Trump Holds Fire as Israel Targets Iran&rsquo;s Nuclear Core
As war clouds deepen over the Middle East, a crucial announcement from the White House has signalled that President <a title="US President" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/geo-politics/trump-s-iran-dilemma-war-plans-ready-but-green-light-on-hold/14219" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> will defer any decision on U.S. military intervention in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict for a fortnight. The delay has created a tense window in which Israel appears determined to escalate its offensive, particularly against Iran&rsquo;s nuclear infrastructure.
According to officials close to the White House, the two-week pause is aimed at assessing the regional fallout and gathering battlefield intelligence before deploying American forces. Trump is reportedly monitoring Iran&rsquo;s potential move towards nuclear weaponisation&mdash;a threshold event that could force his hand, especially if Iran retaliates further against Israeli assets or regional U.S. bases.
Netanyahu&rsquo;s Fordo Challenge
In a significant statement, <a title="Israel PM" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/netanyahu-world-backs-israel-s-war-efforts/14234" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israeli</a> Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are fully capable of targeting and destroying all Iranian nuclear sites, including the heavily fortified Fordo enrichment facility buried deep beneath the mountains near Qom. The assertion counters an earlier view publicly voiced by Trump himself, who claimed that only the U.S. military could neutralise Fordo due to its extreme fortification.
Netanyahu added that half of Iran&rsquo;s missile launchers have already been destroyed in precision Israeli strikes, suggesting the IDF&rsquo;s intelligence penetration of Iranian defences is deeper than previously acknowledged.
&nbsp;
ALSO READ: https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/south-korea-s-energy-supply-stable-amid-mideast-tensions/14301
Tehran Hit Hard, But Fires Back
<a title="Iran" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/israel-hits-arak-reactor-iran-strikes-back-hard/14242" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iran has </a>responded with renewed fury. On Thursday night, multiple Israeli cities came under heavy missile barrage. The IDF has confirmed that Iran used ballistic missiles carrying cluster bomb warheads&mdash;a rare and controversial escalation. The most severe strike hit the central town of Azor, where a bomblet struck a residential home, injuring civilians and causing structural damage.
The IDF&rsquo;s Home Front Command disclosed that one ballistic missile released over 20 submunitions while descending from an altitude of 7 kilometres, dispersing across an 8-kilometre radius. Dozens of unexploded bomblets have since been discovered throughout central Israel, triggering fears of unexploded ordnance and possible future booby traps.
The strikes have also caused damage to key locations including Soroka Hospital in Beersheba and buildings in Ramat Gan and Holon, with dozens injured. East Jerusalem remains especially vulnerable, where Arab residents are caught between limited shelters and widespread IDF roadblocks.
ALSO READ: https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/putin-won-t-discuss-khamenei-killing-by-west/14272
Israeli Offensive Gains Momentum
On the ground, Israel has issued urgent evacuation warnings to civilians near Sepidrood Industrial Park in northwest Iran, signalling potential future strikes. Drone warfare has also intensified; Iranian state forces reported intercepting and downing an Israeli drone near Pol Dokhtar in Lorestan Province.
In northern Iran, Israeli drone strikes are reported to have killed several IRGC officers in Bostan Abad, located in East Azerbaijan Province. Tehran&rsquo;s Lavizan neighbourhood, believed to be a hiding location for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was seen engulfed in smoke as Iranian air defences activated.
Cyber Warfare and Maritime Threats
Iran&rsquo;s administration claims that a state-ordered internet blackout has crippled Israel&rsquo;s drone network within Iranian airspace. While this remains unverified, it aligns with Iran's broader hybrid warfare strategy, which also includes threats to maritime traffic. Senior U.S. defence officials warn that Iran may move to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supply, should hostilities with the U.S. escalate.
&nbsp;
ALSO READ: https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/netanyahu-vows-to-teach-iran-a-harsh-lesson/14266
Diplomatic and Nuclear Overhang
Tensions have now spilled into international diplomatic forums. Iran&rsquo;s Atomic Energy Organisation has issued a strong letter to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, condemning the Israeli airstrike on the Khandab Heavy Water Research Reactor and labelling it a breach of international law.
American intelligence officials warn that any U.S. strike on Fordo might trigger Tehran to formally begin the process of building a nuclear weapon&mdash;effectively crossing a red line that could justify full-scale intervention from Washington.
Escalation Without End?
As cargo planes filled with military aid land in Israel, the White House's two-week timeline becomes increasingly crucial. On one hand, it offers a fleeting diplomatic window; on the other, it gives Israel latitude to attempt what it has long prepared for: a crippling blow to Iran&rsquo;s nuclear and military infrastructure without external interference.
Iran, meanwhile, remains defiant. It has reportedly warned Israeli media, including Channel 14, to prepare for further evacuations. Tehran&rsquo;s confidence appears rooted not just in its missile arsenal but in its belief that domestic resilience, asymmetric warfare, and nuclear ambiguity will shield it from outright collapse.
Yet, as both sides exchange increasingly destructive blows, the Middle East edges closer to a point of no return.
&nbsp;

Iran's missile hit residential areas in Israel's cities

Netanyahu vows to destroy Fordo; Iran pounds Israel with cluster missiles, mass damage

Trump Pauses War Entry, Israel Strikes Iran Hard

Netanyahu vows to destroy Fordo; Iran pounds Israel with cluster missiles, mass damage

June 20, 2025 | 05:54 IST