Amid rising hostilities between Israel and Iran, both nations launched new attacks on Friday, complicating European-led peace efforts underway in Geneva. The conflict, now in its second week, shows little sign of de-escalation as military and diplomatic actions unfold in parallel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with top EU representatives and foreign ministers from the UK, Germany, and France in a series of high-level talks. Despite lengthy discussions, European officials offered limited insights and refrained from addressing media questions. The UK’s Foreign Secretary emphasized the importance of maintaining diplomatic channels with Tehran but acknowledged the delicate state of ongoing negotiations.

Earlier in the day, mass protests erupted in Tehran, with demonstrators voicing outrage over Israel’s sustained air raids. A conservative protester quoted by the Associated Press questioned the logic of negotiations with a country that “continues to violate agreements.”

On the battlefield, the Israeli military launched a major offensive involving 25 fighter jets targeting what it described as missile storage and launch facilities in western Iran. In retaliation, Iran struck the Israeli port city of Haifa with missiles, injuring at least 19 people.

Human Rights Activists, a group based in Washington, D.C., reported that the weeklong Israeli campaign has resulted in 657 deaths and over 2,000 injuries within Iran, highlighting the heavy toll of the conflict.

Key Updates:

China Evacuates Citizens from Conflict Zones
China’s state broadcaster announced the safe arrival of 330 Chinese nationals evacuated from Iran, landing in Beijing after transiting through Turkmenistan. Beijing’s foreign ministry also revealed that roughly 2,000 Chinese citizens have been evacuated from Iran, with an additional 400 removed from Israel.

Arab League Gathers in Istanbul
Arab foreign ministers, responding to a call from Iraq, convened in Istanbul for emergency discussions ahead of an Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein issued a stark warning, saying the conflict threatens to spill over into the wider Middle East. He cautioned that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit route, could become a casualty of the violence, endangering up to five million barrels of daily oil shipments.

Trump Weighs In on Iran and Past Conflicts
Former U.S. President Donald Trump drew a distinction between his opposition to the Iraq War and current tensions with Iran. He reiterated skepticism about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, criticizing claims that Iran’s nuclear activities are solely for civilian use given its substantial oil resources. Trump also dismissed past intelligence narratives around weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, calling today’s nuclear environment far more dangerous.

Americans Seek Exit Strategies
More than 25,000 Americans have contacted the U.S. State Department for evacuation support or guidance from Israel, Iran, and the Palestinian territories. While exact figures by region weren’t disclosed, officials confirmed preparations for possible evacuations are underway. One flight has already transported nonessential embassy staff and their families out of Israel. The U.S. estimates around 700,000 Americans are currently in Israel, mostly dual nationals, with a few thousand in Iran.

Diplomatic Hopes Persist Despite Setbacks
Despite the growing violence, European leaders expressed a desire to continue dialogue with Iran. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy reiterated the international community’s stance that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called the Geneva discussions “intense,” although little was revealed publicly and no clear breakthrough was reported.

As the region teeters on the brink, hopes remain that diplomacy might still carve out a path away from full-scale war.