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US strikes three Iranian nuclear sites, Tehran and Israel trade new missile fire: summary

22.06.2025 10:00
US forces bombed Iran’s Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear complexes early Sunday, plunging directly into Israel’s campaign against Tehran and triggering fresh Iranian missile salvos that injured at least 10 Israelis.
A woman walks past a billboard thanking US President Donald Trump in Tel Aviv, Israel, 22 June 2025. The US forces struck three of Irans key nuclear sites: Natanz, Isfahan and Fordo, US President Trump announced on 21 June, amid an escalating conflict between Iran and Israel since 13 June.
A woman walks past a billboard thanking US President Donald Trump in Tel Aviv, Israel, 22 June 2025. The US forces struck three of Iran's key nuclear sites: Natanz, Isfahan and Fordo, US President Trump announced on 21 June, amid an escalating conflict between Iran and Israel since 13 June. Photo: EPA/ABIR SULTAN

The Pentagon said precision strikes disabled critical enrichment halls; President Donald Trump declared the facilities “totally obliterated” and warned that any retaliation would meet “force far greater than tonight.”

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran condemned the strikes as “a barbaric act that violated international law, especially the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.”

Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi vowed “everlasting consequences,” while President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would never abandon its nuclear program.

Radiation levels normal

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported no rise in off-site radiation, and Gulf regulators said sensors were clean.

Iranian officials insisted Fordow had been evacuated and suffered no irreversible damage.

Rapid escalation

Hours after the U.S. strikes, Iran fired waves of missiles at northern and central Israel, setting off sirens in Tel Aviv and Haifa. Israeli rescue services said at least 10 people were hurt.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Washington’s “awesome and righteous might” and said the allies had gone far toward erasing “this horrible threat.”

Trump said Iran must now “make peace” and hinted at further targets. A Yemeni Houthi commander warned retaliation against U.S. interests was “only a matter of time.”

Global alarm

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called the U.S. move “a dangerous escalation” that could spiral into regional war; Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Iran back to talks. The Iranian Atomic Energy Organization said the raid violated the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

U.S. lawmakers split largely along party lines. Most Republicans backed Trump; many Democrats denounced an “unconstitutional” strike and called for War Powers scrutiny.

Israel began bombing Iran nine days ago to dismantle its air defenses and missile stocks; Tehran has hit back repeatedly. Iran says its nuclear work is peaceful. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned last week that U.S. attacks would cause “irreparable damage” to America.

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Source: Associated Press, Reuters, The Guardian, CNN