Netanyahu: Israel will strike Iran ‘for as many days as it takes’ to remove nuclear threat

In the early hours of Friday, Israel launched a sweeping and coordinated air assault code named Operation Rising Lion on Iran, targeting multiple high-value nuclear and military facilities.

Speaking on the attacks, in a video statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the operation is expected to continue "for as many days as it takes to remove this threat."

“Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation, to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel 's very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat,” Netanyahu said.

“For decades, the tyrants of Tehran have backed up their genocidal rhetoric with a program to develop nuclear weapons. In recent years, Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for 9 atom bombs, 9 in recent months, Iran has taken steps that it has never taken before, steps to weaponise this enriched uranium and if not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could be a year…could be within a few months, less than a year. This is a clear and present danger to Israel 's very survival,” Netanyahu added.

“I have made it clear time and again, Israel will never allow those who call for our annihilation to develop the means to achieve that goal. Tonight, we struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment program. We struck at the heart of Iran 's nuclear weaponisation program we targeted Iran 's main enrichment facility in Natanz. We targeted Iran 's leading nuclear scientists working on the Iranian bomb. We also struck at the heart of Iran 's ballistic missile program,” Netanyahu said.

“Last year, Iran fired 300 ballistic missiles at Israel. Each of these missiles carries a ton of explosives and threatens the lives of hundreds of people. Soon, those missiles could carry a nuclear payload, threatening the lives not of hundreds but of millions. Yet in defending ourselves, we also defend others. We defend our Arab neighbours. They too have suffered from Iran's campaign of chaos and carnage,” he added.

In another video statement recorded in Hebrew, Netanyahu added that the country had a successful strike, confirming that the military "hit the elite command, elite scientists who are promoting the development of atomic bombs, and hit the Green facilities."

The statement added that, "it is very possible that you will be required to serve."

What did Iran’s Supreme Leader say on the attacks?

In a series of posts, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei signalled strong retaliation, warning that Israel has prepared a “bitter, painful fate” for itself.

“With this crime, the Zionist regime has prepared for itself a bitter, painful fate, which it will definitely see,” wrote Khamenei in his latest post.

Iran’s military responded in retaliation, though neither Iranian nor Israeli forces have confirmed the extent of damage inflicted. In an official statement, Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces said the early morning attack on June 12 targeted both civilian and military zones, resulting in the martyrdom and injury of civilians—including women and children—as well as several military commanders.

“This assault resulted in the martyrdom and injury of a number of our dear compatriots, including women, children, and several commanders of the Armed Forces. The Communications Center of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, while strongly condemning this blatant aggression by the vile Zionist enemy—which stands in violation of all international norms—assures the noble, martyr-nurturing, and courageous people of Islamic Iran that, in line with the command of the Honourable Commander-in-Chief (may his shadow endure), the response of your soldiers in the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the perpetrators, enablers, and supporters of this cowardly act will be crushing and regret-inducing,” the Iran Military issued a statement on X.

Referencing past miscalculations by Saddam Hussein and Ronald Reagan, the Iran Military asserted that those who underestimated Iran were consigned to history.

“That delusional fantasist claimed that Iran has become weak; the future will show who has truly weakened. Saddam also thought Iran was weak and launched his attack. Reagan, too, under the illusion of Iran's weakness, provided extensive support to Saddam’s regime. They — along with dozens of other delusional individuals — ended up in the dustbin of history, while the Islamic force has continued to grow day by day. I assure you, this experience will repeat itself once again, by God’s grace. Imam Khamenei, (23 January 2025),” posted Iran military on X.

Here's all you need to know about the conflict updates

The operation comes less than 24 hours after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors formally censured Iran for the first time in over two decades, declaring it in breach of its non-proliferation obligations due to continued lack of cooperation with nuclear inspectors. The motion, backed by the US, UK, France, and Germany, passed with 19 of the 35 board members in support.

Soon after the airstrikes began, residents in Tehran reported loud explosions and air raid sirens, with smoke rising over the Chitgar district in the west of the capital. Blasts were also heard northeast of Tehran. Though no known nuclear sites are located in those districts, Iranian state media later reported that residential areas had been hit, and several children were among the casualties.

Simultaneously, Israeli airspace was shut, and troops along the northern and southern borders—with Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and Egypt—were placed on high alert. Airlines including Air India quickly cleared airspace over Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan, diverting or cancelling flights as a safety precaution, according to Flightradar24 data.

In response, Iran launched around 100 drones towards Israeli territory, which Israeli forces began intercepting. Israel declared a state of emergency, bracing for missile and drone retaliation.

The human cost of the strikes was significant. The Israel Defence Forces confirmed the death of key position holders of Iran military.

“We can now confirm that the Chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Commander of the IRGC and the Commander of Iran’s Emergency Command were all eliminated in the Israeli strikes across Iran by more than 200 fighter jets. These are three ruthless mass murderers with international blood on their hands. The world is a better place without them,” Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed in a post on X.

Why is the conflict a matter of international concern?

Iran, the third-largest oil producer in OPEC, currently extracts around 3.3 million barrels per day, which accounts for roughly 3% of global supply. Since the 1979 U.S.-imposed sanctions, Iran has faced multiple rounds of American and EU restrictions. Yet, crude exports have recently surged to 1.8 million bpd, the highest since 2018, driven largely by Chinese demand.

The Israeli strikes are reported to have been targeted to key sites pertinent for Iran’s nuclear programme. These include:

Natanz: The core of enrichment efforts, with two sections—the above-ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant and the fortified, underground Fuel Enrichment Plant. Spanning over 100,000 sq. m, it houses thousands of centrifuges and has been a primary Western concern.

Fordow: A mountain-buried site near Qom, revealed in 2009, and fortified against airstrikes. It enriches uranium up to 60% purity and now hosts over 1,000 IR-6 centrifuges. In 2024, Iran doubled its centrifuges here, sparking fears of a rapid breakout capability.

Isfahan: A key logistical and research hub, featuring a Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF), Chinese-supplied reactors, and laboratories. It supports Iran’s nuclear workforce and prepares uranium for enrichment.

Khondab (Arak): An unfinished heavy water reactor near Arak, capable of producing plutonium—another path to nuclear weapons.

Tehran Research Reactor: A U.S.-supplied reactor from the 1960s, now domestically fueled. Though used for medical and academic purposes, it serves as a training ground for nuclear scientists and holds symbolic value.

Bushehr: Iran’s only operational civilian nuclear power plant, located on the Persian Gulf. Built and fueled by Russia, it’s not a military target but central to Iran’s public nuclear narrative.

Iran already holds enough 60% enriched uranium to build nearly four nuclear warheads if further enriched to 90%. While Tehran insists its programme is peaceful, the gap to weapons capability has narrowed considerably.

Did Israel strike Iran’s nuclear facilities?

Israel did strike targets in Iran, and while the IAEA initially confirmed Natanz was among them, it later clarified that no increase in radiation levels had been observed there.

“Iranian authorities have informed the IAEA that the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant has not been targeted and that no increase in radiation levels has been observed at the Natanz site,” said Rafael Grossi, Director General, IAEA, in a statement.

“Further contacts with Iranian authorities confirm that the Isfahan nuclear site has not been impacted,” the agency added.