WSJ: Israel looks to end military confrontation with Iran soon

Israel has continued its strikes on Iranian targets but is reportedly seeking to bring its conflict with Tehran to a swift conclusion, according to officials.

The United Nations’ atomic agency chief has stated that recent US attacks on Iran’s Fordow uranium enrichment facility have caused “very significant damage,” Caliber.Az reports, citing The Wall Street Journal.

Among the sites targeted by Israel were a prison holding political detainees and regime opponents, as well as key entry points to the Fordow nuclear complex.

Tehran has remained largely silent on its response to the US strikes on its nuclear infrastructure.

Iran’s clerical leadership faces a difficult decision: retaliate against the US and risk escalating the conflict with two militarily stronger adversaries, or return to nuclear negotiations where it would likely need to make concessions on both uranium enrichment and its ballistic missile programme, two core elements of its sovereignty.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his first apparent remarks since the US attack, did not mention America directly but instead condemned Israel on social media. He accused Israel of making a “grave mistake” and said it was “being punished right now.”

European leaders have urged Iran to avoid any response that could “destabilise the region.” Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has maintained a firm stance, insisting Iran must accept US conditions for a peace deal. On June 22, he did not rule out supporting a change in Iran’s leadership.

By Aghakazim Guliyev