TEHRAN -- Iran's Health Ministry announced Friday over 3,000 people have been injured in the country since the beginning of Israel's attacks.

Hossein Kermanpour, head of the Iranian Health Ministry's public relations, said among the injuries, 2,800 people had been hospitalized, of whom 2,000 were discharged from the hospital, according to a statement published on the ministry's website.

The latest official figures from Iran report 224 deaths from Israeli attacks.

On June 13, Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, killing several senior military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. In retaliation, Iran carried out missile and drone attacks on various locations in Israel, causing casualties and substantial damage. The conflict continued into Friday.

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel had already destroyed "more than half" of Iran's missile launchers and was "capable of striking all of Iran's nuclear facilities".

In an interview with the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, Netanyahu said seven days into the war, Israeli forces were ahead of schedule in their offensive against Iranian nuclear and missile sites, although he did not give a timeline for an end to the Israeli attacks.

The change or fall of Iran's leadership was not a goal of Israel's attacks but could be a result, he also said.

On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces announced in a statement that it had launched a broad aerial campaign across Iran, including a strike targeting the inactive Arak nuclear reactor in western Iran.

Also on Thursday, missiles fired from Iran struck a hospital and residential buildings in Israel, wounding more than 30 people, according to Israeli health authorities and local media.

Iran's state news agency IRNA, however, said Iran targeted Israel's military intelligence facilities in its strikes on the southern part of the country on Thursday morning, not a hospital as was reported by some media outlets.

This latest exchange of fire marks a sharp escalation in hostilities that erupted after Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on June 13.

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The surge in oil prices across Europe following Israel's recent strike on Iran could undermine the continent's efforts to diversify its energy choices, experts say.

Early on Thursday, Brent crude — widely considered as the benchmark for European oil — rose to $77.40 a barrel, up about 10 percent from a week earlier and nearing its highest level since January.

The price spike came just days after Israel launched an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, prompting the evacuation of more than 300,000 residents from Teheran.

The effects are already being felt at the pump. In Belgium, official prices for key fuel products — B7 diesel and H0/H7 gas oil — have risen, with the supplier's website displaying upward arrows beside both.

Francois Villeroy de Galhau, governor of France's central bank, said on Tuesday that the European Central Bank was "in a good position" after cutting interest rates to 2 percent. However, he pointed to growing uncertainty as the conflict in the Middle East continues to push oil prices up sharply.

Lin Boqiang, dean of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University in Fujian province, said the current rise can still be considered to be mild, but warned that prices could increase faster if regional instability worsens, such as the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the European Union's statistics agency Eurostat, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United States accounted for 6.5 percent, 7.5 percent and 15.5 percent, respectively, of oil exports passing through the Strait of Hormuz in 2023.

Liu Litao, an associate professor of international studies at Nanjing University in Jiangsu province, said Europe's alternative oil import channels are limited.

"Pipes from Russia hardly work anymore since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, while the civil war in Libya has curbed supply from Africa," Liu told China Daily.

"Therefore, Europe has to take the Middle East and the US as two key energy suppliers. But now, (with the latest instability,) the first path looks rather fragile."

Both Liu and Lin said that if the Strait of Hormuz were to be closed, the EU would have little choice but to turn to the US for oil, which might further curb its strategic independence.

The best outcome for both the EU and the global community is for the situation to be brought under control and order restored in the Middle East, Liu said.

A comment on Euractiv.com, a pan-European media network that specializes in EU affairs, noted, "Should the conflict persist, oil prices will almost certainly remain elevated, exacerbating the woes of Europe's long-suffering energy-intensive industries and potentially triggering a resurgence in price pressures that have eased considerably in recent months."

Qin Yan, a principal analyst at ClearBlue Markets in Oslo, Norway, said the possibility of oil prices going up too far is not good, considering the fact that the world economy remains weak.

"Oil prices are determined by the supply-demand relationship," she said.

"If it goes too high, for example, beyond $80 a barrel, quite a number of industries might have to curb production, instead of buying the expensive oil."

She also cited a report published by Morgan Stanley on Monday that gave three possible scenarios for oil prices in Europe, with the worst being that oil exports from the wider Gulf region are put at risk, in which case, "2022-style prices would not be out of the question".

zhangzhouxiang@chinadaily.com.cn

TEHRAN - Iran's atomic chief on Thursday called on the United Nations nuclear watchdog to immediately end its "inaction" and condemn Israeli attacks on Iran's "peaceful" nuclear facilities, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency.

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami made the remarks in a letter addressed to President of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi following an Israeli strike on the Arak heavy water research reactor facility in Khondab County in Markazi province early Thursday.

Eslami called on the IAEA to immediately end its "inaction" and condemn Israel's actions, which are in contradiction with international law.

The conflict between Israel and Iran entered its seventh day on Thursday. It started after Israel on June 13 launched airstrikes on Iran, hitting the country's military and nuclear sites and killing several top military commanders and nuclear scientists.

Iran responded by also launching missile and drone attacks against targets in Israel.

Earlier on Thursday, a missile struck a building at Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel, injuring at least 71, according to Israel's Health Ministry.

Iran's mission to the UN refuted the claim, saying the strike was aimed at the Israeli army's C4I telecommunications corps headquarters and an intelligence facility.

The mission said Iran was committed to international humanitarian law and did not target civilians and non-military infrastructure.

All eyes are on whether the United States would join Israel's bombardment of Iran's nuclear and missile facilities, as strikes escalated for a seventh day in the two rivals' conflict, with further damage to atomic energy sites deep in Iran.

Senior US officials are "preparing for the possibility of a strike on Iran in the coming days", Bloomberg News reported, citing anonymous sources.

The situation is still evolving and could change, the report said, with some sources pointing to potential plans for a weekend strike.

"Top leaders at a handful of federal agencies have also begun getting ready for an attack, one person said," it added.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that US President Donald Trump told aides on Tuesday that he had approved attack plans but was holding off to see if Iran would give up its nuclear program.

Trump declined to say on Wednesday whether he had made any decision.

"Nobody knows what I'm going to do," he told reporters. "I have ideas as to what to do, but I haven't made a final decision. I like to make the final decision one second before it's due because things change ... The next week is going to be very big."

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Thursday that his country was ready to defend itself in case of escalation.

"If the US wants to actively enter the field in favor of the Zionist regime (Israel), Iran will have to use its tools to teach a lesson to both aggressors," he said. "Our military decision-makers have all the necessary options on the table."

On Wednesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei rejected Trump's demand for an "unconditional surrender", calling the ultimatum "unacceptable".

"America should know that any military intervention will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage," he said.

Israel said on Thursday that it had struck Iran's Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites. A military spokesperson initially said it had also hit Bushehr — the site of Iran's only functioning nuclear power plant — but a military official later said "it was a mistake" to have said this.

Earlier, Israel said it had hit another nuclear site near Arak overnight, where Iran was building a heavy-water reactor. Iranian media reported two projectiles hitting an area near the facility, which had been evacuated, and there were no reports of radiation threats.

The extent of the damage inside Iran from the week-old bombing campaign has become far more challenging to assess in recent days.

The country has stopped giving updates on the death toll, and state media have ceased showing widespread images of destruction. The internet has been almost completely shut down.

Hospital attack

Meanwhile, sirens sounded across Israel as the military said dozens of Iranian ballistic missiles hit at least four sites, including a hospital, and wounded nearly 50 people.

Iran said it was targeting Israeli military and intelligence headquarters near the hospital. The Revolutionary Guards said they had used the ultra-heavy Sejjil missile, with a range of 2,000 kilometers, for the first time.

After the hospital was attacked, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Khamenei "can no longer be allowed to exist".

"Khamenei openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed — he personally gives the order to fire on hospitals," Katz told journalists in Holon near Tel Aviv.

"Such a man can no longer be allowed to exist."

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday against any "additional military interventions" and called for immediate de-escalation leading to a ceasefire.

In Europe, foreign ministers from Britain, France and Germany, together with the European Union's top diplomat, will hold nuclear talks with their Iranian counterpart in Geneva on Friday, officials and diplomats said.

Agencies and Xinhua contributed to this story.

cuihaipei@chinadaily.com.cn

BEIRUT - Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem reaffirmed on Thursday the group's alignment with Iran, stating that Hezbollah will "act as it deems suitable" in confronting what he described as "joint American-Israeli aggression" against Iran.

In a statement released by Hezbollah, Qassem hailed Iran as a "beacon for the oppressed" and a key supporter of resistance movements, particularly in Palestine and Lebanon.

He rejected the justification for attacks on Iran's "peaceful" nuclear program, saying it was a legitimate scientific effort in line with international law. He argued that the true motive behind Western hostility is Iran's role in inspiring resistance and undermining foreign domination in the region.

Qassem also condemned US threats against Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and called on other countries to unite with Iran to resist hegemony and end aggression.

Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran early Friday, aiming to cripple Iran's nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile production, and military capabilities. Media reports suggest that the United States is likely to join the operation against Iran.

BEIJING - US President Donald Trump will decide on whether he will order a strike against Iran in the next two weeks, as aerial conflict between Israel and Iran continues one week after a surprise attack by Israel.

"Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiation that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go in the next two weeks," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing on Thursday.

Iran must agree to no enrichment of uranium, and Tehran must not be able to achieve a nuclear weapon as part of any diplomatic agreement, Leavitt read a statement from Trump.

Correspondence between the United States and Iran "has continued" as the two sides engage in negotiations, Leavitt said, echoing Thursday reports that US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have talked by phone several times since Israel began its strikes on Iran on June 13, in a bid to find a diplomatic end to the crisis.

Araghchi told Witkoff that Tehran "could show flexibility in the nuclear issue" if the US government pressured Israel to end the war, adding Tehran would not return to negotiations unless Israel stopped the attacks, local media quoted a regional diplomat.

Trump approved attack plans on Iran Tuesday night, but held off making a final decision in case Iran agrees to abandon its nuclear program, media reported.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that the country remains steadfast amid its conflict with Israel and will not surrender to anyone amid pressure, warning that any American military intervention would cause "irreparable damage".

Since June 13, Israel has launched large-scale airstrikes on multiple locations in Iran, targeting nuclear facilities and military sites, resulting in heavy casualties. In retaliation, Iran carried out multiple rounds of missile and drone attacks on various targets inside Israel.

The aerial conflict has yet shown no sign of easing as it drags into a second week.

On Thursday, Israel and Iran exchanged major airstrikes overnight, targeting each other's critical infrastructure and military facilities.

The Israel Defense Forces announced in a statement on Thursday that it had launched a broad aerial campaign across Iran, including strikes targeting the inactive Arak nuclear reactor in western Iran, and a nuclear weapons development site in Natanz, central Iran.

In addition to nuclear-related targets, Israeli warplanes reportedly struck a range of military production sites across Iran, including factories manufacturing ballistic missile components, facilities assembling Iranian air defense systems and various logistical infrastructures, the statement said.

In response to the Israeli offensive, Iran targeted Israel's military intelligence facilities in its strikes on the southern part of the country on Thursday morning, not a hospital as was reported by some media outlets, Iran's state news agency IRNA said.

The strikes were aimed at the Israeli army's C4I telecommunications corps headquarters and an intelligence facility, IRNA said, adding that the hospital in question was affected by the blast's shockwave.

Also on Thursday, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps appointed Majid Khademi as the new head of its intelligence organization, days after Mohammad Kazemi, the organization's former chief, and his deputy Hassan Mohaghegh were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Tehran on Sunday, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported.

Besides top military commanders, Israeli strikes have killed a number of nuclear scientists and hundreds of civilians in Iran.

Arash, 33, a government employee in Tehran, was quoted by Reuters as saying that a building next to his home in Tehran's Shahrak-e Gharb neighborhood had been destroyed in the strikes.

"I saw at least three dead children and two women in that building. Is this how Netanyahu plans to 'liberate' Iranians? Stay away from our country," he said.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement on Thursday the large-scale attacks have caused serious human rights and humanitarian impacts on civilians and risk igniting a broader regional conflict.

Turk noted that the intense airstrikes and missile and drone attacks have gone far beyond military targets, resulting in significant civilian casualties and widespread damage to civilian infrastructure.

According to official figures, nearly 600 people have been killed in Iran and 24 in Israel since fighting began.

The UN official urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, fully respect international law, and return in good faith to the negotiating table.

JERUSALEM -- Iran fired a fresh barrage of missiles towards northern Israel on Thursday afternoon, the Israeli military said, as hostilities between the two countries entered their sixth day.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said between 10 and 15 missiles were launched, according to Israeli media reports. Air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel, including Haifa, the Galilee region and the Sea of Galilee, forcing hundreds of thousands of residents to seek shelter.

There were no immediate reports of direct hits or major casualties. Israel's national emergency service, Magen David Adom, said one woman sustained minor bruises while on her way to a shelter.

Earlier on Thursday, an earlier missile barrage from Iran targeted central Israel, including the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, and struck a building at Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel. Authorities said 271 people were injured in that attack, four of them seriously and 16 moderately.

Israeli army radio reported that at least one of the missiles fired at Tel Aviv contained multiple sub-munitions, which dispersed across various locations upon detonation. The army's Home Front Command said each sub-munition had an explosive yield similar to that of short-range rockets typically used by Hezbollah in Lebanon. While the affected area was wider, the explosive power of each sub-munition was significantly lower than that of standard ballistic warheads, it added. Authorities warned residents to avoid handling any debris or unexploded ordnance.

The escalation follows Israeli airstrikes on targets inside Iran on June 13, which triggered the current exchange of attacks. Official figures indicate nearly 600 people have been killed in Iran and 24 in Israel since the conflict began.

JERUSALEM -- Israel's military announced on Thursday that approximately 20 of its fighter jets conducted a series of "intelligence-driven operations" in western Iran, targeting surface-to-surface missile sites and Iranian military personnel.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) further specified that the Israeli Air Force also struck trucks transporting surface-to-surface missiles, hitting the vehicles as they arrived at designated launch sites.

These Israeli strikes followed a barrage of Iranian missile attacks on Israel earlier on Thursday. According to Israel's Health Ministry, these attacks resulted in 271 injuries, with four individuals in serious condition and 16 in moderate condition. Many of those with light injuries sustained them while seeking shelter or experienced anxiety-related symptoms.

Several Iranian projectiles impacted the wider Tel Aviv area, and one missile struck a building at Soroka Medical Center in the southern city of Beersheba. Iran alleged that the facility was being used for military purposes, a claim Israel has refuted.

Visiting the medical center after the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning, stating that Israel would not preclude further strikes, including against Iran's top leadership. "No one is immune," Netanyahu declared. "All the options are open."

Since the commencement of what Israel has named "Operation Rising Lion," the Israeli Health Ministry has reported that 2,345 individuals have received treatment for injuries, with 21 in serious condition. Most have since been discharged, although 106 patients remain hospitalized and 149 are receiving treatment in emergency rooms.

This latest exchange of cross-border strikes signifies a considerable escalation in hostilities, which began after Israeli airstrikes hit targets inside Iran on June 13. Official figures indicate that nearly 600 people have been killed in Iran and 24 in Israel since the conflict erupted.

JERUSALEM -- Israel and Iran on Thursday exchanged major airstrikes overnight, targeting each other's critical infrastructure and military facilities.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced in a statement on Thursday that it had launched a broad aerial campaign across Iran, including a strike targeting the inactive Arak nuclear reactor in western Iran.

The IDF said the operation involved over 100 munitions, 40 fighter jets and intelligence coordination, targeting dozens of military sites throughout Iran, including its capital Tehran.

According to the statement, the strike on the Arak facility focused on the reactor's core seal — an essential component in plutonium production.

Though the reactor, whose construction began in 1997, was never completed due to international pressure, the IDF claimed that in recent years, Iran had been converting it to produce low-grade plutonium, which is technically unsuitable for nuclear weapons.

However, the strike targeted the plutonium production component to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development, it noted.

Further strikes were carried out on a nuclear weapons development site in Natanz, central Iran, a location that, according to the IDF, contained specialized equipment for advancing Iran's nuclear weapons capabilities and hosted projects to accelerate its nuclear program.

In addition to nuclear-related targets, Israeli warplanes reportedly struck a range of military production sites across Iran, it said.

These included factories manufacturing ballistic missile components, facilities assembling Iranian air defense systems, various logistical infrastructures such as air defense batteries, missile storage sites, radar detection systems and detection equipment.

In response to the Israeli offensive, Iran targeted Israel's military intelligence facilities in its strikes on the southern part of the country on Thursday morning, not a hospital as was reported by some media outlets, Iran's state news agency IRNA said.

The strikes were aimed at the Israeli army's C4I telecommunications corps headquarters and an intelligence facility, IRNA said, adding that the hospital in question was affected by the blast's shockwave.

Several media outlets reported that an Iranian missile hit Soroka Medical Center in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, with officials reporting "extensive damage."

The rapid escalation marks the most direct and large-scale confrontations between the two regional adversaries in recent years.

JERUSALEM -- Missiles fired from Iran struck a hospital and residential buildings in Israel on Thursday, wounding more than 30 people, according to Israeli health authorities and local media.

Israel's Channel 12 News reported that around 30 missiles were launched, with four penetrating air defences and hitting targets in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and the southern city of Beer Sheva.

In Tel Aviv and its suburbs of Holon and Ramat Gan, two people were critically wounded and four others seriously injured. Dozens of buildings sustained heavy damage, the broadcaster said.

In Beer Sheva, a missile struck the surgery building at Soroka Medical Center, causing significant damage. The hospital said nearby buildings were also affected, but its operations remained intact. The Israeli Health Ministry said initial concerns over a possible hazardous materials leak from a nearby laboratory had been dismissed.

The ministry added that patients and staff had been evacuated from the surgery wing several hours before the strike as a precaution.

Iran claimed the medical center was being used for military purposes, an allegation Israel has denied.

Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to make Iran pay a "full price".

The latest exchange of fire marks a sharp escalation in hostilities that erupted after Israeli airstrikes on Iran on June 13. According to official figures, nearly 600 people have been killed in Iran and 24 in Israel since fighting began.

On Wednesday, Iran's military chief of staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi, said Tehran's retaliatory strikes had served as a deterrent but warned that "punitive operations will be carried out soon". He urged residents of Tel Aviv and Haifa to evacuate "to save their lives".

TEHRAN -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed he will meet with his counterparts from Britain, France, and Germany in Geneva at the request of the three European powers, Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Thursday.

Araghchi did not specify the date of the meeting. However, earlier reports from Western media said the foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany are expected to meet in Geneva on Friday, with an EU representative also attending.

No specific agenda has been disclosed.

The meeting would mark the first direct diplomatic engagement since a sharp escalation in regional tensions and stalled efforts to address Iran's nuclear program, following Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites.

Israel accuses Iran of seeking nuclear weapons through its uranium enrichment activities, a charge Tehran denies, saying its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

On June 13, Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing a number of senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. In retaliation, Iran has fired missiles at multiple targets in Israel since Friday, causing casualties and extensive damage.

The conflict has now entered its seventh day, with nearly 600 people reported killed in Iran and 24 in Israel since the fighting began, according to official figures.

TEHRAN - Iran's Arak heavy water facility was attacked by Israel, Iranian state television said Thursday.

The report said the facility was evacuated before the attack and there is no threat of leakage.

Israel had previously warned of a potential strike on the facility.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cautioned the United States of "irreparable damage" it will suffer in case of American military action against Iran, stressing that the Iranian nation will never surrender.

In a televised message on Wednesday, Khamenei said the country will strongly fight the imposed war in the same way that it will stand against an imposed peace, emphasizing that Ian will not surrender to anything imposed by anybody.

Speaking about Khamenei, US President Donald Trump said in a message on Truth Social platform: "We know exactly where the supreme leader is hiding," he wrote. "We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now ... Our patience is wearing thin."

Three minutes later he posted, "Unconditional surrender!"

His message is construed by many outsiders as indicating an aggressive posture of joining Israel in military operation against Iran, which will certainly please the Israeli cabinet.

Dismissing the threatening comments by the US president, Ayatollah Khamenei said the wise individuals that are familiar with the Iranian nation and history would never talk to Iran with the language of threat, because it is impossible for the Iranian nation to surrender.

He warned that the Americans must bear in mind that any military engagement against Iran will undoubtedly inflict irreparable damages on them, Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported.

The US is deploying more fighter jets and air carriers to the Middle East, and Trump and his team were considering a few options, including joining Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Reuters cited three US officials as sources.

Khamenei praised the Iranian nation for its decent, courageous and timely behavior in the face of the "stupid and evil" act of aggression by Israel.

He hailed the Iranian people's reaction as a sign of growth and the consistency of its rationality and spirituality.

Earlier, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.) said Iran has sent a message to the Israeli regime's warmongering ally, the United States, by striking Israeli targets with a new advanced hypersonic missile.

The I.R.G.C. said in a news release early on Wednesday, following the 11th wave of punitive Iranian strikes on Israel, that first-generation Fattah missiles, used in the latest salvo, repeatedly penetrated Israeli air defenses and "sent the message of Iran's might to Tel Aviv's warmongering ally, which has delusional wishes," Iran's IRNA agency reported.

Hours earlier, Iran began hitting Israeli targets. Footage captured from inside the occupied territories showed Iranian missiles making impact on ground targets, and the Israeli "Iron Dome" system was seen malfunctioning for a second night in a row and lobbing presumably defense projectiles onto Tel Aviv and causing fires.

Iran answered threats of Israel and the United States for "unconditional surrender" by firing hypersonic missiles into Israeli cities on the sixth day of conflict, but damage inflicted by Israeli airstrikes to Iran's nuclear facilities surfaced more clearly.

US President Donald Trump, calling for Iran's compliance for a deal, issued on Tuesday the warning against Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Truth Social platform: "We know exactly where the supreme leader is hiding," he wrote. "We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now ... Our patience is wearing thin."

Three minutes later he posted, "Unconditional surrender!"

Early Wednesday saw an English answer from Khamenei on X platform: "We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy." In central Teheran, protesters gathered to denounce Trump's recent comments on their leader.

Ali Bahreini, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, told reporters that he saw the US as "complicit in what Israel is doing", and Iran will respond firmly to the US if it becomes directly involved in Israel's military campaign.

Despite concerns of the international atomic energy community over nuclear safety, Israel's military said on Wednesday that "more than 50 fighter jets" struck an Iranian centrifuge production facility and multiple weapons manufacturing sites, as it now "has control of Iranian airspace" and intends to escalate the campaign in coming days.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed earlier that Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear sites have set the country's nuclear program back a "very, very long time". Iranian media reported several explosions on Tuesday in the central city of Isfahan, home to nuclear facilities.

For the first time in days, the International Atomic Energy Agency or IAEA said on Tuesday that an Israeli strike directly hit the underground enrichment halls at the Natanz facility, revising an earlier assessment after initially reporting it had been hit only indirectly.

IAEA also said two centrifuge production facilities in Iran, a workshop in Karaj and the Tehran Nuclear Research Center were also hit in Israeli attacks.

Celebrating in social media that "A tornado sweeps through Tehran", Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, has vowed to take out all nuclear sites of Iran, especially facilities at Fordow, which is built deep into a mountainside and reportedly not easy for Israeli strikes.

In comments to German media at the G7 summit in Canada, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said it was "dirty work Israel is doing for all of us" by carrying out strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, Deutsche Welle reported on Tuesday.

Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful. US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has testified to Congress that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon, and that Iranian supreme leader had not reauthorized the dormant program, AP reported. But during an overnight flight back to Washington from the G7 summit, dismissed the chief of spy agencies. "I don't care what she said," Trump told reporters on board Air Force One.

In retaliation, Iran told residents of Tel Aviv and Haifa to prepare for attacks, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claiming its hypersonic Fattah-1 missiles were "repeatedly shaking the shelters" in Tel Aviv.

Hypersonic missiles travel at more than five times the speed of sound and can maneuver mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Israel was running low on defensive "Arrow" missile interceptors, citing an unnamed US official.

Mohamed El Baradei, former IAEA chief during 1997-2009, said on X that Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and Trump's threat of "total surrender" were "a clear act of national humiliation".

The assault on Iran "is a sure way to destroy" the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, he warned, adding that it "sends a clear message to many countries that their ultimate security is to develop nuclear weapons".

Sarah Leah Whitson, a US-based lawyer, warned that assassinating Iran's supreme leader could be a violation of international law and "continued belligerence and hostile rhetoric" by Trump is "only throwing fuel on the fire".

As the US is deploying more fighter jets to the Middle East, Trump and his team were considering a few options, including joining Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, three US officials told Reuters.

A YouGov poll showed most US people believe the US military should not get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict, with some 60 percent opposing the move and only 16 percent supporting it.

Despite international alarm, neither side has backed off from the long-range blitz that began on Friday, when Israel's unprecedented attacks targeted Iranian nuclear and military facilities.

Due to the deadly strikes, foreign governments have started to evacuate their citizens.

Agencies contributed to this story.

TEHRAN -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that the country remains steadfast amid its conflict with Israel and will not surrender to anyone amid pressure, according to the Tasnim news agency.

In a televised address, Khamenei praised the "steadfast, courageous, and timely" response of the Iranian people to what he called "the foolish and malicious aggression" of Israel. He said the nation's resilience reflected "the growth of rationality and spirituality" in the country.

"The Iranian nation stands firm against an imposed war, just as it will stand firm against an imposed peace. This nation will not surrender to anyone under pressure," Tasnim quoted Khamenei as saying.

Khamenei also warned that any American military intervention would cause "irreparable damage." "Those who know Iran and its history understand that threatening this nation is futile," he said.

Khamenei's remarks followed a series of social media posts from US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, in which he demanded Iran's "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!" and appeared to suggest targeting Khamenei personally. The posts fueled speculation that Trump could involve the US military in the conflict.

The aerial conflict between Israel and Iran has entered its sixth day, with nearly 600 killed in Iran and 24 in Israel. The escalation began after Israel launched surprise airstrikes across Iran on June 13.

The Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that 791 Chinese nationals have been moved from Iran to safety, and the evacuation of over 1,000 has gathered pace since the outbreak of the conflict between Iran and Israel.

Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran's neighboring countries such as Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have dispatched working groups to assist Chinese nationals in accessing border ports, while helping facilitate their accommodation and onward travel back to China, the ministry's spokesman Guo Jiakun said.

Some Chinese citizens have already been safely evacuated from Israel, he told a daily news conference.

China expresses sincere gratitude for the strong support and assistance provided by the relevant countries, he said.

Currently, the ministry has not received any report of casualties of Chinese nationals, Guo said, adding that the ministry and relevant Chinese embassies and consulates will consider the will of Chinese nationals and continue to assist their evacuation and transfer.

JERUSALEM -- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that Israel is not engaged in any negotiations with Iran to halt the deadly aerial conflict that began with a large-scale Israeli strike on Friday.

"We are not engaged in any negotiations, and we will not allow harm to Israeli civilians," Katz told reporters during a visit to Herzliya, a coastal city north of Tel Aviv, where a missile fired from Iran struck earlier.

Katz said Israel would continue its offensive until Iran is no longer capable of launching missiles against Israeli territory.

Asked whether the United States might join Israel's military campaign, Katz said Washington was already assisting in defending Israel against some of the Iranian attacks.

"At the moment, it is assisting us in defending against some of the attacks," he said. "The decisions of the US president are the decisions of the United States. We will respect any decision and appreciate any assistance."

The conflict erupted on Friday when Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, declaring its goal was to dismantle Iran's nuclear program.

Iranian officials say the Israeli strikes have killed hundreds of people, including civilians. Fatemeh Mohajerani, a spokeswoman for the Iranian government, said on Monday that 45 women and children were among the dead.

In Israel, both military and residential sites have been struck, with 24 people killed, according to Israeli authorities.

Russia said on Tuesday that it was ready to act as a peace broker between Israel and Iran, but noted that Israel appeared reluctant to accept outside mediation.

Israel began launching strikes across Iran on Friday, claiming they were aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon -- a charge that Iran denies.

Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes on Israel.

"President Putin has said that Russia is ready to provide mediation services if necessary," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a daily news conference.

In recent years, Russia has deepened its ties with Iran while maintaining a close working relationship with Israel, positioning itself as a potential mediator.

"At present, we see a reluctance, at least on the part of Israel, to resort to any mediation services or to embark on a peaceful path toward a settlement."

Israeli strikes on Iran have resulted in at least 224 deaths, including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. At least 24 people have been killed inside Israel.

EU: Diplomacy is the best path

Meanwhile, the European Union said on Tuesday that diplomacy was the best path to address Teheran's nuclear program, after emergency talks among its 27 foreign ministers on the conflict between Israel and Iran.

"We all agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation. Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, and diplomacy is the solution to prevent this, and (the) EU will play its part," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said following a video call.

Europe has largely remained on the sidelines of efforts to curb the violence between the two Middle East nations after Israel's initial strikes on Iran.

Europe played a key role in negotiating and overseeing the 2015 agreement on Iran's nuclear program, which was abandoned by Trump during his first term in office.

"As the Iran and US talks have run into some kind of standstill, Europe "has more to say," Kallas said, adding that she had spoken to Iran's foreign minister and key European counterparts on Monday.

Iran and the United States had scheduled a new round of negotiations in Oman on June 15, but the talks were disrupted by Israel's surprise attacks on Iran's atomic energy and military targets.

TEHRAN -- Two loud explosions were heard in central and northern Tehran on Tuesday, local eyewitnesses reported, as Israel continued its bombardment of the Iranian capital for a fifth consecutive day.

There was no immediate information on the cause or exact locations of the blasts.

Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on social media platform X that Iran's Natanz site, which contains the Fuel Enrichment Plant and the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, was hit amid Israeli strikes.

"Based on continued analysis of high resolution satellite imagery collected after Friday's attacks, the IAEA has identified additional elements that indicate direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at Natanz," it said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli Air Force would target "very significant targets, strategic targets, targets of the regime and infrastructure" in Tehran. He added that evacuation warnings would be issued to residents near the strike zones.

Speaking about Iran's nuclear program, Katz said the underground Fordow facility remains "an issue that will certainly be addressed." He claimed that Israeli forces are "on the verge of destroying" more than 10 nuclear-related sites in Tehran, citing the Israeli Air Force's aerial superiority in the region.

Separately, a fire broke out Tuesday at the headquarters of Iranian state television in Tehran, the broadcaster said, following an Israeli strike a day earlier that severely damaged the building and killed three people.

"The smoke seen at the Iranian radio and television building is due to a fire that reignited because of the wind," state television reported.

The deadly aerial conflict between the Islamic Republic and Israel has entered its fifth day, with at least 244 people killed in Iran and 24 in Israel. The escalation was triggered by Israel's surprise airstrikes across Iran on Friday.