Iran's Aragchi denies ceasefire agreement, demands Israel end attacks to stop war

A fact-finding mission mandated by the United Nations said on Monday that some of Israel's strikes on Iran may have broken international humanitarian law, citing the killing of civilians in an apartment block and three aid workers in the capital Tehran.

"Among those killed in Tehran were dozens of residents of an apartment complex and three humanitarian workers from the Iranian Red Cross, while damaged sites included a clinic for children with autism and a hospital in Kermanshah," the investigative body said in a statement to journalists.

"This, and the reported lack of effective advance warning by Israel, which may affect the population’s ability to reach safety, raise serious concerns in relation to the principles of proportionality, distinction, and precaution under international humanitarian law."
 

The IDF's Persian (Farsi)-language account on Monday warned Tehran residents that the IDF will "continue attacks against military targets in the Tehran region," over the coming days.

The IDF warned that locals should stay away from "weapons production centers, military bases, and security institutions affiliated with the regime" for their own safety.

🔴 هشدار فوری با ساکنین تهران

⭕️ شهروندان عزیز تهران, در روزهای آینده، ارتش اسرائیل به حملات خود علیه اهداف نظامی در منطقه تهران ادامه خواهد داد.

⭕️ برای حفظ امنیت شخصی‌تان، از شما درخواست می‌کنیم که از مراکز تولید تسلیحات، مقرهای نظامی و نهادهای امنیتی وابسته به رژیم فاصله… pic.twitter.com/mBLYZ4jtZO

— ارتش دفاعی اسرائیل | IDF Farsi (@IDFFarsi) June 23, 2025

This is a developing story.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Monday that Iran has the full right to self-defense and called the strategic partnership between Moscow and Tehran "unbreakable," state news agencies reported.

Asked whether Iran has requested military assistance from Russia, Ryabkov told Interfax that Moscow was working with Iran across multiple areas, and it would be irresponsible to disclose further details on their cooperation.

The IDF on Monday made a rare disclosure, noting that its highly secret 5114th Battalion electromagnetic spectrum unit downed dozens of Iranian drones over the last week or so.

So secret is the unit that even in those rare cases where the IDF has admitted its existence and discussed its activities, it has usually refrained from giving the kids of specifics in terms of adversaries and dates of use which it gave on Monday.

Lt.-Col. "B" on Monday said that the downing of dozens of Iranian drones was a critical additional layer of defense for Israel against aerial threats.

The United States assesses that Iran could carry out retaliatory attacks targeting American forces in the Middle East soon, although the US is still seeking a diplomatic resolution that would see Tehran forgo any attack, two US officials said on Monday.

One of the officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said Iran's retaliatory attack could happen within the next day or two.

Iran has threatened to retaliate after US bombed its nuclear sites over the weekend.   

The IDF's Arabic Spokesperson, Col. Avichay Adraee warned residents of Khan Yunis, in the south of the Gaza Strip, to evacuate towards Mawasi on Monday afternoon due to IDF operations in the area.

Adraee announced that Khan Yunis "Block 107,108, and 109" were used by terror groups to launch rockets towards Israel.

The evacuation order does not include al-Amal and Nasser hospitals.

Authorities on Monday confirmed that Holocaust survivor Yvette Smilovitz, 95, was the unnamed victim of an Iranian missile barrage that hit Petah Tikva last Monday.

Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi held a press conference in Paris on Monday, at which he called for regime change in Iran and announced that he would be forming an opposition front.

He condemned the Islamic Republic for its continual oppression of the Iranian people.

"This is our Berlin Wall moment," he said as he recalled the painful struggle for political freedom.

He turned directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying, "Step down. And if you do, you will receive a fair trial and due process of law. Which is more than you have ever given any Iranian."

He told regime officials that they, too, would face justice but that they would not repeat the mistakes of other failed transitions.

Supporters of Iranian opposition group National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) gather to protest against the nuclear program and the detention of EU nationals in Paris, February 8, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/GONZALO FUENTES)

Unifying opposition to the regime

Pahlavi then announced that he would be forming a channel for those dissatisfied with the regime to reach out and help expand the growing network of anti-regime activists.

"For those patriotic members of our armed forces, the time is now to join the nation. If you do, I will make sure your service to Iran is not forgotten and is celebrated. "

He warned the International community against providing the Islamic Republic with a lifeline.

He emphasized that only a democratic Iran would stop the growth of the nuclear program.

The US Embassy in Qatar emailed a message to American citizens in Qatar on Monday recommending they shelter in place until further notice.

The message noted the recommendation was "out of an abundance of caution" and offered no further information.

The IDF will soon be able to "wrap up" its campaign in Iran, with Israeli officials estimating that all of Israel’s war goals in Iran will be accomplished in the following days, the Wall Street Journal and N12 both reported on Monday.