Israel says operations in Iran “will escalate and expand” as Trump pushes for deal to end the war

Israel launched a new wave of strikes on Iran and threatened on Friday that its attacks “will escalate and expand” after President Trump claimed talks on ending the war were “going very well” and gave Tehran more time to open the Strait of Hormuz, though there have been no signs of Iran backing down.

The United States has offered Iran a 15-point proposal for a ceasefire that includes it relinquishing control of the strait, but at the same time has ordered thousands more troops to the region — possibly in preparation for a military attempt to wrest the waterway from Iran’s tight grip.

Air raid sirens sounded in Israel, meanwhile, as the military said it was working to intercept Iranian missiles in what has been a daily occurrence. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said Iran “will pay heavy, increasing prices for this war crime.”

“Despite the warnings, the firing continues,” Katz said. “And therefore attacks in Iran will escalate and expand to additional targets and areas that assist the regime in building and operating weapons against Israeli citizens.”

Israel’s military said its attack on Friday targeted sites “in the heart of Tehran” used by Iran to produce ballistic missiles and other weapons. It also hit missile launchers and storage sites in western Iran.