WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Iran following a series of airstrikes on its nuclear infrastructure, warning that Tehran must choose peace or face “far greater” military consequences.
In a nationally televised address late Friday, Trump hailed the strikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites as a “spectacular military success,” claiming they had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities.
“These were Iran’s most fortified and strategically important facilities — and they are now destroyed,” Trump said, referring to the use of GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs in the precision attacks.
Framing the operation as a defensive measure, the president described Iran as “the bully of the Middle East” and “the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.” He added that the US had no desire for prolonged conflict but would not hesitate to escalate further if Iran refused to change course.
“There are many targets left,” he warned. “Tonight’s operation was the most challenging — and perhaps the most lethal — but if peace does not come swiftly, we are prepared to act again with precision, speed, and strength.”
Trump also thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his close cooperation during the operation, noting that the two countries had coordinated closely to neutralize what he called a “shared threat.”
“We worked together like no team has ever worked before,” he said. “We’ve taken a major step toward erasing this threat to Israel and to global security.”
Closing his remarks, Trump urged Tehran to choose diplomacy: “Now is the time for peace. But if peace is not chosen, future responses will be faster, stronger, and far more devastating.”
The strikes — which reportedly targeted Iran’s most critical nuclear research and enrichment facilities — have drawn international concern, with many watching closely for Iran’s potential response. Tehran has not yet officially confirmed the full extent of the damage.
