Washington: The United States has entered the Israel-Iran war with a series of bombings on key Iranian nuclear enrichment sites. It marks a critical escalation in the Middle East. The United States has entered the Israel-Iran war, with President Donald Trump confirming US forces carried out attacks on three Iranian uranium enrichment sites.
According to Deutsche Welle, the attacks come days after Trump, who is also commander-in-chief of the US military, mused whether to enter the escalating conflict amid ongoing calls from Israel for his support, and said he would make a decision within two weeks. On Saturday (US time), Trump announced US forces had attacked Iran’s Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities. The Pentagon on Sunday confirmed seven B-2 Spirit bombers flew non-stop from a US Air Force base in Missouri to launch the attacks before returning home.
Trump claimed “the attacks were a spectacular military success” in a press conference following the three-site attack. “Iran’s key nuclear enrichme
nt facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” he said. While the attacks likely caused significant damage, the extent is yet to be independently verified. Germany believes “large parts” of Iran’s nuclear program have been damaged by the strikes. However, some analysts believe enriched uranium may have been removed prior to the attack based on satellite images showing activity at the Fordo site.
Reports from Iran indicate there has been no increase in “off-site radiation levels” following the attacks. The IAEA, which will hold an emergency meeting on Monday, has warned that damage to uranium enrichment sites carries the risk of radiation leakage, which could affect the public. More concerning would be an attack on the Bushehr nuclear reactor, Iran’s only such facility, which IAEA chair Rafael Grossi last week warned could lead to a large-scale release of radioactivity.
During the election campaign, Trump promised a more peaceful world if he returned to the White House, well aware of public sen
timent surrounding America’s so-called “forever wars.” At his inauguration, he said his administration would measure success “not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end, and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.” His decision to enter the US into the conflict between two long-standing enemies in the Middle East is a notable turnabout from those January remarks.
Traditional US allies have urged a diplomatic solution, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the European Union among them. Through a spokesperson, German Chancellor Frederich Merz called on Iran to “immediately enter into negotiations with the US and Israel and find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.” Those sentiments were echoed in public statements by Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and France and Italy’s foreign ministers. US rivals China and Russia, both allies of Iran, condemned the US attacks.
Despite the US now involving itself in the Isra
el-Iran war, Hegseth told reporters on Sunday the Trump administration “does not seek war” with Iran. Nor, he said, was it about overthrowing the Iranian regime. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, concerns will turn to the potential for any further attacks by either side, and the potential for radiation leaks from the destruction of nuclear sites. Amid this, Iran’s diplomats intend to meet with ally Russia, and its parliament has approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping channel, subject to confirmation by its national security council.