Iran Defiant Amid Conflict, Demands End to Israeli Strikes Before Talks
As we speak today, tensions in the Middle East are boiling over, with Iran and Israel locked in an increasingly dangerous confrontation that threatens to engulf the region. Iran’s message to the world is clear and uncompromising: there will be no return to nuclear talks unless Israel ceases its attacks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has made this stance crystal clear following meetings with European diplomats in Geneva. Despite the ongoing hostilities, he expressed a willingness to resume diplomacy— but only if Israeli aggression stops and accountability for what Tehran calls “crimes” is firmly established. Until then, Iran is standing its ground, calling the current attacks a breach of international law and asserting its right to self-defense.
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The timing is critical. Just hours before Araghchi’s statement, Israel’s Defense Minister Eyal Zamir warned of a prolonged campaign against Iran, preparing the Israeli public for “difficult days ahead.” Israeli airstrikes have already destroyed Iranian military facilities and targeted missile storage sites, while Iran responded with hundreds of ballistic missiles, some of which reached central Israel, sparking fires and chaos in areas like Holon and Tel Aviv.
The human toll is rising. Iran's health ministry reports over 200 deaths, while independent estimates suggest that figure could be over 600. Israel has also suffered, with at least 25 deaths recorded, including civilian casualties.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has set a two-week deadline before deciding on possible American airstrikes against Iran, claiming that Iran is running out of time to "come to its senses." However, Trump has also dismissed Europe’s diplomatic efforts as ineffective, asserting that Tehran only wants to deal directly with Washington.
European leaders, including UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, are urging all sides to step back from the brink. Barrot emphasized that no lasting solution can be achieved through military means, and that regime change or forced disarmament would only lead to more instability.
Still, there is no easy path forward. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and refuses to negotiate on its missile capabilities or its right to self-defense. On the other side, Israel demands the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, viewing it as an existential threat.
At this moment, diplomacy seems both urgent and elusive. With missiles still flying and rhetoric intensifying, the fear of a full-scale regional war grows by the day. What’s clear is that the world is watching—and hoping—that words, not weapons, can still find their way back to the table.
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