When Did Trump Authorise The Strikes On Iran's Nuclear Sites? JD Vance Says This

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The strike took place early Sunday, involving 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs dropped on the three nuclear sites in Iran.
The US military's strike on Iran's Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz nuclear sites was authorised by President Donald Trump just minutes before the operation, Vice President JD Vance confirmed on Sunday.
During an appearance on NBC, Vance said Trump made the final call to proceed with the bombing 'minutes before the bomb dropped," noting that the mission could have been aborted until the very last moment.
'He decided to proceed," Vance told host Kristen Welker.
Vance emphasized that the US is 'not at war with Iran," adding, 'We're at war with Iran's nuclear program."
His remarks came as confirmation of the high-stakes decision, which followed days of internal deliberations. Trump had earlier instructed his press secretary to reference a two-week period of discussion while he continued private talks, including those leaning toward greater US involvement in Israel's military operations.
The final green light was reportedly given to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after diplomatic efforts, led by US envoy Steve Witkoff, failed to yield results.
The strike took place early Sunday, involving 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs dropped on the three nuclear sites in Iran. According to the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, the mission was historic in scale and significance.
US Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated, 'This was the largest B-2 operational strike in US history, and the second longest B-2 mission ever flown, exceeded only by those in the days following 9/11."
Speaking from the White House, Trump explained that the decision was aimed at the 'destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror."
Following the strikes, Iran accused the United States of having 'decided to destroy diplomacy" and warned that its military would determine the 'timing, nature and scale of Iran's proportionate response."
First Published:
June 23, 2025, 09:24 IST

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