Israel-Iran war : Trump says Iran's key nuclear sites 'obliterated' by US airstrikes

On the night of June 21, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that U.S. B‑2 stealth bombers—carrying Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-buster bombs—struck three fortified Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Fordow, deeply buried under a mountain, received six 30,000‑lb bombs; Natanz and Isfahan were hit by Tomahawk cruise missiles from U.S. submarines.

Trump called the operation a “spectacular military success” that “completely obliterated” Iran’s enrichment capabilities . He warned that future strikes could be even more severe if Iran did not pursue peace.

Iran’s Response

Iran condemned the strikes as a “grave violation” of international law and framed them as acts of “all‑out war” . Tehran vowed to resist “with all its might,” assuring that its nuclear program would continue. It launched a barrage of missiles—at least 40—targeting Israel, injuring dozens and damaging infrastructure. Meanwhile, the IAEA and UN confirmed there were no detectable radiological leaks from the strikes.

Global Economic Impact

Oil & Energy Markets

• Oil prices spiked immediately—by roughly 7–11% following earlier Israeli strikes and would likely push above $100/barrel if tensions persisted.

• Investors feared disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil thoroughfare handling about 20 million barrels daily.

Financial Markets & Safe Havens

• Stock futures dipped (S&P, Dow) and risk assets struggled; meanwhile gold, U.S. dollar, and Swiss franc surged as safe havens.

• Cryptocurrencies took a short-term hit—Ether down ~5%, Bitcoin ~1%.

Broader Economy

• Experts warned that even a $10/barrel spike in oil could shave ~0.5% from global GDP and fuel inflation.

• Markets entered a fragile state, already coping with lower growth forecasts, tariff pressures, and inflation risks.

Trump’s Messaging Strategy

• Emphasized U.S. strength and deterrence: “time for peace” after delivering devastating strikes .

• Loudly touted the success, calling it “completely and totally obliterated” and urging Iran to “make peace”—while affirming military options if provoked .

• Justified the use of B‑2s—each costing ~$2.1 billion—for their stealth and capacity to deploy the Massive Ordnance Penetrator deep into bunkers.

Iran’s Strategic Calculus

• Exploited the deep-buried nature of Fordow to leverage its fortified infrastructure; U.S. decided only it could destroy such a hardened target with its unique ordnance .

• Iranian leadership—reinforced by Supreme Leader Khamenei’s fatwa against nuclear weapons—viewed the strikes as justification to accelerate nuclear development for deterrence.

• Iran closed off ongoing nuclear talks, citing the strikes as unlawful and paused cooperation with the IAEA .

International & Regional Fallout

• Israel applauded Trump’s decisive action; Netanyahu hailed it as “righteous” and “history‑changing”.

• UN Secretary-General and European leaders voiced alarm, warning of rapid escalation and catastrophic consequences .

• Russia cautioned the world is “millimeters away from nuclear catastrophe,” offering mediation—Trump declined .

• U.S. lawmakers remained starkly divided: Republicans largely backed Trump, while Democrats criticized bypassing Congress and risking a wider war .

Summary

1. The Strike: U.S. B‑2s and Tomahawks hit Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities—destroyed, according to Washington.

2. Trump’s Message: Declared success, demanded peace, threatened more strikes, praised B‑2 capability.

3. Iran's Response: Condemned attack as illegal, vowed “all options,” launched missiles, paused nuclear diplomacy.

4. Economic Ripples: Oil and markets jittery, safe‑havens rallied, growth and inflation concerns deepened.

5. Global Reactions: Israel supportive; UN/EU/Russia urgent for de-escalation; U.S. political tug-of‑war ensues.

What’s Next to Watch

• Oil prices: Will prices stay elevated or stabilize with OPEC+ supply actions?

• Escalation tug‑of‑war: How Iran retaliates—via region, cyber, maritime chokepoints.

• Diplomatic effort: Can Russia or other actors reset negotiations, or will Iran double down on nukes?

• U.S. politics: Domestic debate may intensify, especially over war powers and oversight.

This strike marks a massive shift: for the U.S., a move from deterrent rhetoric to direct military action. For Iran, it’s a crucible moment—nuclear resistance and global defiance may define the next era. And for the global economy, volatility is likely to persist as participants and policymakers grapple with newfound uncertainty.