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Iranian media reported on Friday that Davoud Sheikhiyan, a senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force’s air defense unit, was killed in Israeli strikes on Iran.
Sheikhiyan is believed to have played a key role in Iran’s air defense operations within the IRGC’s Aerospace Division, which oversees missile and drone capabilities.
The European Union on Friday voiced grave concern over rising tensions in the Middle East following Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran’s military response, calling for restraint and a return to diplomacy.
Speaking at the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna, the EU said it remains committed to ensuring Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons and reaffirmed support for a negotiated solution.
"The European Union expresses serious concern about the risk of a spiral of violence in the Middle East," the EU delegation said. "It remains a key security priority for the EU to ensure through diplomatic means that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon."
“We urge all parties to abide by international law, show restraint, and avoid targeting of civilians and any steps which could lead to serious consequences such as potential radioactive release.”
Iran's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Swiss ambassador to Tehran -whose country represents Washington's interests in Iran - to warn the US military against providing any support to Israel, including assistance in countering Iran's retaliatory attack.
"Iran warned against any US military support for the Zionist regime, including efforts to obstruct Iran's legitimate right to self-defense, and emphasized that such acts of aggression by the Zionist regime against Iran could not have taken place without US cooperation, coordination, or at the very least, a green light," the Foreign Ministry said.
The Swiss envoy was also told that "the United States must be held accountable for its unlawful conduct in this matter."
Two senior Iranian lawmakers publicly called on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to authorize the development of nuclear weapons, following Israel's strikes on Iran.
In remarks aired on Iranian media, MP Hossein-Ali Shahriari, a prominent conservative legislator, said: “As members of parliament, we humbly ask the Supreme Leader to give the order allowing Iran to possess nuclear bombs.”
Ahmad Naderi, a member of the parliament’s presiding board, echoed the call, saying: “We ask the Supreme Leader to allow us to move toward filling the deterrence gap with nuclear weapons.”
The United Nations Security Council will meet later on Friday over Israel's strikes on Iran following a request by the country’s foreign minister, Reuters reported.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi requested the meeting in a letter to the 15-member body, saying Israel "has now crossed every red line, and the international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished."
"Iran reaffirms its inherent right to self-defense as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and will respond decisively and proportionately to these unlawful and cowardly acts," Araghchi wrote.
Article 51 of the UN Charter covers the individual or collective right of states to self-defense against armed attack.
