Temitayo Olumofe
The Middle East is holding its breath. In homes from Tel Aviv to Tehran, ordinary people are glued to their televisions and phones, anxious about what tomorrow will bring. For decades, Israel and Iran have been locked in a cycle of suspicion, threats, and violence. But after a dramatic escalation in June 2025, the question on everyone’s mind is: Can these two rivals step back from the brink and find a path to peace?
On Saturday, June 21, 2025, the world watched in shock as the United States joined Israel in launching airstrikes against three of Iran’s most vital nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. This was the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that Western powers had directly attacked Iran on such a scale. The strikes came just days after Israel’s preemptive attack on June 13, which killed key Iranian military and nuclear figures.
The international response was swift and fearful. Iran immediately vowed revenge, launching a barrage of missiles and drones at Israeli targets and promising that the U.S. would not be spared from retaliation. “The criminal U.S. must understand that alongside its illegal and aggressive actions, the fighters of Islam’s military are now liberated to take any actions against its interests and military, and we will not retreat in this matter,” declared Abdolrahim Mousavi, Iran’s top military commander, on June 23.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, praised the U.S. strikes as a “bold decision” and suggested that these actions could lead to a “future of prosperity and peace” for the region. Yet, beneath the public statements, diplomats scrambled to prevent the conflict from spiraling out of control.
The stakes could hardly be higher. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, but Israel—and much of the world—remains unconvinced. The specter of a nuclear-armed Iran has haunted Israeli leaders for years. “We will not relent. Not until Iran’s nuclear threat is neutralized, not until its military capabilities are dismantled, and not until our citizens and yours are secure,” said Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon at the United Nations.
The recent attacks have raised fears of a wider war that could engulf the entire Middle East and beyond. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned, “Expansion of the Israel-Iran conflict could ignite a fire no one can control,” urging both sides to “give peace a chance”.
The economic fallout is also global. Iran’s parliament has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz—a vital waterway for the world’s oil supply in retaliation for the strikes. Oil traders and investors are bracing for chaos, as any disruption could send energy prices soaring and trigger a global recession.
For ordinary Iranians and Israelis, the latest round of violence has brought fear and uncertainty. Iranian missile strikes have killed at least 24 people in Israel and injured hundreds, according to Israeli sources. Israel, in turn, has hit targets deep inside Iran, including military installations and even Evin prison, symbolically targeting the heart of Iran’s ruling system.
The conflict is also having ripple effects far beyond the Middle East. In Ukraine, military leaders are worried that U.S. support could shift away from their fight against Russia, as weapons and resources are redirected to Israel. “Weapons that were designed for Ukraine will be sent to the Middle East, so there are no illusions about it,” said Lieutenant General Ihor Romanenko, former deputy chief of Ukraine’s armed forces.
Despite the violence, there are signs that both sides may be looking for a way out. According to reports, Israel has sent messages to Iran via Arab mediators, indicating it wants to end its bombing campaign soon and is open to restarting diplomacy on Iran’s nuclear program.“Jerusalem is seeking to seize on the accomplishments of the U.S. strikes…to end the war in the coming days,” an Arab official told The Wall Street Journal.
European diplomats are also working frantically to coax Tehran back to the negotiating table. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, has said that talks with the U.S. are impossible “until Israeli aggression ceases,” however, he met with European ministers in Geneva to explore a path forward.
Yet, the obstacles remain daunting. Iran has flatly refused to discuss its nuclear program while under attack, and Israel is demanding concrete steps to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities before it will consider a ceasefire. “If this is just another session of discussions, it will not be effective,” said Israel’s UN ambassador.
The involvement of the United States has dramatically raised the stakes. President Donald Trump has alternated between calls for peace and threats of further attacks, telling Iran it “must now make peace” or face “far greater and a lot easier” future strikes. Meanwhile, Russia has condemned the U.S. and Israeli actions, calling them a “blatant violation of international law”.
Russia’s relationship with Iran is complex. While Moscow has supplied Iran with advanced military technology in the past, analysts say it is unlikely to intervene directly in the current conflict. “They won’t significantly alter the situation,” said Ukrainian General Romanenko. “But they will have sufficient resources for arms supplies”.
The shifting alliances and rivalries are making the situation even more unpredictable. Some analysts warn that if the U.S. becomes bogged down in the Middle East, it could embolden Russia elsewhere, particularly in Ukraine.
The heart of the crisis remains Iran’s nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that the recent strikes caused significant damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities, but radiation levels outside the Natanz site remain normal. Inside, however, there is contamination, and the full extent of the damage is still unclear.
Iran has insisted that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes, but the secrecy and military involvement have fueled international suspicion. Israel, for its part, has never officially acknowledged possessing nuclear weapons but is widely believed to have them.
The fear is that continued military escalation could push Iran to accelerate its nuclear program in secret or even to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty altogether, setting off a regional arms race.
Despite the grim headlines, some leaders are calling for restraint and dialogue. UN Secretary-General Guterres’s plea to “give peace a chance” has been echoed by European diplomats and some voices within Israel and Iran. Even President Trump, after ordering the strikes, posted online: “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”
In Iran, some officials have hinted that the door to diplomacy is not entirely closed. “We are ready to defend ourselves, but we do not seek war,” said a spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces. In Israel, there is growing debate about whether continued military action will truly bring security, or simply deepen the cycle of violence.
As of June 23, 2025, the situation remains tense and fluid. Both Israel and Iran have suffered losses, and both are under intense pressure from their populations and international allies. The next moves, whether more strikes, or a return to talks could determine the fate of the entire region.
The world is watching, hoping that cooler heads will prevail. As one European diplomat put it, “We have witnessed diplomatic engagements for decades, and look at the outcomes. But the alternative of an uncontrollable war would be far worse”.
For now, the people of the Middle East wait, hoping that their leaders will choose the difficult path of peace over the easy slide into war. The coming days will show whether Israel and Iran can step back from the edge and whether the world can help them find a way forward.