Amid fresh waves of strikes by both Iran and Israel in their ongoing conflict, Israel claimed to have hit Iranian nuclear facilities, which it believes could halt potential nuclear development for at least two to three years, while Iran reiterated that it would not negotiate over its nuclear programme while under threat, and warned that no diplomacy with the United States would be possible until Israel ceases its aggression and is held accountable for the crimes committed.
Meanwhile, the European Union cited a leaked report to criticise Israel for breaching human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, but refrained from proposing immediate sanctions.
Iran and Israel exchanged fresh strikes in the early hours of Saturday, as air raid sirens wailed across central Israel and the occupied West Bank, and as Tel Aviv’s skies flared with the trails of interception systems and the distant roar of explosions echoed through the dark. The Israeli military confirmed that Iran had launched five ballistic missiles, though no impacts were immediately detected, and no casualties were initially reported, while Israel responded with renewed aerial assaults on Iranian missile storage and launch sites.
In Iran, the Isfahan nuclear facility was reportedly targeted, yet authorities insisted there had been no leak of hazardous materials, and although explosions were reported in the city of Qom, where a teenager was killed and others injured, Tehran downplayed the severity of the attacks. The hostilities marked a dangerous continuation of a conflict that began with Israel’s sweeping airstrikes last Friday, carried out under the justification of delaying Iran’s nuclear programme, which, according to Israeli officials, had been set back by at least two to three years.
Iran, having immediately retaliated with its own barrage of missiles and drones, now finds itself locked in a perilous tit-for-tat with no clear end in sight, and although Iranian officials maintain their willingness to return to diplomacy, they insist this will only be possible once the attacks cease and the aggressor is held accountable.
In Geneva, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with his British, French and German counterparts, yet no breakthrough was achieved, and while discussions were said to be constructive, the shadow of ongoing bombardment loomed large over the talks.
Iran expressed deep dissatisfaction with the failure of European powers to condemn Israel’s actions outright, and although Tehran is prepared to engage with the European Union, it remains resolute that its missile capabilities are not up for negotiation, thereby rebuffing suggestions made earlier by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The United States, though engaged in quiet channels of communication, is not expected to press Israel to scale back its campaign, as former President Donald Trump remarked that such requests were difficult to make during a moment of perceived strength.
Meanwhile, Israel’s defence establishment warned of a prolonged war, and with no direct US-Iran negotiations on the horizon, European powers remain the only active intermediaries, though their influence appears increasingly limited in the face of intensifying military actions.
Araghchi, having departed Geneva, arrived in Istanbul on Saturday morning for consultations with Arab League diplomats, where the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation was convening an emergency meeting to address what Iran described as blatant aggression by the “Zionist regime”.
European pressure on Israel grew further after a leaked EU document concluded that Israel may be breaching human rights obligations under Article 2 of its association agreement with the bloc, citing assessments from the International Court of Justice and multiple UN bodies, though the document carefully avoided assigning value judgments.
The Gaza Strip, ravaged by blockade and bombardment since October 2023, remains a focal point of international outrage, with over 55,600 deaths reported, and as diplomats trade statements while missiles continue to fall, the prospects for peace grow dimmer with each passing hour.