Israel bombs Tehran prison as Iranian missiles disrupt power supply
Israel and Iran exchanged heavy strikes on Monday in one of the most intense days of the conflict since the Israeli military launched an offensive against the Islamic Republic more than a week ago.
The Israeli military said it carried out wide-ranging attacks on “regime targets” in Tehran, including sites tied to Iran’s internal security apparatus, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the Evin Prison, which holds prominent political dissidents.
Iran's Nour news agency reported that the detainees were safe.
Iranian state and semi-official media reported that an electricity feeder station was hit in northern Tehran, leading to localised blackouts.
The Qom province's crisis centre confirmed that Israel also targeted the Fordow nuclear facility, the most fortified nuclear sites in Iran, already struck by the US air force a day earlier.
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The Israeli military said the attack was meant to block access routes to the site.
Iranian student media also reported a strike at Shahid Beheshti University.
The air strike came shortly after a barrage of Iranian missiles that triggered sirens across Israel for over 30 minutes on Monday morning.
Explosions were heard throughout the country, caused either by direct missile impacts or interceptor defences.
Israeli authorities reported damage "near a strategic infrastructure facility" in the south, which disrupted power supply. However, military censorship restricts public disclosure, leaving the full extent of the Iranian strikes unclear.
Search and rescue teams were deployed to multiple locations where missile impacts were confirmed, though no casualties were reported.
Iran seeks Russia’s help
As exchanges of fire escalated, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi flew to Moscow and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to Reuters, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had dispatched Araghchi to Moscow to deliver a message to Putin personally.
In a press conference in Moscow attended by Putin and Aragchi, the Russian president condemned Israel's attacks on Iran, saying: "Russia’s position in supporting Iran is clear. We reject the Israeli aggression, and it has no justification whatsoever."
Putin added that Russia "was trying to help the people of Iran", although he did not give any details of what assistance Russia would provide to Tehran.
'Russia’s position in supporting Iran is clear. We reject the Israeli aggression, and it has no justification whatsoever'
- Vladimir Putin
Iranian sources told Reuters that Tehran is frustrated with the lack of robust Russian support and is seeking a stronger commitment in the face of intensifying Israeli and US actions.
The Iranian foreign minister, speaking to Russia's Tass agency, said Tehran and Moscow were “coordinating their positions” on the current crisis.
Speaking at the annual St Petersburg International Economic Forum last week, Putin was asked why Moscow had not offered more direct help to Iran as it came under attack by Israel. He said: “Israel is almost a Russian-speaking country - two million from Russia live there. We can’t ignore that.”
Since 13 June, Israeli strikes in Iran have killed at least 430 people and wounded 3,500, according to health officials. Independent sources suggest the death toll could be much higher.
Meanwhile, Iranian missile attacks have killed at least 25 people and wounded 2,500, according to Israeli officials.
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