Inside the Situation Room, where the course of history is often changed
Gathered around a mahogany conference table in the West Wing of the White House, US President Donald Trump and members of his cabinet discussed the conflict in Iran.
It wasn't the first meeting Mr Trump had held over the increasing tensions in the Middle East, but this one was different.
On the other side of the world, B-2 Spirit stealth bombers operated by the US military were dropping bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear sites.
The US president and his inner circle had gathered to watch the mission play out.
The historic meeting was captured in a series of photographs published by the White House, giving the public a rare glimpse inside the fabled Situation Room.
Wearing a bright red baseball cap, emblazoned with his campaign slogan 'MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN', Mr Trump moved around the room with a stony face.
Colourful highlighters, thick binders, half-empty water bottles, and disposable cups were scattered across the tabletop.
Cabinet members intently watched a screen outside the camera's frame.
The room was a who's who of Mr Trump's most trusted.
When the president was seated at the head of the table, Vice-President JD Vance was quite literally his right-hand man. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was to Mr Trump's left.
The two officials' prominent places at the table perhaps underscore the depth of their influence as Mr Trump deliberated for days whether to strike Iran.
But the president was not always seated.
At points, Mr Trump stood behind his top aide, Susie Wiles, as General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke.
CIA director John Ratcliffe had a binder and papers in front of him, although his documents appeared to be blurred, certainly for security reasons.
In other photos, one can spot Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Andy Baker, and White House counsel David Warrington.
Senior administration officials not considered principals were also there. In the back of one photo is Dan Scavino, the president's omnipresent deputy chief of staff.
Mr Trump is always in sharp focus whenever he is pictured, even as other officials in the foreground — like Mr Hegseth or Mr Vance — are softly blurred.
For political pundits, perhaps the most interesting information to be gleaned from the scenes is who was not there.
Since the conflict broke out, disagreement had brewed within the Trump administration over whether the US should join Israel's attacks on Iran.
Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, said in March that the US had no evidence of Iran developing nuclear weapons.
When asked about her comments on Friday, Mr Trump said, "She's wrong".
In a subsequent post on X, Ms Gabbard said her March testimony was taken out of context "as a way to manufacture division".
But in the series of Situation Room photos, Ms Gabbard can't be seen around the table, fuelling speculation that she is on the outs with the president.
Some US-based journalists have reported Ms Gabbard was in the room, citing White House sources.
The Situation Room was created in 1961 on the order of president John F Kennedy after the Bay of Pigs military invasion, aimed at overthrowing Fidel Castro's communist government, failed due to a lack of current information.
It serves as the primary location for presidents to meet with national security advisors, discuss secret operations, and work through international security strategies.
Despite its name, the meeting place is more of an operational suite than a single room.
Once described by then-secretary of state Henry Kissinger as "uncomfortable, unaesthetic and essentially oppressive", it occupies much of the West Wing's lower floor, extending into the berm underneath the White House's outdoor pool.
Access is tightly controlled and generally restricted to the president's intelligence and military advisors.
These are the rooms where history happens.
It was where Mr Trump monitored the operation that killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019; where president Barack Obama and his team watched the raid that took down al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in 2011; and where president Lyndon Johnson went over Vietnam War plans in the 1960s.
Now, a new entry can be added to the Situation Room's storied history: the moment the US bombed Iran.
ABC/AP
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Satellite images are showing damage to Iran's underground nuclear site at Fordo, one of three facilities targetted by US airstrikes, in alliance with Israel's mission to destroy its foe's nuclear program. The images by Planet Labs PBC showed damage to the site's entryways and also to the mountain that Fordo is under. Sealing those entry tunnels means that Iran would have to dig out the facility to reach anything inside. In an address to the nation from the White House, US President Donald Trump asserted that Iran's key nuclear sites had been "completely and fully obliterated". Trump warned there would be additional strikes if Tehran retaliated against US forces. "There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran," he said. The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran confirmed that attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz sites, but insisted that its nuclear program will not be stopped. The International Atomic Energy Agency said there were no immediate signs of radioactive contamination at the three locations following the strikes. Chief Rafael Grossi, has convened an emergency meeting of the nuclear watchdog. Leaders and international organisations around the globe are appealing for diplomacy to de-escalate the conflict. But Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the US strikes had 'launched a dangerous war' and blown up any possibility of diplomacy with the Americans or Europeans. "Last week, we were in negotiations with the US when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy. This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy," Araghchi wrote on X. "What conclusion would you draw?" Hours after the US attacks, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it launched a barrage of 40 missiles at Israel, including its Khorramshahr-4, which can carry multiple warheads. Israeli authorities reported that more than 80 people suffered mostly minor injuries, though one multi-storey building in Tel Aviv was significantly damaged, with its facade torn away exposing the apartments inside. Houses across the street were almost completely destroyed. Following the Iranian barrage, Israel's military said it had "swiftly neutralised" the Iranian missile launchers that had fired, and that it had begun a series of strikes toward military targets in western Iran. Iran has maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. However, Trump and Israeli leaders have argued it could quickly assemble a nuclear weapon, making it an imminent threat. The decision to directly involve the US in the war comes after more than a week of Israeli strikes that significantly degraded Iran's air defences and offensive missile capabilities, and damaged its nuclear enrichment facilities. After the airstrikes the US president posted: "This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!" Israel announced Sunday that it had closed its airspace to both inbound and outbound flights in the wake of the US attacks. The attack used bunker-buster bombs on Iran's Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant built deep into a mountain, a US official said. In addition, US submarines launched about 30 Tomahawk missiles. The decision to attack, taken without congressional approval, was a risky one for Trump, who won the White House partially on the promise of keeping the US out of costly foreign conflicts. But Trump also vowed that he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. After Israel began striking Iran, Trump went from publicly expressing hope that the moment could be a "second chance" for Iran to make a deal to delivering explicit threats on Khamenei and making calls for Tehran's unconditional surrender. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump's decision saying the US "has done what no other country on earth could do." Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who had threatened to resume attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea if the Trump administration joined Israel's military campaign, called on other Muslim nations to form "one front against the Zionist-American arrogance." Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 865 people and wounded 3,396 others, according to the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists. The group said of those dead, it identified 363 civilians and 215 security force personnel. Satellite images are showing damage to Iran's underground nuclear site at Fordo, one of three facilities targetted by US airstrikes, in alliance with Israel's mission to destroy its foe's nuclear program. The images by Planet Labs PBC showed damage to the site's entryways and also to the mountain that Fordo is under. Sealing those entry tunnels means that Iran would have to dig out the facility to reach anything inside. In an address to the nation from the White House, US President Donald Trump asserted that Iran's key nuclear sites had been "completely and fully obliterated". Trump warned there would be additional strikes if Tehran retaliated against US forces. "There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran," he said. The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran confirmed that attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz sites, but insisted that its nuclear program will not be stopped. The International Atomic Energy Agency said there were no immediate signs of radioactive contamination at the three locations following the strikes. Chief Rafael Grossi, has convened an emergency meeting of the nuclear watchdog. Leaders and international organisations around the globe are appealing for diplomacy to de-escalate the conflict. But Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the US strikes had 'launched a dangerous war' and blown up any possibility of diplomacy with the Americans or Europeans. "Last week, we were in negotiations with the US when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy. This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy," Araghchi wrote on X. "What conclusion would you draw?" Hours after the US attacks, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it launched a barrage of 40 missiles at Israel, including its Khorramshahr-4, which can carry multiple warheads. Israeli authorities reported that more than 80 people suffered mostly minor injuries, though one multi-storey building in Tel Aviv was significantly damaged, with its facade torn away exposing the apartments inside. Houses across the street were almost completely destroyed. Following the Iranian barrage, Israel's military said it had "swiftly neutralised" the Iranian missile launchers that had fired, and that it had begun a series of strikes toward military targets in western Iran. Iran has maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. However, Trump and Israeli leaders have argued it could quickly assemble a nuclear weapon, making it an imminent threat. The decision to directly involve the US in the war comes after more than a week of Israeli strikes that significantly degraded Iran's air defences and offensive missile capabilities, and damaged its nuclear enrichment facilities. After the airstrikes the US president posted: "This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!" Israel announced Sunday that it had closed its airspace to both inbound and outbound flights in the wake of the US attacks. The attack used bunker-buster bombs on Iran's Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant built deep into a mountain, a US official said. In addition, US submarines launched about 30 Tomahawk missiles. The decision to attack, taken without congressional approval, was a risky one for Trump, who won the White House partially on the promise of keeping the US out of costly foreign conflicts. But Trump also vowed that he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. After Israel began striking Iran, Trump went from publicly expressing hope that the moment could be a "second chance" for Iran to make a deal to delivering explicit threats on Khamenei and making calls for Tehran's unconditional surrender. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump's decision saying the US "has done what no other country on earth could do." Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who had threatened to resume attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea if the Trump administration joined Israel's military campaign, called on other Muslim nations to form "one front against the Zionist-American arrogance." Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 865 people and wounded 3,396 others, according to the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists. The group said of those dead, it identified 363 civilians and 215 security force personnel. Satellite images are showing damage to Iran's underground nuclear site at Fordo, one of three facilities targetted by US airstrikes, in alliance with Israel's mission to destroy its foe's nuclear program. The images by Planet Labs PBC showed damage to the site's entryways and also to the mountain that Fordo is under. Sealing those entry tunnels means that Iran would have to dig out the facility to reach anything inside. In an address to the nation from the White House, US President Donald Trump asserted that Iran's key nuclear sites had been "completely and fully obliterated". Trump warned there would be additional strikes if Tehran retaliated against US forces. "There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran," he said. The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran confirmed that attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz sites, but insisted that its nuclear program will not be stopped. The International Atomic Energy Agency said there were no immediate signs of radioactive contamination at the three locations following the strikes. Chief Rafael Grossi, has convened an emergency meeting of the nuclear watchdog. Leaders and international organisations around the globe are appealing for diplomacy to de-escalate the conflict. But Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the US strikes had 'launched a dangerous war' and blown up any possibility of diplomacy with the Americans or Europeans. "Last week, we were in negotiations with the US when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy. This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy," Araghchi wrote on X. "What conclusion would you draw?" Hours after the US attacks, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it launched a barrage of 40 missiles at Israel, including its Khorramshahr-4, which can carry multiple warheads. Israeli authorities reported that more than 80 people suffered mostly minor injuries, though one multi-storey building in Tel Aviv was significantly damaged, with its facade torn away exposing the apartments inside. Houses across the street were almost completely destroyed. Following the Iranian barrage, Israel's military said it had "swiftly neutralised" the Iranian missile launchers that had fired, and that it had begun a series of strikes toward military targets in western Iran. Iran has maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. However, Trump and Israeli leaders have argued it could quickly assemble a nuclear weapon, making it an imminent threat. The decision to directly involve the US in the war comes after more than a week of Israeli strikes that significantly degraded Iran's air defences and offensive missile capabilities, and damaged its nuclear enrichment facilities. After the airstrikes the US president posted: "This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!" Israel announced Sunday that it had closed its airspace to both inbound and outbound flights in the wake of the US attacks. The attack used bunker-buster bombs on Iran's Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant built deep into a mountain, a US official said. In addition, US submarines launched about 30 Tomahawk missiles. The decision to attack, taken without congressional approval, was a risky one for Trump, who won the White House partially on the promise of keeping the US out of costly foreign conflicts. But Trump also vowed that he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. After Israel began striking Iran, Trump went from publicly expressing hope that the moment could be a "second chance" for Iran to make a deal to delivering explicit threats on Khamenei and making calls for Tehran's unconditional surrender. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump's decision saying the US "has done what no other country on earth could do." Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who had threatened to resume attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea if the Trump administration joined Israel's military campaign, called on other Muslim nations to form "one front against the Zionist-American arrogance." Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 865 people and wounded 3,396 others, according to the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists. The group said of those dead, it identified 363 civilians and 215 security force personnel. Satellite images are showing damage to Iran's underground nuclear site at Fordo, one of three facilities targetted by US airstrikes, in alliance with Israel's mission to destroy its foe's nuclear program. The images by Planet Labs PBC showed damage to the site's entryways and also to the mountain that Fordo is under. Sealing those entry tunnels means that Iran would have to dig out the facility to reach anything inside. In an address to the nation from the White House, US President Donald Trump asserted that Iran's key nuclear sites had been "completely and fully obliterated". Trump warned there would be additional strikes if Tehran retaliated against US forces. "There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran," he said. The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran confirmed that attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz sites, but insisted that its nuclear program will not be stopped. The International Atomic Energy Agency said there were no immediate signs of radioactive contamination at the three locations following the strikes. Chief Rafael Grossi, has convened an emergency meeting of the nuclear watchdog. Leaders and international organisations around the globe are appealing for diplomacy to de-escalate the conflict. But Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the US strikes had 'launched a dangerous war' and blown up any possibility of diplomacy with the Americans or Europeans. "Last week, we were in negotiations with the US when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy. This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy," Araghchi wrote on X. "What conclusion would you draw?" Hours after the US attacks, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it launched a barrage of 40 missiles at Israel, including its Khorramshahr-4, which can carry multiple warheads. Israeli authorities reported that more than 80 people suffered mostly minor injuries, though one multi-storey building in Tel Aviv was significantly damaged, with its facade torn away exposing the apartments inside. Houses across the street were almost completely destroyed. Following the Iranian barrage, Israel's military said it had "swiftly neutralised" the Iranian missile launchers that had fired, and that it had begun a series of strikes toward military targets in western Iran. Iran has maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. However, Trump and Israeli leaders have argued it could quickly assemble a nuclear weapon, making it an imminent threat. The decision to directly involve the US in the war comes after more than a week of Israeli strikes that significantly degraded Iran's air defences and offensive missile capabilities, and damaged its nuclear enrichment facilities. After the airstrikes the US president posted: "This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!" Israel announced Sunday that it had closed its airspace to both inbound and outbound flights in the wake of the US attacks. The attack used bunker-buster bombs on Iran's Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant built deep into a mountain, a US official said. In addition, US submarines launched about 30 Tomahawk missiles. The decision to attack, taken without congressional approval, was a risky one for Trump, who won the White House partially on the promise of keeping the US out of costly foreign conflicts. But Trump also vowed that he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. After Israel began striking Iran, Trump went from publicly expressing hope that the moment could be a "second chance" for Iran to make a deal to delivering explicit threats on Khamenei and making calls for Tehran's unconditional surrender. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump's decision saying the US "has done what no other country on earth could do." Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who had threatened to resume attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea if the Trump administration joined Israel's military campaign, called on other Muslim nations to form "one front against the Zionist-American arrogance." Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 865 people and wounded 3,396 others, according to the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists. The group said of those dead, it identified 363 civilians and 215 security force personnel.
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Russia has branded the United State's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities a "gross violation of international law" ahead of a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi. Moscow and Tehran have grown increasingly close in recent years, with the Kremlin using the partnership to aid its invasion of Ukraine and threaten Western nations. Iran has also benefitted from the alliance, receiving vital funds and resources which have helped prop up the regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. As a result, some analysts have expressed concern US strikes on Iran could result in Russian intervention - further escalating the Middle East conflict. Watch all the live coverage and analysis from our hosts and experts amid the escalating Israel-Iran conflict with a Streaming Subscription.
