US watches as Iran, E3 talk on day 8 of Israeli strikes: what we know so far

Israel’s war against Iran entered its eighth day Friday, with mutual missile attacks continuing, diplomacy intensifying, and the fate of the underground Fordow nuclear site hanging in the air.

President Donald Trump is weighing a US strike, while Israel says it will act alone within days if necessary. Here's a brief summary of events leading to Friday.

Underground site in crosshairs

Trump is determined to disable Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility by force or diplomacy, CBS and Axios reported.
Trump will decide within two weeks whether to order a strike, the White House said Thursday.
Two Israeli security sources told Iran International that Israel will strike Fordow within 48–72 hours—with or without US support.
The Guardian reports Trump is unconvinced the GBU-57 bomb can destroy Fordow; Pentagon warned only a tactical nuke would guarantee success—something Trump is not considering.
CIA Director Ratcliffe reportedly described Iran as “on the one-yard line” of building a bomb.
NYT says Iran may seek a nuclear weapon if Fordow is hit or Khamenei is killed.

Israeli strikes continue

Israel targeted an industrial complex in Rasht and other targets in Gorgan
Satellite images confirmed heavy damage to Arak’s reactor dome.
Israeli officials’ remarks fueled the speculations that Israeli was poised to kill Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei
Netanyahu said regime change in Iran is up to its people, but could result from the war.
A building housing top officials was targeted in northern Tehran.

Iran vows to retaliate, launches more missiles

Khamenei appeared in a defiant video rejecting Trump’s calls to surrender, saying any US attack would cause “irreparable damage.”
Tehran warned of retaliation on US soil if Washington intervenes, but left door open to diplomacy
Iran reiterated it may pursue nuclear weapons if Khamenei is assassinated or Fordow is hit.
New salvos Thursday hit a major hospital in southern Israel
IRGC media reported attempts to mobilize Qom clerics for compromise with Israel.

Tehran shaken, losses mount

Rights groups say more than 300 have been killed in Iran, including nuclear scientists and IRGC members.
Strikes have hit almost every Tehran district, prompting mass flight.
Air defenses activated again Thursday night amid new Israeli strikes.
Targets included the Intelligence and Foreign ministries and key military sites.
Funerals and martyr posters are now common across the capital.

US prepares, denies offensive role

The USS Ford strike group and over 30 refueling tankers are in the region.
Satellite images show US military aircraft being removed from a base in Qatar.
Trump’s G7 exit and social media posts stirred speculation about imminent US action.

Diplomacy intensifies but stalls

US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s Abbas Araghchi have held multiple phone calls.
UK foreign minister to deliver US message to Iran in Geneva Friday; France and Germany joining.
UN chief Guterres welcomed the talks but said violence must end now.
Iran told Guterres it will keep fighting until the UN acts against Israel.
Hezbollah’s deputy chief said the group is “not neutral” and backs Iran.

Global fallout escalates

Russia evacuated nationals; Czechia closed its Tehran embassy.
Germany urged Israel to show restraint in military operations.
Oil prices spiked; Iran faces the worst internet blackout since 2019.
Iran threatened Israeli Channel 14 with military action.
Iran arrested over 160 people for alleged online support of Israel.
Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi called for a ceasefire and international peace push.