Netanyahu Declares War on Iran “Ruined Their Nuclear Program” \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu claims Israel’s operation has devastated Iran’s nuclear capabilities. A fragile ceasefire holds after missile exchanges, with President Trump intervening to halt further escalation. Iran denies violating the ceasefire as casualties mount across both nations.
Quick Looks
- Netanyahu asserts Israel’s air campaign hit Iran’s top generals, scientists, and nuclear facilities.
- Highlights include targeted sites at Natanz, Isfahan, and the Arak heavy-water reactor.
- Israel and Iran agreed to a bilateral ceasefire, brokered in part by President Trump.
- Trump criticized both sides but confirmed Israel would stand down, posting encouraging ceasefire messages.
- Casualties reported: at least 28 Israelis and nearly 1,000 Iranians killed.
- The conflict risks broader regional fallout, including missile strikes in Iraq and strategic shipping lanes.
Deep Look
In a forceful televised address on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel’s military campaign had successfully “brought to ruin” Iran’s nuclear program, signaling what could be a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Speaking to the Israeli public, Netanyahu detailed the outcomes of a nearly two-week military operation that targeted high-level Iranian military and scientific personnel, along with strategic nuclear infrastructure. He specifically cited successful airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites at Natanz, Isfahan, and the Arak heavy water reactor, asserting that Israel had dismantled Tehran’s ability to produce a nuclear weapon.
“For dozens of years, I promised you that Iran would not have nuclear weapons and indeed … we brought to ruin Iran’s nuclear program,” Netanyahu said, underscoring what he sees as a fulfillment of a long-standing national security vow.
The declaration came amid a fragile ceasefire agreement brokered in coordination with U.S. President Donald Trump. The truce, which went into effect hours before Netanyahu’s statement, appeared shaky at first. Explosions were reported in northern Israel early Tuesday morning, and Israeli defense officials claimed that two Iranian missiles were intercepted shortly after the truce began. Iran, for its part, denied the accusations, with state media insisting the Islamic Republic had not launched attacks following the ceasefire declaration.
President Trump, addressing reporters before departing for a NATO summit, expressed sharp criticism of both Iran and Israel, stating that the conflict had devolved to the point where “they don’t know what the [expletive] they’re doing.” Trump’s initial frustration soon turned to a more optimistic tone as he announced via social media that Israel would refrain from further strikes.
“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home… the Ceasefire is in effect!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
According to Netanyahu’s office, Israel had prepared for a broader retaliatory strike but backed down following a direct call from Trump, who urged restraint and warned against further escalation. Israeli officials confirmed that a radar site in Iran had been struck early Tuesday in retaliation for what they viewed as a ceasefire violation, but no larger offensive followed.
The military campaign began nearly two weeks ago with pre-emptive Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, citing intelligence that Tehran was on the verge of weaponizing its nuclear program. Though Iran insists its nuclear intentions are peaceful, Israeli officials described the risk as imminent and unacceptable. The U.S. escalated the conflict over the weekend by deploying bunker-buster bombs against several underground Iranian facilities, prompting limited Iranian retaliation, including a strike on a U.S. military base in Qatar and drone attacks in Iraq targeting American installations.
The drone assaults on Ain al-Assad airbase and another near Baghdad’s airport were largely thwarted, according to U.S. military officials, with no casualties reported. These incidents underscored the volatility of the region and the danger of a wider war pulling in other actors across the Middle East.
On the humanitarian front, the death toll continues to climb. Israeli authorities report 28 fatalities and more than 1,000 injuries within its borders. Iran has suffered significantly higher losses: over 974 confirmed dead and 3,458 injured, according to Human Rights Activists, a Washington-based group known for compiling data on unrest in Iran. Among those killed were 387 civilians and 268 members of Iran’s security forces.
In a particularly symbolic loss for Iran, the country confirmed the death of Mohammad Reza Sedighi Saber, a prominent nuclear scientist, who was reportedly killed in a targeted Israeli strike on a residence in northern Iran.
As international anxiety mounted over the potential for economic fallout—especially with the Strait of Hormuz under threat—global actors began weighing in. China, Iran’s largest oil customer, condemned the U.S. bombing campaign and warned of a potential “spiral of escalations” unless the ceasefire held. Trump, in turn, emphasized that the truce would allow continued Iranian oil flows, helping to stabilize markets and avoid additional international backlash.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has overseen the evacuation of around 250 American citizens and their families from Israel, utilizing both military and charter aircraft. The U.S. estimates that as many as 700,000 American nationals—mostly dual citizens—are currently residing in Israel.
While Netanyahu framed the ceasefire as a victory and suggested all of Israel’s strategic goals had been met, the future remains uncertain. Key questions persist about the role of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who previously vowed not to surrender and has remained largely silent since the ceasefire began. Trump’s shifting stance—from flirting with the idea of regime change to ultimately rejecting it—adds further ambiguity to Washington’s long-term intentions in the region.
“I don’t want it,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “Regime change takes chaos and, ideally, we don’t want to see much chaos.”
For now, both sides have stepped back from the brink. But with the region still on edge, and Iran’s capability for reconstitution always a looming possibility, the road ahead for Israeli security, Iranian stability, and U.S. diplomacy is anything but clear.
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