Washington / Tehran | IP News | June 22, 2025
In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing West Asia conflict, the United States launched targeted airstrikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities – Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan in the early hours of June 22, 2025. This marks the first direct U.S. military intervention in the conflict, which has been intensifying since Israeli strikes on Tehran’s infrastructure earlier this month.
President Donald Trump confirmed the airstrikes in a X post, declaring the operation a success:
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran. All planes are now outside Iranian airspace.”
The strike was executed by B‑2 Spirit stealth bombers, reportedly using bunker-buster munitions designed to damage heavily fortified underground nuclear infrastructure.
The Pentagon has not reported any U.S. aircraft losses. Early satellite imagery and Iranian sources indicate substantial damage to critical centrifuge halls and research labs at Natanz and Fordow.
The Iranian military has vowed retaliation. Initial statements from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described the strikes as an act of war, and officials warned of “massive retaliation” if foreign involvement continues.
Meanwhile, Houthi rebels in Yemen aligned with Iran, have threatened to target U.S. naval assets in the Red Sea, raising fears of a broader regional flare-up.
This U.S. move potentially reshapes the West Asia security architecture and complicates already-stalled nuclear diplomacy. The strikes follow weeks of tit-for-tat attacks between Iran and Israel, beginning with Israel’s strike on Iran’s Arak nuclear reactor on June 13.
With Trump confirming a direct role, the conflict has now shifted from regional to global strategic stakes, and fears of full-scale war are growing across diplomatic circles.
