In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, Iran’s government issued a stern warning of “swift and forceful retaliation” after U.S. airstrikes destroyed key nuclear facilities at Fordow and Natanz late Friday night. President Joe Biden, speaking from the White House, defended the operation as “limited and necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” but critics across the political spectrum called for an immediate congressional briefing.
@POTUS “These strikes were precise, lawful, and targeted. We will not allow Iran to threaten our allies with a nuclear arsenal.” View on X
The Pentagon confirmed that B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk cruise missiles hit enriched uranium stockpiles and centrifuge assembly areas, setting back Iran’s nuclear timeline by several years, according to a official Pentagon release. While Israeli officials privately praised the strikes, publicly they urged restraint to avoid a broader regional war.
Within hours, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council convened an emergency session. State broadcaster IRIB reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared the attack “a grave violation of international law” and promised that “no U.S. asset in the region will be safe.” The council’s spokesman, Ali Rabiei, tweeted the government’s position:
@iribnews_en “Iran will respond decisively to any aggression—our patience has limits.” via X
Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) General Hossein Salami went further, vowing to “open new fronts” against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. Security experts warn that such rhetoric raises the risk of asymmetric reprisals, including missile attacks on U.S. bases or maritime harassment in the Gulf.
@IRGC_English “Our missiles and proxies stand ready—America’s adventurism will be met with fire.” via X
On Capitol Hill, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) called for an immediate closed-door session “to review the intelligence that led to this strike” in comments to CNN. He added, “Congress must be fully consulted before any further military action.”
@SenatorMenendez “We support nonproliferation, but war powers reside with Congress—not the West Wing.” via X
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) led demands for a formal war powers vote, tweeting that “any unauthorized strikes violate the Constitution and risk full-scale war.” She urged colleagues to “re-assert congressional authority” via the War Powers Resolution.
@AOC “This wasn’t a one-off. We must vote to check executive overreach.” via X
Leading Republicans expressed mixed views. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) applauded the strikes as “the right medicine for a recalcitrant regime,” while Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) warned on The New York Times that “without a diplomatic follow-up, this risks becoming a perpetual cycle of attack and counterattack.”
At the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres called for “maximum restraint” and urged both parties to return to the negotiating table under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action framework. The UN Security Council is expected to hold an emergency session later this week, though veto threats by the U.S. and U.K. may limit consensus.
Global financial markets reacted swiftly. Brent crude spiked 5% to $88 a barrel as investors feared Gulf shipping disruptions, according to Bloomberg commodity data. Defense stocks rose sharply—shares of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman gained over 3% in Monday trading.
In Tehran, the rial plunged another 4% against the dollar, exacerbating an already dire economic crisis. Iranian business daily Tehran Times reported public frustration mounting over rising fuel prices and unemployment, factors that could fuel internal unrest.
Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies warned of potential civilian harm. The International Committee of the Red Cross stressed that “access to hospitals and relief convoys must be protected,” citing past experiences in Syria and Iraq. ICRC guidance urges all sides to uphold international humanitarian law.
As both capitals brace for escalation, analysts highlight a narrow window for de-escalation. A joint statement by former Secretaries of State John Kerry and Condoleezza Rice, published in Foreign Affairs, pleaded for an immediate ceasefire and return to diplomacy: “History shows that military strikes without a political roadmap only deepen conflicts.”
Whether Iran will follow through on its retaliation threats remains to be seen. U.S. Central Command has repositioned carrier strike groups to the Arabian Sea, and additional Patriot batteries are en route to defend allied bases in the region, per a CENTCOM statement. For now, both sides appear locked in a dangerous standoff—where the risk of miscalculation could ignite a wider war.
