Israel's Attack On Iran: Why The UK Is 'Very Worried' About What Comes Next

A man walks at the scene of an explosion in a residence compound in northern Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 13, 2025. Israel launched a “preemptive” attack on Iran overnight amid fears Tehran was on the verge of building a nuclear weapon.The air strikes have sparked wider concerns of all-out war across the Middle East – especially as Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza has already riled Iran and its regional allies.Here’s what you need to know.What’s happened?Israel launched its “Rising Lion” attack on Thursday night, intending to “roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival”.It’s likely Israel chose to attack right now because Iran is more vulnerable than usual, having still not rebuilt air defences Israel destroyed in an attack in October. It also comes before the US and Iran resume talks on a nuclear treaty on Sunday.With 200 fighter jets, Israel launched a “preemptive, precise and combined offensive”, amid claims Iran has enough material for nine theoretical nuclear bombs.Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said although they had already struck at “the heart” of Iran’s nuclear enrichment and ballistic missile programmes, the operation would take “many days”.The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed Iran’s enrichment plant in Natanz was hit but later said they had not detected any increased radiation levels at the site.Netanyahu claimed Iran has taken new steps to weaponise enriched unranium, meaning it could produce a nuclear weapon “in a very short time”, so they had “no choice but to act”.Netanyahu then warned: “Israeli citizens may have to remain in sheltered areas for lengthy periods of time.”Six nuclear scientists and Hossein Salami, chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards, wee killed overnight, according to Iranian state media.What does this mean for the region?Israel and Iran are separated by Jordan and Iraq, meaning a war between them puts other countries at risk.Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei immediately threatened to launch “severe punishment” against Israel after the strike which “matryred” key figures.He said: “With this crime, the Zionist regime has prepared a bitter and painful fate for itself – and it will undoubtedly receive it.”Israel already claimed on Friday that Iran had launched 100 drones at the country, and that it was ready to intercept them.Jordan also said its air force and defence systems had intercepted missiles and drones in its airspace, concerned they would fall into their land.CBS reported on Thursday that US officials were warned about Israel’s impending attack, and had ordered non-emergency embassy staff to leave Iraq.Global oil prices also skyrocketed by more than 10% after the Israeli strikes because of the risk any further conflict poses to the oil-rich area.BREAKING 🔴🔴Attack on Tabriz Airport and an Air Base in Northwestern Iran - Channel 12 Israel pic.twitter.com/OVcIS5TbS4— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) June 13, 2025Has Israel got nuclear weapons?Yes, Israel is one of nine countries known to have nuclear weapons.According to the Arms Control Association, that list currently includes:Russia (5,580 nuclear warheads)The US (5,225)China (600)France (290)UK (225)India (172)Pakistan (170)Israel (90)North Korea (50)Israel has not publicly conducted a nuclear test but is believed to have the means to do so.Although it’s thought to have around 90 weapons, it is expected to have enough material stockpiled that it could make 200.Does Iran have access to nuclear weapons?Not at the moment, but it’s clear Israel has long-feared Iran is building nuclear warheads, although the regime in Tehran has denied it.It claims it is building a nuclear programme for peaceful, civilian purposes.However the international community questions that. The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) announced on Thursday that Iran had violated its nuclear non-proliferation treaty for not cooperating with inspections and accumulating enriched uranium.It’s the first time in 20 years that the IAEA has passed such a resolution against Iran.That was a turning point. Until now, it was believed that Iran was just stockpiling the components of a bomb but had not started to build one.Does the UK have a role in Israeli arms and sales?Yes, the UK sells some arms components to Israel.It used to sell more, but when Labour came to power last year ministers took legal advice and banned some of those arms from going to Israel.The government’s decision stemmed from Israel’s ongoing attack against Hamas militants in Gaza.More than 20 months of Israeli bombardment and a blockade of aid have caused a humanitarian crisis.However, the government has distanced itself from this new attack on Iran.Prime minister Keir Starmer called for “restraint and calm” as well this morning after the “concerning” reports of Israeli strikes. Industry minister Sarah Jones made it clear the UK was “not involved” with the attacks, and that the priority is to “de-escalate” the tensions in a “calm and measured way”.She told Good Morning Britain the government is “very worried” about the escalating tensions – but stopped short of criticising Israel directly for the attack or saying any more about the UK’s decision to continue arming the country.'Were you aware that Israel was going to conduct these air strikes overnight?' @kategarraway asks Industry Minister Sarah Jones. pic.twitter.com/Ub2UkYujxP— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) June 13, 2025Where does the US come into this?Donald Trump said he was not taken by surprise by the attack, but insisted the US was not involved either.He initially claimed that he did not want any such attack to interfere with America’s negotiating with Iran.The US was due to start fresh talks in Oman on Sunday to find a solution to a standoff over the nuclear programme.Iran has been building on its nuclear plans ever since Trump withdraw from an international treaty holding its nuclear arsenal back in 2018.He told Fox News overnight: “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see. There are several people in the leadership that will not be coming back.”Even so, Trump said the US would defend Israel if the conflict escalated.However the US president issued a huge threat on Truth Social on Friday morning, urging Iran to make a nuclear deal.He said it would be “much worse” if they did not negotiate, adding: “There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end.“Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire.“No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”His words comes after Iran’s foreign minister claimed Israel’s largest ally, the States, would be held responsible for “Israel’s adventurism”.Meanwhile, Netanyahu praised Trump for trying to negotiate with Israel, but warned that Tehran was using the negotiations to “buy time”.He said: “Iran plans to give those weapons – nuclear weapons – to its terrorist proxies that would make the nightmare of nuclear terrorism all too real. The increasing range of Iran’s ballistic missiles would bring that nuclear nightmare to the cities of Europe and eventually to America.”Very different tone coming from President Trump once the results of the Israeli strike become clear. https://t.co/DK8L235BKtpic.twitter.com/E2x7hdVDM4— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) June 13, 2025Related...'Step Back': Keir Starmer Calls For 'Restraint And Calm' After Israel Strikes IranBBC Expert Explains Why Israel Has Taken A 'Massive Gamble' By Attacking Iran

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