President Donald Trump said US airstrikes had 'totally destroyed' Iran's key nuclear facilities after Washington joined Israel's war with Tehran, a turning point in the Middle East.

In an address to the nation from the White House, Trump warned that the United States would launch more strikes if Iran did not make peace quickly.

The intervention by a president who has vowed to keep the US out of 'forever wars' threatens to seriously widen the conflict after Iran had already warned it would retaliate if Washington intervened.

"Tonight I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success," Trump said, adding that the key underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordow was hit, as well as sites in Natanz and Isfahan.

“Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and utterly destroyed. Iran, the Middle East’s aggressor, must now choose the path of peace,” he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on the strikes, saying that “with the formidable and just power of the United States, history will be rewritten.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi called the U.S. actions “illegal and criminal” and stressed that his country had the right to defend its sovereignty.

“The events this morning are outrageous and will have eternal consequences,” he wrote in X. “Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interests and people.”

Sirens sounded in Tel Aviv a short time later and explosions were heard in Jerusalem as Iranian state television reported another salvo of rockets.

Iran said there were “no signs of contamination” after the US strikes, and Saudi regulators said there were “no radioactive effects reported” in the Gulf region.

Iranian media confirmed that parts of the Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz sites had been attacked.

Surprise strike

Trump had earlier said he would decide “within two weeks” whether to join Israel’s campaign, a statement widely seen as a diplomatic solution. But the decision to strike came much earlier.

Flanked by Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump said future strikes would be “much more extensive” if a diplomatic solution was not reached.

“Remember, there are many more targets,” he warned.

However, there was no mention of regime change, despite Trump last week calling Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei an “easy target.”

The attack on the nuclear facilities was carried out by B-2 strategic bombers using so-called “deep-attack bombs” and by submarines launching Tomahawk cruise missiles, US media reported.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that a “full load of BOMBS” had been dropped on Fordow, and announced: “All planes are on their way back. Congratulations to our great American warriors.”

White House photos showed Trump wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat in the Situation Room, just before the strikes were announced.

After his address, Trump warned Iran not to take “any retaliatory action.” Iran and its allies have previously attacked US bases in the region, including in Iraq. Iran’s allies, the Houthis in Yemen, threatened on Saturday to resume attacks on American ships in the Red Sea if Washington joins the war.

After the first Israeli strike on June 13, Trump has escalated his rhetoric against Iran, repeating that the country should never have nuclear weapons. Israel and Iran have traded devastating strikes since then.

MAGA infighting

Trump spoke with Netanyahu after the strikes, and a senior White House official said Israel was informed in advance.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned earlier on Saturday of an “even more devastating” response if Israel’s nine-day campaign continues.

Iran denies seeking a nuclear bomb, with Pezeshkian saying the country’s right to a civilian nuclear program “cannot be taken away … by threats or war.”

Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in the early hours that "suicide drones" had been sent to "strategic targets" throughout Israel.

The US strikes on Iran could also cause domestic political turmoil for Trump.

The issue has caused a split in the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, with many key Republicans urging the US not to get involved in another foreign war.

Trump's first victory in 2016 came precisely on the background of his promises to withdraw America from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Democrats have also sharply criticized him.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said that Trump risks "being drawn into a potentially catastrophic war in the Middle East", while others accuse him of bypassing Congress in deciding on military action. | BGNES, AFP