Live: Iran holds funeral for top military, nuclear figures killed in Israeli strikes

The Israeli military says it has killed Ali Shadmani, describing him as the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces and the country’s highest-ranking military officer.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the army called Shadmani the most senior commander it has targeted since launching strikes on Iran last week.

Iran has not yet confirmed his death.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has echoed the G7’s position on the ongoing confrontation between Israel and Iran, while also calling for a broader de-escalation.

“We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities, including a ceasefire in Gaza,” she posted on X.

Von der Leyen added that the EU was closely monitoring the impact of the conflict on global energy markets.

US President Donald Trump has called on residents of Tehran to evacuate immediately, echoing Israeli warnings as strikes intensify across Iran.

“Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” Trump posted on Truth Social while attending the G7 summit in Canada. He offered no further details.

The message came just hours after Israeli forces expanded their assault on Iranian targets, claiming the campaign aims to dismantle Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Israel’s military also issued an evacuation warning to a district in Tehran - mirroring similar tactics used in Gaza since its war there began in October 2023. Nearly 10 million people live in the Iranian capital.

Trump, while supportive of Israel’s right to act, has avoided saying whether the US would join any military operation. Speaking to reporters, he hinted at imminent moves: “As soon as I leave here, we're going to be doing something. But I have to leave here.”

Donald Trump has dismissed claims that he cut short his appearance at the G7 summit in Canada to broker a truce between Israel and Iran.

In a social media post, the US president took aim at Emmanuel Macron, accusing the French leader of being “publicity seeking” and insisting the reason for his return to Washington was “much bigger” than a ceasefire.

Macron had earlier implied that Trump had made a truce “offer”, prompting the Republican president to respond: “He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington … Emmanuel always gets it wrong.”

Trump gave no further detail on what prompted his departure, only telling followers to “stay tuned”.

The Group of Seven (G7) nations have publicly backed Israel’s actions, framing them as acts of self-defence. “We affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel,” the leaders said in a joint statement issued late on Monday.

The G7 also pointed the finger at Tehran, branding Iran as “the principal source of regional instability and terror” while reaffirming their opposition to an Iranian nuclear weapon.

The statement comes despite Israel attacking Iran first on Friday last week. 

Iranian journalist Nima Rajabpour and IRIB staffer Masoumeh Azimi have been confirmed dead following an Israeli strike on Tehran’s state broadcasting compound, according to state news agency IRNA.

Rajabpour worked as a news editor, while Azimi held a role in the broadcaster’s secretariat.

The attack brought a live transmission to an abrupt halt. It followed a stark warning from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who declared: “The Iranian propaganda and incitement mouthpiece is on its way to disappear.”

Israel has yet to comment directly on the deaths, but the strike marks a severe escalation in the ongoing shadow war between the two regional powers.

Hello and welcome to Middle East Eye's live coverage as we track the latest developments following Israel's strikes on Iran, now entering their fifth day and marking a major escalation in regional tensions.

• Macron reveals US ceasefire proposal: French President Emmanuel Macron said the US has put forward a plan to halt fighting between Israel and Iran. “There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange. An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions. And I think this is a very good thing,” Macron told reporters at the G7 summit.

• Muslim nations condemn Israeli strikes: A bloc of 21 Muslim countries, led by Egypt, has criticised Israel’s attacks on Iran. The group demanded immediate de-escalation and universal nuclear disarmament, “without selectivity”, in a pointed reference to Israel’s nuclear capabilities.

• Iran extends airspace closure: State news agency IRNA reports Iran’s airspace will stay shut until at least 14:00 local time (10:30 GMT), with possible further extensions. Authorities advised travellers to check the Civil Aviation Organization’s website instead of going to airports.

• US weighs strike on Iran’s nuclear site: The New York Times says the US president is considering military action against Iran’s Fordo enrichment plant. The report claims only America’s largest “bunker buster” bomb, the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, dropped by B-2 stealth bombers, could destroy the facility.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said Israel's strikes against his country "deal a blow" to diplomacy during a call Monday with his French, British, and German counterparts, AFP reported on Monday. 

"The Israeli aggression against Iran in the midst of nuclear negotiations with the United States is a blow to diplomacy," Araghchi said during a call reported by his ministry with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, the United Kingdom's David Lammy, Germany's Johann Wadephul, and the European Union's head of foreign affairs Kaja Kallas. 

These three countries and the EU, along with China and Russia, signed a nuclear deal with Iran in 2015, but the United States later unilaterally withdrew.

US President Donald Trump urged residents of Tehran to leave in a Truth Social post on Monday. 

Iran should have signed the “deal” I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!

He did not provide further details. There are fears that the US might participate in Israel's war on Iran. 

Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz left Southeast Asia on Monday after canceling a Vietnam visit, as the Pentagon announced it was sending "additional capabilities" to the Middle East amid a ramp up of the Iran-Israel conflict. According to a ship-tracking site earlier today,  the carrier was traveling through the Malacca Strait toward the Indian Ocean.

Israel conducted unprovoked military strikes on Iran in the early hours of Friday morning, leading to hundreds of deaths and the bombing of multiple sites in Iran, with Iran then responding with retaliatory attacks on Israel. In the wave of mutual attacks, Israel has killed at least 224 civilians in Iran since the onset of the conflict. Iran has killed at least 24 people in its attacks on Israel. 

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it will strike Israel from Monday night until the early hours of Tuesday morning "without interruption". 

"The ninth wave of combined drone and missile attacks has begun and will continue without interruption until dawn," said the IRGC's spokesman, Ali Mohammad Naini, according to Iran's IRNA news agency.

Israel conducted unprovoked military strikes on Iran in the early hours of Friday morning, leading to hundreds of deaths and the bombing of multiple sites in Iran, with Iran then responding with retaliatory attacks on Israel.

In the wave of mutual attacks, Israel has killed at least 224 civilians in Iran since the onset of the conflict. Iran has killed at least 24 people in its attacks on Israel.

Oil refining and petrochemical company Bazan group say the power station in Haifa, Israel, used to produce steam and electricity, was significantly damaged in an attack by Iran, Al Jazeera reported on Monday. 

The Bazan group also said all refinery facilities have been shut down following the damage. 

Israel conducted unprovoked military strikes on Iran in the early hours of Friday morning, leading to hundreds of deaths and the bombing of multiple sites in Iran, with Iran then responding with retaliatory attacks on Israel.
In the wave of mutual attacks, Israel has killed at least 224 civilians in Iran since the onset of the conflict. Iran has killed at least 24 people in its attacks on Israel.

Iranian state media announced a new barrage of missiles targeting Israel on Monday night local time, as the two countries exchanged major strikes for a fourth day, the AFP reported on Monday. 

"A new salvo of missiles against Israel is beginning," state TV reported.

Israel conducted unprovoked military strikes on Iran in the early hours of Friday morning, leading to hundreds of deaths and the bombing of multiple sites in Iran, with Iran then responding with retaliatory attacks on Israel.
In the wave of mutual attacks, Israel has killed at least 224 civilians in Iran since the onset of the conflict. Iran has killed at least 24 people in its attacks on Israel.

Iran issued evacuation warnings for Israeli news channels after Israeli bombed Iran’s state TV headquarters on Monday.

“Iran has issued an evacuation warning for the N12 and N14 channels of Israel. This order comes in response to the hostile attack of Zionist enemy against the Islamic republic of Iran’s broadcasting service,” Iranian state TV said.

Israel conducted unprovoked military strikes on Iran in the early hours of Friday morning, leading to hundreds of deaths and the bombing of multiple sites in Iran, with Iran then responding with retaliatory attacks on Israel.
In the wave of mutual attacks, Israel has killed at least 224 civilians in Iran since the onset of the conflict. Iran has killed at least 24 people in its attacks on Israel.

US Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont said on Monday that "the US must not be dragged into another illegal Netanyahu war - either financially or militarily".

In a Facebook post, the US senator said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had "assassinated Ali Shamkhani, Iran's lead nuclear negotiator, deliberately sabotaging US-Iran negotiations".

Three informed Arab officials have told Middle East Eye that there is an increasing likelihood that the United States will "directly" join Israel in attacking Iran, as its widescale bombing campaign enters a fourth day.

The three officials, who spoke to MEE on condition of anonymity, said they were in touch with the White House, and in some cases, mediating between the US and the Islamic Republic to bring about an end to hostilities. 

The officials did not point to any specific intelligence that said Washington would soon enter the fray, but said US President Donald Trump appeared to be moving closer to "backing up" Israel.

"Trump is closer every hour to bringing the US in more directly. Not just in terms of supply," one of the Arab officials told MEE. 

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