Fears of protracted conflict as Iran, Israel continue to exchange strikes

Israel unleashed airstrikes across Iran for a third day on Sunday and threatened even greater force as some Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defences to strike buildings in the heart of the country.

- Agencies

DUBAI/TEHRAN:

Planned talks on Iran's nuclear programme, which could provide an off-ramp, were cancelled.

The region braced for a protracted conflict after Israel's surprise bombardment of Iran's nuclear and military sites on Friday killed several top generals and nuclear scientists, and neither side showed any sign of backing down.

Iran said Israel struck two oil refineries, raising the prospect of a broader assault on Iran's heavily sanctioned energy industry that could affect global markets.

The Israeli military, in a social media post, warned Iranians to evacuate arms factories, signalling what could be a further widening of the campaign. Around noon local time, explosions were heard again in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

US President Donald Trump has expressed full support for Israel's actions while warning Iran that it can only avoid further destruction by agreeing to a new nuclear deal.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that if the Israeli strikes on Iran stop, then "our responses will also stop". He said the United States "is a partner in these attacks and must take responsibility".