Day 619 - Will Israeli strikes push Iran to end nuclear program?

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

Over the past night, eight Israelis were killed and hundreds injured in Iranian barrages, with evenings and overnights now punctuated by missile strikes. Israelis have been staying close to protected spaces, and, until last night, almost every serious casualty had been outside a protected room or shelter.

Horovitz talks about Israel gaining air supremacy in Iran and the declared goals of the military campaign, which include averting the ballistic missile threat and damaging the Iranian nuclear program, but do not include bringing down the Iranian regime or targeting the country's political leadership... or completely destroying the nuclear program. Rather, the overt intention is to create an environment in which the regime decides its own interests require it to abandon and dismantle the entire program.

He notes that Israel has killed many Iranian commanders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and army, and key nuclear scientists, disrupting the regime's military command structure and hampering a potential breakout to the bomb.

Horovitz discusses whether the US could get involved, and notes comments by US President Donald Trump that express clear support for Israel but no intention to join the battle.

He says that Israel, which has made significant progress over the last few days, never asks other countries to fight its wars, but American involvement may be crucial in disabling Iran's best-protected nuclear facilities.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

8 killed, nearly 300 injured as Iranian ballistic missiles strike central Israel, Haifa

Devastation grows as Iran targets Israel’s civilian areas, despite interceptors and shelters

Israel kills Iranian intel chiefs, strikes deep inside Iran, opens ‘air corridor to Tehran’

IDF reiterates safe rooms still best option against Iran’s missiles, despite 2 fatalities

Trump said to veto Khamenei assassination; Netanyahu: Conflict may result in regime change

Trump says ‘it’s possible’ US will get involved in Iran-Israel conflict, while urging deal

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IMAGE: Israelis at scene where a ballistic missile fired from Iran hit and caused damage in Tel Aviv, June 16, 2025. (Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

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