13.06.2025 01:24
Israel launched a significant military operation against Iran, targeting key infrastructure related to its nuclear program and missile capabilities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday. This bold action, dubbed "Operation Rising Lion," represents a decisive moment in Israeli history, according to Netanyahu.
The operation, Netanyahu declared, struck the core of Iran's nuclear enrichment and weaponization efforts, specifically targeting the main enrichment facility in Natanz. He emphasized the operation's ongoing nature, asserting its continuation for as long as necessary to achieve its objectives. Furthermore, the strikes impacted Iranian ballistic missile production and broader military infrastructure.
Beyond the immediate infrastructure targets, Netanyahu stated that the operation also targeted leading Iranian nuclear scientists instrumental in the country's weapons program. He carefully distinguished the Israeli action as directed against Iran's dictatorship, not its people.
The news sent immediate ripples through global markets. At the time of this writing, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices experienced a sharp 6.25% surge, reaching $71.82 per barrel. This market reaction exemplifies a "risk-on" environment, where investors, despite the geopolitical tension, demonstrate a willingness to embrace riskier assets, anticipating future growth and positive economic prospects. This is often reflected in rising stock markets and commodity prices (excluding safe-haven assets like gold). The opposite, a "risk-off" scenario, sees investors favoring safer, lower-return investments due to heightened uncertainty and pessimism about the future. This heightened volatility illustrates the interconnectedness of geopolitical events and global financial markets.
