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 17, 2025, 9:53 AM EDT

Direct impact on Iran's main nuclear facility, IAEA says

Satellite images of Iran’s main nuclear facility show "direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at Natanz," Iran's main nuclear facility, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

On Monday, there was no indication of a strike on the underground portion of the facility, including the main fuel enrichment plant, but there were strikes on above ground buildings including the facility’s power supply, according to IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi.

Jun 17, 2025, 7:19 AM EDT

Israeli minister says Iran leader could share Saddam Hussein’s fate

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday warned Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that his fate could be similar to that of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein if his forces continue to target Israel.

Smoke billows from a site near the Azadi Tower in central Tehran on June 16, 2025.
Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images

“I warn the Iranian dictator against continuing to commit war crimes and fire missiles at Israeli citizens,” Katz said. “He should remember what happened to the dictator in the country neighboring Iran who took this path against the State of Israel.”

Hussein was toppled by the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. After nine months on the run, he was captured near the city of Tikrit. An Iraqi tribunal convicted Hussein of crimes against humanity and executed him by hanging in 2006.

Katz also said Iran’s “replacement chief of staff,” was killed in Israeli strikes on Iran overnight.

-ABC News’ Dana Savir and Ellie Kaufman

Jun 17, 2025, 6:48 AM EDT

Trump not 'in the mood' to negotiate with Iran

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said he's "not too much in the mood to negotiate" with Iran.

"I've been negotiating. I told them to do the deal," Trump said. "They should have done the deal."

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One after departing early from the the G7 summit in Canada to return to Washington, June 17, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

He added, "The cities have been blown to pieces lost a lot of people. They should have done the deal. I told them do the deal, so I don't know. I'm not too much in the mood to negotiate."

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

Jun 17, 2025, 6:17 AM EDT

Trump warns Iran over US troops in region

President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran over U.S. troops and assets in the region, instructing Tehran "not to touch our troops."

"We’ll come down so hard if they do anything to our people," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

-ABC News’ Justin Gomez

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