"Fire engulfs Tehran" - Escalation of the conflict intensifies
Things are heating up between Israel and Iran, with the war over Iran's nuclear program intensifying rapidly. Israel has launched multiple air strikes against the Islamic Republic, primarily targeting Iran's nuclear facilities.
Reports from Tehran suggest explosions near the airport and a luxury hotel, with Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, writing on the X platform, "Tehran is burning." The ongoing military operation, according to sources, will last "weeks, not days."
The casualties are mounting. In Israeli counter-strikes, at least 13 people have been killed, and 370 injured. In Iran, dozens have been killed, and hundreds more injured. Videos on social media show thick smoke over Tehran, and in some neighborhoods, the water supply has been cut off. Residents have reported air strikes on government buildings and infrastructure, and a hotel was also hit.
Israeli President Izchak Herzog describes the fight against Iran as defense not just of his country, but of the Middle East, humanity itself, and world peace. The president reiterates Israel’s goal is to change the reality in the Middle East.
Multiple Targets on Israel's List
A military representative claims Israel still has a comprehensive list of targets in Iran. In the past night alone, the military attacked about 80 targets. Among them were the headquarters of the Iranian Defense Ministry, a state-owned nuclear research organization, and even parts of an oil depot in northwest Tehran.
Iran Confirms More General Deaths
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have reported the death of six more generals. High-ranking military commanders, including the powerful Revolutionary Guards commander Hussein Salami and Chief of General Staff Mohammed Bagheri, were among the casualties.
Since Friday night, Israel has attacked targets in Iran, including nuclear facilities, military figures, scientists, defense positions, urban targets, and oil and gas fields.
US's Role: Bombs and Bases
In light of the heaviest attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, the US is Israel's most important ally and has both the heavy bunker-buster bombs and the necessary bombers within striking distance of Iran. If the Iranian uranium enrichment facility in Fordo, located about 100 kilometers southwest of the Iranian capital Tehran, continues to operate, the goal of "eliminating" Iran's nuclear program would be missed, according to a US news site.
President Trump has called on Iran to reach a deal around its nuclear program, but talks between Iran and the US, as Israel's most important ally, have been cancelled due to the military escalation. Trump believes he can easily achieve a deal between Iran and Israel and end this bloody conflict!!!
Question Marks Over Iran's Cooperation with IAEA
Iran apparently does not want to continue its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna in its current form. The deputy foreign minister, Kasem Gharibabadi, stated that it is absurd that the agency remains silent about attacks on peaceful facilities.
The UN agency has so far monitored Iran's nuclear program, but according to its findings, the attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities have not yet resulted in increased radiation levels outside the respective areas.
Remember, the historical evolution of US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict dates back to the 1960s, with the Atoms for Peace program providing Iran with the Tehran Research Reactor. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, US-Iran relations collapsed, and Iran’s nuclear ambitions became a core concern for both the US and Israel. Diplomatic negotiations led to sanctions and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) under President Obama, but President Trump withdrew the US from the JCPOA and reinstated harsh sanctions. As Iran’s nuclear program has advanced, Israel has targeted Iranian nuclear scientists and facilities through covert operations—actions sometimes suspected of having US intelligence support, though rarely confirmed publicly. The US has provided Israel with missile defense systems (like Iron Dome and Arrow) and has frequently assisted in intercepting Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting Israel. In recent years, the US has played a direct role in defending Israel from Iranian missile attacks, notably intercepting incoming projectiles as part of a US-led coalition during major Iranian strikes.
- The ongoing military operation between Israel and Iran, primarily focused on Iran's nuclear program, has expanded to include targets such as the Iranian Defense Ministry, a state-owned nuclear research organization, and parts of an oil depot in Tehran.
- The United States, a crucial ally of Israel, possesses the heavy bunker-buster bombs and necessary bombers to strike Iran, making it a potentially crucial player in the escalating conflict if Iran's uranium enrichment facility at Fordo continues its operations, potentially jeopardizing the goal of "eliminating" Iran's nuclear program.
