In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, the United States on Sunday struck three key nuclear facilities in Iran. Among the targeted sites were Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — major centers of Iran’s nuclear enrichment infrastructure.
US President Donald Trump described the assault as a “very successful military operation” and a “historic moment for the United States, Israel, and the world.” Speaking at Truth Social, Trump confirmed all aircraft involved were safely returning and warned of further action ahead.
“This marks the beginning of a broader campaign to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat. The next wave will be far more intense,” Trump said, vowing to dismantle what he called “the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.”
Six bunker-buster bombs were deployed against Fordow, while 30 Tomahawk missiles targeted Isfahan and Natanz. The attack reportedly involved B-2 stealth bombers, the only aircraft capable of carrying the 30,000-lb GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator.
Though Israel has claimed significant progress in its Operation Rising Lion, officials in Jerusalem acknowledged that the US military’s involvement — particularly the deployment of B-2 bombers — was crucial in striking deeply buried facilities like Fordow.
Iran Condemns ‘Act of War’
Tehran strongly condemned the strikes, calling them a blatant violation of international law and national sovereignty. The Iranian government vowed retaliation and maintained that there was no radiation leak or environmental contamination at the impacted sites — a claim partially backed by independent experts.
At Isfahan, however, damage to the facility’s power infrastructure may have crippled one of the country’s most advanced centrifuge networks. The full extent of the damage remains unclear. However, Iran has said that it had already evacuated critical elements of these facilities before the attack.
IAEA Reacts
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) condemned the strikes, labeling them a breach of international agreements. The agency emphasized it would not allow political conflicts to derail what it termed the peaceful development of Iran’s “national industry,” a thinly veiled reference to its nuclear program.
Diplomatic efforts appear to have been sidelined, with many analysts warning that the US involvement marks a shift toward full-scale war in the region. What started with October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, expanded to major parts of the Middle East amd West Asia, including Israel’s classes with Hamas in Gaza, Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon.