A missile strike on an industrial area in the central Iranian city of Isfahan has killed at least 15 people, with workers reportedly inside a factory at the time of the attack. According to the semi-official Fars news agency, the strike hit a factory producing heating and cooling equipment on Saturday, a working day in Iran, and the agency attributed the attack to US and Israeli forces.
The Iranian Ministry of Health states that the conflict, which began with US-Israeli attacks on February 28, has now killed at least 1,444 people and wounded more than 18,500. Cities across Iran have been repeatedly targeted, including a March 8 shelling that damaged Russia’s consulate in Isfahan and injured staff.
Iran’s Ministry of Culture reported on Saturday that 56 museums and historic sites had been damaged, including Naqsh-e Jahan Square, a 17th-century centerpiece of Isfahan, and the UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace in Tehran. UNESCO expressed "deep concern," noting that four of Iran’s 29 World Heritage Sites had been affected.
Separately, Iran’s army confirmed that Brigadier General Abdullah Jalali-Nasab was killed in an Israeli attack, stating he was "martyred while defending the country." Additionally, US forces struck Kharg Island, which handles roughly 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports, though a regional official claimed operations were continuing normally with no casualties.
Prospects for negotiations appear remote. The Trump administration has rebuffed regional efforts to broker a ceasefire, with a senior White House official telling Reuters that the president is allegedly focused on pressing ahead. Iran has equally ruled out talks while attacks continue, according to Reuters, citing an anonymous Iranian official.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi struck a defiant tone on Saturday, saying the US security framework in the region had "proven to be full of holes" and calling on neighbors to "expel foreign aggressors." Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the war was entering a "decisive phase" that would "continue as long as necessary." Iran launched new missile salvoes at Israel on Saturday, with explosions heard over Jerusalem, according to AFP reporters. The Israeli army reported six waves of missiles, some carrying cluster bomb warheads, striking wide areas, and in Eilat, a cluster munition impact injured three people, including a 12-year-old boy.
Source: www.aljazeera.com