Jump to content

Background to the Iran–Israel war

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The background to the Iran–Israel war, ongoing since 13 June 2025, focuses on historical events during their proxy conflict since 1985, including scrutiny of Irans' nuclear program in the 1980s and 1990s, Iran signing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015, and US President Donald Trump suspending US participation in the deal in 2018. In the past, Israel has fought wars with Iranian proxies including against Hezbollah since the 1982 Lebanon War.

In 2015, six countries negotiated the JCPOA nuclear deal to lift sanctions on Iran and freeze Iran's nuclear program. In 2018, US president Trump unilaterally withdrew from and voided the JCPOA, after which Iran began stockpiling enriched uranium, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) lost the ability to monitor Iran's nuclear facilities.

In 2023, during the Gaza war, Israel severely weakened both Hamas and fellow Iranian proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon, while also attacking the Houthis in Yemen. This is said to have weakened Iranian deterrence and increased Iranian isolation. In June 2025, Netanyahu then announced the launch of Operation Rising Lion, targeting Iran's main enrichment facility in Natanz, its nuclear scientists, and parts of its ballistic missile program.

Gaza war

[edit]
Main articles: Gaza war, Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present), and Gaza genocide
Rimal in Gaza City following an Israeli airstrike during the Gaza war in 2023

Israel's strikes on Iran came during the ongoing Gaza war and its broader regional implications, including Israeli military activity in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and the occupied West Bank. They also came in the context of a risk of famine and humanitarian crisis in the blockaded Gaza Strip that a growing number of scholars and human rights organizations have described as a genocide.[1][2]

Iran–Israel conflict

[edit]
Main articles: Iran–Israel proxy conflict and 2024 Iran–Israel conflict
Further information: Iran–Israel relations, Nuclear weapons and Israel, and Destruction of Israel in Iranian policy
See also: Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict

Israel enjoyed a close relationship with the Pahlavi monarchy until the Iranian Revolution, when the monarchy was ousted and replaced by an anti-Western theocratic Islamic republic led by Ruhollah Khomeini.[3] Ever since, Iran's government has repeatedly pledged to destroy Israel.[4][5][6][7] Khomeini ended cooperation with Israel and denounced its occupation of Palestinian territories.[5][8] As time passed, Iran tried to win Arab support by increasingly antagonizing Israel.[5] Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, has previously referred to Israel as a "cancerous tumour" and called for the country to be destroyed.[9][10] Israel considers the Iranian nuclear program an existential threat, fearing that Iran will develop a nuclear weapon.[3]

Missile interceptions in Israel during the October 2024 Iranian strikes

In 2024, the two countries attacked each other openly and directly for the first time following decades of proxy conflict. In April 2024, an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus killed Iranian officers. Iran retaliated with strikes on Israel in April 2024, to which Israel then retaliated with strikes on Iran. In July 2024, Israel assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran's capital Tehran, and then assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and prominent IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan in Lebanon in September 2024. In October 2024, Iran struck Israel, and Israel struck Iran.[8]

Iranian nuclear program

[edit]
Further information: Nuclear program of Iran, Iran and weapons of mass destruction, and United States withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited Iran's nuclear program as the reason Israel preemptively struck Iran.[11] Iran has consistently said that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes and that it has never intended to develop nuclear weapons.[12] The country developed a covert nuclear weapons program named the AMAD Project in the 1980s and 1990s, which, according to US intelligence assessments, was suspended in 2003.[13][12] US intelligence assessed that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had not authorised a resumption of the AMAD Project.[3] As a country that has not signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons.[14][15]

Israel regards Iran's nuclear program to be a strategic threat.[14] Israel says it has the right to take military action against Iran's nuclear program if it believes it has become non-peaceful.[5][8] In the mid-2000s, the US and Israel sabotaged Iranian nuclear facilities in Operation Olympic Games.[16] The assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists in Tehran since 2010 is attributed to Israel.[8]

Iran nuclear deal, U.S. withdrawal, and non-compliance

[edit]
Donald Trump announces United States withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), May 2018

In 2015, Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), negotiated by President Barack Obama, the United Nations Security Council and Germany to manage Iran's civilian nuclear development at a limited level.[17] In 2018, President Donald Trump, during his first presidency, suspended US participation in the deal and resumed economic sanctions on Iran, despite the report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran was keeping to the deal.[17] Iran retaliated by increasing its uranium enrichment.[12]

Following the assassination of Qasem Soleimani by the US in 2020, Iran said it would no longer abide by JCPOA's enrichment restrictions.[18] By 2021, Iran was enriching uranium to 60% purity, similar to weapons-grade uranium.[17] Trump had threatened to "obliterate" Iran if he were assassinated.[19][20] In March 2025, US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, testified that the US intelligence community, "continues to assess Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized a nuclear weapons program".[21] In April 2025, Trump announced negotiations between the US and Iran regarding Iran's nuclear program. The White House declared that Iran had two months to secure a deal, which expired the day before Israel's strikes.[22][23] In May 2025, the IAEA reported that Iran had amassed 409 kilograms (902 lb) of 60% pure uranium,[17] higher than required for civilian uses and close to military grade.[24] In response, Iran announced a third nuclear enrichment facility, that would be put under IAEA monitoring.[25][26] Iran insists it does not seek nuclear weapons and Khamenei has repeatedly said there is a fatwa (a legal ruling) against the development of nuclear weapons.[27]

United States Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Michael Kurilla warned on 10 June 2025 that Iran could "produce its first 25 kg of weapons-grade [uranium] material in roughly one week and enough [uranium] for up to ten nuclear weapons in three weeks", while weapons analysts Daryl Kimball and Shawn Rostker commented that weapons-grade uranium was just "raw materials", and that it would take from "months to over a year or longer" for Iran to build a "nuclear device" to act as a weapon.[28]

On 12 June, a day before the Israeli strikes occurred, the IAEA found Iran non-compliant with its nuclear obligations for the first time in 20 years.[29] IAEA director general Rafael Grossi stated in an interview with CNN on 17 June that the IAEA did "not have any proof of a systematic effort to move into a nuclear weapon".[30] Following the Israeli attack, Iran started the process of exiting the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, which it had ratified in 1970. Iran's foreign ministry said the IAEA resolution declaring Iran non-compliant with its NPT obligations "prepared the ground for the attack".[15]

Iranian ballistic missile program

[edit]

Along with the Iranian nuclear program, the Iranian ballistic missile program is considered a threat by Israel. It was reported that Netanyahu believed that Iran aims to produce 300 ballistic missiles each month, which he viewed as a direct threat to Israeli cities.[31]

Axis of Resistance

[edit]
Further information: Axis of Resistance
Iran's Axis of Resistance, December 2024. The axis includes: The Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in the Gaza Strip, militias in Iraq and Assad's Syria which fell in December 2024.[32]

Israel has fought wars with Iranian proxies including against Hezbollah since the 1982 Lebanon War.[3] In the October 7 attacks in 2023, Hamas, an Iranian proxy in Gaza, started the Gaza war, following which Israel severely weakened both Hamas and fellow Iranian proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon, while also attacking the Houthis in Yemen.[3][33] This is said to have weakened Iranian deterrence and increased Iranian isolation.[3][33]

Immediate prelude

[edit]

On 12 June 2025, ABC News reported Israel was considering taking military action against Iran.[34] US officials were told Israel was "fully ready" for an operation against Iran, according to CBS News. The Trump administration purportedly considered options to support Israel without leading the operation.[35] The US Embassy in Jerusalem restricted the movement of its staffers the following day, though Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, said it was unlikely Israel would strike Iran without approval from the Trump administration.[36] Prior to the airstrikes, Israel told the Trump administration it would not strike without first notifying the US.[37] Trump spoke to Netanyahu on the eve of the attacks, and admitted having known in advance of Israel's planned actions.[38] Officials in the UK's Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence were aware of Israel's intention to strike Iran, but it is unconfirmed whether a formal notification was provided by Israel.[39][40] According to Israeli officials, the Israeli government asked the Trump administration to join them and help in the prelude of attacks.[41] Right-wing figures, including Trump allies, questioned Israel's attacks and warned of a US war with Iran.[42]

In the weeks leading up to Israeli attacks, its government faced international pressure over the high risk of famine in Gaza and killing of civilians.[43] Even Israel's allies in Europe had become critical of the starvation in Gaza, and the EU had announced it would reconsider its free-trade deal with Israel.[43] Political scientists stated that the attack on Iran provided a distraction from Israel's actions in Gaza.[43][44][45] Nesrine Malik said the attack was an attempt by Israel to bring a Europe alienated by Israel's action in the suffering in Gaza back to its side.[46] Israeli relations with Iran were a unifying factor between left-wing and right-wing Israelis.[45] The day before the attack on Iran, Israel destroyed telecommunications infrastructure in Gaza, cutting off communications between Gaza and the rest of the world.[47]

Choice of operation name

[edit]

The name of the operation "Rising Lion" (Hebrew: מבצע עם כלביא, romanized: Mivtza Am kelavi, lit. 'Operation Nation Like Lion') refers to the revival of the Lion and Sun, which was the emblem of Iran and its flag until the 1979 Islamic revolution.[48][49] The Jerusalem Post reported that the name is derived from the biblical Book of Numbers (23:24): "Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion."[50]

Announcement

[edit]

Netanyahu announced the launch of Operation Rising Lion, targeting Iran's main enrichment facility in Natanz, its nuclear scientists, and parts of its ballistic missile program. Netanyahu described Iran's nuclear efforts as "a clear and present danger to Israel's very survival", and emphasized that in acting, "we also defend our Arab neighbors" from Iranian aggression. He said the operation would continue "for as many days as it takes".[51]

In a speech announcing the attack, Netanyahu stated, "For decades, the leaders of Tehran have openly called for Israel's destruction. They have backed up their genocidal rhetoric with a nuclear weapons program".[52] Netanyahu also stated that Israel attacked because "if not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could be a year. It could be within a few months, less than a year."[53] Following the attack, Netanyahu reiterated that Israel's war was against Iran's government and not its people.[54] Netanyahu convened the security cabinet as the situation unfolded.[55]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Laarhoven, Kasper van; Peek, Eva; Walters, Derk (14 May 2025). "Zeven gerenommeerde wetenschappers vrijwel eensgezind: Israël pleegt in Gaza genocide". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  2. ^ Sondos, Asem. "Top genocide scholars unanimous that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza: Dutch investigation". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Gregory, Andy; Hagopian, Alicja (19 June 2025). "Israel-Iran conflict: A timeline of how the attacks unfolded". The Independent. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  4. ^ Sheridan, Greg (13 June 2025). "Iranian nuclear threat meant Israelis had no choice". The Australian.
  5. ^ a b c d von Hein, Shabnam (13 June 2025). "Why are Iran and Israel sworn enemies?". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  6. ^ Hjelmgaard, Kim (13 June 2025). "What we know about Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear sites − and Iran's drone response". USA TODAY. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  7. ^ Breen-Portnoy, Barney (13 June 2025). "'This Is The Time to Stand With Israel': IDF Launches Pre-Emptive Strike on Iran's Nuclear Program". Combat Antisemitism Movement. Archived from the original on 13 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d Sykes, Patrick; Bronner, Ethan; Capaccio, Anthony (13 June 2025). "Israel and Iran Have Been Enemies for Decades. What Next?". Bloomberg News. Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on 13 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  9. ^ Ng, Kelly (13 June 2025). "Hossein Salami: Who was Iran's Revolutionary Guards chief killed in Israeli strikes?". BBC News. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  10. ^ Frankel, Julia; Mednick, Sam (17 June 2025). "Israel's spy agency used AI and smuggled-in drones to prepare attack on Iran". AP News. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  11. ^ Rosman, Rebecca (16 June 2025). "Israel strikes Iranian state TV during live broadcast on the fourth day of conflict". NPR. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  12. ^ a b c Gritten, David (18 June 2025). "Was Iran months away from producing a nuclear bomb?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Was Iran really racing for nukes?". The Economist. 13 June 2025. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 14 June 2025. Iran fervently denies that it has ever pursued nuclear weapons. That is not true. In the 1980s the Islamic Republic began importing nuclear equipment and material from Pakistan and China. And in the 1990s it approved and allocated funds for a plan to manufacture five nuclear weapons and carry out an underground nuclear test, according to documents acquired by Israel and analysed by experts at Harvard University's Belfer Centre. That decision was approved by a committee that included Ali Shamkhani, who was then the defence minister. ... This formal nuclear weapons programme, Project AMAD, was suspended by the Iranian government in 2003, according to an American "national intelligence estimate" published in 2007.
  14. ^ a b Fernández, Belén (13 June 2025). "As Israel strikes Iran, what happened to 'America First'?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  15. ^ a b Maclean, William; Graff, Peter (16 June 2025). "Iran says parliament is preparing bill to leave nuclear non-proliferation treaty". Reuters. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  16. ^ Sanger, David E. (13 June 2025). "Israel's Ambition: Destroy the Heart of Iran's Nuclear Program". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 14 June 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  17. ^ a b c d Tirone, Jonathan (13 June 2025). "How Close Is Iran to a Nuclear Weapon as Trump Eyes a Deal?". Bloomberg News. Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on 13 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  18. ^ Rubin, April (13 June 2025). "How failed Iran nuclear talks led to Israel's attack". Axios.
  19. ^ "Has Iran actually tried to kill Trump? What we know". The Independent. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  20. ^ "US officials have gathered increasing amount of intel about Iran plotting to assassinate Trump". POLITICO. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  21. ^ Lillis, Katie; Cohen, Zachary (17 June 2025). "Israel says Iran was racing toward a nuclear weapon. US intel says it was years away". CNN. Archived from the original on 22 June 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  22. ^ Balmer, Crispian (13 June 2025). "After years of waiting, Israel's Netanyahu finally makes his move on Iran". Reuters. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  23. ^ Klein, Betsy; Ferris, Sarah; Lillis, Katie Bo; Atwood, Kylie; Treene, Alayna (14 June 2025). "'We fight or we die': How days of frantic diplomacy and dire warnings culminated with Israel's attack on Iran". CNN. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  24. ^ Illmer, Andreas (15 June 2025). "How close is Iran to getting a nuclear bomb?". DW. Archived from the original on 17 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  25. ^ Liechtenstein, Stephanie; Gambrell, Jon; Madhani, Aamer (13 June 2025). "Iran announces a new nuclear enrichment site after UN watchdog censure". Associated Press. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  26. ^ Lewis, Jeffrey (13 June 2025). "Nuclear Claims Are a Smoke Screen for Hopes of Toppling Iran". Foreign Policy.
  27. ^ Gallagher, Alex (16 June 2025). "The 'unsustainable' reason behind who can have nuclear weapons, and who can't". SBS News. Archived from the original on 18 June 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  28. ^ "Trump, Gabbard Comments on Iran Nuclear Capability". FactCheck.org. 18 June 2025. Archived from the original on 21 June 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  29. ^ Murphy, Francois (12 June 2025). "IAEA board declares Iran in breach of non-proliferation obligations". Reuters. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  30. ^ Sharma, Yashraj; Psaropoulos, John T. (18 June 2025). "Is Iran 'very close' to building a nuclear bomb as Trump claims?". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  31. ^ Kershner, Isabel (15 June 2025). "Even as Israel Blitzes Tehran, It Fears Iran's Destructive Missiles". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  32. ^ "What is Iran's 'Axis of Resistance'?". Reuters. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  33. ^ a b Byman, Daniel (13 June 2025). "What to Know About the Israeli Strike on Iran". Center for Strategic and International Studies.
  34. ^ Martinez, Luis (12 June 2025). "Israel considering military action against Iran in coming days: Sources". ABC News. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  35. ^ Jacobs, Jennifer; Brennan, Margaret; LaPorta, James; Watson, Eleanor; Ake, Gabrielle (12 June 2025). "Israel is poised to launch operation on Iran, multiple sources tell CBS News". CBS News. Archived from the original on 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  36. ^ Rasgon, Adam; Odenheimer, Natan (12 June 2025). "U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem Braces for Possible Israeli Strike on Iran". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  37. ^ Fassihi, Farnaz; Nauman, Qasim; Boxerman, Aaron; Kingsley, Patrick; Bergman, Ronen (13 June 2025). "Israel Strikes Iran's Nuclear Program, Killing Top Military Officials: Live Updates". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  38. ^ "Trump said US was aware of Israel's plans to attack Iran, WSJ reports". Reuters. 13 June 2025. Archived from the original on 13 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  39. ^ Haynes, Deborah; Powell, Rob (13 June 2025). "UK defence officials were aware of Israel's plan to attack". Sky News. Archived from the original on 13 June 2025.
  40. ^ McKiernan, Jennifer (13 June 2025). "Starmer urges Iran and Israel to 'step back' after strikes targeting Tehran". BBC News. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  41. ^ "US helping Israel intercept Iranian missiles, Axios reports". Reuters. 13 June 2025.
  42. ^ "'Drop Israel': How military escalation with Iran divides Trump's base". Al Jazeera. 14 June 2025.
  43. ^ a b c Emma Graham-Harrison (14 June 2025). "Strikes on Iran ease pressure on Israel to end starvation in Gaza". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Wikidata Q134930850. Archived from the original on 15 June 2025.
  44. ^ "Why is Israel attacking Iran? Tensions in the Middle East escalate". Yahoo News. The Standard. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  45. ^ a b Mohammad (14 June 2025). "Israel's Strike on Iran: What Happens Now?". Hasht-e Subh. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  46. ^ Malik, Nesrine (16 June 2025). "In Gaza, Israel destroyed its reputation. Attacking Iran is a belated and dangerous attempt to restore it". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  47. ^ Hajare El-Khaldi (14 June 2025). "Genocide in Gaza Continues Amid Media and Internet Blackout". Morocco World News. Wikidata Q134930899. Archived from the original on 15 June 2025.
  48. ^ McGurk, Brett (13 June 2025). "Analysis: What Israel's kitchen-sink operation against Iran tells us so far". CNN. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  49. ^ "Will Iran's hated regime implode?". The Economist. 16 June 2025. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  50. ^ "Operation Rising Lion: Netanyahu's Bible quote foreshadows Iran attacks". The Jerusalem Post. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  51. ^ Liebermann, Oren; et al. (14 June 2025). "More explosions in Tel Aviv and Tehran as Israel-Iran conflict escalates". CNN. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  52. ^ "Israel launches Operation Rising Lion to target Iran's nuclear threat". The Jerusalem Post. 13 June 2025.
  53. ^ Borger, Julian (13 June 2025). "Israel launches strikes on 'dozens' of targets in Iran, targeting nuclear program". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  54. ^ Lidor, Canaan (13 June 2025). "Iranian opposition calls to overthrow the mullahs". Jewish News Syndicate.
  55. ^ "IDF strikes Iran nuclear targets, military commanders". The Jerusalem Post. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Background_to_the_Iran–Israel_war&oldid=1297067743"