No Peace Under Fire: Iran and Israel Edge Toward Prolonged Conflict

Iran has firmly stated that it will not resume nuclear negotiations while facing continued attacks from Israel. This declaration came shortly after Israel’s Defense Minister warned of a drawn-out confrontation with Tehran. The refusal to engage diplomatically under fire highlights how quickly hopes for resolution are being replaced by hardened positions and military escalation.

Fighting intensified Friday as Iran fired a new round of missiles toward northern Israel, prompting immediate retaliatory strikes by Israeli forces. The Israeli military confirmed hitting several strategic targets in Iran, including ballistic missile storage and launch facilities. One woman in Haifa died of a heart attack during the assault, bringing Israel’s death toll to 25 in the ongoing conflict.

European diplomats met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva, urging a diplomatic path forward and pressing for renewed dialogue with the U.S. Yet Araghchi insisted that Iran would only return to the negotiating table once Israeli aggression stops. He maintained Iran's nuclear program is peaceful and accused Israel of breaching international law with its strikes.

Araghchi doubled down on Iran's right to self-defense and said its military capabilities are not open for negotiation. Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations accused Iran of harboring a genocidal agenda and declared that Israel would not cease its attacks until Iran’s nuclear program is completely dismantled, signaling an uncompromising stance from both sides.

In Washington, President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum, giving Iran a maximum of two weeks to avoid potential U.S. air strikes. He suggested that a decision could come even sooner, stating that the situation demands urgency. Trump dismissed European efforts at mediation, asserting that Iran is only interested in talking directly with the United States, not with European leaders.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy acknowledged the U.S. timeline, calling it a “short window of time” to de-escalate a “perilous and deadly serious” crisis. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot added that there can be no permanent solution through military force alone, and warned that attempting regime change in Iran could lead to even greater instability across the Middle East.

As the diplomatic talks played out, the violence on the ground worsened. Israel has destroyed multiple Iranian military installations, killing high-ranking commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran, in turn, launched hundreds of ballistic missiles into Israeli territory. While Iran's health ministry reported at least 224 deaths, human rights groups placed the figure closer to 639, underscoring the growing human toll of this deepening conflict.