Explosions destroyed missile launch sites, military bases, and hospitals in Iran, while Netanyahu claimed to have suspended Persia’s nuclear program for years.
Israeli is expanding its military operation against Tehran five days after a surprise attack on an Iranian nuclear facility, while US President Donald Trump issued an urgent warning to citizens in the Persian capital. “Iran cannot have nuclear weapons,” Trump tweeted before cutting off his travel plans to the G7 summit in Canada. Israeli authorities ordered the evacuation of 330,000 people from central Tehran, a city of 10 million.
The fierce fighting has left hundreds dead.
Israeli attacks on military leaders, nuclear scientists, and enrichment plants have killed at least 224 people since Friday, according to official figures. Iran retaliated by firing more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones into Israeli territory, killing 24 and injuring more than 500. The Iranian military launched another offensive on Tuesday, with reports of explosions in northern Israel.
Human rights groups, such as human rights activists, have recorded more than 400 deaths, including 197 Iranian civilians, significantly higher than government reports. Iranian health officials reported 1,277 injured in the explosions. Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, despite accusations from Israel.
Netanyahu abandons Iran’s nuclear program.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the attacks have delayed Iran’s nuclear program “for a very long time” and that he remains in daily contact with Trump regarding the crisis. Israel attacked several nuclear facilities but failed to destroy the buried Fordow enrichment plant. The disposal of this facility would require a 14,000-kilogram GBU-57 nuclear bomb, a weapon exclusively possessed by the United States, to be delivered by B-2 bombers.
Defense Secretary Pete Hexeth traveled to the White House Situation Room to meet with his national security team. Trump denied that his early return from the G7 summit was to initiate a ceasefire, stating, “It’s much bigger than that,” without providing further details. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called for US intervention, writing, “One phone call from Washington would be enough to silence someone like Netanyahu.”
The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned that Iran possesses enough enriched uranium to produce multiple nuclear bombs if it chooses to do so. The United States maintains that Tehran has not undertaken any nuclear weapons development activities since 2003. The conflict shows no sign of de-escalating, as both countries remain unyielding on their nuclear programs.
