Iranian official says conflict with Israel could end with one call from Trump
Tehran, June 21 (UNI) Iran and Israel have launched a fresh round of air strikes as their conflict enters its second week, with diplomatic efforts on Friday yielding little progress.
According to an Iranian official speaking to CNN, the crisis could be brought to an end with a single phone call from US President Donald Trump to Israeli leaders. The official added that Iran would only consider returning to negotiations with the United States if Israel halts its attacks.
The remarks followed a failed attempt at de-escalation in Geneva on Friday, where senior European diplomats met Iran's foreign minister. The talks, involving representatives from the UK, France, Germany and the EU, concluded without any apparent breakthrough.
On Saturday, Israeli military carried out a successful strike on the Isfahan nuclear research complex, Iran's largest nuclear facility. Confirming the attack, an Iranian said that while there was some infrastructure damage, no hazardous materials were released. Residents have been advised to stay away from the area to allow emergency teams to respond.
In another attack by Israeli forces, two people were killed and four others injured in a direct strike on a residential building in Qom, a central and religiously significant city. Iranian state media reported the casualties shortly after the Israeli military confirmed it had launched a new wave of attacks.
In response, Iran carried out missile strikes overnight, hitting the Israeli city of Holon. While the IDF intercepted the strikes, a building ended up catching fire after shrapnel from an intercepted missile ignited a blaze. The situation was contained successfully, with emergency services, including Magen David Adom, confirming no injuries.
Reiterating the call for diplomacy, the Iranian official told CNN that the US could stop the conflict by urging Israel to cease its strikes. However, Trump, speaking from New Jersey, said: 'It's very hard to make that request right now if somebody is winning.'
Meanwhile, intelligence disagreements emerged in Washington with Trump contradicting his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, who previously told Congress that Iran was not actively pursuing a nuclear weapons programme-- contrary to both American to Israeli claims. 'Well then, my intelligence community is wrong,' Trump said.
In Turkey, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, comprising 57 member states, is convening in Istanbul on Saturday. Iran's foreign minister will attend, stating that discussions will address 'the aggression perpetrated by' Israel.
UNI ANV PRS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
14 minutes ago
- Business Standard
B-2 stealth bombers take off from US as Donald Trump weighs Iran strike
The moves, picked up by flight tracking services on Saturday, indicate that the administration is getting the Air Force bombers in position if needed for a strike on Iran Bloomberg B-2 stealth bombers have taken off from the US and are headed over the Pacific, multiple news outlets reported, as President Donald Trump weighs American involvement in the war between Israel and Iran. The moves, picked up by flight tracking services on Saturday, indicate that the administration is getting the Air Force bombers in position if needed for a strike on Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported. The planes, accompanied by refueling tankers, may be on their way to a base in Guam, according to the report. Speculation about a potential US strike aimed at Iran's nuclear program has focused on the B-2s, which would be needed to drop 30,000-pound bombs — so-called bunker busters — if Trump decided to target Iran's heavily fortified uranium enrichment site at Fordow. Israel, which is seeking to destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities, does not have such weapons. Multiple B-2s appeared to be airborne and heading across the Pacific from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, the New York Times reported. The Times cited flight trackers' posts on social media and air traffic control communications. The Pentagon and the White House didn't immediately return messages seeking comment. Trump's is scheduled to return to the White House Saturday and meet with his national security team. The US president has sent mixed signals, discounting European efforts to secure a diplomatic solution between Israel and Iran while keeping possible US involvement in the conflict on the table. 'I'm giving them a period of time,' Trump told reporters Friday. 'I would say two weeks would be the maximum.'
Hindustan Times
18 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
US ‘moving' B-2 bombers to Guam amid Israel-Iran tensions: Report
The United States is relocating B-2 bombers to Guam, according to two US officials who spoke to Reuters on Saturday, as President Donald Trump considers whether to involve the US in Israel's military actions against Iran amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The US B-2 bomber, capable of carrying the 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker-buster bomb, is being closely watched amid ongoing tensions with Iran. (Pic used for representation) (File)(AFP ) Reuters report added that it remains uncertain whether the deployment is directly connected to the escalating tensions in the Middle East. The officials, who requested anonymity, withheld additional details. One of them told Reuters that no forward orders had been issued to move the bombers beyond Guam. The number of B-2 aircraft being deployed was also not disclosed. The Pentagon has not yet responded to a request for comment. As hostilities between Israel and Iran entered a second week, both sides launched fresh attacks, including another strike on the Isfahan nuclear facility. Meanwhile, Trump's stance on potential U.S. involvement remains unclear. The president, who seldom stays in Washington over the weekend, is expected to return to the White House on Saturday evening for an undisclosed "National Security Meeting." On Friday, Trump said Iran had a "maximum" of two weeks to avert potential U.S. airstrikes, suggesting that a decision might come before the two-week period he mentioned a day earlier. What do we know about B-2 bombers? The US B-2 bomber, capable of carrying the 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker-buster bomb, is being closely watched amid ongoing tensions with Iran. The GBU-57, also known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, is the only weapon known to be able to destroy deeply buried nuclear sites like Iran's Fordow facility, according to AFP. Israel does not possess this type of weapon. Experts are monitoring whether the B-2s will be moved to Diego Garcia, a US-British military base in the Indian Ocean, which is considered strategically well-positioned for Middle East operations. B-2s were previously stationed there until last month before being replaced by B-52 bombers. Meanwhile, Israel claimed Saturday it had killed a senior Iranian commander amid continued airstrikes between the two sides. Iran responded by saying it would not negotiate over its nuclear program while under threat. Israel insists Iran is nearing nuclear weapons capability, while Tehran maintains its program is purely peaceful. President Donald Trump has indicated he may decide within two weeks whether to involve the US militarily, saying the delay would allow time "to see whether or not people come to their senses." Earlier this week, Reuters reported a major US military build-up, including a large number of tanker aircraft sent to Europe and fighter jets deployed to the Middle East. Additionally, a US aircraft carrier currently in the Indo-Pacific is en route to the region.
Mint
22 minutes ago
- Mint
Houthis warn Trump administration amid Israel-Iran conflict, threaten to resume attacks on US vessels in Red Sea if...
If Donald Trump joins forces with Israel's military in the conflict against Iran, Houthi rebels in Yemen have threatened to attack US vessels and warships in the Red Sea. According to a latest AP report, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, have issued a recorded statement of Houthi military spokesman Brig Gen Yahya Saree, which suggests that the rebel forces wiuld attack the United States' military resources in the Red Sea, if the US decides to join forces with Israel in the ongoing conflict against Iran. 'In the event of the American involvement in the attack and aggression against Iran with the Israeli enemy, the armed forces will target its ships and warships in the Red Sea,' Saree said, according to a report by AP. This comes amid the US' deliberation on whether it should enter the conflict between Israel and Iran. While Donald Trump has given Iran two weeks to reach a deal around its nuclear programmes and inform Washington, it is yet to be seen how Khamenei's administration responds. Iran has already informed that its nuclear projects are not for developing weapons, but US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, in a recent statement, has claimed that Iran currently possesses the resources to develop a nuclear weapon in a matter of weeks. Trump has also informed that the US's patience is running thin, and reports suggest that the White House is currently contemplating its participation in the Israel-Iran conflict.
