President Donald Trump said Saturday the United States bombed several of Iran’s nuclear sites, directly engaging in a war that began more than a week ago when Israel first launched strikes.
In short remarks delivered from the White House Saturday evening, Trump said the U.S. carried out “massive precision strikes” against several nuclear facilities in Iran.
“Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror,” he said.
He called the strikes a “spectacular military success.”
“Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” he said.
Flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump called on Iran to agree to peace.
He called Iran the “bully of the Middle East,” and said they were responsible for wounding and killing many American soldiers, likely referring to Iranian military actions targeting U.S. troops in Iraq.
“For 40 years, Iran has been saying, Death to America, Death to Israel. They’ve been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs, with roadside bombs,” he said. “That was their specialty. We lost over 1000 people and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East and around the world have died as a direct result of their hate.”
Trump also mentioned his decision in his first term to greenlight the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, a former commander of Iranian forces.
The U.S. worked closely with Israel on Saturday’s strikes, Trump said, thanking Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He also thanked the American troops and military leaders involved in the strikes.
He ended with a warning to Iran.
“There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left tonight. This was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal,” he said.
“But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill, most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes,” he continued.
Earlier Saturday, Trump released a statement announcing the strikes, taking the world by surprise.
“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,” 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! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Earlier in day, news spread that B-2s were seen heading across the Pacific, a sign of the attack to come.
Netanyahu had asked the U.S. to engage in the conflict, saying only the U.S.’s 30,000 pound “bunker buster” bombs could destroy Iran’s underground nuclear facility Fordow. Those bombs are only carried by American B-2 bombers.
The American B-2s dropped six of those bombs on the Fordow site, marking the first time the bombs were used, according to Fox News’ Sean Hannity, who said he communicated with the president after the strike.
The U.S. also struck Natanz, site of an Iranian enrichment facility, and Esfahan, another nuclear site.
Ahead of the U.S. strikes, Israel targeted military sites in southwestern Iran, clearing a path for the American bombers, The New York Times reported.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the embassy is facilitating the evacuation of Americans from Israel.
The New York Times reports Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is in a bunker and has designated possible successors if he is killed.
On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that if the U.S. struck nuclear facilities Iran reserved the right to retaliate.
“When there is a war, both sides attack each other. That’s quite understandable. And self-defense is a legitimate right of every country,” Araghchi said.
He said Iran was not willing to go back to the negotiating table amid strikes by Israel.
Araghchi was in Geneva, where he was meeting with top European diplomats.
Reaction to Iran strikes by Utah, national lawmakers
While Republican leaders in Congress, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, expressed their support for Trump on Saturday, several Democratic leaders criticized the president’s decision.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Trump “misled the country about his intentions,” and “failed to seek congressional authorization,” adding that he thinks Trump’s decision put the nation at risk. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the strikes “grounds for impeachment.”
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said in a social media post on Saturday he prayed strikes by the U.S. would lead to “lasting peace.”
“Tonight, the Iranian nuclear program was wiped out. Please join me in praying for the safety of the brave men and women of America’s armed forces in the Middle East and around the world, and that these strikes may lead to the lasting peace called for by President Trump,” he said.
Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, said Iran’s actions necessitated the strike.
“Iran’s relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons is a direct threat to American interests, our allies, and global stability. Today’s action was a serious and necessary response to that danger,” he said. “I honor the brave servicemembers who carried out the mission with skill and courage. Strength paired with genuine diplomacy is how we create peace, prevent conflict, and preserve freedom. I join the President in calling for a return to diplomacy.”
Gov. Spencer Cox sounded a supportive note for Trump’s action.
“President Trump’s decisive action in Iran sends a clear message: the United States will not let a nuclear-armed, authoritarian regime threaten global peace,” he said. “I’m deeply grateful for the men and women of our armed forces — here in Utah and across the country — whose strength, sacrifice, and readiness keep our nation and allies safe."
Just this week, Trump said he would take the next two weeks to figure out whether negotiations with Iran should continue or if the U.S. would begin offensive operations to assist Israel in knocking out Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
The U.S. had already provided defensive cover for Israel during its attacks.
Israel’s strikes have targeted nuclear facilities as well as Iranian planes, ballistic missiles and key Iranian leaders and nuclear scientists.