Smoke rises up after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP/Vahid Salemi)
- An Israeli military official says that his country targeted Iranian nuclear sites.
- Benchmark Brent crude spiked on the attack, rising nearly 5% on the news.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel took “unilateral action against Iran.”
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JERUSALEM — Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday, with explosions booming across Tehran as Israel said it targeted nuclear and military sites.
The attack comes as tensions have reached new heights over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program. The Board of Governors at the International Atomic Energy Agency for the first time in 20 years on Thursday censured Iran over it not working with its inspectors. Iran immediately announced it would establish a third enrichment site in the country and swap out some centrifuges for more-advanced ones.
Rubio Says Israel Took ‘Unilateral Action’
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel took “unilateral action against Iran” and that Israel advised the U.S. that it believed the strikes were necessary for its self-defense, while warning Iran not to target U.S. forces in retaliation.
In a statement, he said: “Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”
Israel for years has warned it will not allow Iran to build a nuclear weapon, something Tehran insists it doesn’t want — though official there have repeatedly warned it could build them. The U.S. has been preparing for something to happen, already pulling some diplomats from Iraq’s capital and offering voluntary evacuations for the families of U.S. troops in the wider Middle East.
People in Tehran awoke to the sound of the blast. State television acknowledged the blast.
Israel is currently striking Iran’s capital, Tehran.
Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/YzYr0CneRz
— AF Post (@AFpost) June 13, 2025
It wasn’t immediately clear what had been hit, though smoke could be rising from Chitgar, a neighborhood in western Tehran. There are no known nuclear sites in that area — but it wasn’t immediately clear if anything was happening in the rest of the country.
Does this look like a nuclear facility or a residential building in Iran
pic.twitter.com/NIG2biw0Ae— Assal Rad (@AssalRad) June 13, 2025
Israel Targets Nuclear Sites
An Israeli military official says that his country targeted Iranian nuclear sites, without identifying them.
The official spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing operation, which is also targeting military sites.
Oil Prices Rise 5%
Benchmark Brent crude spiked on the attack, rising nearly 5% on the news.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said that his country carried out the attack, without saying what it targeted.
“In the wake of the state of Israel’s preventive attack against Iran, missile and drone attacks against Israel and its civilian population are expected immediately,” he said in a statement.
The statement added that Katz “signed a special order declaring an emergency situation in the home front.”
“It is essential to listen to instructions from the home front command and authorities to stay in protected areas,” it said.
Amir Tsarfati, [Jun 12, 2025 at 8:58 PM] The strike on Tehran pic.twitter.com/SGeT0UjdxG
— Rooted n routes (@rooted91954) June 13, 2025
Netanyahu Says Strikes Respond to Threat to Israel’s Survival
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address on YouTube that the country launched “a targeted military operation roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.”
He added that the attacks will continue “for as many days at it takes to remove this threat.”
Israel Closes Its Airspace
Israel closed its airspace in anticipation of Iranian retaliation.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that attacks were expected.
“In the wake of the state of Israel’s preventive attack against Iran, missile and drone attacks against Israel and its civilian population are expected immediately,” he said in a statement.
The statement added that Katz “signed a special order declaring an emergency situation in the home front.”
“It is essential to listen to instructions from the home front command and authorities to stay in protected areas,” it said
Tehran Airport Closed
Iran halted flights Friday at Imam Khomeini International Airport outside of Tehran, the country’s main airport, Iranian state TV said.
Iran has closed its airspace in the past when launching previous attacks against Israel during the Israel-Hamas war.
No Comment From White House
The White House did not have an immediate comment Thursday night.
As the explosions in Tehran started, President Donald Trump was on the lawn of the White House mingling with members of Congress. It was unclear if he had been informed but the president continued shaking hands and posing for pictures for several minutes.
Trump earlier said he was urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off from taking action for the time being while the administration negotiated with Iran.
“As long as I think there is a (chance for an) agreement, I don’t want them going in because I think it would blow it,” Trump told reporters.
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