Trump says US 'obliterated' Iran nuclear sites, warns of more strikes

(Web Desk): President Donald Trump on Sunday said US air strikes had "completely and totally obliterated" Iran's main nuclear enrichment facilities, and warned of more attacks to come if Tehran does not seek peace.

In a televised address to the nation from the White House after the United States joined Israel's air campaign against Tehran, Trump called the US attacks a "spectacular military success."

Trump had earlier stunned the world by announcing on social media that US aircraft had struck Iran's Fordow nuclear enrichment plant, plus the Natanz and Isfahan facilities.

But the fresh US military entanglement comes despite Trump's promises to avoid another "forever war" in the Middle East — Iran has vowed to retaliate against US forces in the region if Washington got involved.

"Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran [...] must now make peace," said Trump.

"If they do not, future attacks will be far greater, and a lot easier," added Trump, who was flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his address on Saturday evening for US audiences.

Trump said earlier on his Truth Social site that a "full payload of BOMBS" was dropped on the underground facility at Fordow, describing it as the "primary site."

Trump added that "all planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors."

Iranian confirmation

Earlier Saturday there were reports that US B-2 bombers —which carry so-called "bunker buster" bombs — were headed out of the US across the Pacific.

Trump did not say what kind of US planes or munitions were involved.

Iranian media confirmed that part of the Fordow plant as well as the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites were attacked.

Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the attacks, while the United States also gave key ally Israel a "heads up" before the strikes, a senior White House official told AFP.

Netanyahu congratulated Trump on the strikes, saying that "America has been truly unsurpassed", adding that "with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history".

"History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime, the world's most dangerous weapons," the Israeli PM said.

Trump had said on Thursday that he would decide "within two weeks" whether to join Israel's campaign — but the decision came far sooner.

The US president had also stepped up his rhetoric against Iran in recent days, repeating his insistence that it could never have a nuclear weapon.

Israel and Iran have traded wave after wave of devastating strikes since Israel launched its aerial campaign on June 13, saying Tehran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon.

'Outrageous'

Reacting to the US strikes, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi took to X to slam Washington's action terming it as "outrageous" and warned of "everlasting consequences".

"The US has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations," he said in a statement on X.

"Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people," he warned.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian had warned earlier Saturday of a "more devastating" retaliation should Israel's nine-day bombing campaign continue, saying Iran would not halt its nuclear programme "under any circumstances".

On Saturday, Israel said it had attacked Isfahan for a second time, with the UN nuclear watchdog reporting that a centrifuge manufacturing workshop had been hit.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard meanwhile announced early Sunday that "suicide drones" had been launched against "strategic targets" across Israel.

Iran denies seeking an atomic bomb, and on Saturday Pezeshkian said its right to pursue a civilian nuclear programme "cannot be taken away [...] by threats or war".

US lawmakers register mixed reactions

In Washington, reaction to the strikes revealed deep divisions within Congress, with Republicans largely backing the president’s decision and Democrats warning of overreach and potential long-term conflict.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker said the operation was commendable but warned of “very serious choices ahead.”

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Jim Risch called it a necessary step in support of an ally:

“This war is Israel’s war, not our war, but Israel is one of our strongest allies and is disarming Iran for the good of the world... There will not be American boots on the ground in Iran.”

Others strongly disagreed

“This is not constitutional,” said Representative Thomas Massie, referring to Congress’s authority to declare war.

House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the president, stating:

“The president gave Iran’s leader every opportunity to make a deal, but Iran refused to commit to a nuclear disarmament agreement.”

In contrast, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Trump of misleading the nation and bypassing Congress:

“Donald Trump shoulders complete and total responsibility for any adverse consequences that flow from his unilateral military action.”

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez went further, saying:

“The president’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorisation is a grave violation of the Constitution... It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.”

Senator Tim Kaine criticised what he described as “horrible judgment”, while Representative Rashida Tlaib said the strikes were reminiscent of “decades of endless war in the Middle East... all based on the lie of ‘weapons of mass destruction.’”

Former congressman Max Rose, now a senior adviser at VoteVets, called the action illegal and warned that “this conflict is his and the Republicans who have abrogated all their responsibilities.”