Washington: In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, President Donald Trump personally monitored a high-stakes military operation targeting Iranian nuclear facilities from the White House Situation Room, while Iran responded with a vehement diplomatic protest submitted to the United Nations.
On Sunday morning, Trump was seen in newly released White House images seated at the heart of national security operations, wearing his trademark "Make America Great Again" cap. He was flanked by top officials including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and National Security Adviser Kash Patel. Together, they observed a series of coordinated U.S. airstrikes unfold in real time from the “JFK Room,” a key part of the Situation Room complex.
Conspicuously absent from the session was Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Though sources indicate she played a role in pre-strike briefings, her absence during the live operation has triggered questions about internal dynamics within Trump’s security circle.
The military operation, involving B-2 stealth bombers and submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles, struck heavily fortified nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Pentagon officials described the strikes as “highly effective and precisely targeted.” Trump called the mission a “spectacular success” and issued a stern warning that further provocation by Iran would be met with even more severe retaliation.
This decisive move marks a significant shift in Trump’s foreign policy strategy. Once a critic of “endless wars,” the president now appears willing to embrace direct military engagement under what officials call a doctrine of “maximum pressure.” According to White House insiders, the intent of the strikes was not regime change, but to compel Iran into negotiations from a weakened position. Trump reportedly authorized the mission just hours before execution, following final risk assessments.
The strikes followed weeks of escalating tensions, including Israeli air assaults that reportedly softened Iran’s air defense infrastructure. U.S. intelligence officials confirmed that these prior attacks enhanced the effectiveness of the American campaign.
While the U.S. celebrated military precision, Iran responded with outrage on the global stage. Just hours after the bombing, Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations delivered an urgent letter to the Security Council, fiercely condemning the airstrikes as a “reckless and unlawful act” that violated international law and the UN Charter.
The letter explicitly held both the United States and what it referred to as “the bloodthirsty Zionist Regime of Israel” responsible, calling for them to face “grave consequences” for what Tehran deemed flagrant violations of sovereignty and global norms. Iran also accused Washington of threatening regional stability and undermining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Tehran warned that failure by the international community to respond effectively would leave Iran with “no choice” but to act in defense of its national interests. Iranian officials reiterated that the strikes constituted an act of war and confirmed that preparations for retaliation were underway.
The dual military and diplomatic developments have sent shockwaves through the international community. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the U.S. strikes as a “historic blow” to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. In contrast, European leaders expressed concern that the offensive could spiral into a broader regional war. The United Nations and several global watchdogs have raised alarms over the legality of the strike, urging both restraint and urgent diplomatic engagement.
Economically, the strikes rattled global markets. Oil prices surged amid fears of Iranian retaliation, particularly the threatened closure of the Strait of Hormuz through which nearly a third of global oil supplies pass. Multiple international airlines rerouted flights away from Iranian airspace due to heightened risk of conflict escalation.
President Trump has positioned the strikes as a show of strength meant to restore deterrence, not ignite a war. However, Tehran’s vow of retaliation and its appeal to the UN signal that the region could be inching closer to open confrontation. Analysts warn that if cooler diplomatic heads do not prevail, the U.S. Iran standoff could evolve into a prolonged and destabilizing conflict.
With the world watching and tensions reaching a fever pitch, the coming days may determine whether Trump’s high-risk gamble will force Tehran back to the negotiating table or unleash a new chapter of chaos in the Middle East. The Situation Room images now stand as the defining visual of a moment where diplomacy faltered, and military might took center stage.