The United States launched an airstrike on Iran early Sunday morning, with President Donald Trump claiming the targeted Iranian nuclear facilities were “completely and totally obliterated.”
Trump warned of further strikes if Tehran fails to pursue peace, while Iran declared it is retaining “all options to defend its sovereignty.”
“There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days,” Trump said in a televised address to the nation.
Earlier, Trump posted on Truth Social “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space.”
He added, “A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”
Trump later warned that any retaliation by Tehran against the US would be met with “force far greater than what was witnessed tonight.”
According to CNN, six B-2 stealth bombers dropped 12 bunker-busting bombs on the sites.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump, calling the attack “a pivot of history that could help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace.”
“America has been truly unsurpassed,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “First comes strength, then comes peace,” he added, confirming the US attack was fully coordinated with Israel.
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said there was no radiological danger to residents after US strikes on Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan nuclear sites, which it said had long been evacuated.
Iranian news agency IRNA reported that residents near Fordow “felt no major explosions and the situation in the area is normal.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said via X that “the US, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations.”
“The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,” Araghchi called it “an extremely dangerous criminal act.”
“In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people,” he added.
Iranian state TV declared, “From now on, every American civilian and military personnel in the region will be considered a legitimate target.”
In response, security has been heightened around the US Embassy in Baghdad and US military bases in the region.
Israeli airspace remains closed indefinitely after Iran launched about 30 missiles at Tel Aviv and Haifa in its first response to the US strikes. Several missiles reportedly landed in central and northern Israel, wounding 21 people.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave alarm, calling the US strikes “a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge.”
“At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos,” Guterres said. “There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.”
Before this escalation, as Iran was preparing for a new round of talks with the US, Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran on Friday June 13, claiming to “prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”
The strike reportedly killed top Iranian military leaders, including the chief of staff and the head of the Revolutionary Guard, as well as nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with waves of missiles and drones towards Israel.
