In a significant escalation of Middle East tensions, US President Donald Trump announced military strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. The targeted sites, Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, were hit in an effort to cripple Iran's nuclear capabilities and support Israel in its ongoing conflict with Tehran. Trump warned that if peace does not come swiftly, the US would target additional sites with "precision, speed, and skill." This move marks a pivotal moment in US-Iran relations, drawing the United States into a direct military role in the region.
The strikes follow a series of events that began on June 13, when Israel launched a surprise attack on Iranian targets. The Israeli government justified the offensive as a preemptive measure to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a claim Iran has consistently denied. The conflict has since drawn in the United States, marking a significant escalation in the region. Addressing the media shortly after the strikes, Trump praised the US military for executing an operation "the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades."
Trump expressed hope that further military action would not be necessary, stating, "Hopefully we no longer need their services in this capacity. I hope so." He also extended his gratitude to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting the close cooperation between the two nations in addressing what he described as a "horrible threat" to Israel. The US President's decision to support Israel's military campaign against Iran marks a significant shift in American foreign policy.
US and Israel's Strategic Alliance
Despite weeks of diplomatic efforts to renegotiate a nuclear agreement with Tehran, following the US withdrawal from the 2015 accord in 2018, Trump has now thrown his full support behind Israel's actions. This move has further strained relations between the US and Iran, with Iranian state media confirming that parts of the Fordow nuclear facility were hit in what it called "enemy strikes." In response to the US strikes, Iran launched more than 30 ballistic missiles at Israel, prompting the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to conduct a series of retaliatory strikes on military sites in western Iran.
The IDF reported that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) targeted missile launchers and military personnel in Iran, swiftly neutralizing the launchers that had fired missiles toward Israeli territory. The exchange of fire has resulted in injuries on both sides, with at least 16 people reported injured in Israel, including two children. The conflict has raised concerns about the potential for a broader regional war, with the United Nations and various international actors calling for restraint.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US strikes as "outrageous" and warned of "everlasting consequences." Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the situation as a "dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge." The US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities have also prompted heightened security measures in the United States. The New York Police Department (NYPD) announced increased deployments to religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites throughout the city, citing concerns over potential retaliatory threats.
