On June 12, 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, carrying out a series of coordinated air strikes and drone attacks on dozens of targets in Iran, where the regime has defined itself in opposition to the United States, Israel, and the West in general since 1979. The attacks hit Iranian nuclear facilities, military bases, and energy infrastructure, killing top government officials, military leaders, and nuclear scientists, and at least temporarily debilitating Iran’s ability to respond. Then, on June 21, U.S. aircraft and submarines carried out strikes on Iran’s three nuclear facilities, one of which was built deep within a mountain, using “bunker-buster” bombs that only the United States possesses and which only U.S. aircraft can carry.
The strikes upended more than two decades of U.S. strategy toward Iran, which had relied on diplomacy and sanctions to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran but shied from military action for fear of escalation. Israel and the U.S. launched their campaigns just before a sixth round of talks between Iranian and United States diplomats were scheduled to be held in an ongoing effort to induce Iran to give up its nuclear program—the previous attempt being the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) under President Barack Obama, which the U.S. withdrew from under President Donald Trump in 2018.
Should the United States negotiate a new Iran nuclear deal? Here is a sample of the arguments on both sides of the issue you’ll find in this newly updated Issues & Controversies’ article.
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A Featured Controversy from Issues & Controversies:
Iran Nuclear Program: Should the United States Negotiate a New Iran Nuclear Deal?
| 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. |
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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
- And more.
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