On June 18, 2025, the Seattle Times reported that U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he does not want to carry out an attack on Iran, but “stands ready to act” if it is necessary to extinguish Iran’s nuclear program. On June 20, President Trump stated that there would be a two-week period to decide the actions against Iran. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt quoted the President by stating, “There is a substantial chance of negotiations [with Iran].” These negotiations within the two-week period will decide the future of U.S.-Iran relations.

Iran and Israel have been involved in a week-long conflict. Israel, the initiator, began bombing Iran on June 13 to “eliminate” nuclear capabilities; this military operation is dubbed Operation Rising Lion, according to N.B.C. News. There have been two dozen killed, with over 1,200 injured Iranians and 17 injured Israelis. According to N.B.C. News, a U.N. Nuclear Watchdog stated key buildings in Iran were damaged by Israel’s missiles, including the distillation unit at an under-construction reactor. The International Atomic Energy Agency director, General Rafael Grossi, stated, “There is a lot of nuclear material in Iran in different places, which means that the potential for a radiological accident with the dispersion in the atmosphere of radioactive materials and particles does exist.”

It is important to note that information on Iran may not be completely accurate or up-to-date. Iran’s media is state-controlled, making it difficult for non-governmental opinions and information to be released inside and outside Iran. Additionally, according to N.B.C. News and the Times of Israel, Iran has stated that Israel has launched cyber attacks on their “digital infrastructure.” According to U.S. News, Gonjeshke Darande, or “Predatory Sparrow,” is an anti-Iranian hacking group with possible connections to Israel who destroyed data at Iran’s state-owned bank, Bank Sepah. According to the article, “Israel has never formally acknowledged that it is behind the group, although Israeli media has widely reported Gonjeshke Darande as ‘Israel-linked.’” Gonjeshke Darande has claimed responsibility for other Iranian cyber attacks in steel production facilities and gas stations. With these international hackings, Iranian officials “black out” the media, meaning few to no citizens can access the internet. While Iran has a history of civilian repression, in this case, it is a response to a terrorist (a non-state entity) cyberattack. 

The United States’ and Iran’s history did not recently start. In the beginning of the 20th century, Iran was the United States’ biggest ally in the Middle East/Eurasia region, especially in regards to the Soviet Union and the Cold War. However, in 1953, the United States contributed to a coup in Iran, reinstalling the Shah instead of a regionally elected official. Once the Iranian Revolution occurred in 1979, as well as the Iranian Hostage Crisis, all history of allegiance was lost. 

The concern of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons has been in the United States’ consciousness since 1979. On July 14, 2015, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (J.C.P.O.A.), or the Iranian Nuclear Deal, was signed. This agreement placed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear building in exchange for decreasing sanctions. The P5+1 — China, the U.S., France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and Germany — signed the agreement with Iran. However, in May 2018, during President Trump’s first administration, the U.S. pulled out of the agreement. According to Politifact, Trump stated “[the J.C.P.O.A.] was a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made.” Trump believed the deal should have included Iran’s missile programs, as well as increased access to Iran’s military sites, access that was already granted in the original document. During the first administration, Trump stated he wanted to renegotiate the deal with Iran, which still has not happened.

In April 2025, in his second administration, Trump began holding indirect talks with Iran. This followed former President Joe Biden’s attempts to restore the J.C.P.O.A. in 2021, which were stalled because of the Israel-Hamas war. From April to May, there were four indirect talks between the United States and Iran. There is limited public knowledge on the contents of these talks. However, the U.K.’s Commons Library states that Iran has signaled willingness to come to an agreement while the United States is debating details such as domestic nuclear programs, degree of enrichment, and removing existing nuclear stockpiles. Before Trump’s announcement on possibly attacking Iran, Iranian officials stated an agreement was “on the verge” of approval.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, told B.B.C., “We were planning to have the…nuclear talks in [Oman], and we were actually on the verge of reaching an agreement…President Trump knows better than anybody else that we were on the verge of reaching an agreement.” Khatibzadeh also stated that Iran’s attacks on Israel were considered “self defence under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter.” Khatibzadeh described Israel’s attacks as “violent” and “unnecessary.”

The lack of transparency of nuclear proceedings is concerning. It is difficult to assess risk without evidence. If there are just “claims” of nuclear production from Iran, that is not sufficient enough to justify international war. The only justifications of international war, drafted by the Geneva Convention, include self-defense and approval by the Security Council, which has not been done in the case of Iran. Israel’s offensive strikes on Iran make Iran’s retaliation legal under international law. 

It is almost confusing why the President would make such inflammatory statements about Iran when peace talks were ongoing. Is the administration willing to forgo peace talks to maintain our alliance with Israel? If yes, it is a concerning precedent. Alliances should never outweigh international law. The rhetoric and dominance occurring seem to mirror the history of countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. The United States administration does not like what Iran is doing, even though Iranian authorities have tried to come to an agreement. And so, the response includes the military. If the President does not come to a diplomatic agreement with Iran and instead chooses to stand behind Israel, there will be disaster. Citizens must let their voice be heard in letters, online, in communities, during protests, and in meetings. The administration must know that this is unacceptable behavior. The No Kings protests that are occurring strengthen this message.