French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France and its European allies will intensify discussions with Iran, following over a week of hostilities between the Islamic Republic and Israel. In Macron’s words, “I am convinced that there is a way out of war and to avoid even greater dangers.” This statement came after he engaged in phone talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
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Macron continued, “To achieve this, we will step up the negotiations initiated by France and its European partners with Iran.” These developments come amid ongoing attacks between Iran and Israel, with recent statements from Tehran indicating a refusal to negotiate on its nuclear program while under threat. Meanwhile, Europe has been making efforts to sustain peace talks amidst the turmoil.
In a dramatic escalation, interceptions could be seen across the skies of Tel Aviv, with explosions resonating throughout the metropolitan area as Israel’s air defense systems took action. Concurrently, the Israeli military reported new strikes targeting missile storage and launch facilities in Iran. The Fars news agency noted that an Israeli attack on Iran’s Isfahan nuclear site occurred in the early hours of the morning, assuring there were no hazardous leaks or threats to the population.
According to a security official, the Israeli military conducted multiple strikes, including on the Isfahan site. “Most of the explosive sounds heard in these attacks were related to air defense activity,” the official stated, adding that there was no leakage of hazardous materials. An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed that Iran had launched five ballistic missiles, with no immediate evidence of any impacts on the ground.
Initial reports revealed no casualties. However, images released by Israeli emergency services depicted a fire on the roof of a multi-storey residential building in central Israel, attributed to debris from an intercepted missile. Israel’s military operations began over a week ago, claiming that its longstanding adversary was nearing the development of nuclear weapons. In response, Iran insists its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes while retaliating with its own missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets.
Though Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, it neither confirms nor denies this. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a US-based organization, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in 639 casualties in Iran, including military leaders and nuclear scientists. In contrast, authorities report 24 civilian deaths in Israel due to Iranian missile strikes, although Reuters has been unable to independently verify the casualty counts on either side.
In a recent announcement, it was revealed that the Irish embassy in Tehran has temporarily closed due to the escalating conflict. An Israeli Defense Minister’s statement highlighted that military operations had resulted in the death of Saeed Izadi, a veteran commander in the Quds force, which is part of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Despite ongoing talks, little progress has been made. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi firmly declared that there would be no negotiations with the United States “until Israeli aggression stops.” Nevertheless, he arrived in Geneva to meet with European foreign ministers, who are hopeful about forging a path back to diplomacy.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump stated he would take up to two weeks to decide on potential US involvement on Israel’s side, emphasizing, “It’s very hard to make that request right now. If somebody is winning, it’s a little bit harder to do than if somebody is losing.” He added that the US is prepared to engage with Iran, but the diplomatic environment remains tense.
The conversations in Geneva have yielded limited results, with Trump expressing skepticism about the potential for a ceasefire. He mentioned, “Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us.” His remarks come as hundreds of US citizens have sought to leave Iran since the escalation of conflict.
During a United Nations Security Council meeting, Israel’s envoy, Danny Danon, asserted that military actions would persist “until Iran’s nuclear threat is dismantled.” Meanwhile, Iranian UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani called for Security Council intervention, alarmed by indications that the US might enter the fray. Both Russia and China have urged for an immediate de-escalation.
In a recent statement, a senior Iranian official indicated a willingness to discuss uranium enrichment limitations, but firmly rejected any proposal that would completely ban such enrichment, particularly in light of ongoing Israeli assaults. Additionally, senior officials from the United Arab Emirates have called for an urgent resolution to the conflict, warning of a “difficult aftermath” should the war extend further.
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, advised that prolonged warfare could have dire consequences, stating, “The longer a war takes, the more dangerous it becomes.” He aptly noted, “This war flies in the face of the regional order the Gulf countries want to build, which is focused on regional prosperity.” Addressing the repercussions, Gargash concluded, “We feel that this is setting us back, not only in the UAE but across the region.”
While the Middle East continues to grapple with the aftereffects of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, the current conflict carries significant risks, particularly concerning the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global oil shipments.
“De-escalation is of utmost importance,” Gargash emphasized, expressing optimism that a pathway to negotiations remains viable. “We still believe that there is a path back to negotiations on these issues.”
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International—Monitoring
