Trump Orders U.S. Bombing of Iran’s Nuclear Sites in Strategic Escalation
On June 21, 2025, former President Donald Trump announced that the United States had carried out large-scale airstrikes on multiple Iranian nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. This marks a significant escalation in U.S. military involvement in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
Trump confirmed that a “full payload of bombs” was dropped on the underground Fordow nuclear facility using U.S. Air Force B-2 stealth bombers equipped with GBU-57 “Massive Ordnance Penetrator” bunker-busting weapons. The president also stated that all aircraft involved in the mission safely exited Iranian airspace following the operation.
The strikes represent a sharp shift in U.S. foreign policy, aligning more directly with Israel’s ongoing military actions against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. While Israel had previously conducted its own raids, this operation signals formal U.S. military intervention. Trump emphasized that “now is the time for peace,” but his comments have done little to ease tensions in the region.
Domestic political reactions were divided. Supporters of the operation, including Senator Lindsey Graham and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, praised it as a strong move to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Critics, however, expressed concern over the constitutional implications of launching a major military strike without congressional approval. Representative Thomas Massie and other lawmakers called for a review of executive war powers in light of the action.
Military analysts and foreign policy experts warn that the strikes could provoke retaliation from Iran, potentially in the form of proxy attacks or assaults on U.S. personnel and assets throughout the Middle East. While the operation appears to have inflicted damage on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, the country has not yet issued an official statement confirming the extent of the impact.
As global leaders watch closely, the long-term consequences of these strikes remain uncertain. What is clear is that the U.S. has now moved from indirect involvement to direct military engagement in a conflict that could reshape the balance of power in the region.
