Middle East conflict: Israeli minister orders military to intensify attacks on Iran

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the armed forces on Friday to intensify attacks on Iran: "To undermine the regime and increase deterrence against missile launches on the Israeli home front while continuing to attack facilities."

According to international media, another hospital in Tehran was attacked by Israel with explosives.

The first images of Soroka Hospital have emerged after it was hit by an Iranian missile in Beer Sheva, southern Israel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will address the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, a spokesperson for the UN's top human rights body announced.

With the Israeli military campaign in Iran only entering its second week, Araqchi "will speak in person (...) at the start of the council's evening meeting" at 13:00 GMT, said council spokesman Pascal Sim.

A UN spokeswoman added that Daniel Meron, Israel's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, would speak to reporters shortly beforehand.

Araqchi is traveling to Geneva to meet this Friday with the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, along with EU Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a television interview broadcast Friday that he refuses to negotiate with the United States as long as Israel continues to attack his country.

"The Americans have sent messages seriously calling for negotiations. But we have made it clear that as long as the aggression does not end, there is no room for diplomacy and dialogue," the Iranian foreign minister told Iranian state television.

Araqchi plans to discuss the Iranian nuclear program with his counterparts from France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the EU this Friday in Geneva.

The Israeli military said Friday it had bombed dozens of targets overnight in Tehran, including what it described as a "research and development center for the Iranian nuclear weapons project."

On June 13, Israel launched an offensive against Iran supposedly to prevent it from acquiring the atomic bomb, a goal repeatedly denied by Tehran.

"Dozens of targets were hit, especially military missile production sites and the headquarters of the SPND, the organization in charge of research and development for Iran's military nuclear program," the Israeli military said in a statement.