Israel and Iran launched new attacks on each other overnight Saturday, intensifying fears of a broader regional war and prompting the cancellation of long-planned nuclear talks.
Iranian state media reported missile and drone launches targeting Israel, while Israel’s military confirmed fresh strikes on military sites in Tehran and said it was intercepting incoming projectiles.
In northern Israel, a missile strike killed a woman and wounded 13 others when it hit a residential building, emergency services said. Explosions were seen over Jerusalem, though no sirens sounded in the city.
In Iran, authorities reported damage to the Shahran oil depot in Tehran and a fire at the massive South Pars gas field following what they described as Israeli strikes. Production at the field was partially suspended.
Iran said 60 people were killed when a missile hit a residential tower in Tehran, bringing the two-day death toll to more than 130. Among the dead were dozens of children.
The escalating violence led Iran to cancel nuclear negotiations due to be held Sunday in Oman. “Talks cannot proceed while Iran is under Israeli aggression,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said.
The United States had pushed for the talks as a way to contain the crisis. President Donald Trump warned Tehran that further escalation would bring “severe consequences,” but suggested there was still a window for diplomacy.
The attacks marked the first time Israel had hit Iran’s core energy infrastructure. Oil prices jumped 9% on Friday amid fears of supply disruptions.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it was considering closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipments.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the latest attacks were only a fraction of what Iran could face. “This is just the beginning,” he said in a televised statement.
Iran warned that U.S. military bases in the region could be targeted if they assist Israel. Still, Iran’s options for retaliation appear limited after heavy losses sustained by its regional allies Hamas and Hezbollah in recent conflicts.
The UN nuclear watchdog this week said Iran was violating key commitments under the non-proliferation treaty, though Tehran insists its nuclear program is peaceful.
Rights group B’Tselem accused Israel’s leadership of “choosing war over diplomacy,” warning that the conflict risks spiraling out of control.
