In a move that’s being called one of the most explosive turning points in the Middle East conflict so far, the United States has officially joined Israel’s military campaign against Iran.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, U.S. forces launched coordinated airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites, inserting the U.S. directly into a war that’s been building for years.
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to confirm the attacks, writing: "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
"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."
The POTUS later confirmed the action in a national address, saying Iran’s nuclear facilities had been “completely and fully obliterated".
Trump then went on to offer an ultimatum to Iran, warning of even more attacks should the nation refuse.
“There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days,” Trump warned from the White House, per Al Jazeera.
Trump doubled-down on this warning in yet another post on Truth Social, writing in all-caps: "ANY RETALIATION BY IRAN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT. THANK YOU! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES".
The strikes targeted Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan sites, all of which are critical to the country’s nuclear infrastructure. According to Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, the attacks did happen, but they insisted their work “will not be stopped,” Reuters details.
This marks the first time the U.S. has openly attacked Iran’s nuclear program, after more than a week of Israeli strikes aiming to cripple Iran’s missile capabilities and air defenses.
Trump later added: “This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!”
But Iran is already pushing back.
Abbas Golroo, the head of Iran’s Parliament Foreign Policy Committee, said the country is now within its rights to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, a move that would allow Iran to pursue nuclear weapons legally under international law, Sky News reports.
According to Golroo, “extraordinary events have jeopardized the supreme interests” of Iran, something that gives them legal grounds to exit under Article 10 of the treaty.
So far, Iran hasn’t confirmed whether it will retaliate with force. But many believe it's only a matter of time before a response comes.
Saudi Arabia's Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission said that “no radioactive effects were detected” in the Kingdom or across the Gulf after the U.S. strikes, according to the Saudi Gazette. Still, the message from Trump was clear: this was a warning, and it may not be the last.
The world is now watching to see what Iran does next.