President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces struck three Iranian nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, marking direct American involvement in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed a major military strike on Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility, calling the operation a success and urging Tehran to choose peace. The attack marks a major escalation in the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel.
U.S. planes strike Fordow, Trump calls mission “very successful”
In a series of social media posts, Trump said the strike was executed flawlessly, with all U.S. aircraft exiting Iranian airspace safely after hitting their target.
“All planes are now outside of Iran airspace,” he wrote. “A full bomb payload was dropped on the main site at Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.”
Trump praised the military for the mission, writing:
“There is not another military in the world that could have done this.”
He ended the post with a direct appeal:
“Now is the time for peace!”
Trump claims Fordow destroyed, announces national address
In a follow-up post, Trump claimed the Fordow nuclear site has been completely destroyed, citing open source intelligence to support the assessment.
“I will be giving an Address to the Nation at 10:00 P.M., at the White House, regarding our very successful military operation in Iran. This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!”
President Trump threatened Iran with further military strikes unless the country agrees to end the ongoing conflict.
Netanyahu praises Trump’s leadership after US strikes on Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his gratitude to President Donald Trump following the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
“President Trump, I thank you, the people of Israel thank you,” Netanyahu said.
He called Trump’s leadership a historic turning point, saying it could guide the Middle East and beyond toward “a future of prosperity and peace.”
“History will record that Trump acted to deny the most dangerous regime, the world’s most dangerous weapons,” Netanyahu added.
He described the U.S. strikes as a “bold decision” that will change the course of history.
B-2 bombers targeted Iranian nuclear sites
The United States deployed six bunker-buster bombs in the strike on the Fordow nuclear facility. In addition, 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched from submarines targeting the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites. According to reports, President Trump ordered the strike after diplomatic efforts stalled. There are currently no plans for additional military action, though U.S. forces in the region remain on high alert in case of Iranian retaliation.
Iran acknowledges attack, says sites were evacuated
Iranian state news agency IRNA, quoting the Qom provincial governor’s office, confirmed an airstrike on part of the Fordow site by “enemy forces.” Meanwhile, Mehr News Agency, citing the news director of Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, claimed the three targeted nuclear sites had been evacuated “some time ago.”
A commentator on Iranian state television warned that every American citizen and soldier in the region is now considered a legitimate target, following the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
Before the strikes, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had warned that direct U.S. military involvement would be “very, very dangerous for everyone.” Meanwhile, the Israeli military is reportedly preparing for a prolonged campaign if the conflict escalates further.
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization condemns attacks on nuclear sites
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization has condemned the recent airstrikes on its nuclear facilities, describing the attacks as violations of international law.
The organization confirmed that Iran’s nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were targeted “by the enemies.” It emphasized that these strikes are an assault on Iran’s “national industry” and pledged that it will not allow the development of its nuclear program to be stopped.
Officials added that they have placed necessary measures, including legal proceedings, on their agenda to defend Iran’s rights in response to the attacks.
US informed Israel ahead of Iran strikes
The United States gave Israel advance notice before launching airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to two officials familiar with the matter who spoke to CNN.
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke on Saturday evening after the strikes, two White House officials confirmed.
Israel raises alert level, suspends schools and public gatherings
Following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, the Israeli military has announced a heightened state of alert, suspending school activities, public gatherings, and non-essential work nationwide as a precaution.
UN Chief's warns on escalation
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave alarm regarding the United States' use of force against Iran, labeling it a dangerous escalation for an already volatile region and a direct threat to international peace and security. Guterres warned of a growing risk that the conflict could rapidly spiral out of control, leading to catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world. He called upon all Member States to prioritize de-escalation and to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and international law, stressing the critical need to avoid a "spiral of chaos." The Secretary-General reiterated his position that "there is no military solution," asserting that "the only path forward is diplomacy" and "the only hope is peace."
What we know about the three Iranian nuclear sites struck by the US
President Donald Trump announced Saturday evening that the US has struck three key nuclear sites in Iran—Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz—as the Iran-Israel conflict enters its second week. These sites are central to Iran’s nuclear program and have previously faced Israeli attacks.
Natanz: Iran’s largest uranium enrichment facility
Located about 250 kilometers (150 miles) south of Tehran, Natanz is Iran’s biggest uranium enrichment complex. It includes six above-ground buildings and three underground structures, two of which can house up to 50,000 centrifuges, according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).
The site produces centrifuges, machines that enrich uranium—a key step in creating nuclear fuel. Iran has enriched uranium here up to 60% purity, while weapons-grade uranium requires 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Israel’s previous strikes destroyed the above-ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant at Natanz. Those attacks also cut electricity to the underground levels where centrifuges are stored, disrupting operations.
Fordow: A heavily fortified, deeply buried facility
Fordow is a secretive nuclear site near the holy city of Qom, built deep inside a mountain, with main halls located 80 to 90 meters underground. Its exact size and details remain largely unknown, with much intelligence coming from documents stolen by Israeli agencies.
Due to its depth, Fordow is difficult to destroy by airstrike. The US reportedly possesses the bunker-buster bombs capable of reaching such depths, but experts warn even those might not be enough.
Iran reportedly enriches uranium at Fordow up to 60%. Experts estimate the facility contains around 2,700 centrifuges. According to the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), Iran could convert this enriched uranium stockpile into enough weapon-grade material for nine nuclear weapons in just three weeks.
Isfahan: Iran’s nuclear research hub
Located in central Iran, Isfahan hosts the country’s largest nuclear research complex. Built with Chinese assistance and opened in 1984, the facility employs about 3,000 scientists.
Isfahan operates three small Chinese-built research reactors, along with a conversion facility, fuel production plant, zirconium cladding plant, and various laboratories. The NTI suspects it is the center of Iran’s nuclear research efforts.
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