New Israel-Iran Conflict May Jeopardize Peace Talks; Trump Says Unaffected, He Makes All Decisions

(CNA, Jerusalem, 8th, Combined Foreign Reports) The Israeli military announced on Telegram today that its air force had attacked military targets belonging to a "terrorist regime" in western and central Iran. Iran's state television reported explosions in Tehran, Tabriz, and other locations. Iranian state media, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported explosions in Iranian cities including Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan. The IRGC stated that the Israeli military used "air-launched ballistic missiles" in the attack. US President Donald Trump said the new conflict between Israel and Iran will not affect peace talks between the US and Iran. Trump also stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is not the person who can decide things." Trump has been demanding that Israel stop attacks on Lebanon to leave room for reaching an agreement to end the war with Iran, and he reportedly used profanity to berate Netanyahu during a phone call on the matter. However, Israel earlier attacked the Beirut area, the first such attack since the US announced a ceasefire plan for Lebanon last week. Iran retaliated with a volley of missiles against Israeli targets, putting the US-Iran peace talks at risk of collapse. But Trump insisted that negotiations to end the large-scale war are still achievable. Trump told the Financial Times: "This will not have any impact on the peace talks. I am the decision-maker. I decide everything. He (Netanyahu) is not the person who can decide things." Five hours after Iran launched missiles at Israeli targets, Netanyahu had not yet made a public statement regarding the attack. (Editor: Qu Xiangping) 1150608