Iran Rules Out Nuclear Talks While Under Attack by Israel

Qatar Holds Crisis Talks With Energy Majors Over Increasing Risks to Global Gas Supply

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Iran said on June 20 that it would not discuss the future of its nuclear programme while under attack by Israel, as Europe tried to coax Tehran back into negotiations and the US considers whether to get involved in the conflict.

A week into its campaign, Israel said it had struck dozens of military targets overnight, including missile production sites, a research body involved in nuclear weapons development in Tehran, and military facilities in western and central Iran.

Iran fired missiles at the southern Israeli city of Beersheba early on June 20, and Israeli media said initial reports pointed to missile impacts in Tel Aviv, the Negev and Haifa after further attacks hours later.

About 20 missiles were fired in the latest strikes, an Israeli military official said, and at least two people were hurt, according to the Israeli ambulance service.

Fars news agency quoted an Iranian military spokesman as saying the latest missile and drone attacks used long-range and ultra-heavy missiles that targeted military sites, defence industries, and command and control centres.

In a sign of increasing concern about any strikes on energy facilities in Iran or elsewhere in the Gulf that could affect supplies, Qatar held crisis talks this week with energy majors, an industry source and a diplomat in the region told Reuters.

Doha was asking companies to raise US, UK and European governments' awareness of increasing risks to global gas supply, they said. QatarEnergy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.