The United States has launched direct air strikes on three of Iran’s main nuclear facilities. This bold move, ordered by President Donald Trump on June 22, targeted sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The attack marks a major escalation in the ongoing military conflict between Iran and Israel. It also raises the threat of a wider war in the Middle East.
The US President announced the strikes on his social media platform, Truth Social. He confirmed that the attacks were successful and that all US aircraft had left Iranian airspace safely. Trump thanked the American forces for their courage and claimed that no other country could have carried out such an operation. He added that now was the time for peace.
According to reports, the US used advanced B-2 stealth bombers to carry out the attacks. Open-source intelligence shared by Trump himself showed the Fordow facility was completely destroyed. Iran’s official news agency IRNA confirmed explosions at all three sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Morteza Heidari, spokesperson for the Crisis Management in Qom province, said the Fordow nuclear plant was partly damaged by the enemy air strike.
Experts note that these three sites are critical to Iran’s nuclear program. Fordow and Natanz enrich uranium up to 60 percent, a level close to weapons-grade. Isfahan houses uranium conversion operations, an essential step in nuclear fuel production.
The strikes quickly sparked debate in the US Congress. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna criticized President Trump for ordering the attack without congressional approval, calling it unconstitutional. On the other hand, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham praised the strikes as a correct and necessary decision.
Analysts warn the air raids could escalate tensions in the Middle East. Iran had previously threatened that attacks on its nuclear sites would endanger 19 US military bases and about 40,000 American troops in the region. The Houthi rebels also threatened US ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden following the strikes.
The US Iran nuclear attack brings American involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict into sharp focus. The global community now watches closely to see how Iran responds and how the situation unfolds in this already volatile region.