The Trump administration on Sunday issued a stern warning to Iran’s leaders bent on retaliating for the decisive US airstrike on three nuclear facilities inside the rogue nation — don’t try it.

“The operation President Trump planned was bold and it was brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a press briefing. 

“When this president speaks, the world should listen — and the US military, we can back it up.”

The surprise Saturday night strike on facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan, dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” was aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities.

In other developments Sunday: 

The US attack dropped more than a dozen 15-ton GBU-57A/B MOP bunker buster bombs on the three strategic targets, the first time they were used in combat. 

Hegseth noted the 60-day deadline Trump gave Iran earlier this year, and said it’s now on the regime for failing to heed the warning. 

“Iran found out when POTUS says 60 days that he seeks peace and negotiation, he means 60 days of peace and negotiation; otherwise, that nuclear program, that nuclear capability, will not exist; he meant it,” he told reporters. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the comment, and said the US launched the strike because Iran “tried to play’’ President Trump.

“That was an Iranian choice. We didn’t make that choice,” Rubio told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” adding that any attempt to retaliate by Iran would be “the worst mistake they ever made.”

The president meanwhile took to Truth Social about the possibility of an Iranian regime change.

“It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” he posted on the social media platform. 

US drops $500M bombs on Iran

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• The US military dropped 14 “bunker buster” bombs on Iran’s Fordow nuclear enrichment plant Saturday night and on two other key sites.
• Prior to the airstrikes, Israel initiated extensive attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and military. 
• Satellite images show how part of the mountain protecting the facility was completely obliterated.
• This marks the first time that the US used the 15-ton GBU-57 bunker buster bombs in anger.
• “Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said following the attack.

“MIGA!!!” he added.

Defense officials are currently assessing the extent of the damage done to Iran’s nuclear capabilities in the attack. 

“Initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Gen. Dan Caine told reporters.

“It would be way too early for me to comment on what may or may not still be there,” he added when pressed for specifics.

Caine also noted that during the operation, there was no evidence of Iranians firing at US stealth bombers or Tomahawk missiles that it unleashed in the attack, positing that “we retained the element of surprise” throughout the operation.

Operation Midnight Hammer marked the B-2 Spirit stealth bombers’ longest mission since the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to Caine and Hegseth.

Hegseth also contrasted Operation Midnight Hammer with other US ventures in the Middle East and emphasized that the US is keen on avoiding a protracted conflict.

“As the president has directed, made clear, this is most certainly not open-ended. It doesn’t mean it limits our ability to respond. We will respond if necessary,” Hegseth said.

“What the President gave us, as I said, was a focused, powerful and clear mission on the destruction of Iranian nuclear capabilities. Those were the targets. That’s what was struck. That was overwhelming,” he continued. “[Trump] wants peace. There needs to be a negotiated settlement here.”

The Defense secretary also confirmed that “there are both public and private messages” being sent to Iran through America’s various channels with the regime to given Tehran an opportunity to return to negotiations. 

Hegseth also underscored that the US was not pursuing regime change with its operation and was focused strictly on debilitating Iran’s nuclear program.

“This mission was not and has not been about regime change,” Hegseth stressed during his briefing with reporters. “The President authorized a precision operation to neutralize the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear program and the collective self-defense of our troops and our ally Israel.”

Trump has warned Iran that if it seeks retribution against the US, it “will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed” in Operation Midnight Hammer.

With Post wires.

Additional reporting by Caitlin Doombos and Ronny Reyes