Middle East: The United States and Israel have launched a series of coordinated military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting fierce retaliation from Tehran and raising fears of a full-scale regional war. As US President Donald Trump declared the strikes a “spectacular military success,” Iranian officials issued grave warnings, vowing to target American bases and allies across the region.
The events mark a dramatic escalation in a long-simmering confrontation over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and could derail years of diplomatic efforts aimed at curbing the country’s atomic program through negotiation. Now, with major nuclear sites at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan reduced to rubble and dozens killed in retaliatory exchanges, the world watches nervously as the shadow war between Tehran and its adversaries becomes an open conflict.
At the heart of this conflagration is President Trump’s renewed pledge to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities—by force if necessary. In a fiery statement following the strikes, Trump boasted that the US had “taken the bomb right out of their hands.”
“We had a spectacular military success yesterday,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “They would use it if they could! We stopped them.”
He stopped short of explicitly advocating for regime change in Tehran but came dangerously close. “It’s not politically correct to use the term ‘Regime Change,’” he wrote. “But if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!”
The remarks have provoked alarm among US allies in Europe and the Persian Gulf, with diplomats warning that any suggestion of toppling the Iranian regime risks galvanizing hardliners in Tehran and destabilizing the entire region.
Iran’s leadership has responded with unmistakable fury. Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, described the US attacks as a direct assault on Islam and declared that all US bases in the region are now “legitimate targets.”
“America has attacked the heart of the Islamic world and must await irreparable consequences,” Velayati told state-run IRNA. “Any country in the region or elsewhere that is used by American forces to strike Iran will be considered a legitimate target for our armed forces.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian, who had taken a cautious approach to foreign policy since assuming office earlier this year, declared that the US would “receive a response” to its “brutal and illegal aggression.” Thousands took to the streets of Tehran, waving Iranian flags and chanting “Death to America” in spontaneous demonstrations of national unity.
According to US defense sources, the strikes involved a fleet of seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers that flew an 18-hour round trip from the US mainland to their targets in Iran. Armed with over a dozen GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators—colloquially known as “bunker busters”—the aircraft struck deep-underground enrichment facilities at Fordo, as well as above-ground targets at Natanz and Isfahan.
The Pentagon’s new Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, claimed the mission had “devastated” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure without targeting military personnel or civilians.
“This was a precision operation,” Hegseth said at a Pentagon press conference. “We targeted facilities, not people.”
Yet, according to Iranian sources, at least 400 people—mostly nuclear scientists and support staff—have been killed, with hundreds more injured in the initial strikes and subsequent Israeli follow-ups.
Israel, long Iran’s most vocal adversary, has confirmed its active role in the strikes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israeli warplanes and drones conducted multiple operations in central Iran and would continue doing so “until the mission is complete.”
“We are very, very close to completing our objectives,” Netanyahu said, referring to the destruction of Iran’s nuclear and missile development infrastructure. “This is a fight for our survival.”
Nine members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike near Qom on Sunday. In a separate incident, an ambulance transporting wounded nuclear scientists was hit by Israeli drones, killing three civilians, according to Iranian media.
In response, Iran launched dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles at Israeli territory. The attack marked one of the largest barrages ever conducted by Tehran, with key military installations and civilian infrastructure targeted.
Israel’s Ministry of Health confirmed that 23 people were wounded when a missile struck near Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Air raid sirens blared across multiple cities, and the Iron Dome defense system intercepted most—but not all—of the incoming missiles.
“Iran has crossed a dangerous threshold,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. “They have attacked the heart of our homeland, and they will pay the price.”
While President Trump and Vice President JD Vance claimed victory, significant questions remain about the long-term impact of the attacks.
“We know that we set the Iranian nuclear program back substantially last night,” Vance said during an appearance on ABC’s This Week. “But they still have their enriched uranium. We’re going to work in the coming weeks to ensure that we do something with that fuel.”
Experts are divided on the matter. Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirmed that the Fordo site showed visible surface-level craters. However, he noted that inspectors had not been able to access the underground chambers to assess deeper damage.
Ali Shamkhani, another senior advisor to Khamenei, declared that Iran’s nuclear knowledge was indestructible.
“Even if nuclear sites are destroyed, the game isn’t over,” he said on X. “Enriched materials, indigenous knowledge, and political will remain.”
The strikes have drawn sharp criticism from countries that had been trying to mediate renewed nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman issued a joint statement condemning the US and Israeli attacks as “reckless” and calling for immediate de-escalation. France, Germany, and Britain expressed concern about Iran’s likely retaliation, urging both sides to exercise restraint.
“The risk of a regional conflagration is now dangerously high,” warned French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna. “Diplomacy must be given a chance.”
Markets responded swiftly to the outbreak of hostilities. Oil prices soared by over four percent in early trading on Monday, with Brent crude hitting $94 a barrel before stabilizing slightly. Shipping companies also reported delays and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a third of global oil passes.
Meanwhile, the US State Department issued a rare “worldwide caution” to American citizens.
“There is the potential for demonstrations against US citizens and interests abroad,” the advisory said. “The Department of State advises US citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution.”
In Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, Iranian-backed militias staged protests and threatened to take action against US embassies and businesses. In Beirut, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah declared that “America and Israel have declared war on Islam, and we will not remain silent.”
For ordinary Iranians, the strikes brought back memories of past wars and years of suffering under sanctions. In the capital, Tehran, and cities across the country, citizens gathered in mourning and protest.
“I’m truly shocked by the strikes,” said Samireh, a 46-year-old housewife from Semnan. “We are very far from the nuclear sites, but I’m worried about the families who live near them. We all fear what will happen next.”
Despite the fear, many Iranians expressed anger at the foreign assault and rallied around the flag. The attacks appear to have bolstered nationalistic sentiment and may ironically strengthen the regime’s grip on power at home.
Analysts are divided on whether Trump’s decision to strike Iran will achieve its long-term goals.
“This was a high-risk move with enormous potential for blowback,” said Trita Parsi, executive vice president at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. “While it may damage Iran’s nuclear infrastructure temporarily, it will likely accelerate their pursuit of nuclear weapons in the long run.”
Others view the attack as a strategic masterstroke.
“Trump forced Iran’s hand,” said retired US General Jack Keane. “He made clear that the US will act decisively to prevent a nuclear Iran. That kind of clarity was missing for years.”
With Iran promising a “massive response,” and Israel vowing to continue military operations, the immediate outlook is grim. Both sides appear entrenched, and the window for diplomacy is rapidly narrowing.
