U.S. 🇺🇸 / Iran 🇮🇷: Ahead of the OAS summit, the U.S. urges Latin American nations to “choose a side” in the conflict with Iran, calling Tehran a state sponsor of terrorism. A State Dept. official defended Trump’s recent airstrikes on 3 Iranian nuclear sites as “precise.”

Statement from the Qatari Ministry of Defense following Iran’s recent ballistic missile attack: “The Ministry of Defense confirms that Qatari air defense systems successfully intercepted a missile attack aimed at Al Udeid Air Base. Thanks to divine protection, the vigilance of our armed forces, and preemptive security measures, there were no casualties or injuries. The Ministry reaffirms that the airspace and territory of the State of Qatar remain secure, and that the Qatari Armed Forces are fully prepared to respond to any threat. Citizens and residents are urged to rely on official channels for updates and guidance.”

🤷‍♂️

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has issued a statement claiming that the IRGC and the Iranian Army “pulverized” the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in retaliation for this weekend’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The statement asserts that the number of missiles launched matched the number of bombs dropped by the U.S. and emphasizes that civilian areas were deliberately avoided. The language used suggests this may be Iran’s only planned military response against the United States.

Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran and son of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, held a press conference this morning in which he once again urged the Iranian people to rise up against the Islamic regime and officially called for regime change in Iran. He opened his remarks with the following statement: “My fellow Iranians, our beloved homeland has been dragged into a catastrophic conflict—engineered by none other than Ali Khamenei and his corrupt, destructive faction. He has pushed our economy to the brink, looted our national infrastructure and resources, wasted the nation’s wealth in pursuit of nuclear weapons, dismantled our internal security, and robbed the Iranian people of their sovereignty. This regime is broken, on the verge of collapse, and it must not be allowed to survive. The time has come to end this era of ruin and begin a new chapter for Iran. This is the dawn of a new day for the Lion and Sun of Iran.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed the completion of a large-scale airstrike campaign earlier today targeting military infrastructure in southwestern Iran. According to the IDF, around 30 Israeli Air Force fighter jets carried out coordinated strikes using approximately 50 precision-guided munitions, based on intelligence gathered by the IDF Intelligence Directorate. The operation focused on multiple military sites in and around the city of Ahvaz, located in Iran’s Khuzestan Province. Among the targets hit were facilities used to store missile launchers—some reportedly linked to past ballistic missile launches toward Israel—radar installations for aerial surveillance and intelligence gathering, and the Al-Hadid Military Base. Footage released shows the Israeli Air Force striking the Al-Hadid Military Base as part of today’s offensive.

According to a report from Axios, U.S. President Trump has expressed skepticism about whether the U.S. Air Force’s GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)—a 30,000-pound “bunker buster”—can actually reach and destroy Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP). Fordow, Iran’s primary site for enriching weapons-grade uranium, is believed to be buried nearly 90 meters deep within a mountain near the city of Qom in northern Iran. Over the past few days, Trump has reportedly pressed his military advisers on the MOP’s effectiveness against Fordow. Defense officials told him they are confident the weapon would be successful, but it’s unclear whether Trump is fully convinced. “The bunker buster will work. It’s not a capabilities issue. We have the capability,” a senior U.S. official told Axios, adding, “But there’s an entire plan. It’s not just drop a bunker buster and declare victory.” Israeli officials are increasingly confident the U.S. will eventually enter the conflict and assist in targeting Fordow. However, they maintain that Israel is prepared to act alone if necessary and could inflict significant damage on the site. One contingency being considered is a commando raid by Israeli special forces—similar to the September operation in which they destroyed an underground missile facility north of Damascus. According to a U.S. official, Israeli leaders told the Trump administration that if their bombs can’t penetrate deep enough, they might “do it with humans.”

Israeli officials state that Iran has fired 370 ballistic missiles at Israel. With an estimated arsenal of 750 to 1,000 ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israel, this indicates that Iran has already deployed approximately one-third to one-half of its missile stockpile.

The third-stage rocket motor of a U.S. Navy RIM-161 SM-3 Block IB surface-to-air missile was reportedly found in Iran yesterday, strongly suggesting that Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers—likely operating in the Eastern Mediterranean—are actively supporting Israel’s missile defense. The presence of the interceptor component in Iran likely stems from an exoatmospheric interception of an Iranian ballistic missile, with debris from the SM-3 falling back to Earth after the engagement.

New reports indicate that the Israeli Air Force has struck a fuel and munitions depot, along with several suspected military aircraft, at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran tonight.