# Israel, and the USA as of June 21, 2025, strikes dozens of targets in Iran, including nuclear program **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** breaking-news\ **Created:** [June 13, 2025, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556 "2025-06-13T01:51:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/21 "2025-06-13T09:00:21Z")
Fair enough. You’re correct and win an SDMB “I’m technically right” point. But you’ve missed the forest because of the trees. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/22 "2025-06-13T10:11:38Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > He sure as hell doesn’t care about international relations. _Everything_ he does is about playing to his base here. I’d say he cares, he just doesn’t have loyalty, command respect and control enough to be relevant on that stage (yet?), which is the seat of his power. In these issues he has been laughably weak, really the emperor has no clothes weak. Ukraine is acting on there own, bypassing the WH, in this case Israel launches this before Turnip gets involved in his peace talks, basically making him irrelevant. Not to mention this trade war which is him saying you can trade with us or the world (as building in the US, makes you subject to his will and whims, and possible extortion). The world is a larger market then the US, easy choice. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/23 "2025-06-13T10:23:24Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Why now? Why not a week or month or year ago? [https://www.timesofisrael.com/an-immediate-operational-necessity-why-israel-finally-attacked-irans-nuclear-facilities/](https://www.timesofisrael.com/an-immediate-operational-necessity-why-israel-finally-attacked-irans-nuclear-facilities/) from the cite: > [@](#): > > Because in the assessment of Israel’s security chiefs, Iran’s nuclear weapons program had advanced to the point of existential threat, from a regime avowedly seeking to bring about Israel’s destruction… the IDF’s Chief of Staff declared that the situation had “reached the point of no return". ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/24 "2025-06-13T10:29:25Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Fair enough. You’re correct and win an SDMB “I’m technically right” point. But you’ve missed the forest because of the trees. Look guys. Israel striking Iran is never “routine”. It’s always a significant development with significant risk. But it’s not a new phase of the Iran-Israel conflict, because quite obviously they traded hundreds of missiles last year in response to Israel bombing the Iranian consulate which was in response to Iran running a hostile intelligence op out of there which was no doubt in response to some other endless chain of grievances. It’s not a new escalation, it’s not a new level of violence. But any recent development in this area is always a serious concern, and always has the potential to intensify and spill over into neighboring regions. So while it’s not unprecedented, it shouldn’t be dismissed as “routine”. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/25 "2025-06-13T10:57:20Z")
There was a nuclear deal in place under Obama that was meant to prevent this; it’s a shame Netanyahu tried to torpedo it and Trump actually did torpedo it. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/26 "2025-06-13T11:11:06Z")
Relevant sites with far more detail than I can cut and paste here: > **[Israeli Commandos Attacked Iranian Air Defenses With Drones From Inside The...](https://www.twz.com/air/israel-hid-drones-missiles-around-iran-to-target-nuclear-facilities-and-more-report)** > > Mossad operatives went as far as setting up drone and missile bases near major air defense sites and other key targets. Mossad operatives went as far as setting up drone and missile bases near major air defense sites and other key targets. > **[Israel Launches Operation Rising Lion To Destroy Iran's Nuclear Program...](https://www.twz.com/air/israel-strikes-iran)** > > With tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear program at an all-time high, Israel has executed a kinetic operation that included strikes in Tehran. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/27 "2025-06-13T11:32:10Z")
Attacking nuclear assets is an escalation, but so is producing weapons-grade nuclear material and manufacturing nuclear weapons, so this kind of open conflict (“kinetic operation”!?) is nearly inevitable right now and will take some skilled diplomacy (new nuclear deal, along with some sub rosa political stuff) to ratchet down. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/28 "2025-06-13T12:13:55Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > there was a nuclear deal in place under Obama that was meant to prevent this Yes, and that deal was kinda reminiscent of another famous deal which was meant to prevent war, and to bring peace in our time. . . . (note to mods: I think there’s a rule about no politics in breaking-news threads. But I think my comment doesn’t violate the rule, because it’s more of a historical reference, with no mention of specific politicians, and is no more political than the post I’m replying to, or the other posts above which mention Trump’s role.. If you disagree, I apologize,-- feel free to hide my post.). ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/29 "2025-06-13T12:48:03Z")
Then it sure is a good thing visionaries like Netanyahu and Trump worked to sink the deal, because things are going so great now in the region! ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/30 "2025-06-13T13:01:20Z")
Dumbs question, but if Israel bombs a building containing uranium, does that mean the building and surrounding area will be contaminated with uranium? And is that one of Israel’s intentions, or are they trying to avoid that? ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/31 "2025-06-13T13:11:44Z")
Not dumb. Yes contaminated. Same principle as a ‘dirty bomb’. Surround some explosive with radioactive material and set it off. Could be uranium or radioactive sources scavenged/stolen from medical equipment. Localized but scary as a nuclear boogeyman. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/32 "2025-06-13T13:21:59Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > from the cite: > > > [@](#): > > > > Because in the assessment of Israel’s security chiefs, Iran’s nuclear weapons program had advanced to the point of existential threat, from a regime avowedly seeking to bring about Israel’s destruction… the IDF’s Chief of Staff declared that the situation had “reached the point of no return". You’ll have to forgive me for not believing the assessment of the situation from a guy who brought a picture of a cartoon bomb to the UN. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/33 "2025-06-13T13:22:21Z")
Regardless of who started it (a question that, in the Middle East, ultimately goes back to the dawn of recorded history), the point is this particular attack was not something new. > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Dumbs question, but if Israel bombs a building containing uranium, does that mean the building and surrounding area will be contaminated with uranium? And is that one of Israel’s intentions, or are they trying to avoid that? Dirty bombs are overrated. All sorts of industrial facilities can dangerously contaminate the area they’re in, if there’s some sort of mishap (whether an accident or an intentional attack). The biggest difference with a dirty bomb, aside from the optics, is that it’s a lot easier to detect the contamination, which in turn makes the cleanup easier. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/34 "2025-06-13T13:24:23Z")
Thanks. And I’m not sure if this makes a difference or not, but I was referring to Israel dropping conventional bombs onto a facility/building/whatever that is housing uranium. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/35 "2025-06-13T13:29:31Z")
Same effect as a dirty bomb. Might be different optics if the uranium was already there vs. in the weapon, but I don’t pretend to understand optics. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/36 "2025-06-13T13:46:41Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > because things are going so great now in the region! yeah, that’s the million dollar question: How great will things be going a year from now.. If the attack succeeds in destroying Iran’s nuke capability, then future generations will thank Israel profusely. The world will be much safer . But I’m guessing that aerial attacks can’t destroy the centrifuges and the uranium, which are presumably deep underground, or in long tunnels. I’m guessing that the bombs only smash up the ground above the nuke facilities, burying the entrances and the ventilation shafts .If so, then Iran can dig out and rebuild within a year or two, and we are back to the original situation we have now–Iran will have facilities with full nuke capability. And not only will they proudly have an Islamic bomb, they will be pissed enough to use it. . > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Dumbs question, but if Israel bombs a building containing uranium, does that mean the building and surrounding area will be contaminated? according to Iran, [theanswer is no](https://www.jns.org/un-watchdog-confirms-iranian-nuclear-site-struck/) > [@](#): > > The Atomic Energy Agency of Iran said the Natanz facility was damaged. It claimed there was no leakage of radioactive or chemical contamination outside the facility ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/37 "2025-06-13T13:50:41Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > But I’m guessing that aerial attacks can’t destroy the centrifuges and the uranium, which are presumably deep underground, or in long tunnels. I’m guessing that the bombs only smash up the ground above the nuke facilities, burying the entrances and the ventilation shafts .If so, then Iran can dig out and rebuild within a year or two, and we are back to the original situation we have now–Iran will have facilities with full nuke capability. And not only will they proudly have an Islamic bomb, they will be pissed enough to use it. Yes, this is what I think. This was probably a really, really dumb move. While the Iran nuke deal was in place, there was no reason to believe they were violating it – and as long as Iran wasn’t directly threatened, they would feel less need for nuclear weapons. Now? Iran has to be thinking nukes are absolutely necessary. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/38 "2025-06-13T13:57:21Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > there was no reason to believe they were violating it Huh? This article by the BBC says that Iran is already violating it, and has enough enriched uranium to make 9 nuclear bombs, and has failed to allow access for international inspectors. > [@](#): > > a report from the IAEA last week which criticised Iran’s “general lack of co-operation” and said it had enough uranium enriched to 60% purity, near weapons grade, to potentially make nine nuclear bombs. > **[Watchdog finds Iran failing to meet nuclear obligations](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3v6w2qr12o)** > > Iran condemns the resolution passed by the IAEA's board of governors as "political" and says it will open a new uranium enrichment facility. of course, we can all believe that Iran would have lived up to any agreement, and only wants to use its uranium for peaceful purposes. Because a nation with a third-world standard of living, and full of easily accessible oil just has to switch to expensive nuclear power plants, right?. And we can believe in fairy tales, too. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/39 "2025-06-13T13:58:32Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Dumbs question, but if Israel bombs a building containing uranium, does that mean the building and surrounding area will be contaminated with uranium? And is that one of Israel’s intentions, or are they trying to avoid that? The UN is warning that it could mean that: > **[U.N. nuclear watchdog condemns Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites](https://www.nbcnews.com/video/u-n-nuclear-watchdog-condemns-israeli-strikes-on-iranian-nuclear-sites-241513541517)** > > The U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency has condemned Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, saying that the attacks are “deeply concerning.” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi added that strikes on nuclear sites could “harm both... But there’s been no radioactive contamination so far, according to Iran. * * * > [@chappachula](#): > > yeah, that’s the million dollar question: How great will things be going a year from now.. The Israelis might be aiming for regime change in Iran. No idea if that would mean a more pro-Western government, or the kind of chaos and destabilisation we’ve seen elsewhere in the Middle East. ETA: supposedly that’s the point of the name ‘Rising Lion’. This is the pre-revolution Iranian flag: [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51v9ShdkVAL._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51v9ShdkVAL._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556/40 "2025-06-13T13:59:36Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Huh? > This article by the BBC says that Iran has enough enriched uranium to make 9 nuclear bombs, and has failed to allow access for international inspectors. That’s now. Back when Obama put the deal in place, and while it was in place, Iran was in compliance. Only after Trump abandoned the deal did Iran go out of compliance. From your own link: > However, US President Donald Trump abandoned the agreement during his first term in 2018, saying it did too little to stop a pathway to a bomb, and reinstated US sanctions. > > Since 2019, Iran has increasingly breached restrictions of the existing nuclear deal in retaliation, particularly those relating to production of enriched uranium. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-and-the-usa-as-of-june-21-2025-strikes-dozens-of-targets-in-iran-including-nuclear-program/1019556.md?page=3)