 "What are Iran’s options after US strikes? Will Tehran bomb American military bases?")
As people wake up on Sunday morning (June 22), they will be confronted with the news that the United States has joined Israel’s war on Iran, attacking three nuclear sites — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
From the White House, US President Donald Trump said, “Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran the bully of the Middle East must now make peace.”
While the strikes were received with praise in Israel, Tehran condemned them as “lawless and criminal” with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying his country has a right to defend its sovereignty. “The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,” he posted on X. “Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.”
Catch all the live updates from US joining Israel's war against Iran here
America’s actions, according to experts, significantly ratchet up tensions with many noting that this war has entered a dangerous and potentially uncontrollable phase. Many fear Iran’s next moves — but what can they be?
We examine the possible choices that Iran has in this conflict now.
US ‘obliterates’ Iran’s main nuclear sites
After days of threats and deliberations, US President Donald Trump waded into Israel’s war on Iran, targeting three of its main nuclear sites . In an address from the White House, he also warned Tehran it would face more devastating attacks if it does not agree to peace.
“The strikes were a spectacular military success,” Trump said. “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.” In his over three minute-speech, Trump said Iran’s future held “either peace or tragedy,” and there were many other targets that could be hit by the US military. “If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHe later told Fox News’ Sean Hannity show that six bunker-buster bomb s were dropped on Fordow, while 30 Tomahawk missiles were fired against other nuclear sites. A US official also told Reuters that US B-2 bombers were also involved in the strikes.
Iran vows of ‘everlasting consequences’
Soon after the US strikes on Iran, Israeli officials praised Trump for his actions. Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, thanked Trump and said the strikes marked a “decisive moment between the axis of terror and evil and the axis of hope” whereas Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz congratulated Trump on what he described as a “historic decision.”
However, the US intervention in the war has prompted outrage and anger in Iran. The Islamic Republic’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi , wrote on X that the action was “outrageous and will have everlasting consequences”.
“The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the NPT by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations.
“The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour. In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defence, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.”
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations also called for an emergency Security Council meeting for what he described as America’s “heinous attacks and illegal use of force” against Iran.
In a letter, obtained by the Associated Press, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said that the UN’s most powerful body must “take all necessary measures” to hold the US accountable under international law and the UN charter.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns and denounces in the strongest possible terms these unprovoked and premeditated acts of aggression, which have followed the large-scale military attack conducted by the Israeli regime on June 13 against Iran’s peaceful nuclear sites and facilities,” the letter continued.
Iran’s possible next steps
While Iran has promised the US with consequences, what could be Tehran’s next move in the war?
Many Iran watchers note that one option before the Islamic Republic is to heavily bombard Israeli sites. In fact, they have already begun to do so — Iran’s armed forces said that it targeted multiple sites in Israel, including Ben Gurion airport. “The twentieth wave of Operation Honest Promise 3 began using a combination of long-range liquid and solid fuel missiles with devastating warhead power,” the armed forces said in a statement quoted by Fars news agency. The targets included the airport, a “biological research centre”, logistics bases and various layers of command and control centres, it added. News agency AFP reported that 16 people were already hurt as a result of Iran’s strikes.
Another option that Iran could opt for is attacking US bases in West Asia. Experts also believe that this is the most logical ‘like-for-like’ response. US military bases in Iraq, including Al Asad Airbase and Erbil Airbase, are among the most exposed to Iranian retaliation. In fact, these locations have previously been targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles and proxy rocket attacks.
There’s also the Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar which could be targeted. However, most defence analysts believe that if Tehran retaliates against the United States, it could face a major war with a military superpower that could lead to its collapse or to years of instability, a fate like that of Iraq and Afghanistan.
The other option that Iran has is to widen the conflict — try to close off the globally important Strait of Hormuz. This option would have international consequences.
The American strikes could also prompt retaliation from Iran’s allied militias in the region, the “axis of resistance.” However, Israel has significantly weakened Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, and Iraqi militias have mostly retreated from attacking American bases.
This leaves the Houthis of Yemen. Earlier, they had threatened to break their May truce with Trump and attack US targets if Washington supported the Israeli attacks on Iran. “In the event that the Americans become involved in the attack and aggression against Iran alongside the Israeli enemy, the armed forces will target their ships and warships in the Red Sea,” their military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said earlier Saturday.
It seems that Iran and its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have hard choices to make in the coming days.
With inputs from agencies
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
