Iran mulling closure of Strait of Hormuz amid continuing conflict

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned of a "more severe" response to come if Israeli attacks continue.

The president's office reported him saying that "continuation of Zionist aggression will be met with a more severe and powerful response from the Iranian armed forces".

The remarks were reportedly made during a phone call between Pezeshkian and Pakistani Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-backed Fars news agency has reported a large fire breaking out following an alleged Israeli drone attack on facilities in the Pars gas field. Earlier the same news agency reported claims that a strong explosion had shaken Kangan harbour in southern Iran's Bushehr province.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been delivering a televised address from his office.

He said that Israel’s goal is “to thwart Iran's dual threat of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles”.

“We targeted the team of scientists leading [Iran’s] nuclear project,” Netanyahu said. He said that he couldn’t go into more details on this but he added: “We have achieved achievements and will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.”

“Iran has 20,000 ballistic missiles and we have taken measures to destroy its missile capabilities,” he said.

“You will soon see Air Force planes in Tehran's skies striking every site and target,” he added.

Following up on the news that Iran is considering closing the Strait of Hormuz, here's a piece explaining why that might matter for Europe.

What’s at stake for Europe if Strait of Hormuz is blocked?

Iran is considering closing the Strait of Hormuz, but what would that mean for Europe and what is at stake if it happens? #EuropeNews

Leaders of the G7 countries are gathering from tomorrow in Kananaskis, Alberta, for a three-day summit hosted by Canadian PM Mark Carney. While the official agenda focuses on global peace, economic growth, and the digital transition, much of the attention is expected to shift to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

The G7—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US and the EU—will also discuss the war in Ukraine, trade tensions, and energy security. But with Iran now retaliating after Israeli strikes and attempted nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran now seemingly on ice, the Middle East crisis seems likely to dominate.

Canada has also invited leaders from India, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine. With no final joint statement expected this year, Canadian PM Carney hopes to present a united front.

Talks between the US and Iran on Tehran’s nuclear programme were due to take place in Oman tomorrow — but are now in doubt after Israel’s massive airstrikes on Iran.

The Israeli attack hit nuclear sites and killed several senior Iranian officials, including scientists and one key negotiator.

Neither side has officially cancelled the talks, but experts say the chances of them going ahead are now slim. The US had pushed for Iran to stop all uranium enrichment. Iran wanted to keep its civilian nuclear programme and end US sanctions.

Iranian state media has reported that Iran has warned France, the UK and US not to help Israel stop its strikes on the country. Iran will target ships and bases belonging to the UK, US and France, if they defend Israel against Iranian drones or missiles, according to the state media.

What do we know about where the three stand on assisting Israel so far?

When Iran has targeted Israel with drones in the past, the UK has sent RAF Typhoon jets from Cyprus to shoot them down. The UK has not taken part in any military action this time including efforts to defend Israel against strikes.

“Military planners inside the Ministry of Defence were braced for the strikes on Thursday night. However, the UK appeared to have been cut out of the loop on the operation, despite being involved in previous strikes,” the Times reported today.

"We support Israel's security and if Israel were to be attacked, France would take part in operations to defend Israel if it is in a position to do so," Macron said on Friday during a press conference, though he made clear that France wouldn't participate "in any offensive operation".

"We have always favoured the diplomatic route [on the issue of Iranian nuclear and ballistic missiles] rather than military intervention, so France did not recommend attacks by Israel," he said, underlining that France "didn't plan this decision with Israel".

Meanwhile President Donald Trump was asked in a press huddle on Friday whether the US would support Israel under attack. He replied “I support Israel,” without elaborating.

“We’ve been very close to Israel. We’re their number one ally by far," Trump told Reuters, adding, "We'll see what happens."

Iran is mulling closing the Strait of Hormuz, a Revolutionary Guard commander has told local media in an interview, Euronews Persia desk has verified. Sardar Esmail Kowsari, said that closing the Strait of Hormuz "is under consideration, and Iran will make the best decision with determination."

"Our hands are wide open when it comes to punishing the enemy, and the military response was only part of our overall response," added Kowsari, who is a member of parliament in addition to his military position.

Blocking the Strait of Hormuz was one of four Iranian response including terrorist acts on mainland Europe which security expert Claude Moniquet cited as possible Iranian responses to the Israeli attacks in an interview with Euronews. It would be “a disaster for Europe”, the former French intelligence office said.

Israel launched large-scale strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan, damaging above-ground facilities and raising questions about the true extent of the damage. What really happened in these sensitive locations? Euronews Arabic desk has looked into it.

·        Natanz nuclear facility

The vast Natanz nuclear complex is the country's main uranium enrichment facility, with an underground and an above-ground site.

Jeffrey Lewis, a non-proliferation expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, said the damage to the Natanz facility was "moderate," noting that Israel had destroyed a pilot fuel enrichment facility and some supporting buildings associated with energy supplies.

He said the strikes hit a support building near two underground uranium enrichment facilities, but there was no damage to the underground facilities or the nearby mountain facility.

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the above-ground enrichment plant at the Natanz site was destroyed, and that no increase in radiation levels was recorded.

·        Isfahan

Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said of Isfahan - one of Iran's largest nuclear sites and one of the most prominent secret research centres linked to weapons development – that the attacks caused fires, without direct damage to sensitive facilities.

·        Limited damage at Fordow facility

Kamalvandi also said on Saturday that limited damage was caused to the Fordow nuclear reactor site near the city of Qom, in addition to other facilities including a building for the production of metallic uranium, infrastructure for converting enriched uranium, and laboratories.

He explained that some minor damage was caused to the Fordow site, but it is not technically serious, stressing that the preventive measures taken previously prevented significant or human losses.

Kamalvandi said that sensitive equipment and information were evacuated from nuclear plants before the attacks were carried out, noting that there was no risk of radioactive contamination or a threat to public health.

He stressed that restoration operations have already begun, and the damaged person will be rebuilt with higher quality than before, taking advantage of local scientific and technical capabilities.

IAEA Reaction

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the Bushehr nuclear plant on Iran's coast in the Persian Gulf "was not targeted" and that "no increase in radiation levels was recorded at the Natanz site."

New images show damaged buildings and debris in the Israeli cities of Rishon LeZion and Tel Aviv after Iran launched multiple missile attacks. 

Israeli security forces inspect destroyed houses that were struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Rishon Lezion, Israel on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

A person looks out at a destroyed residential building that was hit by a missile fired from Iran, in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

A residential building that was struck by a missile fired from Iran, is seen in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Israeli security forces inspect destroyed residential buildings that were hit by a missile fired from Iran, in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Residents react after their home was struck by a missile launched from Iran, in Rishon Lezion, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Israeli security forces inspect the site of homes destroyed by a missile fired from Iran, in Rishon Lezion, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)