Iran, Israel launch new attacks after Tehran rules out nuclear talks
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Iran rules out new nuclear talks until attacks stop
Iran rules out new nuclear talks until attacks stop. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met European diplomats in Geneva. Israel’s defence minister warned of a “prolonged” conflict with the Islamic Republic. US President Donald Trump said Iran had a “maximum” of two weeks to avoid possible air strikes, suggesting that he could take a decision before the 14-day deadline he set on Thursday. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that the US had provided a “short window of time” to resolve the crisis in the Middle East which was “perilous and deadly serious”
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EPA Tehran saw an anti-Israel rally on Friday
Iran has said it will not resume talks over its nuclear programme while under attack, hours after Israel’s defence minister warned of a “prolonged” conflict with the Islamic Republic. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met European diplomats in Geneva who urged him to revive diplomatic efforts with the US over his country’s nuclear programme. His Israeli counterpart, Eyal Zamir, said in a video address that his country should be ready for a “prolonged campaign” and warned of “difficult days ahead”. Fighting raged into the night with the Israeli military announcing a new wave of attacks against Iranian missile storage and launch infrastructure after Iran launched missiles towards central Israel.
Explosions were heard close to the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. Reports say a building was set on fire in central Israel by falling shrapnel. Araghchi said Iran was ready to consider diplomacy only once Israel’s “aggression is stopped”. Iran’s nuclear programme was peaceful, he insisted, and Israel’s attacks violated international law. Iran, he added, would continue to “exercise its legitimate right of self-defence”. “I make it crystal clear that Iran’s defence capabilities are non-negotiable,” he said. Israel’s ambassador to the UN accused Iran of having a “genocidal agenda” and posing an ongoing threat, adding that Israel would not stop targeting nuclear facilities until they were “dismantled”.
US President Donald Trump said Iran had a “maximum” of two weeks to avoid possible American air strikes, suggesting that he could take a decision before the 14-day deadline he set on Thursday. “I’m giving them a period of time, and I would say two weeks would be the maximum,” Trump told reporters. The aim, he said, was to “see whether or not people come to their senses”. The US president was also dismissive of the talks between Araghchi and foreign ministers from the UK, France, Germany and the EU. “Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe,” Trump said. “They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this.”
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that the US had provided a “short window of time” to resolve the crisis in the Middle East which was “perilous and deadly serious”. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the ministers had invited the Iranian minister to “consider negotiations with all sides, including the United States, without awaiting the cessation of strikes”. Barrot added that there could be “no definitive solution through military means to the Iran nuclear problem” and warned that it was “dangerous to want to impose a regime change” in Iran.
Iran, Israel launch new attacks after Tehran rules out nuclear talks
Iran and Israel exchange fresh attacks early on Saturday, a day after Tehran said it would not negotiate over its nuclear program while under threat. Air raid sirens triggered across parts of central Israel, including Tel Aviv, as well as in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Shortly after 2:30 a.m. in Israel (2330 GMT on Friday), the Israeli military warned of an incoming missile barrage from Iran, triggering air raid sirens across parts of central Israel, including Tel Aviv, as well as in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Interceptions were visible in the sky over Tel Aviv, with explosions echoing across the metropolitan area as Israel’s air defense systems responded.
At the same time, Israel launched a new wave of attacks against missile storage and launch infrastructure sites in Iran, the Israeli military said.
Sirens also sounded in southern Israel, said Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency service. An Israeli military official said Iran had fired five ballistic missiles and that there were no immediate indications of any missile impacts.
Reuters
Iran, Israel Trade New Attacks After Tehran Rules Out Nuclear Talks While Attacks Continue
Iran and Israel exchanged fresh attacks early on June 21, triggering air raid sirens. Iran said it would not negotiate over its nuclear program until Israel stops its attacks. Israel began attacking Iran on June 13, saying it was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Israel estimates its strikes since then have delayed Tehran’s potential to develop a nuclear weapon by “at least two or three years,” Israel’s foreign minister said in an interview published June 21. US President Donald Trump reiterated on June 20 that he would take as long as two weeks to decide whether the United States should enter the conflict on Israel’s side, enough time “to see whether or not people come to their senses,” he said. The attacks occurred after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi took part in several hours of talks with European foreign ministers in Geneva that yielded only a statement expressing “grave concerns” about the escalation of tensions.
An incoming missile barrage from Iran began around 2:30 a.m., setting off Israel’s air defense systems, which intercepted missiles in the sky over Tel Aviv.
The emergency service released images showing a fire on the roof of a multi-story residential building in central Israel. Local media reported that the fire was caused by debris from an intercepted missile.
The Israeli military said its forces launched a new wave of attacks against missile storage and launch infrastructure sites in Iran.
Israel said it struck dozens of military targets, including missile production sites, a research body it said was involved in nuclear weapons development in Tehran, and military facilities in western and central Iran.
The attacks occurred after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi took part in several hours of talks with European foreign ministers in Geneva that yielded only a statement expressing “grave concerns” about the escalation of tensions and a willingness to meet again.
The ministers also reiterated their longstanding concerns about Iran’s expansion of its nuclear program, which they said has “no credible civilian purpose.” Iran insists its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.
Israel began attacking Iran on June 13, saying it was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Israel estimates its strikes since then have delayed Tehran’s potential to develop a nuclear weapon by “at least two or three years,” Israel’s foreign minister said in an interview published on June 21.
Israel’s offensive has produced “very significant” results, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told Germany’s Bild newspaper. “We already delayed for at least two or three years the possibility for them to have a nuclear bomb.”
But there also has been a human toll. Its air attacks have killed 639 people in Iran, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The dead include the military’s top officers and nuclear scientists.
In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed in retaliatory Iranian missile and drone attacks, according to authorities.
US President Donald Trump reiterated on June 20 that he would take as long as two weeks to decide whether the United States should enter the conflict on Israel’s side, enough time “to see whether or not people come to their senses,” he said.
Trump said he was unlikely to press Israel to scale back its air strikes to allow negotiations to continue.
“I think it’s very hard to make that request right now. If somebody is winning, it’s a little bit harder to do than if somebody is losing, but we’re ready, willing and able, and we’ve been speaking to Iran, and we’ll see what happens,” he said.
“Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe,” he added. “They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this one.”
Araqchi said there would be no room for negotiations with the US “until Israeli aggression stops.” In an interview with US broadcaster NBC, he said it’s up to the United States “to show the determination for going for a negotiated solution.”
Asked whether Iran would retaliate against US targets and US forces in the region or elsewhere if the Americans joined Israeli forces, Araqchi said it would be a legitimate act of defense if it did.
“When there is a war, both sides attack each other. That is quite understandable. And self-defense is a legitimate right of every country,” he told NBC.
In New York City, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon told the Security Council on June 20 his country would not stop its attacks “until Iran’s nuclear threat is dismantled.”
Iranian Ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani called for Security Council action and said Tehran was alarmed by reports that the US might join the war.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran was ready to discuss limitations on uranium enrichment but that it would reject any proposal that barred it from enriching uranium completely, “especially now under Israel’s strikes.”
With reporting by Reuters and AP
Israel-Iran live: Israel says dozens injured after latest Iranian attack; Trump says it’s ‘very hard’ to ask Israel to stop strikes
US warplanes transit through UK as Trump considers striking Iran. Flight tracking data shows extensive movement of US military aircraft towards the Middle East in recent days, including via the UK.
By Ben van der Merwe, Adam Parker, Kaitlin Tosh and Sophia Massam, Data & Forensics Unit
Flight tracking data shows extensive movement of US military aircraft towards the Middle East in recent days, including via the UK.
Fifty-two US military planes were spotted flying over the eastern Mediterranean towards the Middle East between Monday and Thursday.
That includes at least 25 that passed through Chania airport, on the Greek island of Crete – an eight-fold increase in the rate of arrivals compared to the first half of June.
Iran, Israel launch new attacks after Tehran rules out nuclear talks
Israel began attacking Iran last Friday, saying its longtime enemy was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. “I think it’s very hard to make that request right now,” he said. “We’ve been speaking to Iran, and we’ll see what happens,” he added. “Iran doesn’t want to speak to us,” he says. “Israel is widely assumed to possess nuclear weapons,” he adds. “It neither confirms nor denies this,” the president says of a possible attack on the U.S. “until Israeli aggression stops” “We’re ready, willing and able to do than if somebody is losing, but we’re not going to be able to help in this one,” says the president. “They want to see whether or not people come to their senses,” says a U.N. official of a potential attack on Israel’s nuclear program.
Shortly after 2:30 a.m. in Israel, the Israeli military warned of an incoming missile barrage from Iran, triggering air raid sirens across parts of central Israel, including Tel Aviv, as well as in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Interceptions were visible in the sky over Tel Aviv, with explosions echoing across the metropolitan area as Israel’s air defense systems responded.
At the same time, Israel launched a new wave of attacks against missile storage and launch infrastructure sites in Iran, the Israeli military said.
Sirens also sounded in southern Israel, said Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency service. An Israeli military official said Iran had fired five ballistic missiles and that there were no immediate indications of any missile impacts.
There were no initial reports of casualties.
The emergency service released images showing a fire on the roof of a multistory residential building in central Israel. Local media reported that the fire was caused by debris from an intercepted missile. Israel began attacking Iran last Friday, saying its longtime enemy was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Iran, which says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes, retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel.
Israel is widely assumed to possess nuclear weapons. It neither confirms nor denies this.
Its air attacks have killed 639 people in Iran, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a U.S.-based human rights organization that tracks Iran. The dead include the military’s top echelon and nuclear scientists.
In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed in Iranian missile attacks, according to authorities.
Reuters could not independently verify casualty figures for either side.
Talks show little progress
Iran has repeatedly targeted Tel Aviv, a metropolitan area of around 4 million people and the country’s business and economic hub, where some critical military assets are also located.
Israel said it had struck dozens of military targets on Friday, including missile production sites, a research body it said was involved in nuclear weapons development in Tehran and military facilities in western and central Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said there was no room for negotiations with the U.S. “until Israeli aggression stops.” But he arrived in Geneva on Friday for talks with European foreign ministers at which Europe hopes to establish a path back to diplomacy.
President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated that he would take as long as two weeks to decide whether the United States should enter the conflict on Israel’s side, enough time “to see whether or not people come to their senses,” he said.
Trump said he was unlikely to press Israel to scale back its airstrikes to allow negotiations to continue.
“I think it’s very hard to make that request right now. If somebody is winning, it’s a little bit harder to do than if somebody is losing, but we’re ready, willing and able, and we’ve been speaking to Iran, and we’ll see what happens,” he said.
The Geneva talks produced little signs of progress, and Trump said he doubted negotiators would be able to secure a ceasefire.
“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 one,” Trump said.
Hundreds of U.S. citizens have fled Iran since the air war began, according to a U.S. State Department cable seen by Reuters.
Israel’s envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, told the Security Council on Friday his country would not stop its attacks “until Iran’s nuclear threat is dismantled.” Iran’s U.N. envoy Amir Saeid Iravani called for Security Council action and said Tehran was alarmed by reports that the U.S. might join the war.
Russia and China demanded immediate de-escalation.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran was ready to discuss limitations on uranium enrichment but that it would reject any proposal that barred it from enriching uranium completely, “especially now under Israel’s strikes.”