Zionist regime strikes Iran

Department of Research, Studies and International News 13-06-2025

In a dangerous and provocative move, the Israeli occupation forces launched a series of unprovoked airstrikes on Iranian territory, targeting military installations, nuclear research facilities, and senior officials. The aggression, which unfolded early Friday, has been widely condemned as a blatant violation of international law and a calculated effort to ignite a broader conflict in the already volatile West Asia region.

The strikes, widely described by international observers as illegal and destabilizing, targeted multiple cities across Iran, including Tehran, Natanz, Tabriz, Isfahan, Arak, and Kermanshah. These locations hold strategic significance due to their role in Iran’s peaceful nuclear program and national defense infrastructure. Iranian sources confirmed that several facilities, including the Natanz uranium enrichment center and surrounding military compounds, suffered structural damage.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a strong statement in response, vowing that the Zionist entity would face a “bitter and painful” consequence for its crimes. “By God’s will, the powerful hand of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic will not let this go unpunished,” he declared. The attack has been widely interpreted in Tehran as a direct challenge to Iran’s sovereignty and dignity.

The Israeli regime, under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed the strikes were aimed at Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. In a recorded message, Netanyahu framed the attack as a defensive measure, an assertion Iran and its allies have dismissed as a smokescreen for an act of state terrorism.

Among the martyrs of the Israeli attack were several high-ranking Iranian military figures. Iranian media sources reported that General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, were killed in the strikes. Additionally, two esteemed Iranian nuclear scientists, Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi, former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, and Dr. Mohammad Tehranchi, were assassinated in targeted operations believed to be carried out by Mossad-trained agents.

Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesperson for the Iranian military, emphasized that the “usurping Zionist regime” would pay a steep price. “This was not just an attack on military sites, it was an attack on our people, our scientists, and our national pride,” he said.

Images and videos circulated across Iranian social media depicted widespread damage in residential areas, further confirming that the Israeli regime’s aggression deliberately endangered civilian lives. In Tabriz, explosions were reported near civilian neighborhoods, raising concerns of war crimes under international humanitarian law.

Meanwhile, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir tried to justify the attacks as essential to “preserving Israel’s existence.” The apartheid regime’s supporters within its political spectrum, including opposition figure Yair Lapid, praised the military for its actions, revealing a dangerous bipartisan consensus behind the regime’s belligerent policies.

In Washington, U.S. officials quickly moved to distance themselves from the Israeli strikes. Former President Donald Trump, speaking to Fox News, claimed that the U.S. was not involved, although he reiterated American support for the Zionist regime. The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, echoed that stance, stating that the primary concern was safeguarding U.S. personnel in the region. However, the American role in emboldening Tel Aviv through decades of unconditional support remains undeniable.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy criticized the attack, suggesting it was designed to sabotage ongoing diplomatic efforts between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.

In the international community, reactions were swift. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for “maximum restraint” and warned against the risk of a deeper regional conflict. His office expressed concern over attacks on nuclear sites amid sensitive negotiations.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Natanz was among the targeted sites and announced that it was monitoring the situation closely in coordination with Iranian authorities.

The Sultanate of Oman, which has played a mediating role in Iran-U.S. talks, issued a scathing rebuke of the Israeli aggression, describing it as a “flagrant violation” of international law and the UN Charter. Muscat called on the global community to hold the Zionist regime accountable and halt its dangerous course.

This latest escalation by the Israeli entity serves as a stark reminder of its long-standing policy of sabotage and assassination in the region, often carried out with impunity and quiet endorsement from Western powers. In contrast, nations like Russia, China, and Iran have consistently advocated for regional stability, sovereignty, and diplomatic solutions.

As tensions rise, the eyes of the world remain fixed on Tehran’s next move. But one thing is certain: Iran will not allow its sovereignty to be violated without a firm and decisive response.