In sweeping attacks that started early Friday, Israel has struck at the regime in Tehran, targeting Iranian nuclear and military assets. The Israeli strikes have killed more than 70 people, including four top security chiefs, and damaged Iran’s main nuclear site at Natanz.

Tehran said American bases in the Middle East could face reprisals if the U.S. helped repel Iranian attacks on Israel.

Interviews with half a dozen senior Iranian officials show that they were not expecting Israel to strike before another round of talks

Iran's top diplomat said Saturday that talks with the United States were "unjustifiable" after Israeli strikes on his country.

Iranian officials have repeatedly denied seeking a nuclear weapon. The United States and Iran have held five rounds of negotiations toward achieving an agreement that would limit Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, with a sixth round of talks scheduled for Sunday.

Iran and Israel continued trading missiles and airstrikes on June 14, a day after Israel launched a sweeping air offensive against its old enemy.

The United States is the main international backer of Israel, Iran's biggest regional foe. It is also a close ally of Sunni Gulf monarchies which for years pursued their own rivalry with the Islamic Republic, seeing it as their main regional threat.

Israel's initial assault used warplanes and drones to hit key facilities and kill top generals and scientists.

The United States has pulled some diplomatic staff and military families out of the Middle East, citing unspecified regional security risks.

Israel’s leader and President Trump appeared to bet they can persevere, but other world leaders warned of unintended outcomes in a volatile region.