Iran’s army chief has warned that the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites have given Tehran a “free hand” to "act against US interests and its army."The UN’s nuclear watchdog said on Monday that “very significant damage” was expected to have occurred at Iran's Fordow facility during the US bombardment.

The United States went on high alert on June 22 over concerns of retaliation from Tehran after the bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites a day earlier. Major U.S. cities from New York to Los Angeles stepped up their security as the weekend came to a close.