Israel has said it is ‘on the verge’ of destroying ‘more than 10 nuclear targets’ in Iran’ – amid fears that strikes on the sites could trigger a radiation incident.

The World Health Organisation has expressed fears that strikes near Tehran’s atomic bases could impact the environment and people’s health ‘in Iran and across the region’.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X that the ‘escalation of violence’ and rising casualties ‘is extremely concerning’ and ‘distressing’, adding that he was ‘particularly concerned’ about reports of strikes near nuclear facilities.

His comments come after the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said there was a possibility of both radiological and chemical contamination from the damaged Natanz installation, Iran’s main nuclear hub, which was the first to be hit.

Now Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz has warned that his country’s Air Force will strike ‘very significant targets, strategic targets, targets of the regime and infrastructure’ in Tehran today. 

President Donald Trump earlier declared he wants a ‘complete give-up’ by Iran and a ‘real end’ to its nuclear program, which he suggested would not be achieved through a ceasefire deal.

‘I’m not looking for a ceasefire, we’re looking at better than a ceasefire,’ Trump told reporters as he landed back in the US from a G7 summit in Canada. The president added he was looking for ‘an end, a real end, not a ceasefire.’

Trump last night refused to sign a joint statement with fellow G7 leaders calling for de-escalation in the conflict before storming out of the summit, saying he had to get back to Washington early ‘for obvious reasons’.

Speaking from Air Force One, he then furiously denied claims made by French President Emmanuel Macron that he was heading back to work on a ceasefire, calling his counterpart ‘publicity seeking’ and a ‘nice guy’ but one who ‘doesn’t get it right too often.’

He said that Israel had no intention of stopping their offensive, telling reporters: ‘The Israelis aren’t slowing up their barrage on Iran… You’re going to find out over the next two days. You’re going to find out. Nobody’s slowed up so far.’

He warned that the US will join Israel’s war and ‘come down hard’ on Tehran if provoked, adding that if Tehran ‘touches’ US troops, ‘the gloves are off’.

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