Centrifuges used to enrich uranium at Iran’s nuclear fuel plant in Natanz, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (Photo: Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Reuters)
The highly combustible situation in the Middle East intensified even further on Thursday, after the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA), declared the Iranian regime to be in breach of its safeguard obligations – a step that could cause hard snapback sanctions against the regime.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry immediately condemned the move and vowed to retaliate by establishing a new enrichment facility at a “secure location” and to replace first-generation centrifuges at Fordow with advanced versions.
In addition, the Iranian military said it moved up planned drills to focus on “enemy movements.” Over the preceding hours, several news outlets, including CBS and NBC, reported that Israel was preparing military strikes against the Iranian nuclear program in the coming days.
HUGE STORY AND HIGH STAKES — The IAEA just voted 19 to 3 to declare that Iran is egregiously violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. With the Supreme Leader rejecting U.S. offers for a deal, all eyes on President Trump. With negotiations breaking down, is war looming? https://t.co/fMke0RVgPS
— Joel C. Rosenberg (@JoelCRosenberg) June 12, 2025
According to Reuters, Iran received a message from a “regional ally” warning that Israel is planning to strike its nuclear facilities soon.
The U.S. instructed non-essential staff and family members in several embassies and military bases in the region to evacuate. In Israel, the American embassy instructed its staff not to travel outside the largest cities, which include Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Beersheva.
The IAEA resolution was submitted by the U.S., France, the United Kingdom, and Germany, and passed with 19 in favor, 11 abstentions, and two countries that did not vote. Three countries – Russia, China, and Burkina Faso – opposed it.
“Iran’s many failures to uphold its obligations since 2019 to provide the Agency with full and timely cooperation regarding undeclared nuclear material and activities at multiple undeclared locations in Iran… constitute non-compliance with its obligations under its Safeguards Agreement,” the resolution stated.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated in response: “Iran has engaged in a systematic clandestine nuclear weapons program. It is rapidly accumulating highly enriched uranium, clearly proving the nature of the program is for non-peaceful purposes. Iran has consistently obstructed IAEA’s verification and monitoring, it removed inspectors, and it sanitized and concealed suspected undeclared locations in Iran.”
“The international community must respond decisively to Iran’s non-compliance and take measures to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.”
Meanwhile, a sixth round of nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran appears to still be scheduled for Sunday in Oman.
Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and the Mossad Director David Barnea to meet White House envoy Steve Witkoff on Friday to, once again, clarify Israel’s position ahead of the next round of talks.
Throughout Thursday, various media outlets continued to report on the heightening tensions in the region ahead of Sunday’s fateful meeting.
The Iranian opposition outlet Iran International cited a “senior Israeli politician” who said that Israel is ready to strike Iran if the upcoming round of talks fails.
“Preparations are in place, and the United States would need roughly three days to evacuate non-essential diplomatic staff and their families from the region – a process that began Wednesday and is expected to conclude by Sunday, coinciding with the talks’ timeline,” the politician said.
Western diplomats told i24 News that they fear a miscalculation between Israel and Iran could cause a conflagration.
However, Iran’s leadership showed no signs of backing down or any readiness to compromise on Thursday.
Revolutionary Guards Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani said in a speech that it was “delusional” to think Iran and its allies were weakened. Instead, Qaani said that Iran is “fully prepared and approaches negotiations with wisdom and prudence.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that the regime doesn’t pursue nuclear weapons, but added: “We will not abandon peaceful nuclear industry either.”
The U.S. and Europe are “trying to impose maximum sanctions and pressure on our people,” Pezeshkian charged.
“We have placed our trust in God, not in the US and its agents,” he said. “We want to talk to the world, but we will not bow to coercion and bullying.”
