Washington: In a major geopolitical escalation, the United States has launched direct airstrikes on three of Iran’s most heavily fortified nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — marking a dramatic entry into the ongoing Israel–Iran conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes, describing them as a “spectacular military success,” and claiming that Iran’s nuclear capability had been “completely obliterated.”
Speaking from the White House in a brief yet stern national address, Trump described the operation as a “complete and total obliteration” of Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities. “These were successful, strategic hits,” he declared, adding that Tehran must now choose between “a path of peace or catastrophic consequences.”
“If Iran does not come to the table quickly, the United States is prepared to strike additional targets with unmatched precision,” Trump warned.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu praised the operation, calling it a “historic realignment of Western resolve.”
Iran confirmed the strikes but claimed no radioactive material was at risk due to prior evacuations. In a televised statement, Iranian officials vowed “swift and calculated retaliation”, hinting at asymmetric warfare through regional proxies.
Unfolding Crisis
The U.S. intervention follows over a week of intense aerial combat between Israel and Iran, with both nations suffering significant casualties and infrastructure damage. While Israel asserts its military campaign aims to eliminate any chance of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, Tehran insists its atomic program is solely for civilian purposes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Trump’s move as a “historic stand against tyranny,” stating that the American President had “acted to prevent the world’s most dangerous regime from acquiring the world’s most dangerous weapons.”
Global Repercussions and Failed Diplomacy
The escalation has drawn widespread concern from the international community. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the strikes as a “dangerous development in an already volatile region” and emphasized the urgent need for renewed diplomatic dialogue.
Efforts by European and Western powers to broker peace have so far failed. The situation is further complicated by strategic attacks on vital energy infrastructure—both Israeli strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field and Iranian actions targeting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. These attacks have triggered fears of global oil price shocks and economic fallout.
Toll on Human Lives
The humanitarian cost continues to mount. According to Iran’s state-run Nour News, at least 430 Iranians have died, and over 3,500 have been wounded since Israeli operations began on June 13. In Israel, local authorities report 24 civilian deaths and more than 1,200 injuries.
With U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth set to brief the media Sunday morning, the world watches anxiously as a fragile region teeters on the edge of an even more devastating conflict.
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