Doha

In a renewed effort to ease mounting tensions in West Asia, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss mediation efforts and the rapidly evolving regional security situation, according to an official statement issued by the Qatari government.

The two leaders reviewed ongoing mediation initiatives involving the United States and Iran and exchanged views on recent developments across the region, including the situation in Lebanon. The Qatari statement noted that the discussion focused on diplomatic avenues aimed at reducing tensions and preventing further escalation.

During the conversation, Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed Qatar's support for initiatives intended to contain the conflict and encourage a broader agreement capable of enhancing regional security and delivering lasting peace.

At the same time, tensions in the region continued to intensify. Yemen's armed forces claimed responsibility for a new strike targeting what they described as a sensitive Israeli site in occupied Jaffa. According to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, Yemeni military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced that the operation had been carried out amid the widening confrontation in West Asia.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also said its Aerospace Force had launched a fresh phase of military operations against key Israeli air force installations. Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency reported that the offensive, dubbed "Operation Nasr," targeted areas within the Nevatim and Tel Nof air bases, both considered strategically important to Israel's military capabilities.

The IRGC described the operation as retaliation for recent Israeli strikes on Iranian radar facilities at three separate locations. In an official statement, it said its aerospace units had initiated the attack "with trust in Almighty God," targeting critical sections of the Israeli bases.

The reported strikes followed Israeli military operations against Iranian infrastructure. The Israeli military confirmed carrying out airstrikes on a petrochemical complex in Mahshahr in southwestern Iran, a region significant for the country's energy sector. In a post on X, the Israeli military stated that several targets within the complex had been hit, adding that further details would be released after assessments of the damage were completed.

The confrontation extended into Israeli territory as air raid sirens sounded across central and southern parts of the country. The Israeli Air Force said its defence systems were activated after missiles were launched from Iran toward Israel.

Emergency alerts were issued through Israel's Home Front Command, advising residents to move into protected areas. The seriousness of the situation was underscored by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who posted on X that he was sheltering in a bunker while hearing explosions overhead, expressing hope that the sounds were from successful interceptions.

The latest hostilities come after an earlier ceasefire arrangement collapsed. Iran launched missile attacks on Israel following Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions in Beirut's southern suburbs, despite calls from Washington to avoid further escalation.

Following those exchanges, the IRGC warned that any further retaliation could broaden the conflict to include American and Israeli interests throughout the region, mentioning potential targets in Lebanon, along Iran's coastline, and around the Strait of Hormuz.

The warning prompted reactions from regional groups, including the Iraqi militia Kata'ib Hezbollah, which declared that any direct US involvement would result in attacks on American bases and interests in Iraq and elsewhere in the region.

The renewed violence has cast uncertainty over diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the conflict, which began on February 28. The escalation threatens ongoing efforts by US President Donald Trump to broker a comprehensive nuclear agreement with Tehran.

Trump has publicly urged restraint from both Iran and Israel while attempting to keep negotiations on track. In media interviews, he expressed frustration that military action had disrupted what he believed were promising diplomatic developments.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump said a deal had appeared imminent before the latest escalation. Addressing Iran's leadership, he urged them to return to negotiations, saying, "You've shot your missiles, that's enough. Get back to the table and make a deal."

According to Axios, Trump also spoke directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Iran's initial missile barrage in an effort to prevent the conflict from widening further. He reportedly downplayed the impact of the Iranian strikes in hopes of discouraging an Israeli response.

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In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump suggested that Netanyahu would eventually have to support any agreement reached between Washington and Tehran, stating that continued retaliation would only prolong the cycle of conflict.