US bombs Iran nuclear sites, Iran fires missiles at Israel

 

In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, the United States has joined military operations by launching coordinated strikes on three major Iranian nuclear facilities.

The attack, announced by former President Donald Trump on Saturday (June 21), targeted the highly fortified Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites.

Trump declared the assault a “very successful attack,” claiming that Iran’s key nuclear enrichment sites had been “completely and totally obliterated.”

The U.S. utilized B-2 stealth bombers equipped with “bunker buster” bombs and submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles in the mission.

According to CBS News, U.S. officials have conveyed to Iran that no further military action is planned and that regime change is not the objective.

The operation follows Israel’s initial offensive on June 13, which was launched with the stated aim of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The U.S. entry into the fray marks a significant turning point in the hostilities, raising global fears of wider regional conflict.

Iran, which maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, has condemned the U.S. attack as a violation of international law. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of breaching the UN Charter and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), warning of "everlasting consequences."

Despite the scale of the attack, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation reported no radiation leakage at the affected sites. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) later confirmed there was no rise in off-site radiation levels following the strikes.

Experts suggest that Iran may have taken precautions in anticipation of a possible attack. Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute noted that Iran’s most critical nuclear asset—its enriched uranium stockpile—remains intact.

He warned that the strikes could prompt Iran to accelerate its nuclear weapons development and could spark a wave of nuclear proliferation across the region.

The human cost of the conflict continues to climb. Iranian state media reports over 430 deaths and 3,500 injuries since Israeli attacks began.

In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed and more than 1,200 injured due to Iranian missile retaliation, with more than 450 projectiles launched toward Israeli territory.

The international response has been one of concern. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed alarm over the “dangerous escalation,” cautioning that the situation could spiral out of control with catastrophic humanitarian consequences.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s decision, calling it a bold move that could “change history.”

However, some analysts argue that the U.S. and Israeli actions—carried out against a non-nuclear weapons state without direct provocation—set a troubling precedent for future international conflict.

While Trump insisted in a televised address that “now is the time for peace,” many fear that the latest strikes may trigger a broader war in the Middle East and increase global instability. With tensions running high and casualties mounting, the path forward remains dangerously uncertain.