On June 20, 2025, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement dictated by Trump: “Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.”

Originally, Trump was public in stating that he was against starting or becoming entangled in a conflict with the Middle East, promising for years to avoid such things. Being a bloodthirsty animal, once he seen the Israeli military strike Iran, he decided to change his tune, stating that Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon (as if he was the only president or person to say such a thing). 

For its part, the U.S. intelligence community has said it believes Iran suspended its nuclear weapons program in 2003, following the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard relayed that guidance as recently as March during an appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

On June 22, 2025, the Trump Administration, with Peter Hegseth at the helm of the Department of Defense and Marco Rubio as the Secretary of State, led, for Israel, an attack on three of Iran's alleged major nuclear sites at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. Trump said he knew "EXACTLY" where the ayatollah had been sheltering and that he had personally stopped Israeli and US armed forces from targeting him.

This operation involved seven stealth bombers, in addition to over 100 other aircraft, including refueling tankers, reconnaissance planes and fighter jets. Trump and Netanyahu spoke by phone again afterward, and the Israeli prime minister praised the US attack in a video message, saying it was carried out “with complete operational coordination between the IDF and the United States military.”

Rep. Jim Himes, the highest ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, saying in a statement: "Donald Trump's decision to launch direct military action against Iran without Congressional approval is a clear violation of the Constitution, which grants the power to declare war explicitly to Congress." To read a discussion between the constitutionality of this action, read this article.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the strikes had achieved nothing significant, but on Friday Trump repeated his claim that the country's nuclear sites had been "obliterated". All parties in the conflict have claimed victory, with the ayatollah telling Iranians that Israel and Iran had failed to disrupt the country's nuclear program. However, the country's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi later admitted "excessive and serious" damage was done to the country's nuclear sites by the recent US and Israeli bombings.

Iran's parliament approved a bill to stop co-operation with the global nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). If it is implemented, it would mean Iran is no longer committed to allowing nuclear inspectors into its sites.

CBS News, the BBC's US partner, reported the White House had been considering a range of options to entice Iran back to the negotiating table, including facilitating funding for a civilian, non-enrichment, nuclear program. But Iran has denied it is set to resume nuclear talks with the US, after Trump said at a Nato summit in the Hague that negotiations were set to begin again. Netanyahu's office acknowledged Israel bombed a radar site near Tehran in what it said was retaliation for Iranian missiles fired three-and-a-half hours after the ceasefire was due to begin.