20.06.2025 09:58

European leaders are engaging in high-level talks with Iranian officials amidst escalating regional tensions. The meeting, scheduled for Friday in Geneva, will bring together the foreign ministers of the UK, France, and Germany with their Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. This significant diplomatic exchange marks the first major international effort to de-escalate the situation following Israel's recent attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

France, a key player in these negotiations, has stated that the primary objective is to curb Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. However, Araghchi has clarified that the Geneva discussions will be limited to nuclear and regional issues, explicitly excluding any negotiations concerning Iran's missile capabilities. He emphasized that Iran's missile program serves purely defensive purposes and acts as a deterrent.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, issued a stern warning to Hezbollah, urging restraint and caution against involvement in the escalating conflict with Iran. Katz's statement, issued in response to Hezbollah's leader Naim Qassem offering support to Iran, stressed Israel's dwindling patience with threats emanating from terrorist groups. Qassem, conversely, defended Iran's uranium enrichment program as strictly for peaceful purposes.

Adding to the escalating situation, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) reported a significant military operation on Thursday night. The IDF claimed responsibility for striking numerous military targets within Iran, including industrial sites used for missile production near Tehran, as well as the headquarters of the SPND, a key Iranian defense research organization involved in the development of advanced technologies. This assertive action further underlines the gravity of the ongoing crisis.