Individuals look over harm to buildings in Nobonyad Sq. following Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025 in Tehran, Iran.
Majid Saeedi/Majid Saeedi/Getty Photos Europe
cover caption
toggle caption
Majid Saeedi/Majid Saeedi/Getty Photos Europe
Israel launched air strikes into Iran early Friday, concentrating on Iran’s nuclear services and killing prime army leaders, officers and nuclear scientists within the course of. Iran launched over 100 drones towards Israel on Friday morning in retaliation, and the area is bracing for additional army escalation.
Israel launched the strikes over its issues about Iran’s advancing nuclear program. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned Israel focused Iran’s predominant nuclear enrichment facility.
“We are at a decisive moment in Israel’s history,” Netanyahu mentioned early Friday, including that the operation would “roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s survival.”
Forward of the assault, the U.S. and Iran have been discussing a deal that will have Iran scale down its nuclear program in change for the U.S. to elevate sanctions, which have crippled Iran’s economic system. Although Iran insists it doesn’t wish to create a nuclear weapon, Netanyahu has been adamant that the one technique to cease Iran from creating a nuclear weapon is by going to struggle. The U.S. was set to satisfy with Iran on Sunday, however Iran says it won’t attend the assembly after the Israeli assault.
In a Morning Version interview, U.S.-Iranian relations knowledgeable Trita Parsi, government vice chairman of the Quincy Institute for Accountable Statecraft, informed NPR’s Michel Martin that Israel doesn’t wish to see the U.S. and Iran resolve their issues and enhance their relationship.
“The Israelis calculate that even if there is an improvement in US-Iran relations and a reduction in U.S. Iran tensions, it will not be accompanied by a reduction in Israeli Iranian tensions,” Parsi mentioned. “So the Israelis have, for more than 20 years, tried to sabotage any diplomacy between the United States and Iran.”
Whereas talking with NPR’s Steve Inskep, Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon mentioned the choice to assault Iran was an “independent decision of Israel” and an “act of self-defense.” Danon went on to say the choice was made after stories that Iran had “enough material for multiple nuclear weapons.”
“After October 7th, we learned that we are not going to wait for our enemies to surprise us again,” Danon mentioned. “That’s why we targeted the nuclear sites and also the industry of the ballistic missiles that Iran developed.”
For extra perception into Israel’s assault on Iran and what the strikes imply for the area, right here is extra from Parsi and Danon.
The next interviews have been edited for size and readability.
Israel UN Ambassador explains why Israel attacked Iran
A lady pushes a stroller full with items as individuals top off with provides, at a store in Jerusalem, on June 13, 2025.
John Wessels/AFP by way of Getty Photos
cover caption
toggle caption
John Wessels/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Steve Inskeep: What, in Israel’s view, justified an assault on one other nation right now?
Danny Danon: Effectively, we obtained the details about a secret program that included all the mandatory elements to place collectively a bomb. The IAEA determined and reported that Iran possesses sufficient materials for a number of nuclear weapons. So, we determined to take a preemptive motion, a preemptive assault, and to not wait and to not be shocked.
Inskeep: Effectively, let’s speak concerning the info that you just say you obtained about an Iranian secret program, the assorted parts of a bomb. We are going to be aware that Iran all the time denies they’ve any ambition to construct a nuclear weapon, though they insist that they’ve the fitting to a nuclear program. Are you asserting that they have been on their technique to making a bomb or solely that the key program had the capability to take action?
Danon: No. Furthermore, now we have the intelligence that it wasn’t like a nuclear reactors for civil utilization. It was a army program that was hidden from the worldwide neighborhood. And as soon as we realized that they’re taking part in the sport and they’re getting very near the purpose of no return, we could not take that danger. A couple of hours in the past, they despatched greater than 100 drones. We anticipate ballistic missiles to fly into Israel within the subsequent few days. So we can’t await the day that they’ll truly be capable of put the nuclear functionality on these ballistic missiles that they’ve already.
Inskeep: I simply wish to ensure that I perceive what you are saying, although. You are saying that they had this program for constructing a nuclear weapon. Was Iran truly actively assembling a nuclear weapon, in keeping with your intelligence?
Danon: Completely. They have been transferring ahead. And I feel what we realized is that they’ve sufficient uranium, they’ve the know-how. And you understand what? We believed them. They mentioned very clearly, ‘We are going to destroy the Jewish nation.’ They did not cover it. So, we determined to not take that probability. Historical past has taught us that when you’ve a regime which threatens to annihilate the Jewish individuals, we higher consider them.
U.S.-Iran relations knowledgeable says Trump coordinated with Israel to strike Iran
Individuals look over harm to buildings following Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025 in Tehran, Iran.
Majid Saeedi/Majid Saeedi/Getty Photos Europe
cover caption
toggle caption
Majid Saeedi/Majid Saeedi/Getty Photos Europe
Michel Martin: What was your prime line evaluation of what simply occurred?
Trita Parsi: I feel the highest line right here is that though the Trump administration says that the US was not concerned, clearly there had been coordination and a few type of a inexperienced gentle given by the Trump administration for the Israelis to do that.
Martin: You mentioned that as a result of it is simply not cheap to imagine that this may have occurred with out some thought that the U.S. would approve?
Parsi: Effectively, additionally, based mostly on what Trump is now at the moment saying, as a result of he is primarily attempting to benefit from these strikes with a view to get the Iranians to capitulate within the negotiations, as a result of there was a possibility to strike a deal, one that will restrict Iran’s nuclear program in change for sanctions aid.
However Trump shifted his place a few weeks in the past and was now not content material with simply limiting this system. He desires to primarily remove this system. And that led nowhere, predictably. And now as a substitute, it seems that he has shifted in the direction of permitting the Israelis to conduct these strikes with a view to see whether or not that may change the Iranian place or not.
Martin: As Iranian state media says, Tehran will reply decisively to the Israeli strikes. You and different analysts have advised this truly makes it extra seemingly that Iran will proceed to pursue a nuclear program.
Parsi: Effectively, nothing actually strengthens your need for nuclear deterrence than truly being attacked. And you’ve got now a number of heads of the Atomic Power Company who’ve been warning that any assault on Iran will enhance the probability that the Iranians will go away the Non-Proliferation Treaty and transfer in the direction of a bomb. And that danger is now very vital.
So, Trump is making a significant gamble right here, pondering that this truly will soften the Iranian place and make them capitulate. If they do not, what are his choices? And that is the place I feel the Israelis are hoping that the Iranians won’t capitulate and that may power america into the struggle.
Treye Inexperienced edited the digital piece.
