An unprecedented Israel Iran nuclear strike unfolded early Friday, June 13, 2025, as Israel launched a preemptive operation codenamed “Rising Lion,” targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities and military infrastructure. The strikes hit uranium enrichment sites in Natanz, Khondab, and Khorramabad, killing key Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran condemned the Israel Iran nuclear strike as a “reckless violation” of international norms, vowing a “crushing” retaliation that could plunge the Middle East into conflict.
Operation Rising Lion: A Preemptive Israel Iran Nuclear Strike
At 3:00 AM local time, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) executed three waves of the Israel Iran nuclear strike, deploying dozens of Israeli Air Force (IAF) jets to hit Iran’s nuclear and military targets. Intelligence indicated Iran was nearing the “point of no return,” with enough enriched uranium for up to 15 nuclear weapons within days. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the Israel Iran nuclear strike targeted “the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment and weaponization programs” to prevent an existential threat. The operation killed IRGC commander Hossein Salami, armed forces chief Mohammad Bagheri, and nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, while injuring senior official Ali Shamkhani.
The Mossad’s covert sabotage of Iran’s air defenses facilitated the Israel Iran nuclear strike, exposing Tehran’s military vulnerabilities. Defense Minister Israel Katz declared a national state of emergency, anticipating missile and drone retaliation from Iran following the Israel Iran nuclear strike.
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Iran’s Vow of Retaliation
Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces, in a 9:18 AM IST statement, reported civilian casualties, including women and children, and military losses from the Israel Iran nuclear strike on Tehran and other regions. Condemning the “vile Zionist enemy,” Iran promised a “lethal” response under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s command. Brig. Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi warned that Israel and the U.S. would face a “forceful slap” for the Israel Iran nuclear strike, while Khamenei vowed “harsh punishment.” State media described “massive flames” and “repeated blasts” in affected areas. Iran closed its airspace and convened its leadership to plan a counterstrike.
The Israel Iran nuclear strike, timed days before U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman, appears aimed at derailing diplomacy. Iran’s weakened military, following October 2024 strikes and losses of proxies like Hezbollah, may constrain its immediate response but intensifies domestic calls for vengeance.
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Global Fallout from the Israel Iran Nuclear Strike
The United States, notified of the Israel Iran nuclear strike in advance, denied involvement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense, while President Trump warned Iran against targeting U.S. interests, noting the Israel Iran nuclear strike averted a “massive conflict.” The U.S. evacuated nonessential personnel from Iraq and strengthened regional defenses. The UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting, and the International Atomic Energy Agency, which found Iran non-compliant with nuclear obligations on June 12, 2025, is assessing damage from the Israel Iran nuclear strike. Oil prices surged amid escalation fears.
European leaders urged de-escalation, while Saudi Arabia and Turkey monitored the fallout from the Israel Iran nuclear strike. U.S. intelligence, unlike Israel’s, has not confirmed Iran was imminently developing a nuclear bomb, revealing differing threat assessments.
Roots of the Israel Iran Nuclear Strike
The Israel-Iran conflict, rooted in Iran’s post-1979 anti-Israel stance, centers on Tehran’s nuclear program, viewed by Israel as an existential threat. Iran’s 60% uranium enrichment and advanced centrifuges, deemed non-compliant by the IAEA, heightened concerns. Israel’s 2018 Mossad operation exposed Iran’s secret AMAD Project, fueling distrust. The Israel Iran nuclear strike follows October 2024 attacks on Iran’s air defenses, marking a dramatic escalation.
Bracing for Impact
Israel remains on high alert post the Israel Iran nuclear strike, with schools closed, flights grounded, and shelters opened. Preemptive sirens sounded, and the IDF prepared for Iranian counterattacks. Iran’s response, whether direct or via proxies, could spark a regional war. The Interview Times will provide real-time updates as the fallout from the Israel Iran nuclear strike unfolds, capturing a crisis that could reshape the Middle East.