Why is Israel attacking Iran and vice versa?

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Can anyone explain, simply and objectively, what is happening between Israel and Iran? It seems mad to me that Israel would take on another war right now!

BBC: Iran has long maintained that its nuclear programme is for peaceful, civilian purposes only. It has several facilities around Iran, at least some of which have been targeted in the Israeli strikes.

But many countries - as well as the global nuclear watchdog, IAEA - are not convinced the programme is for civilian purposes alone.

This week, the watchdog's board of governors formally declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years.

It cited Iran's "many failures" to provide full answers about undeclared nuclear material and Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium.

An earlier IAEA report said Iran had enriched uranium to 60% purity, near weapons grade, to potentially make nine nuclear bombs.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdj9vj8glg2o

I dont know what that poster was thinking, what the hell would Israel do with Iran?

Why the intense worry about Iran and nuclear weapons ?
Scaremongering at its best.

Who honestly believes that Iran would use nuclear weapons against Israel? Iran know that were they to do so, they themselves would find themselves on the end of the biggest nuclear onslaught ever, after which there would be little of Iran left. I don't think that they would strike Israel knowing that it would certainly lead to their own destruction. For all that the clerics are, they are not stupid.

Iran's nuclear weapons programme is not because it wants to destroy Israel, it's because it wants to join the "nuclear club" and so have a bit more bargaining power. Exactly the same as Saudi Arabia wanting nukes.

I was wondering this too. The whole thing is such a mess.

How many times do we have to over this? Iran has consistently vowed to obliterate Israe and supported or been part of regular attacks on Israel. Iran is an unstable, theocratic dictatorship that oppresses its people and foments unrest around the world. Having nuclear weapons gives it power regardless of whether it actually launches a nuclear attack on Israel. People with a lot more knowledge than you have consistently worked to prevent iran getting nukes for decades.

The real question is, why are you so keen to downplay the threat of Iran and delegitimise Israel's legitimate concerns about Iran?

The nuclear weapons make no sense, unless people think it’s valid for other countries to attack Israel for also having nuclear weapons.

The key difference between the threat of Iran having nuclear weapons and Israel’s nuclear capability lies in perceptions of ideology and deterrence. Iran, governed by a theocratic regime, is often seen by critics as influenced by entrenched Islamic values that glorify martyrdom and jihad, leading to concerns that its leaders might be less deterred by the threat of mutual destruction and more willing to take existential risks. Whilst, Israel operates under a secular, strategic doctrine focused on deterrence and national survival, maintaining its nuclear arsenal as a last-resort defense rather than a tool for ideological warfare.

How many times do we have to over this? Iran has consistently vowed to obliterate Israe and supported or been part of regular attacks on Israel. Iran is an unstable, theocratic dictatorship that oppresses its people and foments unrest around the world. Having nuclear weapons gives it power regardless of whether it actually launches a nuclear attack on Israel. People with a lot more knowledge than you have consistently worked to prevent iran getting nukes for decades. @SharonEllis

Be that as it may, but please explain to me why anyone might carry out an attack (that might not even succeed) knowing for certain that their own annihilation is guaranteed.
They simply wouldn't. Iran has no desire to go to war with Israel. Without nuclear arms it knows it would be destroyed, just as with nuclear weapons it would also be destroyed. And a land war is impractical.
Depressing how world politics is increasingly becoming presented as a "them and us", "goodies and baddies" and black and white. Perhaps people with a lot more knowledge than me ( can I include you in that list Sharon?) will explain that it really is just good (us) versus evil (them).

I think the USA are probably in cahoots with Israel over this. For the same reasons that Israel would like Iran obliterated /a regime change. I agree that Iran having a nuclear weapons programme is a global threat. Current regime in Iran is very anti West. Getting the supreme leader replaced with someone that the USA approve of more would be the ultimate goal.

They’d probably love to get Reza Pahlavi in charge or maybe MEK. However interfering like this often does not pay off, look at Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan…..having a sudden power vacuum can cause problems, you run a risk that someone worse jumps in.

Isn’t capitalism a religion in itself?
The democratically elected socialist in Iran in 1953 was removed by the U.S. in a coup.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mohammad-Mosaddegh

Israel has no interest in obliterating Iran. Only getting rid of their government and military capability.

No capitalism is not a religion.

I doubt they’d ever actually use them , like N Korea won’t. They just want to be in a strong position to not be targeted and are racing to get there.

There’s certainly the argument that only one country ever has dropped nuclear bombs in war. The USA.

yet It’s seen as ok for western countries to have nuclear weapons but not others. It’s certainly an ethical question. Who are America et al to decide who has them and who doesn’t.

saying that as a U.K. national I feel less nervous about the USA and Israel having nuclear weapons than I would about Iran.

I get the kids The Week Junior and they often have a really helpful “why this is happening” simplified for kids I find really helpful!

You have a very simplistic view of the world, which I don't share, so I can't help I'm afraid.

In terms of Iran's attitude to Israel I encourage others to look at what the regime says and what it does.

Yes i should probably have been clearer when i said obliterated/regime change I meant that they would like to attack/bomb to effect a regime change. Once that goal has been reached I’m sure they would stop. I suppose the question is how hard will they go in now to try and reach that goal. Currently attacks have been quite targeted. Will that preciseness continue? If it doesn’t have the desired effect will it become widespread. What if the only way to get a regime change is to attack more widely until the people of Iran actually get to a point where they want their leader gone??

irony

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irony

I don't think that would be effective myself and havent heard anyone suggest it. The regime is very unpopular in Iran so the best hope for the future, I would have thought is to focus on leadership and military targets. Hoping Iranians can overthrow their government - they have already been through so much.

You have a very simplistic view of the world, which I don't share, so I can't help I'm afraid. @SharonEllis

I know I have, and although my views are not shared by you, I was hoping that you (as a more nuanced and sophisticated observer of these events) could explain your position and could illuminate the darkness that is my ignorance.

Am eagerly anticipating enlightenment.

Sorry hard to tell 😄 We've had someone tell us that Iran doesnt really want to to attack Israel (while Iran has been literally attacking Israel for years) and that Israel wants to take Iran over. It messes with your head.

There's an excellent article by Edward Luttwak on Unherd today detailing Iran's dealings with the International Atomic Energy Agency over the years.

Iran was very close to developing a bomb, and as pps have said, have been threatening the destruction of Israel, the Jews and also the west for decades now.

The entire region, despite what they say publicly, will be far happier to see a non-muclear Iran. Bonus if the regime collapses.

Israel doing the heavy lifting for all of us - once again.

Thanks @Usou
maybe @mouthpipette would like to read it.
unherd.com/2025/06/why-israel-had-no-choice/

Many countries have been asking Iran not to develop nuclear weapon capabilities for years. Would those actions have been successful in stopping them?

He wanted the oil for himself rather than being stolen by the occupying powers - greedy man. Coups for thee democracy for me.