Illustrative image. (U.S. Army)
The United States joined the Israeli attack on Iran early on June 22, with President Donald Trump announcing a “successful attack” on the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic.
Israel launched its attack on Iran more than a week ago, and while it succeeded in inflicting heavy losses on the Islamic Republic, eroding much of its air defenses, it stopped short from achieving its stated goal of crippling the country’s nuclear program.
“A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordo,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to the nuclear enrichment plant which is believed to be 80-90 meters underground.
“All planes are now outside of Iran air space [and are]… safely on their way home,” the U.S. President continued. “Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this.”
“NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!” he added.
In a later televised speech, Trump said that the U.S. “objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.”
“Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success,” he said, with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth standing by his side. “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.”
“This cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days,” the U.S. President added, noting that “there are many targets left.”
“If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill — most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes,” he added.
The attack on Fordow was carried out by B-2 stealth strategic bombers that flew directly from Whiteman Air Force Base in the state of Missouri. The bombers dropped BU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 14-ton precision-guided bunker buster bomb that can penetrate over 60 meters of fortifications
In total, six of these massive bunker buster bombs were used, according to Fox News’ Sean Hannity, who said he had spoken to Trump.
According to Hannity, the Natanz and Isfahan sites were hit with 30 BGM-109 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles launched by American submarines deployed more than 600 kilometers away.
In a video statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump, calling his decision to join the attack on Iran “bold.”
“President Trump, I thank you. The people of Israel thank you. The forces of civilization thank you,” he concluded. “God bless America. God bless Israel and may God bless our unshakeable alliance, our unbreakable faith.”
In a second video, in Hebrew language, Netanyahu claimed that his promise to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities had been “fulfilled.”
Iranian media confirmed that Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan were all struck, with the Islamic Republic’s nuclear agency vowing to continue its nuclear activities.
“The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran assures the great nation of Iran that despite the evil plots of its enemies … it will not let the path of development of this national industry (nuclear), which is the result of the blood of nuclear martyrs, be stopped,” the organization said in a statement published by state media.
From its side, Iran’s National Nuclear Safety System Center said that its radiation detectors had recorded no radioactive release after the U.S. attack.
“There is no danger to the residents living around the aforementioned sites,” the agency said in a statement.
The days leading to the attack saw massive deployment of U.S. military assets in the Middle East, still Trump acted as if he was hesitant, and even gave Iran a two-week ultimatum to “unconditionally surrender.”
Just 24 hours before the attack, Tehran was reportedly offered direct talks with Washington in Turkey, but refused to negotiate under fire.
Iran warned in the past that it would respond to any such attack by targeting U.S. bases in the Middle East. The U.S. has already already emptied several of its key bases in the region, including in Bahrain and Qatar. Trump’s latest remarks also indicate that Washington will hit back with full force.
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