Israel launched military strikes on Iran early Friday morning local time, with multiple explosions reportedly<\/a> heard across Tehran. According to Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin<\/a>, Israel conducted \u201cpreemptive and precise strikes targeting the Iranian nuclear program in order to prevent the Iranian regime\u2019s ability to build a nuclear bomb in the immediate time frame.\u201d Israeli state-run television networks reported that some of the attacks also targeted Iranian officials, including the head of the military and officials involved in the nuclear program.<\/p>\n Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said<\/a> the strikes were part of an effort to \u201croll back the Iranian threat to Israel\u2019s very survival\u201d and that the operation \u201cwill continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Israel launched military strikes on Iran early Friday morning local time, with multiple explosions reportedly<\/a> heard across Tehran. According to Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin<\/a>, Israel conducted \u201cpreemptive and precise strikes targeting the Iranian nuclear program in order to prevent the Iranian regime\u2019s ability to build a nuclear bomb in the immediate time frame.\u201d Israeli state-run television networks reported that some of the attacks also targeted Iranian officials, including the head of the military and officials involved in the nuclear program.<\/p>\n Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said<\/a> the strikes were part of an effort to \u201croll back the Iranian threat to Israel\u2019s very survival\u201d and that the operation \u201cwill continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.\u201d<\/p>\n The attack comes after a frenzy of speculation<\/a> this week that Israel was planning to carry out strikes on Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities. Amid such speculation, the United States withdrew its diplomats and other nonmilitary personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Iraq on Wednesday and has since authorized the voluntary departure of military families across the Middle East. On Thursday, the U.S. Embassy in Israel ordered<\/a> government employees to remain in the Tel Aviv area for their security. Senior Israeli officials have since been transferred<\/a> to a secure location within the country.<\/p>\n U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned in recent weeks that Israel or the United States could take military action against Iran if negotiations to reach a deal to curb Tehran\u2019s nuclear program fail. However, those negotiations were still ongoing as of Thursday afternoon before the Israeli strikes took place, with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff expected to meet with his Iranian counterparts in Oman on Sunday for another round of talks. It\u2019s not clear if that meeting is still on now.<\/p>\n In May, Trump warned Netanyahu not to strike Iran while negotiations were underway. Trump told reporters on Thursday that an Israeli strike \u201ccould very well happen,\u201d though he declined to say whether it was imminent. He also reiterated that he would prefer a nuclear deal to military action and said that he thinks such a deal is close. \u201cAs long as I think there is an agreement, I don\u2019t want [the Israelis] going in because I think that would blow it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Why Israel chose to take action anyway is unclear, but the United States was quick to emphasize that it played no role in the strikes.<\/p>\n \u201cTonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran,\u201d U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in a statement<\/a> posted on X. \u201cWe are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \n \tIf nuclear talks fail, a war with Iran could follow\u2014but it wouldn\u2019t be a cakewalk. \t <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \n \tOnce-hopeful negotiations are falling prey to a bitter fight over uranium enrichment. \t <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s almost unimaginable that they did this without the Americans, and amid all the diplomacy,\u201d said Brett McGurk, a former top national security and foreign-policy official in the last four U.S. administrations, speaking on CNN in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. \u201cThis is on the higher end of the escalatory ladder that I predicted. I am surprised the Israelis chose to do this now without a coordinated plan with the Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n Yet even as Trump administration officials swiftly distanced the United States from the Israeli attacks, it remains to be seen whether Tehran will believe them. Alex Vatanka, an expert on Iranian politics at the Middle East Institute, said that Iran would likely assume some level of U.S. involvement in the attack.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Iranians will at this point assume that the United States has quietly coordinated this with Israel,\u201d Vatanka said. \u201cI don\u2019t think the Iranians would be of the view that Israel is acting alone here.\u201d<\/p>\n News of the attack prompted messages of support from some Republican lawmakers. \u201cGame on,\u201d Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham posted<\/a> on X. \u201cPray for Israel.\u201d<\/p>\nRead More<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\n <\/span>\n Iran Isn\u2019t as Weak as It Seems <\/h3>\n
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\n ![\"Iranian](\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Iran-US-GettyImages-2160736637.jpg?w=800?quality=80\")
\n <\/span>\n Iran Nuclear Talks Are Running Into Red Lines <\/h3>\n