U.S. Strikes Iranian nuclear Facilities, Trump Announces
Updated June 22, 2025
WASHINGTON – President Trump announced Saturday evening that the united States military had conducted strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities. The targeted locations included Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the world that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Trump is expected to address the nation later this evening.
In a subsequent post, Trump declared, “This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISTAEL (sic), AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!”
The strikes follow earlier reports that Iran vowed to retaliate if the U.S. joined what it described as an Israeli assault that began with airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and military targets earlier in June. Iran has reportedly responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities.
Fordo, one of the targeted sites, houses an enrichment facility believed by international experts to be critical to Iran’s nuclear programme. The facility is buried deep beneath a mountain and heavily defended.
Sources familiar with the operation and a senior Defence Department official confirmed that the U.S. used GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, also known as “bunker-buster” bombs, in the strikes. Two MOPs were reportedly used per target. The bombs are so heavy that only American B-2 bombers can deploy them.
The U.S. has reportedly communicated to Iran that the strikes are the extent of planned U.S. action and that regime change is not the objective. Earlier in the week, multiple U.S. officials said that trump had rejected a plan to assassinate Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader.
Two White House officials confirmed that the U.S. alerted Israel before the strikes. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly spoke following the strikes.
Iranian state-run media acknowledged early Sunday morning local time that the Fordo nuclear site had been attacked, triggering air defenses, according to the Associated Press.
House Speaker Mike Johnson was briefed ahead of the strikes, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Earlier Saturday, multiple U.S. officials confirmed that B-2 bombers had departed Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri en route to Guam. Multiple U.S. aerial refueling tankers were spotted on commercial flight trackers flying flight patterns consistent with escorting aircraft from the central U.S. to the Pacific.
The U.S. strikes occurred after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with European officials in Geneva on Friday and expressed openness to further dialog.
“Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once again,” Araghchi said, adding, “I stress that Iran’s defense capabilities are not negotiable. (But) I express our readiness to meet again in the near future.”
On Thursday, the president said he would decide whether to strike Iran “within the next two weeks.” One source told CBS News at the time that Trump “believes there’s not much choice. Finishing the job means destroying Fordo.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said earlier Saturday that the U.S.had begun evacuating Americans and green card holders out of Israel aboard assisted departure flights. Two flights departed from Tel Aviv to Athens with approximately 70 U.S. citizens, their accompanying immediate family members and lawful permanent residents, the State Department said prior to Trump’s announcement of the strikes.
What’s next
The international community is bracing for Iran’s response to the strikes. Further details are expected to emerge following President trump’s address to the nation.
