A projectile struck the premises of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant on Tuesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed, as U.S. President Donald Trump announced from the Oval Office that Tehran has agreed to permanently abandon its nuclear weapons program. The strike caused no casualties or structural damage, with Iranian authorities attributing the attack to U.S. and Israeli forces.
Despite claiming victory and stating that Iran is “wiped out militarily,” Trump officially approved the deployment of under 1,500 soldiers from the elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. This deployment figure corrects earlier unconfirmed reports from outlets including Reuters and NBC News that estimated up to 3,000 troops would be dispatched to the region.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump stated that Iranian negotiators have “agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon.” He also referenced the highly contested Strait of Hormuz, vaguely claiming that Iran had delivered a “very big present worth a tremendous amount of money” related to the strategic waterway.
The ongoing conflict, which began on February 28 following the collapse of prior negotiations, has triggered a global energy crisis compounded by an Iranian military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Over the weekend, Trump extended a severe ultimatum by five days, having previously threatened to obliterate Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure if the strait was not reopened.
The human toll of the nearly month-long military offensive has been significant. According to figures verified by the Associated Press and Reuters, the conflict has resulted in over 1,500 reported deaths in Iran, 15 deaths in Israel, and the deaths of at least 13 U.S. military personnel.
Diplomatic efforts remain heavily contested. While Trump continues to promote a 15-point peace framework, Iran’s parliament and foreign ministry vehemently denied any direct contact with the U.S. administration, dismissing the claims as “fake news” intended to calm volatile global oil markets. However, indirect messages are reportedly being relayed through intermediaries in Pakistan, Egypt, and the Gulf states. Vice President JD Vance is currently being touted to lead potential U.S.-Iran peace negotiations, with Pakistan actively offering to host the talks in Islamabad.