23 June 2025 - US bombs Iran’s nuclear sites
How Trump quietly made the historic decision to launch strikes in Iran
Kevin Liptak, Jeremy Herb and Kristen Holmes (CNN News, 23/06/2025)
By the time President Donald Trump was milling about his golf club in New Jersey on Friday evening, the planes were about to be in the air. To onlookers at the club, Trump showed little anxiety about his decision to authorize airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities that could have profound ramifications both on US national security and his own presidential legacy. The B-2 stealth bombers carrying 30,000-pound bunker busters were preparing to take off at midnight from their base in Missouri, destined for Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
Trump claims US ‘obliterated’ Iran nuclear sites; world awaits Supreme Leader Khamenei’s response
Nectar Gan, Helen Regan, Jessie Yeung, Rhea Mogul and Rob Picheta (CNN News, 23/06/2025)
Iran vows response: Iranian military officials and members of parliament vowed the US will pay a price for its strikes Iran’s nuclear sites. Tehran also denounced the US and Israel at an emergency UN Security Council meeting. There has been no word yet from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Damage assessment: President Donald Trump claimed US bombers “obliterated” three Iranian nuclear sites, and alluded to the possibility of regime change in Iran. Military officials in Israel and the US, however, are still assessing how significant of a blow it dealt to Tehran’s program.
What we know about US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites
Thomas Mackintosh & Nadine Yousif (BBC News, 23/06/2025)
President Donald Trump says the US has carried out a "successful" bombing attack on three nuclear sites in Iran and they have been "obliterated". On Sunday, the Pentagon said it will take time to fully assess the effect of the attack though it appears all the sites sustained "extremely severe damage". Israel says they were in "full co-ordination" with the US in planning the strikes. Iranian officials have confirmed the facilities were struck but denied it had suffered a major blow. The strikes mark a significant escalation in the ongoing war between Iran and Israel.
Iran’s top general says military entitled to retaliate following US strikes
Najmeh Bozorgmehr (Financial Times, 23/06/2025)
Iran’s top military commander has said his forces are entitled to retaliate against US interests after Washington struck the Islamic republic, while signalling the main response may be directed at Israel. Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said the US strikes meant his forces were “fully authorised to take any action against the US military and its interests, and we will never retreat from these steps”. But he then stressed that the “criminal US must understand” that its “illegitimate and aggressive proxy, Israel, will be punished”.
Nations react to US strikes on Iran with many calling for diplomacy
The Associated Press (AP News, 23/06/2025)
Several close U.S. allies urged a return to the negotiating table following American strikes on Iran that fueled fears of a wider conflict, while noting the threat posed by Tehran’s nuclear program. Some countries and groups in the region, including those that support Iran, condemned the move while also urging de-escalation. U.S. President Donald Trump described the damage as “monumental” after the U.S. hit three Iranian nuclear sites, though the U.S. assessment was unfinished. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the U.S. had “crossed a very big red line,” the time for diplomacy was over and Iran had the right to defend itself.
Portrait of Donald Trump. Wikipedia, Public domain.
