As the Israel-Iran war entered its ninth day, Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned of a “prolonged campaign,” stating that Israel had launched one of its “most complex operations” to dismantle Iranian threats.
Since its surprise strikes on June 13, Israel has targeted Iran’s nuclear sites, missile systems, and top military figures. In retaliation, Iran launched attacks on key Israeli infrastructure, including Soroka Hospital and the Weizmann Institute.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar claimed their operations have set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions by two to three years but confirmed that the military campaign will continue.
Geneva Diplomacy Falters
Amid the fighting, diplomats from Britain, France, and Germany met with Iran’s Abbas Araghchi in Geneva. Iran reiterated it won’t engage with the US until Israeli attacks stop but expressed willingness to continue talks with Europe.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged Tehran to resume broader negotiations “without preconditions.”
Trump: Iran Wants to Talk to US, Not Europe
US President Donald Trump dismissed Europe’s role in resolving the conflict. “Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us,” he said, warning that Iran has “a maximum of two weeks” to prevent possible US military action.
