US Israel war on Iran enters day 29 as regional attacks widen and diplomacy stalls

Iranian officials renewed warnings after Israeli strikes hit nuclear related and industrial sites on Friday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Israel would pay a “heavy price” for attacks on the Khondab heavy water complex near Arak and the Shahid Rezayee Nejad yellowcake facility in Ardakan. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had been informed of the strikes and reported no increase in off site radiation levels.

Washington is still trying to combine military pressure with diplomacy. A 15 point US proposal aimed at ending the war was passed to Iran through intermediaries, but Tehran has denied that direct negotiations are taking place. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US expects its objectives in the conflict to be achieved within weeks rather than months, even as troop deployments to the region continue.

President Donald Trump also sharpened his criticism of NATO, saying the United States did not need to keep carrying the alliance after European members failed to support Washington in the war against Iran. His remarks underlined growing transatlantic strain, as several European governments have kept their distance from the military campaign and continued to push for de escalation. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he doubted the war’s aims were clear and warned that attempts to force regime change in Iran had often failed in past conflicts.

On the military front, Iran’s attacks on Gulf targets continued to carry a cost for US forces. A strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia wounded 12 American troops, including two seriously, according to a US official. The incident added to a total of more than 300 US service members wounded since the war began on February 28.

Israel also remained under sustained pressure. Iranian missile attacks killed at least one person in Tel Aviv on Friday, and air raid sirens continued to sound in several parts of the country. On Saturday, Yemen’s Houthi movement launched its first missile at Israel since the war began, widening the conflict further and adding to fears over Red Sea shipping security.

The fighting is also expanding beyond Iran and Israel. Israel has pushed deeper into southern Lebanon and exchanged fire with Hezbollah, while Gulf states remain on alert over missile and drone threats. The regional spillover, together with the continued restriction of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, has kept energy markets on edge and intensified concern over inflation, fuel supply and food security.

Despite growing international efforts to revive talks, the situation remains fluid and highly dangerous. Tehran says it will not negotiate under bombardment, while Washington and Tel Aviv insist military pressure must continue until Iran accepts new limits on its nuclear and missile programs. For now, the war shows no sign of easing.