Iran has firmly stated that it will not return to discussions over its nuclear program while under ongoing military assault from Israel. As European diplomats push for a revival of diplomatic engagement, the United States weighs the possibility of entering the conflict.

More than a week into its offensive, Israel confirmed new airstrikes on multiple Iranian military facilities overnight, targeting missile production sites and a scientific research center believed to be linked to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

In response, Iranian forces launched another round of missile attacks early Friday, hitting locations near residential, commercial, and industrial areas in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba.

The White House announced that President Donald Trump is expected to make a decision within two weeks regarding possible U.S. involvement, amid speculation about reopening dialogue with Tehran.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, declared on Friday that no negotiations would take place with the U.S. or its allies unless Israel halts its military campaign. Despite this, Araqchi was scheduled to meet with European counterparts in Geneva later that day to discuss a potential diplomatic path forward regarding Iran’s nuclear activities.

Diplomatic insiders from France, Germany, Britain, and the EU indicated that they would remind Araqchi of Washington’s willingness to engage directly. However, expectations for progress remain modest.

Israel claims its military action is necessary to prevent Iran—its regional adversary—from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran maintains that its nuclear program serves only civilian and peaceful purposes. In retaliation, Tehran has launched coordinated missile and drone attacks into Israeli territory.

While Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, it has never officially confirmed or denied this.

According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, Israeli strikes have resulted in 639 deaths in Iran, including senior military officials and prominent nuclear scientists. Iran’s missile attacks have also killed at least two dozen civilians in Israel, according to Israeli reports.

Both nations assert they are targeting military and strategic sites, though civilian casualties continue to mount. Each side accuses the other of deliberately striking hospitals and other non-military areas.

An Iranian media outlet reported a drone strike on a residential apartment in central Tehran on Friday, though further details were not released.

Experts caution that while attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure have not yet caused widespread radiation concerns, any strike on the Bushehr nuclear power plant could result in a serious nuclear incident. Israel maintains that its goal is to eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities while avoiding an environmental catastrophe in a region home to millions and central to global oil supplies.

The diplomatic talks in Geneva, set to begin Friday afternoon, come years after the city hosted the original 2013 nuclear framework agreement, which led to the more comprehensive 2015 Iran nuclear deal. That agreement was unilaterally abandoned by President Trump in 2018, and recent efforts to resume negotiations collapsed following Israel’s launch of “Operation Rising Lion” on June 12.

Trump’s stance toward Iran has varied, alternating between threats and calls for renewed diplomacy. His regional envoy, Steve Witkoff, has reportedly been in contact with Araqchi several times since the conflict reignited.

Regional officials suggest Israel’s broader aim may be to destabilize or dismantle Iran’s ruling system under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently stated that the fall of Iran’s government could be a consequence of the ongoing war, though he emphasized it would ultimately depend on the Iranian people seeking their own freedom.

In a public statement, Ayatollah Khamenei urged the Iranian people to remain united and resilient, expressing confidence in what he called an inevitable “great victory.” In a post shared on social media platform X, he encouraged citizens not to lose hope, warning that any signs of despair could embolden the enemy to increase its pressure.

He praised the solidarity shown by Iranians in the face of hardship and urged them to stand strong in their resistance.