Daijiworld Media Network –Tehran
Tehran, Jun 12: In a development that could dramatically reshape the geopolitical balance in the Middle East, Israel is said to be “fully ready” to launch a military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, according to a report by CBS News. The possibility of such a move has triggered high-level concern in Washington and other Western capitals, as the United States braces for a potential chain reaction of retaliation, regional instability, and global economic consequences.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have reached a boiling point, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government convinced that Tehran is inching dangerously close to achieving nuclear weapons capability under the guise of peaceful development. The Israeli leadership claims to have conducted numerous covert operations to hinder Iran’s progress but now believes a direct military intervention may be the only option left to stop what they perceive as an existential threat.
Meanwhile, the United States, under President Donald Trump, has been attempting to broker a fresh nuclear agreement with Iran to replace the abandoned 2015 deal. However, diplomatic hopes have dimmed as Iran has rapidly increased its uranium stockpile, with international watchdog IAEA warning that the country now possesses nearly 409 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60%—worryingly close to the 90% required for a nuclear weapon. U.S. intelligence officials estimate that Iran could have sufficient material to build a bomb in just weeks.
Against this backdrop, the U.S. State Department has ordered non-essential embassy staff to evacuate Iraq, while the Pentagon has authorized the voluntary departure of military families stationed in various Middle Eastern countries. President Trump, speaking from the Kennedy Center, confirmed the move, warning of a “dangerous” period ahead.
Iran, for its part, has issued stern warnings through both official channels and military leaders. Iranian Defence Minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh stated that if conflict breaks out, U.S. bases across the Middle East would be well within range and would be targeted without hesitation. Iran has reiterated that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes, but the West remains unconvinced.
The regional anxiety has already begun to affect global markets. The British Maritime Trade Organization issued a rare security alert for shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman—key arteries for global oil trade. The uncertainty has caused oil prices to surge, with Brent crude jumping over 4%, now trading at more than $69 per barrel.
The situation is being further complicated by deteriorating diplomatic channels. President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Iran’s foreign minister in Oman in what would be the sixth round of negotiations. However, the meeting now hangs in uncertainty, with Trump expressing doubt over Iran’s willingness to engage constructively, stating, “I’m getting more and more less confident. Something happened to them.”
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Central Command chief General Erik Kurilla have both briefed President Trump on various military options. General Kurilla, who recently postponed his Senate testimony, has been closely monitoring the situation as Washington considers how to respond if Israel proceeds with a unilateral strike.
Analysts fear that such an attack could ignite a broader regional conflict. Iran’s influence across the Middle East through allied militias in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen means that American and allied assets in the region would become immediate targets. Following two rare instances of direct fire exchanges between Iran and Israel in 2024, a once-unthinkable confrontation appears increasingly plausible.