On Sunday, former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces conducted airstrikes against three of Iran’s key nuclear sites — Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz — marking an escalated campaign between Washington and Tehran.
Trump made this declaration at his Orlando campaign rally: “America has sent a powerful message: America won’t remain silent while the world’s leading state sponsor of terror builds nuclear bombs.
Trump’s remarks, made just hours after reports of explosions near several nuclear facilities in central Iran, have caused global reactions and uncertainty. While Biden administration officials have yet to substantiate his account, Pentagon sources on condition of anonymity acknowledged that targeted strikes had been conducted against nuclear development infrastructure posing imminent threats.
Iranian officials swiftly denounced the strikes as violations of sovereignty and international law. Iran’s military issued a statement alleging that their air defenses had intercepted multiple incoming missiles but some facilities suffered structural damage nonetheless. Iranian state TV footage showing emergency responders around damaged buildings confirmed these statements by officials; no radiation leakage had taken place and “the nuclear program remains intact”.
Natanz and Fordow facilities are widely viewed as crucial to Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities, and have come under intense international scrutiny since Iran began decreasing compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal following President Trump’s earlier withdrawal. Isfahan hosts a uranium conversion facility which plays an essential part in Iran’s nuclear fuel cycle.
At his speech, Trump justified the strike as necessary to prevent Iran from becoming nuclear-armed, asserting that “diplomacy has failed and deterrence is now underway”. Iran chose defiance; we responded appropriately.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a threat of retaliation, condemning the attacks as cowardly and vowing that “those responsible will soon taste regret”. Iran called an emergency session of the UN Security Council and warned any neighboring nations supporting U.S. operations would “share in their consequences.”
International reaction has been swift and mixed. Israel and Saudi Arabia welcomed the operation, while European Union expressed deep concerns and asked for immediate de-escalation measures to take place. China and Russia strongly criticized U.S. action as dangerous provocation with potential to destabilize Middle Eastern region.
Oil prices jumped over five percent following reports of further violence in the Persian Gulf and as airspace over much of it was restricted for safety.
Though Trump is not in office yet, his public announcement and aggressive rhetoric has significantly complicated the crisis by raising questions of coordination with Biden administration officials and U.S. foreign policy strategy overall.
As tensions flare up, the world closely monitors Iran to see whether they opt for militarized response or attempt to manage fallout through diplomatic channels.