Tehran: Iran issued a stern warning to the United States, threatening to target American military bases in the Middle East following significant air strikes that Washington claims have dismantled Tehran’s nuclear program. However, some officials have expressed uncertainty regarding the extent of the damage caused by the attacks.
According to France24.com, the international community is concerned that these unprecedented US attacks might escalate conflicts in the already volatile Middle East, especially after Israel initiated a bombing campaign against Iran earlier this month. Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, suggested that US bases used by American forces could be targeted as retaliation for the strikes.
“We had a spectacular military success yesterday, taking the bomb right out of their hands (and they would use it if they could!),” Velayati stated on social media. Meanwhile, the US president, while not explicitly advocating for regime change in Iran, hinted at the possibility, sparking further tension. On his Truth Social platform, he posted, “It’s not politically correct to use the term, Regime Change. But if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!”
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the media, stating that Iran’s nuclear program had been “devastated” by the operation, emphasizing that it did not target Iranian troops or civilians. General Dan Caine, also present at the briefing, mentioned that it was premature to assess the full extent of destruction but noted that initial evaluations suggested severe damage to all three targeted sites.
In a related development, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli military actions would continue until Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities are completely neutralized. “We are very, very close to completing them,” he assured reporters.
The situation has led to protests in Tehran, with citizens demonstrating against US and Israeli actions by waving flags and chanting slogans. President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that the US would face repercussions for the attacks. In Semnan province, east of Tehran, residents expressed shock and concern over the strikes, fearing for those living near the targeted nuclear facilities.
In his national address, the US president claimed success for the operation, a sentiment echoed by Vice President JD Vance on ABC. However, Vance also indicated that Iran still possessed highly enriched uranium, and efforts would be made to address this in the coming weeks.
Ali Shamkhani, another advisor to Khamenei, remarked on X that despite the destruction of nuclear sites, Iran’s enriched materials, indigenous knowledge, and political resolve remained intact. Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, briefed the UN Security Council on visible craters at the Fordo facility but reported no detected radiation leaks.
The risk of retaliation remains high, with Israel’s military evaluating the US raid’s impact on the Fordo site. The main US strike group, consisting of seven B-2 Spirit bombers, returned safely after the mission. In response to the air strikes, Iran targeted sites in Israel, resulting in injuries and fatalities, while Israeli strikes on Iran have led to numerous casualties.
French President Emmanuel Macron, along with Germany and Britain’s leaders, cautioned against further destabilization in the Middle East and urged Tehran to refrain from actions that could exacerbate the situation.