Israel has launched airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure under a military operation called «Nation as a Lion». Reports confirm the deaths of several senior Iranian military officers and nuclear scientists.
Israeli officials stated that the main objective was to damage Iran’s nuclear programme. The strike followed the collapse of negotiations between the United States and Iran over the revival of the nuclear deal.
The U.S. government stressed that it had no involvement in the operation and issued a warning to Tehran against targeting American personnel in the region.
According to Reuters, explosions occurred at Iran’s uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, followed by a fire. Iranian media reported multiple blasts on the premises before the blaze broke out.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency confirmed the death of Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, along with other senior officers and nuclear physicists. Tehran announced it would retaliate.
As reported by Ynet, Israel closed its airspace in response to the attack, a measure also taken by Iran and Iraq.
In response to the escalating tensions in the Middle East, Brent crude oil prices surged to $75.8 by 08:13 Tashkent time — a daily increase of 9.2%.
Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that Iran had threatened to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
