Following a warning from Israel’s defense minister of a protracted conflict, Iran declared it would not resume nuclear program talks while under attack.
Intense fighting continued Friday, with Iran launching a missile barrage at northern Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes by Israel against numerous Iranian sites.
In a video address, Israeli Foreign Minister Eyal Zamir urged preparedness for a “prolonged campaign,” forewarning of “difficult days ahead.”
Meanwhile, Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi met with European diplomats in Geneva, who pressed for renewed diplomatic efforts with the U.S. regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
Araghchi conditioned Iran’s diplomatic engagement on the cessation of Israeli “aggression,” maintaining the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program and asserting that Israel’s actions violated international law. He added that Iran would continue to “exercise its legitimate right of self-defense.”
He emphatically stated, “I make it crystal clear that Iran’s defense capabilities are non-negotiable.”
Israel’s UN ambassador accused Iran of harboring a “genocidal agenda” and posing a persistent threat, vowing continued targeting of nuclear facilities until their “dismantlement.”
President Trump issued a two-week ultimatum to Iran, hinting at potential U.S. airstrikes before the Thursday-imposed deadline. “I’m giving them a period of time, and I would say two weeks would be the maximum,” Trump told reporters, aiming to see “whether or not people come to their senses.”
The U.S. president dismissed the talks between Araghchi and ministers from the UK, France, Germany, and the EU, stating, “Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this.”
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the U.S.-provided timeframe for resolving the crisis as a “short window” in a “perilous and deadly serious” situation.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, while urging Iran to consider negotiations with all parties, including the U.S., regardless of ongoing strikes, stressed that a military solution is impossible and warned against any attempt at regime change.
Further Iranian strikes hit Israel on Friday, with the Israeli military reporting 20 missiles targeting Haifa. One Israeli woman died of a heart attack, raising the Israeli death toll to 25. The IDF reported attacks on Iranian ballistic missile storage and launch sites.
Israeli airstrikes over the past week targeted Iranian military facilities and weapons, resulting in casualties among senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran’s health ministry reported at least 224 deaths, while a human rights group placed the unofficial death toll at 639 as of Thursday. Hundreds of Iranian ballistic missiles have been launched at Israel in retaliation.
Police believe the altercation involved protesters both for and against the Iranian monarchy.
The foreign secretary states charter flights from Tel Aviv will resume upon the reopening of Israeli airspace.
Britain’s potential involvement and role in a US escalation remains uncertain.
Saeed Khatibzadeh told the BBC this is “not America’s war”.
The Israeli military claims it targeted the reactor’s core seal to prevent its use for “nuclear weapons development”.