President Donald Trump addressed the nation Saturday evening to confirm and celebrate the United States military’s precision airstrikes on three of Iran’s key nuclear sites, calling the operation a “spectacular military success.” The president said the targets—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—were “completely and totally obliterated” in what marks the most significant direct U.S. military action against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure in more than a decade.

In a televised speech from the White House, Trump praised American forces for executing a highly coordinated overnight assault. According to Pentagon sources, U.S. stealth bombers and cruise missiles were deployed to strike deeply buried and heavily fortified facilities. The Fordow enrichment site, concealed within a mountain, was hit with 30,000-pound bunker-busting munitions, while the Natanz and Isfahan facilities were targeted with Tomahawk missiles and drone-guided payloads.

“This was a clear message not only to Iran, but to the world,” President Trump said. “We will not stand by while hostile regimes threaten global stability or pursue weapons of mass destruction. We are defending peace through strength.”

The strikes followed weeks of rising hostilities between Israel and Iran, which intensified after a series of missile exchanges and drone attacks in the Gulf region. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had reportedly increased activity around nuclear sites, prompting urgent intelligence briefings that led to the authorization of the U.S. operation.

Iran's leadership responded with fierce condemnation. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the strikes “a criminal and cowardly act of war,” warning that Iran would retaliate at a time and place of its choosing. The Iranian Foreign Ministry declared the attacks a violation of international law and threatened to target U.S. military assets and regional allies.

In the hours following the strikes, Iran placed its missile forces on high alert and activated allied militias in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. Reports also indicate increased Iranian naval activity near the Strait of Hormuz, heightening fears of a potential disruption to global oil shipments.

The international community reacted with urgency. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for immediate de-escalation, warning that the region “stands on the edge of a wider war that could destabilize the global economy and security.” Russia and China criticized the U.S. action, accusing Washington of aggravating regional tensions, while NATO allies were briefed and urged restraint on all sides.

Markets reacted swiftly. Brent crude oil surged above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022, while gold prices jumped amid a global flight to safety. Several international airlines suspended flights over Iranian airspace, and embassies across the Gulf region issued new travel advisories for citizens.

In the United States, the political response was sharply divided. Republican lawmakers praised the president’s action, calling it a bold defense of American interests and a deterrent against Iranian aggression. Democratic leaders expressed concern over the constitutional implications of launching strikes without Congressional approval and warned against triggering another prolonged conflict in the Middle East.

President Trump concluded his address by reiterating that the United States does not seek war but would respond decisively to any provocation. “Peace is always the goal,” he said. “But peace only prevails when evil is confronted, not appeased.”

As tensions rise and the world awaits Iran’s next move, military analysts warn the region could be entering a dangerous new phase—one that may determine the future of the Middle East for years to come.

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