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Iran Refuses Nuclear Talks Amid Israeli Strikes, Europe Seeks Diplomacy

Will not discuss future of nuclear programme while being attacked by Israel, said Iran on Friday

Israel Iran Mideast Wars
Smoke rises from a building amid an airstrike Photo: AP/Leo Correa
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The Islamic Republic of Iran will not discuss the future of its nuclear programme while Israel continues its air strikes on the country, it said on Friday. However, European leaders continue to press for a diplomatic solution to the escalating tensions in the middle-east as Iran and Israel attack each other.  

A week into escalating attacks between Israel and Ira, the Jewish State claimed it had hit dozens of targets in Iran on Friday night/ Saturday morning. The Israeli military has said the targets include missile-production facilities, a Tehran-based research organisation they allege has links to Iran바카라s nuclear weapons programme, and several military installations in the western and central regions of the Islamic Republic.

Iran retaliated by launching missiles that targeted residential apartments, offices and industrial zones in Beersheba, South Israel. A United States military official said that Iran launched 20 missiles and at least two people were injured, according to ambulatory services, Reuters reported. 

No Talks While Under Fire 

There is 바카라no room for negotiations바카라 with the United States until Israeli aggression stops,바카라 said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, reported Reuters. Araqchi met with his European counterparts in Geneva. 

British, French, and German Foreign Ministers and the EU바카라s High Representative had met with Araqchi in Geneva on Friday. The counterparts discussed possible diplomatic efforts, however AP reported that the meeting ended without any concrete breakthroughs. Europe pushed for Iran to stop its uranium enrichment programme, which aligns with the US바카라s stand, however, according to Reuters, Araqchi refused to discuss any plan to limit Iran바카라s uranium enrichment to zero.

Where the USA Stands On The Middle-East Conflict

US President Donald Trump has said he has given Iran바카라s regime two weeks to decide whether the United States should involve itself in the conflict. Trump said stopping Israeli air strikes would be 바카라very hard바카라.

While his national intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard had earlier said that the US did not think Iran was nuclear-capable, Trump said, 바카라she바카라s wrong.바카라 Gabbard has since said that her remarks were taken out of context to sow division.  

Since Israel began its air campaign on June 13, a week ago, Human Rights Activists News Agency  (HRAWA) reported 639 deaths in Iran, including military and nuclear-scientist casualties. Reuters reported that Israel has said there have been 24 civilian deaths due to Iranian missile attacks, though Reuters did not independently verify either toll.

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