 US President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation alongside US Vice President JD Vance, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, June 21, 2025, following US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. (Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Barria/Pool) |
After days of deliberation and long before his self-imposed two-week deadline, Trump's decision to join Israel's military campaign against Iran is a major escalation of the conflict and risks opening a new era of instability in the Middle East.
"The strikes were a spectacular military success," Trump said in a televised address. "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated."
In a speech that lasted just over three minutes, Trump said Iran's future held "either peace or tragedy," and there were many other targets that could be hit by the US military.
"If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill."
 A satellite image shows an overview of the Fordow fuel enrichment facility, near Qom, Iran June 20, 2025. Photo: Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS) |
Trump said US forces struck Iran's three principal nuclear sites: Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow. He told Fox News' Sean Hannity show that six bunker-buster bombs were dropped on Fordow, while 30 Tomahawk missiles were fired against other nuclear sites.
US B-2 bombers were involved in the strikes, a US official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Fordow is gone."
Iranian media quoted Iran's nuclear body as saying there were no signs of contamination after the attacks, and no danger to residents living nearby.
Iran had evacuated the three sites some time ago, sources said.