Washington: The United States launched an attack on three nuclear sites in Iran, President Donald Trump announced Saturday, signifying America's direct involvement in the escalating Israel-Iran conflict.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump revealed the military action two days after indicating a decision on U.S. military intervention against Iran would be forthcoming. The announcement came as Trump prepared to attend a NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, next week. He plans to address the nation regarding the "very successful military operation in Iran" and emphasized that Iran must now agree to end the ongoing conflict.

Trump stated that the U.S. targeted three nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, with all aircraft now safely out of Iranian airspace. He praised the American military's execution of the operation, highlighting that a full payload of bombs was dropped on Fordow, the primary target.

The uranium enrichment plant at Natanz and the site in Isfahan are significant due to their roles in Iran's nuclear capabilities. The U.S. strike followed Israel's attack on June 13, which targeted Iran's nuclear facilities and other strategic sites, intensifying fears of a broader regional war.

Despite Trump's America First policy suggesting a focus on countering threats from China rather than engaging in foreign conflicts, this move marks a notable deviation. The escalation started with Israel's preemptive strike citing an existential threat from Iran's nuclear ambitions, amidst regional instability linked to the weakening of Iranian-backed groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

Trump has called for Iran's unconditional surrender, a demand that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected, further complicating the path to peace.