Tehran: The simmering conflict between Iran and Israel has erupted into a full-blown crisis, prompting an early departure by U.S. President Donald Trump from the G7 Summit and a stark public warning for Tehran's residents to evacuate. The escalating hostilities have already inflicted significant blows to vital energy infrastructure on both sides, while a shadowy cyber war unfolds alongside conventional missile exchanges and a visible U.S. military buildup in the region.
In an unexpected move, President Trump cut short his participation at the G7 Summit in Canada, declaring an urgent need to return to Washington. Aboard Air Force One, he cryptically posted on Truth Social, asserting "complete and total control" of Iranian skies, without further elaboration on the "American stuff" he referenced. Upon his return, Trump is slated to convene advisors in the highly secure White House Situation Room – a multi-room complex deep within the West Wing, historically the nerve center for pivotal U.S. national security decisions, from the Bay of Pigs crisis to the Bin Laden raid. His blunt call for "everyone" to "immediately evacuate Tehran" underscores the gravity perceived by the White House, although British Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated no signs from Trump that the U.S. was on the verge of directly joining the conflict, emphasizing the G7's collective call for de-escalation.
The conflict's ripple effects are keenly felt in the global energy sector, with both Iranian and Israeli vital installations suffering direct hits. Iran reported that Israel struck an installation at its offshore South Pars gas field on June 14, causing a partial suspension of production from what is part of the world's largest natural gas reserve. Simultaneously, a Tehran fuel depot and an oil refinery near the capital were targeted the same day, though Iranian authorities claimed the situation was under control. In retaliation, Israel's largest refinery, the Haifa oil refinery (Bazan Group), with a processing capacity of 197,000 barrels per day (bpd), was forced to shut down on June 16 after its power station sustained damage from an Iranian attack.
Beyond physical strikes, the conflict has expanded into the digital realm. Iranian state media has reported that Iran's National Cyber Security Command accused Israel of launching a "massive cyber war" against the country's digital infrastructure. This claim follows earlier reports of widespread internet connectivity slowdowns in Tehran, suggesting an unseen front in the ongoing hostilities.
As missiles continue to traverse the Middle Eastern skies, the U.S. military is augmenting its presence, deploying and extending the deployment of F-16, F-22, and F-35 fighter aircraft to the region. U.S. officials stressed the defensive nature of these deployments, aimed at intercepting drones and projectiles.
Meanwhile, the status of Iran's nuclear program, a core point of contention, remains under intense scrutiny. The Israeli military confirmed identifying multiple missile launches from Iran towards Israel, with defensive systems actively intercepting threats, prompting citizens to seek immediate shelter. While Israel's defensive umbrella boasts an "80 or 90% success rate," officials acknowledge that no system is infallible, meaning some Iranian projectiles are penetrating the shield.
In a critical update, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, revised its earlier assessment, stating on X that satellite imagery confirmed direct impacts on the underground uranium enrichment halls at Natanz. Previously, it was believed only an above-ground pilot plant was hit indirectly. The IAEA also reported destruction of several facilities at the Isfahan nuclear complex, including a uranium conversion plant. However, Iran's deeply fortified Fordow enrichment site showed "little or no apparent damage," a fact German Chancellor Friedrich Merz highlighted, noting the U.S. possesses the necessary weaponry if a complete destruction of Iran's nuclear program were to become an objective due to Tehran's refusal to de-escalate.
Amidst the intensifying conflict, international diplomatic channels are buzzing. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are slated to discuss the Middle East situation in coming days, while Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan have agreed to intensify contacts between their foreign and defense ministries. The G7 leaders, in their joint statement, emphatically backed Israel and labeled Iran a "source of instability," underscoring the urgent need for de-escalation. Trump, for his part, expressed a desire for a "real end" to the nuclear dispute and hinted at sending senior U.S. officials for direct talks with Tehran, even as the region holds its breath for what the next phase of this volatile conflict might bring.