Iran Nuclear Program: A Featured Controversy from Issues & Controversies
Israel and U.S. Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Program
On June 12, 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion. It carried out coordinated air strikes and drone attacks on dozens of targets in Iran. Since 1979, Iran’s regime has defined itself in opposition to the United States, Israel, and the West. The attacks hit Iranian nuclear sites, military bases, and energy infrastructure. They killed top government officials, military leaders, and nuclear scientists. They also, at least for a time, weakened Iran’s ability to respond. Then, on June 21, U.S. aircraft and submarines struck three Iranian nuclear sites. One site was built deep inside a mountain. They used “bunker-buster” bombs. Only the United States has these bombs. Only U.S. aircraft can carry them.
The strikes upended over two decades of U.S. strategy toward Iran. That strategy relied on diplomacy and sanctions to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons. But it avoided military action out of fear of escalation. Israel and the U.S. launched their campaigns just before a sixth round of talks. Those talks were set between Iranian and U.S. diplomats. The talks aimed to push Iran to give up its nuclear program. A prior effort was the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. It was reached under President Barack Obama. The U.S. left the JCPOA under President Donald Trump in 2018.
The Iran Nuclear Deal Debate
| IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL SUPPORTERS ARGUE | IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL OPPONENTS ARGUE |
| A nuclear deal is the best way of preventing Iran from building nuclear weapons while preserving peace and helping Iran’s people. Military strikes threaten to unleash a disastrous regional war the United States can ill afford. | A nuclear deal will fail to prevent Iran from arming itself. Its autocratic regime funds terrorism in the Middle East, violently oppresses its people, and cannot be trusted. The United States must oust Iran’s regime with force. |
What Issues & Controversies Covers on the Iran Nuclear Program
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Related Resources in This Article
This pro/con article on the Iran nuclear program links to rich related resources that enhance the debate. Students and researchers can explore:
- “By the Numbers” data, covering every number and statistic in the article related to the Iran nuclear program
- Primary sources that provide context, including Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address following Operation Rising Lion and President Donald Trump’s announcement of the U.S. attacks on Iran
- Debate videos from the Open to Debate Foundation and NPR podcasts from Fresh Air on related issues
- Infographics presenting vast amounts of information in easy-to-access charts, graphs, and tables
- A Reuters® newsfeed covering the latest breaking events and news stories
- A chronology of key events in the history of the Iran nuclear program
- A bibliography and further resources for further exploration of the topic
- Discussion questions to inspire critical thinking and analysis
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