Iran has labeled Israel’s recent aerial attacks as a formal ‘declaration of war.’ This development follows earlier reports that the Israeli military targeted nearly 100 locations, including nuclear facilities, and terminated several senior personnel, among them the head of the armed forces and top-ranking nuclear scientists.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, cautioned Israel of a ‘bitter and painful’ fate in the wake of the attacks, whereas the Iranian military declared its intent for an unrestricted response. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appealed to the United Nations, characterizing Israel’s actions as a ‘declaration of war’ and urged the Security Council to promptly address the crisis.
President Donald Trump acknowledged his prior knowledge of the Israeli strikes, featuring approximately 200 fighter jets. Simultaneously, he reiterated that Tehran cannot have a nuclear bomb.’ In contrast, the United States emphasized its non-involvement in the Israeli action and forewarned Iran not to jeopardize its interests or personnel.”
This raises important questions about the future of Iran’s nuclear program, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s strikes at the ‘heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme.’ He suggested that the strikes would persist ‘as many days as it takes’ and indicated that intelligence reports suggested Iran was nearing the ‘point of no return’ with its nuclear plans.
The strikes resulted in the demise of Iran’s highest-ranking military officer, Mohammad Bagheri, and the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami. In response, Khamenei swiftly appointed new commanders while state media confirmed that a senior adviser to the supreme leader was also injured.
The strikes also resulted in civilian casualties and significant damage to infrastructure, including a residential building in Tehran. The subsequent fallout has led to a state of emergency in Israel and extensive disruption of air traffic across the region.
We should note that the ongoing conflict has had economic implications as well. Oil prices have surged, and stocks have plummeted in response to the Israeli strikes. This follows President Trump’s warning of a ‘massive conflict’ in the Middle East.
As we approach a potential sixth round of talks between the U.S. and Iran, the future of Iran’s nuclear program hangs in the balance. This situation is closely monitored by the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has previously accused Iran of non-compliance with its obligations.
Israel, backed by U.S. military and diplomatic support, perceives Iran as an existential threat. Since an unprecedented attack on Israel by Tehran-backed Hamas in October 2023, Israel has demonstrated less restraint in its response to perceived threats.