Tehran Downplays Risk After U.S. Strike on Nuclear Site as Global Reactions Intensify
Iran downplayed risks after the U.S. strike on Fordo nuclear site, saying no danger to Qom residents. The attack drew sharp criticism from Democrats and Hamas, while Israel raised alert levels and closed airspace amid fears of escalating regional conflict.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iranian authorities on Sunday sought to reassure residents of Qom, located south of Tehran, after a U.S. military strike targeted the heavily fortified Fordo nuclear enrichment facility near the city.
“There is no danger to the people of Qom and the surrounding area,” the province’s crisis management department said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.
U.S. Democrats Decry Escalation, Warn of War
In Washington, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized President Donald Trump over the decision to launch airstrikes without congressional approval, accusing him of endangering American lives and dragging the nation toward a perilous confrontation.
“President Trump misled the country about his intentions, failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force, and risks American entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East,” Jeffries said in a strongly worded statement.
Israel on High Alert, Imposes Emergency Measures
Following the U.S. strikes, the Israeli military announced a nationwide elevation of its alert level. “It was decided to shift all areas of the country from Partial and Limited Activity to Essential Activity,” the statement read, adding that educational institutions, non-essential workplaces, and public gatherings would be suspended until further notice.
In a related measure, the Israeli Airport Authority confirmed the closure of Israeli airspace, citing the security situation following the American attack.
Hamas Condemns U.S. Intervention as ‘Flagrant Aggression’
Meanwhile, the Palestinian militant group Hamas issued a scathing condemnation of Washington’s involvement in the confrontation, labeling it an “act of blatant U.S. aggression” against Iran’s sovereignty.
“The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) condemns in the strongest terms the blatant U.S. aggression against the territory and sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the group said in a statement. It described the bombing campaign as “a dangerous escalation,” calling it a “flagrant violation of international law and a direct threat to international peace and security.”
The U.S. strikes, announced by President Trump in a televised address, mark a major escalation in the already volatile Iran-Israel conflict and signal a turning point in Washington’s role in the region’s rapidly unfolding military crisis.
