Trump announces air strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the United States military has conducted air strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, directly joining Israel’s ongoing air campaign to dismantle Iran’s nuclear programme.

The decision marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, drawing an immediate response from Tehran.

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump declared, “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.”

He added that “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.”

The strikes come after more than a week of Israeli attacks on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. U.S. and Israeli officials have suggested that American stealth bombers equipped with powerful 30,000-lb. “bunker buster” bombs offered the best chance of destroying heavily fortified underground sites like Fordow.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed attacks on at least one facility, noting it was “extensively damaged” but with no immediate risk of off-site contamination.

Iran, however, has vowed retaliation if the U.S. were to directly join Israel’s assault, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated earlier that U.S. military involvement “would be very, very dangerous for everyone.”

Trump’s decision represents a perilous gambit, particularly as he campaigned on a promise of keeping America out of costly foreign conflicts.

While the strikes aim to weaken a longtime foe and curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, critics warn of unpredictable consequences and a potential spiral into a wider war.

Since pulling the U.S. out of the 2015 nuclear deal during his first term, Iran has significantly escalated its uranium enrichment, reaching levels of up to 60%, a short technical step from weapons-grade material.

The targeted sites, including Fordow, Natanz (a major enrichment facility), and Esfahan (housing various nuclear facilities), are central to Iran’s nuclear programme, which Tehran insists is for peaceful purposes.

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