What prompted Israeli FM's marathon of calls after military action against Iran?

Jerusalem, June 13 (NationPress) Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa'ar, is actively engaging in a "marathon of calls" with global leaders following the initiation of 'Operation Rising Lion' by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) aimed at neutralizing the Iranian threat of annihilation, as stated by the country's Foreign Ministry on Friday.

One of the first discussions Sa'ar had early on Friday was with German Foreign Minister Wadephul. He briefed his German counterpart on the unanimous decision made by the Cabinet and the subsequent actions taken by the IDF.

"We made this decision at the last possible moment, after exhausting all other options. The entire world witnessed and understood that the Iranians were unwilling to halt, and we had to intervene. The latest IAEA report highlighted serious Iranian violations. We are aware that challenging days are ahead, but we have no alternative," Sa'ar conveyed to the German Foreign Minister.

Later, Sa'ar spoke with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

"Foreign Minister Sa'ar updated his Italian counterpart about the Cabinet's decision to thwart Iran's plans to eliminate Israel, as well as the IDF's operations in Iran. They also discussed the situation in Gaza. Minister Sa'ar mentioned that Israel is keen on negotiating a hostage deal — something that Hamas has consistently rejected," according to a statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Additionally, under Sa'ar's direction, the Foreign Ministry has transitioned to an emergency protocol and has established an emergency situation room to coordinate all of Israel's international missions.

"Israel's missions will engage both diplomatically and through media channels in all arenas to secure diplomatic legitimacy for the military operation," the statement further noted.

Meanwhile, Israel's President Isaac Herzog emphasized on Friday that the country possesses the "inherent right" and "solemn duty" to defend itself and will always do so with resolve and clarity.

"Last night, Israel initiated a targeted operation to neutralize an immediate and existential threat to our people. The international community has observed how, over decades, the Iranian regime — leading a global terror network — has exacerbated regional instability through its proxies, while relentlessly advancing its military nuclear capabilities and expanding its ballistic missile arsenal," stated the Israeli President.

He highlighted that Iran's leaders have been explicit about their intentions to annihilate Israel, and for years, the regime has been preparing to turn that vision into reality.

"Israel has the inherent right and the solemn duty to defend itself — and will always do so with determination and clarity. We genuinely hope this will shift our region towards a more peaceful and prosperous future," Herzog concluded.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the launch of Operation Rising Lion against Iran, a targeted military operation designed to mitigate the Iranian threat posed by nuclear weapons to Israel's existence.

He asserted that the operation will persist for as long as necessary to eliminate this danger.

“In recent months, Iran has undertaken unprecedented steps to weaponize enriched uranium. If not curtailed, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short timeframe — possibly within a year or even months. This represents a clear and immediate danger to Israel's survival,” Netanyahu stated in a video address.