Asger Risom
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told French President Emmanuel Macron that the United States must be held accountable for its recent attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, signaling Tehran’s intent to retaliate.
Iran has issued a strong warning to the United States following a coordinated airstrike on its key nuclear sites.
During a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Washington must “receive a response” for its actions.
Iran Signals Retaliation
According to HotNews, Pezeshkian emphasized Iran’s view of the U.S. bombing as an act of aggression.
The official IRNA news agency, cited by Al Jazeera, quoted him stating, “Americans must receive a response for their aggression.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed this sentiment, affirming Tehran’s right to defend itself.
“Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interests, and people,” he said in a separate statement.
Midnight Hammer: Scale of the U.S. Strike
The operation, codenamed “Midnight Hammer,” was launched overnight from Saturday to Sunday. The U.S. deployed over 125 military aircraft, including seven B-2 stealth bombers, and fired 14 GBU-57 bunker-busting bombs and dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles. The targets included Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that these facilities were “completely destroyed,” analysts caution it is too early to assess the actual damage.
Satellite images have revealed at least six massive bomb craters at the Fordow site. It remains unclear whether Iran managed to safeguard any enriched uranium prior to the attack.
The conversation between Pezeshkian and Macron, alongside Tehran’s statements, underscores a deepening crisis as Iran weighs its next move. Western observers are closely monitoring for signs of escalation that could reshape the broader regional conflict.