Live updates: Trump claims success on U.S. strikes on Iran; Iranian retaliatory strikes hit Tel Aviv
What to know
U.S. ATTACKS IRAN: The U.S. has entered the conflict between Israel and Iran overnight, with American warplanes and submarines firing on three nuclear facilities in Iran: Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan.
TRUMP ADDRESS: In an address to the nation shortly after the attacks, President Donald Trump said the sites were 'completely and totally obliterated,' adding that any future attacks would be 'far greater and a lot easier.'
RISK OF ESCALATION: Iran says it 'reserves all options' to respond to the U.S. attacks. United Nations chief António Guterres urged restraint and de-escalation, saying 'at this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos.' Trump said any retaliation from Iran on U.S. assets "will be met with even greater force than what was unleashed today."
RETALIATORY STRIKES: Iran launched a missile barrage into Israel this morning, causing damage and injuries in Tel Aviv, while Iran's allies in Yemen, the Houthis, said they will join Iran in retaliation.
U.S. DEBATE: Republicans and Democrats have questioned the legality of the strikes, with minority leader Chuck Schumer D-N.Y., saying 'No president should be allowed to unilaterally march this nation into something as consequential as war with erratic threats and no strategy.'
HUNDREDS KILLED: Since the conflict began 10 days ago, Israeli strikes have killed at least 400 people in Iran and injured 3,000, according to Iran's health ministry. The death toll in Israel from Iran's retaliatory strikes remains at 24.
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The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.' The First Minister's response to the developments in the Middle East came after Sir Keir Starmer urged Iran to return to negotiations. US President Donald Trump said early on Sunday that three key nuclear sites in Iran were 'completely and fully obliterated' in the military strikes. The US is thought to have used B-2 stealth bombers to drop bunker-busting munitions on the sites – including the deeply-buried Fordo facility – as well as 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from submarines. The US-UK base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean is not thought to have been used in the operation. The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran confirmed attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz sites, but it insisted its nuclear programme will not be stopped. Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog said there are no immediate signs of radioactive contamination at the three locations following the strikes. The strikes came just days after President Trump said a decision on whether to join Israeli attacks on Iran would be delayed as international leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urged restraint. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday the US president was still hopeful of reaching a negotiated solution with Tehran and would decide on military action within two weeks. But speaking after the strikes on Iran early on Sunday, President Trump said: 'Iran's nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. 'Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat.' Trade policy minister Mr Alexander, who is the MP for Lothian East and a former international development minister, spoke to the BBC's Sunday Show. He said: 'I understand that people have woken up this morning to the news that was breaking overnight with a real sense of concern. 'I want to assure your viewers that the British Government has been putting contingencies in place. 'There have been a whole series of meetings, I and other have been attending Cobra meetings in the course of the week.' He said plans are being put in place to move UK nationals in affected countries to safety, stressing the UK 'took no part in this military action'. The Prime Minister had earlier said Iran should 'return to the negotiating table', noting the region remains 'volatile'. Former Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf was critical of the Prime Minister's response. He posted on social media: 'An awful statement from the PM, which ignores our collective responsibility to uphold international law. 'Supporting illegal military action in Iran, and gas-lighting us about an imminent nuclear threat, is hauntingly reminiscent of the lies told in the run up to the Iraq war.' 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He added: 'It's already at a significant level. I think it would be naive to say that that wouldn't potentially increase. The Iranian ambassador to the UK branded the US military strikes on Iran as a violation of a United Nations charter.
The Independent
25 minutes ago
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Donald Trump's administration 'does not seek war' and is not trying to create regime change, US defense secretary Pete Hegseth has claimed after the president authorised a stunning attack on Iran. With the world reeling over the stealth bomber raids on three nuclear sites - dubbed 'Operation Midnight Hammer' - President Trump claimed he had 'completely obliterated' Iran's chances of obtaining nuclear weapons. UK and others into organising repatriation flights for citizens from Israel, Iran and surrounding countries amid fears of all-out war. Click here for the latest on the ongoing conflict. UK bases in Cyprus are on high alert with the theocratic regime in Tehran vowing revenge on America and her allies. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi announced he will fly to Moscow for meetings with Vladimir Putin on Monday. Meanwhile, Iran let off another barrage of missiles at Israel while US allies took stock of the latest round of international turmoil. 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But Mr Hegseth admitted that knowledge of the attack had been kept to a very small group within the administration and leaders of allies were only told about it when the bombers were on their way home. On a day of drama, the US defense secretary appeared with General Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, at a press conference in the Pentagon. Seeking to appease anger among isolationists in Mr Trump's rightwing MAGA base, he praised the president's 'brilliant leadership'. "The operation President Trump planned was bold and it was brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back. When this President speaks, the world should listen," Mr Hegseth said. He admitted the operation with stealth B-2 bombers 'had been planned for weeks' and spoke of the 'deliberate deception' used to distract from Operation Midnight Hammer. This has led to speculation that Trump apparently agreeing to de-escalation at the G7 summit last week and giving Iran two weeks to get back to negotiations on Friday was in fact part of the deception. The US strikes included 14 bunker-buster bombs, more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles and over 125 military aircraft, in an operation the top U.S. general, General Caine. But despite the surprise attack overnight on Iranian nuclear sites, Mr Hegseth insisted America "does not seek war" and denied there was a desire to force regime change. Hegseth said it was important to note that U.S. strikes did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people, a veiled effort to indicate to Iran that they don't want retaliation on American targets in the region. The operation pushes the Middle East to the brink of a major new conflagration in a region already aflame for more than 20 months with wars in Gaza and Lebanon and a toppled dictator in Syria. "Iran's nuclear ambitions have been obliterated," Hegseth told reporters in a briefing, adding that said the strikes did not target Iranian troops or people. iframe title="US attacks three of Iran's key nuclear facilities" aria-label="Locator map" id="datawrapper-chart-HBGvY" src=" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="524" data-external="1"> "The operation President Trump planned was bold and it was brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back. When this president speaks, the world should listen," Hegseth said. vice president J.D. Vance reiterated the message in a broadcast interview describing it as 'an incredibly targeted attack' but admitted it is 'an incredibly delicate moment.' He added that Iran responding by attacking US troops would be 'the stupidest thing in the world' which would be 'met with overwhelming force.' Offering Tehran advice he added: 'If the Iranians are smart they are going to have to look in the mirror and say 'maybe we are not so good at this war thing, let's give peace a chance, let's drop our nuclear weapons program and start to make some smart decisions.'' Earlier, Iran's regime vowed revenge and accused America of breaching international law. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said: "This aggression showed that the United States is the primary instigator of the Zionist regime's hostile actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran. "Although they initially tried to deny their role, after our armed forces' decisive and deterrent response and the Zionist regime's clear incapacity, they were inevitably forced to enter the field themselves." Foreign Minister Mr Araghchi announced he would seek aid from Russia in person. "We enjoy a strategic partnership and we always consult with each other and coordinate our positions," he said, referring to Russia. The attack delighted Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu who had initiated military action against Iran more than a week ago claiming it was days away from having nuclear weapons. 'Congratulations, President Trump,' he said. 'Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history... History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapons." An Israeli official has suggested that Iran had enough uranium for nine nuclear bombs and could have turned it to weapons grade level 'in a matter of days.' Former UK security minister Tom Tugendhat pointed out that if Iran had been successful it could have hit London with nuclear armed ballistic missiles. But leftwing MPs in the UK including independent former Labour MP Zara Sultana accused the US of 'warmongering' and the UK of 'acting like an American poodle'. Sir Keir gave his support for the raid saying Iran should 'never be allowed nuclear weapons'. In a statement the prime minister said: 'Iran's nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat. 'The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis'.
