US launches strikes on Iran, joining forces with Israel days after Trump's Tehran warning

The United States military launched airstrikes against Iran Saturday night – an attack that followed repeated demands from President Trump to surrender more than a week after Israel initiated extensive strikes on the country's nuclear infrastructure and military.
'We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space,' Trump posted on Truth Social just before 8 p.m. Saturday.
'A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.'
Trump spent days behind closed doors vacillating between negotiating a deal with Iran to limit its uranium enrichment and potentially joining Israel in bombing Tehran's nuclear facilities.
He said he would make his decision at the very last second – but noted he was ultimately fed up waiting for Tehran to give up its nuclear sites and disable its regime from developing a nuclear bomb.
'Very simple — unconditional surrender,' said Trump, who also encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to continue launching strikes Wednesday afternoon.
Israel began its attack on Iran Friday by taking out its top nuclear scientists and military officials responsible for the country's nuclear enrichment program.
As the two nations continued to trade deadly and destructive blows, Trump unleashed an open threat to Tehran to give up its nuclear program or else he'd seek a 'real end' to the Iran-Israel conflict.
He also revealed that the US knows 'exactly' where Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding out – but is letting him live 'for now.'
Khamenei, at least publicly, balked at Trump's demands that he concede defeat, with a spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry warning that US involvement would trigger 'all-out war in the region.'
'The US President threatens us,' Khamenei wrote on X. 'With his absurd rhetoric, he demands that the Iranian people surrender to him. They should make threats against those who are afraid of being threatened. The Iranian nation isn't frightened by such threats'
6 A handout picture provided by the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's office on March 21, 2025, shows him addressing the crowd during his annual Nowruz speech, in Tehran.
KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty Images
'It isn't wise to tell the Iranian nation to surrender. What should the Iranian nation surrender to?' the ayatollah asked. 'We will never surrender in response to the attacks of anyone.'
Asked about the ayatollah's response, Trump responded: 'I say good luck.'
6 Smoke rises following an Israeli attack on the IRIB building, the country's state broadcaster, in Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2025.
via REUTERS
Israel has asked the US to intervene to take out the Iranian Fordow nuclear facility buried deep in a mountain, as US military technology would have a good chance at eliminating it.
The US military has guided 30,000-pound 'bunker buster' bombs that could more effectively collapse underground nuclear facilities – averting a potential incomplete demolition of sites by Israel, which has been dropping 2,000-pound bombs sourced from America.
6 US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters about the G7 Summit aboard Air Force One while travelling back to Washington from Canada on June 16, 2025.
AFP via Getty Images
'We're the only ones that have the capability to do it, but that doesn't mean I'm going to do it — at all,' Trump said about the possibility of the US taking out the site, adding that he's 'thinking about it.'
He remained open to possibly meeting with the Iranian delegation in DC, saying they reached out about coming to the White House, but noted that it's difficult for them to leave given Tehran is under Israeli fire.
6 Smoke billows following an Iranian missile attack in Herzliya, central Israel, on June 17, 2025.
Xinhua/Shutterstock
Trump also claimed Iranian officials blew through a 60-day deadline to strike a deal.
The Israeli Air Force began conducting a new wave of airstrikes in western Iran later Wednesday, which was met with retaliatory missiles being launched from Tehran.
'The aircraft are striking operatives who are attempting to return and take munitions from the sites that were previously targeted,' said IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin.
6 Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing the launch of a targeted military operation against Iran in a video statement on June 13, 2025.
GPO/AFP via Getty Images
'Our message to them is clear: If you try to restore the terror capabilities in the area, you will be targeted.'
Russian President Vladimir Putin has apparently offered to mediate between Israel and Iran amid the escalating conflict — but Trump rejected the move.
Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the US, publicly warned of a 'surprise' Thursday or Friday.
He suggested, without divulging any detail, that a potential attack on Iran would make Israel's infamous Hezbollah pager detonation operation in Lebanon last year 'look simple.'
'Let's just say the world will understand how serious we are about stopping Iran's capabilities — and not just in Gaza or southern Lebanon,' Leiter told Merit TV on Monday.
'We've pulled off a number of surprises. When the dust settles, you're going to see some surprises on Thursday night and Friday, that will make the beeper operation almost seem simple.'

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