TEL AVIV, Israel (BN24) — Israel launched another wave of airstrikes across Iran on Sunday, marking the third consecutive day of escalating hostilities between the two longtime adversaries. The strikes, which reportedly targeted nuclear and military infrastructure, prompted Iranian retaliation as both countries refused to stand down. Planned nuclear talks aimed at defusing tensions were abruptly canceled.
The conflict, which erupted with Israel’s surprise bombardment of Iranian nuclear and military sites on Friday, has since intensified. Iran confirmed strikes on two oil refineries, further raising fears of a broader offensive against its already embattled energy sector—moves that could disrupt global markets.
In a signal of further escalation, the Israeli military used social media to warn civilians in Iran to evacuate arms production facilities. Explosions were again heard in Tehran around midday Sunday, heightening anxiety in the Iranian capital.
The White House under President Donald Trump has stood firmly behind Israel, with Trump warning that Iran must agree to a new nuclear agreement to avoid further destruction. In his Truth Social post, he reiterated that the U.S. was not directly involved in the strikes but threatened massive retaliation if Iran targeted American interests. “We can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict,” he added.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated Sunday that Iran’s military response would cease only if Israeli attacks stopped. He accused the United States of being complicit in the strikes and called for accountability.
Sunday’s strikes reportedly focused on Iran’s Defense Ministry facilities and infrastructure linked to its nuclear ambitions. Multiple Iranian officials, including top generals and nuclear scientists, were killed in earlier strikes, suggesting that Israeli intelligence had successfully infiltrated Iran’s high command. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations said 78 Iranians were killed and over 320 wounded so far.
Meanwhile, Iran’s missile attacks against Israel continued overnight and into Sunday, killing at least 10 more people, according to Magen David Adom, bringing Israel’s death toll to 13. Israel’s main airport and airspace remained closed for a third consecutive day.
In the coastal city of Bat Yam, a missile struck an apartment building, killing six, including a 10-year-old and a 9-year-old. Nearby, authorities confirmed that 180 people were wounded and seven remain missing. In the northern town of Tamra, four more people were killed in another strike, including a 13-year-old, while dozens were injured in Rehovot, where the Weizmann Institute of Science reported building damage but no casualties.
Despite Israel’s advanced multi-layered air defense systems, military officials conceded they are not impenetrable. Civil defense teams were seen using drones to search through rubble for survivors amid scorched vehicles and shattered buildings.
China’s foreign minister described Israel’s attack on Iranian nuclear sites as setting a “dangerous precedent,” while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed international appeals for restraint. He warned that the current strikes were minor compared to the power Israel might unleash in the coming days. Israel has maintained that its actions are a preemptive measure to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, asserting its long-standing view that Tehran’s nuclear ambitions pose an existential threat.
Iran, for its part, maintains that its nuclear program is strictly peaceful. However, enriched uranium levels have surged in recent years, and international assessments suggest Tehran could assemble a weapon within months if it decided to pursue one. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) censured Iran just last week for non-compliance with its oversight agreements.
Amid the chaos, indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran on reviving a nuclear accord were canceled. The Gulf state of Oman, which has served as a mediator, confirmed that Sunday’s sixth round of talks would not take place. A senior U.S. official said Washington remained open to talks and hoped Iran would return to the table soon.
Satellite imagery analyzed by the Associated Press revealed significant damage to the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, with several buildings destroyed or impaired, including those believed to power centrifuge operations. While the underground sections appeared intact, the extent of internal damage remains unknown. The IAEA also confirmed damage at the Isfahan nuclear complex, stating that four key structures, including a uranium conversion facility, had been hit.
An unnamed Israeli military official said early assessments suggest it would take Iran “much more than a few weeks” to repair both the Natanz and Isfahan sites. The same official claimed Israel had concrete intelligence that the Isfahan facility was being used for military purposes.
Elsewhere, an Israeli drone reportedly struck a natural-gas processing plant in Iran, causing a powerful explosion. Meanwhile, a refinery in Haifa, northern Israel, was damaged in retaliatory Iranian strikes, according to Bazan Group, which reported disruption to pipelines and transmission lines, though no injuries.
As the death toll rises and global markets brace for impact, the absence of diplomacy signals a potentially prolonged and devastating conflict between two of the Middle East’s most entrenched rivals.
