Iranian press reports ‘Israel doomsday clock’ intact

(MENAFN) Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed on Monday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had targeted the so-called ‘Israel Doomsday Clock’ in central Tehran during their recent strikes. Katz stated that the attacks, ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and himself, included regime targets such as the Basij headquarters, Evin Prison, and the countdown clock in Palestine Square. The clock, installed in 2017, displays a digital countdown to the predicted end of Israel, based on a statement by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who in 2016 said he hoped the “Zionist regime” would vanish within 25 years.

However, Iranian state media swiftly denied the claim. Mehr News Agency released video footage showing the clock still intact and fully operational, with its glowing red digits counting down to September 2040, filmed earlier the same day.

These contradictory reports come amid escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, following a series of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow. Israel describes the strikes as preemptive efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear weapon development, while Iran denies the accusations and retaliated with missile attacks on Israeli and U.S. military bases in the region, including Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base.

Both sides have reported civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. Israeli strikes in Tehran and other cities have resulted in deaths and damage to government and security facilities, while Iranian missiles struck southern Israeli cities, causing injuries and destruction.

Despite U.S.-led efforts to broker a ceasefire, accusations of violations continue, and tensions remain high, raising fears of a wider regional conflict with significant implications for global security and energy supplies.

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