Israel claims Iran’s nuclear program set back by years

This handout satellite image released by Maxar Technologies on June 19, 2025 and taken on June 19, 2025, shows damage at the Iranian nuclear facility at Arak in central Iran, after an Israeli strike.

Israel announced Saturday that its military campaign has significantly delayed Iran’s nuclear capabilities, claiming it has set back Tehran’s presumed nuclear program by at least two to three years. 

The statement came just a day after former U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran it has a maximum of two weeks to avoid potential American airstrikes.

Trump, who has been weighing U.S. involvement in Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign, indicated a decision could be made before the self-imposed deadline expires.

Early Saturday, Israel targeted Iran’s Isfahan nuclear site, according to the Fars News Agency. The report said the attack triggered several explosions but that there were no hazardous leaks or immediate risks to public safety. Quoting a security official, Fars reported that many of the blasts stemmed from air defense systems responding to the strikes.

Israel’s military confirmed that its air force launched fresh attacks on missile storage and launch sites in central Iran, part of what it says is a broader effort to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons—an ambition Tehran has consistently denied.

“We have already delayed their ability to build a nuclear bomb by at least two to three years,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in an interview with German newspaper Bild. He added that the offensive would continue: “We will do everything we can to eliminate this threat.”

Diplomatic Efforts Falter

In Geneva on Friday, top diplomats from the UK, France, and Germany met with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, urging him to resume talks with the United States despite Israel’s ongoing strikes.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, “We encouraged the Iranian minister to consider negotiations with all parties, including the United States, even before the strikes cease—though we also hope they will.”

However, Araghchi told NBC News that Iran is unwilling to resume dialogue with Washington under current conditions. “We’re not prepared to negotiate with them anymore, as long as the aggression continues,” he said.

Trump dismissed European diplomatic efforts, asserting, “Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us. Europe won’t be able to help in this.”

He also signaled reluctance to ask Israel to halt its offensive to facilitate talks: “If somebody’s winning, it’s a little bit harder to stop.”

Any future U.S. strikes would likely involve specialized bunker-busting munitions capable of targeting Iran’s underground enrichment facility in Fordo.

Rising Casualties and Regional Impact

The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a U.S.-based NGO, reported Friday that at least 657 people have died in Iran since Israel began its offensive on June 13. The figure includes 263 civilians. Iran’s last official count, issued Sunday, put the death toll at 224, including military leaders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.

Iran has responded with missile barrages that Israeli officials say have killed at least 25 people. A hospital in Haifa reported treating 19 wounded, with one in serious condition, after the latest Iranian missile strike.

Israel's National Public Diplomacy Directorate said more than 450 missiles and 400 drones have been launched at the country since the conflict began. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stated they had aimed at military sites and air bases.

Threats Against IAEA Chief

Tensions escalated further after Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatened International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi, vowing on social media that Grossi would “pay” after the war.

Grossi has come under fire from Iranian officials who accuse him of issuing contradictory statements that they claim helped trigger Israel’s preemptive strike.

Addressing the UN Security Council on Friday, Grossi said that although Iran possesses enough fissile material to produce a nuclear weapon, there is no evidence it intends to do so.

Warnings and Widening Fallout

Western governments remain alarmed by the speed of Iran’s uranium enrichment. The IAEA noted that Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state enriching uranium to 60% purity—just short of weapons-grade—but said there’s no clear sign it has assembled all components needed for a nuclear warhead.

Speaking to CNN, Grossi called it “pure speculation” to estimate how soon Iran could build a weapon.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned the conflict had reached a “perilous moment” and stressed the importance of preventing broader regional escalation.

Meanwhile, Arab League foreign ministers gathered in Istanbul on Friday, ahead of a weekend summit by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to discuss a unified response.

Switzerland announced the temporary closure of its embassy in Tehran, citing security concerns, but said it would continue its role representing U.S. interests in Iran.