The Israeli right-wing government attacks Iran
by the editorial team Sozialismus.de
The situation in the Middle East is coming to a head
[This article posted on 6/14/2025 is translated from the German on the
Internet, https://www.sozialismus.de/kommentare_analysen/detail/artikel/die-israelische-rechtsregierung-ueberfaellt-den-iran/.]
Israel has launched a major attack on Iranian cities and nuclear
facilities. Israeli War Minister Israel Katz spoke of a “preventive
strike,” while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a
“successful opening strike.” Meanwhile, Iranian and Israeli media
reported new attacks. The operation is called “Rising Lion.”
An Israeli military representative justified the attack by saying that
Iran’s nuclear program poses an existential threat to Israel. Tehran
is allegedly pursuing a secret program to build nuclear weapons and
has enough material to manufacture 15 atomic bombs. Since the Hamas
massacre on October 7, 2023, the situation in the Middle East has
continued to escalate. On the night of May 17, Israel announced the
start of a new major offensive in the Gaza Strip. The humanitarian
situation there is contrary to international law, with Israel refusing
to allow aid supplies to enter for months. The current strike against
Iran can be seen as an attempt to complete or at least advance a
reorganization of the Middle East in Israel’s interests.
According to Iranian media reports, at least 78 people were killed and
329 injured in the Israeli large-scale attack in Iran, which violated
international law, in the province of Tehran alone. There were no
official figures on casualties at first. In addition to military
facilities, the Israeli attacks in Tehran were primarily aimed at
high-ranking officers.
US President Donald Trump has reportedly spoken positively about the
Israeli attack. “I think it was excellent,” Trump said. “We gave them
a chance and they didn’t take it.” Iran had been hit as hard as it
could be hit, he said. “And there will be more. Much more.” In a new
post on the Truth Social platform, Trump also emphasized that he had
given Iran a 60-day ultimatum two months ago to make a “deal.” “They
should have done it! Today is day 61,” he wrote. The country simply
did not do what he told them to do. “Now they may have a second
chance.”
Iranian President Massoud Peseshkian sees himself at war and has
threatened Israel with retaliation. “The Iranian nation and those
responsible for the country will not remain silent in the face of this
crime,” he said in a video message broadcast on Iranian state
television. The “legitimate and strong response” of the Islamic
Republic would “make the enemy regret its stupid act,” he added.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi considers the Israeli attacks
a declaration of war. Head of state Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened
“severe punishment.”
In retaliation, Iran sent more than 100 drones toward Israel.
According to Israeli sources, these were intercepted outside the
country. Iranian missile attacks are also expected.
The majority of the political class in the Berlin Republic stands
behind Israel’s attack. There has been a long-standing debate in the
international community about whether such a preemptive strike to
destroy the capacity to build nuclear weapons is legitimate. But the
crucial point is that the majority of the international community no
longer considers this question relevant because it no longer feels
bound by treaties. Reference is made to the major powers and veto
powers in the UN Security Council, which themselves act outside
international law. However, the question of whether Israel is merely
preempting a threat will be addressed increasingly, at least in
Europe.
The Prime Minister of Saxony and Vice-Chairman of the CDU, Michael
Kretschmer, warned Israel not to jeopardize its reputation as a
democracy and constitutional state. “It is a great spiral of violence.
And I think it is right that we in Germany now […] make it clear
that everything is a question of proportionality,” he said. In view of
what is happening in the Gaza Strip and now in Iran, the German
population is feeling and concerned about this. Israel, too, could
“put itself in the wrong.” “It is very much up to Israel not to
squander the great reputation this country has—the only democracy, the
only constitutional state in the Middle East.”
The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, has informed
Israeli President Isaac Herzog of “severe damage” to the facility. The
Iranian Atomic Energy Organization confirmed damage that was ‘mostly’
above ground, according to spokesman Behruz Kamalvandi. There were “no
casualties” at the facility.
According to Israel, almost the entire leadership of the Iranian
Revolutionary Guard Air Force was killed in the strike. “The defense
minister has been informed that most of the leadership of the
Revolutionary Guard Air Force was neutralized during a meeting in
their underground headquarters,” the Israeli Defense Ministry said.
The Revolutionary Guard Air Force is involved in monitoring Iran’s
airspace and controlling the country’s ballistic missile arsenal,
among other things.
Israel deployed 200 fighter jets against 100 targets, destroying
Iran’s defensive and offensive capabilities, attacking sites involved
in the nuclear program, and killing numerous nuclear scientists. This
destroyed key capabilities of Iran. Israel has repeatedly managed to
substantially weaken the respective actors, even during times of
various military activities in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
Due to numerous acts of sabotage and attacks by Israeli intelligence
services and targeted killings in the past, Iran’s military potential
has become very resilient. Especially with regard to the killing of
key figures, their loss should have a far-reaching effect. Over the
years, however, Iran has managed to replace individuals very quickly.
The argument often used by Israel’s right-wing government that Iran is
ruled by an authoritarian regime is more than cynical given the
ongoing dismantling of democracy in its own country, especially
towards Arab citizens of Israel. However, changes to the political
system in Iran can only be achieved through social change. And only
through internal pressure on the regime there will its goal of
destroying Israel be averted in order to achieve lasting peace in the
Middle East.
Israel’s attack on Iran has immediate consequences for the price of
oil. After the attack on nuclear facilities and military targets, oil
prices shot up sharply. In Asian trading, the price of a barrel of US
WTI crude jumped by around 12% to US$76.22, while the price of a
barrel of North Sea Brent rose by just under 12% to US$77.46. Although
the situation eased slightly later on, the increase remained
significant: WTI was trading at $72.48 (up 6.5% on the day before the
attack), while Brent was trading at $73.80 (up 6.4%).