'The bully must now make peace': What Trump said after Iran strike; top quotes

US President Donald Trump addressed the nation late Saturday after what he described as a "spectacular military success," as American forces launched precision strikes on Iran, targeting its nuclear infrastructure.

The operation severely damaged three major nuclear sites located in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan -- core facilities of Iran’s atomic program.

The attack on Fordow, one of Iran’s most secure underground nuclear facilities, reportedly involved six 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs.


These powerful weapons can only be delivered by the US Air Force’s B-2 stealth bombers, underscoring the high-level coordination and military capability deployed in the mission.

Trump’s speech followed more than a week of Israeli airstrikes aimed at weakening Iran’s air defences and softening its nuclear capabilities -- a campaign that appears to have paved the way for the US-led strikes.

https://t.co/2OYrMFlw46

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2025

Here's what Trump said in his address:

• "Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success."

• "The attacks were to stop Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and put a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror."

• "Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror."

• "I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu."

• "We worked as a team, like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel. I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they’ve done."

• "There will be either peace, or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days."

• "Iran, bully of the Middle East, must now make peace."

• "For 40 years, Iran has been saying death to Israel, death to the US. They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs with roadside bombs."

• "So many were killed by their general, Qasem Soleimani. I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue."

• "I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they've done, and most importantly, I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades..."