President Donald Trump declared that the United States executed a successful military operation targeting three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—asserting that the action destroyed Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities. He stressed that the operation was not an act of war but rather a calculated response to an urgent threat posed by a long-standing adversary.

House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi denounced the strike as unconstitutional due to the absence of congressional consent, underscoring a perceived inconsistency. In 2011, she had backed President Obama’s comparable unilateral military intervention in Libya. Pelosi cautioned that the strike could lead to regional instability and endanger American lives.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also reproached Trump for neglecting to seek authorization and for misleading the public regarding his military objectives. The White House defended the action, asserting that congressional leaders had been notified beforehand, although Jeffries reportedly declined the briefing.

Trump defended the strike by citing Iran’s long-standing support for terrorism and its unwillingness to engage during a 60-day diplomatic period. He pointed to the loss of American lives and the increasing global instability linked to Iran’s conduct as justifications for finally resorting to military action.

In the aftermath, reports from within Iran suggested that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was in hiding and experiencing escalating internal pressure. Sources indicated that his leadership could soon come to an end, either through natural causes or force. The strike, while intensifying political debate in the United States, temporarily resulted in a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, providing a brief respite from escalating tensions in the region.