U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday announced that three nuclear sites in Iran were targetted by the United States, saying a "full payload of bombs" were dropped on Fordo.
"We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space," he wrote on Truth Social.
As per reports, the United States used the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb, known as a “bunker buster,” in its strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. It remains unclear how many MOPs were dropped. The June 22 attack was the first known instance of the bomb being used operationally.
The President continued to say, “Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier,”
In his address from the White House, he said, “This cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left.”
Trump warned that the U.S. could “go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill,” which could be done “in a matter of minutes.”
Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Iran had been anticipating the U.S. attack on Fordow.
The site has long been evacuated and has not suffered any irreversible damage in the attack,” Mohammadi wrote in a social media post.
“Two things are certain: First, knowledge cannot be bombed, and second, the gambler will lose this time.”
Here’s how the world has reacted to the latest attack.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations
António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the UN said on X, “There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world,” adding that he was gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran, calling it a “dangerous escalation.”
“There is no military solution.
The only path forward is diplomacy.
The only hope is peace."
Israel Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister, said on X, “A short time ago, in full coordination between me and President Trump, and in full operational coordination between the IDF and the United States military, the United States attacked Iran's three nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.”
In doing so, the United States continued, with greater intensity and with great force, the attacks of the IDF and the Mossad on Iran's nuclear program, he stated, adding that he received a call from Trump immediately after the operation was completed.
Australia Government Spokesperson
"We have been clear that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a threat to international peace and security. We note the US President’s statement that now is the time for peace. The security situation in the region is highly volatile. We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy."
Mexico Foreign Ministry
The ministry made an urgent call for diplomatic dialogue and peace among the parties involved in the Middle East conflict. “Under Mexico’s constitutional principles of foreign policy and our nation’s pacifist convictions, we reiterate our call to de-escalate tensions in the region. Restoring peaceful coexistence among the States in the region remains the highest priority.”
Venezuela’s Foreign Minister
Yvan Gil, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, on Telegram said, "Venezuela Condemns U.S. Military Aggression Against Iran and Demands an Immediate Cessation of Hostilities. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela firmly and categorically condemns the bombing carried out by the United States military, at the request of the State of Israel, against nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan complexes."
Cuba’s President
Miguel Diaz-Canel also condemned the attacks on the social media platform X, saying: “We strongly condemn the US bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities, which constitutes a dangerous escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. The aggression seriously violates the UN Charter and international law and plunges humanity into a crisis with irreversible consequences.”
New Zealand Foreign Minister
Winston Peters, New Zealand's Foreign Minister, said in statement, “We acknowledge developments in the last 24 hours, including President Trump’s announcement of US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran. Ongoing military action in the Middle East is extremely worrying, and it is critical further escalation is avoided.”
He added that New Zealand strongly supports efforts towards diplomacy, urging all parties to return to talks. “Diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action."
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
A U.S. Congresswoman, Ocasio-Cortez, said bombing Iran without Congressional approval “is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.”
“The President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers. He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations,” she stated on X.
As per Reuters, South Korea’s presidential office will be hosting an emergency meeting to discuss the attack.
