To be attacked was a looming threat for Iran, which is now no longer a looming one. Israel has struck Iran. It was an expected strike, as Israel considers Iran an existential threat to the U.S. and particularly to itself. Likewise, having perceived a possible attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, Iran claimed to possess a “treasure trove” of sensitive Israeli documents of its nuclear sites, which may also be struck in retaliation if Iran were attacked in the event of escalation.

Operation Rising Lion turned a looming threat into a direct act of war.

With each passing day prospects of inevitable war were anticipated. Consequently, this anticipation became a reality after Israel attacked Iran. Iran also vows to retaliate as it is a blatant violation of its sovereignty and an escalation of the standoff between the two rivals. This so-called preemptive strike of Israel may lead the region into a long and devastating war, putting peace at stake.

Until the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran was not so against the state of Israel. Following the Iranian Islamic Revolution under the leadership of Imam Khomeini when Iran perceived Israel as an enemy state of the Muslim world. Israel had confiscated Palestinians’ resources and properties and annexed their land, killing thousands and displacing millions within the region and outside of it. Therefore, from Iran’s perspective, Israel must be eliminated at any cost.

The hostility has further deteriorated. In response to the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, Israel launched a multi-front war on the Gaza Strip on October 27, 2023. According to multiple international reports, Israel has indiscriminately killed children, women, and civilians. According to the Gaza Health Ministry reports, published on 11 June 2025, the death toll in Gaza has reached 55,720 out of whom 33.1 per cent were children and 18.3 per cent were women with leaving 100,000 seriously injured. By blocking aid passages, Israel has starved thousands of children.

This genocide, as characterized by many eminent observers, has continued since then, representing an unprecedented catastrophe in recent times. Simultaneously, Hezbollah and Houthis carried out multiple attacks on Israel. Till the early morning of June 13, 2025, when Israel launched a severe attack on Iran, both parties had maintained a war if words, threatening a viable continued war of words by threatening viable attacks against each other.

Iran vows a ‘harsh response,’ warning Israel of a ‘bitter and painful fate.’

The desire for regional dominance has further deteriorated animosity between Iran and Israel. The balance of power shifted against Iran when Israel secretly built the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center in the 1950s with the assistance of France. By December 1960, the unclassified  U.S. documents revealed that at Dimon, Israel was enriching plutonium likely for a nuclear bomb. But it was deceptively covered by Israeli officials, calling it a textile industry. Perceiving the great threat, Iran observed the developments very closely and simultaneously resolved to develop nuclear weapons to balance power with Israel in the region.

After the recent attacks on Iran, the question arises whether it is a preemptive strike or a triggering point for a new war in the region. Israel wants to revive the old playbook of its preemptive strike on Egypt, which led to the Six-Day War of 1967, with Iran. However, Israel needs to realize that Iran is not Egypt and not the geopolitical context the same as in 1967. Iran is quite capable of retaliating and prolonging the war against Israel with its modern stockpiles of ballistic missiles. It will resultantly create chaos and unrest in the region.

Furthermore, in addition to many declared nuclear sites, Iran has a number of covert sites for Uranium enrichment, too, which could potentially be used for nuclear bombs. In the early morning of June 13, 2025, Israel attacked key military command centers, including the largest Natanz nuclear facility, located about 220 km southeast of Tehran, in Isfahan province. Israel named these attacks “Operation Rising Lion. It has also killed the scientists who were working in different facilities. Multiple sources, including Al Jazeera and the Times of Israel, have confirmed these attacks on different targets in Iran. Iran is now considering its options to retaliate.

To retaliate for this act of war, Iran vows a “harsh response”. Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei warns of a “bitter and painful fate” for Israel. Undoubtedly, Iran will likely launch a severe attack on Israel which will start a game of tit for tat and effectively setting aside peace efforts. Iran claims to possess sensitive information; if it is true, Iran will deal a serious blow to Israel and will try to inflict more devastation than the Natanz losses.

Natanz is not Egypt in 1967; Tehran can prolong the fight with modern ballistic missiles.

As earlier cited above, according to the latest reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and  Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS),  Iran has increased uranium enrichment to 60 percent, far exceeding the limit set by the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The IAEA has also said that there are a number of covert Iranian nuclear facilities, too, so Iran might have developed nuclear weapons, which is also being anticipated by the way Iran has threatened Israel and the U.S. interests in the region. Therefore, there is a great possibility that this war is going to be prolonged.

Hence, Iran will retaliate because this time its Natanz nuclear facility was under attack by Israel, and if Iran does not strike in response, it will embolden Israel to further carry out attacks on Iran. Whatsoever, it is obvious that this is not a preemptive strike, but rather an escalation which will meet its end soon.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.