ISTANBUL/WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM, June 22 (Reuters) – The world waited anxiously on Sunday for Iran’s reaction after the U.S. bombed major Iranian nuclear facilities, in the biggest Western military assault on the Islamic Republic since its 1979 revolution.
Iran threatened to defend itself a day after the US launched 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs onto the mountain over Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility as American leaders called for Tehran to back down and pockets of anti-war protesters surfaced in US cities.
In a Sunday posting on the Truth Social site, U.S. President Donald Trump broached the subject of regime change in Iran. “It’s not ‘politically correct’ to call it, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the present Iranian Regime can’t MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!” he posted.
Iran and Israel kept exchanging rounds of missile fire. An Israeli army spokesman reported that Israeli warplanes had hit military targets inside western Iran. Previously, Iran launched missiles that injured dozens of individuals and levelled buildings in Tel Aviv.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a warning of an “elevated threat environment” in the United States, raising fears of cyber attacks or acts of targeted violence. Police in major American cities increased patrols with an emphasis on religious, cultural and diplomatic targets.
The U.S. State Department sent out a security warning for all U.S. citizens overseas that cautioned against potential protests against Americans and flights being shut down throughout the Middle East. It urged them to “exercise increased caution.”
Tehran so far has not made good on its threats of attack against the United States – either by attacking U.S. bases or attempting to strangle world oil supplies – but that could change.
Addressing the Istanbul gathering, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicated his nation would examine all responses. There would be no resumption of diplomacy until it had retaliated, he indicated.
“The U.S. demonstrated they don’t respect international law. They only know the language of force and threat,” he stated. Trump, in a televised speech, ordered the strikes “a spectacular military success” and boasted that Iran’s main nuclear enrichment plants were “completely and destroyed.”
