By Ahsan Ansari
On the night of June 13, 2025, Israel launched an extraordinary and sudden aerial attack on Iran, code-named “Operation Rising Lion.” The operation targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and senior military leadership, resulting in the deaths of the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Chief of the Armed Forces, and six nuclear scientists. The bombing of residential areas in Tehran—such as Farahzad, Vanak Square, and Andarzgoo—also killed many civilians, including children, and reduced several buildings to rubble.
The timing of the Israeli attack was particularly significant, as nuclear talks between Iran and the United States were scheduled to take place just two days later, on June 15, in Oman. This strike not only violated Iran’s sovereignty but also sabotaged a critical diplomatic opportunity that could have potentially eased tensions in the region.
In immediate response, Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israel, which were intercepted within Jordanian and U.S. military-controlled zones. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei called the attack a “grave crime” and vowed severe retaliation, promptly reshuffling top military leadership. Iranian airspace was closed, and fear gripped Tehran as people rushed to fuel stations and supermarkets. Air travel across the region was suspended, and U.S. forces began evacuating non-essential personnel from Iraq and Syria.
In reaction to the Israeli strike, Hezbollah, Iraqi Shia militias, and other Iran-aligned groups began mobilizing for counterattacks, significantly raising the risk of a broader proxy war in the region. Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates condemned the attack as a “dangerous provocation,” while Jordan’s interception of Iranian drones highlighted the growing regional divisions.
The consequences of the attack extended beyond military and diplomatic domains. Global oil prices spiked sharply, with Brent crude surging 13% to $78.50 per barrel—the highest jump since the Russia-Ukraine war. Stock markets plummeted as investors turned to safe-haven assets such as gold and the Swiss franc, triggering fears of inflation and a potential economic recession.
International reactions were swift and strong. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the assault could ignite a full-scale war across the region. China, Russia, Oman, Germany, the UK, and Australia condemned Israel’s aggressive action and urged restraint and renewed negotiations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that Israel had carried out the strike unilaterally, without consulting Washington, leading to growing tensions between the U.S. and Israel.
Pakistan strongly condemned the Israeli attack on Iran, calling it a serious threat to peace in the Middle East. In an official statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office asserted that violating any country’s sovereignty is a breach of international law and that such aggressive actions could escalate tensions, destabilize the region, and trigger a humanitarian crisis. Pakistan called on the international community to immediately take notice of the situation and play an effective role in ensuring peace and stability in the Middle East.
Although Israel described the strike as part of its defensive strategy, the reality is that this unilateral move has damaged diplomatic ties and pushed the entire region to the brink of unrest, proxy warfare, and humanitarian catastrophe. The world now stands at a crossroads: either immediate ceasefire, resumption of negotiations, and global diplomatic pressure to prevent further destruction—or prepare for a broader war involving U.S. military engagement, skyrocketing oil prices, and the grave threat of nuclear proliferation.
