The United States has carried out military strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities, President Donald Trump announced on Saturday. The attacks targeted the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan sites, which are central to Iran’s nuclear programme.
“The US had successfully completed strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, and claimed that key enrichment facilities there had been ‘totally and completely obliterated’,” Trump declared in his announcement.
The president issued a stern warning to Iran following the attacks. “Trump said Iran must now make peace,” adding that future strikes would be more severe if the country refused to comply. “If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier. For 40 years, Iran has been saying death to America, death to Israel.”
Iranian authorities moved quickly to reassure residents living near the targeted facilities. “Iranian officials said there was no danger to the residents living near the nuclear facilities hit by US strikes,” according to state media reports.
The Crisis Management Headquarters in Qom province, where the Fordow facility is located, specifically stated that “there is no danger to the people of Qom and the surrounding area”. Another Iranian official indicated that Fordow has “long been evacuated and has not suffered any irreversible damage”.
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According to The Guardian, regional safety monitoring has shown no immediate radiological threats. Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority confirmed that no radioactive effects have been detected across the Gulf states.
The strikes appear to represent unprecedented cooperation between the United States and Israel. Trump praised the collaboration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying they “worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before” in addressing what he described as threats to Israeli security.
Netanyahu responded with his own praise for the American action. “Netanyahu praised the attack, saying that the ‘awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history'”. In a video address, the Israeli leader claimed the US “has done what no other country on Earth could do”.
The situation escalated rapidly following the US strikes. “Early on Sunday Iran’s state TV announced on new missile launches against Israel. Explosions were heard above Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.”
Iran’s government condemned the American action in the strongest terms. “Iran’s foreign minister condemned the US attack as a breach of international law which will have ‘everlasting consequences’.” Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated that “The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations.”
Iran’s regional allies have indicated they may join any retaliation efforts. “A Yemeni Houthi official said on Sunday that the Iran-aligned group’s response to the US attack on Iran was ‘only a matter of time’.”
The United Nations has expressed serious concern about the escalating situation. “United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday branded the US strikes on Iran as a ‘dangerous escalation’ in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.” Guterres warned of “a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world.”
Iran’s nuclear authority also condemned the strikes. “The Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation called the US attack ‘a barbaric act’ that violated international law, especially the nuclear non-proliferation treaty”.
Iran had issued warnings before the latest escalation. “Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian had warned earlier on Saturday of a ‘more devastating’ retaliation should Israel’s nine-day bombing campaign continue,” whilst maintaining that the country would not abandon its nuclear programme under any circumstances.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had also issued threats earlier in the week. “Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Wednesday that US strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will ‘result in irreparable damage for them’.”
The conflict stems from Israeli claims that it seeks to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, whilst Iran maintains its nuclear programme serves only peaceful purposes.
Trump warned that any Iranian retaliation would meet with severe consequences. “Any retaliation by Tehran against the US would be met with ‘force far greater than what was witnessed tonight'”, the president declared, noting that there were “many targets left” in Iran for potential future strikes.
