The path to diplomacy appeared to narrow after officials called off talks that had been set for Sunday between Tehran and Washington regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
Israel and Iran exchanged missile attacks on population centers on Sunday, disregarding international calls to halt what has quickly escalated into the fiercest clash in decades between the two nations.
In a series of powerful strikes that began on Friday, Israel aimed to disable Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Experts suggest that this objective has not been achieved, and with both sides vowing to continue their attacks, civilians in both countries are seeking shelter.
A semi-official Iranian news agency, ISNA, released images purportedly showing the aftermath of an Israeli strike on a residential neighborhood in central Tehran. The images depicted civilians fleeing with children, injured individuals on the ground, and a woman crying while holding a bloodied infant.
In Israel, emergency workers were seen sifting through rubble in the central coastal city of Bat Yam following an Iranian missile strike that resulted in at least six fatalities and numerous injuries. Paramedics were still attempting to rescue three individuals trapped under debris.
In Rehovot, south of Tel Aviv, debris from an overnight attack littered the streets, with bloodstained bandages and surgical gloves found nearby. Rescue workers searched for survivors amid shattered glass.
Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel’s national security adviser, stated that Iran was targeting Israel’s energy infrastructure, aiming to create chaos within the country.
Iran’s health ministry reported that Israeli strikes had resulted in at least 128 deaths, while Israel claimed that at least 13 people had died from Iranian missiles that bypassed its defenses.
President Trump urged both nations to de-escalate the conflict, expressing optimism that a deal could be reached.
However, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps warned of escalating attacks if Israel continued its strikes. In response, Israel’s military spokesman confirmed that attacks on Iran would persist.
Israel’s assaults have targeted not only sites linked to Iran’s nuclear program but also scientists and military leaders. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the need to prevent a nuclear holocaust.
Israel’s foreign minister clarified that the objective was not regime change, stating that it was up to the Iranian people to decide their future.
In Iran, heavy traffic was reported on roads leading out of Tehran, with residents attempting to flee the capital amid fears of continued conflict. Many expressed a sense of denial about the situation, while others noted a shift in the atmosphere as hope for a quick resolution faded.