By Dayo Ade Olusola M10News| internstonal News Desk|20 June 2025
Tehran, Iran — Iran announced Friday that it will not return to nuclear negotiations with the United States until Israel ceases its ongoing military offensive, further deepening regional tensions as the conflict enters its second week.
The declaration came as explosions echoed across Tehran, prompting the activation of Iranian air defense systems. Iran’s state-run Fars news agency reported that missiles were launched toward Israel in response to continued bombardment, while Israeli officials warned of a prolonged campaign.
“The campaign is not over. Although we have made significant achievements, difficult days still lie ahead,” Israel’s military chief said Friday.
Diplomacy in Limbo
As Washington weighs its role in the escalating conflict, top European diplomats — including foreign ministers from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom — met with Iran’s deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva.
Following the meeting, Araghchi stated that Iran was open to diplomacy, but only after hostilities subside.
“Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once again and once the aggression is stopped,” he told reporters, reiterating Tehran’s support for continued talks with European nations.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged Iran to return to the negotiating table immediately.
“We invited the Iranian minister to consider negotiations with all sides, including the United States, without awaiting the cessation of strikes,” Barrot said, adding that “there can be no definitive solution through military means to the Iran nuclear problem.”
Barrot also pushed back against recent remarks from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who did not rule out the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“It is dangerous to want to impose a regime change,” Barrot warned.
Tension and Unrest in Tehran
In Tehran, signs of rising public anxiety were evident on Friday. Many shops were shuttered and once-busy marketplaces saw minimal foot traffic, according to on-the-ground reporting.
The current standoff marks a significant setback for international efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal, which has remained stalled since the war broke out.
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