US and Israel Launch Strikes on Iran Amid Rising Tensions
Military Action Against Iran
Recent reports indicate that the United States and Israel have executed military strikes targeting Iran, as confirmed by officials from both nations. Among those reportedly targeted in the Israeli airstrikes is Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Witnesses in Tehran, the Iranian capital, described hearing significant explosions and seeing smoke billowing from an area that includes the presidential palace and the National Security Council. The specific objectives of these strikes remain unclear.
This escalation follows a series of aggressive statements from US President Donald Trump, who had warned of military intervention if Iran failed to meet his demands regarding its nuclear program. Concurrently, the US has bolstered its military presence in the region, marking the largest deployment in decades. Just days prior, American and Iranian representatives concluded a final round of mediated discussions in Switzerland concerning Iran's nuclear activities, which ended without any significant progress, seemingly paving the way for military action.
Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, acknowledged the strikes in a public statement, declaring a state of emergency in the country. Due to the sensitive nature of national security, both US and Israeli officials requested anonymity when discussing the situation. In preparation for potential retaliation from Iran, the Israeli government announced the closure of schools and workplaces, along with an immediate shutdown of its international airspace.
Who is Masoud Pezeshkian? Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist politician and cardiac surgeon, emerged victorious in Iran's snap presidential election held on July 5, 2024. Born in 1954 in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan province, he was raised in a religious family and completed his early education locally before enlisting in the military in 1973. His service concluded in Zabol, Sistan and Baluchistan province, in 1975. Pezeshkian later pursued a diploma in experimental sciences and began his medical studies at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 1976. He served as the first deputy speaker of parliament from 2016 to 2020 and led the Azeri Caucus, representing Iran's second-largest ethnic group, the Azeris, who predominantly reside in the northwest. With an Azeri father and a Kurdish mother, he has garnered support from both communities. Earlier in 2024, the Guardian Council of Iran disqualified him, along with many prominent reformists, from participating in the March parliamentary elections. Pezeshkian attributed his disqualification to his protests against the death of Mahsa Amini and the treatment of women. However, the council later reversed its decision, allowing him to run, which he credited to a favorable intervention from the supreme leader.