Israel launches “preventive” attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities after country ignored UN warnings about nuclear program. Iran says action is “declaration of war.”
What do you need to know
Israel launched an unprecedented attack on Iran at dawn on Friday (13/06), with the aim of dismantling its nuclear facilities, killing at least three of the country’s military chiefs and six high-ranking nuclear scientists. The offensive was announced as the beginning of an extended operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic bomb.
Iran called the action “Declaration of War” and retaliated with the release of over 100 drones towards the Israeli territory. According to the Israeli army, “all defense systems are working to eliminate threats.”
The new wave of attacks has generated fears that tensions between rivals, strongly armed, become a large -scale war in the Middle East.
The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (AIEA) warned of the risk of “radioactive release with serious consequences” after Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and appealed to those involved in the conflict to exert “maximum containment”.
US President Donald Trump took the opportunity to press Iran to seal a nuclear deal with the United States “before it’s too late.”
“For Iran, direct military conflict with the US would be a risky contract”
Iran has spread its nuclear facilities in various places, some of which in underground bunkers, which makes them more difficult.
A scholar from the country at the University of Southern Florida, Arman Mahmoudian explains that, for domestic political reasons, Tehran tends to react in case of attack. “Iran feels compelled to send at least a clear yet limited signal to avoid other attacks. Israel, in turn, could expand its operations and reach the energy and oil infrastructure in order to increase pressure on Tehran,” Mahmoudian told DW.
Iran’s first reaction to the dawn attacks on Friday was firing more than 100 drones against Israel-all intercepted, according to Israeli military.
The United States, although admitted to being informed about the attack on Iran, claim that they were not involved.
“For now, Iran did not want to be dragged on a direct military conflict with the US, which would be an extremely risky venture,” points out Mahmoudian. “But there is a difference between mere US support to Israel and active involvement in a war against Iran.”
To completely destroy Iranian nuclear facilities, Israel would need more advanced weapons than only the US holds.
In such a scenario, Iranian retaliation would probably miraculously miracles American facilities in the region, which would further destabilize the tense situation in the Middle East.
Originally published by DW on 06/13/2025
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/06/13/apos-ataques-onu-alerta-para-risco-de-liberacao-radioativa/
