On June 20, 2025, several Iranian cities were hit by intensive air strikes in the dead of night, causing heavy casualties and infrastructure damage. Iranian officials said the air strikes were a “naked act of aggression” and blamed Israel for the attacks. But Israel has not yet responded positively. At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump said in public that he would “consider intervening”, once again triggering a high degree of concern about the direction of U.S. policy in the Middle East.
Iran suffered airstrikes, and the situation suddenly escalated
According to Iran’s state news agency, local time late at night on the 19th to the early morning of the 20th, Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Avash, and other cities over the sound of explosions. The targets of the airstrikes included military radar stations, ammunition depots, defense research facilities, and communication centers. Iran’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that at least 56 people were killed, more than 130 were injured, and several government and military buildings were damaged.
Images released by local media showed several locations on fire, and rescuers worked through the night to find survivors in the rubble. Communication in some areas was disrupted, triggering panic among residents. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement saying that the airstrikes “undermined Iran’s national sovereignty” and threatened to carry out “severe retaliation”. An anonymous U.S. intelligence source revealed that the strike was most likely a “joint operation” suspected of involving the Israeli Air Force, with precision drone strikes. There are views that the attack may be related to Iran’s recent strengthening of foreign expansion and support for Yemeni and Lebanese forces.
The White House said Trump will decide whether to join
In the face of close attention to the situation in the Middle East, the White House has revealed that Donald Trump, the 47th president of the United States, is in continuous consultations with his national security team and is expected to decide within two weeks whether to take more substantial action. Officials familiar with the matter noted that the Trump administration is “comprehensively assessing the risks of escalation and the costs of intervention” and is in parallel maintaining a high level of communication with regional allies such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. White House Press Secretary Karin Jean-Pierre told the press, “The president has ordered relevant agencies to closely monitor the situation and be prepared to respond quickly if necessary.” Although no clear military directive has been issued yet, the Department of Defense has raised its level of combat readiness in the Persian Gulf region. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Blinken will travel to the Middle East on behalf of the U.S. to coordinate multilateral positions and convey the U.S. position to ensure that the situation does not get further out of hand.
Global leaders call for restraint amid Middle East tensions
In response to the attack on Iran, U.N. Secretary-General Guterres issued a statement expressing “extreme concern” over the development of the situation and calling on the countries concerned to exercise restraint and avoid escalation of the conflict. He has urged the Security Council to convene an emergency meeting within 48 hours to discuss the situation in the Middle East. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, Mr. Borrelli, said, “We are concerned that any form of military escalation will affect energy security and global supply chains.” China’s Foreign Ministry also issued a brief statement today calling for dialogue to resolve disputes and “opposing any unilateral behavior that undermines regional peace.” Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a written statement that he “firmly opposes the use of force without the authorization of the United Nations” and accused the West of “condoning Israel’s excesses”.
Will the U.S. intervene militarily?
Despite Trump’s tough attitude, whether it means that the United States will re-engage in the Iranian issue is still unclear. Analysts pointed out that although the election is over, the new administration, in the face of the volatile situation in the Middle East, still showed a cautious attitude. Foreign policy adjustments should take into account the global strategic balance, but also consider domestic public opinion. Once the situation continues to deteriorate, the U.S. may be forced to take a clearer stance in order to maintain its strategic position and alliance in the Middle East.
Middle East expert Jason Moller said, “Trump is trying to redefine U.S. policy toward Iraq with a tough stance, but it may also prompt the current administration to take countermeasures in advance to avoid falling behind in terms of public opinion and strategy.” He also pointed out that the current US still maintains military bases in Iraq and Syria, and if the situation gets out of control, US servicemen and women may bear the brunt of the situation and face a high risk of being drawn into the front line.
The game in the shadow of war
The Iranian airstrike is undoubtedly a major turning point in the Middle East this year. As the war of words between the US and Iran escalates, neighboring countries such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Syria are on high alert. And Trump’s strong voice has given this regional conflict a more global political color. In the next step of development, how the parties respond and whether they exercise restraint may determine whether this crisis moves toward the negotiating table for a political settlement or slides into the abyss of a new round of war.
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