TEL AVIV: President Donald Trump announced the United States had carried out airstrikes on three of Iran’s main nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—early Sunday, marking a direct US entry into Israel’s ongoing war with Iran.
Declaring the sites “completely and fully obliterated,” Trump warned Tehran that any retaliation would be met with further strikes “with precision, speed, and skill.”
“There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days,” Trump said in a televised White House address. The strikes, conducted with B-2 stealth bombers and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles, targeted deeply buried nuclear infrastructure. According to Fox News’ Sean Hannity, six bunker-buster bombs were used on Fordow alone.
Iran confirmed the attacks but insisted its nuclear activities would continue. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran reported no radiation leaks, and the International Atomic Energy Agency later confirmed there was no increase in off-site radiation levels.
Trump called the bombing “an historic moment for the United States of America, Israel, and the world,” demanding Iran agree to end the war. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the strikes as a “grave violation of international law” and warned of “everlasting consequences,” asserting that Tehran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty.
Iranian state media reported fresh missile launches toward Israel in response. “Thirty missiles have been launched at Israel from Iran,” said a state TV anchor, referring to “occupied territories.”
The situation has prompted renewed global alarm. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the strikes could spiral into a full-blown regional war, calling it a “dangerous escalation” with “catastrophic consequences.” Israel closed its airspace and halted all inbound and outbound flights, while US-assisted departure flights began from Tel Aviv.
Trump’s move followed a failed two-month diplomatic effort and Israeli appeals for deeper US military involvement. Despite initially promising to avoid entanglement in new wars, Trump authorized use of the GBU-57 bunker-buster bomb—previously never used in combat—to target the fortified Fordow facility. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the strike as a “bold decision” that would “change history.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had earlier warned that any American attack would bring “irreparable damage.” The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen also threatened to resume attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea.
The airstrikes come seven years after Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear deal, calling it the “worst deal ever.” Trump has since vowed Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon and has demanded Tehran’s unconditional surrender.
Domestically, the strikes were swiftly backed by Republican leaders. Senators Lindsey Graham, John Cornyn, and Roger Wicker praised Trump’s “strong and surgical” action. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who was briefed prior to the strikes, said they proved “President Trump means what he says.”
