World braces for what Iran might do next after US attacks three nuclear sites
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Israel has shut down schools and banned gatherings across the country, and American troops are bracing for counter-attacks, as the world waits to see how Iran will respond to today's US strikes.
Iran has already launched missiles at Israel as its Tel Aviv citizens scramble to shelter with reports of some casualties.
President Donald Trump said the US 'successfully' carried out air strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, 'obliterating' the Fordow facility as well as those in Natanz and Isfahan.
After the attacks, Hossein Shariatmadari, a representative of Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the Islamic republic was ready to respond.
'Now it is our turn to, without wasting time, as a first step, fire missiles at the US naval fleet in Bahrain and at the same time close the Strait of Hormuz to American, British, German and French ships,' he said in the Iranian Kayhan newspaper.
Later, an official statement from the Iranian Foreign Minister warned 'the United States has launched a dangerous war' and would be 'fully responsible' for the 'consequences'.
Israeli air defence system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Mr Trump told Iran the US was willing to continue its aerial campaign on Iran, including 'greater' future attacks, if it did not comply with peace efforts.
'Any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight,' he said in a late-night post to Truth Social.
As the world waits to see how the Iran will respond, US military leaders are reportedly warning troops to brace for potential retaliatory strikes.
There are more than 40,000 US troops and civilians working for the Pentagon across the Middle East, according to figures from the New York Times, in nations such as Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emitrates.
US President Donald Trump addresses the nation, alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) from the White House in Washington, DC on June 21, 2025, following the announcement that the US bombed nuclear sites in Iran. Picture: Carlos Barria / NewsWire POOL
Experts all agreed that Iran would retaliate against the US and Iran's foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi hinted on social media that nothing was off the table.
He described the US attack as 'outrageous' and one that 'will have everlasting consequences'.
'The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations,' he wrote on X.
'The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour.'
'In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defence, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.'
This handout satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Isfahan nuclear enrichment facility in central Iran on June 14, 2025, after it was hit by Israeli strikes. President Donald Trump said June 21, 2025 the US military has carried out a "very successful attack" on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordo. Picture: Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies / AFP
Retired US army officer John Spencer told ABC News that Iran could respond to the conflict via an 'irrational route'.
'It could go with Hezbollah, which still has a lot of capabilities, against Israel, (and where) there are hundred of thousands of American citizens,' he said.
'It could (activate) Shia-backed militia groups in Iraq to attack American bases. It's ballistic program, which is about 50 per cent destroyed, it could make that fatal mistake of launching ballistic missiles at American bases within its range.'
Meanwhile Omar Rahman, from the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, told the ABC that Iran had its 'back to the wall' and it's only option was to retaliate to ensure the regime's credibility.
'I think you're going to see some sort of military response here against US assets and military installations in the region,' he said.
'That could be against aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf, it could be against any number of the bases and tens of thousands of US soldiers stationed in the region.'
Chillingly, others have warned that the US attack good push Iran to develop a nuclear weapon and this was likely the beginning of the war, rather than the end.
A picture of the destruction at site of an Iranian missile attack in a residential area in Beersheba in southern Israel, on June 20, 2025. Israel and Iran exchanged fire again on June 20, a week into the war between the longtime enemies. (Photo by MAYA LEVIN / AFP)
Israel, meanwhile, is bracing for further Iranian retaliation.
Shortly after Mr Trump confirmed the US strikes, the Israel Defence Force's Home Front Command declared all schools across the country would close, social gatherings were banned and only essential businesses were allowed to operate, effective immediately.
Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee, who heads the IDF's Arab media unit, issued an update to security restrictions in Israel.
'It was decided to move all regions of the country to the level of essential work,' he wrote on X.
'The instructions include prohibiting educational activities, gatherings, and work centres, with the exception of essential work areas.'
People sit outside pitched tents as they take shelter at a bus station in Tel Aviv on June 21, 2025 amid fears of an Iranian missile attack. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)
Around the world some are sounding the alarm that the escalation of the war could result in dire consequences.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the US strikes on Iran were a 'dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.'
'There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world,' he said.
'At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.'
Originally published as World braces for what Iran will do next
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ABC News
31 minutes ago
- ABC News
Australia backs US strikes on Iran while urging return to diplomacy
Australia has given its support to US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities but has repeated calls for de-escalation to avoid a wider war. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Monday Australia was in favour of any action to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, after the government had initially adopted a more cautious tone, declining to give its explicit support. "The world has agreed Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon, so yes, we support action to prevent that, and that is what this is," she told ABC AM, citing a UN watchdog finding that Iran had acquired enriched uranium at "almost military level". Senator Wong said Australia had not received a request for assistance and had been advised that Pine Gap, a shared military facility, had not been engaged. While she declined to speculate on the response to any such request, she said Australia was "deeply concerned" about the prospect of escalation. "The key question for the international community is what happens next … It's obviously a very precarious, risky and dangerous moment the world faces," she said. "Now is the time for diplomacy. Now is the time for de-escalation and that call is to all parties." The National Security Committee, comprised of key ministers, will meet in Canberra this morning. Australia's explicit expression of support for the strikes goes a step further than allies including the UK, Canada and New Zealand, although all three countries have emphasised the risk of Iran gaining nuclear weapons. The Coalition supported the strikes on Sunday and also says it does not want further war, but has put the onus on Iran to negotiate peace. "We want to see Iran come to the negotiating table to verify where that 400 kilos of enriched uranium is," Andrew Hastie told ABC Radio National. Mr Hastie, who is acting as the opposition's foreign affairs spokesperson, said the Australian government had been "flat-footed" but he was pleased by the condemnation. "I'm glad to see that Penny Wong has essentially endorsed our position and I'm glad we have bipartisanship on this," he said. Dave Sharma, a Liberal senator and former Australian ambassador to Israel, said the government's response was "underwhelming and perplexing" on Sunday and that support for the strikes "should be a straightforward position for Australia to adopt". The Greens are against the strike, with defence spokesperson David Shoebridge calling Donald Trump a "warmonger" and demanding Australia clarify it will not get involved. "You cannot bomb your way to peace … and the people who are always going to pay the price are the ordinary people on the street," he said. Paul Foley, a former Australian ambassador to Iran, said Australia's response was "appropriate" but urged a return to diplomacy "as rapidly as possible". "We're moving into uncharted territory … There's a range of factors to be balanced by the Australian and other governments," he said. Mr Foley speculated there were three categories of response from Iran — to do nothing, to launch a "limited" response, or to attack US assets or facilities in the region. "A deal is still possible if both sides want one badly enough. President Trump came to office promising to be a peacemaker, and Iran also has indicated, in the past, a preference for going down the diplomatic path." Senator Wong said Australian officials were stationed at the land border in Azerbaijan to assist any Australians seeking to depart Iran while airspace remained closed, urging them to leave if possible while acknowledging this was "risky". I understand this is a very difficult time for the Australian-Iranian community," she said. About 2,900 Australians in Iran and 1,300 in Israel have registered their desire to leave, and the minister said Australia would move to assist those in Israel to depart by air now that airspace was reopening.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia supports US strikes on Iran
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has confirmed the Australian government's support for the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on Sunday. Donald Trump confirmed the strikes on three of Iran's nuclear facilities on Sunday, saying the US had dropped a 'full payload of bombs'. Labor did not hold a press conference on Sunday following the strikes, instead issuing comment via a government spokesperson acknowledging Mr Trump's statement while continuing calls for 'de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy'. Asked on Today on Monday morning whether the government supported the strike on Iran, Senator Wong said they 'support action to prevent Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon'. 'And that is what this is – so your answer, the answer is yes,' she said. 'I've said that upfront.' Host Karl Stefanovic pressed Senator Wong on whether support for the US strike contradicted the government's position of advocating for de-escalation. 'Oh, what I said was Iran had to come to the negotiating table, and we urged Iran to come back to the negotiating table and engage in diplomacy,' Senator Wong said. 'It's the same thing – I think the US President was saying it's the same thing, that Prime Minister Starmer was saying it's the same thing … but we are where we are now. 'The question is what happens next.' Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie promptly shared a joint statement on Sunday, saying the Coalition 'stands with the United States of America today'. 'The Coalition supports actions taken by the United States of America to ensure that the Iranian regime is stopped from acquiring nuclear weapons,' it said. 'While Australians will never seek conflict in the world, we can never forget that the Iranian regime is a militantly theocratic autocracy. 'It expressly seeks the destruction of our allies, enacts extrajudicial killings of political dissidents and brutally represses the rights of women and girls. 'It is the Iranian people who are the victims of this brutal regime and we stand in solidarity with them.'
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Australia finally takes a stance on Iran attack
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has finally confirmed Australia supports the bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities but has refused to say whether Australia's Pine Gap military base was used in the US attack. Nearly 24 hours after the US President said he had 'totally obliterated' three sites and the Coalition called for 'clarity', the Albanese Government has been forced to clarify whether Australia supported the decision. Speaking on Sunrise, Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek was the first to speak out after the Albanese Government did not conduct any television interviews on Sunday about the bombings. 'Well, yes, we do support the strikes, and I know the foreign minister is going to be in your program later. We certainly don't want to see full scale war in the Middle East,'' Ms Plibersek said. On Sunday, the Albanese Government released a statement but did not do any on camera interviews after the attacks. 'We have been clear that Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a threat to international peace and security,'' the statement said. 'We note the US President's statement that now is the time for peace.' Foreign Minister Penny Wong's first television interview was on the Today show on Monday morning where she was immediately asked to clarify that statement. 'Why did it take so long for you to publicly state your position?' Today show host Karl Stefanovic asked. 'I don't accept that characterisation, Karl. I'm here talking to you now,'' Senator Wong replied. 'That's 24 hours after the world reacted,'' Stefanovic countered. 'Well, I think you saw a statement from the government. Yesterday. The Deputy Prime Minister was obviously up in the morning. 'We support action to prevent Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. And that is what this is. So we support action to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.' Questions over Pine Gap But questions remain over whether or not the US used the Pine Gap facility in the attacks. 'Was the US military base in Pine Gap used in this operation?' host Stefanovic asked. But Senator Wong dodged the question. 'You wouldn't expect me to comment on intelligence matters,'' she said. 'But what I would say is the US has made it clear this was a unilateral strike.' In other words, she declined to answer the question on Pine Gap but stressed the US acted alone in bombing Iran. 'So you don't know if US, Australian and satellite communications and signals intelligence?'' Stefanovic asked. 'That's the same question, and I've answered it,'' Senator Wong said. What is Pine Gap? Pine Gap is a joint US-Australian intelligence facility located near Alice Springs, Australia that is primarily used for signals intelligence collection, including telemetry from weapons systems, signals from antimissile and anti-aircraft radars, communications satellite transmissions, and microwave emissions. It also monitors military developments, and supports US military operations, including drone strikes. Senator Wong was asked the same question on ABC TV and again declined to answer. 'We don't comment on intelligence matters. We certainly don't comment on the matters you are asking me about,'' she said. 'The US made clear publicly these were unilateral 'I think it is important to remember that the facilities that were struck only existed for the purpose of Iran's nuclear program. That's what we are talking about. The world has long agreed Iran is not in compliance with its international obligations when it comes to nuclear material and the world long agreed it's not in the interests of collective peace and security for Iran to gain access to a nuclear weapon.' Defence Minister blindsided Defence Minister Richard Marles appeared blindsided by the attacks on Sunday morning telling Sky News shortly before the US dropped the bombs that he wasn't going to speculate on whether Iran was close to building a nuclear bomb and urging de-escalation and diplomacy. Do you believe the US would be justified in using a bunker bomb on the Fordow underground site?,'' Sky News host Andrew Clennell asked. 'Well, look, I'm not about to speculate on what the United States does,'' he replied. 'I mean, the position that we have articulated in relation to this conflict has been consistent from the outset, and that is that we are worried about the prospect for escalation here, and we've been urging de-escalation, we've been urging dialogue and diplomacy.' As he spoke, the US bombs were about to be dropped in Iran. Asked if he believed Iran was close to having a nuclear weapon, Mr Marles refused to say. 'Again, I'm not about to speculate on that, other than to say what I already have, and that is that the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile program is most definitely a threat to the peace and stability of not only the Middle East, but the world,'' he said. Call for 'clarity' Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison has backed President Trump's decision to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities as 'a last resort' urging Australia to now speak with clarity about why the US had to act. Describing the bombing as 'a necessary event', Mr Morrison stressed that the United States has launched a targeted mission that reflected the fact that it was the only ally of Israel with the military hardware to penetrate Iran's underground bunkers. 'There were no other options available to the President,'' Mr Morrison said. 'I think President Trump has been very clear about seeking to get an agreement with Iran. This was completely rejected, and made it very clear that there was no negotiation now there was the opportunity for complete capitulation and that was not offered, and they are the only military in the world that is capable of doing what it has just done, and that is what has happened.' But in a barbed observation on the conduct of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong And you're right that's going to be in less than 15 minutes from now. That address to the nation, I know I've interrupted your Sunday. I won't give you much longer. I just wanted to get one last thought, your last sort of consideration on how Australia should respond. I know you don't want to give advice to your successor unnecessarily. But do you have any views on how we should view this, this huge, quite significant development that we've seen this morning? Well, it's time for some clarity. I think there's been far too much ambiguity about this from Australia, far too much ambiguity. And it's time for clarity. And the clarity is we were dealing with a theocratic authoritarian state that sponsored an attack on a close friends in Israel back on the seventh of October, and they have shown their true colours. And Iran is not a friend of Australia. It's not a friend of Australia's interests. This is a this is a conflict not with the people of Iran who are wonderful people, creative.'
