On the night of June 12, Israel launched a preemptive strike against Iran. In the operation codenamed “Operation Lion’s Rise,” the Israel Defense Forces deployed 200 fighter jets and dropped more than 330 munitions, targeting over 100 locations within Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the objective of the operation was Iran’s nuclear facilities. In a pre-recorded video address released during the Israeli offensive, Netanyahu stated: “Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Lion’s Rise — a targeted military campaign aimed at eliminating the existential threat posed by Iran.”
Netanyahu said the operation would “last several days.” In his address, he claimed: “The Iranian regime now possesses enough enriched uranium to build nine nuclear weapons. We have struck the core of Iran’s nuclear weapons program. We targeted the main uranium enrichment facility in Natanz. We targeted the nuclear scientists working on atomic bombs. We also struck the core of Iran’s ballistic missile program.”
In a signed analysis published on June 13 on The Times of Israel website, the question “Why a preemptive strike?” was addressed. The assessment by Israeli security chiefs held that Iran’s nuclear program — from a regime that openly seeks Israel’s destruction — had advanced to a threatening stage.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and several far-right cabinet ministers described the strike as a “defining moment” in Jewish and Israeli history. Gallant said in his statement: “We are at a critical juncture. If we miss this opportunity, we will not be able to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons that threaten our survival.”
Iran’s Military and Nuclear Capabilities Devastated
The attack dealt a significant blow to Iran’s military and nuclear capacities. Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces issued a statement confirming that Chief of the General Staff Mohammad Bagheri, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Hossein Salami, Deputy Commander Ali Rashid, along with a number of scientists and innocent civilians, were killed in Israel’s offensive.
Iranian state broadcaster IRINN reported the death of former national security chief Ali Shamkhani and confirmed the deaths of at least six nuclear scientists. According to IRNA, among the deceased were Mohammad Mehdi Dehlanchi, a senior nuclear safety expert with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), and former AEOI head Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani. Israel’s airstrikes on residential areas in Tehran reportedly killed 78 people and injured 329.
Hossein Salami was one of Iran’s most powerful and influential figures, born in 1960 and serving as IRGC commander since 2019. Mohammad Bagheri held the highest military rank in the country, and Ali Shamkhani was a close advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, having served nearly a decade as Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Khamenei delivered a national address, warning that Israel would face “severe punishment” for the attack. He accused Israel of committing crimes “at dawn” by striking civilian areas and declared: “This crime has sealed a painful fate for the Zionist regime — it will undoubtedly face the consequences.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry blamed Washington for aiding Israel’s assault. “Without the coordination and authorization of the United States, the Zionist regime could not have carried out such aggression. As the primary supporter of this regime, the U.S. government must also bear responsibility for the dangerous consequences of this reckless escalation.”
Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi warned that both the U.S. and Israel would “pay a heavy price.” On the afternoon of June 13 (Beijing time), the Israeli military stated that Iran had launched over 100 drones toward Israeli territory. Israel declared a nationwide state of emergency.
In response, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that the United States did not participate in the Israeli operation and noted that Israel had “informed” the U.S., viewing the strike as an act of self-defense. Rubio added: “Let me be clear: Iran must not target American interests or personnel.”
On June 13, Fox News reported that former President Donald Trump told its reporters he had prior knowledge of Israel’s plans but stressed that the U.S. military had not been involved. He reiterated his hope that Iran would return to the negotiating table on its nuclear program: “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb. We want to return to negotiations. Let’s see what happens.”
Trump warned Iran on social media the same day that the next strike would be “even more devastating” and insisted that Iran must reach a nuclear agreement with the U.S. before facing total destruction. He wrote that Iran had been given “chance after chance” to strike a deal and warned that if an agreement wasn’t reached, Iran would suffer consequences “far beyond anything they know, expect, or have been told,” highlighting the destructive capabilities of American-made military equipment — much of which is in Israel’s hands.
Since April, the U.S. and Iran held five rounds of indirect talks on April 12, 19, 26, May 11, and May 23. However, the talks eventually stalled. A sixth round was originally scheduled for June 15 in Oman.
Latest reports indicate that Iran has officially withdrawn from nuclear negotiations with the United States.
Natanz Nuclear Facility Hit
Iran’s key nuclear facility in Natanz was among the sites struck in the Israeli attack. Footage from Iranian outlet Press TV showed plumes of black smoke rising from the site. The extent of the damage remains unclear, but Iranian officials stated there was no risk of a nuclear leak.
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed that the Natanz enrichment facility had been damaged in the attack, though details were not disclosed.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) posted on platform X that it was “closely monitoring the deeply concerning situation in Iran.”
Nuclear Talks Had Already Stalled
Even before “Operation Lion’s Rise,” many anticipated renewed conflict in the volatile Middle East.
First, the nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran were making little progress. Prior to the April talks, Trump declared a two-month deadline for a new agreement and simultaneously ordered additional military deployments to the Middle East as a contingency if diplomacy failed. He also imposed new sanctions on individuals and entities linked to Iran’s nuclear and oil sectors.
France, the UK, and Germany warned Iran that failure to reach an agreement by the end of June would prompt them to invoke the “snapback” sanctions mechanism, reinstating UN penalties.
On April 12, the U.S. and Iran held indirect talks in Muscat, Oman — their first official negotiation since the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in May 2018. U.S. envoy Steve Vitkov led the American delegation; Iran was represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Reports indicated that the two sides used Oman as an intermediary, occupying separate rooms and exchanging messages via the Omani Foreign Minister. However, Trump reportedly disliked this indirect format and pushed for face-to-face talks.
Subsequent rounds of talks saw continued sparring, but progress on core issues stalled. The U.S. demanded Iran halt all enrichment and dismantle its centrifuges, while Iran insisted on its right under the NPT to low-level enrichment.
After the fifth round on May 25, sources said some progress had been made. The U.S. proposed a plan allowing low-level enrichment while establishing detailed safeguards to prevent weaponization. The proposal included U.S. assistance in building nuclear reactors and discussions about a multinational consortium managing enrichment facilities. In return, Iran would halt enrichment on its soil.
Iran strongly opposed the proposal. Araghchi declared on June 10: “We don’t need anyone’s permission to enrich uranium.”
On June 11, Khamenei responded publicly, saying that if Iran couldn’t enrich uranium long-term, “building nuclear power plants would be meaningless.” He described the U.S. offer as an attempt to suppress Iran’s nuclear industry and self-reliance.
Araghchi later posted that new talks were scheduled for June 15 and that a deal was possible — but only if Iran’s enrichment rights under IAEA oversight were preserved and sanctions lifted.
In a June 11 interview with the New York Post, Trump expressed growing pessimism: “I used to think we could stop their enrichment. Now I’m not so sure. They seem to be stalling. I’ve lost a lot of confidence in a deal.”
Israel, Iran’s long-time adversary, had warned throughout the negotiation period that if talks failed, it would strike Iran’s nuclear sites.
On May 30, CNN reported that Israeli intelligence indicated preparations for such a strike, including aerial drills and munitions movements. Israeli and U.S. sources said military action would follow either a failed or unsatisfactory U.S.-Iran deal.
On June 9, Trump held a 40-minute call with Netanyahu urging restraint, saying a deal was still possible. Netanyahu responded that Iran was stalling and needed credible military pressure.
Axios reported on June 5 that Israel had told the White House it would not attack unless Trump confirmed negotiations had failed.
By June 11, Trump announced a U.S. withdrawal from the Middle East, citing increasing regional dangers.
The UK Maritime Trade Organization also advised vessels to exercise caution in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman due to escalating tensions.
Iran’s Response and Escalation Risks
Facing threats from the U.S. and Israel, Iran responded forcefully.
Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned on June 11 that if talks failed, Iran would strike U.S. bases across the Middle East: “They’ve threatened conflict. If war is imposed on us… every U.S. military base in the region is within our reach.”
On June 12, Chief of Staff Bagheri ordered additional military exercises. Earlier this year, Iran conducted large-scale drills across the country involving missiles, drones, warships, special forces, and underground bases. Iran claimed it had built strike capabilities to retaliate immediately against Israeli attacks on its nuclear sites.
CBS reported on June 12 that U.S. officials had been aware of Israel’s military preparations. The U.S. anticipated Iranian retaliation, including attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, prompting earlier warnings to American citizens to leave the region.
A U.S. defense official confirmed that the State Department ordered the evacuation of non-essential personnel from Iraq and authorized voluntary departure of military families from Middle Eastern bases — signaling the likelihood of an Israeli strike.
IAEA Resolution and the Nuclear Question
On June 12, the same day as the Israeli strike, the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution — submitted by the U.S., UK, France, and Germany — citing Iran’s non-compliance with nuclear obligations and potentially providing legitimacy for Israel’s actions.
The resolution was based on a May 31 IAEA report revealing Iran had over 400 kg of 60% enriched uranium, enough to produce 10 nuclear bombs if enriched to 90%.
Netanyahu said: “The intelligence shows that inaction would be too risky. We cannot leave these threats to future generations.”
The IAEA resolution noted that since 2019, Iran had failed to cooperate on undeclared nuclear materials and activities at several sites — marking the first such resolution in 20 years.
Iran responded with a joint statement from its Foreign Ministry and AEOI, rejecting the resolution as politically motivated and stating it would begin enriching uranium at a new secure site using advanced equipment.
Enriched uranium is central to nuclear weapons production. Uranium-235, needed for fission, comprises just 0.7% of natural uranium and must be enriched to higher levels for use. Civilian reactors require 3–5% enrichment; weapons-grade uranium must exceed 90%.
Reaching 60% purity is a critical step toward weaponization. Experts warn it can be converted to weapons-grade levels within days.
Iran’s nuclear ambitions date back to the 1950s, originally supported by the U.S. Iran signed the NPT in 1970, pledging not to develop nuclear weapons. After 1979, its nuclear program stalled before resuming in the 1990s with Russian help. Secret facilities were exposed in 2002, triggering international concern and UN sanctions in 2006.
Years of negotiations followed, culminating in the 2015 JCPOA — limiting Iran’s enrichment and requiring strict IAEA oversight in exchange for sanctions relief.
Trump unilaterally withdrew in 2018, calling the deal “a giant fiction.” Biden sought to rejoin in 2021, but negotiations eventually failed.
Since 2019, Iran has steadily breached the JCPOA, increasing uranium stockpiles and enrichment, and advancing centrifuge technology. IAEA also detected nuclear materials at undeclared sites.
October 2025 is considered a pivotal moment, when JCPOA restrictions on missile technology expire and UN snapback sanctions become invalid.
Israel has long worked to obstruct Iran’s nuclear progress, including alleged assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists since 2007 — operations Tehran blames on Israel.
With Trump back in office in 2025, nuclear talks resumed. The New York Times reported on February 3 that Iran was both seeking negotiations and accelerating a “quick and dirty” path to weapons.