Israel-Iran conflict deepens, European diplomacy steps in

As the air war between Israel and Iran enters its second week, the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany are making renewed efforts to draw Iran back to negotiations, while US involvement remains undecided.

Israel began striking Iranian targets last Friday, citing a mission to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks, insisting its nuclear program is peaceful.

According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, Israeli strikes have killed 639 people in Iran, including senior military officials and nuclear scientists. Iran’s retaliatory attacks have reportedly killed at least two dozen civilians in Israel. Reuters has not independently verified the death tolls.

While Israel has focused on nuclear and missile infrastructure, Western and regional officials say its broader aim includes destabilising the government of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Amid growing concerns of regional escalation, the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany, along with the EU’s foreign policy chief, are scheduled to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Geneva on Friday.

“Now is the time to stop the grave scenes in the Middle East and prevent a broader conflict that serves no one,” said British Foreign Minister David Lammy ahead of the meeting.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have condemned Israel’s actions and called for de-escalation, according to the Kremlin.

The US role remains uncertain. Lammy met in Washington with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to explore diplomatic options.

Sources say Witkoff has held several phone calls with Araqchi since the conflict began. President Trump has alternated between threatening Tehran and encouraging a return to suspended nuclear talks.

The White House said Trump will decide within two weeks whether the US will intervene militarily. However, observers note that the two-week timeline is often flexible, as Trump has previously allowed such deadlines to slip.