U.S. strikes Iranian nuclear sites as Middle East edges to war

On the morning of June 22, U.S. military forces carried out a series of precision strikes against key nuclear facilities in Iran. President Donald Trump confirmed the operation, stating that the targets included the underground plant in Fordow, as well as sites in Natanz and Isfahan. According to Trump, the goal was to halt uranium enrichment and “block Iran’s path to nuclear weapons.” The attack involved B-2 strategic bombers dropping 15-ton bunker-buster bombs, along with Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from submarines.

Iranian officials acknowledged that the three facilities were indeed hit. However, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran declared that the country’s nuclear program would continue and “accelerate even further.” Iranian authorities also stated that radiation levels at the sites remain normal and that there were no civilian casualties. Tehran condemned the U.S. strikes as “a brutal act and a flagrant violation of international law.”

The strikes followed an earlier Israeli operation on June 13, in which Israeli aircraft targeted several military and nuclear sites across Iran. International reports suggest the U.S. acted in coordination with Israel as part of a broader strategic effort to curb Iran’s military potential. In his national address, Trump declared that Iran now faces two options: diplomatic resolution or further conflict that would “bring destruction to the country.”

The global reaction to the U.S. strikes was swift and severe. Russia warned of the risk of nuclear catastrophe and called for immediate de-escalation. Western analysts believe the attack could widen the conflict: Iran has already hinted at possible retaliatory strikes against U.S. military installations in the region. Meanwhile, officials from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed they possess accurate data on Israel’s interceptor missile stockpiles and are planning mass assaults designed to overwhelm Israel’s air defenses.

Tensions remain extremely high. European diplomatic efforts to mediate the crisis have so far failed. Markets are showing sharp volatility, and increased naval activity has been observed in the Persian Gulf, with tankers now moving under military escort. The International Atomic Energy Agency has refrained from official comment but has dispatched a team of experts to assess the damage on the ground.

The world stands on the edge of a new large-scale war in the Middle East. For the first time since 2003, the United States has deployed full-scale military force against the strategic infrastructure of a hostile nation, risking a retaliatory surge of violence across the regional arc—from the Persian Gulf to the Levant.