US Conducts Precision Strikes on Three Iranian Nuclear Sites Amid Middle East Tensions

In response to escalating tensions in the Middle East, the United States, under President Donald Trump's administration, executed airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, aiming to significantly setback Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, emphasized that this conflict is primarily Israel's war, not America's, but supports Israel due to the existential threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran, and assured that this strike does not signal the start of a prolonged U.S. ground war. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the U.S. attacks as direct involvement behind Israel's aggression, asserting the strikes represent coordinated hostility by the United States. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the U.S. is not at war with Iran itself, but specifically targeting Iran's nuclear program, with Trump expressing hope for a diplomatic resolution following the strikes. Congressional reactions were mixed, with some Republicans praising the operation for enhancing national security and others, including Democrats, criticizing the lack of Congressional approval and warning against another endless war in the region. This military action marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, with Iran retaliating against Israel and the U.S., while Washington insists on limiting its engagement to airstrikes without deploying ground troops.