U.S. Bombs Iran’s Nuclear Sites, Tensions Rise Across Middle East

In a major military move, the United States bombed three of Iran’s nuclear sites on Saturday, June 21, joining Israel’s long-standing conflict with the country. President Trump said the strikes were meant to stop Iran from building nuclear weapons. Now the world is watching for how Iran will respond.

Hours after President Trump announced the bombing on Iran’s nuclear sites on social media, he gave a speech, which lasted for around four minutes. According to the New York Times, “President Trump announced on Saturday that the U.S. military had ‘totally obliterated’ three of Iran’s nuclear sites, including its uranium-enrichment facility deep underground at Fordo, injecting the United States directly into a war in the Middle East.” There was no evidence from Trump nor the Pentagon that the bombing had actually wiped out Iran’s nuclear infrastructure; however, it involved the U.S. in the war.

President Trump advised Iran to surrender unconditionally. The New York Times states, “Mr. Trump also warned Iran’s leaders that they ‘must now make peace’ — a demand he previously framed as ‘unconditional surrender.’ Should they refuse to submit, he suggested, much more of Iran could be soon wiped out by Israel and the United States.” However, Iran says that they won’t back down that easily. According to the Axios, “‘Those who know the Iranian people and their history know that the Iranian nation isn’t a nation that surrenders,’ Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini posted on his English-language X account.”

In retaliation, Iran launched missiles at the a U.S. military base. Before the attack, Iran made sure to contact Qatar to make sure that casualties were minimized. According to NBC News, “The U.S. military shot down several of the Iranian missiles fired at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar today, according to two defense officials.” Not much damage was done, and President Trump called the retaliation “weak” and thanked Iran for the early notice.

Iran and Israel agreed to a ceasefire, and President Trump says that he thinks it will last forever.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/22/world/israel-iran-us-trump

https://www.axios.com/2025/06/23/trump-iran-missile-attack-response

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/middle-east/live-blog/live-updates-iran-top-diplomat-meets-putin-us-braces-retaliation-rcna214428