The Israel-Iran Conflict

Ava Cai

June 20, 2025

In the last few months, Iran has showcased alarming progress in its nuclear program. Israel feels threatened by these recent advancements, given that Iran vowed to devastate the state of Israel if it obtained a nuclear weapon of their own. Feeling left without another option, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion last Thursday. First, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) enforced an evacuation order on Tehran’s (the capital of Iran) District 18. A few hours later, the first round of strikes hit Tehran, targeting the Natanz nuclear facility, also known as “the heart” of Iran’s nuclear program. The strike reportedly damaged residential areas in the city, according to Iranian state television. 

The strikes from Israel were viewed as a “declaration of war” by Iran’s foreign minister, while Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that Israel “should anticipate a severe punishment.” A few hours later, Iran launched a retaliatory strike, codenamed True Promise 3. The operation consisted of ballistic missile attacks on Israel’s “military centers and air bases.” Fire exchanges escalated from there, with both sides taking turns to target the other’s strategic military bases. 

On Thursday, the 19th, Iran’s missiles hit Soroka hospital in Beersheba, wounding at least 32 people. Iran claimed to have aimed at an Israel Defense Forces camp near the building, but Israeli Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Sharren Haskel alleged that Iran intentionally attacked the hospital. In Israel’s initial round of attacks, among the killed were several high-ranking military officials, including Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as multiple nuclear scientists, such as Fereydoon Abbasi, the former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization. According to Iran’s health ministry, more than 220 people have died since Friday. During that same timeframe, Israel reported 24 fatalities.

Watching the conflict unfold from a distance, President Trump is considering America’s involvement in favor of the Israeli campaign against Iran. During a news conference following the hospital strike, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on behalf of President Trump, “Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.” The talks addressed by President Trump would center on the nuclear matter as well as recent regional developments, says Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Bahaei.