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On Politics

Sun Jun 22 2025

Rebecca Morin | Newsletter Writer

@RebeccaMorin_

Rebecca Morin here. I'm bringing you a special edition of On Politics after the United States bombed three nuclear sites in Iran.

U.S. joins Israel's war with Iran

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday said President Donald Trump "seeks peace" after the U.S. bombed three major nuclear sites in Iran. Hegseth, at a Pentagon briefing, said Iran's nuclear ambitions "have been obliterated." Now, the world is bracing from possible retaliation from Tehran after Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned of "everlasting consequences." Trump on Saturday said more strikes could come if Iran does not come to the negotiating table. Latest updates after U.S. strikes on Iran.

What happened? Bombs and missiles launched from U.S. warplanes hit nuclear sites at Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz in Iran. No U.S. personnel were injured in the operation, which struck Iran well after midnight on Sunday local time. A U.S. official said the attack employed the military's most powerful bunker-buster bomb as well as Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from submarines.

U.S. troops in the region: There are roughly 40,000 U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East, from bases in Bahrain to Syria and points in between. Now, those service members are vulnerable to counterattacks that could involve Iranian ballistic missiles, drones or terrorism. That's also not accounting for the U.S. citizens also living in the region. A U.S. Defense official said Iran can strike "all of them."

What Trump said: The president during a live address from the White House said Iran "must now make peace" or "future attacks will be far greater." Trump said Iran has called for the destruction of Israel and America for years. He has previously said Iran can't be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. "There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days," he said.

•	Watch President Trump's full address to the nation after the U.S. strikes Iran.
•	The world reacts: Calls for swift de-escalation, as well as some criticism, from leaders across the globe.
•	Could this 50-year-old law block Trump's actions in Iran?
•	What to know about 'bunker buster' bombs in US strikes on Iran.
•	Photos: See inside the Situation Room as Trump and the U.S. bomb nuclear sites in Iran.