President Donald Trump addressed the nation Saturday evening shortly after he announced online that the U.S. had struck three key nuclear sites in Iran, a much-anticipated decision that could spark a major escalation in the region.

“Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success,” Trump said with Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth standing behind him.

Trump explained in his remarks that the “massive precision strikes” destroyed the “three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime,” namely Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. Trump immediately called on Iran to make peace. 

“Iran’s key nuclear facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier. For 40 years, Iran has been saying, ‘Death to America. Death to Israel.’ They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs with roadside bombs. That was their specialty. We lost over a thousand people, and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East have died as a direct result of the hate.”

Trump thanked Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, and the “great American patriots” who carried out the mission Saturday evening. Trump said he hopes he won’t need their services anymore. 

“There will be either peace or tragedy for Iran,” Trump added. “… Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight’s was the most difficult of them all — and perhaps the most lethal. But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes. There is no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight.” 

At the end of his message, Trump took a moment to thank God in a moment that felt like a brief prayer. “I just want to say, we love you God, and we love our great military. Protect them. God bless the Middle East. God bless Israel. And God bless America.”

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins posted on X, “Thank you for praying for President Trump. He made the difficult but right decision.”

The U.S. has multiple bases and thousands of troops within striking distance of Iranian missiles. Those bases are on high alert tonight. For context, when Trump ordered a strike that killed Iranian military official Qasem Soleimani, Iran fired on two American bases in Iraq, though no soldiers were killed. 

Iran and Israel have been exchanging missile barrages for over a week. Trump has said he is not interested in putting troops on the ground in Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave remarks Saturday evening just before Trump’s address where he praised the president. 

“First comes strength and then comes peace, and tonight President Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength,” Netanyahu said. “President Trump, I thank you, the people of Israel thank you, the forces of civilization thank you. God bless America. God bless Israel. And may God bless our unshakeable alliance, our unbreakable faith.” 

In his initial announcement of the news, Trump thanked the “American warriors” who successfully carried out the strike. 

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump shared on Truth Social. “All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

“This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD,” Trump added later. “IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR.”