New Delhi: Iran Israel War 2025 has entered its sixth day, as waves of Israeli air‑strikes on Tehran and retaliatory missile barrages from Iran push the confirmed death toll past 600 and leave thousands injured, according to local monitors and the Associated Press.
From quiet partners to open combat
Until the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Tehran and Jerusalem cooperated under the so‑called periphery alliance: Iran sold Israel roughly 40 percent of its imported oil, while Mossad helped train the Shah’s security services.
Direct flights linked Tel Aviv and Tehran, and the two states even explored joint missile projects.
The revolution upended that marriage of convenience.
Ayatollah Khomeini severed ties, branded Israel “the Little Satan,” and began backing anti‑Israeli groups such as Hezbollah and, later, Hamas.
Over the next four decades, Israel answered with covert cyber‑attacks, targeted killings of nuclear scientists and hundreds of air‑strikes on Iranian assets in Syria—each side ratcheting up the other’s sense of existential threat.
Why 2025 became the breaking point
- Nuclear brinkmanship. By April 2025 Oman‑mediated talks had collapsed, and Israeli intelligence said Iran was “weeks” from a bomb. Mossad’s Operation Rising Lion smuggled AI‑guided drones inside Iran to map targets for a pre‑emptive strike.
- Proxy network weakened. Hamas, Hezbollah and other Iranian allies had been badly degraded in earlier regional fighting, reducing the deterrent cost for Israel.
- Hard‑line politics. Elections in Israel, Iran and the United States produced governments unwilling to offer concessions, framing escalation as resolve rather than risk.
Flash‑points this week (GMT + 3)
| Date | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun | Israel launches multi‑site strike on Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities. | Iran vows “proportionate” response. |
| 14 Jun | Iran fires ≈150 ballistic missiles and >400 drones toward Israel. | Iron Dome and Arrow intercept most; 24 Israelis killed. |
| 16 Jun | Israeli warplanes hit Iran’s state‑TV tower and oil refinery near Tehran. | Broadcast outages nationwide; civilian panic. |
| 18 Jun | Over 50 Israeli jets pound Tehran after President Trump demands Iran’s “unconditional surrender.” | At least 585 Iranians dead, 1,326 wounded; Gen. Ali Shadmani killed. |
International reaction
- United States has surged additional F‑16 squadrons and aerial refueling assets to the Gulf but says ground troops are “not on the table.”
- UN Security Council emergency session ended without a resolution as veto‑wielding members split over condemnation language.
- Oil markets see‑sawed: Brent briefly touched $95 before retreating on reports that Iran sought a truce, highlighting the conflict’s global economic stakes.
- Regional powers such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE have urged de‑escalation, fearing missile spill‑over and disruption to Gulf shipping lanes.
Iran Israel War 2025 : Humanitarian & economic toll
Civil‑defence officials in Tehran say more than a quarter‑million residents have fled the capital.
Air‑raid shelters in Tel Aviv and Haifa remain on alert as schools shift back to remote learning.
Insurance premiums on commercial flights crossing Middle‑East air‑space have doubled since June 14, according to industry trackers.
What next? Three scenarios experts are weighing
Regional spill‑over – a mis‑hit inside a Gulf monarchy or Iraq drags U.S. forces fully into the fight, widening the theatre.
Managed escalation – back‑channel mediation (Oman, Qatar) leads to a time‑bound pause for prisoner swaps and limited IAEA inspections.
Prolonged air war – Israel continues standoff strikes while avoiding ground operations; Iran relies on missiles and cyber‑attacks.