Israel’s defense minister has confirmed that Israel and the United States are pursuing independent but coordinated efforts to counter Iran’s nuclear program. The operations, according to Defense Minister Israel Katz, have already set back Iran’s capabilities at key facilities.
What Israel is saying, and what it’s doing
Israeli officials say they’ve taken concrete actions targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure at three of the country’s most critical sites: Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
Natanz is Iran’s primary uranium enrichment facility, buried partially underground. Fordow is carved into a mountain, designed specifically to survive aerial bombardment. Isfahan houses uranium conversion capabilities. These are the crown jewels of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and Israel says it has degraded all three.
The broader military campaign falls under what’s been called “Operation Rising Lion,” which targets both nuclear infrastructure and missile sites. Israeli preparations for strikes reportedly intensified in May 2025, even as diplomatic negotiations were still underway.
