US strikes Iranian nuclear sites; Trump declares ‘spectacular military success’

US President Donald Trump announced early Sunday that the United States carried out a series of airstrikes on Iran’s three major nuclear facilities in a dramatic escalation that marks a direct American entry into Israel’s ongoing war against Tehran.

The strikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, coordinated with Israeli forces, aimed to destroy Iran’s nuclear enrichment infrastructure and were carried out by US stealth bombers using 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, the only weapons capable of penetrating Iran’s deeply buried sites.

Trump confirmed the operation on Truth Social, saying, “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran… All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors.”

In a follow-up post, he added: “This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR.”

Later in a televised address from the White House, Trump said, “Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.”

He described the attacks as a “spectacular military success” and issued a stern warning to Iran: “There will be either peace or there will be tragedy… far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days.”

Trump said he worked “as a team” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strike Iran, saying the collaboration was “perhaps” like “no team has worked before.”

The US airstrikes follow more than a week of Israeli attacks targeting Iran’s air defence systems and missile infrastructure. Trump said the decision to involve American forces came after determining that only US military capabilities could eliminate the hardened nuclear sites.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s decision in a video statement, calling it “bold” and saying, “The US has done what no other country on earth could do.”

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed that strikes occurred at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan but maintained that the country's nuclear program would continue.

Iran’s National Nuclear Safety System Centre reported “no signs of contamination” or radiation leaks at the facilities, stating there was “no danger to residents living around the aforementioned sites.”

A Pentagon briefing is scheduled for 8 a.m. Monday, where further details about the operation are expected.

“Tonight’s mission was the most difficult of them all, by far, and perhaps the most lethal,” Trump said. “But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill.”