Iran says Israel targeted six military bases around Tehran

Iran says Israel targeted six military bases around Tehran

Iran has responded to what it claims were Israeli airstrikes on six military bases around Tehran by targeting US military installations in the region. The move comes amidst heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, with both sides engaged in nuclear talks that have hit a roadblock over Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities.

Iran’s Defense Minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh, announced the retaliatory strikes on Wednesday, stating that Iran would target US military bases in the region if the US attacked it first. Nasirzadeh’s remarks were reported by Reuters, and he emphasized that all US bases in the region are within Iran’s reach [1].

The US has been engaged in talks with Iran to reach a nuclear deal, with the sixth round of talks scheduled to take place later this week in Oman. However, the talks have been strained by Iran’s insistence on preserving its uranium enrichment capabilities and the US demand that Iran eliminate them. President Donald Trump has expressed growing doubts about the likelihood of reaching a deal, stating that he is less confident now than he was a couple of months ago [1].

In response to the Israeli strikes, Iran has promised a “proportionate” response to any action against it by the US or the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA is currently meeting in Vienna, where it is poised to vote on a resolution to censure Iran over accusations it has failed to comply with nuclear non-proliferation obligations [1].

The Israeli strikes on Iran’s military bases are part of a broader regional conflict that has alarmed many in the US, including MAGA advocates who have warned against a direct military confrontation with Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been deeply skeptical of the nuclear talks and has insisted that any new agreement with Iran eliminate its ballistic missile capabilities and support for regional proxies such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen [2].

The US has been cautious about supporting potential Israeli attacks on Iran, with officials informing Israel that the US will not militarily support such attacks in the coming days. Without US support, an Israeli attack is likely to do limited damage to Iran’s nuclear sites, some of which are buried deep underground [2].

The US has moved to shrink its presence in the region in response to the rising tensions, with the State Department authorizing the evacuation of some personnel in Iraq and the Pentagon green-lighting the departure of military family members across the region [2].

The nuclear talks are a critical aspect of the US’s strategy to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. The US has long expressed concern that Iran’s nuclear program is not purely for civilian purposes, and the US administration has sought to dismantle or destroy Iran’s enrichment capabilities as part of any potential deal. However, Iran denies that it is seeking to develop a nuclear weapon and insists that it has the right to enrich low-grade uranium for civilian purposes [2].

The US is committed to defending Israel, including with assistance in repelling any retaliatory attack that Iran has promised if Israel strikes first. The US special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to travel to Oman’s capital, Muscat, on Sunday for the sixth round of talks with Iran [2].

The regional conflict is a complex issue with significant geopolitical and economic implications. The US and Iran have long been at odds over Iran’s nuclear program, and any military confrontation could have serious consequences for global energy markets and the stability of the Middle East. The nuclear talks are a critical opportunity for the US and Iran to find a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue, but the prospects for a breakthrough remain uncertain.

References:
[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/11/iran-threatens-to-strike-us-bases-if-conflict-erupts-over-nuclear-programme
[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/06/12/iran-israel-nuclear-us-trump/