The vice president stopped short of backing President Trump’s assertion that the three bombed facilities had been “totally obliterated.”
The United States’ overnight attack could cause further escalation. To Israelis, it is already seen as a victory for Israel, and for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Iran’s foreign minister said the attack would have “everlasting consequences” and that Tehran “reserves all options” for a response.
Iran’s foreign minister called the attack a “betrayal” in the middle of negotiations and said it would have “everlasting consequences.”
By bombing three nuclear sites in Iran, the United States has joined Israel’s war against the country. Now it is bracing for Iranian retaliation.
Israel on Saturday struck sites in southwestern Iran that would most likely be on any potential flight path used by U.S. warplanes on the way to attack a key Iranian nuclear facility.
The aircraft can carry the bunker-buster bombs that would be necessary to penetrate the Fordo underground nuclear site in Iran.
The fight between two well-armed Mideast powers has their neighbors worried about the conflict spreading, a concern only deepened by U.S. involvement.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has picked replacements in case military commanders die in Israeli strikes. He has also named possible replacements for himself.
Negotiating with Tehran is time-consuming and difficult under the best of circumstances. And it remains unclear whether President Trump’s 14-day clock is more than a way to buy time for military preparations.