The Iranian War in the War with the Islamic State: a “Periculous” Times for the United States and the “Desperate Future” of the Middle East
Iran’s Health Ministry now reports 430 civilians have been killed and more than 3,000 injured since the Israeli strikes began on June 13, according to Iranian state media. But an independent group called the Human Rights Activists News Agency says it has counted 722 total fatalities in Iran, including nearly 200 military personnel killed, based on nongovernmental sources.
Israel and Iran carried out a lot of strikes against each other, with the Israeli military saying it struck dozens of Iranian targets.
Those assurances, according to Wadephul, would mean Iran renouncing enrichment of nuclear material that would lead to weaponization and would also include reducing its missile program.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, meanwhile, said Berlin was open to further discussions with Iran if there is a “serious willingness” from Tehran to provide assurances on its nuclear and missile programs.
In France, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot defended his country’s neutral stance, saying on national television Thursday that “France is always on the side of international law” and “has not participated in any preventive war.” He noted that 1,000 French nationals remain in Iran.
Araghchi says the demand for an end to the war has begun. “It shows how effective the resistance of the Iranian people has been and will be.”
“We do not want to negotiate with anyone while the Zionist regime’s aggression continues,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on state television Friday. He accused the U.S. of being complicit in Israeli strikes, citing social media posts from Trump earlier this week in which he appeared to give the U.S. partial credit for control of Iran’s airspace.
Lammy and his French and German counterparts are urging Iran to return to nuclear negotiations. Iran signaled resistance as it was under attack.
It was Trump who read out the statement by the White House press secretary on Thursday.
The situation was called “perilous” by David Lammy after he met with Secretary of State Marco Ramirez and special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
“A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution,” Lammy said, referencing President Trump’s announcement that he would make a decision on whether the U.S. will strike Iran by early July.
The European trio known as “E3,” which helped broker the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the US, were back in the talks.
The most significant known diplomatic talks between Tehran and Western governments have been held in the last week, as Israel launched a surprise offensive against Iran.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Advised Against the U.S. In The Syrian-Iran War on Nuclear Protection: “The Fate of the Middle East”
Iran’s Foreign Minister warned against the U.S. getting involved in the war between Israel and Iran as the two countries continued to trade missiles on Saturday.
The fighting came after Iranian officials had engaged in diplomatic meetings in Geneva, New York and Istanbul on Friday, which failed to produce any breakthroughs, even as President Trump considers whether to join Israel in launching an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned against military involvement in the conflict. “I think that it would be very, very dangerous for everyone,” he said.
The Israeli military says that missiles from Iran hit Haifa. It said there was no major damage from further strikes fired at Israel Saturday.
Meanwhile, officials from member countries of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have been meeting in Istanbul and discussing the conflict and the potential fallout from a widening war.