Iran warned Monday that U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear facilities had expanded the scope of legitimate targets for retaliation, calling U.S. President Donald Trump a gambler for joining Israel’s ongoing military campaign.
The remarks came a day after U.S. forces dropped powerful bunker-buster bombs on key Iranian nuclear installations, including the heavily fortified Fordow facility. The coordinated strikes, which followed weeks of Israeli aerial bombardments, marked Washington’s most direct military action against Iran in years.
Satellite imagery analysts suggest the U.S. strike caused severe damage at Fordow, a site long suspected by the West of uranium enrichment for weapons use. Trump confirmed the attack on social media, calling it a bullseye and claiming monumental damage had occurred underground.
Iran has denied that its nuclear programme is intended for military purposes. The United Nations nuclear watchdog, however, recently concluded that Iran violates its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
While the U.S. maintains that its objective is limited to dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities, Trump appeared to broaden the mission’s scope on Sunday.
Israel Launches Further Strikes
Simultaneously, Israel carried out another wave of attacks on Iranian military positions. The Israeli military said it targeted radar, missile, and air-defence systems in Tehran and Kermanshah, and hit a missile complex near Parchin, southeast of the capital.
Iran’s state media reported activation of air defences in central Tehran and claimed over 400 deaths from Israeli strikes, though most images and assessments remain restricted. Civilian evacuations from Tehran have intensified amid fears of continued bombardment.
Iran’s missile response has so far killed 24 civilians in Israel and injured hundreds. Israeli forces reported intercepting another missile launched early Monday.
Despite Tehran’s threats, Iran has not directly targeted U.S. military assets or taken action against the 20% of global oil traffic passing through the nearby Strait of Hormuz. However, its parliament has approved a measure to close the strait — a move that would require final clearance from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s top security body.
Oil markets reacted swiftly. Brent crude briefly spiked above $80 per barrel before settling down to $76.64 as traders assessed the risk of escalation.
As tensions mount, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss next steps. While Russia remains a strategic ally to Tehran, it also maintains diplomatic ties with Israel.
Araqchi reiterated that Iran would consider all military and diplomatic options, stating there would be no return to talks until after full retaliation. “This is not a time for diplomacy—not yet,” he said during a stop in Istanbul.
The conflict now threatens to drag the region into wider war, with global powers scrambling to prevent further escalation.