TEHRAN — Tensions between Iran and Israel escalated dramatically over the weekend as Iran launched another barrage of missiles at Israeli territory on Saturday, leaving several civilians injured, while Israel responded with renewed airstrikes targeting Tehran.
The back-and-forth strikes mark a serious intensification in the conflict, with both sides issuing strong warnings. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to strike “every target of the ayatollah regime,” while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that continued attacks would prompt “a more severe and powerful response.”
The worsening conflict has already disrupted diplomatic efforts. A planned round of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, scheduled for Sunday, was abruptly canceled. Iranian officials stated that it would be impossible to negotiate “while under attack from Israel.”
Civilian and Military Sites Hit
Saturday’s missile salvos caused injuries in Israel, with emergency responders reporting that an Iranian missile struck a home in the Haifa region, wounding 14 people, including one critically. Meanwhile, Israeli forces claimed to have hit “military targets in Tehran” in a counteroffensive.
Iranian state media outlet Tasnim reported that one of Israel’s strikes hit the defense ministry’s compound in Tehran, damaging a building, although the ministry has not issued a public statement.
Iran also confirmed that two oil depots were struck—one in Shahran and another in southern Tehran. An AFP journalist on the ground witnessed the Shahran facility engulfed in flames.
Mounting Casualties and Political Fallout
According to Iran’s envoy to the United Nations, Friday’s initial wave of Israeli strikes killed 78 people and wounded 320, including military leaders and nuclear scientists. Israel reported three fatalities and 76 injuries from Iran’s overnight missile and drone attack on Friday.
Despite mounting casualties, Netanyahu maintained a defiant tone in a video message:
“We will hit every site, every target of the ayatollah regime,”
“In the coming days, we will escalate,” he added, asserting that the Israeli offensive had already inflicted a “real blow” to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
He also claimed Israel had the “clear support” of US President Donald Trump, who on Saturday spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying they both agreed the Iran-Israel conflict “should end.”
Iran: US Cannot Mediate While Supporting Attacks
Iranian President Pezeshkian condemned the United States for backing Israel’s actions while still engaging in nuclear talks with Tehran. A statement from his office read:
“The continuation of the Zionist aggression will be met with a more severe and powerful response from the Iranian armed forces.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, also the lead nuclear negotiator, criticized Israel’s actions as destabilizing and said they were undermining diplomatic negotiations:
“These strikes are pushing the region into a dangerous cycle of violence,” he said.
The Gulf nation of Oman, which has served as a mediator, confirmed the cancellation of Sunday’s nuclear dialogue in light of the unfolding violence.
Though Iran has repeatedly denied Western accusations that it is developing nuclear weapons, the growing military exchanges have only deepened international concerns over a broader regional conflict.
