and considering the aggressor’s misuse of the country’s communication network for military purposes … by decision of the competent authorities, temporary restrictions have been imposed on users’ access to the internet,” the state IRNA news agency cited the communications ministry as saying. 

On Wednesday, the UK-based internet watchdog NetBlocks reported that Iran is facing a “near-total national internet blackout.” 

The Israeli air force on Wednesday said it carried out renewed strikes against “military targets” in Tehran on the sixth day of the conflict. 

“The Air Force is currently attacking military targets of the Iranian regime in the Tehran area,” it said in a statement. 

On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Effie Defrin said that they have “delivered significant blows to the Iranian regime.”

“They have been pushed back into central Iran. They are now focusing their effort on conducting missile fire from the area of Isfahan,” he added. 

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Wednesday warned against any military intervention by the United States, stating that it would lead to “irreparable consequences.”

In a televised speech, Khamenei declared, “The Americans should know that any military intervention by the US [in the Israel-Iran conflict] will inevitably result in irreparable damage.”

He further added, “Those who possess wisdom and understand Iran - its people and its history - never address this nation with threats, because the Iranian nation is not one that can be subdued.”

On Tuesday, President Trump cut short his trip to the G7 summit in Canada amid rising tensions in the Middle East, telling reporters, “I have to be back.” The decision followed his dramatic warning to over 10 million residents in Tehran to evacuate the city, signaling the possibility of expanded military operations.

That same evening, Trump held an 80-minute meeting with his national security team in the White House Situation Room, though no immediate public statement followed. Later, however, the president made inflammatory remarks against Iran and its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. He demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and, while calling Khamenei an “easy target,” clarified that there are no current plans to assassinate him.

On Wednesday, Khamenei reaffirmed, “The Iranian nation firmly stands against imposed war, just as it will firmly resist imposed peace, and this nation will not submit to any form of imposition.”

On Friday, Israel launched a wide-scale aerial assault on Iran, killing several high-ranking military commanders and nuclear scientists. The strikes targeted three of Iran’s key nuclear facilities: Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow. In response, Iran launched waves of missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory, striking several strategic sites.

Iran reports that approximately 224 people – mostly civilians - have been killed and 1,300 injured in Israeli strikes across the country. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities say at least 24 civilians have been killed and 600 injured since the conflict began.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar reaffirmed on Wednesday the urgent need to address Iran’s nuclear program.

In an interview with Fox News, Sa’ar stated that Israel’s assessment is that Iran is “maybe half a year or less than that from [developing] an atomic bomb,” noting that “they have enough [fissile] materials for nine atomic bombs.”

He emphasized that Tehran’s nuclear issue “cannot be delayed and should be solved now,” adding, “I think that also President Trump made it clear that now is the time to solve this issue once and for all.”

Earlier, on Sunday, Sa’ar clarified that Israel’s military actions against Iran aim not at regime change but at curbing Iran’s “missile program, strategic weapons, and nuclear program.”

Since launching a large-scale aerial campaign on Friday, Israel has targeted three of Iran’s key nuclear facilities: Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday signaled that his country’s forces will continue targeting key “symbols” of the Iranian government, predicting the eventual collapse of Iran’s current leadership.

In a statement on X, Katz wrote, “A tornado passes over Tehran. Symbols of government are being bombed and destroyed - from the [Islamic Republic of Iran] Broadcasting [IRIB] and soon to other targets, as crowds of residents flee.

“This is how dictatorships collapse,” Katz concluded.

On Monday, Israel had struck the headquarters of the state-run IRIB northeast of Tehran.

Commenting on the attack, Katz then said that “the Iranian regime's propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority was attacked” by Israeli forces, and vowed to “defeat the Iranian dictator everywhere.”

 

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The latest escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict continues despite a decrease in attacks compared to the initial days of the conflict. US President Donald Trump made inflammatory remarks against Tehran on Tuesday and his cabinet is expected to deliberate on whether Washington will become directly involved.

Tensions between Iran and Israel reached a boiling point on Friday after the latter carried out an extensive operation in western Iran, killing several top commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran has carried out 11 waves of missile and drone attacks since. The devastating attacks have killed at least 24 civilians in Israel and 224 Iranians, according to latest official figures. Nearly 600 Israelis and 1,300 Iranians have been injured. 

Both warring sides have reduced their military activities in the last two days as US President Donald Trump has been considering an intervention. Iran and Israel warned the residents of parts of each other's capitals in the early hours of Wednesday to evacuate as attacks renewed. 
 
Iran said it fired hypersonic missiles at Israel in the latest round of strikes. Such missiles are five times faster than the speed of sound and are difficult to track and intercept. 

Trump on Tuesday cut his trip short to the G7 summit in Canada due to tensions in the Middle East, telling reporters that “I have to be back.” The announcement came after he called on Iranians to evacuate Tehran, describing its failure to strike a deal as “a shame, and waste of human life.” 

He also ordered a meeting with his national security team in the Situation Room before leaving Canada. The meeting at White House took place late Tuesday and lasted for 80 minutes. There was no immediate public statement. 

However, after returning to Washington, he made inflammatory statements against Iran and its supreme leader, calling for Tehran’s “unconditional surrender.”

He also claimed that they have gained full control of the skies of Iran despite his cabinet’s claims that Washington is not involved in the latest escalation of tensions between Iran and Israel. He also said that Iran’s Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is an “easy target” but they have no plans to assassinate him “for now.”

Khamenei early Wednesday that the Islamic republic will “never” compromise with Israel.

“We will never compromise with the Zionists,” Khamenei said on X. “The terrorist Zionist entity must be dealt with forcefully.” 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian convened a cabinet meeting early Wednesday, reported semi-official media without publishing details of the meeting.