Israel Strikes Iran’s Isfahan Nuclear Site Again; Iranian Death Toll Surpasses 400

The conflict between Israel and Iran has entered its second week, with no signs of de-escalation.

On Saturday, Israel launched renewed airstrikes on a nuclear research facility in Iran’s Isfahan province, amid growing regional instability and unsuccessful diplomatic efforts in Geneva.

Here are the top 10 developments:

1. Khamenei Picks Possible Successors Amid Threats
   Facing mounting threats from Israel, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly shortlisted three senior clerics as potential successors, according to The New York Times. Notably, his son Mojtaba Khamenei is not among them. He is also said to be replacing top military officials killed in Israeli strikes.

2. Israel Strikes Isfahan Nuclear Site Again
   Israeli forces claimed they targeted and hit a nuclear research facility in Isfahan for a second time, killing three high-ranking Iranian commanders. Videos showed smoke billowing from near a mountain in the area, as local officials confirmed multiple waves of strikes.

3. Strikes in Ahvaz and Drone Attack in Northern Israel
   Powerful explosions were heard in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran, as Israel said its fighter jets struck military sites there. Meanwhile, in northern Israel, an Iranian drone reportedly hit a residential building, according to Israeli rescue services.

4. Iran Rejects Zero-Enrichment Proposal
   Following stalled Geneva talks, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that European proposals calling for a complete halt to uranium enrichment were “unrealistic.” Iran emphasized it would not negotiate over its missile program or defense capabilities, reaffirming that diplomacy must not happen “under the shadow of war.”

5. Macron Warns Iran on Nuclear Weapons
   French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, urging Iran to guarantee its nuclear program remains peaceful. Macron stressed that Iran “must never acquire nuclear weapons,” and that European-led negotiations will be accelerated.

6. Internet Blackout in Iran Continues
   NetBlocks.org reported widespread internet outages across Iran, which worsened on Saturday. The disruption, in place since the Israeli strikes began, has significantly limited information flow. Authorities later stated international internet access would be restored by 8 p.m. local time.

7. US Involvement Could Be ‘Very Dangerous’, Warns Iran
   Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that US involvement in the conflict would be “very, very dangerous for everyone.” He expressed distrust toward Washington, stating that Tehran reserves the right to retaliate if the US aligns militarily with Israel.

8. IAEA Chief Threatened by Iran
   A senior advisor to Ayatollah Khamenei threatened International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi, vowing that he would “pay” after the war. Iranian officials blamed Grossi’s recent comments on Iran’s nuclear capability for provoking Israeli strikes.

9. Over 400 Iranians Killed in Israeli Strikes
   Iran’s health ministry reported that more than 400 people have been killed and over 3,000 injured since Israeli attacks began last week. A separate human rights group estimated the death toll at 657, including 263 civilians.

10. Iran Arrests 22 Alleged Israeli Spies
    Iranian authorities in Qom province announced the arrest of 22 individuals accused of having ties to Israeli intelligence and of spreading “anti-regime” sentiments. A European national and a German cyclist have also been detained on espionage charges.

As the situation intensifies, regional and global powers continue to monitor developments closely, fearing a broader escalation that could drag in additional countries and destabilize the Middle East further.