The Middle East into a broader and more catastrophic war, the United States launched air strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities on Sunday. The strikes, which President Donald Trump hailed as a “historic act of preemption,” have drawn sharp rebukes from global powers and triggered grave warnings from Iran’s top leadership, as the Iran-Israel war entered its 11th day.
Iran’s government, already engaged in an intensifying military confrontation with Israel, reacted with fury. In a televised address early Monday, Brigadier General Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces, called the strikes a “hostile act” that would have “serious, unpredictable consequences.”
“This hostile act… will widen the scope of legitimate targets of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and pave the way for the extension of war in the region,” Zolfaghari declared.
He warned that Iran’s military would now consider American assets in the region as fair game, raising fears that U.S. bases in Iraq, the Persian Gulf, and even further afield could come under retaliatory attack.
“The fighters of Islam will inflict serious, unpredictable consequences on you with powerful and targeted military operations,” Zolfaghari added.
U.S. President Donald Trump wasted no time in claiming success. In a dramatic Sunday night address from the White House, Trump said that Iran’s “key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.”
“Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace,” Trump declared.
Military analysts later confirmed that the U.S. strikes targeted Natanz, Fordow, and Arak—facilities long suspected by Western intelligence of supporting Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Initial satellite imagery released by commercial intelligence firms showed large-scale destruction at all three sites, with evidence of deep-penetration ordnance used against hardened underground structures.
While the Pentagon has not released casualty figures, unofficial sources in Tehran reported dozens of deaths, including technical staff and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stationed at the sites.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the U.S. strikes as “outrageous,” “lawless,” and “criminal,” stating that Iran retained the sovereign right to defend itself.
“The events this morning will have everlasting consequences,” Araghchi warned on X. “The United States and Israel have crossed a very big red line.”
He later confirmed he would travel to Moscow for emergency consultations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, underscoring Tehran’s intention to internationalize the crisis diplomatically even as it prepares for potential military retaliation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an immediate congratulatory message to President Trump, praising the U.S. strikes as “bold,” “righteous,” and “historic.”
“Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history,” Netanyahu said in a video address.
At a press conference late Sunday, Netanyahu reiterated his government’s strategic objectives: “destroying Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities” and “removing the existential threat posed by the regime in Tehran.” He added that Israel was “very, very close to completing” these objectives.
Analysts say that Israel has likely coordinated with the U.S. in targeting Iran’s military and infrastructure over the past 11 days, but Sunday’s direct American intervention marks a turning point.
The international response to the escalation has been swift and polarized.
European Union
The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, urged all parties to “step back” and “prevent further escalation.”
“Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, but the path forward must be diplomacy,” she said. EU foreign ministers will meet Monday to discuss the rapidly deteriorating situation.
Russia
Moscow reacted with fury. The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as a “gross violation of international law” and warned that the situation was “fraught with further undermining of regional and global security.”
Kremlin sources confirmed that President Putin would meet with Iran’s Foreign Minister in an attempt to coordinate a response.
China
China’s foreign ministry “strongly condemned” the strikes, calling them “irresponsible” and “escalatory.” It urged “all parties to cease fire, especially Israel,” and warned that further instability in the Middle East could have ripple effects across Asia and beyond.
United Nations
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the attacks a “dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge.”
“There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace,” Guterres said in a statement.
France and the UK
French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting of his defense council. His office said he had spoken with leaders from Saudi Arabia and Oman, urging de-escalation and dialogue.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment, stating: “Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, and the U.S. has taken action to alleviate that threat.” However, he emphasized the need for “a diplomatic solution.”
Australia and India
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gave qualified support for the U.S. strikes, calling them “preventive,” but warned against a “full-scale war.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a phone call with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and urged “immediate de-escalation.”
“Dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward,” Modi said.
Muslim World: Deep Concern and Outrage
Saudi Arabia expressed “great concern” and called for “restraint.” Pakistan condemned the strikes as violations of international law, stating that Iran had “the right to defend itself.”
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) warned that the attacks “threaten regional security, peace, and stability,” calling for “dialogue and peaceful means.”
Hamas and Yemen’s Houthi rebels issued fierce condemnations. Hamas called the strikes “a flagrant violation of international law,” while the Houthis declared “full support” for Iran and described the attack as “a declaration of war.”
In the immediate aftermath of the strikes, reports surfaced of Iranian missile deployments in western Iran, close to the Iraqi border. U.S. troops stationed at Al Asad Airbase in Iraq and Al Udeid in Qatar were reportedly placed on high alert.
Hezbollah, Iran’s Lebanese proxy, launched a barrage of rockets into northern Israel in what it called “an opening response.” Israel’s Iron Dome intercepted several, but local authorities reported casualties and infrastructure damage.
Meanwhile, maritime tensions also rose sharply. U.S. Navy ships in the Persian Gulf were seen maneuvering in defensive formations, and the Strait of Hormuz—through which a third of global oil passes—was effectively turned into a warzone.
Global oil prices surged 14% on Monday morning in Asia, reaching $108 per barrel amid fears of supply disruptions. Stock markets in Tokyo and Hong Kong opened sharply lower, and gold spiked to a five-year high as investors sought safe havens.
Legal experts and international observers are now debating the legality of the U.S. strikes. While the White House claimed self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, critics argue that the action lacked a clear mandate.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch both expressed concern about civilian casualties and urged full transparency.
“Targeting nuclear facilities is extremely dangerous. It risks radioactive contamination and sets a troubling precedent,” said Amnesty’s Middle East director.
Others pointed to the broader implications of the strikes. If Iran resumes or accelerates its military response, the region could face the gravest war since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003—or even since the Gulf War.
The next few days are critical. Iran’s leadership must now choose between immediate military retaliation, which could provoke a direct U.S.-Iran war, or a slower, more calculated response through proxies and cyberattacks.
Israel is reportedly preparing for a prolonged conflict, having called up over 200,000 reservists. The United States has deployed additional naval assets, including the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, to the region.
Diplomatic backchannels are said to be active between Russia, China, and several Gulf states, trying to engineer a ceasefire or at least establish red lines. However, with blood already spilled and major infrastructure destroyed, optimism remains scarce.
