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Outrage as Trump compares Iran strikes to Japan atomic bombing
Outrage as Trump Compares U.S. Strikes on Iran to Atomic Bombings of Japan
In a statement that has sparked international condemnation and reignited painful historical memories, U.S. President Donald Trump compared recent American military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that ended World War II. The remarks, made during a press conference at a NATO summit in The Hague on June 25, 2025, have drawn sharp criticism from Japanese officials, atomic bomb survivors, and global leaders, who called the comparison “unacceptable” and “deeply regrettable.” The controversy has intensified debates about the ethics of military action, the legacy of nuclear warfare, and the diplomatic fallout of Trump’s unfiltered rhetoric.
The Context: U.S. Strikes on Iran
The controversy stems from a series of U.S. military strikes conducted on June 22, 2025, targeting three key Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The operation, described by the White House as a “spectacular military success,” aimed to cripple Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities, which the U.S. and Israel have long viewed as a potential threat to global security. President Trump, addressing the nation from the White House on the night of the strikes, declared that the facilities had been “completely and totally obliterated,” a claim echoed by his administration but later contested by a leaked U.S. intelligence report.
The strikes were carried out using B-2 Spirit stealth bombers armed with GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs), commonly known as “bunker-buster” bombs, designed to penetrate deeply fortified underground targets. Additional Tomahawk missiles, launched from U.S. submarines, targeted the Isfahan site. The operation marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, drawing the U.S. directly into the fray despite Trump’s campaign promises to avoid Middle Eastern entanglements.
The strikes followed a week of Israeli attacks on Iranian air defenses and missile capabilities, with the U.S. operation focusing on nuclear sites that Israel lacked the military capacity to destroy. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported no off-site radiation increases, but the attacks prompted Iran to warn of retaliation, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the strikes as a violation of international law, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed that any further aggression would result in a “heavy price.”
Trump’s Controversial Comparison
During a press conference at the NATO summit, Trump responded to questions about a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report that suggested the strikes had only set Iran’s nuclear program back by a few months. Dismissing the report as “inconclusive” and “fake news,” Trump insisted that the strikes had achieved a “virtual obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, setting the program back “decades.” He then drew a parallel that stunned attendees: “I don’t want to use an example of Hiroshima, I don’t want to use an example of Nagasaki, but that was essentially the same thing. That hit ended the war. This ended the war.”
The comparison to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which killed approximately 140,000 people in August 1945 and left survivors grappling with long-term psychological trauma and health issues, was met with immediate backlash. Japan, the only nation to have suffered nuclear attacks, has maintained a strong anti-nuclear stance, symbolized by the peace flame in Hiroshima, which has burned continuously since the 1960s, and a clock at a war museum tracking the days since the last nuclear attack.
Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki called Trump’s remarks “extremely regrettable,” particularly if they were intended to justify the use of atomic bombs. “As a city that was bombed, we cannot accept comments that appear to legitimize such actions,” Suzuki said in a statement. Mimaki Toshiyuki, an atomic bomb survivor and co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning advocacy group, labeled the comparison “unacceptable,” emphasizing the enduring pain of survivors, known as hibakusha, who continue to live with the scars of the 1945 bombings.
In Hiroshima, survivors and activists staged a protest on June 26, 2025, demanding that Trump retract his statement. Local lawmakers passed a resolution condemning remarks that justify nuclear weapons and called for peaceful conflict resolution. Teruko Yokoyama, a member of Nihon Hidankyo, expressed her anguish to Kyodo News: “All I have is anger.” Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa indicated that Tokyo had repeatedly conveyed its stance on nuclear weapons to Washington, though he stopped short of confirming whether a formal complaint would be lodged.
Global Reactions: A Diplomatic Firestorm
The international response to Trump’s comments was swift and multifaceted, reflecting both the sensitivity of nuclear rhetoric and the geopolitical tensions surrounding the U.S. strikes. Japan’s condemnation was echoed by other nations, particularly those with strong anti-nuclear policies. China and Russia, both critical of the U.S. strikes, called Trump’s remarks “irresponsible.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for diplomacy, stating, “The negotiating table is the only place to end this crisis.”
The comparison also reignited debates about the historical use of atomic bombs. While the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are credited with hastening Japan’s surrender in World War II, they remain a deeply contentious issue, with critics arguing that the civilian toll was unjustifiable. Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. strikes on Iran were “essentially the same thing” was seen by many as trivializing the catastrophic human cost of nuclear warfare and ignoring the non-nuclear nature of the Iran operation.
In the U.S., Trump’s remarks drew mixed reactions. His supporters, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, backed his claim that the strikes had severely damaged Iran’s nuclear program. Hegseth dismissed the DIA report as “politically motivated,” while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted that dropping fourteen 30,000-pound bombs resulted in “total obliteration.” However, critics, including some Democrats and anti-interventionist Republicans, questioned both the efficacy of the strikes and the appropriateness of the Hiroshima comparison.
Senator Mark Warner, a leading Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed concern about the lack of transparency surrounding the strikes. “I have a whole lot of questions for this administration,” Warner told NPR. “What are the next steps? How do we make sure that Iran isn’t racing now to a dirty bomb?” The cancellation of a planned Senate briefing on the strikes further fueled skepticism about the administration’s narrative.
The Intelligence Dispute
At the heart of Trump’s remarks was his rejection of a leaked DIA report that cast doubt on the strikes’ effectiveness. The report, cited by CBS and other outlets, suggested that while the strikes caused visible damage—evidenced by satellite images showing craters at the Fordow site—they failed to destroy underground structures or Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. This assessment contrasted sharply with Trump’s claims of “total obliteration,” supported by the Israel Atomic Energy Commission’s assertion that Iran’s nuclear program had been set back by “many years.”
The discrepancy has sparked an information war, with Trump and his allies accusing the media and intelligence community of undermining a historic military achievement. Trump took to Truth Social to denounce CNN and The New York Times, writing, “Fake news CNN, together with the failing New York Times, have teamed up in an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history. The nuclear sites in Iran are completely destroyed!” Defense Secretary Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this sentiment, labeling the leakers as “professional stabbers” and suggesting the report was distorted for political purposes.
Meanwhile, IAEA Director Rafael Grossi emphasized the need for inspectors to return to Iran to assess the damage and verify uranium stocks. Grossi noted that Iran had informed the agency on June 13, 2025, of “special measures” to protect its nuclear materials, suggesting that much of the enriched uranium may have been moved before the strikes. This possibility complicates claims of a decisive blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, as experts like Kenneth Pollack of the Middle East Institute argue that Iran’s nuclear knowledge, not just its facilities, poses the greatest challenge.
Historical Sensitivities and Ethical Questions
Trump’s comparison to Hiroshima and Nagasaki has reopened wounds in Japan, where the atomic bombings remain a defining national trauma. The bombings, which killed tens of thousands instantly and left survivors with lifelong health issues, including heightened cancer risks, are commemorated annually with solemn ceremonies. Hiroshima’s peace flame and war museum serve as reminders of the human cost of nuclear weapons and Japan’s commitment to their abolition.
The hibakusha, now dwindling in number due to age, have long advocated for a world free of nuclear weapons. Their testimonies highlight the indiscriminate suffering caused by the bombings, which contrasts starkly with the targeted, non-nuclear strikes on Iran. By equating the two, Trump’s remarks were seen as diminishing the unique horror of nuclear warfare and disrespecting the hibakusha’s lived experiences.
Critics also argue that the comparison reflects a broader insensitivity to the ethical implications of military power. While the U.S. strikes on Iran used conventional weapons, the invocation of Hiroshima raises questions about the normalization of extreme military measures. The use of bunker-buster bombs, designed to penetrate deeply buried targets, underscores the destructive potential of modern warfare, even without nuclear weapons. Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Araghchi, have accused the U.S. of violating international law, including the Non-Proliferation Treaty, further complicating the diplomatic landscape.
Domestic and International Implications
Domestically, Trump’s remarks have deepened divisions among his supporters and critics. Some of his base, particularly those who prioritize a strong stance against Iran, view the strikes as a fulfillment of his promise to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Edward Padron, a Trump voter and former Army private, told The New York Times that the strikes were “what Jimmy Carter should have done” during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. Others, however, expressed unease, citing Trump’s anti-interventionist campaign rhetoric. Bruce Bell, a transmission mechanic who voted for Trump in 2020 and 2024, voiced a “wait and see” approach, wary of escalation.
Internationally, the strikes and Trump’s comments have strained U.S. alliances. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the operation, calling it a “bold decision” that would “change history,” other allies were less enthusiastic. Some NATO members, informed of the strikes only as planes were in the air, expressed frustration at the lack of consultation. The European Union, led by von der Leyen, has pushed for renewed diplomacy, while Russia and China have capitalized on the controversy to criticize U.S. foreign policy.
Iran’s response remains a critical variable. The country’s leadership has vowed retaliation, with Khamenei claiming access to “key U.S. centers” and referencing a recent attack on the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Iran’s missile barrage on Israel, which injured 16 people and damaged infrastructure, underscores its capacity to escalate. The prospect of a wider war looms, with Iranian-backed groups like the Houthi rebels in Yemen threatening renewed attacks on U.S. targets.
The Path Forward: Diplomacy or Escalation?
As the dust settles—both literally and figuratively—on the U.S. strikes, the international community faces a pivotal moment. Trump has signaled openness to talks, announcing plans to meet with Iranian officials the following week to discuss their nuclear program. However, his warning of further strikes “if peace does not come quickly” suggests a high-stakes gamble. Iran, meanwhile, has rejected demands to halt uranium enrichment, with parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declaring that the country would act in its own interests.
The IAEA’s role will be crucial in verifying the extent of the damage and ensuring that Iran’s nuclear activities remain peaceful. Grossi’s call for inspectors to return underscores the need for transparency, but Iran’s “special measures” to protect its uranium stockpile complicate the picture. The U.S. and Israel’s insistence on a decisive blow contrasts with the reality that Iran’s nuclear knowledge cannot be bombed away, raising questions about the long-term efficacy of military action.
For Japan, the outrage over Trump’s remarks is both a moral and diplomatic stand. The country’s leaders have reiterated their commitment to nuclear disarmament, with Hiroshima and Nagasaki serving as enduring symbols of peace. The protests and resolutions in Hiroshima reflect a broader call for accountability, urging world leaders to prioritize dialogue over destruction.
Conclusion
President Trump’s comparison of U.S. strikes on Iran to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki has ignited a firestorm of criticism, highlighting the delicate balance between military action, historical memory, and global diplomacy. While the strikes aimed to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, their long-term impact remains uncertain, clouded by conflicting intelligence and the specter of retaliation. For Japan, the remarks are a painful reminder of a past that continues to shape its identity, fueling demands for respect and restraint. As the world watches, the path forward hinges on whether Trump’s gamble leads to peace or plunges the region into further conflict.
Paul (Poison Fish) Manjyu Woodman
