Missiles are flying.
The Israeli Defense Forces launched a large-scale attack on Iran after months of unsuccessful nuclear negotiations between the Trump administration and Tehran.
Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst confirmed that Israeli strikes hit targets inside Iran, with explosions reportedly heard in Tehran, the nation’s capital.
In response, Israel declared a nationwide state of emergency in anticipation of possible retaliation from Iran.
This military action follows warnings issued by Israel in early November, signaling intentions to target Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. These warnings came after months of escalating missile exchanges between the two nations, which began in April 2024 when Iran launched its first-ever direct assault on Israeli territory. Israel retaliated within days, successfully damaging part of Iran’s S-300 air defense system.
Later in the year, on October 1, Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel, prompting a response on October 26 in which Israel targeted several military installations and missile storage sites within Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later claimed that the Israeli strikes had weakened aspects of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, raising global alarm over the potential for regional conflict to intensify.
Many observers had hoped that former President Donald Trump’s administration might succeed in advancing nuclear diplomacy where previous efforts had fallen short. Renewed negotiations began on April 12 in Muscat, Oman, with Trump urging Netanyahu to avoid military action while diplomatic efforts continued.
After the first round of talks, U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff indicated that the United States aimed to cap Iran’s uranium enrichment at 3.67%, the level permitted under the original Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—a deal the Trump administration withdrew from in 2018 due to repeated violations by Iran.
However, Witkoff adjusted his position the next day, stating that Iran would need to completely cease uranium enrichment and dismantle any weaponization efforts. Talks resumed on April 19 in Rome and again on April 26 in Muscat, with negotiators expressing cautious optimism.
Though the content of the discussions remained confidential, reports suggested the focus was on limiting Iran’s nuclear program in return for relief from economic sanctions. But diplomatic momentum stalled after the U.S. imposed new sanctions on Iran in late April, prompting the delay of a planned May 3 round of talks.
During the fourth negotiation round, Iranian officials described the talks as “challenging but constructive,” while firmly rejecting Washington’s demand for zero enrichment. After the fifth round on May 23 in Rome, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi reported only limited progress had been made.
As of early June, both Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had signaled an unwillingness to compromise on uranium enrichment, though a sixth round of talks remained scheduled for June 15 in Oman.
It is currently uncertain whether that diplomatic meeting will proceed in light of Israel’s military offensive.
