Israel, Iran exchange strikes for 3rd day as nuclear talks halted

(NewsNation) — Israel unleashed airstrikes across Iran for a third day on Sunday, and threatened even more force as some Iranian missiles dodged Israeli air defenses to strike buildings in the center of the country.

Planned talks on Iran’s nuclear program were canceled.

The region braced for an extended battle after Israel’s surprise attack on Iran’s nuclear and military sites on Friday, which killed several top generals and nuclear scientists. Neither side has shown any sign of backing down.

Iran said Israel struck two oil refineries, raising the prospect of a broader assault on Iran’s heavily sanctioned energy industry that could affect global markets.

The Israeli military, via social media, warned Iranians to evacuate arms factories, which would signal further widening of the campaign.

Iran asks Cyprus to convey messages to Israel

Iran on Sunday asked Cyprus to convey "some messages" to Israel, President Nikos Christodoulides said.

Christodoulides acknowledged he expected to speak to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later in the day. He made it clear he was not happy with what he said was a slow reaction by the European Union to the unfolding crisis in the Middle East.

Cyprus is the closest European Union member state in the region, and Christodoulides has asked for an extraordinary meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council.

Continued attacks in Tehran

New explosions could be heard elsewhere in Tehran, but there was no update to the death toll released by Amir-Saeid Iravani, Iran’s U.N. ambassador. Iravani said 78 people had been killed and more than 320 wounded in the attacks.

Meanwhile, in Israel, at least 10 people were killed in Iranian strikes overnight, Israeli rescue officials said. The death toll in the country now is up to 13. The country’s main international airport and airspace remained closed for a third day.

Israeli strikes targeted Iran’s Defense Ministry on the third day after striking its air defenses, military bases, and sites associated with its nuclear program.

World leaders call for reduced attacks on nuclear sites

World leaders have called on Israel and Iran to decrease strikes on nuclear sites.

Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, said the continued assault on nuclear sites sets a "dangerous precedent"

Netanyahu brushed off such calls, saying Israel’s strikes so far are “nothing compared to what they will feel under the sway of our forces in the coming days.”

Israel, which represents the only undeclared nuclear-armed state in the Middle East, said it launched the attack to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

The two countries have been regional adversaries for decades.

Trump denies US involvement in Iran attack

President Trump took to social media on Sunday to deny the United States had any involvement with Israel's continued attacks on Iran.

“The U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight," the White House posted on X. If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before."

Trump has expressed full support for Israel’s actions while warning Iran that it can only avoid further destruction by agreeing to a new nuclear deal.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.