US Strikes Iranian Nuclear Sites as Middle East Tensions Escalate
America on high alert after bombing three nuclear facilities; Trump suggests regime change possible
The United States launched unprecedented strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday, marking a dramatic escalation in Middle East tensions and prompting worldwide calls for restraint.
The Strike: Operation Midnight Hammer
US bombers destroyed nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan using massive 30,000-pound “bunker-buster” bombs – the first operational use of these weapons in American military history. The operation involved 125 warplanes and submarine-launched cruise missiles in what officials called weeks of careful planning.
President Trump declared the sites “totally obliterated,” though independent verification remains pending. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed crater damage at Fordow but said underground assessment isn’t yet possible.
America Braces for Retaliation
Major US cities from New York to Los Angeles heightened security measures as officials warned of potential Iranian retaliation. The Department of Homeland Security issued a “heightened threat environment” alert, while the State Department advised American citizens worldwide to exercise increased vigilance.
“Our forces remain on high alert and are fully postured to respond to any Iranian retaliation,” said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine, noting that 40,000 US troops are stationed across the Middle East region.
Trump Administration Split on Goals
Hours after Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted the US wasn’t seeking “regime change” in Iran, President Trump suggested otherwise on social media.
“If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” Trump posted, contradicting his own officials’ messaging.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth maintained the strikes weren’t aimed at toppling Iran’s government, focusing instead on eliminating nuclear threats.
Iran’s Response Options
Iranian officials vowed retaliation while keeping specific plans secret. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran would “consider all possible responses” and ruled out diplomacy until after retaliation occurs.
Iran’s parliament backed closing the Strait of Hormuz – a critical oil shipping route handling 20% of global petroleum flows – though the final decision rests with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari warned Trump directly: “You may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it.”
Global Market Impact
Oil prices surged to five-month highs, with Brent crude jumping over $78 per barrel as investors feared supply disruptions. Energy markets remain volatile pending clearer signs of sustained conflict or supply chain impacts.
International Reactions Divided
Supporting the Strikes:
Israel praised the action as denying “the world’s most dangerous regime the world’s most dangerous weapons”
Australia backed the US move while calling for de-escalation
Japan said strikes demonstrated Washington’s determination to prevent Iranian nuclear weapons
Calling for Restraint:
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed being “gravely alarmed” and warned of “catastrophic consequences”
European leaders from Britain, France, and Germany urged diplomatic solutions
Pope Leo XIV called for peace efforts over “violence and bloody conflicts”
Condemning the Action:
Russia called the strikes a violation of international law and UN Charter
China said the attacks worsen Middle East tensions
North Korea strongly denounced the strikes as violating Iran’s sovereignty
Congressional Pushback
Lawmakers from both parties questioned Trump’s authority to launch the attacks without congressional approval. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) filed resolutions challenging the strikes under the War Powers Act.
“Our framers did not believe in the old way that a king could order a nation to war,” Kaine said, emphasizing Congress’s constitutional role in war declarations.
What’s Next?
President Trump is scheduled to meet with his national security team Monday afternoon before traveling to The Hague for the NATO summit. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi will hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
The IAEA will convene an emergency meeting in Vienna to assess the nuclear facilities’ damage and potential radioactive contamination risks.
Key Questions Remain
Damage Assessment: Independent verification of strike effectiveness awaits IAEA inspections
Retaliation Timeline: Iran’s response method and timing remain unclear
Oil Supply: Whether Iran will actually close the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane
Congressional Authority: Legal challenges to presidential war powers continue
Alliance Unity: NATO summit discussions on coordinated Middle East policy
The Bigger Picture
This escalation represents the most significant US military action against Iran since the 1979 revolution. With both nations now engaged in what officials describe as an undeclared conflict, the international community watches nervously for signs of broader regional war.
The strikes have effectively ended years of diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program through negotiations, potentially reshaping Middle East geopolitics for years to come.
Reference
US Strikes Iranian Nuclear Sites as Middle East Tensions Escalate