In the dead of night, American stealth bombers dropped bunker-busting bombs on Iran’s heavily fortified nuclear sites, marking a stunning escalation in the region’s already volatile landscape. President Trump, declaring “spectacular military success,” insisted this strike cripples Iran’s nuclear programme and deters future ambitions. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu hailed it as “historic.” But beneath this triumphalism lies a far graver reality: this brazen strike risks unleashing consequences that could ripple through the Middle East for years, making nuclear proliferation more likely, not less.

Washington and Tel Aviv may claim victory today, but the costs could be catastrophic tomorrow. Iran’s leadership has long used the spectre of a foreign threat to justify its nuclear ambitions. By bombing Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, the US has handed Tehran fresh political capital to rally domestic support for an accelerated nuclear push, this time more covert, dispersed, and potentially more dangerous.

Regional stability, already fragile, hangs by a thread. The conflict in Gaza,  Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and simmering tension in the Red Sea have left the region teetering. By entering the fray directly, the US has created conditions for a far larger conflict. It could trigger renewed Houthi attacks on global shipping to possible retaliation on American assets in the Gulf. Meanwhile, the UN has rightly expressed alarm over a “dangerous escalation,” which should not be brushed aside.

The irony is bitter: this strike comes seven years after Trump abandoned the Iran nuclear deal, which, despite its flaws, verifiably curbed Tehran’s enrichment. Now, instead of a negotiated freeze, we have a bombed-out program that will likely regroup underground, shielded from inspectors and more determined than ever.

A lasting solution was never going to come from 30,000-pound bombs. It required tough, patient diplomacy, the very path abandoned for a quick solution. As the region braces for retaliation and a possible spiral into wider war, Washington should remember: destroying a nuclear site is easy, but its long term consequences could be potentially dangerous for both the Middle East and the world.

What the Middle East needs is de-escalation and real dialogue, not bunker busters. Anything less risks ensuring exactly what this strike claimed to prevent: a nuclear-armed Iran. Now, not just Iran, other countries opposed to the west will conclude that only a bomb can guarantee their sovereignty. And this is a dangerous message to go out to the world.

Tehran, June 22: The Iranian Parliament has voted in support of closing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints, a day after US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, according to media reports.

Any final decision on retaliation, however, will rest with the country’s Supreme National Security Council and leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The parliament vote merely advises him of the option to pursue.

The US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites — dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer”—in Isfahan, Fordow and Natanz marks the first direct involvement of America in the escalating crises between Iran and Israel.

The action has received backlash, with many citing the lack of Congressional approval for the military move.

Iran has long held that it can shut down the Strait of Hormuz, which it has held onto as a last resort for escalation.

“Closing” the Strait would mean making it impossible to navigate, with the Iranian Navy possibly laying down mines in the water to deter ships or the military shooting missiles to harass tankers.

“The Parliament has reached the conclusion that the Strait of Hormuz should be closed, but the final decision in this regard lies with the Supreme National Security Council,” Revolutionary Guards Commander Ismail Kowsari, member of the National Security Commission of the Parliament, announced on Sunday, according to Al Arabiya and the Jerusalem Post.

The vote took place on Sunday following “Operation Midnight Hammer,” in which seven B-2 stealth bombers flew into Iran and dropped 14 Massive Ordinance Penetrator (MOP) bombs on two of Iran’s nuclear sites, including the Fordow site.

A third site was hit with Tomahawk submarine-launched cruise missiles

President Donald Trump said the sites had been obliterated by the US operation, which included 125 aircraft overall in an operation that took 25 minutes to complete.

However, Trump’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine said on Sunday that it will take some time to assess the full extent of damage to the sites.

The MOP bombs used to hit the sites had never been deployed in a combat scenario prior to Saturday’s strikes.

Khamenei will need to approve any final action that would see a “closure” of the Strait, which can happen as soon as Sunday now that the Parliament has approved such measures.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

At its narrowest point, the strait is about 21 miles wide, with two shipping lanes that are 2 miles wide in each direction.

Around 20 per cent of global oil trade passes through the Strait.

Some experts have said that if Iran were to cut off access to the Strait, it could spike oil prices by 30 to 50 per cent immediately, with gas prices likewise rising by as much as $5 per gallon.

During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, Iran targeted oil tankers and oil loading facilities.

These actions did not fully block the Strait but caused sharp increases in shipping insurance premiums and delayed maritime traffic.

New Delhi, June 22: The US military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have triggered a wave of international reactions, with world leaders calling for restraint and a return to diplomacy amid fears of a broader conflict erupting in the Middle East.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed support for the US action while stressing the importance of regional stability.

“Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat,” he posted on X.

“The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis,” he added.

Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak echoed these concerns and supported the strikes.

“The Iranian regime has long been a threat to regional and global security. The prospect of Iran having a nuclear weapon is unacceptable,” he said, adding, “Israel and the US have acted decisively to address this threat and deserve our support and thanks for their efforts.”

UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey noted that the UK was not involved in the operation but had taken steps to ensure security.

“The US has taken action to alleviate the grave threat that Iran poses to global security,” Healey posted.

“The UK did not participate in these strikes. The safety of UK personnel and bases is my top priority. Force protection is at its highest level and we deployed additional jets this week,” he added.

Saudi Arabia voiced concern over the potential for escalation, saying it was following the developments “with great concern.”

In a statement, the Kingdom stressed the importance of restraint and called on the international community to “exert all efforts” to de-escalate the crisis and seek a political solution.

Australia, which recently evacuated its diplomatic staff and closed its embassy in Tehran, reiterated its preference for diplomacy.

“We have been clear that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme has been a threat to international peace and security,” said an official statement.

“We note the US President’s statement that now is the time for peace. The security situation in the region is highly volatile. We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy,” the statement read.

Qatar’s foreign ministry warned that the ongoing escalation could have dire consequences.

“The current dangerous escalation in the region may lead to catastrophic consequences at both the regional and international levels,” the statement said.

“It calls on all parties to exercise wisdom, restraint, and to avoid further escalation,” it read.

Oman’s Foreign Ministry issued a strong condemnation of the US strikes, calling them a “serious violation” of international law and the UN Charter.

“The Sultanate of Oman deplores this illegal aggression and calls for immediate and comprehensive de-escalation,” the statement read.

Oman also reaffirmed the right of states to develop nuclear programs for peaceful purposes under international oversight.

Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister, Simon Harris, warned of an “extremely dangerous spiral of escalation” and emphasised the need for diplomacy.

“This has been the focus of my engagement with EU partners and countries in the region since this current crisis began,” Harris stated.

“Europe, including Ireland, is fully united in the clear view that Iran should not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. The way to address this was always through a negotiated solution. Any alternative is simply too dangerous,” he added.

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics stressed the importance of regional stability and posted on X, “Iran’s nuclear program is a threat to global and regional security. US have taken an action to address that threat. Iran must not possess a nuclear weapon.”

“All parties should return to talks in order to reach a diplomatic solution,” he added.

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot also weighed in, saying, “The theocratic regime of the mullahs of Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, as it would be a threat to international security.”

“We must prevent further escalation. It delays indispensable work towards a diplomatic solution for the long-term assurance that it does not happen. I recall Belgium’s support for the work of the IAEA to this end. I call again for maximum restraint and on the parties to come back to the negotiating table. The EU has a role to play to facilitate a solution. I will discuss the situation with my colleagues tomorrow,” he added.

As tensions rise following the US strikes, the global community continues to urge de-escalation and a swift return to diplomatic engagement to prevent a full-blown regional conflict.