In a dramatic late-night announcement on Saturday, June 21, 2025, former President Donald J. Trump, via his X account, claimed that the United States military successfully conducted airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
The post, timestamped 23:53 UTC, stated that a "full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," with all planes now safely returning home. Trump congratulated the "great American Warriors" and declared, "NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE," marking a significant escalation in U.S. involvement in the ongoing Iran-Israel tensions.
The targeted sites are central to Iran’s nuclear program. The Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, located 160 km south of Tehran and buried up to 80 meters underground, has been a focal point of international concern since its disclosure in 2009. According to Wikipedia’s updated entry on "Nuclear Facilities in Iran" (last edited June 22, 2025, 02:12 UTC), Fordow has been enriching uranium, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reporting in March 2023 that enrichment reached 83.7%—just shy of the 90% needed for a nuclear weapon. Natanz and Esfahan host additional enrichment and conversion facilities, making them critical targets in efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
The announcement aligns with Trump’s long-standing opposition to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. A White House statement from June 17, 2025, reiterated his pledge: “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” a stance he has maintained since at least 2011 (White House, www.whitehouse.gov). However, the depth and fortified nature of Fordow raise questions about the strikes’ effectiveness, with no independent verification available as of this report.
This move follows heightened tensions in the Iran-Israel proxy conflict, as detailed by Wikipedia’s “Iran–Israel Proxy Conflict” page (updated June 21, 2025, 22:20 UTC). The Associated Press reported on June 22, 2025, at 05:18 UTC, that the U.S. joined Israel’s efforts to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program, with Trump speaking from the White House alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Reactions and Controversy
The announcement sparked a wave of reactions on X, reflecting a polarized response:
Journalist Billy Jensen (@Billyjensen) posted a meme from a comedy sketch, captioning it “Now is the time for peace,” subtly mocking the juxtaposition of violence and peace rhetoric.
Some Republican congressmen, per AP News (June 22, 2025), praised Trump’s decision, viewing it as a fulfillment of his campaign promise to prevent Iran’s nuclearization, despite his earlier pledge to avoid “stupid wars.”
Prominent conservative voice Gunther Eagleman (@GuntherEagleman) expressed betrayal, stating, “You will go down as the worst president in history. Congratulations on betraying the American people.” This echoes earlier sentiments, such as a 2011 Trump tweet warning of war with Iran under Obama, resurfaced by @InsaneCope
(00:22 UTC, June 22, 2025), highlighting a perceived policy reversal.
Analysis
The strike marks a significant shift, with the U.S. directly inserting itself into the Iran-Israel conflict, contradicting Trump’s 2025 campaign rhetoric of Middle East stability, as reported by BBC on June 18, 2025. The “time for peace” claim may reflect a strategic pivot to negotiate from strength, though it has fueled debates about U.S. foreign policy consistency. Independent analysts, including those cited by AP, note the risk of retaliation, with Iran’s proxy networks—detailed in Wikipedia’s conflict overview—potentially escalating regional instability.
As of 06:44 AM WAT, no official U.S. government statement beyond Trump’s X post has confirmed the operation, and Iran has yet to release a detailed response. The international community awaits further developments, with the IAEA likely to assess the damage to Fordow and other sites in the coming days.
