In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, US President Donald Trump has confirmed that American forces carried out precision airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities. The strikes, which targeted Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan sites, mark a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.
Speaking at a press briefing on Saturday night (US time), Trump declared the mission a historic military feat, stating, “There is no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight — not even close.” He praised the US armed forces for executing what he described as a high-risk, high-impact operation with unmatched precision and efficiency.
“This cannot continue,” he warned Iran. “There will either be peace or tragedy for Iran, far greater than what we’ve witnessed over the last eight days. If peace does not come quickly, we will go after other targets — swiftly and decisively.”
Trump said the operation was launched to significantly weaken Iran’s nuclear enrichment capability and neutralize the threat posed by what he called “the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.” The US strikes came amid growing concern over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and after weeks of stalled diplomacy aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, which the Trump administration exited in 2018. The US President also extended gratitude to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, “We worked as a team, like perhaps no team has ever worked before. I want to thank the Israeli military for the incredible job they’ve done.”
The military escalation follows Israel’s surprise strike on Iran on June 13, which officials claimed was a preemptive move to halt Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program — an allegation Tehran continues to deny.
Iranian state media confirmed that parts of the Fordow facility were struck in what it described as “enemy attacks,” though the full extent of the damage remains unclear. The incident marks the most direct US involvement in the escalating hostilities between Iran and Israel, amid already high regional tensions due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza since October 2023.
With this latest development, fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East have intensified, as Washington’s military posture takes a more aggressive turn in support of its ally, Israel.
