Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iran's nuclear and military sites on Friday. Explosions were reported in Tehran. 

After the strikes, Israel declared a state of emergency. Defence Minister Israel Katz explained why the emergency was necessary. He said, "Following the State of Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future."

This shows that Israel is expecting Iran to hit back soon. The situation has made people in the region more worried, as both countries are known to have powerful military forces.

Oil prices went up by 6 cent after the Israeli strikes. This shows that the global market is also reacting strongly to the growing tension.

The strikes came shortly after Donald Trump made an important statement at the White House on Thursday. "I don't want to say imminent, but it looks like it's something that could very well happen," Trump said when asked if an Israeli attack on Iran was coming.

Trump added that a deal on Iran's nuclear programme was "fairly close", but also warned that Israel’s attack “could blow it”. He added, "Might help it actually, but it also could blow it." A US official later confirmed that the United States had no involvement in the Israeli strike.

Tensions rise over Iran’s nuclear programme

On Wednesday, the United States announced it would reduce embassy staff in Iraq, a country that has seen proxy fights between the US and Iran for many years.

Israel sees Iran, a religious government that strongly opposes it, as a serious threat. Last year, Israel had already hit Iranian air defence systems. Since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas, which is backed by Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to be more aggressive in defending Israel.

Israel, along with the United States and other Western countries, has often accused Iran of trying to build a nuclear weapon. Iran has always denied this.

Israel is now asking other countries to take global action. On Wednesday, the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran was not following its nuclear obligations. This could allow European countries to bring back UN sanctions that were lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal made during President Obama’s term.

Trump had removed the US from that deal during his first term and put strong sanctions on Iran.

In reaction to the IAEA’s new resolution, Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami called the move “extremist” and said it was because of Israeli influence.

Iran has now decided to open a new uranium enrichment centre in a more secure place. They also said they would replace old machines at the Fordo plant with sixth-generation advanced machines. This would allow them to speed up their uranium enrichment.

Right now, Iran is enriching uranium to 60 percent, which is far above the 3.67 percent limit in the 2015 deal. It is also very close to the 90 percent needed to make a nuclear weapon, though Iran still says it is not building one.

As the world watches, the situation between Israel and Iran continues to grow more serious, with global powers and oil markets on high alert.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an early-morning video statement, confirmed that Israel had attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities. He said the aim was to remove an existential threat and stated that the battle would continue for “as many days as it takes”.

Netanyahu said Israeli forces had attacked Iran’s “main enrichment facility in Natanz”, its ballistic missile capabilities, and top Iranian nuclear scientists. He stated, “We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear weaponisation programme. We targeted Iran’s leading nuclear scientists working on the Iranian bomb. We also struck at the heart of Iran’s ballistic missile program.”

According to Netanyahu, Israel’s targets included nuclear facilities, air defence batteries, homes and headquarters of senior officials, weapons depots, and laboratories. The first wave of the operation also focused on senior Iranian figures.

Following the attack, Israel’s defence ministry declared a national state of emergency. The public was advised to prepare for possible missile and drone attacks from Iran.

Netanyahu said, “I told our security leadership: We have no alternative but to act swiftly. We can’t leave these threats for the next generation. If we don’t act now, there won’t be a next generation.”
He added, “Together, with God’s help, we will ensure Israel’s eternity.”

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