Iran has vowed to deliver a powerful response following a series of Israeli airstrikes that targeted its nuclear facilities and killed top members of its military leadership. Officials in Tehran said the nation would “respond forcefully” and warned that “the end of this story will be written by Iran’s hand.”
In what appeared to be the first stage of retaliation, Israel reported that Iran had launched 100 drones toward its territory. Israeli air defences were activated to intercept the drones before they entered Israeli airspace.
Neighbouring countries were quickly drawn into the fallout. Iraq confirmed that more than 100 Iranian drones had crossed through its airspace, while Jordan said its air force had intercepted several drones and missiles to prevent them from crashing within its borders.
The strikes, described as the most serious and wide-reaching ever carried out by Israel on Iranian soil, prompted a stern warning from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said residential areas had been struck and threatened “severe punishment” in response.
Iran’s government said women and children were among the victims of the strikes, and pledged both military and diplomatic consequences.
Though Iran has yet to strike American military sites, leaders in Tehran believe the Trump administration had advance knowledge of the Israeli assault and may have given it covert approval.
Washington has denied any involvement. However, Iranian officials pointed to comments by Israeli leaders claiming the operation had been “completely coordinated” with the United States, and noted that Israel’s air force is heavily reliant on American support.
In a sharply worded statement, the Iranian government accused Israel of committing terrorism, stating the attack demonstrated that Israel “does not adhere to any international rules or laws and, like a drunkard, openly and brazenly engages in terror and ignites the flames of war before the eyes of the world, including westerners who claim to uphold human rights and international law.”
“Starting a war with Iran is playing with the lion’s tail,” the statement warned.
The government also suggested the attacks might change Iran’s nuclear posture, hinting at a possible shift in policy. “The world now better understands Iran’s insistence on the right to enrichment, nuclear technology and missile power,” it said.
“The enemy has made it possible to prove our injustice and righteousness, who is the aggressor and which regime is threatening the security of the region.”
Among those reported killed in the Israeli assault were Gen Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Guards; Gen Gholamali Rashid, a senior military figure; nuclear scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi; and Fereydoun Abbasi, former head of the Atomic Energy Organization.
Images from Tehran showed residential high-rises with visible damage, as specific floors were targeted and surrounding levels affected. Reports also indicated that army barracks across the country had been hit, with casualties and destruction still being assessed.
Officials in Isfahan said no uranium had leaked from the Natanz nuclear site, and that energy infrastructure had not been struck. However, further Israeli action targeting economic assets remains a possibility, depending on Iran’s response.
Facing domestic unrest, Iran urged its citizens to rely solely on official news sources and disregard rumours.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who had been attending a security conference in Oslo alongside Arab ministers, had been preparing for upcoming talks with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, mediated by Oman.
The sixth round of negotiations, set to be the first where both sides would present written proposals, was due to address Iran’s ability to continue domestic uranium enrichment under the monitoring of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Tehran has maintained that it has never sought to develop a nuclear weapon and, as a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, is entitled to enrich uranium for civilian use.
A recent IAEA report found no evidence that Iran was close to building a bomb, though it could not conclusively confirm the programme’s purely civilian nature.
Iran argues that its buildup of enriched uranium was a direct response to Donald Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 and the reimposition of economic sanctions.
Iranian negotiators had believed that time remained for diplomacy and were under the impression that the US might allow a limited enrichment programme.
That belief was challenged in light of the Israeli attack. Some in Tehran now wonder whether the US ever intended to follow through with an offer—or whether Israel acted with silent approval.
Despite claims by the Trump administration of distancing itself from the strike, many in Iran see a consistent pattern of US inaction when it comes to Israeli operations across the region.
On April 23, Foreign Minister Araghchi warned: “The attempts by the Israeli regime and certain special interest groups to derail diplomacy – using variety of tactics – is abundantly clear for all to see. Our security services are on high alert.”
Iran’s air defences, already weakened by Israeli attacks last October that destroyed Russian-made systems near its nuclear sites, failed to prevent the most recent wave of drone and missile strikes.
One of Iran’s remaining strengths lies in its recent efforts to repair ties with Gulf nations. While Israel has largely dismantled Iran’s regional proxy network, including in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, Tehran has been working to improve diplomatic standing in the Arab world.
However, experts say sympathy from Gulf states is unlikely to translate into any joint military action against Israel.
