Iran Update Special Report, June 16, 2025, Morning Edition

Information Cutoff: 6:00 AM ET

The Critical Threats Project (CTP) at the American Enterprise Institute and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) will be publishing multiple updates per day to provide insights into the ongoing strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, military infrastructure, and key military and nuclear program leadership. We will continue to produce Iran Update special editions until the strikes conclude. We will prioritize covering Iranian and Iranian-sponsored activities in response to the attacks that threaten US forces and interests.  

We will produce two updates per day while conditions in the Middle East warrant it. This first update will focus on reports about the strike campaign and identify the areas struck between 6:00 PM ET on June 15 and 6:00 AM ET on June 16. The second update will cover all events over the previous 24 hours and refine our earlier reports about the strike campaign.

Key Takeaways

• Israel struck military and military-industrial sites around Tehran as part of its ongoing campaign into Iran. There are also unverified reports of an Israeli strike around the Fordow nuclear site.
• Iran conducted another ballistic missile attack against Israel. Iran reportedly fired around 40 missiles, with at least two missiles appearing to strike an energy site in Haifa.

The IDF has targeted several military sites across Iran since June 15. The IDF confirmed on June 16 that the Israeli Air Force struck the IRGC Quds Force headquarters in Tehran.[i] IRGC Quds Force operatives used this facility to plan attacks against Israel.[ii] The IDF reportedly struck an IRGC barracks in Zanjan, Zanjan Province, and a munitions bunker in Qom City, Qom Province.[iii] The IDF also struck Parchin military complex east of Tehran, which Iran has used to develop and manufacture explosive materials and advanced munitions, including ballistic missiles.[iv] Israel targeted missile production sites at Parchin in its October 2024 attack. The Parchin complex also reportedly played a key role in the Iranian nuclear weapons program.

An airstrike reportedly targeted Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant in Safarabad, Qom Province.[v] CTP-ISW will provide a bomb damage assessment and further reflections on the status of the Iranian nuclear program in the upcoming evening update.

Iran has conducted a single ballistic missile attack targeting Israel since June 15.[vi] An Israeli military correspondent reported that Iran launched approximately 40 missiles.[vii] Two Iranian missiles reportedly struck the Haifa Power Plant, according to open-source watchers on social media.[viii] Impacts in the Haifa area killed three.[ix] Geolocated footage shows damage to the US Embassy in Tel Aviv.[x] US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated that the embassy sustained minor damage but that there were no injuries.[xi]

The IDF intercepted several drones that crossed into Israeli territory on June 15 and 16.[xii] It is unclear what group launched these drones.  

CTP-ISW is tracking reports that an unspecified actor detonated car bombs or vehicle borne explosive devices in Tehran.  CTP-ISW is unable to verify these reports currently due to the contradictory and unclear information space.