The Financial Times sums up the story dominating Monday’s front pages: “Trump declares victory with massive air strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.” The paper carries the US administration’s position that it is “not at war with Iran” but “with its nuclear programme” after bombing three nuclear sites overnight – but describes Saturday’s attack as a “gamble” nonetheless.
“Hammered” reads the Metro’s front page this morning as it splashes on the attack – dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer – and the “shock waves” in its wake. Donald Trump is pictured in the Situation Room during the strikes while satellite imagery shows six fresh craters at the Fordo nuclear site, where the US dropped two “bunker buster bombs”. The paper carries reaction from Iran, whose foreign minister warned of “everlasting consequences”.
The Sun carries the headline “Stick it up your bunker” – a play on its 1982 “stick it up your junta” splash, published as Argentina’s forces offered to engage in peace talks during the Falklands War. World leaders called for a return to diplomacy and de-escalation on Sunday. The Sun reports that nuclear sites were “blitzed” by the strikes on what it describes as “the terror state”.
The Guardian, splashing on Iran’s vow to retaliate, calls the attack “the most consequential intervention in a conflict in a generation”. It reports that the US president has “joined Israel in its war against Tehran” and points out that the US may be pulled into a “drawn-out war Trump had promised to avoid,” depending on Iran’s response.
The Daily Telegraph likewise highlights that Trump campaigned on ending the US’s “foreign entanglements” but has instead become a “wartime leader” who must reckon with Iran’s next move. It reports Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s warning that revenge would be “the worse mistake [Iran had] ever made”. It is one of few front pages to carry any other news this morning – including that President Macron wants Unesco heritage recognition for French house music. He told French radio: “We are inventors of electro.”
The Times focuses on the impact of the strikes on the Fordo nuclear facility, with much of its front page dedicated to a map of the underground site. “Iran vows revenge on US,” says The Times headline, as it reports on Tehran’s plan to “choke the world’s oil supply” after its parliament voted to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane.
But the Daily Express turns its attention to London, where it splashes on the prime minister’s warning of “escalation” and reports the UK’s terror threat has increased following the US intervention.
The Daily Mail takes a similar approach, headlining on fears of “Iran terror backlash” on Britain and other US allies. It reports that Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said “Iranian activity” in the UK was already “substantial” and that it “would be ‘naive’ to think it won’t increase”.
Trump is again pictured in his Make America Great Again cap in the Situation Room on the Daily Mirror’s front page. “Stop now” is its headline, as it reports the prime minister “called for calm” after the attack “risked plunging the world into war”.
Meanwhile, the i Paper carries a picture of a Pentagon briefing on Operation Midnight Hammer, where a timeline of the attack was presented to reporters. It reports that Trump has “pushe[d] Middle East to the brink” and describes a “frantic diplomatic push” led by the UK to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
The story receives minimal real estate on the Daily Star’s front page, however, where the US strikes are tucked to the side under the headline “Trump thumps Iran”. The paper’s lead is that Noel and Liam Gallagher’s mother believes she was responsible for Oasis’s reunion.
