President Donald Trump addressed the nation Saturday evening after the U.S. military executed airstrikes against three sites in Iran with nuclear enrichment facilities amid rising geopolitical conflict over Iran’s nuclear program.
“Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” Trump said in a speech from a podium at the White House. “It’s Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.”
Standing behind a stern-faced Trump as he spoke were Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
“There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than what we have witnessed over the last eight days,” Trump said.
Trump’s address came hours after he disclosed via a post on his Truth Social platform that the U.S. military had executed airstrikes on three sites in Iran with nuclear enrichment facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. Trump asserted that the effort had been a “very successful attack” and that “all planes are now outside Iran air space.”
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” the President wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Trump’s move sparked immediate controversy for the lack of congressional approval for such a material decision regarding U.S. foreign policy. The boldness of the targeted airstrike has the potential to further destabilize the region that has been up-ended by the war in Gaza that is approaching its second anniversary in October.
The U.S. airstrikes come a week after Israel also conducted aggressive bombing campaign designed to take out Iran’s ability to enrich uranium to the degree necessary to manufacture nuclear weapons. Those strikes left more than 400 casualties and key Iranian leaders dead. The incursion immediately ratcheted tension in the already volatile region.
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