Israel says it would have kept striking Iran if regime change was achievable

Iran’s nuclear facilities were "badly damaged" in US and Israeli strikes, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Wednesday, adding that the attacks dealt a serious blow not only to infrastructure but also to diplomatic efforts.

“Our nuclear installations were badly damaged, that’s for sure, because they came under attack by Israeli and American aggressors,” Baghaei told Al Jazeera.

The strikes, he said, caused “a detrimental blow” to international law, ethics, and diplomacy.

Baghaei said that while Iran has not abandoned diplomacy, it questions the intentions of Western governments. “They are talking about dialogue and diplomacy, but at the same time, they are committing acts of aggression. These contradictions have only created more and more problems,” he said.

Asked whether Iran is willing to resume talks with the US, Baghaei said Tehran is focused for now on internal security and the public’s anger after the attacks.

“We have nothing to say about those contradictory remarks regarding diplomacy or negotiations,” he said. “We have to make sure whether the other parties are really serious when they're talking about diplomacy — or whether it is, again, part of their tactics to make more problems for the region and for my country.”

He also defended Iran’s move to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, saying the parliament’s decision was a direct and natural response to aggression. “Don’t you think it is only natural for the representatives of a nation that has come under an egregious act of aggression to reconsider the way they have been dealing with the IAEA?” he said.

Baghaei added that Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy remains intact and non-negotiable under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). “Iran is prepared to reserve that right under any circumstances,” he said.

The contained spike and swift retreat in oil prices during the Israel-Iran war highlight a major shift in global energy dynamics: Middle East conflicts no longer move markets as they once did, according to an opinion piece by Reuters.

Brent crude rose 15% from under $70 on June 12 to $81.40 after US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities—but quickly fell back to $67 following a ceasefire and limited Iranian retaliation. There was no disruption to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and global supply remained steady.

The restrained market response contrasts sharply with past crises,energy columnist Ron Bousso wrote. The 1973 oil embargo, 1979 Iranian revolution, and 1990 Persian Gulf War each triggered price surges of 50% or more. This time, traders appeared less alarmed.

The analysis points to improved transparency—thanks to satellite tracking and real-time data—as well as better infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE now export through pipelines that bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Regional producers also maintain storage in Asia and Europe, reducing short-term supply risk.

The author said that perhaps the world is less reliant on Middle Eastern oil. OPEC’s share of global supply has dropped to 33%, from over 50% in the 1970s, as output rises in the US, Brazil, and Canada.

The message from markets: Middle East flashpoints still matter—but they no longer dictate the price of oil, Bousso concluded.

Israel carried out a wide-scale military campaign inside Iran over a 12-day conflict, striking more than 1,480 targets and launching around 1,500 air sorties that dropped 3,500 munitions, Israeli media and defense sources reported.

The campaign, focused largely on western Iran and Tehran, also included long-range strikes as far as Mashhad airport, approximately 2,300 km from Israel.

According to data from the Israeli military and national rescue services (MDA), 29 Israelis were killed during the conflict – 28 by Iranian missile fire and one woman reportedly suffering cardiac arrest during air raid sirens.

The Israeli Air Force conducted 600 mid-air refueling operations during the offensive, which also targeted 80 Iranian air defense systems and 250 missile launch platforms.

Eight nuclear sites across Iran were bombed, with severe damage reported at two key facilities. Initial waves of airstrikes targeted Natanz and Isfahan, while subsequent attacks hit Arak, Parchin, Karaj, Bonab, and Tehran.

According to analysis by the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), the strikes significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and eliminated much of the country’s strategic launch capability.

Iran fired approximately 600 missiles at Israeli territory in retaliation. Fatalities were recorded in multiple cities, including Rishon LeZion, Haifa, Petah Tikva, Kiryat Ata, and Beersheba. More than 30,000 buildings across Israel were damaged during the hostilities.

Military strikes on Iran likely failed to eliminate the country’s nuclear expertise or uranium stockpiles, former British intelligence chief Sir John Sawers said on Wednesday, warning that without renewed diplomacy, further military escalation may be inevitable.

“You can't destroy the know-how, we almost certainly haven't destroyed the partially enriched uranium,” the former MI6 head told Bloomberg in an interview.

Sawers called on the Trump administration and European governments to re-engage politically with Tehran to avoid a cycle of repeated military confrontations.

“Engaging with Iran to reach a political agreement is important if they want to prevent the need for strikes over and over again,” he said.

Iran has restored internet, mobile, and landline services to pre-conflict levels following disruptions imposed during its recent war with Israel, Communications Minister Sattar Hashemi said on Wednesday.

The blackout, which affected millions across the country, was described by Hashemi as a “forced situation” driven by national security concerns. Iranian officials had accused Israel of exploiting digital networks for military operations during the 12-day conflict.

“I apologize to the people for the disruption,” Hashemi said in a televised statement, acknowledging the difficulties caused by the communication restrictions.

Some Iranian users regained access to previously banned platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp without VPNs or IP-masking tools on Wednesday, according to the reformist Shargh newspaper. The paper cited changes in internet protocol settings as part of the ongoing restoration process.

Sources told Shargh the apparent unblocking is temporary and technical in nature, not a shift in policy on foreign platforms.