Tensions between Iran and Israel continue to surge into a second week of escalating conflict, with fresh airstrikes launched on both sides amid stalled diplomatic efforts and growing calls for U.S. intervention.
Tehran on Saturday accused Washington of enabling Israeli aggression and demanded that President Donald Trump pressure Israel to halt its attacks, saying diplomacy with the U.S. could “easily” resume if the airstrikes stopped. “This war can end with one phone call,” a senior Iranian official told CNN. However, Trump, speaking from New Jersey, stated it would be “very hard” to make that request, especially “if somebody is winning.”
The diplomatic impasse follows a tense round of talks in Geneva between Iran and European powers. According to Iranian sources, discussions began on a strained note but ended “more positively.” Still, Iran refused to end its uranium enrichment program, calling it a “bold red line.” Trump has given negotiators up to two weeks before he decides whether to authorize a U.S. strike on Iran.
As diplomacy falters, the battlefield expands. Israeli airstrikes on Saturday targeted Iran’s nuclear research complex in Isfahan—its largest. While officials reported no hazardous leaks, residents were urged to avoid the area. In Qom, a direct strike on a residential building killed two people, including a 16-year-old, and injured four others.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks across Israel. A building in Holon, near Tel Aviv, caught fire from shrapnel after a missile was intercepted. No injuries were reported. Israel’s military also confirmed it shot down several drones in the north and south of the country.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the U.S. for what he called “a betrayal to diplomacy,” claiming Washington’s negotiations were merely a cover for Israeli military operations. “We don’t know how we can trust them anymore,” he told NBC News.
Araghchi arrived in Turkey late Friday ahead of a Saturday summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul. Speaking to Iranian media, he said he would present “the innocent and righteous voice of the Iranian people” and planned to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Meanwhile, India announced plans to evacuate all 10,000 of its citizens from Iran, advising nationals to contact the embassy urgently.
Despite reports of depleted missile reserves, Iranian officials dismissed Israeli claims, asserting a shift toward higher-quality precision missiles capable of evading Israel’s multilayered air defense systems. “Quantity has been replaced by quality,” one official said, warning Israel not to underestimate Iran’s evolving capabilities.
In Tehran, a semblance of normal life has returned, with shops reopening and traffic resuming. However, air defense systems remain active, especially at night, and the capital remains a potential target.
Security experts suggest Iran may prolong the conflict to increase pressure on Israel. “From Iran’s perspective, it has little left to lose,” said Afshon Ostovar, a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School. “Its leverage now lies in dragging the conflict out.”
With both sides doubling down militarily and diplomacy gridlocked, the risk of broader regional destabilization continues to grow, while the prospect of peace appears increasingly remote.
Written By Rodney Mbua
