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TEHRAN: Iran claimed early Wednesday to have fired hypersonic

missiles at Israel as the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces

unveiled plans for “punitive operations” against the Zionist regime,

saying the counterattacks that Iran has carried out so far were

merely aimed at deterrence.

In a video message released on Tuesday night, Major General

Abdolrahim Mousavi warned the Zionist regime to brace itself for a

punishment for its act of aggression against Iran.

The top commander said the military operations that Iran has

carried out so far were only warnings with the purpose of

deterrence, adding the punitive operations against the Zionist

regime will kick off soon.

He also issued an evacuation warning, calling on the residents of the

occupied Palestinian territories, particularly the people in Tel Aviv

and Haifa, to leave those regions to save their lives and not sacrifice

themselves for the animal desires of Benjamin Netanyahu.

The top general noted that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps

Aerospace Force and the Air Defence Base, which have been serving

in the frontline, have been assisted by the other Armed Forces in the

Army, the IRGC and the Police and also by the Intelligence Ministry

to fight off the enemy and have dealt severe blows to the Zionist

regime by focusing on critical and vital targets.

Iran claimed to have fired hypersonic missiles at Israel in the latest

round of overnight strikes between the archfoes, hours after Donald

Trump demanded the Islamic republic's "unconditional surrender".

The US president insists Washington has played no part in ally

Israel's bombing campaign, but also warned Iran his patience is

wearing thin as the conflict enters a sixth day.

Israeli warplanes targeted the Iranian capital before dawn

Wednesday after the military issued a warning on social media for

civilians in an area known as District 18 to evacuate.

Iranian state media reported explosions ricocheting in the Piroozi,

Sabalan and Sayyad areas of Tehran.

In retaliation, Iran told residents of Tel Aviv to prepare for an attack,

with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claiming its hypersonic

Fattah-1 missiles were "repeatedly shaking the shelters" in the

commercial hub.

"The 11th wave of the proud Operation Honest Promise 3 using

Fattah-1 missiles" was carried out, the Guards said in a statement

broadcast on state television.

Hypersonic missiles travel at more than five times the speed of

sound and can manoeuvre mid-flight, making them harder to track

and intercept.

Iran also sent a "swarm of drones" towards Israel, where the army

said it intercepted two over the Dead Sea area.

World powers have scrambled for an offramp, hoping to prevent the

conflict from spiralling into a region-engulfing war.

In separate phone calls with his Iranian counterpart and US envoy

Steve Witkoff on Tuesday night, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr

Abdelatty urged a diplomatic solution.

Trump fuelled speculation about American intervention when he

made a hasty exit from the G7 summit in Canada, where the leaders

of the club of wealthy democracies jointly called for a ceasefire.

Back in Washington, Trump demanded the Islamic republic's

"unconditional surrender". He also boasted that the United States

could easily assassinate Iran's supreme leader.

"We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding.

He is an easy target, but is safe there — We are not going to take him

out (kill!), at least not for now," Trump wrote on his Truth Social

platform.

He met with his National Security Council to discuss the conflict,

ending after an hour and 20 minutes with no immediate public

statement.

While he has repeatedly vowed to avoid wading into the "forever

wars" of the Middle East, Trump ordered the USS Nimitz aircraft

carrier to the region along with a number of US military aircraft.

US officials stressed he has not yet made a decision about any

intervention.

Iran says 14 Israeli drones intercepted as tensions with Israel

escalate

Iranian police have intercepted 14 hostile drones and uncovered

multiple drone-manufacturing workshops and drone-transport

vehicles across various provinces, police spokesperson Saeed

Montazerolmahdi announced on Wednesday, according to the

Iranian News Agency.

The announcement comes as the Iran-Israel air war entered its sixth

consecutive day, with both nations launching fresh missile strikes.

Explosions were reported over Tel Aviv, while Israeli airstrikes

reportedly targeted Iranian military sites, including a university

linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Khojir

missile facility near Tehran.

Montazerolmahdi did not specify whether the intercepted drones

originated from Israel, but the statement comes amid growing

accusations of Israeli attacks inside Iran’s territory.

Meanwhile, Israeli officials claim Iran launched multiple missile

barrages early Wednesday, escalating the conflict further. Iranian

officials report over 220 civilian deaths so far, while Israel reports

24 civilian casualties.

The drone interceptions highlight Iran’s domestic efforts to tighten

internal security as cyber attacks, airstrikes, and espionage continue

to undermine its infrastructure and leadership.

Global powers, including the US, have called for de-escalation,

though President Donald Trump has demanded Tehran’s

“unconditional surrender.” NNI