UN / ISRAEL AMBASSADOR PRESSER

Israel’s ambassador Danny Danon said, "A surprise attack with a nuclear strike which Iran was preparing for would have been terminal. Israel could not and would not wait for that moment to arrive.” UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:03:04
• Production Date: 13 June 2025
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: DANNY DANON
• Subject Topical: NUCLEAR WEAPONS
• Geographic Subject: IRAN; ISRAEL
• MAMS Id: 3410963
• Parent Id: 3410963
• Alternate Title: unifeed250613e

Description

STORY: UN / ISRAEL AMBASSADOR PRESSER
TRT: 03:05
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 13 JUNE 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, UN headquarters

13 JUNE 2025, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Ambassador Danny Danon walks up to the stakeout dais
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Danny Danon, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Israel:
“Last night, the State of Israel launched a preemptive operation against Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile infrastructure. Dozens of sights across Iran were struck with precision, and many senior terrorists in the IRGC were eliminated. This was a calculated and necessary action based on clear intelligence and carried out in response to an escalating existential threat. For years, the Iranian regime has funded and directed attacks against Israel through terrorist proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. Iran has fueled instability across the region while openly declaring its intent to destroy, to eliminate the State of Israel. But in recent months, the Iranian threat took a dramatic turn. Iran advanced significantly to a nuclear weapons capabilities.”
1. Wide shot, Ambassador Danny Danon at the stakeout
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Danny Danon, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Israel:
“Intelligence obtained by Israel revealed a secret program to develop all necessary parts of a bomb, uranium enrichment, triggering mechanisms and warhead delivery systems. According to the latest IAEA reports, Iran now has enough material for multiple nuclear weapons and has moved dangerously close to operational capability. What's more, Israel uncovered clear evidence that the Iranian regime was planning a surprise attack in coordination with their proxies. They had planned to invade from all sides with 1000s of terrorists and 1000s of projectiles. As you know, Oct 7 was a deeply painful and traumatic day for all of us, but the danger we confronted last night would have a different magnitude. A surprise attack with a nuclear strike which Iran was preparing for would have been terminal. Israel could not and would not wait for that moment to arrive.”
3. Wide shot, Ambassador Danny Danon at the stakeout
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Danny Danon, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Israel:
“I'm telling to the Iranian people very directly that we have nothing against them. We know that they are suffering. You know, we have seen the condition where they live. We thought the regime takes the funding for other things than supporting the people. And our fight is not against the people of Iran. And the attack was taken at a time when people were not in the streets, and we did everything we can to minimize civilian casualties.”
5. Wide shot, Ambassador Danny Danon leaves the stakeout area

Storyline

Israel’s ambassador Danny Danon said, "A surprise attack with a nuclear strike which Iran was preparing for would have been terminal. Israel could not and would not wait for that moment to arrive.”

Speaking to reporters today (13 Jun) Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations said that a series of airstrikes across Iran were a “calculated and necessary action” aimed at dismantling Tehran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure, claiming intelligence revealed an imminent coordinated assault involving nuclear capabilities.

“Last night, the State of Israel launched a preemptive operation against Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile infrastructure,” said Danon. “Dozens of sights across Iran were struck with precision, and many senior terrorists in the IRGC were eliminated,” he said.
Danon also said, “Iran has fueled instability across the region while openly declaring its intent to destroy, to eliminate the State of Israel.” He added, “In recent months, the Iranian threat took a dramatic turn. Iran advanced significantly to a nuclear weapons capabilities.”

Citing newly acquired Israeli intelligence, Danon said his government uncovered a “secret program to develop all necessary parts of a bomb, uranium enrichment, triggering mechanisms, and warhead delivery systems.” He pointed to recent reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying Iran now possesses “enough material for multiple nuclear weapons and has moved dangerously close to operational capability.”

According to Danon Iran planned coordinated assault that included “1000s of terrorists and 1000s of projectiles.”

Recalling the trauma of the 7 October attacks, he stressed, “The danger we confronted last night would have a different magnitude. A surprise attack with a nuclear strike which Iran was preparing for would have been terminal. Israel could not and would not wait for that moment to arrive.”

Addressing concerns about civilian harm, the Israeli envoy said efforts were made to avoid casualties. “The attack was taken at a time when people were not in the streets, and we did everything we can to minimize civilian casualties,” Danon said.