Three key Iranian nuclear sites were ‘completely and totally obliterated’ in a morning attack by US bombers, President Donald Trump has announced.
The raid comes just over a week after Israel escalated the conflict in the Middle East with a surprise round of strikes on nuclear and military locations in Iran.
Over the past eight days, the two countries have exchanged missile fire, resulting in dozens of deaths – including several top Iranian military officials, as well as civilians.
The US has now officially joined Israel in its campaign to end an alleged effort by Iran – denied by its leaders – to acquire a nuclear weapon.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X the ‘outrageous’ attack would have ‘everlasting consequences’.
He wrote: ‘Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior.’
In a statement delivered at the White House, Trump thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli military, and ‘the great American patriots who flew those magnificant machines’.
Flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, he said: ‘Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success.
‘Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.’
In a statement this morning, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the US had taken action to ‘alleviate’ the ‘grave threat to international security’ posed by the Iranian nuclear programme.
He added: ‘The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis.’
What bombs were used in the US strikes?
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency confirmed the Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites had been attacked.
Speculation over a potential US strike on Iran has been building for the past week, with Trump refusing to commit one way or the other.
At a White House press briefing on Thursday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president would decide whether to go ahead with the action ‘within the next two weeks’.
The bombs were dropped just two days later.
There were questions over whether the US might deploy its 13,500kg ‘bunker buster’ bomb to penetrate the deepest levels of the Fordo facility.
While Trump confirmed B-2 stealth bombers had been involved in the raid, he did not say which type of bombs were used.
B-2 bombers are only used by the US military, and they are the only aircraft capable of carrying and delivering the penetrator bomb.
What will happen next?
Following the announcement, Trump posted on his Truth Social site that any retaliation against the US by Iran would be ‘MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT’.
Spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry Esmail Baghaei previously declared ‘any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region’.
However, CBS News reported US officials had contacted Iran to say there were no plans for further attacks beyond the missile strikes.
In his post on X this morning, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi made clear retaliation would be possible.
He wrote: ‘In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.’
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