Iran says it is 'ready to consider diplomacy' only when 'aggression is stopped' by Israel as conflict enters second week
Iran has declared its nuclear programme has "always been peaceful" and urged Israel to stop the "aggression" before Tehran would consider diplomacy talks.
The nations on Friday continued to launch missiles at one another on day eight of the conflict, targeting missile production sites in Iran and industrial facilities in Israel.
Iran also hit the southern Israeli city of Beersheba for the second day in a row, causing serious damage to homes, businesses and leaving at least seven people injured.
While Israel hit dozens of military targets, some it claimed were involved in nuclear weapons development in Tehran, and surface-to-air missile batteries in Iran's south.
President Donald Trump has given a two-week timeline in which he will decide whether the United States military will intervene to end the conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters in Switzerland that officials are "ready to consider diplomacy" but demanded Israel "stop the aggression".
'Iran's nuclear programme is peaceful and has always been under the IAEA safeguards and monitoring. Hence, armed attacks against safeguarded nuclear facilities by a regime which is not a party to any WMD (weapons of mass destruction) treaties is a serious crime and violation of international law," he said on Friday.
'Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once again – once the aggression is stopped and the aggressor is held accountable for the crimes committed.
'In this regard, I made it crystal clear that Iran's defence capabilities are not negotiable.'
In response, Israel's envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, told the UN Security Council his country would not stop its attacks "until Iran's nuclear threat is dismantled".
While the head of the UN nuclear watchdog also warned against attacks on nuclear facilities and called for restraint, warning it "could result in radioactive releases with great consequences within and beyond the boundaries of the state attacked".
It is feared the resistance from both sides will prolong the conflict.
Speaking to media, President Trump said US officials have been talking to Iran, doubling down that Tehran was weeks or months from having a nuclear weapon.
The leader of the free world also flagged it is "very hard" to tell Israel's military to stop its operation given it is "winning" but he remains open to discussions.
'It's very hard to stop, when you look at it — Israel's doing well in terms of war. I think you would say that Iran is doing less well, it's a little bit hard to get somebody to stop," he said in New Jersey ahead of a fundraiser at his golf course.
President Trump also dismissed Europe's attempts at diplomacy with Iran.
'They didn't help. Iran doesn't want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help on this one," the US commander-in-chief said.
Asked about a ceasefire in the conflict, the President said he "might" support it.
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