Trump announces US attack on 3 Iranian nuclear sites
In a post on Truth Social, the US President said that the US military attacked three nuclear sites in Iran: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan; White House posted the same announcement.
'We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space,' he said.
'A full payload of bombs was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. Now is the time for peace. Thank you for your attention to this matter,' he concluded.
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Middle East Eye
16 minutes ago
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US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday following mounting pressure from Israeli officials for American intervention. President Donald Trump said US warplanes had "obliterated" the sites and called on Iran to return to the negotiating table. The strikes have sparked international concern, with several countries condemning the attack and urging all sides to halt further escalation. Here's how the world is responding: Iran New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US strikes, accusing Washington of committing a "grave violation" of the UN Charter, international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. "The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences," Araghchi wrote on X. "Every member of the UN should be alarmed by this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour." He added that, under the UN Charter's self-defence provisions, Iran "reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interests and people". Israel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump for ordering the strikes, calling it a "bold decision" backed by the "awesome and righteous might of the United States". In a video address, Netanyahu said the move would "change history". "History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapons." Qatar Qatar voiced concern over the US strikes, warning of dangerous regional consequences. In a statement, the Qatari foreign ministry said it "regrets the deterioration of the situation" following the bombing and is "following with great concern the developments targeting the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran". The ministry warned that the current tensions could lead to "catastrophic repercussions" both regionally and internationally. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia expressed its "great concern" following the attacks, according to a statement by the foreign ministry on X. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is following with great concern the developments in the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran, represented by the targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States of America," the Saudi foreign ministry posted on X. The kingdom "expresses the need to exert all efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate and avoid escalation", calling on the international community to boost efforts in such "highly sensitive circumstances" to reach a political solution to end the crisis. Oman Oman, which was mediating nuclear talks between the US and Iran, has strongly condemned the US strikes. 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Australia An Australian government spokesperson said Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes pose a threat to international peace and security. "We note the US president's statement that now is the time for peace," the spokesperson said, acknowledging the "highly volatile" security situation in the region. "We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy," they added. New Zealand New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said his country is deeply concerned by recent developments, including Trump's announcement of US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. "Ongoing military action in the Middle East is extremely worrying, and it is critical that further escalation is avoided," Peters said. He added that New Zealand "strongly supports efforts towards diplomacy" and urged all parties to return to negotiations, noting that "diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action". Mexico Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called for urgent diplomatic dialogue amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. "In line with our constitutional principles and Mexico's long-standing commitment to peace, we reiterate our call to de-escalate tensions in the region," the ministry said in a statement posted on X. "The restoration of peaceful coexistence among the states of the region remains our highest priority." Venezuela Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil strongly condemned the US air strikes, calling them a dangerous act of aggression. "The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela firmly and categorically condemns the bombing carried out by the United States military, at the request of the State of Israel, against nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan complexes," Gil said in a Telegram post. He urged an immediate cessation of hostilities and warned of the grave consequences of further escalation. Cuba Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel strongly condemned the US bombing, saying it constituted a "dangerous escalation" and a serious violation of the UN Charter. He added that it "plunges humanity into a crisis with irreversible consequences".
Middle East Eye
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Dubai Eye
4 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
Trump says Iran's key nuclear sites 'obliterated' by US airstrikes
US forces struck Iran's three main nuclear sites, President Donald Trump said late on Saturday, and he warned Tehran it would face more devastating attacks if it does not agree to peace. After days of deliberation and long before his self-imposed two-week deadline, Trump's decision to join Israel's military campaign against its major rival Iran is a major escalation of the conflict and risks opening a new era of instability in the Middle East. "The strikes were a spectacular military success," Trump said in a televised address. "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated." In a speech that lasted just over three minutes, Trump said Iran's future held "either peace or tragedy," and there were many other targets that could be hit by the US military. "If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill." The US reached out to Iran diplomatically on Saturday to say the strikes are all the US plans and it does not aim for regime change, CBS News reported. Trump said US forces struck Iran's three principal nuclear sites: Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow. He told Fox News' Sean Hannity show that six bunker-buster bombs were dropped on Fordow, while 30 Tomahawk missiles were fired against other nuclear sites. US B-2 bombers were involved in the strikes, a US official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. "A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Fordow is gone." Reuters had reported earlier on Saturday the movement of the B-2 bombers, which can be equipped to carry massive bombs that experts say would be needed to strike Fordow, which is buried beneath a mountain south of Tehran. Given its fortification, it will likely be days, if not longer, before the impact of the strikes is known. An Iranian official, cited by Tasnim news agency, confirmed part of the Fordow site was attacked by "enemy airstrikes". However, Mohammad Manan Raisi, a lawmaker for Qom, near Fordow, told the semi-official Fars news agency the facility had not been seriously damaged. Iranian media quoted Iran's nuclear body as saying there were no signs of contamination after the attacks, and no danger to residents living nearby. Hassan Abedini, deputy political head of Iran's state broadcaster, said Iran had evacuated the three sites some time ago. "The enriched uranium reserves had been transferred from the nuclear centres and there are no materials left there that, if targeted, would cause radiation and be harmful to our compatriots," he told the channel. DIPLOMACY UNSUCCESSFUL Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on his "bold decision". "History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime, the world's most dangerous weapons," Netanyahu said. The strikes came as Israel and Iran have been engaged in more than a week of aerial combat that has resulted in deaths and injuries in both countries. Israel launched the attacks on Iran saying it wanted to remove any chance of Tehran developing nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only. Diplomatic efforts by Western nations to stop the hostilities have so far failed. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Saturday's strikes a "dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security". Both sides' attacks on energy infrastructure, including by Israel on Iran's South Pars gas field and the risk of a complete shutdown of the OPEC member's oil production, as well as Iran targeting shipping in the Straits of Hormuz, have fueled fears of a spike in oil prices and impacts on economies worldwide. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was due to hold a news conference at the Pentagon early on Sunday. In recent days, Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans have argued that Trump must receive permission from the US Congress before committing the US military to any combat against Iran. Republican Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi applauded the operation but cautioned that the US now faced "very serious choices ahead". Many in Trump's MAGA movement oppose US entanglement in foreign military operations. Trump ally Steve Bannon said on his War Room podcast that the president's address was probably not what a lot of MAGA supporters wanted to hear, and he called on Trump to offer a "deeper explanation" for why US involvement was necessary. At least 430 people have been killed and 3,500 injured in Iran since Israel began its attacks, Iranian state-run Nour News said, citing the health ministry. In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed and 1,272 people injured, according to local authorities.
