Israel-Iran air war enters second week as Europe pushes diplomacy
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Israel-Iran Conflict Intensifies as Diplomatic Efforts Grow
Israel launched strikes last Friday to thwart Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions. Iran responded with drone and missile attacks. Israeli airstrikes have killed 639 people in Iran, including top military leaders and nuclear scientists. Iran claims it is only striking military targets in Israel, but its attacks have also damaged civilian sites. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to decide within two weeks whether to intervene.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, Israeli airstrikes have killed 639 people in Iran, including top military leaders and nuclear scientists. Iran’s retaliatory attacks have reportedly caused at least two dozen Israeli civilian deaths. Reuters has not independently verified these figures.
Israel has focused on targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and missile systems, with sources indicating a broader effort to destabilize Iran’s leadership. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said regime change is not the goal, but hinted it could be a consequence.
Iran claims it is only striking military targets in Israel, but its attacks have also damaged civilian sites, including a hospital. On Thursday, Israel accused Iran of using cluster munitions to deliberately harm civilians—a charge Iran has not responded to.
As the conflict deepens, European leaders are pushing for de-escalation. British, French, and German foreign ministers, alongside the EU’s foreign policy chief, are meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Geneva. UK Foreign Minister David Lammy called for immediate steps to prevent broader regional chaos.
Meanwhile, U.S. involvement remains uncertain. President Donald Trump is expected to decide within two weeks whether to intervene. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, has held talks with Araqchi, though no clear path to resumed nuclear negotiations has emerged. Trump has floated the idea of using bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear sites, but no decision has been made.
With Iran facing its most serious external threat since 1979, domestic unrest appears unlikely. Activists say citizens are focused on survival, not protest, amid the violence.
Israel-Iran air war enters second week as Europe pushes diplomacy
Israel began attacking Iran last Friday, saying it aimed to prevent its longtime enemy from developing nuclear weapons. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel. Israeli air attacks have killed 639 people in Iran, said the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany along with the European Union foreign policy chief were due to meet in Geneva with Iran’s foreign minister. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also met Lammy on Thursday and held separate calls with his counterparts from Australia,. France and Italy to discuss the conflict. The White House said Trump would decide in the next two weeks whether to get involved in the war. The president has alternated between threatening Tehran and urging it to resume nuclear talks that were suspended over the conflict, the Kremlin said on Thursday. He has mused about striking Iran, possibly with a “bunker buster” bomb that could destroy nuclear sites built deep underground. But activists involved in previous bouts of protest say they are unwilling to unleash mass unrest against a nation they hate.
Item 1 of 6 A building at the campus of the Weizmann Institute of Science remains damaged following an Iranian missile strike on Sunday, in Rehovot, Israel June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura
Summary
Companies European leaders push for Iran’s return to negotiations
Trump to decide within two weeks on possible military involvement
Israel accuses Iran of using cluster munitions
TEL AVIV/DUBAI/WASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) – Israel and Iran’s air war entered a second week on Friday and European officials sought to draw Tehran back to the negotiating table after President Donald Trump said any decision on potential U.S. involvement would be made within two weeks.
Israel began attacking Iran last Friday, saying it aimed to prevent its longtime enemy from developing nuclear weapons. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel. It says its nuclear programme is peaceful.
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Israeli air attacks have killed 639 people in Iran, said the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Those killed include the military’s top echelon and nuclear scientists . Israel has said at least two dozen Israeli civilians have died in Iranian missile attacks. Reuters could not independently verify the death toll from either side.
Israel has targeted nuclear sites and missile capabilities, and sought to shatter the government of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Western and regional officials.
“Are we targeting the downfall of the regime? That may be a result, but it’s up to the Iranian people to rise for their freedom,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday.
Iran has said it is targeting military and defence-related sites in Israel, although it has also hit a hospital and other civilian sites.
Israel accused Iran on Thursday of deliberately targeting civilians through the use of cluster munitions , which disperse small bombs over a wide area. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
With neither country backing down, the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany along with the European Union foreign policy chief were due to meet in Geneva with Iran’s foreign minister to try to de-escalate the conflict on Friday.
“Now is the time to put a stop to the grave scenes in the Middle East and prevent a regional escalation that would benefit no one,” said British Foreign Minister David Lammy ahead of their joint meeting with Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s foreign minister.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also met Lammy on Thursday and held separate calls with his counterparts from Australia, France and Italy to discuss the conflict.
The U.S. State Department said that Rubio and the foreign ministers agreed that “Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon.”
Lammy said the same on X while adding that the situation in the Middle East “remained perilous” and a “window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping both condemned Israel and agreed that de-escalation is needed, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
The role of the United States remained uncertain. Lammy also met Trump’s special envoy to the region, Steve Witkoff, on Thursday in Washington, and said they had discussed a possible deal.
Witkoff has spoken with Araqchi several times since last week, sources say.
The White House said Trump will take part in a national security meeting on Friday morning. The president has alternated between threatening Tehran and urging it to resume nuclear talks that were suspended over the conflict.
Trump has mused about striking Iran, possibly with a “bunker buster” bomb that could destroy nuclear sites built deep underground. The White House said Trump would decide in the next two weeks whether to get involved in the war.
That may not be a firm deadline. Trump has commonly used “two weeks” as a time frame for making decisions and has allowed other economic and diplomatic deadlines to slide.
With the Islamic Republic facing one of its greatest external threats since the 1979 revolution, any direct challenge to its 46-year-long rule would likely require some form of popular uprising.
But activists involved in previous bouts of protest say they are unwilling to unleash mass unrest, even against a system they hate, with their nation under attack.
“How are people supposed to pour into the streets? In such horrifying circumstances, people are solely focused on saving themselves, their families, their compatriots, and even their pets,” said Atena Daemi, a prominent activist who spent six years in prison before leaving Iran.
Writing by Andy Sullivan and Stephen Coates; editing by Howard Goller and Diane Craft
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Vietnam, US hold negotiations on new trade deal, ministry says
Vietnam and the United States held an online round of negotiations on a new trade deal. Vietnam wants to develop with the U.S. a set of practical and harmonious rules of origin of goods. The Southeast Asian industrial hub has held several rounds of negotiations to strike a deal that would allow Vietnamese goods to avoid a 46% tariff rate.
HANOI, June 20 (Reuters) – Vietnam and the United States held an online round of negotiations on a new trade deal on Thursday night, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said on Friday.
During the negotiations with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Vietnamese trade minister Nguyen Hong Dien asked the U.S. to review “reciprocal tariffs” and market access for Vietnam’s key exports, the ministry said in a statement.
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The Southeast Asian industrial hub has held several rounds of negotiations with the U.S. to strike a deal that would allow Vietnamese goods to avoid a 46% tariff rate, imposed largely as a result of its big trade surplus with Washington.
“The negotiation round was conducted in a candid, friendly and constructive manner,” the ministry said.
Minister Dien also welcomed proposals from Lutnick and Greer during their talks, the ministry added without elaborating.
Dien said Vietnam wants to develop with the U.S. a set of practical and harmonious rules of origin of goods that is in line with global supply chains, according to the statement.
Reporting by Khanh Vu; Editing by David Stanway
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Iran-Israel War Enters Second Week, Europe Encourages Diplomacy
Israel began attacking Iran last Friday with the aim of preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks against Israel. European officials are trying to push Tehran back to the negotiating table after President Donald Trump said any decision on a potential US involvement will be made within two weeks. British, French and German foreign ministers and EU foreign policy chiefs are scheduled to meet in Geneva with Iran’s foreign ministers to try to defuse the conflict on Friday. The role of the U.S. is still uncertain, with the White House saying Trump would decide in the next two weeks whether to engage in the war.
Israel began attacking Iran last Friday with the aim of preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks against Israel. The country says its nuclear program is “dama.”
Israeli airstrikes have killed 639 people in Iran, the news agency for Human Rights Activists said. Those killed included top military officials and nuclear scientists.
Meanwhile, Israel said 24 Israeli civilians were killed in Iranian missile attacks.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the death toll from both sides.
Israel is targeting nuclear facilities and missile capabilities, but has also attempted to destroy the government of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Western and regional officials.
“Are we targeting the fall of the regime? That may be the result, but it is up to the Iranian people to rise for their freedom,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday, June 19.
Iran said it was targeting military and defense locations in Israel, but also attacking hospitals and other civilian locations.
On Thursday, Israel accused Iran of deliberately targeting civilians through the use of bulk bombs, which spread small bombs in large areas. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Since no country has relented, British, French and German foreign ministers and EU foreign policy chiefs are scheduled to meet in Geneva with Iran’s foreign ministers to try to defuse the conflict on Friday.
“Now is the time to stop the serious situation in the Middle East and prevent regional escalation that will not benefit anyone,” said British Foreign Minister David Lemmy ahead of a meeting with Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping both criticized Israel and agreed a de-escalation was needed.
Meanwhile, the role of the United States is still uncertain. On Thursday in Washington, Lemmy met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy to the region, Steve Witkoff, and said they discussed a possible deal.
Witkoff has spoken to Araghchi several times since last week, sources said.
Meanwhile, Trump has alternated between threatening Tehran and urging him to continue suspended nuclear negotiations due to the conflict.
Trump has considered attacking Iran, perhaps with a “vacuum destroyer” bomb that could destroy a nuclear site built deep underground.
The White House said Trump would decide in the next two weeks whether to engage in the war.
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Fire erupts near Microsoft office in Israel’s Beer Sheva, CNN reports
Several fires were burning in a street in Israel’s southern city of Beer Sheva, close to a tech park that houses a Microsoft (MSFT.O) office.
(This story has been refiled to correct the date and day in paragraph 1)
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Reporting by Gursimran Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Tom Hogue
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