 "Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Danny Danon speaks during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, about the conflict between Israel and Iran, at UN headquarters in New York City, US., on Friday. Reuters")
Israel on Friday made it amply clear that strikes against Iran would continue until its nuclear threat is eliminated, even as Iran asserted its right to defend itself against Israel.
“We will not stop,” Reuters quoted Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon as saying during a UN Security Council session on Friday.
“Not until Iran’s nuclear threat is dismantled, not until its war machine is disarmed, not until our people and yours are safe,” Danon added.
Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani urged the Security Council to take action.
“Israel apparently declared that it will continue this strike for as many days as it takes. We are alarmed by credible report that the United States… may be joining this war,” he was quoted as saying.
A week into their conflict, Israel and Iran exchanged strikes again on Friday as President Donald Trump delayed a decision on joining the fight and European ministers raced to revive diplomacy in Geneva.
Trump said he would wait two weeks before deciding on US military involvement, which could include strikes on Iran’s fortified Fordo nuclear site using “bunker-buster” bombs.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed that operations would continue “for as long as it takes” to eliminate the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, en route to Geneva, ruled out talks with the US while Israeli attacks persisted.
“It is the Americans who want talks,” AP quoted him as saying on state TV.
“They’ve sent messages several times — very serious ones — but we made it explicitly clear to them that as long as this aggression and invasion continue, there is absolutely no room for talk or diplomacy,” Araghchi added.
Israeli jets struck multiple military targets in Iran on Friday, including missile production sites.
Ahead of the Geneva talks, French President Emmanuel Macron said European envoys would present Iran with a “comprehensive, diplomatic and technical offer of negotiation.”
“We need to regain control on (Iran’s nuclear) program through technical expertise and negotiation," AP quoted him as saying.
Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran agreed to cap uranium enrichment and allow international inspections in exchange for sanctions relief. But after President Trump withdrew the US from the pact, Iran ramped up enrichment to 60%, just below weapons-grade, and curbed inspector access.
Despite ongoing Geneva talks, Iran continued striking Israel on Friday. Missiles hit the northern city of Haifa, injuring at least 19 and sending smoke over the port.
The Israel-Iran war, which began on June 13 with Israeli strikes on nuclear and military sites, has killed at least 657 people in Iran, including 263 civilians, and wounded over 2,000, according to a Washington-based Iranian rights group.
In response, Iran has launched 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel. Most were intercepted, but at least 24 Israelis have died and hundreds more have been injured, according to the Israeli military.
With inputs from agencies