In the heart of Tehran, a clock counts down to Israel’s annihilation. This is not mere rhetoric. The Iranian regime has, with unwavering resolve, pursued a project of destruction aimed squarely at the State of Israel. Despite the heavy toll on its economy and repeated Israeli strikes on its soil, Iran never abandoned its goal. The operation reportedly launched by Israel marks a decisive move in “injury time” — an eleventh-hour attempt to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions. It reflects a deep internalization of the horrors of October 7, especially the stark realization that when your enemy proclaims his intention to destroy you and has the means to do so — he likely will, unless you act.

In June 2017, the Iranian regime erected a doomsday clock in Tehran’s “Palestine Square,” predicting Israel’s end by 2040. This spectacle, while classic propaganda, was part of something much more sinister. Unlike other Middle Eastern actors who often traffic in bombast, Iran invested decades in its campaign of elimination. This campaign stood on two pillars: the creation of Iranian proxy militias — Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, Iraqi Hezbollah, and others — all armed and trained by Tehran; and the nuclear project aimed at achieving a deliverable atomic bomb.

The Supreme Leader and his advisors envisioned these proxies as tentacles of a strategic octopus that would eventually choke the “Zionist entity” — either through conventional warfare or nuclear force.

Did the October 7 massacre stop a genocide?

Ironically, the catastrophic October 7 assault, launched unilaterally by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar before the Iranian noose had fully tightened, may have spared Israel from a far greater calamity. Had Israel been ambushed in similar fashion on all five fronts — Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and beyond — the existential threat would have been immeasurably graver. Painful as this war has been, it dealt a critical blow to Iran’s strangulation strategy.

What remains is the nuclear file. Iran’s pursuit of atomic weapons was first exposed in 2002. Since then, the West — led by Israel, the United States, and several European nations — has tried to halt the program through a mixture of sabotage, diplomacy, and sanctions. According to open sources, Israeli and American forces have taken out key scientists and facilities over the years. But most of the international effort rested on softer tools: negotiations, oversight, and economic pressure.

People take cover in public shelter following missile attack from Iran on Israel, at Tel Aviv, Israel June 13, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/ITAY COHEN)
People take cover in public shelter following missile attack from Iran on Israel, at Tel Aviv, Israel June 13, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/ITAY COHEN)
This strategy revealed a fundamental disconnect between Western rationality and Iranian ideology. The West genuinely believed that oversight and agreements — like the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — could slow Iran’s march toward the bomb. The Iranians, however, treated those agreements as elaborate deception.

The regime’s determination was laid bare by its priorities: while ordinary Iranians endured spiraling economic hardship, the leadership remained singularly focused on realizing its nuclear dream.

Israel, too, was divided. Many respected voices in the defense and political establishment dismissed then–Prime Minister Netanyahu’s fierce opposition to the JCPOA. When he floated the idea of a military strike in 2011 and beyond, critics branded it reckless. But in the end, rhetoric gave way to action.

While the full extent of the reported Israeli strike remains unclear, initial reports suggest that key facilities in Iran’s nuclear infrastructure were destroyed. This mission may not be over. Yet one thing is certain: the trauma of October 7 has finally penetrated the highest echelons of Israeli decision-making.

Classified intelligence about Iran’s “weaponization group” and recent reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency pointed to flagrant violations and signaled that Iran was nearing a point of no return. When facing an adversary with genocidal intent and a credible path to a nuclear bomb, there may be no alternative but to strike — even unilaterally.

In this context, Prime Minister Netanyahu deserves recognition. For 30 years, he has led Israel’s campaign against Iran’s nuclear project. Until now, he refrained from ordering the one decision that would truly change the equation. That changed on this historic night.

With Israeli fighter jets still in the skies over Iran, it is too early to assess the full scope of the achievement or the price Israel will pay. One can only hope for optimal outcomes — that Israeli air defense will mitigate retaliation, and that deterrence will be restored. But the message to Israel’s fiercest enemies is unmistakable: we will no longer accept a knife at our throat. And if it’s placed there — we will strike, with resolve and without hesitation.

These are also days of Israeli pride — and of a profound understanding of what Zionism truly means, and what it means to have a Jewish state. The ongoing struggle for survival is matched by a willingness to bear heavy costs, so that our people, too, may have a state — a home.

Dr. Shuki Friedman is the director of the Jewish People Policy Institute and a law professor at Peres Academic Center. He previously chaired the Israeli sanctions committee against Iran.