The US has bombed Fordow and other sites.

[MistressoftheDarkSide]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jun/22/israel-iran-war-live-trump-says-us-has-attacked-nuclear-sites-in-iran-including-fordow

No. So much nonsense being spewed on here and the other threads. They have just swallowed the Israeli (and the US/Uk narrative which is the same) whole and not stopped to think about any of their assertions.

Interesting metaphor, but I’m not sure it gives the full picture if it’s all framed as "Iran the baddie pulling the strings" while Israel is just the innocent target of playground bullies.

What about the perspective that Israel's attacks is because Iran is actually at its weakest point in years? Some analysts argue that the timing of Israel’s actions isn’t because Iran has powerful friends doing its bidding—but because it doesn’t.

Israel has struck Iranian forces abroad, targeted and humiliated its proxies, and, most provocatively, hit inside Iranian territory. The so-called "Axis of Resistance" has wobbled badly. Iran didn’t—or couldn’t—do much to steady it.

In Syria, Assad is still clinging on but has lost influence. Hezbollah is overstretched and bloodied. Iraqi militias linked to Iran are more focused on business and local politics than jumping to Tehran’s defense. That leaves the Houthis—arguably the only ones still actively resisting.

So maybe the question isn't just about Iran sponsoring chaos, but why Israel chose now to escalate. Could it be precisely because Iran looks isolated and vulnerable, and that its deterrent power is fading?

Just a different lens to consider—as Mumsnetters know things on the playground aren’t always as simple as they seem.

Er. The Israelis have literally stated that as one of their aims! They have stated that they want to kill the supreme leader and have already killed multiple other Iranian leaders.
Your suggestion that Israel/US can simply bomb some nuclear sites and eradicate all chance of an Iranian nuclear weapon and that we can all go home happy is naive in the extreme.

I thought you’d stopped responding? Anyway as you wish

The US don’t want it and they have greater impact than Israel. Israel and Iran will likely carry on, sadly for both groups of people but what the US wants has bigger implications.

Have you listened to anyone talking about this today?

Can other countries give Iran nuclear weapons ? Surely if this was the case it would have happened already ?

They could, but it's all downside risk to them to do so. If Iran uses a Chinese nuclear weapon, China is implicated in the act.

Just reported on X

BREAKING: Iranian parliament has just voted to close the Strait of Hormuz.

• 20% of global oil passes through the Strait

HERE’s what to expect if successful:

• Oil Prices could spike by 30–50%+ almost immediately

• Global Inflation likely Rises

• U.S. Gas Prices likely Skyrocket. Potential $5–$7/gallon range depending on duration

• Military Escalation Risk. U.S. Navy and allies likely to respond

• Tanker delays affect oil, LNG, and related goods

I don’t think China want this. They will want economic stability instead.

China was probably a bad example for that reason. Even Russia wouldn't want to be implicated if Iran were to use a weapon they provided. Once they hand it over, they lose all control over it. That would be true for any nation that supplied one.

Like no-one would have predicted that.

I'm shook, shook I tell you.

And there we go WW3

I'm not trying to say that the current lot are any better, but Iranians prefer the Devil they know.

to add to my previous post, how would you like to live in fear, silenced and unable to live and talk freely, "like a Medieval peasant, being pedalled hatred in your school lessons from the start of the day to the end". This is what is being described on LBC. I would suggest you need to broaden your understanding of what it's like to actually live under that regime.

saying glibly that Iranians prefer the devil they know shows you don't really know or have witnessed their lives and what it's like day to day,

I genuinely don't understand why this particular event is going to lead to WWIII, when all the other events over the last 50years that I can remember, and there will be countless others that are lost in the depths of my memory, haven't ?

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/iran-oil-doomsday-hormuz-may-be-more-fear-than-reality-bousso-2025-06-22/

Reuters is doing a good attempt at "calm thine titties, we've been here before", so ....who knows. This situation is slightly different.....

Good, I prefer that to stirring everyone up

I suppose because Trump now has his hand firmly on the trigger.

One thing that keeps going through my head, although I appreciate I'm probably a bit twisted in my thought processes, is what if the whole nuclear thing is a bit of a bait and switch?

Bear with me. Iran wants a weapon. Despite everybody on the global stage going "Woah there cowboy, not so fast" it builds several facilities, orders the ingredients, works on it, flaunts it's efforts, while intelligence is gathered by the concerned and ultimately triggers last night's events.

In their position, I'd be very quietly doing the dirty bomb deeds in a very very secret location while everyone focused on the "obvious" places. I'd be creating misdirection and obfuscation, just as the US did by having two lots of B2s in the air, one of which was essentially a decoy.

Look, i appreciate this isn't a Bond movie, and it's a serious matter, so I assume enough intelligence has been gathered to preclude the possibility. At least, I hope so.

It's worth recognising that the vast majority of Iranians do not speak fluent English—just as only a small number of English speakers are fluent in Farsi. This presents a significant challenge in accurately representing the perspectives of ordinary Iranians. Until journalists develop stronger Farsi-language skills, much of the UK media will remain reliant on the views of a small, often Western-educated, English-speaking elite—almost all of whom do not reside in Iran. I'm presuming you haven't lived in Iran or experienced Iranians day to day existence? I'd be careful making sweeping assumptions of an entire country based on some LBC call ins!

Can they actually physically close the strait? I believe they legally can’t? How are they going to stop tankers going through? I know sometimes there are issues from Yemen with ships being attacked and I appreciate it’s a narrow body of water so ships might be fired on. But can’t the us navy escort ships through and fire back on any attackers? Is that a likely prospect? Or would they not be successful in defending tankers?

BA have just stopped flights to Dubai. I believe most usa airlines stopped flights last week.

As if 'legally' plays in part in this current situation. The US bombs Iran without even domestic agreement and Israel is committing an ongoing atrocity, but we should wonder if it's actually legal for Iran to close the straits. Shows you how crazy this whole narrative is.

daisychain01 · Today 16:44

to add to my previous post, how would you like to live in fear, silenced and unable to live and talk freely, "like a Medieval peasant, being pedalled hatred in your school lessons from the start of the day to the end". This is what is being described on LBC.

That's fair enough, but it's not down to us to bomb them into a worse regime. The Shah was bad enough, if they weren't wealthy, or compliant.

Look at Iraq, Libya and Syria for some recent regime changes. Anarchy prevails and the regimes are as bad, or worse, with huge numbers of dead people.

Speak to some Iranians and they'll tell you they hate the regime, but don't want the Americans kicking the wasp's nest.

I think the closing of Harmouz (sorry if I spelled that wrong!) will affect China more than Europe.
It is more expensive, but we should be able to get the crude delivered to a port on the other side of the arabic peninsula and then through the Suez canal.
It will go up, no doubts on that.

Totally agree, which is why I was emphasising that my question is can they physically do it? Nobody will care about the legalities on either side.

The word legal is long out of the window.