Israel Iran News: European leaders are seeking to draw Tehran back to the negotiating table as the Israel-Iran war entered its second week on Friday with a fresh wave of attacks.
Israel began attacking Iran last Friday, saying it aimed to prevent its arch-nemesis from developing nuclear weapons.
Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes while maintaining that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
So far, 639 people have been killed in Iran in the Israeli strikes including the military’s top echelon and nuclear scientists. Meanwhile, Israel has said at least two dozen Israelis have died in strikes by Iran.
Israel-Iran War Updates
- The Israeli military said Friday it detected new missiles launched toward its territory from Iran. “Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the IDF said.
- Meanwhile, CNN reported “increased aerial activity” over Tehran amid continued conflict.
- British Foreign Minister David Lammy called for de-escalation ahead of the joint meeting with Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s foreign minister.
- “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,” Lammy said, reported Reuters.
- On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said he will decide whether or not Washington gets directly involved in the Iran-Israel conflict within the next two weeks.
- “Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” he said.
- An Iran-backed Shiite militia in Iraq has vowed to attack US regional bases if Trump decides to enter conflict.
- A leader of Kataib Hezbollah also threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, as well as the narrow Bab-el-Mandeb waterway leading into the Red Sea from the south.
- Australia suspended operations at its embassy in Tehran and told its officials and their dependents to leave Iran amid the deteriorating security situation.
