U.S. and Iran Tensions Escalate After Iran’s Nuclear Facility Attacks

President Trump has declared that Iran will “never rebuild” its nuclear program, amid claims from Tehran’s nuclear chief that preparations are already underway to restore the sites targeted in recent strikes.

Following a U.S. military attack involving bunker-buster bombs on three Iranian nuclear sites, Trump emphasized his resolve on social media, stating, “IRAN WILL NEVER REBUILD THEIR NUCLEAR FACILITIES!”

The strikes came after Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, announced that Iran was still evaluating the damage but had taken steps to maintain continuity in its nuclear activities. He assured that Iran had planned for such an event and had measures in place to restore its nuclear industry if needed.

Meanwhile, Trump criticized both Israel and Iran for allegedly violating a ceasefire he had brokered hours earlier, claiming that both nations “don’t know what the f–k they’re doing.” He expressed skepticism about Israel’s threat to resume airstrikes, asserting, “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long that they’ve lost all sense of direction.”

Iranian officials examining nuclear technology at an exhibition. — Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami (right) said Iran was still assessing the damage but insisted Tehran had been prepared for the onslaught. *IRANIAN PRESIDENT OFFICE HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock*

Further damage assessments revealed extensive holes and craters at Iran’s Fordow underground complex, a result of U.S. strikes that targeted the facility near Qom on June 22, 2025.

Satellite view of holes and craters on a ridge at the Fordow underground complex after a U.S. strike. — A closer satellite view shows holes and craters on a ridge at Fordow underground complex, after the U.S. struck the underground nuclear facility, near Qom, Iran June 22, 2025. *via REUTERS*

Moments after the strikes, Trump announced via social media that the ceasefire was still in effect, stating, “ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!”

Iran’s nuclear infrastructure suffered significant setbacks following an earlier surprise attack by Israel on June 13, which targeted missile capabilities and other strategic targets. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously claimed that Israel had achieved its objectives in dismantling Iran’s nuclear arsenal.