Israel Continues Strikes On Iran's Nuclear Weaponization Program

UPDATE: IDF Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin related at a morning press conference on June 13 that Iran had launched over 100 drones toward Israel in recent hours. In addition, he said more than 200 IDF aircraft have attacked 100 targets in Iran with over 330 munitions.

In a new wave of aerial attacks on June 13, Israel Defense Forces struck a nuclear facility at Isfahan in Iran, destroying missile launchers and drone infrastructure maintained by the Islamic Republic. According to the IDF, Israeli jets destroyed elements of the Isfahan complex that processes and enriches uranium for the purpose of making nuclear weapons.

Unconfirmed videos on social media show explosions in Tehran, Isfahan, Natanz, and other Iranian cities early in the evening local time. The IDF said it engaged dozens of targets with dozens of air craft. Israeli drones were unleashed by IDF operators within Iran, killing several Iranian military leaders in their residences.

“The attack destroyed a structure for producing metallic uranium, infrastructure for converting enriched uranium, laboratories and other infrastructure,” the IDF stated. In the pre-dawn hours, Israel struck Iran’s enrichment complex at Natanz, as well as killing the top officers of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Iran subsequently launched ballistic missiles at Israel, wounding at least seven despite Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.

There are unconfirmed reports that a senior U.S. official said that the U.S. is actively helping Israel intercept Iranian missiles. “There are hundreds of thousands of American citizens in Israel, as well as other American assets,” the official said. “We are taking action to protect them.” There are hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens who live in Israel and neighboring Judea and Samaria.

The IDF Spokesperson announced that rocket fire from Iran is ongoing, with another wave of dozens of missiles launched toward Israel. "You are urged to continue following the instructions of the Home Front Command and all official directives being distributed," the statement said. Israelis are being urged to take shelter.

Delta Air lines has reportedly paused flights to Tel Aviv from New York-JFK through August 31 in response to the ongoing conflict in the region.

In a televised message to Iranians, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said, “The armed forces will make the scoundrel Zionist regime miserable. The Zionist regime will not escape this crime unscathed. The Iranian people can be assured that there will be no letup in this regard.”

For his part, President Donald Trump urged Iran to accept a nuclear deal to avoid further “planned attacks,” citing that “there has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter… come to an end.” Writing on Truth Social on the morning of June 13, referenced the current diplomatic talks over Iran’s nuclear weaponization program. He said that he gave the Islamic Republic a chance. In April, he gave Iranian leaders 60 days to make up their minds about a deal. "I told them, in the strongest of words, to ‘just do it,’ but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done,” Trump said. “Certain Iranian hardliners spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse."

Trump told Iran that “the United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come. And they know how to use it.” 

“Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.” Trump warned.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) expressed support for Israel: “President Trump has been clear that Iran must completely dismantle their nuclear capacity. Iran has given President Trump the middle finger. Israel is acting to defend themselves, and we should stand with them.” he said, later adding: “Tonight, pray for Israel. Pray for the American servicemen and women who are in harms way. And to the Ayatollah: If you attack American military bases, President Trump will respond with overwhelming force.”

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) denounced Israel: “Israel's attack on Iran, clearly intended to scuttle the Trump Administration's negotiations with Iran, risks a regional war that will likely be catastrophic for America and is further evidence of how little respect world powers—including our own allies—have for President Trump," he said, describing Iran’s progression towards possible nuclear weapons as “a disaster of Trump and Netanyahu's own making.”

Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) said: “Iran should know that any targeting of U.S. forces and personnel stationed across the Middle East in retaliation for Israel's actions would be a grave mistake,” he said. “This action ordered by Prime Minister Netanyahu appears to deliberately undermine ongoing American diplomatic negotiations about Iran's nuclear program… We should do everything we can to stop this moment from spiraling into a wider conflict and bring parties back to the table to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.”

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) said:  “Our commitment to Israel must be absolute and I fully support this attack…Keep wiping out Iranian leadership and the nuclear personnel. We must provide whatever is necessary—military, intelligence, weaponry—to fully back Israel in striking Iran.”

The strikes were a “calculated and necessary action” that was “carried out in response to an escalating existential threat,” said Ambassador Danny Danon, who represents Israel at the United Nations. Danon said that Iran has long provided funding and training to its proxies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, but added that the direct threat from the regime “took a dramatic turn.” Danon said, “Iran advanced significantly toward nuclear weapons capabilities.”

Danon said that Israeli intelligence had discovered Iran’s menacing progress towards fabricating an atomic weapon. He also said Iran was planning a surprise attack on Israel in concert with its proxies, to invade “from all sides, with thousands of terrorists and thousands of projectiles”, thus surpassing the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, and possibly include a “nuclear strike.”

Danon said “an absence of meaningful international consequences” to Iran’s “repeated violations” and its “continued deception” amid a recent International Atomic Energy Agency finding that its nuclear program was in violation of its international commitments. Iran has obscured details of its nuclear program.

Ambassador Danon criticized UN Secretary General António Guterres, who had expressed his “concern” over Israel’s strikes. “I must ask: Where was the secretary-general when Iran spent years arming itself while vowing to wipe Israel off the map?...Where was his voice when Iran rained hundreds of missiles and drones on our civilians?” Danon said.

“We will not sit quietly while our people are targeted,” Danon said. “Not again. Not ever. Empty words will not stop Iran. Israel will.”

A spokesperson for Guterres has relayed his concerns, saying,  Guterres "condemns any military escalation in the Middle East" and "is particularly concerned by Israeli attacks on nuclear installations in Iran, while talks between Iran and the U.S. on the status of Iran's nuclear program are underway."

IDF chief of staff Gen. Eyal Zamir said on June 13 that the IDF is engaged in defensive and offensive operations. “We are continuing with full force, at a high pace, in order to meet the goals we have set for ourselves,” Zamir said. “There will be difficult moments. We need to be Soon after the first strikes came during pre-dawn darkness in Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the operation, dubbed “Rising Lion,” would “continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.” He added that it will “roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.

“We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear weaponization program. We targeted Iran’s main enrichment facility in Natanz,” Netanyahu said. “We targeted Iran’s leading nuclear scientists working on the Iranian bomb. We also struck at the heart of Iran’s ballistic missile program.

“Remember, Iran calls Israel the ‘small Satan.’ It calls America the ‘great Satan,’ and this is why for decades, it’s led millions in the chants of ‘Death to Israel’ and ‘Death to America,’” he added. “Today, Israel is responding to those genocidal calls with action and with a call of our own. ‘Long live Israel and long live America.’

Israel is “prepared for a wide range of scenarios in defense and offense that may be needed,” the IDF said. “For years, the Iranian regime has been waging a direct and indirect campaign of terror against the State of Israel, by funding and directing terrorist activities via its proxies across the Middle East, while advancing toward obtaining a nuclear weapon.” The IDF called for resilience on the part of the Israeli people. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on the evening of June 12 that “tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran.”

“We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense,” Rubio said. President Donald Trump and the administration “have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners,” he said.

“Let me be clear,” Rubio stated. “Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”

Israeli defense minister Israel Katz said, "The Jewish state refuses to be a victim." He said that “following the State of Israel’s preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future,” Axios reported.