Tehran/Jerusalem, June 23, 2025 — Tensions in the Middle East continued to spiral on Monday as Israel launched fresh missile attacks on Iran’s underground nuclear facility at Fordo, further intensifying a deadly 11-day conflict that now threatens to engulf the region in a broader war.

The renewed attack on Fordo — Iran’s heavily fortified uranium enrichment site built deep beneath a mountain near Qom — comes amid daily aerial exchanges between the two long-time enemies and growing global concern about a potential full-scale war.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Monday strike also targeted surface-to-surface missile launch sites in western Iran. This marks the second confirmed attack on Fordo in 10 days, with military analysts suggesting a concerted attempt to cripple Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Background: June 13 Onslaught and the U.S. Entry

This new phase of open warfare began on June 13, when Israel initiated coordinated airstrikes on multiple Iranian targets, including:

• Natanz – a central facility in Iran’s uranium enrichment program.

• Isfahan – believed to house centrifuge assembly capabilities.

• Fordo – a deeply buried site capable of enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels.

Over the weekend, the United States formally entered the conflict, with American B-2 bombers unleashing bunker-buster bombs on the same three facilities. The precision strikes — using GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators and Tomahawk cruise missiles — were described by President Donald Trump as having “obliterated Iran’s nuclear capabilities.”

“Iran must understand that nuclear brinkmanship will no longer be tolerated. We have delivered a message — forcefully,” President Trump said in a press briefing from the White House.

However, U.S. defense officials offered a more cautious assessment, noting that it was “too early to tell” how severely Iran’s nuclear program had been degraded.

Tehran Vows Retaliation, Says Diplomacy Dead

In a fiery statement issued by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Tehran condemned the Israeli and U.S. actions as a “gross violation of international law” and “a deliberate act of war.”

“The United States has crossed a very big red line. The era of diplomacy is over. Iran reserves the full right to defend its territory and people,” the statement read.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian accused the U.S. of acting on behalf of Israel and warned of “consequences that would reverberate far beyond the region.”

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vowed a “multi-phased response,” with speculation mounting about cyberattacks, proxy operations through Hezbollah or the Houthis, and even retaliatory missile launches.

Israel’s Objectives: Preemptive Strike Doctrine

Military experts say that Israel’s repeated strikes on Fordo and other nuclear facilities align with its long-standing “Begin Doctrine,” which asserts the country’s right to preemptively attack nuclear threats in hostile states.

Israel has previously destroyed nuclear reactors in Iraq (1981) and Syria (2007) under similar logic. However, Iran’s nuclear infrastructure is vastly more dispersed and hardened, complicating such operations.

The Fordo facility, carved into a mountain and surrounded by anti-air defenses, is regarded as one of Iran’s most protected sites. Despite this, the IDF claims it was able to penetrate key outer structures, though the full extent of damage remains unclear.

“We are committed to ensuring Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon — not now, not ever,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benny Gantz, in a national address.

Bunker-Buster Bombs: Game-Changer or Gamble?

The use of bunker-buster bombs by the U.S. marks a major escalation in military tactics. The GBU-57, weighing over 13 tonnes, is designed to destroy fortified underground targets — a signal that Washington is no longer content with mere deterrence.

However, experts warn this action may embolden Iran’s hardliners, especially with the political establishment now unified in opposition to both Israel and the U.S.

“This is not 2015. Iran’s ability to rebuild and retaliate is far more advanced now,” said Ali Vaez, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group.

Wider Regional Implications: Strait of Hormuz and Oil Shock

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint through which over 20% of the world’s oil supply passes, remains open — but barely. Iranian naval exercises and reports of U.S. and Israeli warships in the Persian Gulf have spiked global anxiety.

Oil prices soared, with Brent crude jumping nearly 2% to USD 78.31 per barrel on Monday morning.

While both Washington and Tel Aviv claim they “do not seek war,” the convergence of military, diplomatic, and economic tensions now makes de-escalation increasingly difficult.

U.S. Diplomatic Backchannel?

Despite the severity of the attacks, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that “the United States does not seek war” and is still open to negotiations.

Sources within the U.S. State Department say backchannel talks through Oman and Qatar have already been initiated, though Iran publicly denies any engagement.

“Iran has nothing to talk about. There will be no dialogue with missile-firing aggressors,” said Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Global Reactions: UN Emergency Session, G7 Warnings

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an emergency Security Council meeting to discuss the unfolding crisis.

• The G7 bloc, currently meeting in Berlin, released a joint statement urging “maximum restraint by all parties.”

• Russia and China condemned the U.S. bombing as a “destabilizing act,” while several EU leaders called for an immediate ceasefire.

What Happens Next?

The question of what constitutes a red line has now blurred for all involved. Israel has made clear that it will not back down until it deems Iran’s nuclear threat neutralized. Iran insists it will not be cowed into submission, and the U.S. seems caught between hard-power deterrence and residual hope for diplomacy.

In the coming days, analysts expect:

1. Heightened military activity across Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon as Iranian proxies react.

2. More cyber warfare and disinformation campaigns.

3. Global oil price volatility.

4. Potential retaliatory missile attacks on Israeli soil or Gulf assets.

5. Expanded conflict into maritime zones or critical infrastructure targets.

Conclusion

The repeated strike on Fordo — Iran’s most secretive nuclear site — is more than a military maneuver. It is a message of dominance, deterrence, and defiance. Yet, it may also be the catalyst that draws the Middle East into a dangerous, prolonged conflict with no clear off-ramp.

As the world watches nervously, one thing is clear: the shadow war between Israel and Iran has now erupted into the light — and it may take more than diplomacy to put it back into the shadows.

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