Tensions Escalate as Israeli Strikes Hit Near Tabriz; Nuclear Talks Loom Amid Regional Fallout
Tabriz : A tense calm hung over the Middle East on Friday after Israeli airstrikes reportedly hit a target near the northwestern Iranian city of Tabriz, raising fears of broader regional conflict and impacting global air traffic and oil prices.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there had been no increase in radiation levels at the Natanz nuclear facility, citing data from Iranian authorities. However, the situation remained volatile as major airlines suspended flights over Israeli, Iranian, Iraqi, and Jordanian airspace, according to Flightradar24.
Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was shut as Israeli carriers El Al, Israir, and Arkia moved their planes out of the country. Meanwhile, Dubai-based Emirates Airlines cancelled operations to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran, following Tehran’s decision to close its airspace.
Oil markets reacted swiftly, with the Brent crude benchmark surging nearly 9% to $75.37. Despite the escalation, Iran’s state-run Oil Refining and Distribution Company reported no damage to refineries or storage facilities.
Israel’s military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced the mobilisation of tens of thousands of troops across all borders, signaling heightened military readiness.
Iran strongly condemned the Israeli strikes, calling them “cowardly,” and reiterated its stance on pursuing nuclear energy for civilian use. However, many Iranian citizens expressed a mix of anger, fear, and defiance, with some calling for retaliation and others hoping the attack might weaken Iran’s ruling clerics.
The incident occurs at a critical time, as nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran are set to resume in Oman on Sunday. The Islamic Republic remains a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), although the IAEA Board of Governors on Thursday found Iran in breach of its obligations ; the first such ruling in two decades.
In stark contrast, Israel is not a party to the NPT and is widely believed to possess the only nuclear arsenal in the region.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi condemned the Israeli action and accused it of violating international law. “At a time when diplomacy was within reach, this new escalation jeopardizes peace in the region,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
In Washington, President Trump convened the National Security Council, reiterating hopes for a peaceful outcome while noting that an Israeli strike “could very well happen.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the U.S. was not involved in the operation and that Israel acted independently.
A U.S. intelligence source told reporters there was no new evidence that Iran had resumed its nuclear weapons program, and that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei had not authorized any such move since the program’s suspension in 2003.
With U.S.-Iran nuclear talks imminent, regional stability hangs in the balance. Analysts warn that without diplomatic breakthroughs, further conflict may be unavoidable.
