On Friday, June 13, 2025, Israel launched an unprecedented, large-scale military operation against Iran, targeting critical nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and key military personnel across the country. This offensive immediately triggered global alarm, leading to the temporary closure of Israeli embassies worldwide, widespread flight disruptions across the Middle East, and a significant surge in global oil prices, reflecting heightened fears of regional destabilization.

The Israeli military confirmed striking approximately 100 targets within Iran. The attacks resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian military officials, including General Mohammad Bagheri, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces responsible for overseeing the army, Revolutionary Guards, and the country’s ballistic missile program. Also killed was Hossein Salami, the Revolutionary Guards Commander, a veteran officer known for his strong rhetoric against Israel and the United States. Gholam-Ali Rashid, head of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, six Iranian nuclear scientists (among them Mohammad-Mehdi Tehranchi and Fereydoun Abbasi), and an unspecified number of civilians were also reported dead. Media images showed significant damage to residential areas in addition to military and nuclear sites. Israel justified its actions as part of a prolonged operation to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and to fend off what it described as a 'threat of annihilation'. Following Israel's strikes, its military reported that Iran launched approximately 100 drones towards Israeli territory, many of which were intercepted.

In response to the attacks, Iran immediately vowed swift and forceful retaliation, with the spokesperson for the Armed Forces’ General Staff, Abolfazl Shekarchi, stating that both the U.S. and Israel would pay a 'heavy price'. Tehran suspended all flights at Imam Khomeini International Airport and insisted that its nuclear program was for peaceful energy needs, not weapon development. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei condemned the attacks as a 'crime against Iran', warning of 'severe punishment' for Israel and promptly appointing new military commanders, including Abdolrahim Mousavi as the new chief of staff, Mohammad Pakpour as the IRGC’s new commander, and Ali Shadmani to lead the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

International reactions were immediate and varied, with many world leaders urging restraint. U.S. President Donald Trump, who was aware of the strikes beforehand, emphasized that 'Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb' and urged a return to the negotiating table, warning that future strikes would be 'even more brutal' if Tehran did not comply. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio distanced the U.S. from the attack, declaring it a 'unilateral action' by Israel and warning Iran not to target American interests or personnel. Trump later offered Iran a 'second chance' to make a nuclear deal. UN chief Antonio Guterres called for 'maximum restraint', expressing particular concern over the attacks on nuclear installations amidst ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations. China's foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian expressed deep worry and called for actions that promote regional peace and stability.

Leaders from France, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Kenya all echoed calls for de-escalation and dialogue, urging all parties to avoid further escalation. Russia condemned the 'serious escalation of tensions' and, having close ties with Iran, offered to mediate U.S. negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program. Turkey’s foreign ministry urged Israel to halt 'aggressive actions'. In contrast, the Czech Republic's Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky described the strikes as a 'reasonable reaction' given Iran's support for groups like Hezbollah and Hamas and its pursuit of nuclear capabilities. Hamas, the Iran-backed Palestinian militant group, condemned the Israeli aggression as a 'dangerous escalation'. Jordan closed its airspace, reaffirming it would not be a 'battleground'. Oman, a key mediator in U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, condemned the attack as a 'flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter', while Qatar also issued a 'strong condemnation'. Saudi Arabia described the Israeli attack as 'heinous'. Yemen's Huthi rebels backed Iran’s 'full and legitimate right' to develop its nuclear program and condemned the Israeli aggression.

The diplomatic ramifications were also evident at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). On June 12, 2025, just a day before the strikes, the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors, for the first time in two decades, censured Iran for its lack of cooperation regarding undeclared nuclear material and activities. This move raised the prospect of reporting Iran to the U.N. Security Council. Notably, Ghana, which chairs the IAEA board, abstained from this crucial vote, a move that disappointed Israel despite Ghana's conventional abstention as chair. Israel’s Ambassador to Ghana, Roey Gilad, expressed disappointment, highlighting the critical importance of the issue for Israel's future security.

The economic fallout included global oil prices jumping over 7%, with Brent crude reaching $74.85 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude hitting $73.61, marking their highest levels since January 2025. This surge was driven by fears of disruptions to Middle East oil supplies, although Iran confirmed its oil refining and storage facilities remained undamaged. Air travel across the region was severely impacted, with Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Syria closing their airspaces. Major airlines including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Air India, and Swiss either cancelled or rerouted numerous flights to and from Tel Aviv, Tehran, and other Middle East destinations, leading to widespread delays and cancellations at airports like Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The crisis is set against the backdrop of Iran's controversial nuclear program. Recent IAEA estimates suggest Iran could produce enough weapons-grade uranium for a nuclear bomb within a week. The current tensions are exacerbated by the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) under the Trump administration in 2018, which led to Iran gradually breaking its commitments. Oman continues to play a mediating role in ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear talks aimed at controlling uranium enrichment in Iran.

The deep-seated Israel-Iran conflict traces its origins to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which transformed Iran from a nominal ally of Israel into a staunch adversary. Iran’s extensive support for proxy groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza has been a continuous source of friction. Israel views Iran’s nuclear ambitions as an existential threat and has engaged in various countermeasures, including covert operations, assassinations, cyberattacks (like Stuxnet), and strikes on Iranian assets in Syria. Conversely, Iran has retaliated through its proxies and occasional direct missile attacks. Last year saw the first direct exchanges of fire between Iran and Israel, a precursor to this much larger wave of Israeli strikes, underscoring the escalating nature of their long-standing animosity.

As the situation remains highly fluid, global leaders continue to urge restraint amidst grave concerns over the potential for a wider, more devastating regional conflict, with the international community closely monitoring every development.