Following the bombing by the US military, Iran's"critical uranium enrichment facilities" have been completely destroyed, according to President Donald Trump. In his address to the nation, Trump warned Tehran against retaliation.

The United States has attacked several nuclear facilities in Iran. In a speech to the nation, Trump announced that the US military had completely destroyed Iran's"critical uranium enrichment facilities." Iran must now choose the path of peace, or the country faces even greater destruction, Trump said at the White House. At the same time, Trump warned Tehran against retaliation.

“If peace does not come quickly, we will attack the other targets with precision, speed and skill, most of which can be eliminated in minutes,” Trump said at the White House.

The US goal was to destroy Iran's uranium enrichment capabilities and end the nuclear threat posed by the"world's largest state sponsor of terror," Trump explained. He can now tell the world that the attacks were a"spectacular military success."

Iran has been saying "Death to America, death to Israel" for 40 years. Trump thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli military for the great work they had done. Above all, he wanted to congratulate the"great American patriots" who flew the planes and the entire United States military for the attacks. The world hasn't seen anything like this in many, many decades.

Trump had previously announced that the US had carried out a"highly successful attack" on three facilities – including the underground uranium enrichment facility in Fordow. The Natanz and Isfahan sites were also targeted. The attacks have now been concluded. All aircraft involved are safely returning home, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

According to its Atomic Energy Agency, Iran intends to continue its nuclear activities despite the US attacks on key facilities. It will not allow the development of the Iranian nuclear program to be halted"despite the evil machinations of its enemies," the agency said in a statement published by state media on Sunday. The agency described the US attacks on the Iranian uranium enrichment facilities in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow"at dawn" as "barbaric."

Iran threatened consequences: "This morning's events are outrageous and will have lasting consequences," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi wrote on X. Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard, the country's elite military force, again fired dozens of rockets at Israel. According to local emergency services, 16 people were injured. At least ten impacts occurred. Iran's state broadcaster reported about 30 rockets fired at Israel.

Bunker breakers in action

A US government official confirmed to the New York Times that"several" GBU-57 bunker busters were used in the operation against the Fordow facility. Previously, there had been speculation about their use.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the attack did not release any radiation outside the facilities. No increase in radiation levels outside the facilities has been reported, the agency announced early this morning on Platform X. Further assessments of the situation in Iran will be made as soon as more information becomes available.

Experts have argued in recent days that Israel cannot achieve its war goal of destroying Iran's nuclear program without US military support. Fordo, one of Iran's most important nuclear facilities, is located deep within a mountain and, according to experts, could only be destroyed with the largest so-called bunker-buster bombs in the US arsenal. Israel therefore has neither these heavy bombs nor the large military aircraft necessary to drop them.

US media reported on Saturday (local time) that the stealth bombers had left their regular US Air Force base in Whiteman, Missouri. Several of these B-2 aircraft had set off westward across the Pacific, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post reported, citing government officials and flight tracking services. The Wall Street Journal interpreted this as a sign that the US government was preparing the stealth bombers in case of a possible attack on Iran. Observers, however, had not expected such a swift attack.

How the war developed

Israel has been attacking targets in Iran for days—including nuclear facilities, senior military officials, nuclear scientists, defensive positions, urban targets, and oil and gas fields. The stated primary goal is to prevent the Islamic Republic from developing nuclear weapons. Iran responded with counterattacks against Israel.

Trump announced on Thursday that he would make a decision on possible US participation in the war within two weeks. He had previously tried to negotiate Iran's abandonment of its controversial nuclear program. Another round of talks between the US and Iran, mediated by Oman, had originally been scheduled for last Sunday – but Israel's attacks derailed the plan.

The war between the two arch-enemies is a significant escalation of the already dramatic situation in the Middle East. Israel has been waging war against the Islamists in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023. Meanwhile, Israel also bombed the Iran-allied Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

The US military has already supported Israel's defense in recent days, primarily by shooting down ballistic missiles fired from Iran. Initially, however, the US government consistently emphasized that it was not involved in the hostilities between Israel and Iran. The protection of its own troops in the region takes priority, it said. According to US media, a total of around 40,000 troops are currently stationed at US military bases in the region – for example, in Iraq, Qatar, and Kuwait.

Due to the crisis in the Middle East, Trump left the G7 summit in Canada early last Monday (local time). During his visit, he had already issued cryptic warnings to the Iranians and urged all residents of the capital, Tehran, to flee.

The US military had gradually increased its presence in the Middle East in recent days, gradually deploying additional resources to the region. Trump's goal was to prevent the US from entering new wars.

AFP/Reuters/dpa/jho/lay