The Blubber

The world faced a new level of uncertainty Sunday after the United States launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, effectively inserting itself into the conflict between Israel and Iran. The operation raised urgent questions about the state of Iran’s nuclear program and how its weakened military might choose to respond.

Analysts warned that international efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons through diplomatic means could be undermined in the days ahead. Concerns over a broader regional conflict intensified, and oil prices rose in response to growing instability.

Iran condemned the U.S. strikes, calling them a breach of a “very big red line.” The airstrikes, which employed missiles and 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, were seen by Tehran as a high-stakes escalation.

At an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council, Iran’s ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, said the U.S. had “decided to destroy diplomacy,” and that the Iranian military would determine the “timing, nature, and scale” of a “proportionate response.” Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Moscow for consultations with Iran’s ally, Russia.

The presence of tens of thousands of U.S. troops in the region has fueled additional tension. According to Iran’s state-run IRNA, Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that any nation that aids U.S. attacks on Iran would become a “legitimate target” for Iranian retaliation.

Initially, the Trump administration expressed interest in reviving direct talks with Tehran. “Let’s meet directly,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. “does not seek war.” However, President Donald Trump later raised the possibility of pursuing “regime change” in Iran if attacks on U.S. forces occur.

The U.S. military strikes targeted the Fordo and Natanz enrichment facilities, as well as the Isfahan nuclear site—locations confirmed by Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization. Both Iran and the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported no immediate signs of radioactive leakage following the attacks.