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Iran must not take destabilising action, European leaders say

Iran must not take destabilising action, European leaders say

Straits Times5 hours ago

A handout picture shows German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, his foreign policy advisor Guenter Sautter and government spokesman Stefan Kornelius during a telephone conversation between the E3 (France, Great Britain and Germany) on the situation in the Middle East, following U.S attack on Iran's nuclear sites, at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany June 22, 2025. Guido Bergmann/Bundesregierung/Handout via REUTERS
Iran must not take destabilising action, European leaders say
FRANKFURT - The leaders of Britain, France and Germany on Sunday urged Iran not to take any actions that would further destabilise the region following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities overnight.
"We have consistently been clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and can no longer pose a threat to regional security," the government heads of Germany, Britain, France, known as the E3, said in a joint statement.
"We call upon Iran to engage in negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all concerns associated with its nuclear program. We stand ready to contribute to that goal in coordination with all parties."
The E3 also confirmed their support for the security of Israel, the statement said.
U.S. forces struck Iran's three main nuclear sites, President Donald Trump said late on Saturday, warning Tehran it would face more devastating attacks if it does not agree to peace.
"We will continue our joint diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions and ensure the conflict does not intensify and spread further," the E3 statement said. REUTERS
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Satellite images indicate severe damage to Fordow, but doubts remain
Satellite images indicate severe damage to Fordow, but doubts remain

Straits Times

time25 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

Satellite images indicate severe damage to Fordow, but doubts remain

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DO NOT OBSCURE LOGO. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY WASHINGTON - Commercial satellite imagery indicates the U.S. attack on Iran's Fordow nuclear plant severely damaged - and possibly destroyed - the deeply-buried site and the uranium-enriching centrifuges it housed, but there was no confirmation, experts said on Sunday. 'They just punched through with these MOPs,' said David Albright, a former U.N. nuclear inspector who heads the Institute for Science and International Security, referring to the Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-busting bombs that the U.S. said it dropped. 'I would expect that the facility is probably toast.' But confirmation of the below-ground destruction could not be determined, noted Decker Eveleth, an associate researcher with the CNA Corporation who specializes in satellite imagery. The hall containing hundreds of centrifuges is "too deeply buried for us to evaluate the level of damage based on satellite imagery," he said. 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Albright said in a post on X that Airbus Defence and Space satellite imagery showed that U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles severely damaged a uranium facility at Isfahan and an impact hole above the underground enrichment halls at Natanz reportedly caused by a Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-busting bomb that "likely destroyed the facility." Albright questioned the U.S. use of cruise missiles in Isfahan, saying that those weapons could not penetrate a tunnel complex near the main nuclear research center believed to be even deeper than Fordow. The IAEA said the tunnel entrances "were impacted." He noted that Iran recently informed the IAEA that it planned to install a new uranium enrichment plant in Isfahan. "There may be 2,000 to 3,000 more centrifuges that were slated to go into this new enrichment plant," he said. "Where are they?" REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Iran threatens US bases in response to strikes on nuclear sites
Iran threatens US bases in response to strikes on nuclear sites

Business Times

time34 minutes ago

  • Business Times

Iran threatens US bases in response to strikes on nuclear sites

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Sign Up Sign Up President Donald Trump urged Iran to end the conflict after he launched surprise 'bunker buster' strikes on a key underground uranium enrichment site at Fordo, along with nuclear facilities in Isfahan and Natanz. 'We had a spectacular military success yesterday, taking the 'bomb' right out of their hands (and they would use it if they could!)' he said on social media. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Pentagon press briefing that Iran's nuclear program was 'devastated,' adding that the operation 'did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people.' Standing beside Hegseth, top US general Dan Caine said 'it would be way too early for me to comment on what may or may not still be there.' 'Initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction.' Tehran protests As Iran's leaders struck a defiant tone, President Masoud Pezeshkian also vowed that the United States would 'receive a response' to the attacks. 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But no one knows 'how much it has been damaged,' he said. The IAEA said it had not detected any increase in radiation at the nuclear sites and Tehran said there were no signs of contamination. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prayed for Trump at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Sunday, after hailing the strikes as a move that would 'change history.' Retaliation risk The Israeli military was also checking the results of the US raid on the deeply buried nuclear facility in Fordo, with a spokesman saying it was uncertain if Iran had already removed enriched uranium from the site. The main US strike group was seven B-2 Spirit bombers that flew 18 hours from the American mainland to Iran, Caine said. In response to the attack, which used over a dozen massive 'bunker buster' bombs, Iran's armed forces said they targeted multiple sites in Israel including Ben Gurion airport, the country's main international gateway near Tel Aviv. 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While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, June 23, 2025
While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, June 23, 2025

Straits Times

time42 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, June 23, 2025

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