LIVE Iran-Israel War: US bombs nuclear facilities in Iran

US President Donald Trump posted on social media site Truth Social late Saturday evening in the US (early Sunday morning in India) announcing strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency confirmed attacks on the country's Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites.

President Trump said the US military struck three sites in Iran, directly joining Israel’s effort to decapitate Iran's nuclear programme. “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump said in his post. “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.”

Trump added in a later post that he would address the nation at 10.00 pm Eastern time (meant to be 7.30 am IST but the address was slightly delayed), writing, “This is a historic moment for the United States of America, Israel and the World. Iran must now agree to end this war. Thank you”.

Prominent adviser to Iran’s supreme leader says it 'must launch missile strikes' on US Navy ships

A prominent adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for missile strikes on US Navy ships and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route, according to CNN.

“Following America’s attack on the Fordow nuclear installation, it is now our turn,” warned Hossein Shariatmadari, editor-in-chief of the hardline Kayhan newspaper, a well-known conservative voice who has previously identified himself as Khamenei’s 'representative'.

A Telegram message from Kayhan quoted Shariatmadari as saying: “Without hesitation or delay, as a first step we must launch missile strikes on the American naval fleet based in Bahrain and simultaneously close the Strait of Hormuz to American, British, German, and French shipping.”

There has been no official response yet from Khamenei to the US attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Hossein Shariatmadari: 🔻 After the American attack on the Fordo site, it is now our turn to immediately and as a first step attack the American fleet in Bahrain and at the same time close the Strait of Hormuz to American, British, German and French ships... pic.twitter.com/II0UgHqmaN

— Tariq Yousuf Alwi (@tariqyousuf110) June 22, 2025

No radioactive traces detected in Gulf states, says Saudi nuclear regulator

No radioactive traces have been detected in the environment of the kingdom or the Arab Gulf states as a result of US strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities, Saudi Arabia’s nuclear regulator said in a social media post on Sunday, as reported by Reuters.

Iran’s atomic energy organisation responds

Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation has issued a statement saying:

“At dawn today the country’s nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were attacked in a brutal act that violates international law, especially the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). This action, which is against international law, unfortunately took place under the indifference — or even complicity — of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The American enemy, through social media posts by the President of that country, has claimed responsibility for the attack on the mentioned sites, which are under the continuous supervision of the IAEA according to the Safeguards Agreement and the NPT.

"It is expected that the international community, while condemning this lawlessness rooted in the rules of the jungle, will stand by Iran in reclaiming its legitimate rights. The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran assures the great nation of Iran that, despite the malicious conspiracies of its enemies, with the efforts of thousands of its revolutionary and motivated scientists and specialists, it will not allow the development of this national industry — founded on the blood of nuclear martyrs — to be halted. This organisation has placed on its agenda all necessary actions, including legal follow-ups, to defend the rights of the noble Iranian people.”

Head of the #Iran's AEO, Eslami: All the sites targeted by #Israel are registered with the @iaeaorg and are under its supervision. We no longer have any trust in the #IAEA and its inspectors. pic.twitter.com/3zVmymS6jc

— Mohammad Ghaderi | محمد قادری (@ghaderi62) June 21, 2025

Netanyahu praises Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s decision to attack in a video message directed at the American president. “Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities, with the awesome and righteous might of the United States, will change history,” he said. Netanyahu said the U.S. “has done what no other country on earth could do,” he said in a televised address.

The decision to directly involve the US in the war comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that aimed to systematically eradicate the country’s air defences and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities. But US and Israeli officials have said American stealth bombers and the 30,000-pound (13,500-kg) bunker buster bombs offered the best chance of destroying heavily fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear programme buried deep underground.

🇮🇱🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/W6oKsRPIH2

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) June 22, 2025

No plans to send in ground troops

The Associated Press reported that Trump had told reporters on Friday that he was not interested in sending ground forces into Iran, saying it’s “the last thing you want to do”. He had previously indicated that he would make a final choice over the course of two weeks. The White House and Pentagon did not immediately elaborate on the operation.

Fox News host Sean Hannity said shortly after 9.00 pm Eastern time that he had spoken with Trump and that six bunker buster bombs were used on the Fordow facility. Hannity said 30 Tomahawk missiles fired by US submarines 400 miles away struck the Iranian nuclear sites of Natanz and Isfahan.