Washington: US President Donald Trump has declared that the US military has successfully executed strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran—Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. The aircraft involved in the mission are reportedly en route back to the United States.
According to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, Trump announced the completion of the operation through a social media post on June 21. He stated that all aircraft were now outside of Iranian airspace, after dropping a full payload of bombs on the primary target, Fordow. Trump emphasized that all planes were safely returning home.
The announcement follows a recent statement from Trump, who had indicated that a decision on whether to join Israel in attacking Iranian nuclear sites would be made within two weeks. Reports earlier on June 21 had indicated that US B-2 stealth bombers, capable of deploying bunker-busting bombs, were dispatched from the United States and were flying across the Pacific Ocean.
It was previously noted by US and Israeli officials that the United States was uniquely capable of striking Iranian nuclear sites that are buried deep underground. In a social media repost, Trump shared a statement by Open Source Intel proclaiming, "Fordow is gone."
The strikes occur amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran, which have exchanged attacks since Israel's aerial campaign commenced on June 13. Israel asserts that its actions were a response to Tehran's alleged progress towards developing a nuclear weapon, a claim Iran denies. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reiterated Iran's commitment to its nuclear program, declaring it would not be halted "under any circumstances."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, speaking at an Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting in Turkey, cautioned that US military involvement could be extremely perilous. He expressed Iran's willingness to engage in further dialogue but insisted there would be no negotiations with the US while Israeli attacks continued.
In a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, Pezeshkian indicated Iran's readiness to discuss peaceful nuclear activities but firmly opposed reducing its nuclear initiatives to zero.
Meanwhile, Israel reported the elimination of three additional Iranian commanders in its offensive. In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps announced the launch of a "vast" wave of "suicide drones" targeting strategic sites across Israel.