United States President Donald Trump warned on Sunday, October 5, that his administration would launch fresh airstrikes against Iran if the country attempts to restart its nuclear program. Speaking at a Navy Day event at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, Trump said the United States “won’t wait so long this time” to act. His remarks referred to the June 22 airstrikes that targeted Iranian nuclear sites, an operation he described as “perfectly executed.”
The president told the audience that the June airstrikes, code-named “Operation Midnight Hammer,” had destroyed three key Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The strikes were carried out using precision-guided “bunker buster” bombs dropped by B-2 stealth bombers, along with thirty Tomahawk missiles launched from a U.S. Navy submarine. Trump praised the mission’s execution, saying that “the B-2s hit every single target,” calling the aircraft “beautiful flying wings.”
According to Trump, the operation was necessary because intelligence indicated Iran was only a month away from developing a nuclear weapon. “They were going to have a nuclear weapon within a month,” he told sailors. “And now they can start the operation all over again, but I hope they don’t because we’ll have to take care of that too if they do. I let them know that. You want to do that, it’s fine, but we’re going to take care of that, and we’re not going to wait so long.”
Although Trump claimed that U.S. intelligence confirmed Iran’s nuclear ambitions at the time, reports from various agencies had suggested that Tehran was not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon. Nonetheless, he maintained that his actions were decisive in preventing Iran from crossing the threshold into nuclear capability.
The president went on to say that “Operation Midnight Hammer” had been in planning for more than two decades. According to him, U.S. military officials told him the mission’s concept had been developed 22 years ago but that previous administrations had not executed it. “No president before me had the guts to do it,” Trump said, crediting his decision for protecting global security and strengthening America’s alliance with Israel.
Trump reiterated that he had authorized the June strikes in coordination with Israel, emphasizing his support for the country and claiming, “Nobody has done more for Israel than I have.” The earlier strikes followed Israel’s own air campaign that began on June 13, which targeted multiple Iranian military and nuclear-related facilities across the country. The combined actions severely damaged Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and escalated tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Tensions have continued to rise in recent months as the United States demands that Iran abandon uranium enrichment and restrict its ballistic missile development. The Iranian government has rejected these conditions, insisting on maintaining its civilian nuclear program. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has stated that Iran will not pursue nuclear weapons but will not give up its right to peaceful nuclear technology, calling it essential to national dignity and self-sufficiency.
Trump’s latest remarks suggest that Washington is prepared to act again should Iran attempt to rebuild its nuclear capabilities. His warning underscores an ongoing standoff that could reignite conflict in the Middle East. The president’s assertion that the U.S. would not “wait so long this time” signals a shift toward a more aggressive stance on national security issues during the final months of his administration.
Observers see Trump’s renewed threat as both a deterrent to Iran and a message to U.S. allies that his government remains firm on preventing nuclear proliferation. Meanwhile, Iran continues to denounce the airstrikes as a violation of its sovereignty and an act of aggression. As the diplomatic impasse deepens, both nations appear poised for another confrontation, with global powers urging restraint to prevent further escalation in the already volatile region.
