Iran Signals It Wants To End Hostilities With Israel, Restart Nuclear Talks: Report

Last Updated:June 16, 2025, 19:59 IST

Israeli strikes killed 224 in Iran, while Iranian missiles raised Israel's death toll to 24.

Iran launched missiles at Israeli cities Monday after Israeli strikes deep inside the Islamic republic, raising Israel's death toll by 11 on day four of an escalating air war. (Reuters/File)

Iran has been urgently seeking to de-escalate tensions with Israel and resume negotiations over its nuclear program, sending messages to Tel Aviv and Washington through Arab intermediaries, the Washington Post reported, citing Middle Eastern and European officials.

Tel Aviv on Friday launched a surprise attack on Iran, killing its top officials and targeting nuclear sites. The fierce bombing campaign began as Tehran and Washington were engaged in nuclear talks which have since been cancelled.

Rafael Grossi, head of the UN’s Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said on Monday there was “no indication of a physical attack" on an underground section of Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility, and that radiation levels outside the plant were “at normal levels".

The IAEA previously said that a key, above-ground component of Iran’s Natanz nuclear site was destroyed.

Iran-Israel Tensions

Iran launched missiles at Israeli cities Monday after Israeli strikes deep inside the Islamic Republic, raising Israel’s death toll by 11 on day four of an escalating air war.

After decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, Israel on Friday launched a surprise aerial campaign targeting sites across Iran, saying the attacks aimed to prevent its arch-foe from acquiring atomic weapons — a charge Tehran denies.

Israel’s strikes have so far killed at least 224 people, including top military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians, according to Iranian authorities.

In retaliation, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said it had “successfully" struck Israel with a salvo of missiles and warned of “effective, targeted and more devastating operations" to come.

The Iranian attacks hit Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, Petah Tikva and Haifa — with shattered homes, smouldering wreckage and stunned residents picking through debris.

The death toll in Israel rose by 11 on Monday, the prime minister’s office said, bringing the total since Friday to 24.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the missile barrage also lightly damaged a building used by the American embassy in Tel Aviv.

In Iran, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei condemned as a “war crime" an Israeli strike that damaged a hospital in the western city of Kermanshah. A previous report said a nearby workshop had been the target.

(With AFP inputs)

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

News world Iran Signals It Wants To End Hostilities With Israel, Restart Nuclear Talks: Report