Israel hits Iranian nuclear facility as war grinds on

David Rising and Sam Mednick | June 21, 2025

Israel’s military has struck an Iranian nuclear research facility and killed three senior Iranian commanders in targeted attacks, while emphasising it’s preparing for the possibility that the war could turn into a lengthy campaign. 

Early on Saturday, smoke could be seen rising from an area near a mountain in Isfahan, where a local official said Israel had attacked the nuclear research facility in two waves. 

The target was two centrifuge production sites, and the attacks came on top of strikes on other centrifuge production sites elsewhere in recent days, according to an Israeli military official. 

It was the second attack on Isfahan, which was hit in the first 24 hours of the war as part of Israel’s goal to destroy the Iranian nuclear program. 

Iran launched a new wave of drones and missiles at Israel but there were no immediate reports of significant damage, and the Israeli official called it a “small barrage” that was largely intercepted by Israel’s defences. 

The official said part of the reason Tehran’s overnight attack had been relatively small was that the military estimated it had taken out more than half of Iran’s launchers. 

Later, the Israeli military’s chief spokesman, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, said the army had been told to be prepared for a “prolonged campaign” to destroy its targets, including nuclear sites, enrichment facilities and missile infrastructure.

“We are deepening our strikes night after night and we have amazing achievements,” he said. 

“We will continue until the threat is removed.”

Talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday failed to produce a breakthrough. 

European officials expressed hope for future discussions, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he was open to further dialogue while emphasising that Tehran had no interest in negotiating with the US while Israel continued attacking.

“Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once again and once aggression is stopped and the aggressor is held accountable for the crimes committed,” he told reporters.

US President Donald Trump is weighing active US military involvement in the conflict, which Araghchi on Saturday said “would be very, very dangerous for everyone”. 

The war between Israel and Iran erupted June 13, with Israeli air strikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists.

At least 430 people have been killed and 3500 wounded in Iran, Iranian state-run Nour News reported on Saturday, citing the country’s health ministry. 

Iran has retaliated by firing more than 450 missiles and 1000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates. 

Most have been shot down by Israel’s air defences, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel’s military operation in Iran would continue “for as long as it takes” to eliminate what he called the existential threat of Iran’s nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles. 

But Netanyahu’s goal could be out of reach without US help, with Iran’s underground Fordo uranium enrichment facility considered to be out of reach to all but America’s “bunker-buster” bombs. 

Trump said he would put off deciding whether to join Israel’s air campaign against Iran for up to two weeks.   

In Israel’s opening attack, it killed three of Iran’s top military leaders: armed forces chief General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guard leader General Hossein Salami, and Guard ballistic missile program boss General Amir Ali Hajizadeh.

The targeted killings of senior commanders continued, with Israel’s defence minister saying on Saturday the military killed a Guard commander who financed and armed Hamas in preparation for the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the 20-month long war in Gaza.

Israel said Saeed Izadi was commander of the Palestine Corps for the elite Iranian Quds Force, and he was killed in an apartment in the city of Qom.

The Israeli military later said it killed a second commander of the Guards’ overseas arm, Benham Shariyari, during a strike on his vehicle in Tehran.

A commander of Iran’s drone force was also killed overnight, the Israeli official who briefed reporters said.

with Reuters