Trump Declares “Very Successful” Attack on Iranian Nuclear Sites
In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, former US President Donald Trump has confirmed that American forces have joined Israel in bombing Iran’s key nuclear sites. The announcement, made on Trump’s Truth Social platform, claimed that three sites—Fordo, Natanz, and Esfahan—were struck with full payloads of American bombs and that all US aircraft have safely exited Iranian airspace.
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran including Fordo, Natanz and Esfahan… All planes are safely on their way home,” Trump wrote.
The statement closes with Trump saying, “Now is the time for peace,” even as the region braces for potential retaliation.
Strike Targets Iran’s Most Critical Nuclear Facilities
According to details emerging from US and regional sources, the selected targets were among the most crucial to Iran’s nuclear enrichment efforts. Fordo and Natanz have long been identified by intelligence communities as the primary uranium enrichment centers, where uranium has been refined up to 60% purity. Esfahan, meanwhile, serves as a uranium conversion and storage facility—allegedly housing 90% of Iran’s highly enriched uranium as per IAEA reports.
This makes the US-led strike not only symbolic but operationally devastating, should the facilities be significantly damaged.
Iranian Retaliation Expected Amid Strategic Shock
Iran has yet to issue an official response, but its past warnings were unambiguous: any US involvement in strikes on Iranian soil would legitimize American targets in the region. With around 19 US bases and approximately 40,000 troops stationed in the Middle East, Tehran now has a wide array of potential targets.
As Dorsa Jabari, a regional correspondent, pointed out, “Iran’s position was clear: if the US joins the Israeli offensive, its military personnel and bases in the region are considered fair game.”
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate command over Iran’s military, is now under pressure to respond forcefully. Given the assassination of several Iranian nuclear scientists over recent weeks—acts widely attributed to Israel—analysts suggest Tehran may find it difficult to let this attack pass without a decisive counter-strike.
Washington’s Calculated Risk or Strategic Gamble?
White House insiders indicate the strike was not impulsive. According to Kimberly Halit, a correspondent in Washington, Trump had convened multiple meetings with his national security team, assessing the possibility of dismantling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure without triggering a full-scale war.
Military sources had earlier confirmed that US B-2 bombers—capable of carrying 30,000-pound bunker-busting bombs—had been deployed and airborne, signaling preparations for deep-target strikes, particularly the heavily fortified Fordo site.
“The president asked whether this could be a one-time, surgical strike that dismantles the program without dragging us into war,” Halit noted. “He was told it was possible, and that’s the advice he acted on.”
Still, this “single strike” approach heavily depends on how Iran and its allies, notably Russia and China, choose to respond.
From Diplomacy to Detonation: The Shift in Trump’s Approach
What’s striking is how swiftly Trump’s posture shifted—from calling for diplomatic talks to ordering airstrikes. Just days ago, Trump had issued a two-week deadline for Iran to return to the negotiating table, even saying the “door to peace” remained open.
But his patience apparently ran out following what US sources describe as a diplomatic deadlock in Geneva, where Iranian and European officials failed to reach any breakthrough.
“Trump wanted unconditional surrender. He warned Iran they had 60 days. On the 61st day, Israel struck. Six days later, he followed,” Halit explained.
While Trump continues to brand himself as a “peacemaking president,” the realities on the ground now suggest a deeper entrenchment of US forces in a highly volatile region.
What’s Next: The World Waits for Tehran’s Move
The global spotlight now shifts to Tehran. Will Iran retaliate and trigger a broader regional war? Or will diplomacy—possibly brokered by Gulf nations or neutral powers—somehow prevail?
For now, Trump’s declaration of mission success is overshadowed by the immense uncertainty looming over the Middle East. With nuclear sites hit, national pride wounded, and geopolitical alliances tested, the next move could change the course of regional history.
