Early on Sunday morning (Iran time), U.S. President Donald Trump announced America had bombed Iranian nuclear facilities.
It comes nine days after Israel launched an attack on nuclear and military targets in Iran, citing concerns about progress toward a nuclear bomb. The two nations are now at war.
The U.S. is Israel’s closest ally, and has a hostile relationship with Iran.
Here’s what you need to know.
Background
Last week, the UN’s nuclear watchdog warned Iran was not able to show evidence “its nuclear material was not being diverted for... military use”.
The following day, Israel launched strikes across Iran, including nuclear sites. Iran struck back on Israeli cities Tel Aviv and Haifa.
Both sides have said they are aiming for military infrastructure; both have killed civilians.
Iranian authorities report more than 400 deaths, mainly civilians. Israeli authorities report 25 civilian deaths.
U.S. attack
In an address at the White House a short time ago, Trump said: “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.”
Trump said he had been working “as a team” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“There are many targets left... There will be either peace, or there will be far greater tragedy for Iran than we have witnessed over the last eight days… If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets,” Trump added.
Trump did not specify what kind of bombs the U.S. used on the nuclear facilities in his speech.
However, military sources have told The Associated Press that the U.S. used ‘bunker busters’, heavy bombs that drop deep into the earth before detonating.
Reuters reported the U.S. had mobilised planes large enough to carry these bombs earlier on Sunday.
One of Iran’s key nuclear sites is underground near Tehran.
Response
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Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement: “President Trump and I often say: ‘Peace through strength.’ First comes strength, then comes peace... tonight, President Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength.”
Israel has raised its alert level after the strike.
Iran’s nuclear agency confirmed attacks on three sites, and said it will not stop its work. It told The New York Times it would sue the U.S. for violating international law. There has been no other response from Iranian leadership so far.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he is “gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today... At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Australian Government said: “We have been clear that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a threat to international peace and security. We note the US President’s statement that now is the time for peace... We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy.”
Congress
Under the U.S. Constitution, only the Congress (House of Representatives and Senate) can authorise a war.
However, the President is also the Commander in Chief of the U.S. armed forces.
In this capacity, he can authorise the use of military force against another country without Congressional approval under certain circumstances.
It was under this power that Trump ordered a strike on Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
Under a law passed in 1973, the President is meant to inform Congress within two days of taking military action against another country of “the circumstances necessitating” it.
The law also requires withdrawal of U.S. troops 60 days after the action, unless Congress authorises further action.
In a post to X on Sunday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, said: “Leaders in Congress were aware of the urgency of this situation and the Commander-in-Chief evaluated that the imminent danger outweighed the time it would take for Congress to act.”
Democrats and Republicans are divided on the strikes.
For: Senator John Fetterman (Dem), who called it “the correct move”; Representative Marsha Blackburn (Rep), who said it was “a victory for the United States”.
Against: Representative Warren Davidson (Rep), who said that while it may be “just,” he did not believe it was in line with the Constitution; Senator Tim Kaine (Dem), who called it “idiotic” and “horrible judgment”.
