Nuclear negotiations between Iran and Western powers have stalled, with Tehran rejecting new European proposals as “unrealistic.” As diplomats met in Geneva, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stressed that Iran would not negotiate over uranium enrichment or its defense capabilities. “Zero enrichment is a dead end,” a senior Iranian official told Reuters.

Israeli Strikes Kill Top IRGC Commanders

Meanwhile, Israel has intensified its aerial campaign. Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that Israeli jets killed Saeed Izadi, commander of the IRGC’s Palestine Corps, in a strike on Qom. Izadi was accused of arming Hamas prior to its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Another Quds Force commander, Benham Shariyari, was also reported killed in a separate overnight operation.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed five fatalities in Khorramabad strikes, while not naming Izadi directly. Nour News, aligned with Iran’s security apparatus, reported at least 430 Iranians killed and 3,500 wounded since Israel began its strikes.

Diplomacy Under Bombardment

Araqchi told reporters at an OIC summit in Istanbul that Iran could not negotiate “while our people are under bombardments under the support of the U.S.” He warned that direct U.S. involvement would be “very dangerous.” His next stop: Moscow.

Despite the grim tone from Tehran, French President Emmanuel Macron said he and President Pezeshkian had agreed to try to accelerate talks.

Regional Tensions and Global Risk

The Gulf Cooperation Council has raised alarm with the IAEA over attacks near nuclear sites, including damage at Iran’s Isfahan centrifuge workshop. While the IAEA confirmed the facility housed no nuclear material, regional powers, including Türkiye, Russia, and China, demanded immediate de-escalation.

President Trump, weighing U.S. involvement, said he would wait “two weeks to see whether or not people come to their senses.” While asserting Iran could acquire nuclear weapons “within weeks,” U.S. intelligence officials previously testified Tehran is not actively building a warhead.