Iran and Israel Exchange Missiles Amid Nuclear Tensions and Stalled Diplomacy

Tensions between Iran and Israel escalated early Saturday as both nations launched fresh attacks, deepening fears of a broader Middle East conflict. Around 2:30 a.m. local time, Israel’s military reported a missile barrage from Iran, triggering air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and across central Israel, as well as in the West Bank. Israel’s air defense intercepted the missiles, lighting up the skies over Tel Aviv with explosions. Debris reportedly sparked a fire on a residential building’s roof, though no casualties were confirmed.

Simultaneously, Israel retaliated with targeted airstrikes on Iranian missile storage and launch facilities. The Israeli military claimed Iran fired five ballistic missiles, but no direct hits were confirmed. Meanwhile, Iran accused Israel of escalating conflict to halt nuclear diplomacy, reiterating its nuclear program remains peaceful.

According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, Israeli strikes have killed 639 people in Iran, including military leaders and nuclear scientists. Iran’s attacks have reportedly killed 24 Israeli civilians. These figures remain unverified by independent sources.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi ruled out nuclear negotiations while "Israeli aggression" continues, though he joined European leaders in Geneva for talks. However, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed skepticism over diplomatic progress, stating a decision on U.S. involvement could come within two weeks. He emphasized the difficulty in urging Israel to pause airstrikes given their current momentum.

Israel’s UN ambassador vowed strikes would continue until Iran’s nuclear threat is eliminated. Iran’s envoy urged UN intervention and expressed alarm over potential U.S. involvement. Russia and China called for immediate de-escalation. A senior Iranian official signaled willingness to discuss uranium enrichment limits, but not a full halt—especially amid ongoing attacks.