WASHINGTON / TEHRAN – The United States has confirmed it carried out coordinated airstrikes on three of Iran’s most significant nuclear facilities—Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordo—in a move that has escalated regional tensions and drawn mixed reactions both at home and abroad.
In a televised address, President Donald Trump called the strikes a “spectacular military success”, and warned Iran to pursue peace or face “far greater” consequences.
According to Pentagon sources, the operation involved B-2 strategic stealth bombers dropping bunker-busting bombs and Tomahawk cruise missiles, with more tactical details expected at a press briefing later Sunday.
Fordo, buried deep beneath a mountain and widely considered one of Iran’s most fortified nuclear sites, was reportedly the most significant target.
While Iranian state media reluctantly confirmed part of the facility had been struck, they were quick to downplay the severity.
On national television, Iranian presenters repeated the word “bluff,” insisting Trump exaggerated the extent of the damage.
Adding to the confusion, Iranian official media initially labeled the reports as “unverified,” while Qom province crisis spokesperson Morteza Heydari first confirmed the strike, then declared the entire region was “entirely calm.”
The Iranian government also restricted internet access, citing “enemy cyberattacks” as justification. This clampdown has severely limited the flow of independent videos or images from inside the country, making it difficult for outside observers to verify Iran’s claims.
Meanwhile, Iran has already begun retaliatory actions. Missiles were launched toward Israel, with explosions reportedly heard over Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the US action, calling it a “bold decision” that would “change the course of history.”
Reactions in the US were predictably split along political lines. Republicans praised Trump’s decisiveness, while Democrats warned that the strikes could drag America into “another open-ended war” with dangerous regional implications.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi condemned the airstrikes as “outrageous” and a “grave violation” of the UN Charter.
With Iran vowing retaliation and the US signaling readiness for further military action, the region appears to be hurtling toward a deeper conflict. And as Tehran tries to control the narrative at home, Washington is sending a clear message: this is only the beginning—unless Iran backs down.
