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US Assesses Iran Bombing Response, Warns Against Escalation

US Assesses Iran Bombing Response, Warns Against Escalation

President Donald Trump urged Iran to pursue peace after the US military carried out unprecedented strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday. "The strikes were a spectacular military success," President Trump said.

"Operation Midnight Hammer" was the first operational use of bunker-buster munitions.

US forces targeted nuclear sites at Fordow and Natanz, and launched Tomahawk cruise missiles at targets in Isfahan, Iran. Military leaders said the limited mission used 75 guided weapons, including 14 of the massive ordnance penetrators known as bunker-busters.

"Initial battle damage assessments indicate all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction," said Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a press conference.

President Trump warned Iran against retaliating against the US, writing on social media after the strikes "ANY RETALIATION BY IRAN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT."

In new comments on Sunday, President Trump suggested the possibility of regime change in Iran, but did not offer specific details.

"It’s not politically correct to use the term, “Regime Change,” but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" the president wrote.

Vice President JD Vance said in an interview with NBC on Sunday that the US was not interested in regime change.

"We don't want a regime change," Vance said. "We do not want to protract this... We want to end the nuclear program, and then we want to talk to the Iranians about a long-term settlement here."

Iran condemned the strikes, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying "The warmongering and lawless administration in Washington is solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and far-reaching implications of its act of aggression."

Chairman Cane said force protection measures across the Middle East region were elevated ahead of the strike, and remain on alert.

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