Netanyahu Dials PM Modi Amid Israel-Iran Escalation; Khamenei Announces New Army Leadership — Updates

<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has initiated a series of high-level diplomatic conversations following Israel&rsquo;s large-scale airstrikes on Iran. As per the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel, Netanyahu began making calls to global leaders, engaging in discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and French President Emmanuel Macron. Talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are expected to take place soon.</p>
<p>”The leaders showed understanding for Israel’s defense needs in the face of the Iranian threat of annihilation; the Prime Minister said that he would continue to be in contact with them in the coming days,” a post by Israeli PMO stated.</p>
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<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”>The leaders showed understanding for Israel’s defense needs in the face of the Iranian threat of annihilation; the Prime Minister said that he would continue to be in contact with them in the coming days.</p>
&mdash; Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) <a href=”https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM/status/1933512352625778744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>June 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<p>PM Modi posted on X, “Received a phone call from PM Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. He briefed me on the evolving situation. I shared India’s concerns and emphasized the need for early restoration of peace and stability in the region”</p>
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<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”>Received a phone call from PM <a href=”https://twitter.com/netanyahu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@netanyahu</a> of Israel. He briefed me on the evolving situation. I shared India’s concerns and emphasized the need for early restoration of peace and stability in the region.</p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href=”https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1933524955934634271?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>June 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<h3><strong>New Iranian Military Leadership Announced After Deadly Israeli Strikes</strong></h3>
<p>In the wake of a deadly Israeli offensive that killed several senior Iranian military figures, Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced sweeping changes at the top of the armed forces. The official news agency IRNA confirmed on Friday that Major General Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi has been appointed as the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, following the assassination of his predecessor, General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri.</p>
<p>The Tehran Times reported that the appointments were made on the eve of Eid al-Ghadir, with Khamenei issuing formal decrees for each successor. Describing General Bagheri&rsquo;s death at the hands of the &ldquo;malicious Zionist regime&rdquo; as a &ldquo;honourable martyrdom,&rdquo; Khamenei praised Mousavi&rsquo;s service and directed him to bolster Iran&rsquo;s military preparedness and revolutionary response capacity. He urged a focus on the Basij forces and overall defence strategy while praying for the late commander&rsquo;s spiritual elevation and companionship with Imam Ali.</p>
<h3><strong>IRGC and Khatam al-Anbiya Commanders Also Replaced</strong></h3>
<p>Major General Ali Shadmani was named the new Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, succeeding General Gholam Ali Rashid, who was also killed in the Israeli strikes. Ayatollah Khamenei, in his decree, praised Rashid&rsquo;s “proud and honourable martyrdom” and called on Shadmani to prioritise strategic planning, rapid threat assessment, and interdepartmental coordination to evaluate and enhance combat readiness.</p>
<p>In another key appointment, Major General Mohammad Pakpour has been designated as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), following the assassination of General Hossein Salami. The Leader expressed confidence in Pakpour&rsquo;s leadership and called for strengthening the IRGC&rsquo;s operational preparedness, spiritual resilience, and ideological orientation. He again invoked blessings for the martyred general and wished Pakpour success in his new role.</p>
<h3><strong>U.S. Naval Movements and Internet Clampdown in Iran</strong></h3>
<p>In response to the growing tensions, two U.S. officials told the Associated Press that American military assets are being repositioned. The destroyer USS Thomas Hudner has been ordered to move toward the Eastern Mediterranean, with a second destroyer also on standby for potential deployment. US President Trump is reportedly holding consultations with his National Security Council principals to review the situation, the officials added on condition of anonymity.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Iran saw a sharp decline in internet connectivity on Friday. Advocacy group NetBlocks.org confirmed the outage, posting a graph on X that showed a steep drop in service, corroborating widespread user reports of restricted access.</p>
<p>The Israeli assault, which began early Friday, reportedly involved 200 aircraft targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure and long-range missile facilities. According to multiple reports, the strikes killed several senior commanders and nuclear scientists, intensifying an already volatile regional scenario.</p>