These US attacks "will have eternal consequences": Iran's nuclear capabilities "totally destroyed" according to Donald Trump

These American attacks "will have eternal consequences," warned Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, saying that Iran reserved "all options to defend its sovereignty, its interests and its people."

Shortly after, Iranian state television announced the firing of 30 missiles at Israel. Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv, and loud explosions were heard from Jerusalem by AFP journalists.

The Israeli army said it was working to intercept the missiles and called on people in the targeted areas to take shelter.

"Iran's critical nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally destroyed. Iran, the kingpin of the Middle East, must now make peace ," the US president said at the White House, after days of maintaining uncertainty about a possible US intervention in Iran to support its Israeli ally.

"If they don't do this, the next attacks will be much bigger," he added in an extremely firm tone, threatening further strikes against Iran, which has the choice between "peace or tragedy."

The United States had carried out a "very successful" attack on three Iranian nuclear sites, Donald Trump had announced shortly beforehand.

"A full payload of bombs was dropped on the main site, Fordo," a uranium enrichment plant buried under a mountain and at the heart of Tehran's nuclear program, he continued. The two other sites targeted are Natanz, the best-known of the enrichment sites, and Isfahan, where a uranium conversion site is located near the historic city in the center of the country.

Iranian media confirmed the attacks on these three nuclear sites.

"A few hours ago (...) part of the Fordo nuclear site was attacked by enemy airstrikes," said Morteza Heydari, spokesman for the crisis management service of Qom province, quoted by the Tasnim agency.

Iran's nuclear safety authority, which is part of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said it had detected "no signs of contamination" at the three sites and assured that there was "no danger" to the population.

Similarly, the Saudi nuclear authority has detected "no radioactive effects" in the kingdom and other Gulf states.

B-2 bombers

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated his American counterpart on the attack in a video message. He also said the US attack was carried out "in perfect coordination" with Israel .

Mr. Trump is thus imposing a "historic turning point that can help lead the Middle East and beyond towards a future of prosperity and peace," he added.

Mr. Araghchi condemned "outrageous events (which) will have eternal consequences," denouncing Washington's "extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior . " "Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, its interests and its people," he added.

The US attacks "will not stop" Iran's nuclear activities, the country's Atomic Energy Organization also said.

Experts agree that only the United States had the capability to destroy Iran's deeply buried nuclear facilities like Fordo.

B-2 bombers, which took off overnight from a base in the United States, participated in the attack, US media reported, citing unidentified sources.

Donald Trump said on Friday that he would give Iran a "maximum" two weeks to avoid possible American strikes , but he ultimately decided to move forward alongside his Israeli ally, based on the observation, according to him, that Iran was "a few weeks, even a few months" away from an atomic weapon.

Until now, Washington had been content to provide defensive aid to Israel against Iranian missiles.

Following the US attack, Israel closed its airspace and raised its alert level across the country, where only so-called essential activities are now permitted until further notice.

"Spiral of Chaos"

Assuring that its arch-enemy was on the verge of obtaining nuclear weapons, Israel launched a massive attack on hundreds of military and nuclear sites on June 13, killing the country's top military officers and atomic scientists. Since then, Israeli strikes on targets in Iran have been a daily occurrence.

Iran, which denies wanting to acquire nuclear weapons and defends its right to a civil nuclear program, has responded with waves of drone and ballistic missile attacks on Israeli territory , most of which have been intercepted by defense systems.

On the Iranian side, the war has left more than 400 dead and 3,056 injured, mostly civilians, the Health Ministry said on Saturday.

Iranian strikes on Israel have killed 25 people, according to authorities.

Experts agreed that only the United States had the capability to destroy Iran's deeply buried nuclear facilities, including those at Fordo.

Iran has threatened retaliation against US interests in the Middle East if the United States decides to intervene directly in the conflict.

"The military operations in Iran should be a clear reminder to our adversaries and allies that President Trump means what he says. The president has given the Iranian leader every opportunity to make a deal, but Iran has refused to commit to a nuclear disarmament agreement," said Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Trump of pushing the United States toward war by authorizing the strikes.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed concern about a "dangerous escalation" and called for avoiding entering "a spiral of chaos" .