On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that the United States had launched coordinated airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites in a significant military escalation. In a Truth Social post, Trump announced the operation had “obliterated” enrichment facilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan.
The attacks on Iran follow nearly three decades of claims that Iran is “two weeks” away from creating nuclear missiles. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week addressed the Israeli press, stating, “Today, Tel Aviv. Tomorrow, New York City,” insinuating Iran’s capability to attack the U.S. on U.S. soil.
The strikes—dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer”—involved over 125 aircrafts, including stealth B-2 bombers, according to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Pentagon also confirmed that bunker-busting GBU-57 bombs and Tomahawk missiles were deployed to neutralize the heavily fortified Iranian sites.
This airstrike marks a sharp response amid rising hostilities between Iran and Israel over nuclear weapons concerns and ongoing regional military engagements. Trump stated, “If they do not [seek peace], future attacks will be far greater,” warning Tehran against retaliation. Notably, President Trump called for peace in the post announcing the bombings. Officials emphasized the mission’s narrow focus on disabling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
In the U.S., political reactions have been polarized. Republicans and Democrats, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene and Senator Bernie Sanders, criticized the unilateral decision. Congresswoman Greene said, “Every time America is on the verge of greatness, we get involved in another foreign war…. This is not our fight. Let us join together and pray for the safety of our U.S. troops and Americans in the Middle East. Let us pray that we are not attacked by terrorists on our homeland.” Senator Sanders called the strikes “grossly unconstitutional.” Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky posted on social media following the announcement, saying, “This is not Constitutional.” Democratic lawmakers pointed to the War Powers Resolution, which limits presidential military authority without congressional approval.
The assaults were described as a heinous violation of international law by the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization. Iranian officials minimized the destruction, saying that the premises had been evacuated. “The United States has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter on the use of force,” said Seyed Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister of Iran. Following the bombardment, neither Saudi Arabia nor the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported any radioactive fallout in Gulf nations.
Israeli cities, hours after the attacks, saw missile barrages from Tehran in response to the attacks. Explosions were reported in Tel Aviv and Haifa, injuring at least 86 civilians. If Israel continued its aerial assault, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned of “more devastating” retaliation. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, warned that American participation would cause “irreparable damage. ” Iran has a number of strategic options: engage in prompt retaliation, wait before acting, or seek diplomatic solutions.
The global response was varied. The strikes were denounced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as a “dangerous escalation. ” The European Union called on all sides to lower the tension. While Dmitry Medvedev from Russia accused Trump of initiating a new war, the UK and India urged diplomacy. The use of bunker buster bombs during the strike was suggested by satellite pictures that revealed widespread cratering at Fordow.
