Iran keeps it’s promise with Operation True Promise penetrating the Iron Dome

June 14, 2025 In a dramatic escalation of tensions in West Asia, Israel launched a large-scale military operation dubbed “Operation Rising Lion” on June 13, 2025, targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. The strikes, described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a preemptive effort to thwart an “existential threat,” have provoked a fierce response from Iran, which launched a barrage of missiles and drones under “Operation True Promise 3.” The conflict has sent shockwaves through global markets, raised fears of a broader war, and drawn varied responses from world leaders, including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Operation Rising Lion: Israel’s Bold Strike

Israel’s Operation Rising Lion was a meticulously planned aerial assault involving over 200 fighter jets targeting key Iranian nuclear and military sites. The primary focus was the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, Iran’s largest and most critical site for producing nuclear fuel. Other targets included ballistic missile factories, military command centers in Tehran, and high-ranking personnel, including Major General Hossein Salami, chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and six nuclear scientists. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed significant damage to Natanz’s above-ground infrastructure, including electrical systems and support facilities, though the underground centrifuge halls—buried 50 yards beneath reinforced concrete—appear largely intact.

Netanyahu, in a televised address, justified the strikes, claiming Iran was “months away” from developing a nuclear weapon, with enough enriched uranium for “nine atom bombs.” He emphasized that the operation aimed to cripple Iran’s nuclear ambitions, missile capabilities, and military leadership to ensure Israel’s survival. The strikes also targeted Iran’s ballistic missile program, which Netanyahu warned could carry nuclear payloads, posing a direct threat to millions.

Iran’s Retaliation: Operation True Promise 3

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed a “bitter and painful” response, and late on June 13, Iran launched over 100 drones and missiles targeting Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Iranian state media reported that the strikes, part of Operation True Promise 3, were in retaliation for Israel’s attack on Natanz and the assassination of key military and scientific figures. Videos showed missiles streaking across Tel Aviv’s skies, with some hitting civilian areas, injuring at least five people, according to the Associated Press.

Israel’s advanced defense systems, the Iron Dome and Golden Arrow, were deployed but reportedly overwhelmed by the volume of incoming projectiles. While the IDF claimed to have intercepted many drones, the scale of Iran’s attack exposed vulnerabilities in Israel’s missile defense architecture, raising concerns about its ability to counter sustained assaults. Iranian ballistic missiles struck the Kirya compound, Israel’s military headquarters in Tel Aviv, often compared to the U.S. Pentagon, causing significant damage. The attack, confirmed by Fox News, exposed vulnerabilities in Israel’s air defense systems, raising tensions in the escalating conflict. Despite the hits, Israeli officials stated they had anticipated retaliation and were prepared for a prolonged conflict.

Why Iran’s Nuclear Program Threatens Israel

Iran’s nuclear program, which began in the 1950s under U.S. support but resumed secretly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, is viewed by Israel as an existential threat due to Tehran’s hostile rhetoric and support for anti-Israel proxies like Hezbollah. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported in June 2025 that Iran was non-compliant with its nuclear obligations, enriching uranium to 60% purity—close to the 90% needed for weapons-grade material. Experts estimate Iran has enough 60% enriched uranium to produce up to six nuclear warheads if further enriched, a process that could take weeks.

Israel’s concerns are amplified by Iran’s fortified nuclear sites, particularly Natanz and Fordow, which are designed to withstand conventional attacks. Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, potentially capable of delivering nuclear payloads, further heighten the threat. Netanyahu’s decision to strike was driven by fears that Iran’s “breakout time” to produce a nuclear weapon had shrunk to months, a scenario Israel deems unacceptable given Iran’s stated opposition to its existence.

Uranium Enrichment: The Science Behind the Threat

Uranium enrichment is the process of increasing the concentration of uranium-235 (U-235), the isotope capable of sustaining a nuclear chain reaction, in natural uranium. Natural uranium contains only 0.7% U-235, with the rest being uranium-238 (U-238), which is non-fissile. Enriched uranium, typically containing 3-5% U-235, is used for nuclear power reactors. Weapons-grade uranium, however, requires at least 90% U-235, achievable through further enrichment.

Enrichment is done using gas centrifuges, which spin uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas to separate U-235 from U-238 based on their slight mass difference. Natanz, located 225 kilometers south of Tehran, houses thousands of centrifuges, including advanced IR-6 models, capable of enriching uranium to 60% purity. The process is complex and energy-intensive, requiring precise engineering and robust infrastructure, making facilities like Natanz critical to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Natanz: A Symbolic and Strategic Target

The Natanz enrichment facility, partially underground and spanning 100,000 square meters, has been a focal point of international concern since its covert construction was revealed in 2002. Israel’s recent strikes damaged above-ground structures, including the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP) and electrical systems, but the underground Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP), protected by 5-meter-thick concrete, was reportedly unscathed. The IDF claimed to have destroyed multiple floors of the underground facility, though Iranian officials downplayed the damage, asserting that enrichment operations continue.

Natanz has been targeted before, notably by the Stuxnet cyberattack in 2010, attributed to the U.S. and Israel, which disrupted centrifuges, and sabotage incidents in 2020 and 2021, blamed on Israel’s Mossad. These attacks delayed Iran’s program but did not halt it. Experts note that only the U.S.’s GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), or “Mother of All Bombs,” could potentially penetrate Natanz’s deepest fortifications, a capability Israel lacks.

Why Avoid Bushehr and Israel’s Nuclear Sites?

Iran’s Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant, which uses Russian-supplied fuel, was not targeted, likely to avoid a catastrophic radiological disaster. Similarly, Iran has refrained from striking Israel’s rumored nuclear facilities, such as the Dimona reactor, to prevent mutual escalation into a nuclear catastrophe. Israel neither confirms nor denies its nuclear capabilities, maintaining strategic ambiguity, but estimates suggest it possesses dozens of warheads. Iran’s threat to disclose Israel’s nuclear blueprints, if credible, could escalate tensions further, though no concrete evidence has emerged.

Global Reactions and Modi’s Call for Peace

Netanyahu briefed world leaders, including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the operation. Modi, in a phone call with Netanyahu, emphasized the need for de-escalation and diplomatic solutions, reiterating India’s “close and friendly relations” with both Israel and Iran. India’s external affairs ministry urged both sides to avoid further provocation and offered support for peace efforts. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also engaged with his Israeli and Iranian counterparts to advocate for restraint.

Economic Fallout: Global, U.S., and Indian Impacts

The strikes triggered immediate economic repercussions. Oil prices surged, with U.S. benchmark crude rising 5.8% to $71.97 per barrel and Brent crude increasing to $73.18, reflecting fears of disruptions in Iran, a major oil producer. The U.S. economy, already grappling with inflation concerns, faces risks from higher energy costs, which could exacerbate consumer prices and strain markets. Wall Street indices dipped slightly as investors assessed the potential for a wider conflict.

India, heavily reliant on Middle Eastern oil, saw its stock markets decline, with the Sensex and Nifty dropping 1.5% amid fears of supply chain disruptions. The Indian rupee weakened against the dollar, raising concerns about import costs. However, India’s diversified energy imports and strategic reserves may mitigate short-term impacts. Analysts warn that prolonged conflict could strain India’s economy, particularly in energy and trade sectors.

A Precarious Path Forward

Operation Rising Lion has dealt a blow to Iran’s nuclear program, but its long-term impact remains uncertain. Natanz’s underground facilities and Iran’s expertise suggest resilience, while Fordow, untouched in the strikes, could sustain enrichment efforts. Iran’s retaliatory strikes have tested Israel’s defenses, and the risk of further escalation looms large. As global powers call for restraint, the world watches anxiously, hoping diplomacy can avert a descent into all-out war.