America struck three nuclear websites 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 how one can 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 have been used within the strikes, but it surely was not clear which of the places — Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan — have been hit by them. Dozens of different U.S. plane have been concerned within the assaults, the official stated.
The B-2 bombers dropped a variety of 30,000-pound Huge Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs on their Iranian targets, gadgets which have by no means been utilized in fight however might tunnel 200 toes into the bottom earlier than exploding, a U.S. official stated. The MOPs had been examined however by no means earlier than utilized in fight and have 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 advised ABC Information Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl.
President Donald Trump within the State of affairs Room, on the White Home in Washington, June 21, 2025.
@WhiteHouse/X
Hours earlier, sources advised ABC Information that B-2 stealth bombers, the one planes able to carrying the MOP “bunker-buster” bombs, have been headed to Guam. It was not clear if any of these plane have been concerned within the strikes.
In accordance with an Israeli official, the U.S. notified Israel forward of the strike. Sources stated Home Speaker Mike Johnson was additionally briefed forward of time. However different sources stated 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 risky 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 in search of congressional authorization.
‘Super success,’ Trump says
Trump first introduced the strikes on Reality Social, a transfer that stunned many given his assertion on Friday that there was a “substantial likelihood” of negotiations.
“A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the first website, Fordow,” Trump posted on Reality Social. “All planes are safely on their approach house.”
“There’s not one other navy within the World that would have performed this,” he added. “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thanks on 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 risk posed by the world’s primary state sponsor of terror. Tonight, I can report back to the world that the strikes have been a spectacular navy success,” Trump stated in his tackle.
The president stated that Iran’s key uranium enrichment websites have 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 quite a bit simpler,” Trump stated. Many targets inside Iran stay, Trump stated. “But when peace doesn’t come rapidly, we’ll go after these different targets with precision, velocity and ability.”
The Iranian Atomic Vitality Group condemned the strikes as “a heinous act in contradiction with the worldwide regulation, particularly the NPT.”
“This invasion occurred in violation of the worldwide regulation, 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 in opposition to Iran’s nuclear program. Israeli officers stated 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, based on 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 basic within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have been killed within the operation, based on Iran.
Within the wake of the Israeli strike on June 13, the 2 international locations exchanged strikes each 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 Huge Ordnance Penetrator — that would penetrate the mountain beneath 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, stated in a press release learn by press secretary Karoline Leavitt that there was a “substantial likelihood” of negotiations. Trump gave the two-week timeframe hoping Iran would “come to their senses.”
The White Home stated final week they felt that Iran had the entire supplies 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 stated that he would decide about hitting Iran inside two weeks.
Reactions pour in
The strikes sparked a spread 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 stated in a press release that Iran “has rejected all diplomatic pathways to peace.”
“The mullahs’ misguided pursuit of nuclear weapons should be stopped,” stated 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, stated, “Trump made the brave and proper choice to eradicate the Iranian nuclear risk.”
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 might have simply heard — however it’s so grossly unconstitutional,” Sanders stated at an occasion in Oklahoma. “All of you recognize that the one entity that may take this nation to struggle is the U.S. Congress. The president doesn’t have the appropriate,” Sanders advised the group at an occasion in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Many inside Trump’s personal get together have been against putting Iran and feared the implications, together with distinguished MAGA podcaster and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries stated that Trump “misled” the nation.
“President Trump misled the nation about his intentions, failed to hunt congressional authorization for the usage of navy pressure and dangers American entanglement in a probably disastrous struggle within the Center East,” Jeffries stated in a press release.
Fears at house and overseas
Within the wake of the motion, the NYPD deployed officers to delicate places and Israel tightened guidelines for public gatherings.
The Heart for Web Safety, a nonpartisan assume tank, in an evaluation to regulation enforcement Friday, stated, “Tehran is prone to leverage a mix of direct, proxy, and irregular/impressed forces to conduct bodily, cyber, or terrorist assaults in opposition to U.S. pursuits each at house and overseas.”
The evaluation stated that within the wake of Israeli strikes, Iran would depend on “crude or escalatory techniques” and that the probability would enhance with U.S. involvement.
ABC Information’ Josh Margolin contributed to this report.
This can be a creating story. Please test again for updates.
