Iran pledges to retaliate following US attacks on its nuclear facilities

US President Donald Trump claimed the strikes had "obliterated" Iran’s nuclear capabilities, though other officials cautioned that it was still too early to assess the full extent of the damage to Tehran’s nuclear program.

As the world braced for Iran’s response, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described Israel’s bombing campaign launched on June 13 as "a big mistake."

"The Zionist enemy is facing punishment right now," Khamenei posted on social media. Sirens blared across both Israel and Iran early Monday as the two adversaries engaged in another round of missile and drone exchanges.

The Israeli military reported intercepting Iranian missiles, while Iran’s state-run Fars news agency said its air defense systems were repelling drone attacks.

Amid concerns that the conflict could ignite a broader regional war, oil prices surged more than four percent in early Monday trading. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on China to help dissuade Iran from blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route that handles roughly 20 percent of global oil shipments.

With Iran threatening US military bases across the Middle East, the State Department issued a global security alert warning Americans of potential risks abroad.

“The escalating conflict has disrupted travel and temporarily closed airspace in parts of the Middle East. There is a risk of demonstrations targeting US citizens and interests abroad,” the alert warned. It notably did not mention the US airstrikes on Fordo’s underground uranium enrichment plant, or the additional strikes on nuclear sites in Isfahan and Natanz.

‘Regime Change’

In central Tehran, protesters rallied on Sunday, waving flags and chanting slogans against the US and Israeli military campaigns.

In Semnan province east of Tehran, 46-year-old housewife Samireh told AFP she was "shocked" by the airstrikes. "Though Semnan is far from the targeted nuclear facilities, I worry for those living nearby," she said.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused Washington of being complicit in Israel’s offensive and vowed that Tehran would respond.

Though the Pentagon emphasized that regime change was not the US objective, Trump appeared to entertain the idea.

"It’s not politically correct to say ‘Regime Change,’" Trump wrote on Truth Social. "But if the current Iranian Regime can’t MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why shouldn’t there be regime change? MIGA!!!"

Later, he doubled down on his claims of success.

“Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term!” Trump posted, without sharing any images. “The most significant damage occurred deep underground. Bullseye!!!”

At a Pentagon briefing earlier, US General Dan Caine acknowledged that while full damage assessments were ongoing, preliminary evaluations indicated that all three nuclear sites suffered "extremely severe damage."

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s airstrikes would continue until its goal of dismantling Iran’s nuclear and missile programs was achieved.

“We are very, very close to completing that mission,” he told reporters.

‘Grave Consequences’

Following the US attack, which deployed more than a dozen bunker-buster bombs, Iran retaliated by targeting several sites inside Israel, including Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. At least 23 people were injured in these strikes.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported nine fatalities from Israeli strikes on central Iran. Local reports said three others were killed when an ambulance was hit. Iran’s health ministry said over 400 people have died from Israeli attacks, while Iranian attacks have resulted in 24 Israeli deaths, according to official figures.

At an emergency UN Security Council meeting, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi confirmed visible craters at the Fordo site but said it was too early to assess subsurface damage. He warned that attacks on nuclear facilities risk potential radioactive contamination with “grave consequences” both domestically and regionally.

Several regional powers expressed concern. The UAE, Qatar, and Oman — all previously involved in US-Iran nuclear negotiations — condemned the US strikes and urged restraint. France, Germany, and Britain called on Iran to avoid further actions that could destabilize the region.

North Korea, which has its own nuclear standoff with Washington, denounced the US strikes as a violation of the UN Charter.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of trying to "destroy nuclear diplomacy" with its military intervention and traveled to Moscow for consultations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, Russia, China, and Pakistan jointly circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Iran.