Saudi crown prince, French president discuss Israel-Iran developments

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call on Sunday from French President Emmanuel Macron, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
They discussed developments in the region and the repercussions of continued Israeli attacks on Iran as well as the targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities by the US in strikes on Sunday morning.
Prince Mohammed affirmed the Kingdom's position, while calling for all efforts to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and resolve all disputes through diplomatic means, SPA added.
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Arab News

22 minutes ago

• Arab News

What do we know about US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities?

DUBAI: Amid mounting speculation, the US launched air strikes on three of Iran's nuclear facilities on Saturday. The operation aimed to support Israel in its war against Iran — ongoing since June 13 — by crippling Tehran's uranium enrichment capacity, according to Asharq News. US President Donald Trump later announced that Iran's uranium-enrichment abilities had been eliminated, warning Tehran against any 'retaliatory response.' Tehran, however, described the damage as 'limited' and dismissed any indications of radiation leaks. The US strikes included 14 bunker-buster bombs, more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles and over 125 military aircraft, in an operation the top US general, General Dan Caine, said was named 'Operation Midnight.' Asharq News reported that the strikes targeted three critical nuclear facilities instrumental in Iran's nuclear fuel cycle: Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear complex. These sites span the entire fuel-enrichment chain — from raw uranium conversion, through enrichment, to the production of fuel and technical components for research reactors. • The first B-2 bomber was publicly displayed on Nov. 22, 1988, but its first flight was on July 17, 1989. • The combat effectiveness of the B-2 was proved in the Balkans, where it was responsible for destroying 33 percent of all Serbian targets in the first eight weeks. • In support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the B-2 flew one of its longest missions to date from Whiteman to Afghanistan and back. • The B-2 completed its first-ever combat deployment in Iraq, flying 22 sorties and releasing more than 1.5 million pounds of munitions. Fordo facility Location and structure: Fordo is 30 kilometers northeast of Qom, embedded within a mountain at an altitude of approximately 1,750 m, with over 80 meters of rock and volcanic shielding — making it one of Iran's most fortified sites. Technical role: It houses two underground halls that can hold about 3,000 IR-1 centrifuges, enriching uranium up to 60 percent — a level nearing weapons -grade. Strategic importance: It is a primary target in any military effort to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear military capability, due to its high capacity and protection. Natanz reactor Location and structure: Situated near Kashan in central Iran, partially buried under about 8 meters of earth with a 220meter-thick concrete roof, naturally shielded by surrounding mountainous terrain. Technical role: Contains primary and experimental plants with over 14,000 centrifuges (IR-1, IR-2m, IR-4, IR-6), making it Iran's main industrial enrichment hub. Strategic importance: Responsible for producing most of Iran's low-enriched uranium and plays a key role in centrifuge development. Isfahan nuclear complex Location and structure: Located south of Isfahan on an arid plateau away from populated areas, it is neither buried nor heavily fortified. Technical role: Includes a Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF); a research reactor fuel production plant; and a metallic fuel pelletizing plant, and three research reactors. Strategic importance: Serves as the backbone of Iran's nuclear research and production infrastructure, supplying both Natanz and Fordo. The Pentagon used some of the world's most advanced aircraft for Saturday's strikes. The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. The bomber represents a major milestone in the US bomber modernization program. The B-2 brings massive firepower to bear anywhere on the globe through seemingly impenetrable defenses. According to US officials, the bombers that carried out the Iran strikes flew for nearly 37 hours non-stop from its Missouri base, refueling in mid-air multiple times before striking in the early hours of Sunday. A B-2 bomber offers several key advantages, primarily due to its stealth capabilities and global reach. • A range over 11,000 km without refueling, capable of global reach from distant American bases. • Stealth abilities such as flying-wing design and radar-absorbing materials that allow it to evade air defenses. • It can carry both nuclear and conventional weapons, including the GBU‑57 bunker-buster bomb. Initial reports quoted by Asharq News indicated that Fordo was hit with the GBU‑57, the most powerful US conventional bunker buster, designed for deeply buried targets like Fordo, which lies 90 meters underground. Fox News reported six bunker-busting bombs were dropped on Fordo, alongside approximately 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles fired at Natanz and Isfahan. The GBU‑57 'Massive Ordnance Penetrator' was designed by American military engineers to devastate deeply buried bunkers without radioactive fallout. It was the only nonnuclear weapon that could reach Iran's hardest target. • Weight: ~13,600 kg • Length: 6.2 meters. • Diameter: 0.8 meters. • Explosive payload: 2,400 kg of high explosives. • Guidance: GPS + inertial navigation. * Penetration: Up to 60 meters of reinforced concrete or dense rock. A Tomahawk cruise missile is a precision weapon that launches from ships, submarines and ground launchers and can strike targets precisely from a great distance, even in heavily defended airspace. • Range: 1,250–2,500 km depending on variant. • Speed: Subsonic (~880 km/h). • Guidance: Inertial navigation, GPS, with some variants using terminal guidance (TERCOM, DSMAC). • Warhead: ~450 kg conventional explosives. • Launch platforms: Ships and submarines. There has been a torrent of responses to the US move against Iran, Asharq News reported. President Trump declared the mission's success, stating that the Fordo facility was 'gone,' and Iran's primary nuclear enrichment sites 'completely and utterly destroyed.' Later on Sunday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes were an incredible and overwhelming success that have 'obliterated Tehran's nuclear ambitions.' For its part, Iran's Tasnim News Agency quoted an official saying the nuclear sites had been evacuated in advance, and the damage was 'not irreparable.' The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran stated there was 'no risk of any radiation leak.' Iran emphasized its nuclear industry would not be halted.

Leaders

23 minutes ago

• Leaders

Saudi Crown Prince Discusses Region's Tensions with GCC, French, Italian Leaders

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the escalating tensions in the region following the US attacks with GCC leaders through a series of phone calls on Sunday, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Series of Phone Calls On Sunday, Saudi Arabia expressed its deep concern over the recent strikes and urged restraint to avoid more escalation, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Crown Prince held separate telephone calls with several Gulf Cooperation Council leaders including King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani as well as Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Sabah. Furthermore, the prince received a phone call from UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. During the calls, the leaders discussed the latest regional developments, such as Israel's ongoing attacks on Iran and the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier on Sunday. They stressed the unity and solidarity of GCC member states and emphasized the significance of collective efforts to exercise restraint, avoid further escalation, and seek diplomatic solutions to the conflict. On Sunday, Prince Mohammed also received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni. The calls focused on the latest developments in the Middle East and the consequences of the escalation of tensions in the region following the US strikes. US Strikes on Iran The US launched airstrikes on Sunday against Iran's nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. 'The United States showed that they have no respect to United Nations Charter. They have no respect to international law. They crossed a very big red line by attacking nuclear facilities,' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. Moreover, Araghchi accused Trump of not only betraying Iran by abusing its commitment to diplomacy but also deceiving his own voters by implementing the wishes of a war criminal. 'He has betrayed not only Iran by abusing our commitment to diplomacy but also deceived his own voters by submitting to the wishes of a wanted war criminal who has grown accustomed to exploiting the lives and wealth of American citizens to further the Israeli regime's objectives,' he added. Israel-Iran War On June 13, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on Iran under the name of Operation Rising Lion. The military campaign targeted Iran's nuclear facilities and killed top military commanders and nuclear scientists. As a response, Iran launched a retaliatory wave of missiles against Israel and targeted Tel Aviv. Israel also killed three more Iranian nuclear scientists, bringing the total number of scientists slain to nine, Gulf News reported. Currently, both countries are trading missiles and attacks amid intensifying efforts to halt the conflict. Related Topics: Iranian FM Heads to Moscow for Urgent Talks with Putin What They Said After the US Struck Iran's Nuclear Facilities Saudi Arabia Expresses Deep Concern over US Strikes on Iran Short link : Post Views: 66

Arab News

37 minutes ago

• Arab News

UN chief warns of cycle of retaliation after US bombs Iran

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warned Sunday against yet 'another cycle of destruction' and retaliation following the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, which he said marked a 'perilous turn' in the region. 'I have repeatedly condemned any military escalation in the Middle East,' the secretary-general told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. 'The people of the region cannot endure another cycle of destruction. And yet, we now risk descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation.' Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also called for restraint as he voiced fears over 'potential widening' of the conflict. 'We have a window of opportunity to return to dialogue and diplomacy. If that window closes, violence and destruction could reach unthinkable levels and the global non-proliferation regime as we know it could crumble and fall,' Grossi said. Speaking to the Security Council by video link, he said there were visible craters at Iran's key Fordo nuclear facility, 'indicating the use by the United States of America of ground-penetrating munitions.' But Grossi noted that no one had been able to assess the underground damage at Fordo. He added that 'armed attacks on nuclear facilities should never take place and could result in radioactive releases with grave consequences within and beyond the boundaries of the State which has been attacked.'