In a significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the United States conducted airstrikes on three nuclear sites in Iran. The targeted facilities include Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, all key components of Iran’s nuclear program.
“All planes are now outside of Iran airspace. A full payload of bombs was dropped on the primary site, Fordow,” Trump stated on the social media platform Truth Social.
Iranian officials confirmed that air defense systems in Qom Province, south of Tehran, detected hostile targets hours before sections of the Fordow nuclear facility were struck. A spokesperson for the crisis management headquarters of Qom acknowledged that the facility was hit in an airstrike.
Iran’s state-run news agency IRNA reported on the attacks, signaling a rare admission of such an incident. An Iranian state television commentator was quoted saying, “You started it, and we will end it,” highlighting the potential for further escalation.
According to reports, U.S. B-2 stealth bombers were involved in the strikes. While President Trump indicated that no further military actions are planned, he expressed a desire to “propel Tehran back to negotiations.”
A senior Iranian official suggested that critical materials had been relocated from the targeted sites prior to the attacks, implying that the strikes may not have caused significant damage.
This intervention marks a historic moment in U.S.-Iran relations and follows nine days after Israel launched attacks on Iran on June 13. The U.S. action has raised concerns about potential retaliation from Tehran against U.S. forces and allies in the region.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the developments. “This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security,” he said, warning of the catastrophic consequences that could follow if the conflict spirals out of control.
Mohamed al-Farah, a Houthi official, described the U.S. strikes as the “beginning” of war, reflecting the anxiety spreading across the Middle East.
In the United States, reactions were mixed. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs criticized the strikes, stating they are “not only unconstitutional but an escalation that risks bringing the U.S. into another endless and deadly war.”
As the world watches with bated breath, the aftermath of these strikes could shape the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East for years to come. The hope remains that diplomatic efforts will prevail over military confrontation.
