Tehran, June 22: President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the United States has directly struck three nuclear sites inside Iran, escalating tensions in the Middle East and aligning Washington with Israel in its ongoing campaign against Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure. The unprecedented move marks a significant turn in U.S. involvement and raises concerns of broader conflict.
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump wrote on social media. “All planes are now outside of Iranian airspace. A full payload of bombs was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.”
The strikes were carried out using B-2 stealth bombers, according to Trump, though he did not specify the types of munitions used. U.S. and Israeli officials have previously noted that only American aircraft are capable of delivering the 30,000-pound bunker-busting bombs needed to penetrate Iran’s deeply buried nuclear facilities.
This joint action comes after more than a week of sustained Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran’s air defense systems and missile infrastructure. The campaign, which Israeli officials say is intended to systematically degrade Iran’s ability to wage offensive operations and pursue uranium enrichment, has now drawn explicit American firepower into the fold.
While the Pentagon and the White House have not yet provided further details on the operation, the strikes signal a deliberate decision by Washington to move beyond intelligence and logistical support and take an active military role. The timing follows weeks of mounting regional strain and threats of retaliation from Tehran.
Iran swiftly condemned the operation and on Sunday called for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council. In a letter obtained by the Associated Press, Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, described the U.S. strikes as “heinous attacks and illegal use of force.”
“The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns and denounces in the strongest possible terms these unprovoked and premeditated acts of aggression,” Iravani wrote, referencing both the U.S. strikes and Israel’s June 13 assault on nuclear facilities. He urged the Security Council to “take all necessary measures” to hold the United States accountable under international law and the UN Charter.
The Fordow and Natanz sites, long at the center of international concern over Iran’s nuclear program, are among the most fortified in the region. By targeting these locations, Washington and Tel Aviv appear to be aiming not only at infrastructure but also at delivering a message of deterrence amid fears of Iran reaching weapons-grade capability.
The strikes could also provoke broader instability. Analysts warn that Iran may retaliate through regional proxies or cyberattacks, escalating the risk of a wider conflict across the Gulf and Levant.
Neither President Joe Biden nor the current administration has publicly endorsed or commented on Trump’s announcement. The former president’s claim of operational success is yet to be corroborated by official defense sources.
The region remains on high alert as diplomatic efforts to contain the fallout continue.
