Washington&ndash;Tehran Tensions Deepen After US Hits Iranian Nuclear Sites
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In a stark address from the Oval Office, <a title="US" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/trump-claims-us-bombed-iran-s-fordo-nuke-facility/14516" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US</a> President Donald Trump declared that Iran now stands at a crossroads&mdash;either embrace peace or face consequences far more devastating than the destruction already inflicted. His remarks came just hours after American forces executed what he termed a &ldquo;spectacular military success,&rdquo; striking three of Iran&rsquo;s most critical nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan.
&ldquo;These operations were among the most difficult and perhaps the most lethal we&rsquo;ve ever undertaken,&rdquo; Trump said solemnly. &ldquo;If peace does not come quickly, we will go after the remaining targets with precision, speed, and skill.&rdquo;
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US President Donald Trump addressing press conference
The strikes, which marked a major escalation in the regional conflict, were launched despite Trump&rsquo;s earlier public timeline suggesting a longer deliberation period. His decision to enter the fray alongside Israel has fundamentally altered the dynamics of the conflict, igniting fears of a broader conflagration in the Middle East.
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<a title="Iran" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/un-warns-israel-strike-on-iran-nuke-site-could-be-dire/14453" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iranian</a> state media confirmed that the Fordow facility had sustained damage in what it described as &ldquo;enemy strikes.&rdquo; While full assessments of the strike&rsquo;s effectiveness remain pending, Trump claimed the attacks had "completely and totally obliterated" Iran&rsquo;s nuclear enrichment capabilities.
&ldquo;The aim was to dismantle Iran&rsquo;s nuclear infrastructure and neutralise the threat from the world&rsquo;s foremost state sponsor of terror,&rdquo; he said.
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He offered effusive praise for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, crediting close coordination between Washington and Tel Aviv for the mission&rsquo;s success. &ldquo;We worked as a team, perhaps better than any team in history, to erase this terrible threat to Israel,&rdquo; Trump said, calling the Israeli military's role &ldquo;exceptional.&rdquo;
In posts on his social media platform, Trump hailed the operation as a &ldquo;historic moment for the United States of America, Israel, and the world,&rdquo; adding, &ldquo;Iran must now agree to end this war. Thank you!&rdquo;
He followed this with another message praising American armed forces: &ldquo;There is not another military in the world that could have done this. Now is the time for peace.&rdquo;
Netanyahu, too, issued a statement aligning with Trump&rsquo;s sentiments, asserting that strength must precede diplomacy. &ldquo;Tonight, President Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength. Peace through strength&mdash;that is how deterrence is restored,&rdquo; he posted on social media.
The air war between Israel and Iran first erupted on 13 June, with Israel claiming its initial strikes were aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons&mdash;an ambition Tehran has consistently denied. The fallout has rippled across a region already inflamed by Israel&rsquo;s prolonged campaign in Gaza.
Iran has not taken the US action lightly. Top officials have promised retribution. Hossein Shariatmadari, a hardline editor closely aligned with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called for an immediate counteroffensive. Writing in the Kayhan newspaper, he demanded missile strikes on US naval assets in Bahrain and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to Western shipping.
While Khamenei himself has not yet released an official statement, his Telegram account re-shared earlier warnings. In a televised address, he cautioned the US against deeper involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict.
&ldquo;The Americans must realise that any intervention will result in far more damage to themselves than to Iran,&rdquo; Khamenei said. &ldquo;The United States stands to suffer irreparable consequences if it continues down this path.&rdquo;
With the spectre of a wider regional war looming, the situation remains highly volatile. While Trump calls for peace, his administration&rsquo;s actions signal a willingness to engage in a prolonged military campaign should Iran continue its defiance.
For now, the world watches with bated breath as diplomacy gives way to high-stakes confrontation in one of the world&rsquo;s most combustible regions.

Smoke rises from Iran’s nuclear site, visible from miles away, after a precision U.S. airstrike.

US strikes Iran’s key enrichment sites; warns of more if Tehran continues hostilities

Trump Threatens More Strikes After Hitting Iran Nuke Sites

US strikes Iran’s key enrichment sites; warns of more if Tehran continues hostilities

June 22, 2025 | 15:00 IST