Tehran, Iran - June 18, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International TV)
1. Smoke rising after Israeli airstrikes
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Hossein Neamatzadeh, China Media Group (CMG) correspondent in Tehran (ending with shot 3):
"After supreme leader's message, we heard a heavy explosion in Tehran in the northeast. It is almost near us. It was in the northeast or east of Tehran. You can listen, another explosion. Another explosion hit Tehran right now. A new explosion just happened. The air defense systems are trying to intercept the hostile objects here. As you hear the sounds, the number of explosions are getting increased. And you see the heavy smokes are coming up from the crashed site. The location of explosions is getting near and near to the northeast of Tehran and this one is closer to us."
3. Various of heavy smoke billowing into sky

The situation in Tehran remains tense as Israeli airstrikes on the Iranian capital continued through Wednesday, with a series of powerful explosions heard across the city from the afternoon into late evening following a televised address by Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In his televised address, Khamenei said that Iran remains steadfast in its conflict with Israel and will not surrender to pressure.

The strikes primarily targeted the northeastern and eastern districts of the city, according to Hossein Neamatzadeh, a China Media Group (CMG) correspondent in Tehran.

"After supreme leader's message, we heard a heavy explosion in Tehran in the northeast. It is almost near us. It was in the northeast or east of Tehran. You can listen, another explosion. Another explosion hit Tehran right now. A new explosion just happened. The air defense systems are trying to intercept the hostile objects here. As you hear the sounds, the number of explosions are getting increased. And you see the heavy smokes are coming up from the crashed site. The location of explosions is getting near and near to the northeast of Tehran and this one is closer to us," said the correspondent.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that its air force struck Iranian military targets in Tehran that day. The Israeli military also bombed an air base in Iran's Kermanshah Province, destroying three AH-1 helicopters.

An IDF spokesperson said on Wednesday evening that Israeli forces carried out three separate rounds of attacks over the past 24 hours. The first wave hit approximately 40 targets in the Greater Tehran area, including centrifuge factories and sites producing anti-tank missiles. The second round targeted Iran's missile production and security installations, while the third wave targeted missile launch pads and storage locations in western Iran. Israel also reported strikes on facilities linked to Iran's nuclear weapons program and centrifuge research.

Since the latest escalation began, Iran has launched over 400 ballistic missiles and more than 1,000 drones toward Israel, according to the Times of Israel, citing the IDF sources, noting that more than 20 of the ballistic missiles struck urban areas in Israel. At least 24 people in Israel have been killed and more than 500 injured.

In retaliation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday announced the 12th phase of Operation True Promise III, launching surface-to-surface ballistic missiles with a range of up to 2,000 kilometers targeting the IDF's Military Intelligence Directorate and the Mossad, Israel's intelligence and special operations agency.

Air raid sirens were activated across Israel, and the IDF reported intercepting four missiles targeting Tel Aviv.

Iran also launched dozens of drones toward Israel Wednesday to strike predetermined military targets, according to Iran's Tasnim News Agency.