Israel and Iran Exchange Attacks Amidst US Calls for a Deal

Overnight into Sunday, June 15th, Israel and Iran engaged in renewed attacks against each other. This followed statements from US President Donald Trump, who suggested the conflict could be easily resolved while cautioning Tehran against targeting any US assets.

Israeli rescue teams were actively searching through the debris of residential buildings that had been destroyed in the strikes. They utilized flashlights and sniffer dogs in their efforts to locate survivors. Authorities reported that at least ten individuals, including children, had lost their lives.

The Israeli military issued a warning to Iranians residing near weapons facilities, urging them to evacuate. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the current Israeli actions were merely a prelude to more significant measures Iran would experience in the coming days.

In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump declared that the full force of the US Armed Forces would be deployed against Iran if it attacked the US. He also expressed optimism about the possibility of brokering a deal between Iran and Israel to end the conflict, although he did not provide any specifics.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi asserted that Israel's attacks, which commenced on Friday, were intended to undermine the nuclear talks with the US, scheduled to resume in Oman on Sunday. He claimed that the US supported Israel's actions and that Iran was acting solely in self-defense. Araqchi had previously indicated that the Oman talks were unlikely to proceed while Iran was under attack.

Israel has stated that the objective of its campaign is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and to neutralize its ballistic missile capabilities. Israeli officials have acknowledged that the military strikes are unlikely to completely halt Iran's nuclear program and have expressed hope that they will facilitate a comprehensive US-Iran agreement.

Iran reported that 78 people were killed on the first day of Israel's campaign on Friday, with additional casualties on the second day, including 60 fatalities when a missile struck a 14-story apartment building in Tehran, where 29 children were among the dead.

Iran also reported that the Shahran oil depot in Tehran was targeted in an Israeli attack, but that the situation was under control. A fire broke out after an Israeli attack on an oil refinery near the capital. Additionally, Israeli strikes targeted Iran's defense ministry building, causing minor damage, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.