The conflict between the United States and Iran entered a perilous new phase as Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a chilling statement — "war starts right now" — in response to a surprise American assault on its nuclear infrastructure.
President Donald Trump, addressing the nation from the White House, confirmed that US forces had struck the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear sites in what he hailed as a “spectacular military success”. The move followed days of escalating tensions and marked a dramatic shift from Washington’s previously restrained posture.
"Congratulations to our great American warriors," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “A full payload of bombs was dropped on the primary site, Fordow… All planes are now outside of Iranian airspace and safely on their way home.”
In his national address, Trump warned: “Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier. Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal.”
He added, “If peace doesn't come quickly, we will go to those other targets with precision, speed and skill. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran.”
The strikes, involving B-2 stealth bombers, were the first direct US military action in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict. The operation comes after over a week of Israeli bombardment targeting Iran’s air defence systems and military infrastructure. Trump had earlier indicated he would wait two weeks before deciding on US involvement, but ordered the operation within 48 hours.
According to reports, the B-2s were seen airborne heading west from the United States. These bombers are the only aircraft capable of delivering the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator — a 15,000-kilogram bunker buster capable of burrowing through 60 metres of reinforced concrete. They are believed to have been deployed against the Fordow facility, which lies deep beneath Iran’s mountains.
Also read: ‘A spectacular success’: Trump on US hitting Iranian nuke sites
Iran had warned of retaliation should the US join the Israeli offensive. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had earlier cautioned that such a strike would “result in irreversible damage for them.”
The IRGC’s statement on Sunday morning declared that hostilities had now moved beyond proxy attacks. “This is now war,” a senior commander was quoted as saying, referring to the widening conflict sparked by days of missile and drone exchanges between Iran and Israel.
In parallel, the Israeli Defence Ministry escalated its alert level, cancelling educational activities, public gatherings and non-essential workplaces.
Trump's decision has divided the American political establishment. Senator Lindsey Graham, a senior Republican figure, endorsed the operation. “Well done, President. The Tehran regime deserved it. We have the best Air Force in the world,” he said.
However, Democrats voiced concern. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Trump had “misled the country,” warning: “Donald Trump promised to bring peace to the Middle East. He has failed to deliver on that promise. The risk of war has now dramatically increased, and I pray for the safety of our troops in the region who have been put in harm’s way.”
The United States maintains a force of between 40,000 and 50,000 troops across the region, and many are now on heightened alert.
According to Euronews, US aerial refuelling tankers and other military aircraft had already been moving into strategic positions in the Middle East over recent days in preparation for possible action.
Despite claims of limited objectives, the strike has significantly escalated regional tensions. Tehran’s warning and Washington’s defiance have brought the prospect of a broader war into stark relief.
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