Unforeseen Assault: Tehran Downplays US Attack, Iranians Flee
When Trump told Iran they had 60 days to come to an agreement about their nuclear programs, he meant it. Sixty days and not one day more.
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After months of warnings and prolonged preparations from the United States, the American military launched a nighttime strike on June 21, 2025, targeting the three most critical nuclear facilities in Iran’s nuclear program. As expected, Iranian authorities are downplaying the damage.
State media reported that the facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan sustained hits, with officials claiming the strikes caused minimal harm. They assert that a nearby base’s accidental explosion of hazardous materials, not the U.S. attack, was responsible, even releasing fabricated footage to support this narrative. However, satellite imagery and U.S. assessments tell a different story: Fordow suffered severe damage, though likely not total destruction. Iranian propaganda continues to censor raw footage from the Khomeini province near Fordow, where locals reported the assault’s impact, as reported by i24 News.
Iranian officials are attempting to reassure their public, insisting there’s no risk of radioactive leakage and labeling the strike a “Zionist and arrogant American plot.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who may now realize the misjudgment in his assumptions about U.S. intentions, claimed Iran was mid-negotiations when the attack occurred. He accused the U.S. of sabotaging a peace process, a narrative the Islamic Republic’s propaganda machine is pushing to deflect blame.
This afternoon, Iran’s parliament approved a motion to close the Strait of Hormuz, a decision now pending final approval from the Supreme National Security Council. Such a move, potentially interpreted as a declaration of war, could provoke the U.S. and strain relations with hostile Gulf states. Meanwhile, Araghchi’s threats dominate the rhetoric, though their weight remains uncertain.
The world awaits the voice of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who is reportedly holed up in a bunker, his awareness of the situation unclear. This morning, Iran retaliated by firing approximately 30 missiles at Israel, releasing footage of the launches. The international community now watches anxiously for Khamenei’s response, as he carefully weighs each potential step following this significant blow to his regime.
A notable exodus of Iranian citizens has emerged near the border, just 20 kilometers from an observation point in a neighboring region. Reports indicate a significant uptick in border crossings, with some areas seeing a threefold or fourfold increase compared to normal days, as residents seek safety in neighboring countries amid the ongoing Israeli-U.S. military campaign. Buses and cars have been spotted transporting Iranians, often at inflated costs of hundreds of dollars to reach airports, reflecting the urgency and disruption following the strikes, though the numbers remain a small fraction of Iran’s overall population, as reported by Kann News.
Local observers, including reporter Mohammad Abu Rmila, noted the tense atmosphere as they documented the scene near the border, where the offensive continues to unfold. The surge suggests growing unease among some Iranians, though official confirmation of the scale is pending.