A week into their war, Israel and Iran exchanged more strikes on Friday as new diplomatic efforts led by the Europeans took place in Geneva. Iran鈥檚 Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held several hours of talks with the European Union鈥檚 top diplomat and counterparts from the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
Afterwards, Britain鈥檚 foreign secretary said they were 鈥渒een to continue ongoing discussions and negotiations with Iran,鈥 however the European ministers gave few details and took no questions.
Earlier Friday, thousands of people protested in over the ongoing Israeli strikes, with one hard-line demonstrator telling The Associated Press: 鈥淗ow can we compromise with an enemy that breaches deals?鈥
Israel鈥檚 military says 25 fighter jets carried out Friday morning targeting 鈥渕issile storage and launch infrastructure components鈥 in western Iran. In the Israeli city of Haifa, at least 19 people were wounded by an Iranian missile barrage.
A week of Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 657 people and wounded 2,037 others, the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists said Friday.
Here鈥檚 the latest:
Chinese evacuation flight arrives in Beijing
An evacuation flight carrying 330 Chinese citizens returning from Iran has arrived at Beijing airport, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday. The flight from Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, landed in Beijing on Friday evening, it said.
Li Chunlin, a deputy director general at China鈥檚 foreign ministry鈥檚 consular affairs department, told the broadcaster that some 2,000 Chinese citizens have been evacuated from Iran.
Chinese Ambassador to Israel Xiao Junzheng told state-run media outlet CGTN that about 400 Chinese citizens were also evacuated from Israel.
Arab foreign ministers hold an emergency meeting in Istanbul
Friday's talks were held at Iraq鈥檚 request to discuss the regional repercussions of the Israel-Iran war, ahead of an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation meeting scheduled over the weekend.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told the gathering that 鈥渢he great danger is not limited to Iran alone, but rather includes the entire region鈥 and called for 鈥渢aking practical steps to influence the positions of European countries and direct communication with the United States of America,鈥 the state-run Iraqi News Agency reported.
Iraq's top diplomat also warned that expansion of the conflict could lead to the targeting of energy facilities in the region and closure of the Strait of Hormuz, 鈥渨hich could lead to the loss of nearly five million barrels of oil per day to the markets.鈥
Trump says his past Iraq war criticism has little to do with Iran situation
鈥淭here were no weapons of mass destruction. I never thought there were. And that was somewhat pre-nuclear. You know, it was, it was a nuclear age, but nothing like it is today,鈥 Trump said of his past criticism of the Bush administration.
Some have pointed to Trump鈥檚 past criticism of the U.S. invasion of Iraq as being at odds with his more aggressive stance toward Iran now.
The president also said his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, was 鈥渨rong鈥 when she told lawmakers in March that U.S. spy agencies believed Iran hadn鈥檛 made a decision to build a nuclear weapon.
Trump said he was skeptical that Iran wants nuclear power for civilian use.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e sitting on one of the largest oil piles anywhere in the world,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a little bit hard to see why you鈥檇 need that.鈥
Israel has blocked fuel deliveries to Gaza for 16 weeks, UN says
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said U.N. officials were able to retrieve fuel already in Gaza from the Al-Tahreer station in Rafah on Wednesday.
He said a limited amount of that fuel was delivered Thursday to public utilities in southern Gaza, allowing the continued operation of desalination plants, water trucking services and sewage pumping stations.
Dujarric said fuel was also dispatched to northern Gaza on Friday, but 鈥渇uel instability and fuel shortages continue to limit operations, resulting in reduced operating hours and capacity.鈥
He said U.N. humanitarian officials also report that Israeli authorities issued another evacuation order for two neighborhoods where hundreds of families live in Gaza governorate, citing Palestinian rocket fire from that area.
The number of acutely malnourished children in Gaza is rising at an alarming rate, UN says
The U.N. children鈥檚 agency UNICEF says 5,100 children aged six months to five years were admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition in May, a nearly 50% increase from April, and a 150% increase from February when a ceasefire was in effect.
Between Jan. 1 and May 30, it said more than 16,700 children have been admitted for malnutrition treatment in Gaza.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Friday that 鈥渢he food, water and nutrition treatments these children so desperately need are being blocked from reaching them.鈥 UNICEF calls on Israel to urge large-scale deliveries of aid through all border crossings, he said.
Iran says Israel has attacked 5 hospitals, including 2 on Friday
Iran鈥檚 U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said hundreds of civilians have been killed, including at least two pregnant women and their unborn children, and thousands injured since Israel launched their large-scale attacks on June 13.
As examples, he said Israel on June 16 attacked the Hakim Children鈥檚 Hospital in Tehran, Farabi Rehabilitation Hospital in Kermanshah, the Iranian Red Crescent Society building and ambulances. He said physicians, patients and medical personnel have been killed and injured.
鈥淭hese were not accidents,鈥 Iravani told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the escalating Israel-Iran war. 鈥淭hese were not 鈥榗ollateral damage.鈥 They were deliberate war crimes, acts of state terror, and examples of barbaric warfare.鈥
Iran hit with magnitude 5.5 earthquake
Iranian state-run media reported that a magnitude 5.5 earthquake rattled parts of Iran on Friday. The United States Geological Survey put the magnitude of the tremor at 5.1.
Authorities in Iran said the quake occurred at 9:19 p.m. local time at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles). Its epicenter was roughly 170 kilometers (105 miles) to the east of Tehran, near Semnan province, which stretches from the slopes of the Alborz Mountains to the edge of the Iranian desert. The province is home to several important military and missile facilities.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the quake, which was considered moderate in strength.
Iran says it鈥檚 open to European diplomacy but Israel must to stop the war first
In a statement following a meeting in Geneva with European diplomats, Iran鈥檚 foreign minister said his country is ready to consider diplomacy only if Israel halts its attacks and those responsible are held accountable.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghch expressed his 鈥渟erious concern鈥 over the failure of the three European countries and the EU to condemn Israel鈥檚 sneak attack and ongoing strikes on Iran. He said any attack on Iran鈥檚 peaceful nuclear facilities would be a grave breach of international law.
鈥淚 explicitly and clearly stated that Iran鈥檚 defensive capabilities are not negotiable,鈥 the minister said. However, he added that Iran is ready to keep talking with the Europeans 鈥渋n the near future.鈥
His comments came as Israel鈥檚 top general said the country鈥檚 military was ready for a protracted conflict, and were reported by the Iranian state TV channel on the messaging app Telegram.
Thousands of Americans seek info on leaving Israel, Iran and the Palestinian territories
The U.S. State Department says more than 25,000 Americans have reached out to it for information in leaving Israel, the West Bank and Iran as the conflict escalates.
Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters on Friday that those people had sought 鈥渋nformation and support鈥 and 鈥渟eeking guidance鈥 on departing. She would not give a breakdown of where the queries had come from.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has said it is working on possible evacuation flights and ships for Americans wanting to leave Israel. However, with the exception of one government flight on Wednesday that took out a number of nonessential embassy staffers and family members, no such evacuations have been organized.
There are about 700,000 American citizens in Israel, the vast majority of whom are dual citizens who may not want to leave. There are several thousand Americans believed to be in Iran, most of them also dual citizens.
Europeans鈥 meeting with Iranian foreign minister yields hope of more talks
Britain鈥檚 foreign secretary said after several hours of talks Friday between top European diplomats and their Iranian counterparts that the Europeans are 鈥渒een to continue ongoing discussions and negotiations with Iran.鈥
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the Europeans were clear in talks in Geneva that Iran 鈥渃annot have a nuclear weapon.鈥 German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that 鈥渧ery serious talks鈥 were held Friday with Iran鈥檚 Abbas Araghchi.
The European ministers gave few details and took no questions.
Putin says Israel agreed not to harm Russian personnel at Iran鈥檚 nuclear plant
President Vladimir Putin said Friday that the Israeli and U.S. leaders had both agreed to keep Russian workers safe at the Bushehr power plant. The reactor on the Persian Gulf is fueled by uranium produced in Russia.
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin rejected criticism that Moscow has abandoned its allies in Tehran. He stressed that Russia has close ties with both Iran and Israel, citing the large number of Russian speakers living in Israel and Moscow鈥檚 support for Iran鈥檚 peaceful nuclear program.
UN chief says the Israel-Iran war 鈥榗ould ignite a fire that no one can control鈥
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling this a 鈥渄efining鈥 moment for global peace 鈥渨hen the direction taken will shape not only the fate of nations, but potentially our collective future.鈥
He told the U.N. Security Council that Iran鈥檚 nuclear program remains the central question, and urged a return to serious negotiations to establish 鈥渁 credible, comprehensive and verifiable solution.鈥
Germany flies dozens of citizens out of Israel
The 64 people were flown on two German military aircraft Friday evening, the foreign and defense ministries said, with a focus on families with children and other vulnerable people.
The flights were arranged quickly in coordination with Israeli authorities, Earlier in the week, 345 Germans were from home from Amman, Jordan, on commercial chartered flights.
Missile warning at a US base in Turkey was sent in error, US official says
An automated message that was sent out to military personnel at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey Friday afternoon warning of an incoming ballistic missile was sent in error, and there was no missile threat, a U.S. official told The Associated Press.
Officials are still looking into why the alert message was sent. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details that have not been made public yet.
鈥 By Tara Copp in Washington.
UN nuclear watchdog can guarantee Iran will not develop nuclear weapons
U.N. nuclear chief Rafael Grossi told the U.N. Security Council the International Atomic Energy Agency can do this 鈥渢hrough a watertight inspection system.鈥
He said elements for an agreement on reining in Iran鈥檚 nuclear program have been discussed.
Grossi called for 鈥渕aximum restraint鈥 on the Israel-Iran war, adding: 鈥淎 diplomatic solution is within reach if the necessary political will is there.鈥
More on the Tehran Research Reactor
The Tehran Research Reactor is at the headquarters of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, the civilian body overseeing the country鈥檚 atomic program.
The U.S. actually provided Iran the reactor in 1967 as part of America鈥檚 鈥淎toms for Peace鈥 program during the Cold War. It initially required highly enriched uranium but was later retrofitted to use low-enriched uranium over proliferation concerns
More on the Bushehr nuclear power plant
Iran鈥檚 only commercial nuclear power plant is in Bushehr on the Persian Gulf, some 750 kilometers (465 miles) south of Tehran. Construction on the plant began under Iran鈥檚 Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in the mid-1970s. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the plant was repeatedly targeted in the Iran-Iraq war. Russia later completed construction of the facility.
Iran is building two other reactors like it at the site. Bushehr is fueled by uranium produced in Russia, not Iran, and is monitored by the United Nations鈥 International Atomic Energy Agency.
Attacking Iran鈥檚 nuclear reactors could trigger radiation leaks, UN watchdog says
U.N. nuclear chief Rafael Grossi on Friday warned against any potential attack on Iran鈥檚 only commercial nuclear power plant as well as a research reactor near Tehran, saying it could lead to radiation leaks with 鈥渟evere consequences.鈥
The director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency spoke Friday at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council about the Israel-Iran conflict.
Even a hit that disabled the two lines supplying electrical power to the Bushehr plant 鈥渃ould cause its reactor core to melt, which could result in a high release of radioactivity to the environment,鈥 Grossi said.
Grossi said Israeli attacks on nuclear sites at Natanz and Isfahan and at the Arak heavy water plant have so far not led to any radiological release.
He said an Israeli military official erroneously reported Thursday that Bushehr was hit by an airstrike, but Israel then retracted that claim. He said the confusion 鈥渦nderscored the vital need for clear and accurate communication.鈥
US Treasury targets alleged Houthi oil and goods shipment network
The U.S. on Friday said it has taken its single largest sanctions action to date against Yemen's Houthi rebel group, a key Iranian ally, by imposing sanctions on four people, 12 entities, and two ships that Washington alleges import oil and other goods for the group.
Treasury鈥檚 Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender said Friday鈥檚 action 鈥渦nderscores our commitment to disrupting the Houthis鈥 financial and shipping pipelines that enable their reckless behavior in the Red Sea and the surrounding region.鈥
The Houthis have launched missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the Red Sea corridor as an effort to end Israel鈥檚 offensive in Gaza. They've also targeted Israel with long-range missiles.
At least 19 wounded in Israel by Iranian missile barrage
Rambam hospital in the port city of Haifa said it received 19 wounded people from the site of an Iranian missile strike. Two people had serious-to-moderate injuries and the rest were lightly hurt, the hospital said.
Switzerland says it is temporarily closing its embassy in Tehran
Switzerland says it's closing the embassy in view of the 鈥渋ntensity of military operations鈥 and the unstable situation on the ground. The government in Bern said Friday that all expatriate staff safely left Iran and will return to Tehran as soon as the situation allows.
Since Tehran and Washington don鈥檛 have diplomatic relations, Switzerland has looked out for America鈥檚 interests in Iran since the 1979 U.S. Embassy hostage crisis. In its statement Friday, the Swiss government said it will continue to act as an intermediary transmitting communications 鈥渁s and when both parties consider appropriate.鈥
Britain is withdrawing all UK staff from its Tehran embassy 鈥榓s a precautionary measure鈥
The British Foreign Office said in a statement that 鈥渨e take the protection of our staff and British nationals extremely seriously and we have long advised against all travel to Iran.鈥
The decision is based on the 鈥渃urrent security situation鈥 and not the anticipation that the war between Israel and Iran will escalate further, the statement said. It says the embassy in will operate remotely for the time being.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will decide within two weeks whether the U.S. will get directly involved.
Iran鈥檚 foreign minister arrives for talks in Geneva with top European diplomats
Iran鈥檚 foreign minister arrived Friday for talks with top European diplomats in Geneva about the crisis that centers on concerns about his country鈥檚 nuclear program, a week after the long-simmering dispute erupted into war between Israel and Iran.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived at a hotel in the Swiss city for a meeting with his counterparts from France, Germany and the U.K. and the European Union鈥檚 foreign policy chief. It is the first face-to-face meeting between Western and Iranian officials since the start of the conflict.
At the UN, Iran鈥檚 foreign minister calls Israel's attacks 鈥榰nprovoked aggression鈥
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addressed the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva ahead of a meeting with top European diplomats.
He said 鈥渢his is an unjust war imposed on my people.鈥 He said that Israel鈥檚 鈥渁ttacks on nuclear facilities are grave war crimes.鈥
Araghchi asserted that 鈥渁ny justification for this unjust and criminal war would be tantamount to complicity.鈥
He said that 鈥渨e are entitled 鈥 and determined to defend our territorial integrity, national sovereignty and security with all force. This is our inherent right.鈥
Thousands of Iranians protest Israel's airstrikes
Thousands of people protested Friday in Iran鈥檚 capital after noon prayers over the ongoing Israeli airstrikes targeting the Islamic Republic.
Those in the crowd shouted: 鈥淒eath to America! Death to Israel!鈥
鈥淣o compromise! No surrender! Fight with America!鈥 they chanted at another point.
Some waved Iranian flags, while others carried placards decrying Israel. Iranian state television aired footage from the protests at other cities in the country as well, with one demonstrator seen pulling a man dressed up in a President Donald Trump mask by his necktie.
Iranian protester speaks about the war with Israel and the pitfalls of 鈥榗ompromise鈥
One 47-year-old resident of Tehran, Hossein Gorji, offered his hard-line viewpoint and said military operations against Israel should continue.
鈥淚srael鈥檚 attack against Iran was not much of an attack. Iran has just started the offensive. We will stand by them (the armed forces) until the end,鈥 he told The Associated Press.
鈥淐ompromise never reached any result, and it won鈥檛 in future. How can we compromise with an enemy that breaches deals? Let鈥檚 uproot and throw it away and comfort all Muslims around the world,鈥 said Gorji.
Florida governor greets flight of evacuees from Israel
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was at Tampa International Airport on Friday morning to welcome a flight from Cyprus carrying around 160 people, including families and students, who had been stranded in Israel.
The state is working with partners, including Grey Bull Rescue, to facilitate the evacuations, flying more than 300 people on two flights and putting more than 1,100 on a passenger ferry, Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said.
The focus is on bringing back Florida residents, but they鈥檙e not going to turn away fellow countrymen, DeSantis said at a news conference.
鈥淚t was not an easy voyage for these folks because they鈥檙e having to get on a cruise ship and they鈥檙e having to wait in Cyprus, and then all the things that go in between that, was difficult,鈥 DeSantis said.
Britain working to provide charter flights to evacuate nationals
The British government says it is working with Israeli authorities to provide charter flights to evacuate U.K. nationals.
The U.K. says the flights will leave from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv once airspace reopens. The number of flights will depend on demand.
Israel has closed the airport 鈥渦ntil further notice鈥 amid its week-old war with Iran, stranding tens of thousands of Israelis abroad, and moved the jets of the country鈥檚 three airlines to Cyprus.
Britain has evacuated family members of embassy staff from Israel but has not advised U.K. nationals in Israel and the Palestinian territories to leave the country.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that for those who want to leave, land routes out of Israel remain open and British staff will provide support, including transport to nearby airports for onward commercial flights.
Hezbollah supporters demonstrate in support of Iran
Hundreds of supporters of the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah gathered in Beirut鈥檚 southern suburbs after Friday afternoon prayers to demonstrate in support of Tehran in the ongoing Israel-Iran war.
Demonstrators carried the Iranian, Lebanese and Palestinian flags as well as that of Hezbollah, and chanted 鈥渄eath to America鈥 and 鈥渄eath to Israel.鈥 Some also chanted pledges of allegiance to Iran鈥檚 supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is revered as religious authority by many Shiite Muslims.
Hezbollah suffered severe losses in a war with Israel that ended with a US-brokered ceasefire in November and has so far remained on the sidelines the Iran-Israel war.
Macron says diplomats will offer to negotiate with Iran
French President Emmanuel Macron said European top diplomats will make a 鈥渃omprehensive, diplomatic and technical offer of negotiation鈥 to Iran in Geneva on Friday as a key response to the 鈥渢hreat鈥 represented by Iran鈥檚 nuclear program.
鈥淣o one can seriously believe that this threat can be met with (Israel鈥檚) current operations alone. Why? Because there are some plants that are highly protected and because today, no one knows exactly where鈥檚 the uranium enriched to 60%. So we need to regain control on (Iran鈥檚 nuclear) program through technical expertise and negotiation,鈥 Macron said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-No毛l Barrot will coordinate with U.K. and German counterparts in Geneva before they meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
鈥淚t鈥檚 absolutely essential to prioritize a return to substantial negotiations, including nuclear negotiations to move towards zero (uranium) enrichment, ballistic negotiations to limit Iran鈥檚 activities and capabilities and the financing of all terrorist groups and destabilization of the region that Iran has been carrying out for several years,鈥 Macron insisted.
Macron also reiterated his call for Israel鈥檚 strikes on energy and civilian infrastructures and on civilian populations in Iran to be stopped. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no justification for that,鈥 he said.
Thousands demonstrate in Iraq to show support for Iran
Thousands of supporters of the influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr took to the streets on Friday in Sadr City, on the outskirts of Baghdad, in response to a call by al-Sadr to show support for Iran in its conflict with Israel.
The demonstration began after Friday prayers with protesters wearing white burial shrouds in a symbolic gesture of readiness to sacrifice. Some burned Israeli and U.S. flags.
The protest comes during escalating regional tensions. Iran-backed Iraqi militias have so far largely stayed out of the fray in the Israel-Iran war but have threatened to attack U.S. forces and interests in Iraq and the region if Washington launches direct attacks on Iran.
Italy organizes transport
Italy is organizing special ground convoys and flights to help Italians leave Iran and Israel. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani convened Middle East ambassadors in Rome on Friday to discuss the safety and needs of Italian embassy personnel and other Italians in the region. The foreign ministry said ground convoys were being organized to bring Italians out of Iran to neighboring countries. A special charter flight was scheduled for Sunday to depart from Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt to bring out any Italians from Israel, where the main airport remains closed until further notice.
Israeli airstrikes in western Iran
Israel鈥檚 military said it carried out airstrikes Friday targeting the areas around Kermanshah and Tabriz in western Iran.
The military said 25 fighter jets struck 鈥渕issile storage and launch infrastructure components鈥 Friday morning. There had been reports of anti-aircraft fire in the areas.
Iran did not immediately acknowledge the losses, though it has not discussed the damage done so far to its military in the weeklong war.
Moscow is 鈥榚xtremely concerned鈥
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Moscow is 鈥渆xtremely concerned鈥 by the tensions in the Middle East. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the annual event designed to showcase Russia鈥檚 economic prowess and court investors, Peskov said the Middle East 鈥渞ight now is plunging into the abyss of instability and war.鈥
鈥淎nd the war that we are witnessing is fraught with geographic expansion, the involvement of many participants and unpredictable consequences,鈥 Peskov said. 鈥淲e are not on the other side of the ocean, this region is directly on our border. And in addition to the fact that this situation inevitably has a negative impact on the global economy, on energy markets and so on, it is, of course, potentially dangerous for us.鈥
Peskov added 鈥渢here is always hope and always a possibility for diplomatic efforts,鈥 and stressed Moscow has 鈥渃ondemned the escalation of violence in the region鈥 and called for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict. He noted, however, that 鈥渇or now, Israel鈥檚 desire is to continue the hostilities, at least that is how they officially declare their intentions.鈥
Quiet in Iran's capital
Iran鈥檚 capital experienced an unusually quiet weekend on Friday, as many residents had left the capital following the Israeli airstrikes that began last week.
Streets were empty with little traffic. Shops stood closed. Those who remain in the city seem to largely be choosing to stay indoors as the war between Israel and Iran continues.
Foreign minister says Iran not seeking negotiations during strikes
Iran鈥檚 foreign minister says his country is not seeking negotiations with anyone as long as Israel continues its strikes on Iran.
鈥淚n the current situation, as the Zionist regime鈥檚 attacks continue, we are not seeking negotiations with anyone,鈥 said Abbas Araghchi during an interview aired Friday by Iranian state television.
He added: 鈥淚 believe that as a result of this resistance (by Iran), we will gradually see countries distancing themselves from the aggression carried out by the regime, and calls for ending this war have already begun, and they will only grow stronger.鈥
Spain says citizens evacuated safely
Spanish citizens who requested to be evacuated from Iran landed safely in Armenia, Spain鈥檚 Foreign Minister Jos茅 Albares said Thursday night.
They would soon be flown to Spain, Albares said on X.
Israeli airstrikes reach into the city of Rasht
Israeli airstrikes reached into the Iranian city of Rasht on the Caspian Sea early Friday, Iranian media reported. Social media video posted online appeared to show explosions around the city. The semiofficial Fars news agency reported local air defense systems were firing into the night sky against the Israelis.
Ahead of the strikes, the Israeli military put out a warning urging the public to flee the area around Rasht鈥檚 Industrial City, which sits a few kilometers (miles) southwest of the city鈥檚 downtown.
The Israelis did not immediately describe what they sought to destroy in the area. However, with Iran鈥檚 internet being shut off to the outside world, it was unclear how many people in Iran would be able to see the message.
French foreign minister speaks to US secretary of state
French Foreign Minister Jean-No毛l Barrot spoke by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday evening.
A French diplomatic official said Barrot detailed the purposes of the Geneva meeting and Rubio 鈥渟tressed the U.S. was ready for direct contact with the Iranians at any time.鈥
The official, who was not allowed to speak publicly on the issue, said they 鈥渏ointly stressed the threat posed by Iran鈥檚 nuclear and ballistic missile program to Israel, the region and Europe.鈥
Tehran fires anti-aircraft weapons
Anti-aircraft batteries began firing Friday morning in Iran鈥檚 capital, Tehran. It wasn鈥檛 immediately clear what they were firing at.
Khamenei adviser in stable condition
A key security adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is now in stable condition, a week after being seriously wounded in an Israeli airstrike, a media outlet close to him reported Friday.
Nour News quoted Rear Adm. Ali Shamkhani as saying: 鈥淚 am alive and ready to give my life away.鈥
Nuclear agency says Israel damages heavy water reactor
The International Atomic Energy Agency, in an update Friday, said an Israeli strike at the Arak heavy water reactor also damaged key buildings there, 鈥渋ncluding the distillation unit鈥 there. That makes the heavy water at the site.
Aircraft transporting Iranian foreign minister to talks
An Iranian aircraft bearing a call sign associated with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is now airborne over Turkey. The Airbus A321 of Meraj Airlines took off from the Turkish city of Van, near the Iranian border, flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed. It bore the call sign IRAN05, which Araghchi uses on his official travel.
Iran did not immediately acknowledge his departure, though it typically only does so hours later.
Araghchi is due for talks with European diplomats in Geneva on Friday, the first face-to-face negotiations he has conducted since the Israeli airstrikes began June 13.
German foreign minister says Iran can avoid escalation
Germany鈥檚 foreign minister says there is a chance of avoiding further escalation in the conflict if Tehran shows 鈥渟erious and transparent readiness鈥 to refrain from developing nuclear weapons.
鈥淚t is our commitment once again to undertake a very intensive attempt to dissuade Iran permanently from pursuing such plans,鈥 Johann Wadephul said in a podcast released by broadcaster MDR Friday. 鈥淚f there is serious and transparent readiness by Iran to refrain from this, then there is a real chance of preventing a further escalation of this conflict, and for that every conversation makes sense.鈥
Wadephul plans to meet Iran鈥檚 foreign minister in Geneva Friday along with his French, British and EU counterparts.
Wadephul said U.S. officials support the plan to hold talks, "so I think Iran should now know that it should conduct these talks with a new seriousness and reliability.鈥
Israel says missile systems and radar destroyed
The Israeli military said it has destroyed missile systems and radar installations around Isfahan. That corresponds to the sound of anti-aircraft fire heard in the area of Isfahan into Friday morning. Iran has not offered any acknowledgment so far of its military losses in the war.
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Australia and New Zealand close their embassies in Tehran
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Australia and New Zealand say they have closed their embassies in Tehran.
The Slovak Foreign Ministry said any remaining diplomats and staffers of the embassy are leaving Iran on Friday. New Zealand cited 鈥渢he ongoing military conflict鈥 for closing its embassy indefinitely.
Australia's Foreign Ministry said it was evacuating staff and their families due to the 鈥渄eteriorating security environment." It also urged Australian citizens still in Iran to leave quickly.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and they agreed to work 鈥渃losely鈥 to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and to pursue peace.
鈥淭here is an opportunity 鈥 over the next two weeks for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy,鈥 Wong said from Adelaide on Friday.
Russia dismisses US nuclear claims
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed claims the U.S. might use nuclear weapons in Iran as 鈥渟peculation鈥 in comments to state news agency Tass on Friday morning.
鈥淭here is a lot of speculation now,鈥 Tass quoted Peskov as saying. 鈥淪uch a turn of events would be catastrophic, but there is so much speculation that it is impossible to really comment on it.鈥
Britain's foreign secretary says situation in Middle East 鈥榬emains perilous鈥
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the "situation in the Middle East remains perilous,鈥 after meeting Thursday at the White House with his U.S. counterpart, Marco Rubio, and presidential envoy Steve Witkoff.
鈥淲e are determined that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon,鈥 Lammy wrote in a post on X.
