**US Launches Major Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites: Global Tensions Rise Following Trump’s Announcement**
In a dramatic overnight operation, the United States has directly targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, launching airstrikes on three critical facilities. President Donald Trump addressed the nation from the White House, flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. In his speech, Trump declared the mission an “overwhelming success”, claiming that Iran’s nuclear programme had been virtually destroyed. These events signal a significant escalation in ongoing hostilities and have sent shockwaves through diplomatic and security communities worldwide.
The Iranian state news agency, IRNA, confirmed that the sites at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz were attacked. President Trump delivered his statement against the backdrop of a sustained nine-day conflict between Israel and Iran, firmly placing the US at the centre of military efforts to curtail Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. He issued a stark warning to Iranian authorities, stating that continued hostilities would prompt further, even more robust, American action. “There will either be peace or unimaginable tragedy for Iran,” Trump told the nation, clearly linking the recent strikes to a broader strategy of deterrence.
The operation, which reportedly included B-2 stealth bombers, was carried out without prior Congressional authorisation. Trump used social media in the hours following to congratulate the US military and assert American dominance, claiming that only the United States had the capability to deliver such a devastating blow. His posts were also imbued with an urgent call for Iran to choose peace, paired with the threat of additional, more severe attacks should Tehran retaliate in any form against US personnel.
The UK quickly issued its reaction to the strikes. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Iran’s nuclear programme as an “immense risk to international security” and welcomed the American action, whilst urging all parties to de-escalate. Starmer underlined the necessity for Iran to rejoin negotiations, expressing hope for a diplomatic—rather than purely military—resolution to the rapidly unfolding crisis in the Middle East.
Militarily, this marks the first direct US action on Iranian soil since the 1979 revolution, and comes after more than a week of Israeli strikes on multiple targets designed to degrade Iran’s air defences and missile capabilities. American officials have stated that only the US’s B-2 bombers, equipped with the specialised 30,000-pound bunker-busting bombs, were suitable for penetrating the deeply buried Iranian nuclear facilities, especially at Fordo. Trump confirmed US stealth bombers were involved, but declined to specify the ordnance used.
The international ramifications of these strikes are immense. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had previously cautioned that any US involvement would result in “irreparable damage.” The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the American raids as a precursor to a “total war” in the region, while prior to the strikes, Iran’s foreign minister warned that American military engagement would bring “danger for everyone”. In the wake of these events, Israel’s military has braced itself for a protracted conflict, underlining the volatility of the situation.
President Trump’s decision appears to have followed both pressure from Israeli leaders and Republican figures in Washington, who argued that now was a rare opportunity to deliver a decisive blow to Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Israeli officials say their own offensive severely weakened Iran’s air defence network, but required US collaboration—and the use of American bunker-buster bombs—to destroy the most fortified Iranian site at Fordo. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had previously acknowledged that Iran was enriching uranium at Fordo, amplifying international worries about nuclear contamination or escalation.
The abrupt escalation comes after failed diplomatic attempts by the Trump administration to persuade Iran to limit its nuclear activity. Despite efforts at negotiation and even prior successes at delaying Israeli strikes, Trump ultimately chose direct military engagement, citing national and global security interests. The US has also recently bolstered its military presence in the region, reinforcing bases and moving additional assets into position as tension mounted.
Notably, this aggressive approach is not without domestic criticism. Some prominent Trump supporters, well-known for their isolationist tendencies, have raised concerns that involvement in another Middle Eastern conflict could be seen as reneging on campaign promises. The previous US withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement under Trump’s leadership already marked a turning point in American foreign policy. As the situation continues to develop, all eyes are on Tehran to see how Iran’s leaders will respond to what is now one of the most significant confrontations in recent US-Iranian history.