The United States of America has carried out a “very successful attack” on three nuclear sites on Iran, President Donald Trump has said, while Tehran has warned of “everlasting” consequences.
Bunker buster bombs were dropped on the heavily protected Fordow enrichment plant, which is buried deep under a mountain near the city of Qom, as well as sites at Natanz and Isfahan.
The dramatic escalation brings the US into direct involvement in the war between Israel and Iran. Tehran’s threat of reprisals raises fears of a wider regional conflict.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the US strikes “will have everlasting consequences”, adding that his country “reserves all options” to retaliate.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said America’s ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’ had “devastated the Iranian nuclear programme” but confirmed the strikes were “not about regime change”.
“The United States does not seek war, but let me be clear – we will act swiftly and decisively when our people, our partners, or our interests are threatened,” he said.
Iran has repeatedly denied that it is seeking a nuclear weapon, and the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog said in June that it has no proof of a “systematic effort to move into a nuclear weapon”.
The Iranian foreign minister told journalists on Sunday morning that he was flying to Moscow to have “serious consultations” with Vladimir Putin.
He described Moscow as a “friend of Iran”, adding: “We always consult with each other.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG) said that “invaders must now await responses that will bring regret” after US strikes.
Iran has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to “maintain international peace and condemn the US strikes”, according to state media.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the “bold decision” by Mr Trump, saying it would “change history”.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it launched 40 missiles at Israel on Sunday morning, including its biggest ballistic missile, the Khorramshahr-4.
Iranian missiles hit sites in northern and central Israel, including in Haifa, Ness Ziona, Rishon LeZion and Tel Aviv.
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