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Gone quiet · last update Jul 11, 2025 / Iran

The 12-day Israel-Iran war of June 2025 and the US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites

Overview · reviewed October 17, 2026

In June 2025, Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war.[1] Israel's surprise strikes on June 13 hit Iran's nuclear program and killed its top military leaders,[2] Iran retaliated,[2] and on June 21 the United States bombed three Iranian nuclear sites.[4] After Iran fired missiles at a US base in Qatar,[13] President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on June 23.[5] How much damage the strikes did remained in dispute: an early US intelligence assessment said they set Iran's program back by months, while the Pentagon later said one to two years.[6][7]

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Israel's surprise strikes on June 13 hit Iran's nuclear program and killed its top military leaders,[2] Iran retaliated,[2] and on June 21 the United States bombed three Iranian nuclear sites.[4] After Iran fired missiles at a US base in Qatar,[13] President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on June 23.[5] How much damage the strikes did remained in dispute: an early US intelligence assessment said they set Iran's program back by months, while the Pentagon later said one to two years.[6][7]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · weekly (UTC)

Week of 2025-06-09 (UTC): 47%, 93 of 199 tracked outlets (29 left, 39 center, 25 right)Week of 2025-06-16 (UTC): 55%, 65 of 118 tracked outlets (22 left, 26 center, 17 right)Week of 2025-06-23 (UTC): 45%, 61 of 137 tracked outlets (21 left, 20 center, 20 right)Week of 2025-06-30 (UTC): 17%, 36 of 217 tracked outlets (9 left, 18 center, 9 right)Week of 2025-07-07 (UTC): 13%, 25 of 191 tracked outlets (9 left, 13 center, 3 right)Week of 2025-07-14 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-07-21 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-07-28 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-04 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-11 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-18 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-25 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-01 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-08 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-15 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-22 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-29 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-10-06 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-10-13 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-10-20 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-10-27 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-11-03 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-11-10 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-11-17 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-11-24 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-01 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-08 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-15 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-22 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-29 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-01-05 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-01-12 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-01-19 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-01-26 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-02-02 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-02-09 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-02-16 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-02-23 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-02 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-09 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-16 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-23 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-30 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-06 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-13 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-20 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-27 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-04 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-11 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-18 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-25 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-01 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-08 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-15 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-22 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-29 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-06 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-13 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-20 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-27 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-03 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-10 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-17 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-24 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-31 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-07 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-14 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-21 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-28 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-10-05 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-10-12 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-10-19 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-10-26 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-11-02 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-11-09 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outlets, so far

LeftCenterRightLighter bar: this week so far

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 6 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (5 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Jul 7, 2025913325 of 19113%
Jun 30, 2025918936 of 21717%
Jun 23, 202521202061 of 13745%
Jun 16, 202522261765 of 11855%
Jun 9, 202529392593 of 19947%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Jul 10, 2025 · first reported · Headline from KTVZ Bend

    Iran expels half a million Afghans in 16-day stretch since recent conflict with Israel, UN says

Background

Before sunrise on Friday, June 13, 2025, Israel launched strikes on Iran's nuclear program. Airstrikes also killed civilians in Tehran.[3] The strikes, which Israel called Operation Rising Lion, killed Iran's highest-ranking military officer, the head of the Revolutionary Guards, the commander of the Guards' air force and a former national security chief, along with nuclear leaders.[2] Iran retaliated as the conflict widened.[2]

Read the full background (4 more paragraphs)

As the fighting went on, President Donald Trump posted that everyone should "immediately evacuate Tehran."[8] He said his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, was "wrong" when she testified earlier in the year that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon.[9] He declared that the United States had "complete and total control of the skies over Iran" and called for Iran's "unconditional surrender."[10] Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected the demand and warned that US involvement would cause "irreparable harm."[11] On June 19, Trump said he would decide on US military action within two weeks.[12]

Two days later, on June 21, the United States struck three Iranian nuclear sites, Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, according to Trump.[4] He subsequently insisted that the sites had been "completely destroyed."[6] On June 23, Iran fired missiles at a US military base in Qatar in retaliation,[13] and shortly afterward Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire, though each side said the other had already violated it.[5]

The damage to Iran's nuclear program was disputed. CNN reported that an early US intelligence assessment, described by people briefed on it, suggested the strikes had not destroyed the core of the program and had likely set it back only by months,[6] while the Pentagon said in July that it had been set back by one to two years.[7] Rafael Grossi, head of the UN nuclear watchdog, said Iran could be enriching uranium again in "a matter of months,"[14] and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian approved a law suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.[15]

In Washington, the Senate blocked a Democratic resolution that would have required Trump to get Congress's approval for further military action against Iran.[16] On July 5, Khamenei made his first public appearance since the war began.[1]

Supporting stories (16)
  1. Iran's supreme leader makes first public appearance since Iran-Israel war started
  2. Israeli strikes kill some of Iran’s most powerful men, including military and nuclear leaders
  3. Iranian missiles hit hospital and residential buildings in Israel
  4. Trump: Iran nuclear facilities 'completely and totally obliterated' in U.S. strike on 3 sites • New Hampshire Bulletin
  5. Trump announces a ceasefire between Israel and Iran
  6. US strikes on Iran did not destroy nuclear sites, sources say
  7. Pentagon says Iran nuclear program set back ‘closer to 2 years’ after US strikes
  8. Trump warns ‘everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran’ as prez bolts G7 summit early over Iran-Israel conflict
  9. Trump says his intel chief Tulsi Gabbard is ‘wrong’ about Iran
  10. Trump calls for Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender’ and threatens its supreme leader - Hawaii Tribune-Herald
  11. Iran's leader rejects call to surrender, saying US intervention would cause 'irreparable damage'
  12. Trump’s two-week delay on Iran strike decision leaves Israel in limbo
  13. Iran attacks US military base in Qatar
  14. UN nuclear watchdog chief says Iran could again begin enriching uranium in ‘matter of months’
  15. Iran’s president orders country to suspend cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog IAEA
  16. Senate blocks war powers resolution to limit Trump’s ability to strike Iran again - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 71 recorded updates

July 2025

  1. Iran expels half a million Afghans since recent conflict with Israel, UN saysHeadline from CNN · 6 outlets
  2. Iran attack on U.S. air base in Qatar likely hit geodesic dome used for U.S. communicationsHeadline from Los Angeles Times · 6 outlets
  3. Israel says Iran could reach enriched uranium at a nuclear site hit by USHeadline from KSDK · 13 outlets
  4. Iran's supreme leader makes first public appearance since Iran-Israel war startedHeadline from Los Angeles Times · 22 outlets
  5. Iran’s president orders country to suspend cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog IAEAHeadline from New York Post · 21 outlets
  6. Pentagon says Iran nuclear program set back ‘closer to 2 years’ after US strikesHeadline from New York Post · 10 outlets

June 2025

  1. Top Iranian cleric issues ‘fatwa’ against Trump, NetanyahuHeadline from New York Post · 3 outlets
  2. Israeli strike on Iranian prison killed more than 70, says Iran state-affiliated mediaHeadline from KVIA El Paso · 11 outlets
  3. UN nuclear watchdog chief says Iran could again begin enriching uranium in ‘matter of months’Headline from KESQ Palm Springs · 13 outlets
  4. Senate blocks war powers resolution to limit Trump’s ability to strike Iran again - Hawaii Tribune-HeraldHeadline from Hawaiitribune Herald · 3 outlets
  5. Iranian crowds chant ‘Death to America, Israel’ during funeral for top commanders, scientists killed in Israeli strikesHeadline from New York Post · 3 outlets
  6. Pentagon reveals new details about US strikes against Iran but leaves key questions unansweredHeadline from KVIA El Paso · 7 outlets
  7. US Secretary of Defense attacks media for questioning Iran strikesHeadline from Al Jazeera · 5 outlets
  8. Iran’s defense minister thanks China for support on first foreign trip since Israel conflictHeadline from ABC 17 Mid-Missouri · 7 outlets
  9. Iranian leader Khamanei hails 'victory' over United States, IsraelHeadline from UPI · 4 outlets
  10. US strikes on Iran did not destroy nuclear sites, sources sayHeadline from CNN · 6 outlets
  11. Intelligence assessment says Iran's nuclear program was only set back 'a few months'Headline from NPR · 15 outlets
  12. A majority of Americans disapproves of Trump’s Iran airstrikes, CNN poll findsHeadline from Local News 8 · 6 outlets
  13. After Iran uses missiles, US braces for cyberattacksHeadline from Local News 8 · 6 outlets
  14. Trump announces a ceasefire between Israel and IranHeadline from NPR · 48 outlets
  15. Iran attacks US military base in QatarHeadline from Al Jazeera · 26 outlets
  16. Iran issues stark warning to Trump ‘the gambler’: We will end this warHeadline from New York Post · 4 outlets
  17. Trump says he doesn’t want a regime change in Iran: ‘Chaos’Headline from New York Post · 7 outlets
  18. The Strait of Hormuz Is a Vital Route for Oil. Closing It Could Backfire on IranHeadline from Military.com · 5 outlets
  19. Israel attacks Iranian prison that houses political prisoners, Revolutionary Guard HQHeadline from AL.com · 4 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →