On Saturday, June 21, Donald Trump announced on social media that the United States had carried out coordinated airstrikes on three major nuclear facilities in Iran—Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran,” Trump wrote. “All planes are now outside of Iranian airspace. A full payload of bombs was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.”
He praised U.S. military forces, adding, “There is not another military in the world that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”
Trump, 78, said he would address the nation later that evening at 10 p.m. EST to provide further details on the operation.
The U.S. strikes follow escalating tensions in the region after Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed earlier in the month that Israel had launched its own attacks targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. Netanyahu said those strikes were aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear enrichment and weapons programs, as well as eliminating key scientists involved in their development.
In recent days, Israel and Iran have exchanged waves of missiles and drone attacks, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. Earlier in the week, Trump had declined to confirm whether the U.S. would intervene militarily, telling The New York Times, “I may do it. I may not do it. Nobody knows what I’m going to do.”
The reported U.S. strike marks a significant escalation in the conflict and could have far-reaching geopolitical consequences.
