Iran and Israel exchange strikes after Iran rules out nuclear talks while under attack

Update:
Date: 08:22 BST
Title: Trump says his director of national intelligence is 'wrong' on Iran
Content: This video can not be played
Watch: Trump says Tulsi Gabbard is 'wrong' on Iran
More now from US President Donald Trump, who spoke to reporters yesterday on the tarmac next to Air Force One.
He was asked what intelligence he has that suggests Iran is building a nuclear weapon, when his intelligence community has previously said they have no evidence.
"Well, then my intelligence community is wrong. Who in the intelligence community said that?" Trump asked.
The reporter replied that it was Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.
"She's wrong," Trump quickly replied.
In March, Gabbard told Congress that US intelligence agencies determined Iran had not resumed its suspended 2003 nuclear weapons programme, even as the nation's stockpile of enriched uranium - a component of such weapons - was at an all-time high.
Update:
Date: 08:19 BST
Title: Trump won't let Iran develop a nuclear weapon
Content: Jake KwonNorth America correspondent
In March Tulsi Gabbard told a Senate Committee Iran was not building nuclear weapons. After Mr Trump said she was wrong, Ms Gabbard blamed the media for distorting her words and now says that she believes Iran could build nuclear weapons within weeks.
President Trump insisted that Iran had gathered a 'tremendous amount of material' and could have a weapon within weeks - or if not weeks then months – and the US couldn't let that happen.
On Thursday, Mr Trump said he would decide within the next fortnight whether the US should join the strikes on Iran.
He now says two weeks is the 'maximum' time Iran has to reach a deal with the US – hinting that he could make a decision before the 14 days are up.
The IAEA earlier this month expressed concern that Iran had amassed enough uranium enriched up to 60% purity - a short, technical step away from weapons grade, or 90% - to potentially make nine nuclear bombs.
Update:
Date: 08:02 BST
Title: Iran only ready for diplomatic talks once aggression stops - a recap
Content: Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi
On Friday, top diplomats from the UK, EU, Germany and France held hours-long talks with their Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in Geneva.
The Europeans had hoped to make progress on a diplomatic breakthrough at what UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy called a "perilous moment".
But the talks didn't yield the outcome they wanted.
Araghchi told reporters afterwards Iran was only "ready to consider diplomacy once the aggression is stopped" and Israel is held accountable "for the heinous crimes committed".
He added that Iran's nuclear programme was peaceful, and that Iran would continue to "exercise its legitimate right of self-defence".
"I make it crystal clear that Iran's defence capabilities are non-negotiable."
Update:
Date: 07:49 BST
Title: Israel says senior Iranian commander killed in strike - reports
Content: Israel's Defense Minister Israel
Katz said on Saturday the IDF had killed a senior Iranian commander in a strike on an apartment in the city of Qom, local media and Reuters news agency reported.
Saeed Izadi was responsible for financing and arming Hamas ahead of its October 7 attacks on Israel, Katz said.
"This is a major achievement for Israeli intelligence and the Air Force," Katz said in a statement. "Justice for the murdered and the hostages. Israel's long arm will reach all its enemies."
Izadi was a member of Iran's powerful Quds Force, a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responsible for overseas activities, including supporting Iran's proxies in the region.
The IRGC is yet to confirm Izadi's death.
Update:
Date: 07:36 BST
Title: European discussions yield no breakthrough, but Iran ready to keep talking
Content: Lyse DoucetChief international correspondent, reporting from Geneva
Yesterday, European foreign ministers met with their Iranian counterpart in Geneva. Here are the key takeaways from the discussions:
More than three hours of discussions in Geneva yielded no breakthrough.
But European ministers emerged convinced that Iran was ready to keep talking, and more willing to put issues on the table which hadn't been there before.
They all emphasised that Iran has to resume its talks with the United States.
In his statement, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he was ready to meet with the Europeans again, but would only consider diplomacy with the US once Israeli attacks stopped and, in his words, the aggressor was held accountable.
Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who flew straight to Geneva after meetings in Washington with US officials, came with tough messages – that the threat of U.S. military action was real, but a window for diplomacy was still open.
No one can say for sure for how long.
Lammy warned it was 'a perilous moment'.
The message from Europe's top diplomats was that only a negotiated agreement - not more military action - could provide a lasting solution to Iran's nuclear programme, and to regional stability.
Update:
Date: 07:18 BST
Title: Israeli military intercept Iranian strikes overnight, IDF says
Content: Israel says it has intercepted multiple Iranian drones that entered its airspace overnight and this morning.
Two were intercepted by the Israeli air force in Israeli-occupied Syrian territory roughly an hour apart, just just before 07:00 (5:00 BST) and 08:00 (06:00 BST) local time, according to the IDF.
It says a third was intercepted less than an hour later just north of the West Bank.
Update:
Date: 07:04 BST
Title: Israel strikes Isfahan nuclear facility - Iranian state media
Content: Israel has continued its military operation against Iran's nuclear infrastructure overnight.
Iranian state media reports an Israeli attack on a nuclear facility in Isfahan in the early hours of this morning.
Iranian air defences reportedly responded to the attack, causing loud explosions.
The attack did not cause the leakage of any hazardous material, Fars News Agency reports, although there has been no update yet from the UN's atomic agency, the IAEA, on the facility's status.
Overnight, the Israeli military said it launched a "series of strikes" against missile storage and infrastructure sites in central Iran.
Update:
Date: 07:02 BST
Title: Iran and Israel exchange strikes, as Iran refuses nuclear talks while attacks continue
Content: Missiles fired from Iran in retaliation for Israeli attacks are seen in the sky over the Hebron, West Bank
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage as Israel and Iran continue to exchange strikes on the ninth day of the ongoing conflict.
Israel targets nuclear infrastructure in fresh strikes as Iranian media report an attack on a nuclear site in Ifsahan, in the centre of the country.
Israeli Defense Forces say they struck down several drone and missile attacks from Iran overnight.
It comes after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi ruled out nuclear talks while under attack.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Aragchi said Iran is "ready to consider diplomacy once again once the aggression is stopped" and "the aggressor is held accountable for the heinous crimes committed".
We'll continue to bring you the latest developments and analysis throughout the day, stay with us.

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