Buildings and facilities burn in Tehran, Iran amid US and Israel airstrikes

EA on International Media: US and Israel Expand Their Wars in Iran and Lebanon — But How They Will End Them?

EA-Times Radio VideoCast: Trump Panics Over His War on Iran

US-Israel War on Iran: Oil Prices Drop as Trump Wobbles

UPDATE 0645 GMT:

Two ships trying to pass the Strait of Hormuz off the Iranian coast have been struck by “unknown projectiles”, says the UK Maritime Trade Operations center.

A cargo vessel is on fire and crew are evacuating.

Earlier a container ship was damaged, 25 nautical miles northwest of the UAE. Crew are safe.

Only two vessels not linked to Iran or Russia have attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since Donald Trump posted on Tuesday that he would “ensure the free flow of energy to the world”. Around 20% of the world’s maritime gas and around 25% of maritime oil are transported through the waterway.

The US military said it attacked and destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels. Intelligence sources said Iran has placed a few dozen mines in the Strait in recent days and has the capability to sow hundreds more.

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut posted after a closed-door briefing for legislators on Tuesday:

UPDATE 0639 GMT:

The US Diplomatic Support Center in Iraq’s capital Baghdad has been struck by a drone.

The Center is a logistical hub for US diplomats near Baghdad Airport and Iraqi military bases. It was attacked by six drones, five of which were intercepted.

No casualties were reported as those at the facility were ordered to “duck and cover”.

A security official said the attack was likely carried out by the Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of armed factions.

UPDATE 0633 GMT:

Iran’s police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on state TV that anyone who takes to the streets “at the enemy’s request” will be “confronted as an enemy, not a protester”.

We will do to them what we do to enemies. We will treat them the way we treat enemies.

All of our men have their fingers on the trigger and are ready to defend their revolution, to support their people and their homeland.

In January, at least 7,000 people were killed during nationwide protests against the regime.

UPDATE 0627 GMT:

Five people were killed and five injured during Israeli attack on Qana in southern Lebanon, says Lebanese health authorities.

On Tuesday, three people were slain in Hennawiyeh, including a rescuer, and a strike on Zalaya killed one person.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: The Trump camp and the Iranian regime have each declared their “most intense” strikes of the 12-day US-Israel war on Iran.

Hours after Donald Trump said that the war is “near complete”, his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proclaimed that the US would carry out their heaviest assault on Iran, as the Department Defense posted on social media.

Residents of Tehran such as Niloufar described the attacks early Tuesday:

We are under heavy bombardment and I can hear back-to-back explosions. The place they hit has caught fire. It’s not clear where it exploded, but the buildings are shaking.

They are destroying Iran.

Israel boasted of its own strikes, as another resident said Tehran was now “the last stop before hell”.

But far from collapsing, the Iranian regime defiantly proclaimed their own escalation of strikes across the Middle East. The Revolutionary Guards said they launched Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missiles during three hours of firing. Targets included Israeli facilities in Tel Aviv, western Jerusalem, and Haifa; US bases in northern Iraq; and American warships of the 5th Fleet.

The spokesman for the Iranian military announced that the US and Israel must expect “crushing and fatal blows” after their attacks on residential areas in Tehran. He called on regional populations to identify American positions.

The Revolutionary Guards blustered:

To the American people: 70 years of your government’s achievements in the region were destroyed in less than 11 days. And the war continues….US operational infrastructure has been decimated in the latest wave of operation.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi added, “We’re just getting started.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi did not rules talks. However, he said, “If a ceasefire is to be established or the war stopped, there must be a guarantee that aggressive actions against Iran will not be repeated. Otherwise, if another attack occurs after a few months, such a ceasefire would be meaningless.”