President Donald Trump addressed the nation on Saturday (June 21), declaring the U.S. military's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities a "spectacular military success." The strikes targeted three key sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. Trump announced that all U.S. aircraft had safely exited Iranian airspace after delivering a full payload of bombs, particularly on the heavily fortified Fordow site.

"A short time ago, the U.S. military carried out massive precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime: Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. Everybody heard those names for years as they built this horribly destructive enterprise. Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity, and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror. Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success," Trump said.

During his address from the White House, Trump was joined by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He emphasized that the objective was to destroy Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and halt the nuclear threat. "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated," Trump stated, while expressing hope for peace but warning of further action if necessary.

The U.S. strike marks the first direct military involvement in the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. The attack, which included the use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, was conducted despite Trump's previous promises to avoid further entanglement in Middle East conflicts. However, he has consistently maintained that Iran must not acquire a nuclear weapon.

Iran has condemned the strikes, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warning that U.S. involvement would be detrimental. The conflict, which began with Israeli airstrikes, has already resulted in significant casualties on both sides. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, while Israel and the U.S. view it as a threat.

Lucy Chapman