Newsletters
The Trump administration is bracing for potential retaliation from Iran, with the next 48 hours being of particular concern, according to two defense officials and a senior White House official speaking to NBC News.
It remains unclear whether any retaliation would target overseas or domestic locations, or both, the officials said following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Two officials familiar with military planning said earlier in the week that Iran already has plans on the books to target U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East if needed, though they cautioned at the time there were no indications of imminent deployment of the plans.
U.S. bases and assets have been at their highest state of alert for months, but after Israel began warring with Iran on June 13, officials said concerns were heightened even more about the potential for attacks on U.S. assets from Iran or its proxies in the region.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the U.S. airstrikes on his country will have lasting consequences and are unacceptable, following American attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Araghchi evaluated the U.S. attack on his country through a post on his X social media account. Reminding that the U.S. is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Araghchi stated that the Washington administration violated the UN Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by attacking his country's "peaceful nuclear installations."
"This morning's events are unacceptable and will have lasting consequences. Every member of the UN must be alarmed by this extremely dangerous, lawless, and criminal behavior," Araghchi said.
Minister Araghchi conveyed the message that Tehran "reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interests, and people" in accordance with the U.N. Charter and provisions that recognize the right to legitimate self-defense.
U.S. President Donald Trump had announced that they conducted airstrikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
"The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the U.N. Charter, international law, and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations. The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences.
Each and every member of the U.N. must be alarmed by this extremely dangerous, lawless, and criminal behavior. Under the U.N. Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people," Foreign Minister Araghchi said.
The U.S. struck Iran's Fordow nuclear facility with "six huge bunker buster bombs," Fox News' Sean Hannity reported, citing a phone call with US President Donald Trump.
Only the U.S. is known to have the 30,000-pound "bunker buster" bombs needed to damage Iran's Fordow nuclear enrichment facility, which is located 300 feet under a mountain.
Hannity added that Iran's Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities "were wiped out with 30 Tomahawk missiles launched by American submarines some 400 miles away."
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas called on all parties to return to the negotiating table following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
"Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, as it would be a threat to international security," Kallas said, calling on "all sides" to step back, return to the negotiating table, and prevent further escalation.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will meet on Monday after the United States bombs Iranian nuclear sites. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said, "In light of the urgent situation in Iran, I am convening an emergency meeting of the IAEA board of governors for tomorrow."
UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said Iran had "rejected" diplomatic solutions and emphasized that while the U.K. was not involved in the attacks, Britain has made "extensive preparations for all eventualities, including how we look after British nationals in the region."
Hostilities broke out on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes on several sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.
Israeli authorities said at least 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured since then in Iranian missile attacks.
Meanwhile, in Iran, 430 people have been killed and more than 3,500 wounded in the Israeli assault, according to the Iranian Health Ministry.
2 min read
5 min read
