DUBAI: Indirect talks between the United States and Iran regarding Tehran’s nuclear program, which were scheduled to take place in Oman on Sunday, have been called off following a series of Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites.

This announcement was made by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi on social media on Saturday.

The escalation comes after Israel conducted significant military operations against Iranian targets, most notably an attack that reportedly impacted a natural gas processing plant in Iran’s South Pars field, marking a potential turning point in the conflict.

Reports from semi-official Iranian news sources indicated that an Israeli drone attack resulted in a substantial explosion at the gas facility.

The extent of the damage remains unclear, but this marks the first instance of an Israeli strike on Iran’s oil and gas infrastructure.

In response to the heightened military exchanges, Iranian officials have expressed a strong stance against continuing diplomatic discussions, calling the scheduled talks "unjustifiable" in the context of ongoing attacks.

Both Israel and Iran have indicated intentions for further military actions, continuing a cycle of retaliatory strikes that has caused significant regional tension.

Iran's leadership is currently faced with the dilemma of escalating conflict or pursuing a diplomatic route amid these developments.

The situation is compounded by Israel's ongoing military operations aimed at dismantling Hamas in Gaza, further destabilizing the region.

During the recent strikes, Israel claimed to have targeted sites linked to Iran’s nuclear endeavors, stating that its operations over two days had resulted in the deaths of nine senior Iranian nuclear scientists.

Iranian authorities reported that 78 individuals were killed and over 320 injured in the warfare that ensued, with Iran conducting retaliatory missile attacks on Israeli territory, resulting in casualties and significant damage.

The Israeli military confirmed that their defenses were activated, with reports of multiple missile interceptions.

However, there were civilian casualties reported, with three deaths and many injuries linked to the missile strikes.

An Israeli military official stated that the strikes were part of a broader operation targeting over 400 locations across Iran, particularly focusing on nuclear facilities and military research sites.

The Israeli strikes targeted critical sites including the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, which suffered extensive damage.

Satellite imagery indicated that several structures essential for the facility's operations were either destroyed or heavily damaged.

UN nuclear watchdog officials noted that while the underground centrifuge facility appeared intact, the loss of power might hinder its operations significantly.

Iran's state media reported extensive military responses in the form of drone and missile launches towards Israeli positions, indicating a commitment to retaliate against perceived aggressions.

In conjunction with the military actions, Iranian leaders have been vocal in their condemnation of Israel's strikes, asserting that they would not permit Israel to evade repercussions for what they termed "crimes" against Iran.

Despite international calls for de-escalation, both Israel and Iran remain entrenched in their respective military and political strategies, leaving the future of diplomatic negotiations uncertain.

The situation continues to escalate, with ramifications that could affect regional stability and international relations.