Following the recent US-Israel airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, West Asia expert and senior journalist Waiel Awwad strongly condemned the move, terming it a “provocative step” by US President Donald Trump.
Speaking to media, Awwad emphasised that Iran, as an ancient civilisation, would not surrender to American pressure and asserted that Tehran has the right to retaliate under international law and the UN Charter if attacked by foreign powers.
“Iran is a civilisation and Iran will not succumb to the pressure of the United States,” Awwad stated. “I think this is a very provocative step taken by an American president who’s supposed to be leading this world to avoid wars… I think there will be retaliation from the Iranian side because they have the full right and the legitimacy, as per the UN Charter and international law, to retaliate against any country attacking a sovereign nation,” he added.
The remarks came after US and Israeli forces conducted overnight strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow. According to CNN, the US deployed six B-2 bombers, which dropped GBU-57 A/B “bunker buster” bombs—also known as Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOP)—on Fordow, Iran’s main uranium enrichment site where uranium is processed up to 60% purity.
A US official confirmed to CNN that a full payload of bombs was dropped on Fordow, targeting its fortified underground structures.
In his first official response post-strikes, President Trump issued a warning to Tehran, saying: “There will either be peace or tragedy for Iran, far greater than we’ve witnessed over the last eight days,” during a national address from the White House.
The airstrikes mark a dangerous escalation in already tense US-Iran relations, drawing global concern over potential retaliation and further destabilisation in the West Asia region.
Awwad cautioned that such military action could push the region towards a larger conflict, unless international diplomatic efforts are swiftly intensified to prevent further escalation.