France’s Macron urges Iran to return to talks

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Friday he is heading to Geneva for nuclear talks with Iran, urging Tehran to demonstrate “serious willingness” to renounce weapons-grade enrichment and include its missile program in negotiations.

“This requires Iran's serious willingness to renounce any enrichment of nuclear material, which could lead to nuclear weaponization. This also requires that the missile program can be included. If this serious willingness exists, then the consequence on our part will also be that we are prepared to hold further talks.”

Speaking ahead of his departure, Wadephul said, “The ball is now in Iran’s court,” adding that Germany remains committed to Israel’s security, which he called part of the country’s “raison d’être.”

“But the ball is now in Iran's court and Israel can rely on Germany to always keep an eye on and defend the security and existence of the Israeli state. That is part of our raison d'être, and that is also my guiding principle in today's talks.”

An Israeli rocket struck a hospital in Tehran early Friday, a spokesperson for Iran’s health ministry said, according to state media.

The official did not name the hospital.

The spokesperson said it was the third hospital targeted since the start of the conflict and added that six ambulances and a primary healthcare center had also been hit.

Qatar’s foreign minister on Friday condemned Israel’s targeting of Iran’s economic facilities, calling the actions “dangerous,” according to an official statement.

Israeli media reported Friday that initial assessments suggest a nuclear scientist was killed in an Israeli strike on Tehran.

According to Iran’s Shargh daily, informed sources said the target of the explosion in Tehran’s Gisha district Friday noon was indeed a nuclear scientist.

Israel hit a residential building in the Gisha district, damaging several buildings.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday that Israel must strike at "all regime symbols" and its "mechanisms of oppression" and aims to destabilize the Iranian government.

He added that he has instructed the military to escalate attacks on such targets in Tehran as the conflict between the two countries deepens.