The United States military struck three nuclear sites in Iran, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social Saturday, June 21. Trump stated that the attack targeted Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
“All planes are now outside of Iran air space,” Trump wrote in the post. “A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow.”
“NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he added.
U.S. involvement follows a week of missile strikes between Iran and Israel, which kicked off June 13 when Israel struck Tehran’s nuclear facilities. Bipartisan lawmakers have been urging the president to keep the U.S. out of the conflict. As of Thursday, June 19, Trump said he would make a decision about getting involved within the next two weeks.
Trump previously maintained that he would not authorize a strike unless absolutely necessary, as he promised during the 2024 election not to bring the U.S. into any new wars.
During a national address Saturday night, Trump said the “strikes were a spectacular military success,” adding, “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.”
Iran addresses strikes, says ‘part of Fordow’ suffered attacks
Iranian agencies and officials confirmed the attacks; however, they stopped short of saying the facilities were obliterated. Morteza Heydari, a spokesman for the city of Qom’s Provincial Crisis Management Headquarters, said “part of the Fordow nuclear site was attacked by enemy airstrikes,” according to Iran’s Mehr News Agency.
Meanwhile, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said in a statement that despite the strikes, the agency will continue its work. “This organization has put the necessary measures, including legal action, on its agenda to defend the rights of the noble Iranian nation,” the statement reads.
During his remarks, Trump called Iran the “bully of the Middle East” and said the country must now “make peace.” Trump warned that if the country fails to, “future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Trump called him immediately after the U.S. attacks on the sites. That followed an earlier statement, in which Netanyahu said, “@realDonaldTrump and the United States acted with a lot of strength.”
CNN and The New York Times reported that the U.S. used six B-2 bombers to drop a dozen “bunker busters,” or Massive Ordnance Penetrators, on Fordow. Navy submarines fired 30 TLAM cruise missiles at Natanz and Isfahan, according to the news outlets, citing a U.S. official.
Reactions to US attack on Iran nuclear sites
“Trump struck Iran without any authorization of Congress,” U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said on X. “We need to immediately return to D.C. and vote on @RepThomasMassie and my War Powers Resolution to prevent America from being dragged into another endless Middle East war.”
Thomas Massie, R-Ky., also took to X to say the strikes were “not Constitutional.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said Trump’s “disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers.” She added, “It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.”
Other lawmakers, such as Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., called the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites the right move.
“Good,” Graham wrote on X, adding: “the regime deserves it. Well done, President @realDonaldTrump.”
Fetterman said he’s “grateful for and salute(s) the finest military in the world,” adding that “Iran is the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said he is “gravely alarmed” by the U.S. strikes.
“This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge — and a direct threat to international peace and security,” Guterres said. “There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control — with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world. I call on Member States to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the @UN Charter and other rules of international law.”
Iran previously warned against American involvement
The Associated Press reported on Wednesday, June 18, that Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said any U.S. military involvement would cause “irreparable damage” for both countries.
“Any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei was quoted by the AP as saying.
Although the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who Iran supports, paused attacks on U.S. ships in the Red Sea in May, they warned the assaults would continue if the Trump administration joins Israel’s military campaign.
“ANY RETALIATION BY IRAN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT,” Trump said on Saturday night after speaking at the White House.
The New York Police Department said it is deploying additional resources to religious, cultural and diplomatic sites and coordinating with federal partners. Washington D.C.’s police department said while there’s no known threats to the district at this time, it increased its presence at religious institutions across the city.
This story is developing and will be updated.
