Israel attacked Iran on 12 June 2025, with US support, one day after the end of Donald Trump's two-month deadline to Iran to resume nuclear negotiations or face military force. On 21 June, US military forces directly joined the attack on Iran. These attacks were clear violations of the United Nations Charter, international laws and norms and law, but not a surprise. Iran and the United States have threatened, planned, and used force in various ways against Iran’s nuclear program and society since the beginning of international nuclear negotiations with Iran in 2003. Drawing on a recent article, this presentation will assess implications of the June 2025 attack on Iran’s future nuclear strategy, including the risk of Iran deciding to build nuclear weapons, and how the consequences of the Israeli and US military attacks will haunt the region, and beyond, for years to come.
About the speaker: Seyed Hossein Mousavian is a Visiting Research Collaborator with the Program on Science and Global Security. He retired in May 2025 after 15 years at the Program. A former diplomat, he served as Iran’s Ambassador to Germany (1990-1997), Head of the Foreign Relations Committee of Iran’s National Security Council (1997-2005), and as spokesman for Iran in its nuclear negotiations with the international community (2003-2005), among other official responsibilities. He is the author of five books on Iran’s nuclear and foreign policy and relations with the US, Europe, and the Middle East.