Israel intensified its air campaign on Iran Thursday by striking key nuclear facilities.

Israeli Strikes Target Iran’s Nuclear Program

Israel attacked nuclear facilities in Arak and Natanz, including a heavy-water research reactor and other components critical to Iran’s weapons development infrastructure. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Tehran’s leadership would “pay the full price” for recent attacks and vowed to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability.

According to the Israeli military, the strikes aimed to eliminate facilities that could be used to produce plutonium or enriched uranium—materials necessary for building nuclear weapons. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation condemned the attacks as violations of international law, but reported no casualties due to prior evacuations.

Trump’s Calculated Silence and Diplomatic Moves

President Donald Trump declined to confirm whether the U.S. would join the Israeli air campaign. “I may do it. I may not do it,” he said Wednesday outside the White House, signaling indecision amid pressure from his base and allies.

Trump has suggested Iran could end the conflict by accepting stringent nuclear limitations, but Tehran has refused negotiations under fire. Talks planned in Oman last week were canceled due to Israeli strikes, though European ministers plan to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Geneva on Friday.

Oil Prices Surge, Fears of Wider War

The dual escalation triggered spikes in global oil prices as markets reacted to the threat of disrupted crude supply routes. Analysts warned that the worst-ever conflict between Israel and Iran could draw in global powers and ignite broader instability across the Middle East.

Israel has already expanded its military operations across multiple fronts, targeting Iranian allies such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Yemen’s Houthis. The continued attacks have alarmed regional governments and strained global diplomacy.