One week into the war between Israel and Iran, both nations exchanged strikes on Friday as U.S. President Donald Trump weighed potential military involvement and new diplomatic efforts emerged.
U.S. Considers Striking Iran’s Nuclear Facility
President Trump is reportedly deliberating whether to authorize a U.S. military strike on Iran’s heavily fortified Fordo uranium enrichment facility, buried deep beneath a mountain. The site is widely believed to be impenetrable except by America’s most powerful “bunker-buster” bombs. Trump stated he would decide within two weeks on direct U.S. intervention, citing a “substantial chance” for renewed nuclear negotiations with Tehran.
Diplomatic Efforts Amid Escalation
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appeared to be traveling to Geneva for talks with European Union officials and diplomats from the UK, France, and Germany. Flight-tracking data indicated a plane with his call sign departed from Van, Turkey, near the Iranian border. Iran typically confirms such diplomatic movements hours later.
Meanwhile, Britain’s foreign secretary met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff at the White House to discuss potential de-escalation strategies.
Before his departure, Araghchi emphasized on Iranian state television that Tehran was “not seeking negotiations with anyone” while Israeli attacks continued. He accused the U.S. of complicity, pointing to Trump’s repeated use of “we” in reference to Israel’s strikes.
Israel Expands Airstrikes Across Iran
The Israeli military announced extensive airstrikes early Friday, with over 60 aircraft targeting Iranian missile production sites and the headquarters of the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND)—an entity previously linked by the U.S. to potential nuclear weapons development.
Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, an Israeli military spokesperson, stated, “We are strengthening our air control in the region and advancing our air offensive. We have more sites to strike in Tehran, western Iran, and other places.”
Iranian media reported strikes reaching Rasht, near the Caspian Sea, where Israel had warned civilians to evacuate. However, with Iran’s internet severely restricted, it remains unclear how many residents received the alert.
Casualties and Damage in Israel
In southern Israel, missiles struck a residential area, damaging buildings—including a six-story structure—and injuring five people with minor wounds from debris, smoke inhalation, and shock. The attack followed a deadly strike on Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba a day earlier, which wounded at least 80 patients and medical staff.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a direct threat against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating, “The military has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, surveying the hospital wreckage, expressed confidence in Trump’s support, saying, *“I trust he
