On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a large-scale military offensive called Operation Rising Lion. Israeli airstrikes targeted key nuclear and military sites in Tehran and Isfahan, including the Natanz nuclear facility. The attacks resulted in the deaths of several senior Iranian officials, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Major General Hossein Salami, and prominent nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained that the strikes were necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. He claimed Iran had already enriched enough uranium to pose a serious threat and accused the country of moving forward with its nuclear ambitions.
Iran strongly denounced the airstrikes and vowed to retaliate. Officials also announced the opening of a third uranium enrichment site and insisted the country would continue its nuclear program despite growing international pressure. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had recently censured Iran for failing to meet its nuclear obligations, a move not taken in over two decades.
The United States responded with concern, warning that tensions could spiral into a broader conflict. President Donald Trump emphasized the need for diplomacy but acknowledged that an Israeli strike was a likely outcome given Iran’s ongoing nuclear activities.
Operation Rising Lion represents a serious escalation in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Iran, raising fears of further instability in the Middle East and putting diplomatic efforts at greater risk.
