US considers military action as Iran-Israel conflict escalates; Global concerns mount

New Delhi, June 19: The United States is considering military action against Iran as President Donald Trump reviews strike options, while fighting between Israel and Iran continues to escalate. With tensions rising, global powers are urging restraint and calling for efforts to prevent a wider regional conflict.

According to CBS News, a partner of the BBC, President Trump approved plans for a potential military strike against Iran on Tuesday night but has held off on issuing the final order. Citing a senior intelligence source, BBC reported that the president is waiting to see whether Tehran signals willingness to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

“I may do it, I may not do it,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday, leaving his administration’s posture deliberately ambiguous. CNN reported that among the options being reviewed is a strike on the Fordo nuclear facility, a heavily fortified underground uranium enrichment site in Iran.

Meanwhile, tensions between Iran and Israel have reached new heights. Israel announced it had carried out a series of strikes on over 20 Iranian military sites in Tehran, including what it described as Iran’s “internal security headquarters.” An Israeli military official told CNN the operation significantly reduced Iran’s capacity to launch coordinated missile attacks.

Iran has responded with force. Its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed that Sejjil-2 medium-range ballistic missiles had been fired at Israeli targets. Tehran has since imposed temporary nationwide internet restrictions, citing national security concerns, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi told CNN that any further American military involvement would be met with retaliation: “If the Americans decide to get involved militarily, we have no choice but to retaliate wherever we find the targets necessary… We are acting in self-defence.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed that sentiment, telling CNN, “Iran solely acts in self-defence. Even in the face of the most outrageous aggression… Iran has so far only retaliated against the Israeli regime and not those who are aiding and abetting it.”

The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency session on Friday at the request of Iran, China, Russia, Pakistan, and Algeria. As reported by BBC, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Dannon confirmed Israel will participate.

On the ground, the conflict has prompted the U.S. to evacuate certain embassy personnel and their families from Israel using military aircraft, CNN reported, citing sources. The move underscores the seriousness with which Washington is assessing the deteriorating situation.
Over 200 Russian engineers are in Iran

Amid the mounting tensions, Russia has emerged as a key interlocutor. Speaking from the sidelines of an economic forum in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed to CNN that Israel had assured Moscow of the safety of Russian engineers currently working at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran. “Our experts are in the field — over 200 people,” Putin said, emphasising the importance of protecting Russian nationals while reiterating his call for diplomacy.
“We must find a peaceful solution that secures both Iran’s peaceful nuclear ambitions and the unconditional security of the Jewish state,” Putin said, according to Al Jazeera. When asked about the possibility of an assassination attempt on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Putin declined to speculate: “I do not even want to discuss this possibility. I do not want to.” He also clarified that the newly ratified Iranian–Russian Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership did not include any defence clauses. “We once offered our Iranian friends to work in the field of air defence systems, but our partners didn’t show much interest then,” Putin said, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister has blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for inflaming the conflict. In a post on X, Abbas Araghchi claimed, “Netanyahu is manufacturing this war to destroy diplomacy.” Yet, he maintained that Iran “remains committed to diplomacy” despite the increasing regional instability.

As President Trump continues to deliberate, the world waits anxiously. A decision to strike Iran could upend the fragile status quo and trigger a wider conflict. As the White House official told CNN, “All options remain on the table.” The coming days will be critical, not just for Iran and Israel, but for the wider West Asia and the international community grappling with the consequences of war and the hope for peace.