Red Alert: Iran Warns Of Fierce Response As Nuclear Sites Come Under Fire

The Iranian government has issued a strong warning to the United States, threatening military retaliation against American bases in the Middle East. This comes in the aftermath of a series of intense airstrikes by U.S. forces on key Iranian nuclear facilities.

President Donald Trump hailed the attacks—which targeted Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan using powerful bunker-buster bombs—as a “spectacular military success.” While U.S. officials claim the strikes dealt a serious blow to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, the full scale of the damage is yet to be confirmed.

Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that any nation facilitating U.S. attacks on Iran would also be treated as a legitimate military target.

“Countries in the region or elsewhere that assist U.S. operations against Iran will not be spared,” Velayati stated through the IRNA news agency, adding that Washington should prepare for “irreparable consequences” for attacking “the heart of the Islamic world.”

In a national address and social media posts, Trump celebrated the strike’s success, declaring, “We took the bomb right out of their hands,” while still calling on Iran to abandon hostilities and seek peace.

At a Pentagon briefing, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the mission as a significant setback to Iran’s nuclear goals. “Their program has been crippled,” he said, adding that civilian or military personnel were not directly targeted. General Dan Caine added that all three nuclear sites had sustained “extensive damage,” though full assessments are ongoing.

Iran Responds With Defiance

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed a strong response, as thousands rallied across Tehran against what they called U.S.-Israeli aggression. In Semnan Province, distant from the targeted sites, residents voiced concern over the worsening crisis.

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that although infrastructure was hit hard, Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium remains intact. “We are now focused on neutralizing that fuel before it can be weaponized,” he said.

Ali Shamkhani, another senior advisor to Khamenei, took to social media to emphasize Iran’s enduring nuclear expertise and determination. “Even if sites are demolished, knowledge and will endure,” he wrote.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirmed to the UN Security Council that satellite images showed significant structural damage, including craters at Fordo, although no radiation leaks had been detected.

Escalation Across the Region

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Western Wall to pray for Trump, commending his “historic action.” Meanwhile, Iran launched missile strikes on Israeli targets, including Ben Gurion International Airport, injuring at least 23 people.

In retaliation, Israel launched further air raids, killing nine IRGC members and pushing the region deeper into crisis. Iran’s Health Ministry reported over 400 Iranian deaths since the strikes began, while retaliatory attacks have left 24 dead in Israel.

The UAE, Qatar, and Oman, key mediators in past U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, condemned the strikes and urged immediate de-escalation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of a dangerous spiral of violence if both sides do not stand down.

Adding to regional fears, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels threatened to target U.S. ships in the Red Sea if Washington intensifies its role in the growing conflict.