Iran says another clash with Israel remains possible

Iran has not ruled out the possibility of a renewed confrontation with Israel, a source within the country’s Foreign Ministry told journalists, according to TASS.

“There is, of course, a possibility, although it is difficult to determine how high it is. Iran has drawn lessons from the 12-day war,” the source said.

He added that Israel should have reached its own conclusions as well: “They must understand that if another attack takes place, the same scenario will unfold, but this time it will not catch Tehran by surprise.”

The June 2025 Iran–Israel conflict marked the most direct and intense clash between the two states since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

The 12-day war began on June 13, when Israel launched a surprise offensive — “Operation Rising Lion” — targeting major Iranian nuclear facilities, including Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, as well as military bases and key leadership figures.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the strikes as preemptive, citing an IAEA assessment from May 2025 that Iran’s 60% enriched uranium stockpile could yield up to nine nuclear warheads. The operation killed several prominent Iranian nuclear scientists and IRGC commanders and inflicted heavy damage on Iran’s air-defense and missile infrastructure.

Iran responded rapidly, firing waves of ballistic missiles and drones at Israeli military installations and urban centers. The escalation prompted U.S. involvement: on June 22, the United States struck three Iranian nuclear sites in an effort to neutralize perceived threats. Iranian regional allies joined the confrontation, with the Houthis in Yemen launching missiles toward Israel.

The fighting resulted in significant casualties on both sides, severe infrastructure damage within Iran, and a humanitarian crisis. During the conflict, Iranian authorities detained around 700 suspected spies and executed several individuals on espionage charges. A fragile ceasefire took hold on June 24, brokered through U.S. diplomacy under President Donald Trump.

Tensions have remained high since then. On November 11, The New York Times, citing officials and analysts, reported that a renewed armed conflict between Israel and Iran may now be unavoidable. The publication noted that the 2015 nuclear agreement designed to limit Iran’s nuclear activities expired last month, triggering the reimposition of sweeping sanctions on Tehran. Attempts to revive negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program have stalled.

Iran maintains that its stockpile of highly enriched uranium has been destroyed, while Israeli officials claim it has simply been relocated to secure sites. According to the NYT, numerous officials in Gulf states now believe a new Israeli strike on Iran is increasingly likely, given Israel’s view that Iran’s advancing nuclear capabilities pose an existential threat.

By Tamilla Hasanova