REUTERS - Iran has firmly rejected any negotiations regarding its nuclear program while under Israeli military strikes, as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East. The Israeli military claimed it conducted fresh airstrikes overnight targeting multiple Iranian military sites, including missile production facilities and nuclear research centers in Tehran.
In response, Iran launched missile attacks on the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, hitting areas near residential and industrial zones. The ongoing conflict has resulted in casualties on both sides, with reports indicating hundreds of deaths in Iran, including high-ranking military officials and nuclear scientists, and civilian fatalities in Israel due to Iranian missile strikes.
US President Donald Trump has indicated that a decision on potential US involvement in the conflict will be made within the next two weeks, while European nations are pushing for renewed diplomatic talks with Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi declared that no talks will occur unless Israeli aggression ceases, though he is scheduled to meet European foreign ministers in Geneva to discuss possible diplomatic pathways.
The conflict escalated after Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion,” targeting Iran’s nuclear and ballistic infrastructure, which Israel believes poses an imminent threat. Iran maintains its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. Experts warn Israeli strikes have so far avoided causing nuclear contamination but caution that attacks on nuclear power plants, such as Bushehr, could have catastrophic consequences.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed confidence in an eventual “great victory,” urging unity and resilience among Iranians. Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, declared full support for Iran, denouncing US and Israeli actions as aggression.
The Geneva talks aim to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement, which the US exited in 2018. Despite low expectations, the dialogue remains a critical avenue for de-escalation amid growing regional instability.
