Iranian authorities reported new Israeli bombings on Monday against Iran. The attacks affected several areas in the capital of Tehran; the Fordow nuclear facility, which was previously attacked by the United States, the Evin prison, which houses political prisoners, and the headquarters of the Red Crescent, among other places.
On the eleventh day of the war between Iran and Israel, the Israeli army announced that it bombed missile launch and storage sites in the Kermanshah province, in western Iran. According to Iranian media, there were also attacks against the city of Karaj and Fardis.
Russian President, Vladimir Putin, today condemned the attacks carried out by the US and Israel against Iran, calling them "unjustified aggression" during a meeting in the Kremlin with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, through whom Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Jamenei, requested more assistance from Russia.
In major diplomatic circles, there is concern about the escalation of a regional conflict after the United States entered the war between Israel by attacking Iranian nuclear facilities.
President Donald Trump's operation raised urgent questions about what remained of Tehran's nuclear program and how its weakened military could respond. Iran has threatened to attack US military bases in the Middle East in retaliation and to close the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran lashed out at the United States for crossing "a very big red line" with its risky tactic of attacking the three nuclear facilities with 15,000-kilo missiles and bombs in its so-called Operation Hammer, which directly entered the open war between Israel and Iran and with which Trump is considering a regime change.
The Iranian Army warned on Monday the US President that the "war" he has started with Iran will be "finished" by Tehran and warned Washington of "serious, regrettable, and unpredictable consequences" for the attacks on its soil.
"Oil continues to flow" through the Strait of Hormuz
Although oil prices experienced a brief spike on Monday at the start of the session, they later stabilized around $77 per barrel of Brent from the North Sea, the global benchmark, and even briefly fell into negative territory.
The transit of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, does not seem, at this time, disturbed by Iran.
"Satellite images suggest that oil continues to flow," explaining "the moderate reaction" of the market, said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, an analyst at Swissquote Bank, as reported by Afp.
More than 20 million barrels of crude oil pass through this strategically important strait every day, representing a fifth of global oil flows and a third of maritime traffic in hydrocarbons. A commodity mainly destined for the Asian market.
The market seems to be currently ruling out the catastrophic scenario of an Iranian response in the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil flows.
This passage is particularly vulnerable due to its narrow width, which is about 50 kilometers, and its depth, which does not exceed 60 meters.
Its closure would be an "absolute nightmare," causing prices to skyrocket, according to Arne Lohmann Rasmussen, an analyst at Global Risk Management.
Israel claims to have targeted facilities to "block access" to Fordow
The Israeli army announced on Monday that it had targeted facilities to "block access" to the underground Iranian uranium enrichment center of Fordow, on the 11th day of the war between Israel and Iran, as reported by Afp.
"The Israeli army attacked to block access to the Fordow enrichment center," located about 160 km south of Tehran, indicated a brief military statement.
Earlier, the Iranian news agency Tasnim had reported that the "aggressor" was hitting the Fordow site again, which is buried deep under a mountain.
Brussels and New Zealand call on Iran to commit to a "credible diplomatic solution"
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon urged Iran on Monday to commit to a "credible diplomatic solution" to the conflict, as "the negotiating table is the only place to end the crisis," as reported by Efe.
In a joint statement agreed upon after meeting in the European capital, both leaders emphasized that there was "consensus" in pointing out that "Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons," and that stability in the Middle East "must be a priority" at a time of tensions in the region "at a new peak."
In the statement, Von der Leyen and Luxon emphasized that "respect for international law is critical" and highlighted that "it is time for Iran to commit to a credible diplomatic solution, as the negotiating table is the only place to end this crisis."
The Kremlin believes that the escalation in the Middle East will not affect dialogue with Washington
The Kremlin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, assured on Monday that the escalation of tensions in the Middle East will not affect the nascent normalization dialogue between Moscow and Washington.
"These are different things. We maintain our partnership, a strategic partnership with Iran, but we are also committed to restoring our relations with the United States. Both directions are very important," Peskov told Russian state television.
According to the spokesman, the possibility of "reaching agreements in many other areas" depends on the dialogue between Russia and the United States.
At the same time, he pointed out that "the US attacks on Iran are unprecedented."
"No one yet understands the consequences, and they will be negative," he declared.
Hours earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the attacks carried out against Iran by the United States and Israel "unjustified aggression" during a meeting in the Kremlin with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi.
Iranian media report Israel attacked Shahid Beheshti University linked to the nuclear program
Israel renewed bombings on Monday against several areas of Tehran, impacting the Fordow nuclear facility, Shahid Beheshti University, linked to the Iranian nuclear program, the Evin prison, which houses political prisoners, among other places.
Tehran Times reported impacts on the Evin prison and Shahid Beheshti University, sanctioned by the European Union and the United States for its ties to the Iranian nuclear program, as reported by Efe.
Iranian authorities have not yet reported any fatalities in these attacks, which have caused power outages in some areas of the northern capital.
According to Iranian media, there were also attacks against the city of Karaj and Fardis.
Iran claims Israel bombed Evin prison in Tehran
The Iranian judiciary stated that Israeli bombings hit the Evin prison in Tehran on Monday, causing damage to some parts of the facilities.
"In the most recent attack by the Zionist regime against Tehran, unfortunately, projectiles hit the Evin prison, causing damage to parts of the facilities," reported the Mizan Online website, linked to Iran's judiciary, according to Afp.
Evin prison is known for the mistreatment of political prisoners. It is also where foreign prisoners are held.
Mizan Online added that all resources were deployed to manage the complex, and the situation remained "under control."