The White House released powerful images showing President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and top national security officials—including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe—gathered in the Situation Room during U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The coordinated attacks targeted key enrichment sites at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, marking a significant escalation in efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities. In a televised address, Trump described the operation as a “spectacular military success,” citing it as a necessary response to what he called Iran’s continued threat as the “world’s number one state sponsor of terror.” He stressed the long-standing dangers Iran posed to both the U.S. and Israel, calling for peace but warning of harsher action if provoked again.

The strikes followed a statement from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicating a decision on Iran would be made in two weeks—an apparent move of strategic misdirection. Although Trump had previously advocated for diplomacy, Iran’s withdrawal from negotiations and Israel’s preemptive actions on June 12 shifted the U.S. approach. Trump praised the precision and bravery of the military operation and gave special recognition to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s armed forces for their coordination. He concluded by highlighting the strength of U.S.-Israeli cooperation, declaring that the joint efforts had significantly diminished the nuclear threat in the region and reinforced both nations’ resolve to confront shared adversaries.