The United States and Israel launched a coordinated wave of strikes on Iran early Saturday, a sharp escalation that officials said was aimed at crippling Iranian missile capabilities and pressuring Tehran over its nuclear program, while Iran vowed retaliation and began firing at U.S. positions and Israeli territory.
In a video message posted overnight, President Donald Trump described the campaign as a “massive and ongoing operation,” saying the United States intended to “destroy their missiles” and urging Iranians to “take over your government.” In Washington, officials framed the action as a limited, multi-day pressure campaign rather than the start of a prolonged war. Vice President JD Vance told The Washington Post this week there was “no chance” U.S. action would become a years-long conflict.
Inside Iran, reports of blasts and smoke clustered around major population centers, including Tehran and other cities. Iran’s foreign ministry accused the United States of striking while diplomacy was still underway and promised a “decisive” response that would “make the aggressors regret” the attack. Iranian officials separately described the strikes as indiscriminate; an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman called them “an egregious, unwarranted act of aggression” and alleged civilian harm, including a reported strike in Minab.
Within hours, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had begun retaliatory launches aimed at U.S. bases in the Gulf and at Israel. Alarms and air-defense activity were reported across multiple Gulf states that host American forces. Russia condemned the strikes as an “unprovoked act of armed aggression” and urged an immediate halt, while European leaders warned the new conflict could spiral; France’s Emmanuel Macron said it carried “grave consequences” for international peace and security. Oman’s foreign minister, who had been brokering indirect U.S.-Iran talks, said he was “dismayed” and warned the strikes would not serve U.S. interests.
Over the last few hours:
- Explosions reported in multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah; Iranian officials also cite Minab in allegations of civilian harm.
- Iran begins retaliatory missile and drone strikes aimed at U.S. bases in Gulf states and launches toward Israel, prompting air-defense activity and shelter warnings.
- Vice President Vance tells The Washington Post there is “no chance” the operation becomes a drawn-out war; U.S. officials describe a multi-day campaign.
- Russia denounces the strikes as an “unprovoked act of armed aggression” and calls for an immediate halt; Macron warns of “grave consequences.”
- Oman’s foreign minister, the broker of the nuclear talks, says he is “dismayed” and argues the strikes will not serve U.S. interests.
