Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that the United States must “receive a response” to attacks on nuclear sites in the Islamic republic during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. read more

This handout satellite picture provided by Maxar Technologies and taken on June 22, 2025, shows damage after US strikes on the Isfahan nuclear enrichment facility in central Iran.- AFP Photo

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian told French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday that the United States must “receive a response” for its strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, signalling Tehran’s intent to retaliate.

“The Americans must receive a response to their aggression,” Pezeshkian told the French leader, according to the official IRNA news agency.

His comments came as a top advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that the “game isn’t over” and hinted that US military bases in the region could “will be considered legitimate targets.”

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“Any country in the region or elsewhere that is used by American forces to strike Iran will be considered a legitimate target for our armed forces,” said Ali Akbar Velayati in a message carried by the official IRNA news agency.

“The United States “no longer” has a place in the Middle East after it conducted strikes against nuclear facilities in the Islamic republic,” he said.

“America has attacked the heart of the Islamic world and must await irreparable consequences, because the Islamic Republic does not tolerate any insult or aggression against itself,” he added.

Iran also said that it was ready to defend itself by “all necessary means” after unprecedented US strikes on its nuclear facilities.

“Iran is resolutely determined to defend its national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and people by all necessary means,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei posted on X, condemning what he described as an “unconscionable act of aggression – perpetrated by a nuclear-armed state… against a non-nuclear weapon country”.

Meanwhile, The Trump administration on Sunday signaled a willingness to renew talks with Iran and avoid a prolonged war in the aftermath of a surprise attack on three of the country’s nuclear sites as U.S. officials assessed Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and the threat of retaliation against American interests.

The coordinated messaging by his vice president, Pentagon chief, top military adviser and secretary of state suggested a confidence that any fallout would be manageable and that Iran’s lack of military capabilities would ultimately force it back to the bargaining table.

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Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a news conference that America “does not seek war” with Iran while Vice President JD Vance said the strikes have given Tehran the possibility of returning to negotiate with Washington.

“This mission was not and has not been about regime change,” Hegseth said.

With inputs from agencies

Donald Trump was predictably quick to claim victory following the illegal US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities: “Completely and totally obliterated,” he crowed. Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel and sycophants at home rushed to fawn over his “courageous” and “brilliant” decision. The most senior US military official, Dan Caine, offered a more muted assessment: it was “way too early” to know the full outcome despite severe damage. We cannot yet know whether the blow has ended Iran’s nuclear aspirations – or will spur it to pursue the bomb. It may be weeks or months, too, before Iranian retaliation plays out, with all its potential repercussions.

Two nuclear-armed states have gone to war on the unevidenced claim that a third state is on the verge of acquiring its own nuclear arms. In March, the US director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, said Iran was not building weapons (though she has now scrambled to align with Mr Trump). Israel is clear that its attacks will continue, and has increasingly talked of regime change. The price is being paid not only by a reviled regime but by the Iranian people.

Senior administration figures insisted that the US is solely focused on the nuclear programme. As a candidate, Mr Trump vowed to “stop the chaos in the Middle East” and “prevent world war three”. Yet the risk of regional conflagration is growing, and now he warns of “either peace or … tragedy for Iran” if it does not end uranium enrichment. Mr Netanyahu lured him into this attack and may lead him into more, paying gushing tribute to a history-making president and thanking him on behalf of “the forces of civilisation”. Mr Trump described them as working together “like perhaps no team has ever worked before”.

Iran has been notably cautious since Israel’s attack began. The pillars of its security – its regional networks, missiles and nuclear programme – have all suffered punishing blows. To do nothing invites further attack; to hit back – particularly by targeting US personnel in the region – courts disaster. Close the strait of Hormuz and oil prices would soar. But that would hit Iran’s own exports and risk involving Gulf states. Russia and China condemned the US strike but are hardly rushing to offer Tehran assistance.

Israel’s strike – and the US’s – on Iran cannot be justified under international law’s self-defence doctrine. The UN secretary general, António Guterres, rightly warns of catastrophe in the Middle East, urging diplomacy as the only solution. Yet Mr Trump walked away from the Obama-overseen deal that slowed Iran’s programme, and now has struck Iran when it sought negotiation despite Israel’s attacks. Sir Keir Starmer, too, called for de-escalation and negotiation, though he backed the US strike. The US did not request British assistance – but the fear remains that European powers may be drawn into another criminal and disastrous war in the Middle East.

In rejecting diplomacy and choosing war, not only in breach of international law but at the behest of a country pursuing annihilation in Gaza, the US has delivered a resounding blow to the architecture of global affairs. It has signalled that countries that negotiate (Iran) face stark consequences, which those which rush to own the bomb (North Korea) can avoid. Its embrace of pre-emptive strikes is handy for Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and any leader who might want to carry out their own. Even if the immediate crisis in the Middle East can be contained, the cost of this reckless act may not be fully felt or comprehended for decades.

Israel-Iran conflict: US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday morning (Indian time) that American forces successfully struck three Iranian nuclear sites. The targets — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — have long been central to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. The operation was carried out by B-2 bombers, according to CNN, with all American aircraft safely leaving Iranian airspace after the strikes.

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “A full payload of bombs was dropped on Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American warriors. There is no other military like this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”

The strikes come as tensions in the region enter their second week. Trump earlier gave Iran a two-week deadline to negotiate a nuclear deal with the US.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported that the country had evacuated personnel from the three nuclear sites in advance. The three nuclear sites the US says it struck “some time ago.” According to the broadcaster, Iran had relocated its nuclear stockpiles from those sites to secure locations.

What we know about Iran’s key nuclear sites

Natanz: Located 250 kilometers south of Tehran, Natanz is Iran’s largest uranium enrichment center. The facility houses six above-ground buildings and three underground halls capable of containing up to 50,000 centrifuges, which enrich uranium for potential weapons use.

Fordow: Situated deep inside mountains near Qom, Fordow is considered one of Iran’s most fortified nuclear sites. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates that Iran had been enriching uranium up to 60% at Fordow — well above civilian requirements — making it a significant target.

Isfahan: Home to Iran’s largest nuclear research complex, Isfahan houses a fuel production plant, research reactors, and other critical facilities. Established with Chinese support in 1984, the site is key to Iran’s nuclear program.

Why is Iran under attack? Iran is under attack primarily because Israel aims to halt Tehran’s nuclear program, which it views as an existential threat. Since June 13, 2025, Israel has launched airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites, including uranium enrichment facilities and centrifuge production plants near Tehran and Isfahan. These strikes have killed hundreds, including civilians and military personnel, and damaged key infrastructure.

Israel’s goal is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability, which it believes would destabilise the Middle East and threaten Israeli security. In retaliation, Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel, escalating the conflict. The war also involves targeted killings of senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard commanders linked to arms transfers to proxy groups. Diplomatic efforts have so far failed, and Iran’s leadership warns that any US intervention would be extremely dangerous, underscoring the high stakes of this ongoing conflict.

What IAEA said? The IAEA, which initially flagged Iran’s uranium enrichment activities, told Sky News that despite Iran enriching uranium up to 60%, the agency cannot confirm any systematic effort by Iran to produce a nuclear weapon. However, Iran’s failure to meet its safeguards obligations, as noted in a recent IAEA report, combined with Israel’s Operation Rising Lion strikes, has heightened serious international concerns.

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The US defense chief said on Sunday that strikes ordered by US President Donald Trump overnight had “devastated” Iran’s nuclear program and urged Iranian leaders to seek peace to avoid further attacks.

“We devastated the Iranian nuclear program,” defense secretary Pete Hegseth told a Pentagon press briefing, adding that the operation “did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people.”

Trump “seeks peace, and Iran should take that path,” Hegseth said.

“This mission was not, and has not, been about regime change,” he added.

“The president authorized a precision operation to neutralize the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear program and the collective self-defense of our troops and our ally Israel.”

Earlier, US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) confirmed that American forces had carried out a large-scale strike on three of Iran’s most critical nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—marking a dramatic escalation in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.

The strikes, which Trump described as “very successful,” appear to mark the United States’ formal entry into the regional war, a move that American presidents had avoided for decades. “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,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

He continued, “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!”

According to reports, the underground Fordow facility—protected by layers of rock and concrete—was hit with a series of 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs. While there’s been no official confirmation yet, several US B-2 stealth bombers were seen departing from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on Friday night. These aircraft are the only ones capable of delivering such heavy bombs, which are designed specifically to target deeply buried and fortified sites like Fordow.

CNN reported that these bombers were later seen flying over the Pacific Ocean, possibly heading toward Guam, although it remains unconfirmed if they were part of the Iran strike mission.

The Natanz facility, one of Iran’s main uranium enrichment centers, had already been damaged by Israeli strikes earlier in the week. The Isfahan site, near the historic city of the same name, is believed to house a stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

The New York Times noted that this is the first time since the 1979 Iranian Revolution that the US Air Force has directly attacked major targets within Iran. Trump’s move signals a clear break from decades of American restraint regarding direct military involvement with Iran.

According to reports, Trump had been engaged in constant briefings in the White House Situation Room over the past week, carefully reviewing military plans and possible responses. Earlier timelines had hinted at a two-week decision window, but Saturday’s strikes came much sooner.

The strikes follow nine days of escalating violence between Iran and Israel. The conflict began on June 13, when Israel launched a sweeping offensive on Iranian military and nuclear sites under “Operation Rising Lion.” In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated “Operation True Promise 3,” targeting key Israeli energy and fuel production sites with a barrage of drones and missiles.

With the United States now openly involved, the regional conflict appears to have entered a new and far more dangerous phase.

Asal* had been expecting the US to bomb Iran, just not so soon. The 22-year-old Tehran University student had believed Donald Trump when his administration said on Thursday that it would wait up to two weeks before deciding whether to attack Iran, apparently to give diplomacy a chance.

And so at 4am when the newscaster announced the bombing on TV, Asal was in disbelief. She rushed to wake her father and the rest of the family, who huddled together in front of the set as the sounds of the news blended with those of bombings elsewhere in the city.

“We weren’t expecting it yet. But we knew one way or another the US would take part in it,” Asal told the Guardian from Tehran. “We are dead worried. You know, sleep doesn’t come so easy these past few days.”

Iranians woke to the news on Sunday morning that the unthinkable had finally happened: the US had attacked Iran. In the early hours of the morning, American warplanes dropped so-called bunker busters weighing 13,500kg (30,000lb) on the nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

The news was met with panic in Iran. It prompted a renewed wave of displacement in Tehran as people feared a more intensified assault on the city now that the US was involved.

The question of whether the US would join Israel in its military campaign in Iran had hung over the heads of Iranians since the first Israeli bomb fell nearly 10 days earlier. Iranians watched with worry as Trump played coy with reporters, telling them “nobody knows what I’m going to do” about Iran.

On 13 June, Israel had launched hundreds of airstrikes on Iran, an operation it said was aimed at preventing the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran quickly responded with a barrage of missiles and drones, kicking off an escalating tit-for-tat war.

Israel asked the US to join its military campaign as it was the only country with the firepower necessary to penetrate the Fordow nuclear facility, buried up to 100 metres underground. On Sunday, the US granted its request.

The Iranian government, incensed by the attacks, said it would do whatever was necessary to retaliate. The president, Masoud Pezeshkian, appeared in front of hundreds of protesters in a square in central Tehran, who raised their fists and chanted “Revenge, revenge!”.

Asal has little appetite for revenge, she just wants the war to be over. To her and her friends, the US attack felt like a betrayal. “No one is rooting for either side to win. We just want peace. Not even those Iranians who wanted a regime change are happy. They expected Trump to take a different route or at least give us two weeks,” Asal said.

Trump’s administration has said the strikes were in line with his “peace through strength” doctrine and has urged Iran not to retaliate but instead to return to the negotiating table. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, flatly rejected the request for talks, telling reporters in Istanbul on Sunday that now was not the time for diplomacy.

To Navid*, Trump’s claims that the US bombing of Iran was a peace initiative rang hollow. The 28-year-old business owner in Tehran had been following international developments closely over the last 10 days, appointed the unofficial source of news for his family.

“Who, exactly, cares about civilians?” he said. “The Israelis? Have they ever shown concern for civilian lives in Beirut or Gaza? The Americans? Did they show any in Libya, Afghanistan or Iraq?”

Instead, he suggested the attack was less about strategy, and more about Trump’s ego. “He always wants to swoop in like Superman and do the things he claims no one else can.”

US officials insisted that the strikes were a one-off and that they had achieved their goals in crippling Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Nonetheless, some Iranians feared that the apparent success of the US operation would inspire either Israel or the US to extend its aims and seek to change the regime in Iran – a fight they did not want to be caught up in, whether they support the government or not.

Ava*, a 25-year-old accountant in Tehran, said: “We are angry, scared and frankly disgusted by not only the regime but also each one of you outside Iran who is sitting in the comfort of your homes and calling for US war on us. Who are you to decide for us?”

*Names have been changed.