The United States carried out airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites – Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan – on Saturday night. This action marks a new stage in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, as the U.S. gets directly involved.
In a speech from the White House, President Donald Trump called the military operation a “great success”. He claimed that the sites were completely destroyed in order to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation strongly criticised the attacks, calling them “illegal” under international law. Meanwhile, American forces safely left Iranian airspace. This military move has raised global concerns, as there are fears of retaliation and a possible wider conflict in the Middle East.
The operation, which happened around midnight in Iran, used six B-2 stealth bombers. These bombers dropped large bombs on the Fordow site, which is buried deep underground, to target its uranium enrichment activities.
U.S. Navy submarines also fired 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles aimed at Natanz and Esfahan, which are important sites for uranium processing, as reported by a U.S. official.
Trump shared his excitement on Truth Social, saying that “a full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the main site, Fordow”, and that all planes returned home safely. He celebrated the strikes as a major blow to Iran’s nuclear program.
In response, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation described the attacks as a “savage assault” and a violation of international treaties designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. They insisted that Iran’s nuclear programme is meant for peaceful purposes.
The Iranian agency reported that no radioactive material was released from the sites. State media quoted officials who stated that radiation detectors showed everything was safe.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned that there would be “serious consequences”, saying Iran would defend itself in any way necessary. Iran also asked for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, calling the strikes an “act of aggression”.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that there was no increase in radiation levels nearby but mentioned they are still checking the sites.
Although Trump claimed the sites were completely destroyed, Iranian officials, including a lawmaker from Qom, said that the uranium had been moved before the strikes.
Some experts suggest that the deep location of Fordow may have limited the effectiveness of the bombs. Isfahan is said to have a “moderate” risk due to its importance in nuclear activities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s decision, claiming it would “change history” by reducing Iran’s nuclear threat. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz shared this view.
This military action followed Israel’s week-long efforts to weaken Iran’s air defences, which allowed the U.S. to strike Fordow, something Israel could not do alone.
Despite promising not to engage in Middle Eastern wars during his campaign, Trump decided to proceed after unsuccessful diplomatic efforts, including a planned meeting in Istanbul.
Opinions in the U.S. Congress are mixed. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune supported the airstrikes, while some Democrats, like Hakeem Jeffries, criticised the lack of proper congressional approval.
Many Americans are wondering about the possibility of a change in Iran’s government, although U.S. officials have stated that there are no such plans.
Critics, including the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have warned that this could lead to a “dangerous escalation”, with Houthi rebels in Yemen threatening American ships in the Red Sea.