The United States has carried out airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear facilities Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordo prompting global concern over the possibility of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes in a televised address on Sunday, calling the operation a “spectacular military success” and warning Iran to “make peace” or face “far greater” attacks. The Pentagon reportedly deployed B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk cruise missiles to hit the fortified sites, including the underground Fordo facility long seen as Iran’s most protected nuclear installation.
While US sources claim significant damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Iranian state media has downplayed the impact. A presenter on Iran’s state TV called Trump’s remarks a “bluff,” saying only two tunnels at the entrance and exit of Fordo were damaged. Morteza Heydari, a crisis management official in Qom province, confirmed a partial strike on Fordo but said the region was now “entirely calm.”
Iran has limited internet access since the attack, blaming “enemy cyberattacks.” This has slowed the flow of independent images and video, leaving foreign outlets reliant on Iranian state narratives. State TV insisted the explosions were “not that loud,” framing the US claims as exaggerated.
Despite Iran’s attempts to project calm, Tehran has retaliated by launching missile strikes toward Israel. Explosions were reported over Jerusalem, though the extent of the damage remains unclear. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the US move, calling it a “bold decision” that would “change the course of history.”
In Washington, reactions were sharply divided along political lines. Republican lawmakers lauded Trump for taking decisive action, while Democrats voiced fears that the US is sliding into another prolonged military engagement in the Middle East.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi condemned the US strikes as “outrageous” and vowed that Iran reserves “all options to defend its sovereignty,” signaling that Tehran may not take the attack lying down.
The international community now watches anxiously, as the confrontation risks spiraling into a full-scale regional conflict.
