Iran has condemned a wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting its nuclear facilities and senior officials as a “declaration of war,” raising fears of a broader regional conflict. The strikes, which reportedly killed top military figures including Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri and Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami, mark a dramatic escalation in tensions between the two countries.
The Israeli military said it carried out the strikes on Friday, hitting approximately 100 locations, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Natanz. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the offensive as an assault on “the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme,” vowing that the operation would “continue as many days as it takes.”
In response, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that Israel would face a “bitter and painful” fate. The Iranian Armed Forces declared there were “no limits” to its retaliation, accusing Israel of crossing “all red lines.”
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed the sentiment in a letter to the United Nations, labelling the attacks a “declaration of war” and urging the Security Council to intervene immediately.
Meanwhile, air traffic was suspended across the region. Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport shut down operations, while Iraq and Jordan closed their airspace. Gulf airlines also cancelled flights to and from Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. In Israel, a state of emergency was declared and airspace was also closed.
The conflict has already sent economic shockwaves, with global oil prices surging and stock markets sliding in reaction to the developments.
Trump: Israel Not Acting with US Involvement
Former US President Donald Trump confirmed that he was briefed ahead of the Israeli operation, telling Fox News that while he was not opposed to the strike, the United States was not directly involved. Trump reiterated that “Tehran cannot have a nuclear bomb,” and cautioned Iran against targeting American interests, warning Washington would hold it accountable for any fallout.
Trump also noted that the Israeli attack could either derail or advance nuclear negotiations. “I don’t want them going in, because I think it would blow it. Might help it actually, but it also could blow it,” he said, referring to talks that had been scheduled between US and Iranian officials in Oman.
Despite the strikes, Trump maintained hope for diplomatic progress, saying Washington was still “hoping to get back to the negotiating table.”
Global Reactions and Warnings
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran against retaliating by targeting American bases, reaffirming that the US played no part in the Israeli offensive.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Natanz was among the sites hit and said it was “closely monitoring” the situation. This came just a day after the IAEA issued a report accusing Iran of non-compliance with its nuclear obligations—claims Iran rejected as based on “forged documents” allegedly provided by Israel.
Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, slammed the IAEA resolution as “extremist,” and announced plans to launch a new uranium enrichment facility in a secure location. Tehran currently enriches uranium to 60% purity, well beyond the 3.67% limit under the 2015 nuclear deal, although still below the 90% level required for weapons-grade material.
Regional Fallout
The escalation comes against a backdrop of ongoing regional instability. Iran-backed Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering the Gaza conflict and prompting direct hostilities between Iran and Israel for the first time in decades. Israel is also confronting threats from other Iranian proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
As the situation unfolds, questions remain over the future of nuclear diplomacy and the risk of an all-out regional war.
AFP
