The full-scale Israel–Iran war officially started on June 13, 2025, when Israel launched a major airstrike campaign—code-named Operation Rising Lion—attacking Iranian nuclear and military sites, assassinating scientists and commanders. Iran responded immediately, firing missiles and drones into Israeli territory
- Hostilities trace back to ideological hostility since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, after which Iran made Israel its primary foe and began backing groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
- Over decades, conflicts intensified through cyber‑warfare (e.g., Stuxnet), assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists, and proxy battles across the region.
- In October 2023, Iran directly struck Israel with missiles and drones, marking a threshold into open warfare.
- In late 2024, Israel’s PM Netanyahu secretly planned strikes against Iran’s nuclear capabilities, ultimately executing them in mid‑2025.
Who’s the most powerful?
- Israel holds significant military advantages: advanced air force, missile defense (Iron Dome), precise strike capability, and covert global intelligence reach.
- Iran, though possessing vast manpower and ballistic missiles, lags in air capacity and relies heavily on proxies.
- Militarily, Israel is more agile and technologically superior, but Iran has strategic depth and regional alliances.
- The U.S.’s entrance—bombing Iranian nuclear sites on June 22—further tips the scales toward Israel’s side.
Nuclear arsenals: Who has what?
Israel:
- Israel is neither a signatory to the NPT nor has it ever officially confirmed its nuclear arsenal — instead it maintains strategic ambiguity.
- Estimates put its stockpile at roughly 90–400 nuclear warheads, with a triad delivery system (aircraft, subs, ballistic missiles)
Iran:
- Iran does not currently possess nuclear weapons.
- It has amassed approximately 275–400 kg of enriched uranium up to 60% purity, which rivals weapons-grade levels. Experts say that’s enough for 5–10 crude nuclear bombs, but Iran lacks actual nuclear devices.
Calls for peace & ceasefire proposals
- Donald Trump (US president) advocated for an immediate ceasefire on June 24, urging Israel to halt further bombings and over Israel’s symbolic “plane wave”—while also warning against escalation.
- European diplomats have engaged in talks (e.g., Geneva), but no breakthrough has ensued.
- The Iranian foreign minister stated Iran would pause if Israel ceased operations by 4 a.m. Tehran time.
Global support: who stands with whom?
| Group | Main Supporters | Position |
| Pro-Israel | United States, parts of Europe, many Western democracies | Backing Israel’s self-defense and preemptive actions to stop Iran’s nuclear threat. |
| Pro-Iran / Anti-Israel Attitudes | Yemen’s Houthis, some regional states/actors | Support Iran’s retaliation against Israeli aggression. |
| Neutral / Non-aligned | Many UN and non-Western countries | Urging restraint and de-escalation, opposed to military expansion without diplomacy. |
Tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated beyond proxy engagements into direct conflict since June 13, 2025. Israel leads militarily, amplified by U.S. involvement, while Iran relies on missile barrages and regional alliances. Israel is estimated to possess 90–400 nuclear warheads, whereas Iran has no bombs but enough enriched uranium for several, if fully weaponized.
Ceasefire calls led by the U.S. President and European diplomacy are underway, but the conflict has stretched on for 12 days. The world is split: a U.S.–Europe–Israel bloc supports Israeli preemptive defense, while Iran’s allies and non-aligned nations urge restraint or back Iran’s retaliation.
