On June 21, 2025, President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social and other platforms that the U.S. conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan—following a week of escalating Israeli strikes.
Trump described the mission as “very successful,” noting that all U.S. aircraft safely exited Iranian airspace and that a “full payload of bombs” was dropped on Fordow, the primary target. He praised U.S. forces as “great American Warriors.”
According to AP and other reports, the strikes utilized stealth bombers—including B-2s—and bunker-buster ordnance to penetrate Iran’s fortified facilities. These actions marked a significant escalation, officially drawing the U.S. into direct military intervention alongside Israel.
International fallout was immediate. Countries like Germany and Italy began evacuating nationals from Iran, as diplomatic tensions surged. Observers warn of heightened fears across the region, including possible Houthi retaliation in the Red Sea and diplomatic fallout in Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Russia cautioned that targeting Iran’s leadership could “open Pandora’s box”.
The operation intensifies the Middle East conflict that began mid-June, following weeks of Israeli-led raids targeting Iran’s military and nuclear sites dating back to June 13. Trump’s direct military engagement suggests a shift in U.S. foreign policy toward more active intervention.
The potential consequences are far-reaching, prompting calls for both increased diplomacy and readiness for broader conflict.
