Mr. Trump warns Iran: Every retaliation will be overwhelmingly responded to
On the evening of June 21, after his national speech, President Donald Trump posted a strong message on social media, warning Iran that any retaliatory action would face overwhelming retaliation from the US.
any retaliatory act by Iran against the US will be met with a response with much greater power than what we saw tonight. Thank you! Donald J. Trump, US President, Trump wrote on Truth Social.
According to analysts, Mr. Trump's post reflects his willingness to escalate if provinceided, while reaffirming the President's long-standing commitment that an Iran with nuclear weapons is "un acceptable".
Senior US officials will hold a press conference on the morning of June 22
President Donald Trump announced that senior officials will hold a press conference on the morning of June 22 (US time) at the Pentagon to provide information on the US campaign against Iran's nuclear facilities.
5am at Pentagon, General Dan Caine and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will hold a press conference at 8am tomorrow, Trump said at the end of his three-and-a-half-minute speech at the White House on the evening of June 21, which did not provide much specific details about the attack.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine has become one of Trump's key advisors throughout the Israel-Iran conflict, alongside CIA Director John Ratcliffe and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who was tasked by the president to seek diplomatic solutions.
President Trump thanks Israeli Prime Minister
I would like to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Netanyahu. We have worked together as a team perhaps an unprecedented team and we have come a long way to remove this terrible threat to Israel. I would like to thank the Israeli army for the wonderful work they have done.
Mr. Trump warns of more attacks on Iran
President Donald Trump warned that the US could attack more targets if Iran does not accept peace, and called for a diplomatic solution after the decision to attack three Iranian nuclear facilities on June 21.
Iran must now accept peace. If they don't, future attacks will be much bigger and much easier," Trump said in a national speech.
He added: "This cannot continue. Either there will be peace, or there will be a tragedy for Iran, much greater than what we have seen in the past 8 days. Remember, there are still many goals.
President Trump warned that the US could attack other targets with high accuracy, speed and skill and that could be done in just a few minutes.
President Trump speaks nationwide about the Iranian attack
US President Donald Trump speaks nationwide after announcing that the US has "succeded" in attacking 3 nuclear facilities in Iran.
Trump has previously considered military action as Israel and Iran continue to escalate airstrikes back and forth.
According to two sources familiar with the matter, the US has used behind-the-scenes channels to convey the message to Iran that President Donald Trump's attacks on nuclear facilities will be limited, and there are no plans to carry out any more attacks in the near future.
It is not yet clear how this message is conveyed, but it shows Mr. Trump's desire to continue pursuing a diplomatic solution to end the crisis.
Communications between the US and Iran have been interrupted over the past week, but on June 19, the White House said the two sides would continue to exchange information.
Speaking from the White House at 10:00 a.m. on June 21 US time (9:00 a.m. on June 22, Vietnam time), President Donald Trump described the US military attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities as a "spectacular military success".
"Tonight, I can report to the world that the attacks are a spectacular military success. Iran's vital nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and completely wiped out," Trump said in his first public address since the attacks began.
Israeli Prime Minister praises US attack
US President Donald Trump's decision to attack Iranian nuclear facilities will "change history" - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on the morning of June 22.
"Congratulations to President Trump, your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the great and just power of the United States will change history," Netanyahu said in a video statement.
" businesses and I often say, 'Peace through strength'. First is strength, then peace. And tonight, President Trump and the US have acted with great strength," Netanyahu added.
Investors predict oil prices and stock market after US attack on Iran
After President Trump said there was a "very successful attack" on three nuclear facilities in Iran, financial analysts and businesses had mixed views on market developments.
"This will increase uncertainty and volatility, especially in the oil sector," said Mark Spindel, chief investment officer at Potomac River Capital, Washington DC. This is a bold move and is in complete contrast to comments about the talks in the next two weeks.
Jamie Putin - executive partner at Harris Financial Group, Richmond, Virginia - said: "Oil prices will certainly increase dramatically after this initial news, but it is likely to stabilize in the next few days".
"I think this will be very positive for the stock market," said Mark Malek, investment director of Siebert Financial, New York. Therefore, this will bring a sense of security, especially in the context of the seemingly single act of attack, not that the US is pursuing a prolonged conflict."
Israel warned by the US about the Iranian airstrike
According to two White House officials, President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a phone call on the evening of June 21, local time, after the US airstrikes Iran's nuclear facilities.
The two officials said the US had informed Israel about airstrikes on Iran before the attack.
Iran confirms Fordow nuclear facility attacked
Iran's Tasnim news agency quoted a Qom official as saying that part of the Fordow nuclear facility was attacked.
"A few hours ago, after Qom's air defense system was activated and hostile targets were identified, part of the Fordow nuclear facility was attacked by the enemy," said Morteza Heydari, a spokesman for the Qom Provincial crisis Management Center.
Iran is likely to respond to US attack
There has been no response from Iranian officials. However, Iran's stance is very clear: If the US joins Israel in the military campaign against Iran, Iran will consider the US military and bases in the region as legitimate targets for attack.
There are about 19 US bases in the Middle East, which are home to about 40,000 US soldiers. Iran has said that US soldiers in the Middle East will not be safe if Washington participates in this conflict.
The three US nuclear sites that have just been attacked are very important in Iran's nuclear program. The nuclear facilities in Fordow and Natanz are the only two nuclear facilities in Iran that have enriched uranium at 60%. The nuclear facility in Isfahan is also being used by Iran to convert uranium.
According to IAEA's report in 2022, 90% of Iran's highly enriched uranium is stored at its nuclear facility in Isfahan.
There are six nuclear facilities in Iran and three facilities attacked by the US that are key linkages in Iran's nuclear program.
No radioactive materials at Iranian nuclear facilities attacked by the US
Iran's IRNA news agency said that no materials at the three Iranian nuclear facilities caused radiation. This comment shows that the Iranian government may have removed enriched uranium from nuclear facilities before the US attack.
US has no plans to carry out further military action against Iran
US President Donald Trump hopes that airstrikes ordered by him on three Iranian nuclear facilities will prompt Tehran to return to the negotiation table and there are currently no plans to carry out any other military actions inside Iran, according to sources familiar with the matter.
In recent days, Mr. Trump has said that US forces need to destroy Iran's solid nuclear facilities and has made a decision to act when the diplomatic process shows signs of stagnation.
Despite continued hopes that diplomacy could be resumed, US forces in the region are still ready for the possibility of Iran responding.
US lawmakers react in different ways
Representative Thomas Massie (Democratic Republic, Kentucky) wrote: This is unconstitutional.
Representative Sara Jacobs (Democratic, California) shared a similar view: Mr. Trumps airstrikes on Iran are not only unconstitutional but also an escalation, risking dragging the United States into another endless and deadly war.
However, some Republicans have expressed support for the military action.
Representative Andy Harris ( Mer Mer Mer state) called this an act of "creating peace with strength". An Iran with nuclear weapons would endanger the United States, Israel and the entire free world, he wrote. The US has taken drastic action to destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities, protect the lives of the American people, its allies and global stability.
Representative Don Bacon (bang Nebraska) also warned about the threat from Iran's nuclear weapons and said that " president Trump is protecting the United States".
Senator Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) wrote: "Attacking nuclear facilities is the right decision." He continued: Very good job, President @real DonaldTrump. To my compatriots: We have the best Air Force in the world. I am extremely proud.
Senator John Cornyn (Texas) praised Trump's leadership: "Chairman Trump has made a brave and correct decision to remove the nuclear threat from Iran. God bless America. Thank you to our great army and the resilient @POTUS. This is the image of a leader in the international arena".
Senator John Fetterman (Democratic, Pennsylvania) - who once had a different view from the Democrats on the war between Israel and Hamas - also supported the attack. This is the right step from @POTUS, he wrote. Iran is the world's leading terrorist sponsor and cannot possess nuclear capabilities. I am grateful and respect the best military force on the planet.
US aircraft attack 3 nuclear locations in Iran
On June 21, US President Donald Trump said that all aircraft have now left Iranian airspace.
"We have successfully completed a very successful attack on three nuclear locations in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan. All aircraft have now left Iranian airspace. A full bomb capacity has been dropped at the main location, Fordow. All aircraft were safe on their way home. I congratulate our great American Warriors. No other army in the world can do this. Now is the time for peace. Thank you for your interest in this issue," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
President Donald Trump announced that he will give a national speech at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time on June 21 (9:00 a.m. Vietnam time June 22) from the White House, after what he called a "very successful military operation" targeting Iran's nuclear facilities.
"I will give a national speech at 10pm, at the White House, about our very successful military operations in Iran. This is a historic moment for the US, Israel and the world. Iran must now agree to end the war. Thank you," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
President Trump also reposted a social media post with the content "Fordow has disappeared".
According to a close source, the US B-2 bombers were used in the attack on three Iranian nuclear locations that President Donald Trump mentioned in a post on Truth Social.
People in Qom, a city about 140km south of Tehran, heard several explosions outside the city, according to Iran's state media agency FARS News.
The Fordow nuclear power plant is located near Qom, built on a mountainside.
The explosions came after the air defense system in Fordow was activated.
