June 22, 2025 | Washington, D.C. | By: International Affairs Desk
In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, the United States launched coordinated airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities late Friday night, according to a statement released by President Donald J. Trump on Truth Social. The move marks the most direct American military action against Iran in over a decade and signals a deepening of the U.S.–Israel military alliance amid mounting fears over Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Targeted Sites and Operation Details
The U.S. strikes, which were reportedly carried out using a combination of long-range bombers and cruise missiles, targeted three key installations linked to Iran’s controversial nuclear enrichment program. According to senior Pentagon sources, the facilities hit include:
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Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, a hardened, underground site long suspected of secret uranium enrichment activity.
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Natanz Nuclear Facility, Iran’s primary uranium enrichment center.
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Isfahan Nuclear Research Center, believed to host research into centrifuge development and potentially weaponization processes.
The strikes occurred around 11:45 PM local time (June 21) and were described as “precision operations” intended to disable Iran’s nuclear infrastructure while avoiding civilian casualties.
“Iran was moving fast—very fast—toward something very dangerous. We couldn’t allow that,” President Trump said in a short video message posted to Truth Social. “We hit three major nuclear sites. It was a strong warning. I hope further strikes won’t be necessary, but we will act again if Iran responds with violence.”
A Preemptive Strategy
The airstrikes follow weeks of intensifying regional conflict, with Israel recently targeting Iranian military assets and nuclear supply chains through a combination of drone strikes and cyber operations. While Iran has denied all allegations of nuclear weapons development, both Israeli and U.S. intelligence claim the Islamic Republic had resumed high-level uranium enrichment beyond 90% purity—widely seen as weapons-grade.
U.S. officials said the operation was authorized after satellite imagery and human intelligence confirmed rapid construction at Fordow and suspicious activity near Natanz. According to a Department of Defense press briefing, the goal was to “cripple Iran’s nuclear progress before it crossed an irreversible threshold.”
Trump’s Warning: “Don’t Retaliate”
Just hours after confirming the strikes, President Trump issued a stark warning to Tehran.
“To the leaders of Iran: Do not retaliate. Do not endanger your people. If you do, the consequences will be swift, overwhelming, and permanent,” Trump said in a direct address on Saturday night.
Administration officials emphasized that the strikes were “limited in scope” and not aimed at regime change. However, observers note that the language used by President Trump is reminiscent of the posture adopted during his first term, especially after the January 2020 killing of IRGC General Qassem Soleimani.
Iran’s Response: Vows of Retaliation, No Immediate Strike
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council convened an emergency session on Saturday morning. In a statement broadcast on state TV, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called the strikes “an act of war and aggression,” and pledged that Iran would “respond at a time and place of our choosing.”
However, as of Sunday morning, no direct military response had been launched. Instead, cyberattacks believed to originate from Iranian groups briefly disrupted airport operations in Tel Aviv and caused service outages across several Gulf oil terminals.
The Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) said in a statement: “The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to defend its sovereignty and will no longer show strategic patience.”
Reactions from the Global Community
Middle East
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Israel praised the U.S. action, with Prime Minister Eli Hazan calling it a “bold and necessary step” to prevent nuclear catastrophe. “The United States has shown the world that red lines still matter,” Hazan said in a televised address.
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Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Jordan have urged both parties to de-escalate, while reportedly raising alert levels on military installations.
Europe and Beyond
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France, Germany, and the United Kingdom expressed “deep concern” about the potential for regional escalation, but stopped short of condemning the U.S. action.
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Russia and China strongly condemned the strikes. A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called it “an unjustified act of aggression that endangers global security.”
The United Nations Security Council is expected to meet in an emergency session on Monday.
Markets and Oil Shock
The global energy markets reacted immediately to the news, with Brent crude prices surging by more than 12% within hours. Analysts warn that any Iranian retaliation, particularly involving the Strait of Hormuz, could send oil prices spiraling even higher.
Airlines began rerouting flights to avoid Iranian airspace, while shipping companies suspended routes through the Persian Gulf over security concerns.
Domestic Political Fallout
Back in Washington, the strikes have triggered a fierce debate. While Republicans have largely rallied behind the president, Democrats and several independent senators have called for a congressional inquiry into whether the strikes were legal under existing war powers authorization.
Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) said, “This administration has brought the world to the brink of nuclear confrontation without consultation or oversight. We demand answers.”
Meanwhile, protests erupted in several U.S. cities over the weekend, with demonstrators condemning the use of military force and calling for diplomatic solutions.+
What Comes Next?
Despite the president’s public hope that no further strikes will be necessary, defense analysts believe the U.S. is preparing for continued operations. Carrier strike groups in the Gulf have been placed on heightened alert, and troop deployments to bases in Kuwait and Qatar are reportedly being accelerated.
Former CIA Director Gina Porter commented Sunday morning:
“This isn’t over. Iran’s leadership may bide its time, but retaliation is coming. And whether that happens on the battlefield, in cyberspace, or through proxy militias—everyone is now holding their breath.”
