Israel-Iran War LIVE: Khamenei Adviser Says Iran's Enriched Uranium Remains Despite US Attacks
America Israel-Iran War LIVE: President Trump confirms U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, calling Iran the "Middle East bully" and warning of more attacks if peace is not pursued.
Background
Tensions in the Middle East have taken a dramatic turn, as U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday that American forces carried out targeted airstrikes on three of Iran’s nuclear...More
Israel’s military chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Amir said the US attack on Iran's nuclear sites was a key "turning point."
“We’ve reached a turning point in the campaign, following last night’s very precise and impressive strike by the U.S. military on key nuclear sites,” he said, as reported by AP.
The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah condemned the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, but did not threaten to join in Tehran’s retaliation.
“The blatant deceit and deception practiced by US President Donald Trump, driven by illusions of control and arrogance ... confirms that the United States of America, along with the tyrants of arrogance, is a threat to the security and stability of the Islamic Republic,” the statement issued by Hezbollah on Sunday said, as reported by CNN.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in a joint statement, called on Iran’s leaders to enter negotiations and “not to take any further action that could destabilize the region,” CNN reported.
Khamenei adviser says Iran's enriched uranium remains despite US attacks, AFP reported
Lahore/Islambad, Jun 22 (PTI) Pakistan on Sunday condemned the US attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, calling them a violation of international law and warning of the risk of further escalation of violence in the region.
Pakistan's condemnation came a day after Pakistan backed US President Donald Trump as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. The US on early Sunday morning attacked Iran's Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites with the aim of destroying the country's nuclear programme. US President Trump warned of additional strikes if Iran retaliates.
Reacting to the development, the Foreign Office (FO) of Pakistan in a statement said: "Pakistan condemns the US attacks on the nuclear facilities of Iran, which follow the series of attacks by Israel. We are gravely concerned at the possible further escalation of tensions in the region." Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also conveyed Islamabad's strong condemnation of the US attacks in a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. “Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering solidarity with the brotherly people and Government of Iran, while expressing heartfelt condolences on the loss of precious lives and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured,” reported Radio Pakistan.
According to the Foreign Office, these attacks "violate all norms of international law" and that Iran has the legitimate right to defend itself under the UN Charter.
"The unprecedented escalation of tensions and violence owing to ongoing aggression against Iran is deeply disturbing. Any further escalation of tensions will have severely damaging implications for the region and beyond," it said.
The Foreign Office further said: "We emphasise the imperative need to respect civilian lives and properties and immediately bring the conflict to an end." It proposed a dialogue among the stakeholders to address the crises in the region. "All parties must adhere to international law, particularly international humanitarian law," the FO said.
"Recourse to dialogue and diplomacy in line with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter remains the only viable pathway to resolve the crises in the region," it said.
Interestingly, the Pakistan government on Saturday said it will formally recommend US President Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for his "decisive diplomatic intervention" during the recent India-Pakistan conflict.
In his call with the Iranian president, Sharif expressed concerns that the US strikes targeted facilities that were under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, adding that these attacks constituted a serious violation of international law and the IAEA Statute.
While noting Iran's right to self-defence, as enshrined under Article 51 of the UN Charter, he stressed upon the need to immediately return to dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable path forward. He also called for urgent collective efforts to de-escalate the situation.
PM Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan's readiness to play a constructive role in this context.
Meanwhile, none of the main leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan Peoples Party have yet issued any statement on the US attack on Iran's three nuclear sites, which analysts say is because of the "military establishment's cordial relations with US President Donald Trump." The Opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan also strongly condemned the Trump administration for "blatant violation of Iran’s sovereignty and breach of international law." "Israel has finally and cunningly succeeded in convincing the United States to directly attack Iran’s three nuclear installations — despite both US intelligence and the IAEA clearly stating there is no evidence that Iran is building a nuclear bomb," Zulfi Bokhari, PTI's senior leader and close aide to Khan, said. Every time Iran has chosen the path of diplomacy, it has been deceived and attacked. The latest aggression is a blatant violation of Iran’s sovereignty and a clear breach of international law.
"We, the people of Pakistan, strongly condemn the United States’ attack on Iran," Bokhari said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s "relentless greed to hold on to power has destabilised the entire Middle East", he said.
"He has proven to be, single-handedly, the greatest threat to peace and prosperity in the region — and potentially, the world," he added.
Other than Pakistan, Muslim nations like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Oman condemned the targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities by the US.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is following with deep concern the developments in the Islamic Republic of Iran, particularly the targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States of America," the Saudi Foreign Ministry posted on X.
"The Kingdom reaffirms the contents of its statement on June 13, 2025, in which it condemned and denounced the violation of the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran," it said.
Qatar expressed its regret over the deterioration of the situation following the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities. It warned that the current dangerous tensions in the region will lead to disastrous repercussions at the regional and international levels. (PTI)
We have been closely monitoring the evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East since the past two weeks, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said. "Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi ji, we have diversified our supplies in the past few years and a large volume of our supplies do not come through the Strait of Hormuz now."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington would allow Iran to operate nuclear power plants but not enrich its own fuel, AFP reported.
Three members of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard were killed in an Israeli airstrike, semiofficial news agencies in the Islamic Republic reported Sunday.
Israel has confirmed that it struck the Iranian city of Bushehr, after Iranian state-affiliated media said explosions were heard in the southwestern city Sunday, CNN reported.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for direct negotiations between the United States and Iran after military strikes and said that America is “prepared to talk to them tomorrow,” CNN reported.
Israeli military said that its fighter jets struck 'dozens' of Iranian sites on Sunday, AFP reported.
In his first public comments since the US launched strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Vice President JD Vance emphasised that the US is “not at war” with Iran.
“We’re not at war with Iran. We’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program,” Vance said in an interview with NBC.
Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday that US airstrikes on Iran had 'substantially delayed' its nuclear program. However, he stressed that Americans were not at war with the country itself, AFP reported.
British Airways canceled flights on Sunday from London to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar after the US launched airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, AP reported.
China on Sunday strongly condemned the US air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and also called on “parties to the conflict, Israel in particular”, to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible and start dialogue and negotiation.
During the briefing on America's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairperson General Dan Caine said that the US military operation against Iran on Saturday, 'Operation Midnight Hammer,' used over 125 aircraft and a deception operation that saw bombers deployed over the Pacific as a “decoy”.
US Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, said during a briefing on the strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities that "many presidents dreamed of delivering the final blow to Iran's nuclear program, and none could until President Trump".
"For the entirety of his time in office, President Trump has consistently stated for over 10 years that Iran must not get a nuclear weapon, full stop. Thanks to President Trump's bold and visionary leadership and his commitment to peace through strength, Iran's nuclear ambitions have been obliterated,' he said.
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth emphasised that America does not seek war, but will act if its interests or allies are threatened. "As President Trump has stated, the United States does not seek war. But let me be clear. We will act swiftly and decisively when our people, our partners or our interests are threatened. Iran should listen to the POTUS and know that he means it," he said.
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said that the strikes on the three nuclear facilities in Iran were an "incredible and overwhelming success".
"Last night, on President Trump's orders, US Central Command conducted a precision strike in the middle of the night against three nuclear facilities in Iran, Fordeau, Natanz and Isfahan, in order to destroy or severely degrade Iran's nuclear program. It was an incredible and overwhelming success," Hegseth said.
"The order we received from our commander in chief was focused, it was powerful, and it was clear that we had devastated the Iranian nuclear program. It's worth noting the operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people," he added.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its response to the United States strikes on the Iranian nuclear facilities will “cause deep regret”.
“Today’s act of aggression by the terrorist American regime has granted the Islamic Republic of Iran the legitimate right to act in self-defense, including through options that go beyond the delusional calculations of the aggressor coalition,” an IRGC statement published on Iran’s state-affiliated news agency Tasnim said, CNN reported.
“The invaders should expect responses that will cause deep regret,” the statement added.
Qatar, which hosts the biggest US military base in the Middle East, on Sunday threatened "catastrophic consequences" following US air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. It called on all parties "to exercise wisdom and restraint," AFP reported.
The Israeli army said it has 'other goals' in Iran, and will continue its attacks 'until we attain them,' AFP reported.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he does not know how “much room is left for diplomacy” after the United States struck Iranian nuclear facilities, adding that the US has "crossed a very big red line."
"We have to respond based on our legitimate right for self-defense,” Araghchi said.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he will be travelling to Moscow later on Sunday to meet with President Vladimir Putin, after the US struck Iranian nuclear sites, Associated Press reported.
“We enjoy a strategic partnership, and we always consult with each other and coordinate our positions,” he said, referring to Russia while responding to a question from a Russian outlet.
Israel will temporarily reopen airspace at 1100 GMT for repatriation flights, news agency AFP reported.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian following the recent escalation in the ongoing conflict with Israel. He called for "immediate de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward and for early restoration of regional peace, security and stability."
Speaking to journalists in Istanbul on Sunday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said while the “door to diplomacy” should always be open, “this is not the case right now" after US strikes on Iran.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that the US is 'fully responsible' for the strikes on Iran's nuclear sites.
“The warmongering, a lawless administration in Washington is solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and far reaching implications of its act of aggression,” Araghchi said in a news briefing at a conference in Turkey, AP reported.
Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has voiced strong support for Israel and the United States, stating that "The Iranian regime has long been a threat to regional and global security." Emphasizing that the possibility of a nuclear-armed Iran is "unacceptable," Sunak praised the decisive actions taken by Israel and the US to counter this threat, saying they "deserve our support and thanks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to address the media today in Istanbul at 12:00 PM local time. The press conference comes amid escalating regional tensions following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Israel.
In a significant escalation, Iran has launched a series of attacks on strategic locations across Israel in retaliation for the U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear facilities.
According to reports, the Iranian missile barrage targeted:
Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv
A biological research center
Several decision-making centers
Multiple support bases
Reported By Neeraj Rajput
Pakistan has strongly condemned the U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling them a violation of international law and warning of the risk of further regional escalation.
In a formal statement, Islamabad expressed grave concern over the rising tensions in the Middle East, following a series of attacks by Israel and the latest U.S. military action.
“We are gravely concerned at the possible further escalation of tensions in the region,” the statement read, reiterating that Iran has the “legitimate right to defend itself under the UN Charter.”
Calling the situation “deeply disturbing,” Pakistan urged all parties to respect international law, especially humanitarian principles, and stressed the importance of protecting civilian lives and property.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has announced an emergency meeting of the agency’s Board of Governors following the U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“In light of the urgent situation in Iran, I am convening an emergency meeting of the @IAEAorg Board of Governors for tomorrow,” Grossi posted on X.
The Israeli Health Ministry has confirmed that more than 80 people were injured in Iranian attacks carried out overnight and into Sunday.
According to the ministry, the vast majority of the injured — over 70 individuals — sustained only minor wounds. The attacks come amid escalating conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on Iran to return to the negotiating table, warning that its nuclear ambitions pose a serious threat to global security.
“Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, and the U.S. has taken action to alleviate that threat,” Starmer said in a statement.
A NATO official told Reuters on Sunday that the alliance is closely monitoring the situation after U.S. President Donald Trump announced airstrikes on Iran’s three main nuclear sites.
When asked about NATO's response to the strikes and their potential effect on the alliance’s non-combat advisory and capacity-building mission in neighboring Iraq, the official responded, “Of course we’re watching the situation closely.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has issued a sharp statement accusing the United States of initiating a “dangerous war” by launching airstrikes on its nuclear facilities. “The U.S. has itself launched a dangerous war against Iran,” the ministry declared, as tensions in the region escalate following coordinated attacks on Iranian nuclear sites by U.S. forces.
Israel's national emergency medical service, Magen David Adom, has reported that 11 people were injured following a barrage of missiles launched from Iran. Among the injured is a 30-year-old man in moderate condition, who sustained shrapnel wounds to the upper body.
In a statement, Magen David Adom confirmed that Iranian missiles made impact in more than 10 locations across the country. The rescue teams are actively responding to calls from all affected areas.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, has confirmed that there has been “no increase in off-site radiation levels” following the recent U.S. airstrikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran.
In a brief statement, the agency said it is continuing to monitor the situation closely and will provide additional assessments as more data becomes available.
“IAEA will provide further assessments on the situation in Iran as more information becomes available,” the statement added, seeking to reassure the international community amid growing concerns over nuclear safety.
In a sharp escalation of rhetoric, Iranian state television has declared that all American civilians and military personnel in the region are now considered “legitimate targets” following the U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.
“From now on, every American civilian and military personnel in the region will be considered a legitimate target,” the state broadcaster announced, intensifying threats of retaliation.
Iranian media is now airing visuals of a regional map showing U.S. military bases across the Middle East, accompanied by a pointed message aimed directly at the U.S. president: “Mr. Trump, you started it, and we will end it.”
The Israeli military has reported detecting another wave of missiles launched from Iran targeting Israeli territory, as tensions between the two nations continue to escalate.
In response, Israeli authorities have reiterated their call for citizens to refrain from sharing videos, images, or details of missile strike locations on social media, citing operational security and public safety concerns.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has formally called for an emergency meeting of the Security Council following the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
In a letter obtained by the Associated Press, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani described the American strikes as “heinous attacks and illegal use of force,” urging the UN’s most powerful body to “take all necessary measures” to hold the United States accountable.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns and denounces in the strongest possible terms these unprovoked and premeditated acts of aggression, which have followed the large-scale military attack conducted by the Israeli regime on 13 June against Iran’s peaceful nuclear sites and facilities,” the letter stated.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has sharply condemned the U.S. for its recent strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling the move a severe breach of international law and the United Nations Charter.
“The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations,” Araghchi stated.
Missile alerts sounded across Israel after launches from Iran. Air Force is responding. Citizens must follow Home Front Command instructions as defenses may not intercept all threats.
The Israeli military has confirmed that it detected missiles launched from Iran and successfully intercepted drones approaching from the east, near the Jordanian border.
As tensions remain high following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Israeli authorities have urged residents to take shelter immediately upon receiving emergency alerts, emphasizing heightened readiness for a potential retaliatory attack.
Iranian officials have confirmed that three of the country’s key nuclear sites were targeted in recent U.S. airstrikes, marking a major development in the escalating conflict with Israel and the United States.
Akbar Salehi, the security deputy governor of Isfahan, acknowledged the attacks, saying, “Several explosions were heard in Natanz and Isfahan. We saw attacks near the nuclear sites of Isfahan and Natanz.”
“No signs of radioactive contamination detected after the attack,” Iranian officials stated, asserting that damage to the site was minimal and contained.
The United States has officially entered the Iran-Israel conflict, launching airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites using B-2 stealth bombers. According to officials, one of the primary targets was the heavily fortified Fordow enrichment facility.
A report by The New York Times revealed that the B-2 bombers involved in the mission flew non-stop for approximately 37 hours from their home base in Missouri.
“The B-2s that struck the Iranian nuclear sites early Sunday flew non-stop for about 37 hours from their base in Missouri, refueling several times mid-air,” a U.S. official told the NYT on condition of anonymity.
Saudi Arabia has announced that no radioactive effects have been detected in the Gulf region following the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, according to a report by AFP.
Saudi Arabia has announced that no radioactive effects have been detected in the Gulf region following the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, according to a report by AFP.
Saudi Arabia has announced that no radioactive effects have been detected in the Gulf region following the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, according to a report by AFP.
Saudi Arabia has announced that no radioactive effects have been detected in the Gulf region following the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, according to a report by AFP.
Palestinian militant group Hamas has strongly denounced the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of the bombing campaign.
“The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) condemns in the strongest terms the blatant U.S. aggression against the territory and sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the group said in a statement.
Hamas described the attack as “a brutal aggression” and “a dangerous escalation,” warning that it represents “a flagrant violation of international law, and a direct threat to international peace and security.”
Top Israeli officials responded with strong praise following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, using bold language to frame the action as a pivotal moment in regional history.
President Isaac Herzog thanked U.S. President Donald Trump, describing the operation as a turning point. “This is a decisive moment between the axis of terror and evil and the axis of hope,” Herzog said.
Reactions are pouring in from both sides of the U.S. political spectrum following President Donald Trump’s decision to launch airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Republican Senator Mitch McConnell praised the move, calling it a firm and strategic response. “Seizing this opportunity is not an escalation toward war—it is a prudent response to the warmongers in Tehran. Iran would be foolish to misunderstand American resolve,” he said, commending Trump for taking “decisive action” to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
On the other side, Democratic Senator Mark Warner, Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, voiced strong concern. He warned that Trump’s decision could entangle the U.S. in another “open-ended” conflict with long-term consequences.
“This could cost American lives and resources for years to come,” Warner cautioned, urging the president to appear before Congress and clearly outline his goals. He stressed the importance of ensuring the country is not drawn into an “unnecessary and avoidable conflict.”
Manan Raisi, a representative for Iran’s Qom region—home to the Fordow nuclear facility—has downplayed the impact of the recent U.S. airstrike, calling it largely superficial.
“Based on accurate information, I state that contrary to the claims of the lying U.S. president, the Fordow nuclear facility has not been seriously damaged and most of what was damaged was only on the ground, which can be restored,” Raisi said, as reported by the Tasnim news agency.
Israel has closed its airspace after the US striked Iran's nuclear facilities, said Israeli airport authority.
In the wake of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Israel has closed its airspace as a precautionary measure, the Israeli Airport Authority confirmed on Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed in a video message that U.S. President Donald Trump phoned him following the American strikes on Iran, describing the call as “very warm” and “very emotional.”
Speaking in Hebrew, Netanyahu praised Trump as an unparalleled ally of Israel. “In my own name, and on behalf of all citizens of Israel, and on behalf of the entire Jewish world, I thank him from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
The White House has released images on X (formerly Twitter) showing President Donald Trump overseeing the U.S. military operation against Iran from the Situation Room.
Seated alongside Trump were key members of his national security team, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Tehran against any retaliation following American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to the Associated Press.
Trump stated that Iran now faces a clear choice: “peace or tragedy.” His message comes amid heightened tensions, signaling that any hostile response from Iran could provoke an even more forceful reaction from the United States.
Berni Sanders shared a video On X in which he was addressing crowd and as soon as he spoke about President Trump's attack on Iran the corwd started booing.
Mahdi Mohammadi, a senior adviser to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, responded to the U.S. airstrike on the Fordow nuclear facility by claiming that Iran had anticipated the attack in advance.
In a social media post, Mohammadi stated, “The site has long been evacuated and has not suffered any irreversible damage in the attack.”
He added a defiant note, writing, “Two things are certain: First, knowledge cannot be bombed, and second, the gambler will lose this time.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres voiced strong concern on Saturday following the U.S. military strikes on Iran, warning that the use of force marks a serious escalation in an already fragile region.
Taking to social media, Guterres tweeted: “I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.”
He appealed to UN Member States to step back from further military actions and prioritize diplomacy, urging them to “de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law.”
Hezam al-Asad, a senior member of the political bureau of a Yemeni faction, issued a terse warning to the United States in the wake of its airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
In a brief social media post, al-Asad declared, “Washington must bear the consequences,” signaling potential regional fallout as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a short but forceful three-minute address following the American airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Here are the key highlights from his remarks:
A ‘Spectacular Military Success’: Trump hailed the strikes as a resounding triumph, claiming Iran’s nuclear sites were “completely and totally obliterated.”
Ultimatum to Iran: He warned that Tehran must now choose peace. “If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier,” he said, adding that there are “many targets left.”
Precision and Speed Promised: Should conflict persist, Trump pledged the U.S. would strike again with “precision, speed, and skill.”
A Stark Warning: “This cannot continue,” he declared. “There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days.”
U.S.–Israel Alliance: Trump praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasizing that the two nations “worked as a team” and together have “gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel.”
Link to Past Actions: Despite his earlier promises to avoid foreign military entanglements, Trump likened this operation to the 2020 killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, calling it consistent with his administration’s past strategy.
Military Briefing Ahead: Trump announced that General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will hold a detailed press briefing at 8 a.m. local time on Sunday (12:00 GMT).
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran following Saturday’s airstrikes on three of the country’s nuclear sites, urging Tehran to pursue peace—or risk facing more devastating attacks.
In a nationally televised address Saturday night, Trump said, “Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.”
He made it clear that the United States remains prepared for further military action if Iran chooses to escalate. “This cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left,” he warned.
Trump emphasized the U.S. military's readiness, stating that American forces could strike again “with precision, speed, and skill”—and “in a matter of minutes.”
Following the announcement of U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, President Donald Trump reposted a message from an open-source intelligence account declaring that “Fordow is gone.”
The Fordow facility, located about 60 miles (96 kilometers) south of Tehran, is one of Iran’s most fortified nuclear sites. Built deep underground, it plays a key role in enriching uranium—a process critical to Iran’s nuclear program.
The U.S. military used B-2 stealth bombers to carry out Saturday’s airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, a U.S. official confirmed, according to a report by Reuters.
Earlier the same day, Reuters had reported the movement of B-2 aircraft—long-range bombers capable of carrying heavy payloads—sparking speculation about their potential role in the mission. Defense experts note that these bombers are specifically designed to penetrate fortified targets, making them well-suited for hitting high-security nuclear sites like those targeted in Iran.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has raised alarm over the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling the move a “dangerous escalation” in an already volatile conflict.
Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin believes that the ongoing conflict is unlikely to escalate into a full-scale war. Speaking on the situation, Rubin said, "I don't think it will be a full-fledged war. I suspect the Europeans, the United Nations, and maybe even Donald Trump himself are going to try to offer Iran an off-ramp to stand down."
Rubin emphasized that while Israel may seek regime change in Tehran, the United States has a different approach. "Donald Trump has made clear that it's not the US's desire to decapitate Iran's leadership," he said. "While the Israelis may want to get rid of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and have regime change, the United States' policy is not to do that. In fact, the United States wants to keep Ayatollah Khamenei alive."
Explaining the reasoning behind this stance, Rubin added, "If for no other reason, then if there is a formal surrender, they want someone to sign the surrender and turn over power to a provisional authority so that no vacuum comes to exist."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised U.S. President Donald Trump, calling his leadership a historic turning point that could guide the Middle East—and the wider world—toward lasting peace and prosperity.
Expressing gratitude on behalf of the Israeli people, Netanyahu said, “President Trump and I often say, ‘Peace through strength.’ Strength comes first, and peace follows. Tonight, President Trump and the United States demonstrated immense strength.”