Washington DC, June 22: The United States launched airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites in a high-stakes military escalation aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities, President Donald Trump announced Saturday.
In a nationally televised address from the White House, Trump said the targeted facilities – Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan – were “completely and totally obliterated” in what he called a “spectacular military success.”
“Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror,” Trump said.
According to U.S. defense officials, B-2 bombers armed with GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs were deployed against Fordow, a deeply buried uranium enrichment site. Natanz and Isfahan were struck by Tomahawk missiles launched from U.S. Navy submarines. All aircraft involved reportedly exited Iranian airspace without incident.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the strikes as “outrageous” and warned of “everlasting consequences,” asserting Iran’s right to respond under the United Nations Charter. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization confirmed the attacks but vowed to continue its nuclear program.
Iranian officials claimed air defenses engaged incoming missiles near Isfahan, while state media acknowledged damage to all three sites. “Iran will carry on with its nuclear activities despite the attacks,” the agency said in a statement.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has placed federal agencies on high alert for possible Iranian cyber or physical reprisals. A senior intelligence official described the situation as “unchartered territory,” citing uncertainty over how Tehran might retaliate.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the U.S. operation, calling it “a historic moment” and thanking Trump for fulfilling a joint commitment to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat. “President Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength,” Netanyahu said.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over what he called “a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge.” He urged all parties to seek a diplomatic resolution: “There is no military solution. The only hope is peace.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency said there was no increase in off-site radiation levels following the strikes.
The strikes have triggered sharp divisions among U.S. lawmakers. House Speaker Mike Johnson backed Trump’s decision, saying it demonstrated American resolve. “The operations should serve as a clear reminder that President Trump means what he says,” Johnson posted on X.
Democrats criticized the president for bypassing Congress. Senator Bernie Sanders called the action “grossly unconstitutional,” while Senator Mark Warner accused Trump of risking another “endless war” without a clear strategy or public mandate.
Vice President JD Vance and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who had previously questioned Iran’s nuclear intentions, were present in the White House Situation Room during the strikes.
The U.S. move follows more than a week of Israeli strikes aimed at dismantling Iran’s military infrastructure. Trump had previously stated he would decide on direct U.S. involvement within two weeks but appeared to accelerate the timeline amid growing tensions.
“This is a historic moment for the United States of America, Israel, and the world,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. “Iran must now agree to end this war. Any retaliation… will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight.”
