7am Why Israel attacked Iran in the middle of US-Iran talks
Jun 16, 2025
In a compelling discussion, Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent for The Economist, unpacks Israel's recent military operation against Iran. He explains Israel's 'pre-emptive' strikes targeting crucial nuclear sites and the rationale behind them amid stalled US-Iran negotiations. Carlstrom delves into Israel's strategic aims for regime change and how these actions could destabilize Iran's internal politics. The conversation also touches on the implications for regional alliances and the potential paths for de-escalation in this tense situation.
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Conflicting Assessments of Iran's Threat
- Israel claims its strikes were preemptive to prevent an immediate nuclear threat from Iran.
- However, top foreign intelligence, including the US, contradicts Israel, seeing no active bomb construction.
Impact and Limits of Israeli Strikes
- Israel's strikes damaged key above-ground nuclear facilities in Iran, setting back its program significantly.
- Yet, undisclosed secret facilities may allow Iran to continue advancing covertly.
Israeli Goals in Military Strikes
- Israel killed key Iranian military leaders to disrupt Iran's missile response capabilities.
- Israel also aims to destabilize or even overthrow Iran's regime through these targeted actions.