Around 8,000 people in Israel are without electricity after Iran’s missile strikes this morning, according to the energy minister.

Eli Cohen says authorities had “prepared in advance for the possibility of damage to electrical installations” and aim to have power back within three hours.

The Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) earlier reported “damage near a strategic infrastructure facility” in the south, which has led to power cuts in several communities.

“IEC teams are en route to multiple locations on the ground with the aim of restoring power as soon as possible. The operations include infrastructure repairs and the neutralisation of safety hazards, and are being carried out in co-ordination with security forces,” it says.

Bethany Bell
Vienna correspondent

Image source, Reuters

As we've reported, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors is now meeting in Vienna

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, has appealed for a ceasefire in Iran to allow for IAEA inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites.

In a statement to the IAEA’s board of governors in Vienna, he said:

"Establishing the facts on the ground is a prerequisite for any agreement, and this can only be done through IAEA inspections.

"There needs to be a cessation of hostilities for the necessary safety and security conditions to prevail so that Iran can let IAEA teams into the sites to assess the situation."

Hugo Bachega
Middle East correspondent, reporting from Jerusalem

As the world waits for the expected response from Iran to the American air strikes on its nuclear facilities, Israelis are wondering what their own country might be planning to do with its campaign there.

Israel has been extremely successful, severely damaging Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities by striking key facilities and killing top military officials and scientists.

The assessment is that Iran’s nuclear programme, seen here as an existential threat, has been delayed by years. Some are wondering whether it is time for Israel to stop the attacks.

Senior defence officials, quoted by Channel 13 News, said “the goal is to end this event within days”.

This would obviously bring respite to Iranians, many of whom have been under constant bombardment for more than a week, and alleviate the pressure on Israelis, many exhausted after almost two years of war - the conflict against Hamas in Gaza continues without a clear exit plan.

Iranian retaliatory missiles have penetrated the air defences, causing death and destruction. Iran has vowed to stop if Israel stops its attacks first.

This would give way for diplomacy to work and some kind of deal to emerge, although it is difficult for now to see how one could be possible.

Iran has repeated that it will not abandon the enrichment of uranium, a US demand, saying it is its right.

But not everyone in Israel agrees it is time to halt the attacks. Yaakov Amidror, a former Israeli national security adviser, told me Israel had not “finished achieving its goals yet”.

Apart from damaging Iran’s nuclear programme, Israeli leaders have mentioned the removal of the threat of the country’s ballistic missiles as another objective.

“We were very clear at the beginning that we have two goals,” he said, “and we’re still doing both”.

When I asked him if the war should continue, he answered: “No question.”

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Jerusalem

As we've reported earlier, Iran has launched missiles at Israel.

Israel's military says search and rescue teams are working in several locations across the country where they've had reports of fallen projectiles.

In a separate statement, Israeli police say they've had reports of projectiles landing in open areas in southern Israel.

They add there have not been any reports of injuries or property damage so far.

Police are urging people to stay away from affected areas and say officers and bomb disposal experts are at the scene to secure the zones.

Image source, Reuters

We've just had an update from the Israeli military, which says its air force has begun a "series of strikes toward military targets in Tehran".

This statement comes after Iranian media reported explosions had been heard in the Iranian capital, along with video showing a large plume of smoke rising over the city.

Image source, EPA

We're getting more reaction to Iran's threat to block the Strait of Hormuz.

The European Union's top diplomat has warned that any closure would be dangerous and "not good for anybody", according to Reuters news agency.

Kaja Kallas made the comments ahead of a meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

Meanwhile, China's foreign ministry spokesperson has also stressed that the "Persian Gulf and surrounding waters are important international trade routes", urging the international community to "intensify efforts to promote de-escalation of tensions".

Iranian state TV reported that parliament has approved a measure to close the strait, although the final decision lies with the Supreme National Security Council.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Elliott Abrams, who was the US envoy to Iran during Trump’s first term, tells BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there’s been a lot of “misdirection” about Trump’s recent comments on Iran.

As mentioned just now, Trump suggested the idea of regime change in Iran on social media, but Abrams thinks he might just be “kidding around”.

Abrams also talked about Iran’s threat to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital trade route where nearly a quarter of the world’s oil and gas passes through.

He says that’s “not a big problem” for the US.

“Yes it would take a few more days or weeks to open – but there would be very broad support for this,” he says.

He adds that if Iran did close the waterway, they’d be “cutting their own throats” as they wouldn’t be able to export oil.

On Sunday, the US president wrote on social media that while "it’s not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???"

As our North America editor points out, this appears to put him at odds with what other members of his administration have said.

Over the weekend, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the "mission was not and has not been about regime change", and Vice-President JD Vance said the US "[doesn't] want to achieve regime change".

Image source, Reuters

Nick Beake
Europe correspondent, reporting from Brussels

Foreign ministers from the 27 European Union countries are arriving in Brussels with the knowledge they’ve been sidelined and ignored by the Trump administration.

On Friday, France and Germany’s foreign ministers, as well as their British counterpart David Lammy, travelled to Geneva hoping to reduce tensions and coax Tehran to the nuclear negotiating table.

After meeting the Iranian foreign minister, the Europeans sent out a joint message that talks should continue, saying they “welcomed ongoing US efforts to seek a negotiated solution”.

There wasn’t much negotiation.

Less than 24 hours later, the US launched its strikes on Iran.

Ireland has said the attacks represent an "extraordinarily dangerous escalation". In the past hour, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Europe needs to be the “voice of peace and diplomacy”.

But for now, Europe is struggling to find its voice and is not being listened to.

Image source, Europa Press/Getty Images

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Jerusalem

I've been talking to people in a part of Tel Aviv that was hit by an Iranian missile over the weekend, asking how they've been affected and what they want to happen next.

Speech therapist Ayelet tells me: "All my windows were shattered and the front door blew off [on Sunday morning]. I wasn’t at home, I was in the shelter but when I got back I saw what had happened. It was very shocking."

Ayelet, 32, says she was at first happy when she heard about the US strikes, thinking it would "make the war shorter", but now she's worried about what might happen next.

"I'm trying to be optimistic," she adds. "I hope it will end soon."

Ran Lotan, 27, came to visit his parents after their home was damaged.

"Their windows were all smashed out so I came to see them," he says. "For me myself, I'm OK… but you see people who are terrified - babies screaming and children who don't know what's happening."

Nearby, some support the US action and want Israel to keep up its strikes.

"The Iranian regime needs to be totally erased," one man shouts.

"You keep going until it's over. You don't stop in the middle," says another.

Image source, EPA

We've heard from James Cartlidge, shadow defence secretary, who says the Conservatives back the US military operation in Iran.

"The key message is to show support for Israel and the United States," he tells BBC Breakfast.

"We feel above all else that we can't have a situation where Iran has nuclear weapons."

Asked if the UK would get involved in the conflict, he says it's "too early to speculate" but welcomes UK defence secretary John Healey's earlier decision to move planes and military assets to the Middle East, putting them in a position to "respond if needed".

We're hearing more from the UK foreign secretary on the Today programme.

Asked about the legality of the US bombing Iran's nuclear sites, David Lammy says "it's for the Americans to discuss those issues".

"I don't say it's not legitimate," he adds, but points out, "we were clear when this began that we were not involved".

Lammy also repeats that the issue in Iran should be resolved through diplomacy.

"The UK has a very important role to play as a nuclear power - to ensure that we get that diplomatic solution".

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Jerusalem

Sirens have sounded across Israel, with alerts sent to people's phones telling them to head to shelters.

The Israeli military says missiles have been launched from Iran towards Israel and that "defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat".

"Upon receiving an alert, the public is instructed to enter a protected space and remain there until further notice," it adds.

A couple of distant booms could be heard from Jerusalem.

Retaliate now, later or never: What Iran's next move could bepublished at 08:29 British Summer Time 23 June

08:29 BST 23 June

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

Iran has responded furiously to the overnight US air strikes on three of its nuclear sites, vowing what it calls "everlasting consequences".

But beyond the words, there will be feverish discussions taking place at the highest level inside Iran's security and intelligence establishment.

Should they escalate the conflict through retaliation against US interests, or, as US President Donald Trump has called on them to do, negotiate, which in practice means giving up all nuclear enrichment inside Iran?

This internal debate will be taking place at a time when many senior Iranian commanders will be looking over their shoulders, wondering if they are about to be the next target of an Israeli precision air strike or whether someone in the room has already betrayed them to Mossad, Israel's overseas spy agency.

Broadly speaking, there are three different strategic courses of action now open to Iran: retaliate hard and soon, retaliate later or don't retaliate at all.

None of them are risk free, and uppermost in the minds of those taking the decisions will be the survival of the Islamic Republic regime.

• You can read the full analysis here

Image source, IRGC

We've just heard another warning issued by Iran, which says the US will face a response to its strikes over the weekend.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari says the US has directly entered the war and violated the "sacred soil" of Iran.

He says the US will face "heavy, regrettable and unpredictable consequences" through "powerful and targeted operations".

Speaking directly to the US president in English, Zolfaghari says: "Mr Trump, the gambler! You may start this war - but we will be the ones to finish it!"

• For context, the IRGC is separate from Iran's regular armed forces

After the US shocked the world with its strikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, there’s a lot happening today in diplomacy and security policy.

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up.

• Iran’s foreign minister is in Moscow to meet Russia’s President Putin to talk about their “common challenges and threats”
• A Nato summit is opening in the Netherlands, and it's almost certain the situation in the Middle East will be discussed
• The board of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is holding an emergency meeting
• The UN Security Council is due to meet again after its Sunday session as the conflict escalates
• EU foreign ministers are also meeting in Belgium

We’ll keep you updated throughout the day.

The UK foreign secretary says it would be a catastrophic mistake for Iran to escalate its response after the US bombing of its nuclear sites.

“Let’s calm this thing down,” David Lammy tells BBC Breakfast.

He says he spoke to the Iranian foreign minister, urging him to be “very careful about not escalating” the situation.

Commenting on the firepower of the US, he says this is the time for Iran to “get serious, step back and comply” with the UN nuclear watchdog’s programme.

“Clearly this is a moment of peril," Lammy says.

“I’m an optimist – of course this is a stressful time – but I still believe diplomacy must and can prevail.”

Several senior Iranian military leaders have threatened to respond to the US strikes.

Iranian media has released a video showing Iran's commander in chief, Amir Hatami, speaking to fellow officers in an operations room.

In the video, he says every time the US has committed "crimes" against Iran in the past, they "received a decisive response, and this time it will be the same".

Meanwhile, the Iranian army's chief of staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi, has put out a statement saying the US has opened up the possibility of his forces taking "any action" against US troops. He adds that Iran "will never back down".

The Israeli military says it has attacked six airports in Iran, destroying 15 aircraft and damaging runways.

In a post on social media, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says the airports targeted were in western, eastern and central Iran.

The IDF adds that the drone strikes destroyed F-15 and F-5 fighter jets, a refuelling plane, and an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter.

It also says runways and underground bunkers were damaged.

It's not clear when these attacks happened.

Iran has not yet confirmed the attack.

Trump seems to contradict official US stance on warpublished at 07:15 British Summer Time 23 June

07:15 BST 23 June

Sarah Smith
North America editor

Image source, EPA

Throughout yesterday, senior US officials sought to emphasise that the air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites did not mean that America had gone to war with the country.

But then Donald Trump posted a statement on social media that seemed to contradict that message.

He wrote that: “It’s not politically correct to use the term, “Regime Change,” but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!"

There are 40,000 soldiers on bases and warships in the Middle East who are now on high alert as the Department of Defense is braced for retaliation from Iran.

The US State Department has issued a global warning, advising US citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution.

President Trump has claimed that Iran’s nuclear sites had been obliterated, but officials admit they don’t yet know how much damage they may have inflicted and that it is possible that quantities of enriched uranium may have been moved before the US attacks.