The USA struck three nuclear sites in Iran on Saturday, plunging the U.S. right into a pitched battle that has been waged over the previous a number of days between Israel and Iran.
The complete ramifications of the U.S. motion, introduced by President Donald Trump as “very profitable” weren’t clear. Trump and his closest advisers had been weighing for days learn how to proceed, debating the prices of involvement and inaction. Democrats and a few Republicans had already criticized the strike simply minutes after it was introduced.
In accordance with a U.S. official, B-2 stealth bombers had been used within the strikes, however it was not clear which of the places — Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan — had been hit by them. Dozens of different U.S. plane had been concerned within the assaults, the official mentioned.
The B-2 bombers dropped quite a lot of 30,000-pound Large Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs on their Iranian targets, units which have by no means been utilized in fight however may tunnel 200 ft into the bottom earlier than exploding, a U.S. official mentioned. The MOPs had been examined however by no means earlier than utilized in fight and had been believed essential to entry underground nuclear websites like these at Fordo.
The U.S. additionally used Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from submarines within the area and focused extra than simply nuclear websites, a supply informed ABC Information Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl.
President Donald Trump within the Scenario Room, on the White Home in Washington, June 21, 2025.
@WhiteHouse/X
Hours earlier, sources informed ABC Information that B-2 stealth bombers, the one planes able to carrying the MOP “bunker-buster” bombs, had been headed to Guam. It was not clear if any of these plane had been concerned within the strikes.
In accordance with an Israeli official, the U.S. notified Israel forward of the strike. Sources mentioned Home Speaker Mike Johnson was additionally briefed forward of time. However different sources mentioned that the total Gang of 8, together with key Democrats, was not briefed till after the strikes. Some Democrats reacted harshly to the precarious navy motion within the unstable area, with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calling it “floor for impeachment” and that Trump was in in “grave violation of the Structure” by not searching for congressional authorization.
‘Super success,’ Trump says
Trump first introduced the strikes on Fact Social, a transfer that stunned many given his assertion on Friday that there was a “substantial probability” of negotiations.
“A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the first website, Fordow,” Trump posted on Fact Social. “All planes are safely on their approach dwelling.”
“There’s not one other navy within the World that would have achieved this,” he added. “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thanks to your consideration to this matter.”
Trump, who spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in accordance a senior administration official, briefly addressed the nation.
“Our goal was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capability, and a cease to the nuclear menace posed by the world’s primary state sponsor of terror. Tonight, I can report back to the world that the strikes had been a spectacular navy success,” Trump mentioned in his handle.
The president mentioned that Iran’s key uranium enrichment websites had been “utterly and completely obliterated.”
And he warned Iran that it should now “make peace.”
“If they don’t, future assaults might be far larger and loads simpler,” Trump mentioned. Many targets inside Iran stay, Trump mentioned. “But when peace doesn’t come rapidly, we’ll go after these different targets with precision, pace and ability.”
The Iranian Atomic Vitality Group condemned the strikes as “a heinous act in contradiction with the worldwide legislation, particularly the NPT.”
“This invasion occurred in violation of the worldwide legislation, sadly amid indifference, and even companionship, of the IAEA,” the group added.
Days of missile barrages
Israel and Iran have been exchanging missile barrages since Israel launched a preemptive strike towards Iran’s nuclear program. Israeli officers mentioned they felt Iran was getting too near having the ability to produce a nuclear weapon.
Israel’s operation, “Rising Lion,” got here after Israeli officers felt that Iran had sufficient nuclear materials for a number of bombs, in keeping with the Israel Protection Forces and an Israeli official aware of the operation. Within the preliminary preemptive assault, Israel hit the identical three websites focused by the U.S.
A number of high Iranian nuclear scientists and the highest common within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had been killed within the operation, in keeping with Iran.
Within the wake of the Israeli strike on June 13, the 2 international locations exchanged strikes day by day, and Trump weighed whether or not or to not become involved. The U.S. was the one nation with the airplane — the B-2 — able to carrying the Large Ordnance Penetrator — that would penetrate the mountain below which the Fordo centrifuge operation was hidden.
President Donald Trump speaks as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Md., June 21, 2025.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
On Friday, Trump, who has lengthy criticized U.S. involvement in abroad wars, mentioned in a press release learn by press secretary Karoline Leavitt that there was a “substantial probability” of negotiations. Trump gave the two-week time frame hoping Iran would “come to their senses.”
The White Home mentioned final week they felt that Iran had all of the materials it wanted for a nuclear weapon and will produce one in a “couple of weeks.”
In March, Director of Nationwide Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified earlier than Congress that Iran was not “constructing” a nuclear bomb.
The transfer, which many feared would draw the U.S. right into a widening battle, got here simply days after Trump mentioned that he would make a decision about hitting Iran inside two weeks.
Reactions pour in
The strikes sparked a variety of response from American leaders.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson lauded the transfer.
“The navy operations in Iran ought to function a transparent reminder to our adversaries and allies that President Trump means what he says,” Johnson wrote on X.
“The President gave Iran’s chief each alternative to make a deal, however Iran refused to decide to a nuclear disarmament settlement,” he continued.
Equally, Senate Majority Chief John Thune mentioned in a press release that Iran “has rejected all diplomatic pathways to peace.”
“The mullahs’ misguided pursuit of nuclear weapons should be stopped,” mentioned Thune. “As we take motion tonight to make sure a nuclear weapon stays out of attain for Iran, I stand with President Trump and pray for the American troops and personnel in hurt’s approach.”
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, mentioned, “Trump made the brave and proper resolution to get rid of the Iranian nuclear menace.”
However Republican Thomas Massie wrote on X, “This isn’t Constitutional.” Democrats, together with Sen. Bernie Sanders, joined the refrain.
“Not solely is that this information that I’ve heard this second alarming — all of you could have simply heard — however it’s so grossly unconstitutional,” Sanders mentioned at an occasion in Oklahoma. “All of you already know that the one entity that may take this nation to conflict is the U.S. Congress. The president doesn’t have the best,” Sanders informed the group at an occasion in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Many inside Trump’s personal celebration had been against hanging Iran and feared the results, together with distinguished MAGA podcaster and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries mentioned that Trump “misled” the nation.
“President Trump misled the nation about his intentions, failed to hunt congressional authorization for using navy drive and dangers American entanglement in a doubtlessly disastrous conflict within the Center East,” Jeffries mentioned in a press release.
Fears at dwelling and overseas
Within the wake of the motion, the NYPD deployed officers to delicate places and Israel tightened guidelines for public gatherings.
The Middle for Web Safety, a nonpartisan assume tank, in an evaluation to legislation enforcement Friday, mentioned, “Tehran is more likely to leverage a mixture of direct, proxy, and irregular/impressed forces to conduct bodily, cyber, or terrorist assaults towards U.S. pursuits each at dwelling and overseas.”
The evaluation mentioned that within the wake of Israeli strikes, Iran would depend on “crude or escalatory techniques” and that the chance would enhance with U.S. involvement.
ABC Information’ Josh Margolin contributed to this report.
It is a creating story. Please test again for updates.
