US President Donald Trump, who gave himself “two weeks” to decide a possible military intervention alongside Israel, stressed on Friday that this period was a “maximum” and that he could make his decision earlier.
“Combined operations”
The revolution guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic, said on Saturday in a statement relayed by the official agency IRNA having launched “overnight several squadrons of Shahed 136” and missiles, announcing the pursuit of “combined operations of drones and missiles”.
The Israeli rescue services have reported a fire on the roof of a building in the center of Israel, which has not made any victims. According to the media, citing firefighters, the fire broke out after the fall of debris of an Iranian missile intercepted by the anti-aircraft defense.
Israel struck hundreds of military and nuclear sites on Iranian territory that have killed at least 657 people and 2,000 injured, according to the NGO Human Rights News Agency (Hrana) based in the United States.
Tehran, who retaliated with missile and drone fire to Israel who left at least 25 dead, denies wanting to make the atomic weapon but defends his right to develop a civil nuclear program.
“They want to talk to us”
“Iran is ready to consider diplomacy again once the assault has stopped,” Iranian diplomacy head Abbas Araghchi said on Friday after a meeting in Geneva with German, French and British foreign affairs.
They urged Iran to continue the diplomatic path “without waiting for the end of the conflict” and resume the discussions launched in April with Washington to find an agreement on its nuclear program and suspended after the start of the war.
“The positive result today is that we leave the room with the feeling that Iran is fundamentally ready to continue to discuss all important questions for us, Europeans,” said German Minister Johann Wadephul.
Iran does not want to speak to Europe. They want to tell us about us.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that Europeans were going to make “a full negotiation offer” to Iran including nuclear and “ballistic activities” in the country.
But Donald Trump rejected the idea that Europeans can be useful to resolve the crisis. “Iran does not want to speak to Europe. They want to tell us about us. Europe will not be able to help on this subject, “said Trump.
After Geneva, Araghchi arrived in Istanbul on Saturday where he was to participate in a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OCI) on the conflict with Israel, according to the Tasnim agency.
Affirming that Iran was about to have the atomic bomb, considered an existential threat to the country, Israel launched a massive air attack on its sworn enemy on June 13, striking military and nuclear infrastructure and killing the highest officers in the country as well as scientists associated with the nuclear program.
The Israeli army announced on Saturday death in a strike from Aminpour Joudaki, presented as a commander of the revolution guards who led “hundreds” of drone attacks in Israel from the southwest of the country.
“A prolonged campaign”
The Israeli chief of staff, Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir, warned the population on a long-term conflict.
“We have launched the most complex campaign in our history (…) We must be ready for an prolonged campaign,” he told a video message to the Israelis. “Despite significant advances, difficult days await us. We are preparing for many eventualities. »»
On Friday, Iran pulled a salvo from missiles against Israel, which injured 19 in a hospital in Haifa (North) where at least one building was hit. An Iranian attack also targeted Beersheva (south), doing damage.
Revolutionary guards said in a statement that they had targeted in Israel “military centers, defense industries, command and control centers” as well as military bases.
The Israeli army has announced that it had struck missile launchers in southwest Iran, after bombing targets in Tehran, Ispahan and west.
In Tehran, thousands of people went down to the street chanting slogans to support their leaders and against Israel and the United States. They burned and trampled on Israeli and American flags.
“I will sacrifice my life for my guide,” proclaimed a banner, in reference to the Supreme Guide, Ali Khamenei, threatened by Israel and his American ally.
Friday, rest day in Iran, most of the shops remained closed in Tehran, with the exception of bakeries and some food stores.
In the northern districts, the Tajrish bazaar, usually black on Friday, was almost ghost and the vast majority of closed stores.
“I am not afraid of the war, I remain open but the business is really bad,” a seller who prefers to silence his name to AFP.
In front of the UN Security Council on Friday, the head of the International Atomic Energy Energy Agency (AIEA) Rafael Grossi assured that he could “guarantee, through an undeniable inspection system, that nuclear weapons will not be developed in Iran”.
Israel, which maintains ambiguity on its own possession of the atomic weapon, holds 90 nuclear warheads, according to the International Peace Research Institute of Stockholm (SIPRI).
