On the ninth day of the conflict, Iran has announced its 18th wave of aerial attacks using drones targeting Israeli military installations.

Iranian media have also reported that the country’s missile defense system shot down an Israeli drone over the city of Kashan in central Iran on Saturday.

In response, Israel confirmed carrying out heavy strikes on a military base in Shiraz, as well as missile facilities and nuclear sites in the cities of Qom and Isfahan.

Akbar Salehi, Deputy Governor of Isfahan, said: "Early Saturday the Zionist regime carried out strikes to some points in Lenjan, Mobarakeh, Shahreza and Isfahan. They caused damage to those locations. The attacks included two strikes against Isfahan nuclear site."

At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking at the opening of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Istanbul, stressed that negotiations with the U.S. are not possible under the current conditions.

He stated: "In order for us to come back to diplomacy the aggression should be stopped. It is obvious I cannot go to the negotiations with the United States when our people are under bombardment, under the support of the United States."

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated that Iran is seeking negotiations, though halting the war remains difficult.

He said: “I think it's very hard to make that request right now. If somebody is winning, it's a little bit harder to do, than if somebody is losing. But we're ready, willing and able and we've been speaking to Iran and we'll see what happens, we'll see what happens.''

In the meantime, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that Iran possesses enough nuclear material for several warheads, although there is no evidence it has produced a nuclear weapon.

Rafael Grossi stated: “We have confirmed that Iran does have, even now, enough material for several warheads, but this should not be equated with a nuclear weapon."

Russia has once again called for a political solution to prevent a nuclear confrontation between Iran and Israel.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said: “Particularly given Israel's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities containing radioactive materials. Russia's task is to steer the settlement of this conflict back toward political and diplomatic channels.”

According to official figures, at least 639 people have been killed in Iran and 24 in Israel since the start of the conflict.