Israel vs Iran: What the Conflict Means for the Rest of the World

On Friday, June 13, Israel launched a campaign of coordinated, well-planned attacks on military and nuclear research targets in Iran, deploying warplanes and drones that had been previously smuggled into the country. The goal: Destroy entirely Iran’s capability of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran struck back, firing missiles into residential areas of Israel. The back-and-forth attacks have continued for several days. What does this mean for the region and the wider world?

To answer those questions and more, we turn to Liberty Nation News National Security Correspondent Dave Patterson, a retired US Air Force pilot and former Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Comptroller.

Israel and the Existential Threat

James Fite: In an interview with Brett Baier of Fox News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Iran’s rush to achieve nuclear weapons an existential crisis for his nation and declared there would be no second Holocaust. But where does it end?

Dave Patterson: As the prime minister explained, the conflict with Iran ends when two objectives are accomplished. First, Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon. Second, Israel intends to destroy Iran’s capacity to produce ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, both long- and medium-range. Currently, Iran is on track to produce approximately 3,600 ballistic missiles per year.

James: How are Israel’s attacks on Iran and Iran’s attacks on Israel different? Which side seems to be making the most headway?

Dave: Herein lies the fundamental difference between a terrorist nation like Iran, whose purpose is to sow fear and terror into the civilian population, and Israel’s focus on military targets. Iran’s modestly accurate ballistic missiles have been indiscriminately hitting populated areas where innocent civilians reside, and Israel, using precision-guided weapons, has been targeting nuclear technology development sites, missile warehouses, launchers, and production facilities. Israel also has been carefully killing Iran’s military leadership and atomic scientists and taking out oil storage facilities.

Israel has proven to be the more powerful of the two and is making the most progress.

Israel vs Iran, the Saga Continues

James: After several days of attacks from both sides, Iran now says that it will stop if Israel agrees to do the same. Does it seem peace is on the horizon?

Dave: President Trump indicated the US was still interested in a deal to eliminate Iran’s nuclear ambitions and suggested that the beating Iran took in the first wave of airstrikes and Mossad attacks should be motivation for Tehran to re-engage with the negotiations. Iran’s offer has to be accompanied by a solid show of Tehran’s intention to stop refining uranium, disassemble what centrifuges there are left, and close down ballistic missile development and production.

It is essentially the offer the US has had on the table that Iran has rejected.

James: Just how close does it seem Iran really was to achieving nuclear capability

Dave: There are conflicting reports. The International Atomic Energy Commission, in its March 2025 report, estimated that the Iranians could enrich enough uranium to build one bomb in about a week but would need several months to produce a warhead. Israeli intelligence suggested that at the time of the June 12-13 attack, Iran was likely days to weeks away from enriching uranium to weapons-grade 90% for a single warhead.

Israel did itself, the Middle East, the United States, and the rest of the world an immense favor in destroying as much of Tehran’s nuclear weapon capability as it did. It’s safe to say, without the Israeli intervention, Iran would have had nuclear weapons within six months.

1. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Iran’s rush to achieve nuclear weapons an existential crisis for his nation and declared there would be no second Holocaust.
2. Israel’s goals are to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and to destroy Iran’s capacity to produce ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
3. Iran’s ballistic missiles target populated areas where innocent civilians reside, and Israel attacks nuclear technology development sites, missile warehouses, launchers, and production facilities.

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