Israel and Iran carried out another exchange of missile attacks early on Saturday, as diplomatic efforts to resume negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme remained at a standstill. Iranian officials reiterated that no talks would take place while the country remains under sustained military assault.
Just after 2.30am local time, Israel’s military issued alerts for incoming missiles launched from Iran, triggering air raid sirens across central Israel, including Tel Aviv and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The Israeli air force launched fresh attacks on what it described as missile storage and launch infrastructure in Iran. Iranian state media reported that Israeli strikes in Qom killed a 16-year-old and injured two others, while one of the country’s largest nuclear sites in Isfahan was also targeted. Iranian officials confirmed no radioactive leakage occurred.
The missile exchange followed a week of intensifying attacks that began with Israel’s air campaign, which, according to Iranian sources, has killed at least 639 people and injured over 1,300. Iran’s retaliatory strikes caused damage in multiple areas of Israel.
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar claimed that the operations had “delayed” Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon by “at least two or three years.” In remarks to German newspaper Bild on Friday, Saar described the strikes as “very significant” and affirmed Israel would continue its campaign to eliminate what it views as a strategic threat.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking in Geneva, stated that Iran would not engage in diplomacy under continued attack. “Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once again – once the aggression is stopped and the aggressor is held accountable,” he said. Araghchi later arrived in İstanbul for meetings with Arab League diplomats, calling for international pressure to halt the strikes and reiterating Iran’s position that its nuclear programme remains peaceful and within international law.
Despite European efforts to facilitate renewed talks, no framework has emerged. Iran has made clear that any resumption of dialogue must be preceded by a halt to Israeli airstrikes. Israel, meanwhile, has not responded to those conditions and continues its operations.
In Washington, President Donald Trump said the United States would decide “within two weeks” whether to provide direct military support to Israel. “If somebody is winning, it’s a little bit harder to ask for a ceasefire,” he told reporters on Friday. Trump also dismissed earlier testimony from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who had said there was no current evidence that Iran was actively constructing a nuclear weapon. Trump claimed Iran could be “weeks to months” away from assembly. Gabbard later stated her remarks were misrepresented.
On Saturday, Russian president Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow had repeatedly told Israeli officials there was “no evidence” Iran is seeking nuclear weapons. Quoted by Sky News Arabia, Putin said, “Russia, as well as the IAEA, has never had any evidence that Iran is preparing to obtain nuclear weapons, as we have repeatedly put the Israeli leadership on notice.” He added that Russia supports Iran’s right to a peaceful nuclear programme and is prepared to assist. Speaking at an economic forum in St Petersburg, Putin also said Russia was sharing proposals with both sides to stop the bloodshed, though he did not disclose details.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged restraint, warning that attacks near or on nuclear facilities could pose “grave risks” well beyond the immediate conflict zone. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), added that such strikes threaten international non-proliferation standards and risk radiation exposure.
