Israel attacks Iran; Tehran vows revenge

‘Point of no return’ Escalation of conflicts between Israel and Iran finally reached a breaking point with Israel Defense Forces’ ‘preemptive strike’ against its foe early on 13 June. Rescue teams work outside a heavily damaged building in the Iranian capital Tehran. Israel carried out strikes against Iran, which in an IDF statement it said has been intensifying its nuclear weapons program to the point of ‘existential threat.’

| Published June 13, 2025

Israel launched a significant military operation, codenamed “Operation Rising Lion,” targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. The strikes resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Major Generals Hossein Salami, Mohammad Bagheri, and Gholam Ali Rashid, as well as six nuclear scientists integral to Iran’s nuclear program. The attacks also caused extensive damage to facilities such as the Natanz uranium enrichment site and affected 12 of Iran’s 31 provinces, leading to at least 121 injuries and widespread destruction.

Iran’s Response: A Nation United in Vengeance

In the aftermath, Iran’s leadership has vowed a “crushing and tooth-breaking response.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the strikes as a “crime” and warned that Israel would face a “bitter and painful fate.” The Iranian Armed Forces spokesman, Abolfazl Shekarchi, echoed this sentiment, stating that both Israel and the United States would “pay the price” for the attacks.

On the ground, cities across Iran, including Tehran, Isfahan, and Qom, witnessed large-scale protests. Demonstrators waved Palestinian and Iranian flags, chanting slogans such as “Death to Israel” and “Death to America,” calling for swift retaliation. The government has imposed nationwide internet restrictions to control the flow of information and manage public sentiment.

A Regional and Global Response

Iran’s allies and proxy groups have also expressed their support for retaliation. Leaders from Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthi movement attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president and have pledged to stand by Iran in its quest for vengeance. Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassim, and lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah, who were present during the inauguration, have remained in Iran and are reportedly involved in discussions about coordinated responses.

The Path Forward: A Volatile Future

As Iran prepares for its next move, the international community watches closely. The United Nations has called for restraint from both sides to prevent further escalation. However, with both nations mobilizing their military forces and regional allies aligning, the risk of a broader conflict looms large. The coming days and weeks will be critical in determining whether diplomacy can prevail or if the Middle East will be plunged into a more extensive war.

Implications of Iran’s Pledge for Revenge Against Israel

The Iranian leadership’s fierce vow to retaliate following Israel’s June 2025 strikes has set the stage for potentially transformative consequences, not just for Iran and Israel, but for the broader Middle East and global stability. Below are the key implications:

1. Imminent Risk of Regional War

• Cycle of Retaliation: With Iran vowing a “crushing” response and Israel on high alert, both nations are entrenched in a dangerous tit-for-tat dynamic.

• Proxy Mobilization: Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria, and Houthi rebels in Yemen could be activated for indirect strikes on Israel and its allies.

• Multi-Front Warfare: A coordinated retaliation could overwhelm Israeli defenses and spark simultaneous fighting on multiple fronts—from Gaza to the Golan Heights.

2. Threat to Global Oil and Trade Routes

• Strait of Hormuz: Iran may retaliate by targeting shipping in this vital waterway through which over 20% of the world’s oil passes—triggering a global energy crisis.

• Drone and Missile Attacks on Gulf States: U.S.-aligned oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain could become targets, heightening global tensions and disrupting markets.

3. Impact on U.S. and Allied Forces

• Increased Danger to U.S. Troops: With Iran openly threatening the U.S. for its perceived role, American bases in Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf could face drone, missile, or cyberattacks.

• U.S. Strategic Dilemma: The U.S. may be forced to choose between restraining Israel to prevent escalation or backing its ally in a broader conflict.

• NATO Cohesion at Risk: European members, fearing a drawn-out conflict, may diverge from U.S. or Israeli policy, weakening transatlantic unity.

4. Collapse of Nuclear Diplomacy

• JCPOA Dead and Buried: Any remnants of the Iran nuclear deal are now void. Iran’s leadership may withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), accelerating its nuclear ambitions.

• Nuclear Threshold Danger: A post-strike Iran may abandon all international oversight, enriching uranium at high levels and pushing the region into a nuclear arms race.

5. Internal Political and Social Mobilization in Iran

• Nationalist Surge: The deaths of top generals have unified hardliners and moderates in a rare moment of national consensus on revenge.

• Repression at Home: Internet blackouts and mass arrests have already started. The regime may use the crisis to crack down on dissent under the banner of national security.

• Military Consolidation: Iran’s armed forces are restructuring quickly, with new appointments suggesting a shift toward more aggressive and externally-focused military strategies.

6. Escalation of Cyberwarfare and Asymmetric Attacks

• Cyber Attacks on Infrastructure: Iran could launch retaliatory cyber operations targeting Israeli energy grids, water systems, or airports, as it has attempted in the past.

• Terror Threat Abroad: Iranian operatives and proxies could attempt attacks on Israeli or Jewish targets in Europe, Latin America, or Southeast Asia—raising global security concerns.

7. Diplomatic Repercussions and Shifting Alliances

• UN Paralysis: With both nations accusing the other of violations, and veto-wielding powers backing opposing sides, the UN Security Council is unlikely to mediate meaningfully.

• Strained Arab-Israeli Ties: Arab nations recently normalizing ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords may delay or reverse cooperation to avoid domestic backlash.

• Russia and China’s Opportunity: Iran may lean more heavily on Moscow and Beijing for weapons, intelligence, and diplomatic cover—intensifying global East-West polarization.

8. Humanitarian and Civilian Fallout

• Civilians in the Crossfire: Both Israeli and Iranian civilians are under heightened threat. Already, missile barrages have caused injuries and fatalities in cities like Tel Aviv and Isfahan.

• Displacement and Refugee Risks: A broader war could force hundreds of thousands to flee, overwhelming Lebanon, Iraq, and Turkey.

• International Aid Access: If war expands, NGOs and humanitarian organizations may struggle to access affected areas due to insecurity and sanctions.

9. Strategic Uncertainty and Global Instability

• Markets on Edge: Oil prices are already spiking. A prolonged crisis could trigger global inflation, supply chain disruptions, and economic shocks.

• Model for Future Conflicts: The normalization of preemptive strikes and revenge campaigns could set a precedent for future geopolitical crises—from South Asia to the Korean Peninsula.

• Nuclear Crisis Potential: With no diplomatic backchannels functioning and mutual threats escalating, a miscalculation could lead to regional or even global catastrophe.

Overall Takeway:

Iran’s vow for revenge following Israel’s June 2025 strikes marks a volatile turning point in Middle Eastern geopolitics. What began as a targeted military operation has now ignited a broad and dangerous escalation—fuelled by rage, grief, and political resolve. Tehran’s response is not a question of if, but how, when, and how far.

The overall takeaway is this: the Middle East is now perched on the edge of a wider, potentially uncontrollable conflict. With key Iranian military leaders killed, national pride wounded, and nuclear ambitions struck, Iran sees retaliation not just as revenge—but as a necessity for regime credibility, regional power projection, and domestic unity.

Israel, in executing a bold and devastating preemptive strike, has achieved a tactical success—but at the cost of strategic instability. Iran’s retaliation could unfold through missiles, cyberattacks, proxy wars, or covert global operations—any of which might spiral into direct war.

For the region and the world, the coming days are not just tense—they’re decisive. Global actors must act quickly if diplomacy is to reassert itself before violence becomes the dominant language. Because if restraint fails, the repercussions won’t stop at the borders of Israel or Iran—they will ripple through oil markets, global alliances, and civilian lives across continents.

SOURCES: DAILY TRIBUNE – Israel attacks Iran; Tehran vows revenge

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