Israel at war: Iran closes nuclear sites, IAEA cancels inspections over fear of strike

International nuclear watchdog chief confirms Iran closed its nuclear facilities and IAEA inspections are postponed over 'security considerations'.

An Iranian heavy water nuclear facility. Picture: AP.

Welcome to The Australian's rolling coverage of Israel's conflict with Iran as Jerusalem mulls a retaliatory strike after the weekend drone and missile attack.

Live Updates

1:03 pm April 16, 2024

Iran 'will spare region further turmoil': Beijing

Anne Barrowclough

China claims Iran will “spare the region further turmoil” after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, according to China's state news agency Xinhua.

Xinhua also reported that Mr Wang also told Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud China was willing to work with Riyadh to avoid further escalation.

Meanwhile, the US Secretary of Defence has spoken against with his Israeli counterpart and stressed the need to retain "regional stability."
Lloyd Austin urged Yoav Gallant not to launch a counter-strike, according to a readout of their phone call seen by the Times of Israel.

I spoke to Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today to discuss the aftermath of Iran’s unprecedented April 13 attacks, which U.S., Israeli, and partner forces thwarted in a combined defensive operation.  I reiterated steadfast U.S. support for Israel’s defense and…

— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) April 16, 2024

Mr Austin also said on X that he had spoken to the leaders of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in an effort to "deescalate tensions in the region."

11:40 am April 16, 2024

Netanyahu urges global leaders: 'Stand united' with Israel

Anne Barrowclough

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged the international community to "stand united" in resisting Iranian "aggression" amid reports Jerusalem will "imminently" order a retaliatory strike on Iran.

The international community must continue to stand united in resisting this Iranian aggression, which threatens world peace.

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 15, 2024

Mr Netanyahu posted on X that he "deeply appreciates" the support of the US, UK, France and others in helping defend Israel against the barrage of missiles and drones launched on Sunday (AEST).

Mr Netanyahu also posted that Republican House majority leader Steve Scalise had assured him of Republican support and "expressed support for any decision that Israel makes in light of the Iranian attack".

US House of Representatives Majority Leader Steve Scalise called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this evening and expressed support for any decision that Israel makes in light of the Iranian attack.

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 15, 2024

He said he thanked Mr Scalise and stressed Israel would do everything necessary to defend itself.

10:34 am April 16, 2024

Iran 'will cut the foot off any aggressor'

Anne Barrowclough

Iran has warned the regime will “cut the foot of any aggressor” that launches an attack on the Iranian territory, warning the US, Britain, France and Germany to stop supporting Israel.

Iranian military spokesman Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi warned: “We remind the heads of state of the United States, Britain, France and Germany to stop supporting the moribund, evil, law-breaking, terrorist and child-killing regime of Israel.

He said if Israel retaliated against Tehran's missile and drone strike: “We will cut its feet more powerfully" than the weekend attack.

9:08 am April 16, 2024 Highlight

IAEA halts nuclear inspections over possible strike

Anne Barrowclough

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Picture; AFP.

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has said he has kept inspectors away from Iranian nuclear facilities out of concern Israel might target them.

As Israel's war cabinet has reportedly decided on a "forceful" retaliatory strike on Iran after the weekend's drone and missile attack, which NBC reports may be "imminent," International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi told US media Iran closed its facilities over "security considerations," and IAEA inspectors had been kept away “until we see that the situation is completely calm.”

“We are going to resume tomorrow,” Mr Grossi said. “This has not had an impact on our inspection activity.”

The Royal Jordanian Air Force has also announced it is increasing air patrols across the country.

The US and European leaders have urged Israel to show caution in any response and to avoid a retaliation that would lead to regional conflict. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters: "This is an Israeli decision to make — whether and how they'll respond to what Iran did on Saturday. And we're going to leave it squarely with them."

US President Joe Biden has made it clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the US won't participate in any offensive actions against Iran, but NBC cites officials claiming Mr Biden says privately he fears Mr Netanyahu is trying to drag the US into a wider conflict.

Meanwhile US fighter squadrons moved near Israel at the weekend are remaining there, the Pentagon has confirmed.

Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder told reporters Air Force fighter jet squadrons in the region and navy ships in the Mediterranean Sea participated in the effort to defend Israel from Iranian missiles and drones on Sunday.

The USS Carney and the USS Arleigh Burke, both Navy destroyers, shot down missiles from the sea.

Maj. Gen, Ryder said any Israeli response was down to Jerusalem.

“We don’t want to see escalation, but we obviously will take necessary measures to protect our forces in the region,” he said, adding that the US will also “take necessary measures to protect Israel.”

6:53 am April 16, 2024 Highlight

Iran will respond 'within seconds' to Israel attack

Anne Barrowclough

Iranians lift up a flag and the mock up of a missile during a celebration following Iran's missiles and drones attack on Israel. Picture: AFP.

Iran will respond "within seconds" if Israel launches a retaliatory strike, the regime has threatened.

Ali Bakri Keni, deputy Iranian Foreign Minister, said in the case of an attack from Israel, Jerusalem could "expect a faster and more severe response" which "would require not days or hours but a few seconds."

The Iranian president’s political deputy, Mohammad Jamshidi sent a similar message, writing on X that the “era of strategic patience is over” and further targeting Iranian personnel and assets “will be met with a direct and punishing response.”

And the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security Commission, Abolfazl Amouei claimed Iran was ready to use “A weapon it has never before used” in the event of an attack.

Tehran said its missile and drone barrage against Israel was the first act of a tough new strategy, but considered the matter “concluded” unless Israel chose to commit “another mistake”.

It came as Israel issued its first official comment on the deadly Syria strike that killed two of the Revolutionary Guards' top generals.

“These were people who engaged in terrorism against the State of Israel,” IDFspokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said.

“There was not a single diplomat there as far as I know.”

5:57 am April 16, 2024 Highlight

Iran strike a show of weakness and cunning

Greg Sheridan

Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, addresses a congregation in Iran as Tehran unleashed dozens of drone strikes. Picture: X

The Iranian missile-and-drone attack on Israel bears a resemblance to the way China conquered the South China Sea and Russia first took over Crimea. The three authoritarian allies, Iran, China and Russia, are masters of grey-zone military tactics.

Grey-zone operations fall just below the threshold that would trigger US military response. Thus Russia first invaded Crimea, in 2014, with “little green men”. These were Russian soldiers who weren’t wearing Russian uniforms. Their identity as local participants in a civil dispute was implausible, but created just enough fog, just enough ambiguity, that it allowed the folks in Washington who didn’t want to confront Russia, even with serious sanctions, to win the day.

Similarly, much of the quasi-military action Beijing undertakes in the South China Sea to push out the Southeast Asians nations, especially The Philippines, is carried out by Chinese navy vessels disguised as coast guard or even fishing ships.

Read the full story

5:54 am April 16, 2024 Highlight

Iran air defences 'on high alert'

Anne Barrowclough

Iran's air defences have reportedly been put on high alert, and Tehran has placed restrictions on international flights over the country as Israel says it will respond "forcefully" to the weekend attack.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Friday and Saturday Night. https://t.co/41SMaiLBrn

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 15, 2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office rejected calls from several world leaders urging caution, the Kan broadcaster reports.

Separately, G7 leaders agreed that they would use all channels of influence on Israel to prevent it from launching a counterattack in Iran, Bloomberg reports.

5:18 am April 16, 2024 Highlight

Israel decides on 'forceful' strike against Iran

Anne Barrowclough

Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant. Picture: Getty Images via AFP.

Israel's war cabinet has reportedly decided on a "forceful" retaliatory strike on Iran after the weekend's drone and missile attack, but in a way that will not spark a wider regional war.

As the US and European allies urged Jerusalem against a response that would lead to wider conflict, the five member cabinet agreed to respond "clearly and decisively," to send a message that Jerusalem “will not allow an attack of that magnitude against it to pass without a reaction, according to the country's Channel 12 TV.

It came as General Herzi Halevi, chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces, confirmed Israel would respond to the attack, saying: "The launch of so many missiles and drones to Israeli territory will be answered with a retaliation."

Amid reports the strike could come as soon as Monday local time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly asked the Israel Defence Forces to provide target options which would send a message to Tehran but would not cause casualties.

Those options include a potential strike on a facility in Tehran or a cyberattack, an official told The Washington Post.

“Everybody agrees that Israel must respond,” the official said. “How to respond, when to respond, is the question.”

Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told his US counterpart Lloyd Austin that Israel has “no choice but to respond” to Iran’s attack, given the use of ballistic missiles, the Axio news site reports.

“Israel won’t accept an equation in which Iran responds with a direct attack every time Israel strikes targets in Syria," Mr Gallant said.

Channel 12 reports that Israel will coordinate its response with allies, with the strike designed to demonstrate to Iran that it cannot allow the Iranians to “create the new equation” it has sought to establish.

Israel was hit with 300 drones and missiles on Sunday (AEST), but the vast majority were intercepted before they struck their target. Iran had repeatedly warned it would attack Israel after an airstrike on its consular building in Damascus which killed seven Revolutionary Guards, including two senior generals.

Tehran's attack on Israel caused minimal damage to two military bases, and 12 injuries.