What to know after US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites

The United States has entered the Israel-Iran war, with President Donald Trump confirming US forces carried out attacks on three Iranian uranium enrichment sites.

The attacks come days after Trump, who is also commander-in-chief of the US military, mused whether to enter the escalating conflict amid ongoing calls from Israel for his support, and said he would make a decision within two weeks. 

The war began on June 13 with Israel launching a series of airstrikes against targets linked to Iran’s nuclear program.

Since then, attempts by other nations to broker a diplomatic solution to the fast escalating conflict have failed. 

What has the US done to Iran’s nuclear facilities?

On Saturday (US time), Trump announced US forces had attacked Iran’s Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities.

The Pentagon on Sunday confirmed seven B-2 Spirit bombers flew non-stop from a US Air Force base in Missouri to launch the attacks before returning home. 

Among the payload were 30,000-pound (13,600-kilogram) “bunker-busting” warheads, thought to be the only weapon capable of penetrating deep below the surface to strike at Iran’s subterranean nuclear facilities, and a key reason why the US entered into the conflict.

Were the attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites successful?

Trump claimed “the attacks were a spectacular military success” in a press conference following the three-site attack.

“Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” he said.

While the attacks likely caused significant damage, the extent is yet to be independently verified. Germany believes “large parts” of Iran’s nuclear program have been damaged by the strikes.

However, some analysts believe enriched uranium may have been removed prior to the attack based on satellite images showing activity at the Fordo site.

“Enriched uranium stock may therefore have been transferred to sites not monitored by the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency],” French nuclear expert Heloise Fayet told the AFP news agency.  

Is there a risk of nuclear radiation leaks because of the strikes?

Reports from Iran indicate there has been no increase in “off-site radiation levels” following the attacks.

The IAEA, which will hold an emergency meeting on Monday, has warned that damage to uranium enrichment sites, like the ones attacked by the US, carries the risk of radiation leakage, which could affect the public.

More concerning would be an attack on the Bushehr nuclear reactor— Iran’s only such facility — which IAEA chair Rafael Grossi last week warned could lead to a large-scale release of radioactivity. 

Why did the US become involved?

During the election campaign, Trump promised a more peaceful world if he returned to the White House, well aware of public sentiment surrounding America’s so-called “forever wars.”  

At his inauguration, he said his administration would measure success “not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end, and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.”

His decision to enter the US into the conflict between two long-standing enemies in the Middle East is a notable turnabout from those January remarks. 

The US and other nations have long been concerned about Iran’s desire to develop nuclear weapons despite statements from Iran that its nuclear program serves exclusively civilian purposes.

A previous deal overseen by then US President Barack Obama, which included the signatures of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, limited Iran’s enrichment to energy-generation grades, forced it to both surrender 98% of its enriched uranium and open the door to IAEA inspectors in exchange for eased sanctions.

Following his first election victory, Trump withdrew the US from the agreement and called on Iran to return to negotiations on his terms.

In the years since that withdrawal, Iran has restricted IAEA monitoring and inspection activities, and increased its enrichment reportedly to 60% — well above what is required for civilian energy generation and approaching weapons-grade levels.

Israel’s June attacks on Iran followed five rounds of US-Iran negotiations over a new deal. Iran withdrew from a scheduled sixth round of talks after being attacked by Israel and launched its retaliatory strikes.

Now that the US has entered the conflict, Trump is seeking a swift resolution.

“There will be either peace of there will be tragedy for Iran,” Trump said. “Far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left.”

How is the rest of the world responding?

Beyond praise from Israel and condemnation from Iran, there has been a mixed response to the US insertion into the war.

Regional governments, including those of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Pakistan, India and Iraq, have all expressed concern. Many have explicitly called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations amid fears they too may be drawn into a wider conflict.

Traditional US allies have urged a diplomatic solution, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the European Union among them.

Through a spokesperson, German Chancellor Frederich Merz called on Iran to “immediately enter into negotiations with the US and Israel and find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.” 

Those sentiments were echoed in public statements by Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and France and Italy’s foreign ministers. 

US rivals China, Russia, both allies of Iran, condemned the US attacks.

There are also splits over Trump’s decision to involve the US closer to home.

Many of Trump’s Democratic Party opponents have condemned the decision not to seek the approval of Congress as unconstitutional.

While many Republicans, led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, have publicly supported the decision, others, such as Representatives Warren Davidson and Thomas Massie, have echoed Democrats over the sidelining of congress.

Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the most vocal advocates for Trump’s “America First” agenda, said the Israel-Iran conflict was “not our fight.”

Will this expand into a bigger conflict?

Despite the US now involving itself in the Israel-Iran war, Hegseth told reporters on Sunday the Trump administration “does not seek war” with Iran. 

Nor, he said, was it about overthrowing the Iranian regime.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, concerns will turn to the potential for any further attacks by either side, and the potential for radiation leaks from the destruction of nuclear sites. 

Inside Israel, the news of the US attacks was followed by air raid sirens, prompting locals to take shelter. Some have welcomed Trump’s intervention, despite the escalation possibly shifting the region into the unknown.

The US has warned Iran against retaliatory strikes and again called for it to return to negotiations. 

Iran has responded to the attacks by warning of “everlasting consequences” for the US, and declaring its nuclear program would continue. 

Amid this, Iran’s diplomats intend to meet with ally Russia, and its parliament has approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping channel, subject to confirmation by its national security council.