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Traditional boats anchored in front of Doha's highrise buildings, in Qatar, on June 23, 2025. Photo: Karim Jafaar/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US President Donald Trump on Monday dismissed Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes as “very weak,” following American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Despite the heightened tensions, Trump emphasized that now is the "time for peace."
In a statement posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said that Iran “officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered.
“I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done,” he added. Trump also thanked Tehran for “giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost and nobody to be injured.”
Trump’s remarks came hours after Iran’s Armed Forces announced Operation "Bisharat al-Fath" - Farsi for Tidings of Victory - that saw Iranian ballistic missiles strike “the headquarters of the American Air Force and the largest strategic asset of Washington in West Asia.”
Tehran’s top national security body, the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said in a statement that the operation was “in response to the US’s aggressive and brazen action against Iran’s nuclear sites and facilities.”
On Sunday, Trump had ordered “Operation Midnight Hammer,” described by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as a “deliberate and precise strike” on three key Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz. According to Hegseth, the operation involved 14 GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs dropped on Fordow and Natanz, while Tomahawk missiles targeted the Isfahan facility.
Iran’s SNSC claimed that the number of missiles launched at al-Udeid matched the number of bombs used in the US strikes.
Trump confirmed on Monday that 14 Iranian missiles were fired at the al-Udeid base, adding that “13 were knocked down, and 1 was ‘set free’ because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction.
“Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same,” Trump said, adding “CONGRATULATIONS WORLD, IT’S TIME FOR PEACE!”
Israel and Iran have been locked down in tit-for-tat confrontations since June 13, when Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, killing a number of nuclear scientists and senior military commanders. In response, Tehran launched several waves of missile and drone attacks against Israeli targets.
Following Iran’s Monday strike, Qatar’s defense ministry reported that its air defense systems intercepted the missiles, and confirmed that there were no casualties or damage.
Qatar’s Foreign Minister Majed al-Ansari condemned the attack as a “flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law, and the United Nations Charter.” He warned that “Qatar reserves the right to respond directly in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale of this brazen aggression.”
The attack also drew sharp condemnation from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates which emphasized the need for “peaceful negotiations” and “adherence to international law” in addressing the prevalent disputes in the region.
Other regional countries, including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, and Turkey, also expressed concern, warning of potential escalation and voicing support for Qatar.
On the international stage, French President Emmanuel Macron called for "utmost restraint" and a return to the negotiating table, stating, “This spiral of chaos must end.”
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard also condemned Iran’s missile strike, warning that it “risks spreading the conflict to other countries.” She urged all parties to de-escalate and reengage in dialogue.
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