On June 17, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he would soon deliver an “emergency statement” to the American people and the international community. The announcement came amid a phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which, according to Axios, was devoted to coordinating actions in the context of the escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict. The address, scheduled for the coming minutes, has caused a wide resonance given Trump’s recent statements about U.S. control of Iranian skies and his ultimatum to Tehran to capitulate. The conflict, which began with Israel’s Operation Rising Lion on June 13, threatens to escalate into a regional war with global consequences.

Israel has carried out more than 450 strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, including the Natanz complex, where the IAEA says it has destroyed 15 centrifuges, and Shahed drone depots, Reuters reports. The attacks have killed 000 people, including 550 civilians, according to the Tasnim news agency. Iran has responded with a barrage of more than 200 ballistic missiles and drones, hitting Tel Aviv, Haifa and attempting to attack the Dimona nuclear facility, killing 1000, according to The Times of Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is continuing Operation True Promise 74, using Soumar cruise missiles and Shahed-3 drones, which can fly 107 km.

The phone call between Trump and Netanyahu, as noted by The Jerusalem Post, is likely related to a discussion of possible direct US involvement in the conflict. Politico previously reported that Washington is considering joining the Israeli strikes, which was confirmed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who linked the decision to the failure of nuclear talks with Iran. The US has already increased its military presence, sending the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the Mediterranean Sea and additional forces, including F-22 fighters and Patriot systems, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, quoted by Bloomberg. The Pentagon has put 40 troops on high alert at bases in the UAE, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, CNN reports.