6.16pm

UK to push for ‘diplomatic solution’ in Geneva

The UK will push for a “diplomatic solution” to the Israel-Iran conflict in Geneva, where Iranian Foreign Minister Sayyid Abbas Araghchi will meet his British, French and German counterparts, as well as the European Union’s top diplomat.

The UK government said Foreign Secretary David Lammy would reiterate in today’s meetings “the UK’s longstanding concerns about Iran’s nuclear program”, the BBC reported.

Lammy, in a previous statement, said the UK was “determined that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon”.

“A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution,” Lammy said, according to the BBC.

5.56pm

Iran won’t talk to US, a ‘partner to Israeli crime’

Further to our previous post, Iran Foreign Minister Sayyid Abbas Araghchi reportedly said his country would not hold talks with the US as it was a “partner to Israel crime” against Iran.

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“The Americans want negotiations and have sent messages several times, but we have clearly said that there is no room for dialogue until the [aggression stops],” IRNA quoted Araghchi as saying.

“We have no talks with America as a partner in this crime.”

Speaking on state television, Araghchi reportedly said Iran had never targeted civilian areas – especially not hospitals – as opposed to Israel, which the foreign minister said intentionally targeted hospitals in Gaza.

On Thursday, Israel slammed Iran for targeting civilians in a strike on a hospital, which it branded a “war crime”.

Despite Araghchi’s apparent assertion Iran would refuse to formally negotiate with the US, the two countries have been in contact since the Israel-Iran conflict began.

US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has spoken to Araghchi several times since June 13, Reuters reported.

With Reuters

5.47pm

Iran condemns strike on ‘safeguarded’ reactor

Iran’s foreign minister has condemned an Israeli strike on its Arak heavy water reactor, saying any assault on nuclear facilities is an assault on nuclear safeguards.

The heavy water reactor reportedly contained no nuclear material and was non-operational at the time of the strike yesterday, but Sayyid Abbas Araghchi said the facility came under comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

“As the Security Council convenes today, it is imperative that it upholds and enforces its own Resolution 487-adopted unanimously in response to the Israeli regime’s 1981 attack on Iraq’s nuclear facility,” Araghchi said in a post shared on X.

“The language in that resolution is unambiguous: any military attack on nuclear facilities is an assault on the entire IAEA safeguards regime and ultimately the NPT.

“It applies not only to past actions but also to future conduct, setting a clear legal standard against the use or threat of force targeting safeguarded nuclear installations.”