Trump says damage to Iran's nuclear sites is 'far below ground level'

Trump said the U.S. attacked three nuclear sites in Iran.

ByDavid Brennan, Meredith Deliso, Leah Sarnoff, Jack Moore, Nadine El-Bawab, Kevin Shalvey, and Jon Haworth
Last Updated: June 23, 2025, 2:06 AM EDT

The United States struck three nuclear sites in Iran on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced.

B-2 bombers dropped a number of Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs -- known as "bunker busters" -- during the U.S. mission over Iran, a U.S. official confirmed.

A number of Tomahawk cruise missiles were also fired at targets inside Iran from a U.S. Navy submarine, the official confirmed.

Following the strikes, Trump addressed the nation, calling it a "spectacular military success."

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Jun 18, 2025, 6:15 AM EDT

Israeli strikes hit two centrifuge facilities in Iran, IAEA says

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed on Wednesday that Israeli strikes hit two centrifuge facilities at the TESA Karaj workshop and Tehran Research Center in the Iranian capital. Centrifuges are machines used to enrich uranium.

Smoke billows in the distance from an oil refinery following an Israeli strike on the Iranian capital Tehran on June 17, 2025.
Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images

"At the Tehran site, one building was hit where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested," the IAEA said in a post to X.

"At Karaj, two buildings were destroyed where different centrifuge components were manufactured," the IAEA said.

Both sites were previously under IAEA monitoring and verification under the JCPOA -- also known as the Iran nuclear deal -- negotiated and signed during President Barack Obama's administration.

President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the JCPOA in 2018 during his first term in office.

-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman

Jun 18, 2025, 6:06 AM EDT

'No negotiations' with Iran, Israeli foreign minister says

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar accused Iran on Wednesday of targeting civilian populations, saying Tehran is "making a mistake" by striking areas without military targets.

"I have no doubt that we will achieve our objectives in this operation in order to remove the existential threat," Sa'ar said at a meeting of more than 30 ambassadors to Israel.

A general view shows the destruction at the site of an overnight Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam on June 15, 2025.
Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images

Speaking in Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, at the site where an Iranian missile struck on Sunday, the minister said Israel was "determined to continue until we reach our objectives."

"There are no negotiations," he said. "The operation will continue until we achieve our objectives."

Jun 17, 2025, 7:23 PM EDT

Iran's supreme leader says the country must show 'no mercy'

Amid ongoing aerial attacks against Israel, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said the country must show "no mercy."

"We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime," Khamenei said, adding, "We will show the Zionists no mercy."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with a group of students in Tehran, Iran Nov. 2, 2022.
Wana News Agency via Reuters, Files

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

Jun 17, 2025, 7:18 PM EDT

IDF issues 'urgent warning' to residents in specific Tehran district

The Israel Defense Forces issued an "urgent warning" for people to evacuate District 18 of Tehran, Iran.

"In the coming hours, the IDF will operate in the area—just as it has over the past few days throughout Tehran—to strike military infrastructure belonging to the Iranian regime," the IDF said in the statement.

"To all civilians, for your safety and well-being, we urge you to evacuate immediately from the marked area in District 18," the statement continued.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

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