Iran war live: Tehran rejects talks under siege, Trump cancels envoys’ trip

Iran war: Tehran refuses negotiations while missile strikes hit 18 cities

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected talks with Washington as Iranian missiles pounded 18 cities across Israel, the West Bank and Syria.

The refusal came hours after President Donald Trump canceled a planned diplomatic mission by two envoys who were scheduled to fly to Oman for indirect discussions.

The latest exchange pushed the region closer to a full-scale war after two weeks of escalating strikes between Iran and Israel. Israeli officials warned civilians to stay near bomb shelters as air raid sirens wailed across Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa throughout Saturday night.

Iran launched the barrage in retaliation for Israeli strikes that killed 42 people in Tehran and other Iranian cities on April 23. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it fired 400 missiles and drones at military targets, though Israeli officials said most were intercepted.

Araghchi delivered Tehran’s rejection in a phone call with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi on Sunday. The Iranian diplomat said negotiations were impossible while “Israel continues its aggression and the United States supports it,” according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.

Trump had dispatched Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran special representative Michael Abramowitz to Muscat for what White House officials described as “exploratory talks.” The president announced their recall on Truth Social, writing that Iran had “missed its opportunity” for diplomacy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security cabinet for a second consecutive night as explosions lit up the sky above Tel Aviv. The military said it intercepted “the vast majority” of incoming projectiles, though social media footage showed several impacts in residential areas.

The Israeli military reported 12 civilians wounded, including 3 critically, from shrapnel and falling debris. Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency service, said it treated 48 people for anxiety and minor injuries across the country.

Syrian state media reported Israeli missiles struck Damascus airport and several military positions around the capital. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 9 people were killed, including 4 Iranian-backed fighters.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli strikes on Jenin and Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank killed 6 people, including 2 children. The Israeli military confirmed it targeted what it called “terrorist infrastructure” in response to rocket fire from the area.

Oil prices surged 8% to $92 per barrel in Asian trading as traders feared wider conflict could disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The price spike threatened to push American gasoline above $4 per gallon weeks before the U.S. election.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned in a statement that “any country assisting Israel or allowing its territory to be used against Iran will be considered a legitimate target.” The threat raised particular concern in Jordan, which has allowed U.S. forces to operate from its territory.

Saudi Arabia condemned “Iranian aggression” but stopped short of offering military support to Israel. The kingdom’s foreign ministry called for “maximum restraint” and renewed support for a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israeli forces continue battling Hamas.

European Union foreign ministers scheduled an emergency meeting in Brussels on Monday to discuss the crisis. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the Iranian strikes but urged all parties to “step back from the brink of regional war.”

Russia and China both called for restraint, with Beijing’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian saying “military means will only lead to more bloodshed.” Moscow offered to host negotiations between Tehran and Washington, though neither side showed interest.

Background

The current crisis began on April 1 when an Israeli airstrike destroyed Iran’s consulate in Damascus, killing 16 people including Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi. Iran responded on April 13 with its first direct missile attack on Israel, firing 300 drones and missiles that caused minimal damage.

Israel’s April 23 strikes represented the first time it had openly attacked Iranian territory since the 1988 Iran-Iraq War. The attacks targeted nuclear facilities near Isfahan, military bases outside Tehran, and the headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards in the capital.

The two countries have waged a shadow war for decades through proxy forces and covert operations. Iran supports Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and various militias in Syria and Iraq that oppose Israel. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria and assassinated Iranian nuclear scientists inside Iran.

What’s Next

Netanyahu faces growing pressure within his coalition to launch a decisive response that could include strikes on Iran’s oil infrastructure or nuclear facilities. Israeli officials told reporters the security cabinet would meet again Sunday evening and expected to approve a “significant but measured” retaliation designed to deter future Iranian attacks without triggering full war.

Congressional leaders from both parties urged Trump to support Israel while avoiding American military involvement. House Speaker Mike Johnson said lawmakers would consider additional military aid for Israel this week, though some Democrats warned against actions that could drag the United States into another Middle East war.

The latest escalation has shattered what little remained of international diplomatic efforts to contain the conflict. With Iran rejecting talks and Trump recalling his envoys, regional analysts expect the coming days to bring more military strikes rather than negotiations. The key question now is whether Israel’s response will target Iran’s nuclear program, potentially drawing the United States into direct conflict with Tehran.