On the sidelines of the recent government meeting regarding the possibility of negotiating with America, Araqchi stated, “Whenever the Americans are ready for balanced negotiations for both parties, negotiations can then become possible,” according to Iran’s Tasnim. The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, said that Iran must “increase its level of cooperation with UN inspectors to avoid escalating tensions with Western countries.” Grossi explained in statements to the British “Financial Times” that the agency has carried out more than ten inspections in Iran since the outbreak of the war between Tehran and Israel last June.
On June 13, unexpected airstrikes, in an operation called “Rising Lion,” targeted military sites and nuclear facilities in Iran, most importantly the main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz. The Israeli strikes led to the deaths of several prominent nuclear scientists, military leaders, and Iranian officials, most notably the Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami, the Chief of Staff of the Army Mohammad Bagheri, and the Commander of the Aerospace Forces of the Revolutionary Guard Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
In response, Iran launched a military operation against Israel, named “The True Promise 3,” during which dozens of military sites and airbases in Israel were targeted.
