EU-Iran nuclear talks open door to more dialogue but no indication of concrete breakthrough

The Israeli military (IDF) says it has “dismantled” three surface-to-air missile launchers in Iran that were preparing to fire missiles towards Israel.

The IDF posted video of the alleged strikes on their official X account.

Israel also said that an Iranian military cell en route to carry out a launch had been eliminated, but gave no information about where that strike had happened.

An automated message that was sent out to military personnel at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey on Friday afternoon warning of an incoming ballistic missile was sent in error and there was no missile threat, a US official has told The Associated Press.

Officials are still looking into why the alert message was sent.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details that have not been made public yet.

US President Donald Trump has presided over a national security meeting about Iran with top aides at the White House, a US official has said.

The official also said the US special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is in regular contact with the Iranians, both directly and indirectly, with Qatar acting as an intermediator.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the operation against Iran would continue "as long as it takes".

"One from 20 thousand such rockets, 20 thousand not one, this is one rocket, one missile. And the other is of course atomic bombs in the hands of this mad regime," Netanyahu said during a visit to the site of an Iranian missile attack in Rehovot.

While no one was killed in the strike on the Weizmann Institute of Science early on Sunday, it caused heavy damage to multiple labs on campus, snuffing out years of scientific research and sending a chilling message to Israeli scientists that they and their expertise are now targets in the escalating conflict with Iran.

The Weizmann Institute is a scientific centre in Israel and dates back to 1934, when it was founded by the Israeli former President Chaim Weizmann.

It is known for its work in life sciences and physics, among other fields, and ranks among the world's top research institutes.

Two buildings were hit in the strike, including one housing life sciences labs and a second that was empty and under construction but meant for chemistry study, according to the institute.

Dozens of other buildings were damaged.

"This building behind me and next to me says everything. This is the world-renowned Weizmann Institute, where the most advanced, cutting-edge research is done. Human biology, medical research, genetic research, smashed by this rocket from this evil regime, by this missile with a ton of payload to destroy human progress. That's what this regime is about. That is what the Iranian tyrants are about," Netanyahu said.

Ireland’s foreign minister has said embassy staff in Tehran will be temporarily relocated due to the deteriorating situation, a week after hostilities broke out between Iran and Israel.

In a post on X, Simon Harris said the Tehran embassy is being closed and its staff brought back to Ireland.

“Operations will continue from Dublin,” he said.

The announcement follows similar moves from the UK and Switzerland.

A highly anticipated review from the EU's diplomatic service has found that Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip indicate a breach of the human rights provisions contained in its Association Agreement with the European Union.

They cited a collection of findings by independent international organisations.

Read the full story below.

EU review indicates Israel breached human rights in Gaza

A review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement has found “indications” that Israel breached its human rights obligations with actions in Gaza. #EuropeNews…

Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations said 50 Israeli warplanes planes have violated Iraqi airspace shortly before a UN meeting on the Iran-Israel conflict.

Abbas Kadhom Obaid Al-Fatlawi, who heads Iraq's UN mission, told the Security Council the aircraft came from the Syrian-Jordanian border areas.

"Twenty airplanes started, followed by 30 airplanes heading to the south of Iraq, and they flew over Basra, Najaf and Karbala cities," he said.

"These violations are violations of international law and the UN Charter," he said, adding: "They also constitute a threat to the sacred sites and regions which might cause strong popular reactions, considering the importance of these holy sites for our peoples."

Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations says Iran's claims that his country's attacks are "unprovoked aggression" is absurd.

"The Security Council will soon convene once again to discuss the situation with Iran, at the request of the Iranian regime. That itself is a spectacle. Absurdity," Ambassador Danny Danon said to reporters in New York.

"The same regime whose supreme leader calls for the extermination of Israel in the United States, with operatives of plotted assassinations of elected leaders, now sends its ambassador to cry 'victim' before the Security Council."

This comes after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addressed the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva ahead of a meeting with top European diplomats.

Araghchi said “this is an unjust war imposed on my people.” He said that Israel’s “attacks on nuclear facilities are grave war crimes.”

Araghchi asserted that “any justification for this unjust and criminal war would be tantamount to complicity.”

According to Iran’s IRNA news agency, the top Iranian and European diplomats meeting in Geneva have taken a break from their negotiations “for internal consultations by the European parties”.

“The first round of talks was held with a respectful and serious approach, encompassing the perspectives of all parties involved. Some of the issues raised could benefit from greater clarity to help pave the way for diplomacy”, said IRNA’s report.

“In particular, the E3 countries [the UK, Germany and France] and Europe, who were initiators of the nuclear talks with Iran, still hope to play a historic role and gain another opportunity to advance diplomatic efforts”, they added.

According to BBC sources, the talks, which had been going on for an hour and a half, included a demand that Iran must accept zero enrichment. But Iran is repeatedly rejecting this idea in favour of a peaceful nuclear programme.

Several explosions have been reported in the south-western Iranian province of Khuzestan, the IRNA news agency has reported.

Talks are still underway in Geneva between Iran and top European diplomats, with hopes of easing the conflict and restarting nuclear negotiations. French President Emmanuel Macron had previously said that Iran “must show willingness” and “abandon its nuclear ambitions so that there is no more destruction.”

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy had earlier warned that time is short: “A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution.” His comments follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s previous statement that he will decide soon whether to join Israeli strikes on Iran.

Meanwhile, Israel’s UN ambassador in Geneva, Daniel Meron, called for a tough line, saying he expects a “complete rollback” of Iran’s nuclear program. At the same time, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there will be no talks with the U.S. until Israel ends its attacks.

But UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the conflict could spiral, saying, that “the expansion of this conflict could light a fire that no one can control,” and urged all sides to return to serious negotiations.

Switzerland says it's closing its embassy in the Iranian capital Tehran in view of the “intensity of military operations” and the unstable situation on the ground, with the Iran-Israel conflict now in its eighth day.

The government in Bern said on Friday that all expatriate staff have safely left Iran and will return to Tehran as soon as the situation allows.

Since Tehran and Washington don’t have diplomatic relations, Switzerland has overseen America’s interests in Iran since the 1979 US Embassy hostage crisis.

In its statement on Friday, the Swiss government said it will continue to act as an intermediary transmitting communications “as and when both parties consider appropriate.”

That announcement comes on the same day the UK said it was withdrawing all staff from its embassy in Tehran and moving operations online.

Rambam hospital in the port city of Haifa has said it has received 19 wounded people from the site of an Iranian missile strike.

Two people had serious-to-moderate injuries and the rest were lightly hurt, the hospital said.

Thousands of supporters of Iraqi political leader Muqtada al-Sadr have taken to the streets of Sadr City, on the outskirts of Baghdad, in response to a call by the influential Shiite cleric to show support for Iran in its conflict with Israel.

The demonstration began after Friday prayers with protesters wearing white burial shrouds in a symbolic gesture of readiness to sacrifice.

Some burned Israeli and US flags during the rally.

Iran-backed militias in Iraq have so far largely stayed out of the conflict but have threatened to attack US forces and interests in Iraq and the region if Washington launches direct attacks on Iran.

Two foreign nationals have been arrested in north-western Iran for allegedly “spying on sensitive areas of the country,” the semi-official Tasnim news agency has reported.

Tasnim did not say which country the two people are from, but claimed that they are "Mossad agents."

Mossad is Israel's national intelligence agency

UN Secretary General António Guterres has warned that any expansion of the Iran-Israel conflict could start a fire that no one can control and called on all parties to conflict to "give peace a chance."

“The world is watching with growing alarm. We are not drifting toward crisis – we are racing toward it. We are not witnessing isolated incidents - we are on course to potential chaos. The expansion of this conflict could ignite a fire that no one can control. We must not let that happen."

Guterres made the remarks at an emergency session of the Security Council in New York with intensifying hostilities between Iran and Israel now in their eighth day.

“I appeal for an end to the fighting and the return to serious negotiations. At this defining moment, I urge this Council to act with unity and urgency for dialogue.”

In an update to the UN Security Council, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi says attacks on nuclear facilities should never take place.

"Armed attack for nuclear facilities should never take place and could result in radioactive releases with great consequences within and beyond boundaries of the state which has been attacked," Grossi said.

"I therefore, again call for maximum restraint."

Grossi said the IAEA can guarantee Iran will not develop nuclear weapons “through a watertight inspection system.”

He said elements for an agreement on reigning in Iran’s nuclear programme have been discussed.

Grossi called for “maximum restraint” regarding the Iran-Israel conflict, adding: “A diplomatic solution is within reach if the necessary political will is there.”

The UK says it is temporarily withdrawing staff from embassy in Tehran with the Foreign Office saying a statement that “we take the protection of our staff and British nationals extremely seriously and we have long advised against all travel to Iran.”

The decision is based on the “current security situation” and not the anticipation that the war between Israel and Iran will escalate further, the statement said.

It says the embassy will operate remotely for the time being.

As he arrived in Geneva for high-stakes talks with European foreign ministers, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas accused Israel of launching “an unprovoked aggression on Iran, in a stark violation of Article 2, paragraph four of the UN Charter.”

He described the attack as “an outrageous act of aggression” and “an unjust war imposed on my people,” which began early on June 13.

Araghchi said the Israeli strikes targeted not only military sites but also civilians and public infrastructure. “My fellow Iranians have been killed and injured following Israel’s surprise armed attacks … operations on residential areas, public infrastructures, hospitals, health centres … the foreign ministry … nuclear facilities have also been targeted,” he told the council.

He warned that attacks on nuclear sites risk “an environmental and health catastrophe as a result of radiological leakage,” calling them “grave war crimes.”

He framed the moment as a test of international principles: “This is a historic moment for human civilisation,” he said, urging countries to uphold international law.

Araghchi has rejected talks with the US while the strikes continue. However, he is open to dialogue with European counterparts. “We are entitled … and determined to defend our territorial integrity, national sovereignty and security with all force. This is our inherent right,” he added.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Friday that an Israeli air strike at the Arak heavy water reactor in Iran also damaged key buildings there, "including the distillation unit."

In a post on X, the IAEA said it had information that the reactor that had been hit was under construction and non-operational, and so contained no nuclear material.

The agency said that at present it has no information to confirm where exactly the complex had been hit.

Read the full report here:

Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor damaged in Israeli strike, IAEA says

Israeli air strikes hit multiple Iranian cities on Friday, with the UN confirming damage to the Arak heavy water reactor.…

The British government says it is working with Israeli authorities to provide charter flights to evacuate UK nationals.

The UK says the flights will leave from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv once airspace reopens. The number of flights will depend on demand.

Israel has closed the airport “until further notice” amid the conflict with Iran, stranding tens of thousands of Israelis abroad, and moved the jets of the country’s three airlines to Cyprus.

Britain has evacuated family members of embassy staff from Israel but has not advised UK nationals in Israel and the Palestinian territories to leave.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that for those who want to leave, land routes out of Israel remain open and British staff will provide support, including transport to nearby airports for onward commercial flights.

Following sirens sounding in Israel, two people have been seriously injured in a ballistic missile strike on Haifa, Israeli medics told the Times of Israel.

Magen David Adom reports that a man in his 40s and a 16-year-old boy were taken to hospital in serious condition after being hit by shrapnel. A 54-year-old man is in moderate condition, while several others sustained minor injuries.

Officials have since given the all-clear to civilians.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Daniel Meron, made clear that Israel has no plans to halt its military operations against Iran. As quoted by Reuters, he said: “we haven’t yet fulfilled our goals, so we are continuing” with the strikes he described as “extraordinarily successful”.

However, he insisted that more needs to be done before the conflict can end, and he criticised the UN Human Rights Council for including Iran, accusing it of having “lost its purpose” and of “betraying victims of human rights violations in Iran.”

Meron also urged the UK, French, and German foreign ministers to demand a “complete rollback” of Iran’s nuclear program. He called for the “dismantling of [Iran's] ballistic missile arsenal” and a stop to what he described as Iran’s “regional terrorist activities and active support for terrorist proxies.”

Some more detail from comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron, who told reporters in Le Bourget that Europe will make a “comprehensive, diplomatic and technical offer of negotiation” to Iran in Geneva on Friday in talks with Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi.

The proposal is made up of four components, according to Macron, including a return of IAEA inspectors to push toward zero uranium enrichment, international oversight of Iran’s ballistic missile programme, an end to Iran’s support for regional proxy groups and the release of foreign nationals held in Iranian prisons, which Macron referred to as “hostages."

"Iran must show that it is willing to join the platform for negotiations we are putting on the table," Macron said.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives welcomed by French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu at the 55th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, Friday June 20, 2025. Credit: AP.

European foreign ministers have met in Geneva, ahead of talks with Iran’s Abbas Araghchi.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said ahead of discussions that, "We, Europeans, are engaging in dialogue with Iran to de-escalate the situation."

"The only possible way forward is dialogue," he wrote in a post on X.

In the background of diplomacy, Israel and Iran continue to trade strikes. Seven people were injured in an Iranian attack on Beersheba overnight. Israel’s military has confirmed it carried out airstrikes Friday targeting the areas around Kermanshah, Tabriz and Tehran.

We’re now seeing photos of the foreign ministers of Germany, France and the UK meeting with the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, ahead of talks with their Iranian counterpart.

The talks aim to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough as Israel and Iran continue to exchange fire.

France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, left, and Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul attend a work lunch at the offices of the honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Geneva.

A vehicle of the Diplomatic police in front of the German Mission to the UN, in Geneva, Switzerland.

A vehicle of the Diplomatic police in front of the German Mission to the UN, in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Israeli military says it has detected missile fire from Iran and is actively working to intercept the incoming threats.

In a brief statement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said:

“Missiles fired from Iran have been detected and we are working to intercept the threat.”

No details have yet been released about the number of projectiles, their trajectory, or whether any have struck Israeli territory.

A spokesperson for the Magen David Adom, Israel's emergency services, said: "Following the sirens heard in recent minutes, MDA teams have been dispatched to search the areas where reports were received. Updates will follow if necessary."

We’ll bring more updates as they come in.

Across Iran, huge crowds have taken to the streets in a powerful show of support for their government and anger at Israel’s recent attacks.

From big cities like Tehran and Isfahan to smaller towns, people have been marching in large numbers, waving Iranian, Palestinian, and Hezbollah flags. At Friday prayers at Tehran University, the atmosphere was especially intense, with chants backing Iran’s response to the strikes. Many carried photos of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to answer his call for unity during this crisis.

Similar scenes played out in Iraq, where thousands gathered in Sadr City, just outside Baghdad. Supporters of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr joined the march after Friday prayers, some wearing white shrouds as a sign of their willingness to sacrifice. Protesters burned Israeli and US flags, showing their anger and standing with Iran. While Iraqi militias close to Iran have stayed out of the conflict for now, they’ve warned they may act if the US strikes Iran directly.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Hezbollah supporters also took to the streets in Beirut to voice support for Iran. They waved flags and chanted against Israel and the US Many pledged loyalty to Ayatollah Khamenei, who is seen as a religious leader by many in the region. 

Credit: AP

Iran’s powerful Sejil missile — with a range of 2,000 km — has reportedly been used in combat for the first time, according to the IRGC. The launch signals a significant shift in Tehran’s deterrence strategy amid escalating tensions with Israel.

Read more below.

New missile in Israel-Iran conflict: What we know about Tehran’s Sejil

Iran’s Sejil missile, with a 2,000 km range and advanced capabilities, marks a strategic shift in its deterrence, especially against Israel.…

As we wait for UK, EU and Iranian foreign ministers to gather in Geneva, we can bring you some comments from French President Emmanuel Macron.

Speaking at an air show near Paris, French President Macron strongly condemned the ongoing attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, which he said need to stop.

"For several days now, France has had a clear, simple voice: there is no justification for strikes against energy infrastructures and civilian populations," he told reporters.

Macron has also urged Iran to engage in diplomacy, stressing the importance of returning to negotiations.

Europe's top diplomats will make a “comprehensive, diplomatic and technical offer of negotiation” to Iran in Geneva on Friday as a key response to the “threat” represented by Iran’s nuclear program.

“No one can seriously believe that this threat can be met with (Israel’s) current operations alone. Why? Because there are some plants that are highly protected and because today, no one knows exactly where’s the uranium enriched to 60%. So we need to regain control on (Iran’s nuclear) program through technical expertise and negotiation,” Macron said.

These planned talks represent the first direct discussions between Iran and Western powers since the conflict began and signal the most important European diplomatic involvement in this crisis so far.

French President Emmanuel Macron answers reporters at the 55th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi states that Iran is not open to negotiations while the attacks from Israel persist.

Speaking on Iranian state-affiliated TV, he said: “In the current situation, as the Zionist regime’s attacks continue, we are not seeking negotiations with anyone. We confirmed to Washington that negotiations cannot take place while the aggression continues, and we are engaging in legitimate self-defence.”

 “I believe that as a result of this resistance (by Iran), we will gradually see countries distancing themselves from the aggression carried out by the regime, and calls for ending this war have already begun, and they will only grow stronger”, he added.

Araghchi’s statement comes as top diplomats from the UK, the EU, Germany and France prepare to meet him in Geneva for the first round of negotiations since the conflict between Israel and Iran began. Although France and other European nations are calling for a halt to attacks on civilians, the Geneva talks will be focused on limited topics.

 “Our negotiations with European countries in Geneva are limited to the nuclear file and regional issues,” said Araghchi. 

As sirens wail across Israeli cities, volunteers like Jimmy — an Arab-Israeli paramedic who lost two homes to missile strikes — race to help amid escalating conflict.

From Holon to Tel Aviv, residents describe sleepless nights, empty streets, and the growing humanitarian impact as the conflict intensifies and spreads across the region.

Israelis face daily fears of missile strikes as Iran conflict surges

Euronews spoke to people in Israel about how they are coping with the country’s conflict with Iran and the daily threat of incoming rockets striking residential……

A spokesperson for the Iranian government has said that internet restrictions have been put in place to protect the security of citizens and the country.

According to internet monitoring group NetBlocks, Iran has been disconnected from the global internet for over 36 hours. Iran has also cut off most access to the outside internet, blocking Iranians from accessing foreign news and preventing users abroad from viewing Iranian news websites.

Earlier, we reported that explosions were heard in the northwestern Iranian city of Tabriz on Friday morning.

Israel’s military has confirmed it carried out airstrikes Friday targeting the areas around Kermanshah and Tabriz.

The military said 25 fighter jets struck “missile storage and launch infrastructure components.”

In Tehran, Israel's Army Radio said it had killed a nuclear scientist. Iran has not yet commented on the claim.

Israel's strikes come as defence minister Israel Katz said on Friday that he had instructed the military to intensify attacks on “symbols of the regime” in the Iranian capital.

“We must strike at all the symbols of the regime and the mechanisms of oppression of the population, such as the Basij (militia), and the regime’s power base, such as the Revolutionary Guard,” Katz said in a statement.

Over 25 Israeli air force fighter jets attacked and destroyed more than 35 missile storage and launch facilities in Iran on Friday morning, according to the IDF.

Israel’s public broadcaster reports that EasyJet has suspended all flights to Israel until November, citing ongoing regional instability.

Meanwhile, Wizz Air has extended its suspension of flights to the country until 15 September.

The European Union has a role to play in resolving the Israel-Iran conflict, a senior diplomat has said amid accusations the bloc has largely been left on the sidelines.

"There's room for Europe. We will be impacted by the escalation of the conflict," the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"For us, it's clear: the shooting needs to stop, and we need to get back to a diplomatic process when it comes to Iran's nuclear programme. The only result is Iran never getting a nuclear weapon."

The diplomat pointed at the discussions taking place in Geneva between the EU, the UK, France, Germany and Iran as a reflection of the bloc's diplomatic role in the conflict.

An aircraft believed to be carrying Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is currently en route to Geneva for talks with European diplomats, according to flight-tracking data.

The Airbus A321, operated by Meraj Airlines and using the call sign IRAN05 — which Araghchi typically uses for official travel — took off from the Turkish city of Van, near the Iranian border. The data was confirmed by FlightRadar24.

Tehran has not yet officially acknowledged his departure, which is customary until several hours after such movements.

The meeting in Geneva marks the first in-person negotiations Araghchi has attended since Israeli airstrikes on Iran began on 13 June.

An Israeli strike in Tehran reportedly targeted a nuclear scientist, according to Israel’s Army Radio, which cited a military source. The identity of the individual has not been confirmed, and Iran has not yet commented on the claim.

The report comes as Israel said it launched airstrikes overnight on more than 50 “priority targets” linked to Iran’s nuclear weapons programme.

Tehran experienced a “heavy night” of explosions and defensive fire, according to social media users who managed to share updates despite a near-total internet shutdown.

Earlier, our colleagues at Euronews Persian reported that air defences were activated in Tehran, with explosions also heard in Tabriz, a major city in Iran’s northwest.

Footage posted online described loud blasts and sustained anti-aircraft fire over the capital. Official details remain scarce due to government restrictions and a near-total internet shutdown.

Abit more on those strikes on Iran early Friday morning: Israeli airstrikes reportedly reached the northern Iranian city of Rasht, near the Caspian Sea, early Friday, according to Iranian media.

Footage circulating on social media appears to show explosions near the city, while Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency said local air defence systems were active, firing into the night sky.

Ahead of the strike, the Israeli military issued a warning urging civilians to evacuate the area around Rasht’s Industrial City, located just southwest of the city centre.

The intended target of the strike has not been confirmed by Israeli officials.

Israel's Health Ministry has confirmed that 54 people were injured after Iran launched a wave of attacks on Friday.

An Iranian ballistic missile struck the city of Beersheba, in southern Israel, on Friday morning. It wounded seven people and caused substantial damage to homes.

This is the second time Beersheba was hit: just a day ago, Iranian missiles struck a major hospital in the area.

Watch the video below to see the aftermath of today’s attack. 

We've just heard from German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who says a new diplomatic opening with Iran is possible, but hinges on Tehran demonstrating a genuine commitment to roll back its nuclear ambitions.

“I am very pleased that we have managed to make a meeting possible,” Wadephul said ahead of talks today between the foreign ministers of the UK, Germany, France and Iran.

He added that any talks would require Iran to renounce enrichment activities that could contribute to nuclear weapons development, and to be open to including its missile programme in the negotiations.

“The ball is now in Iran’s court,” he said. “Israel can rest assured that the Federal Republic of Germany will always keep an eye on the security and existence of the Israeli state and will defend it. That is part of our raison d’état, and that is what guides me in today’s talks.”

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Credit: AP

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has condemned Israel’s strike on the Arak heavy water nuclear reactor, asserting that the facility was under full international monitoring and was being rebuilt in line with the 2015 nuclear deal to eliminate any potential for weapons use.

In a post on X, Araghchi urged the UN Security Council to take action: “As the Security Council convenes today, it is imperative that it upholds and enforces its own Resolution 487—adopted unanimously in response to the Israeli regime's 1981 attack on Iraq’s nuclear facility.”

He said the language of the resolution was “unambiguous,” writing: “Any military attack on nuclear facilities is an assault on the entire IAEA safeguards regime and ultimately the NPT.”

The Arak reactor, located approximately 250 kilometres southwest of Tehran, was originally designed to use heavy water and natural uranium fuel — raising concerns that it could produce significant quantities of plutonium-239, a material that can be used in nuclear weapons if separated.

Under the 2015 nuclear agreement, Iran committed to redesigning the reactor to reduce that risk. The facility was never completed, never fuelled, and never became operational.

Israel’s military said the strike targeted components of the reactor that could eventually be used to produce plutonium, calling the move necessary to prevent Iran from reconstituting a weapons-capable program.

“The strike targeted the component intended for plutonium production, in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development,” the Israeli military said.

Israel has long argued that Iran’s nuclear programme represents an “existential threat” to the state of Israel.

On Friday, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirmed that key infrastructure at the adjacent heavy water production facility had been damaged, including its distillation unit.

The head of the Iranian Red Crescent said in an interview carried by Iranian state media IRIB on Friday that five of the country's hospitals have been damaged during Israeli attacks since the start of hostilities a week ago.

The organisation recorded the Israeli attacks in a document to be sent to international institutions, he wrote on Telegram, denouncing them as a violation of “international principles”. The Red Crescent did not provide further information on which hospitals in the country were struck.

On Thursday, Iranian strikes hit a hospital in southern Israel, injuring at least 80 people. Israeli officials, including Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, denounced the attack as a "war crime."

Our colleagues at Euronews Persian report that air defences were activated in Tehran early Friday morning, with explosions also reported in the northwestern city of Tabriz.

After a week of Israeli airstrikes, getting information out of Iran has grown difficult. As a reminder, phone lines from abroad are largely down, and the country’s internet has been severed from the outside world for over 36 hours, according to NetBlocks, an organisation that monitors internet access, Associated Press writes.

Meanwhile, Iran’s state-run television and radio stations offer irregular updates on what’s happening inside of the country. Many in Iran, a country of over 80 million people, are left scrambling on various social media apps to see what’s happening.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has updated its information that Israeli airstrikes damaged Iran’s unfinished Khondab, formerly known as Arak, heavy water production plant during an Israeli strike.

The UN’s nuclear watchdog reported damage to “key buildings” at the site, including the facility’s distillation unit.

On Thursday, the agency confirmed the Khondab heavy water research reactor, under construction, was hit, but said the site was not "operational and contained no nuclear material, so no radiological effects."

It said it, at that time, "had no information" the Khondab heavy water plant was hit.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has ruled out any negotiations while Israeli attacks continue, saying Tehran will not engage with any party under current conditions.

“We are not ready for any talks with any party in light of the continued Israeli attacks,” Araqchi said in an interview broadcast on Iranian state television on Friday.

“After our resistance to Israel, I believe countries will begin to distance themselves from this aggression,” he added.

As a reminder, Araqchi is set to meet with the foreign ministers of the UK, Germany and France today in Geneva.

Talks are set to take place today in Geneva between the foreign ministers of the UK, France, and Germany — known collectively as the E3 — and Iran’s deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in an effort to find a diplomatic pathway to Iran's nuclear programme.

The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, is expected to attend, however a spokespersonf for the European Commission gave no clear confirmation on Thursday.

Ahead of discussions, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the situation in the Middle East as “perilous” following a meeting in Washington on Thursday with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and presidential envoy Steve Witkoff.

“We are determined that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon,” Lammy wrote in a post on X. “We discussed how a deal could avoid a deepening conflict. A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution.”

We will bring you more updates from the meeting as they come in.

An Iranian missile struck the southern Israeli city of Beersheba early this morning, marking the second attack on the city in as many days.

According to a military official quoted by The Times of Israel, a single ballistic missile was launched by Iran in this morning’s strike. The missile was not intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defence system and hit just outside several apartment blocks, causing damage and the reported injuries.

Israeli emergency services initially reported no injuries, but later confirmed five people suffered light injuries in today’s attack.

Yesterday, Iran launched a missile at the same location, with Iranian state media claiming the target was the Gav-Yam Advanced Technology Park.

Photos showed fires burning near Microsoft’s offices and damage to nearby residential buildings.

Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage as hostilities in the Middle East enter their second week.

Here’s a roundup of the latest developments:

• Iran and Israel exchanged fire overnight, with an Iranian missile striking Beersheba and causing damage near a Microsoft building. Emergency services report that five people were lightly injured.
• Israeli airstrikes targeted the city of Rasht on the Caspian Sea early Friday, according to Iranian media. Prior to the strike, the Israeli military issued a warning urging civilians to evacuate the area around Rasht’s Industrial City. It is unclear how many received the alert, as Iran’s internet remains cut off from the outside world.
• US President Donald Trump said Washington would decide “within two weeks” whether to launch a strike on Iran, opening a window for diplomacy amid reports that the US is weighing direct involvement in the conflict.
• Foreign ministers from the UK, EU, and Iran are meeting in Geneva on Friday in an effort to revive diplomatic talks over Iran’s nuclear programme, as open conflict between Israel and Iran continues.
• Israeli strikes on Iran over the past week have killed at least 657 people, including 263 civilians, while Iranian missile attacks on Israel have killed 24 people, according to rights groups and official sources. Thousands have been injured on both sides.