Iran admits US strikes badly damaged N-sites days after saying no contamination
Days after Iran said there were no signs of radioactive contamination following the US's strikes on its nuclear installations, Tehran on Wednesday admitted that its nuclear sites were "badly damaged" and demanded compensation from Washington.On June 21, the US joined Israel in its attacks on Iran during the 12-day conflict and bombed the Islamic Republic's key nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.advertisementIran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghei said the US strikes on his country's nuclear installations caused significant damage.
"Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that's for sure," Baghaei was quoted by Al Jazeera as saying.
Iran's Natanz nuclear facility damaged following US strikes. (Photo: Maxar)
In an interview with a Lebanese news agency, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh demanded compensation from the US for the damages caused to Iran's nuclear facilities and threatened to file a complaint with the UN."Washington must pay compensation for the damages caused to Iran's facilities or else Tehran will file a complaint with the United Nations on this matter," he said.advertisementSatellite images released by US-based Maxar Technologies showed noticeable damage to Iran's nuclear facilities in Natanz and Isfahan.
Iran's Isfahan nuclear facility damaged in US strikes. (Photo: Maxar)
Another satellite image showed Tehran's Mehrabad airport following Israeli strikes.
Tehran's Mehrabad airport damaged following Israeli attacks. (Photo: Maxar)
Khatibzadeh said, "We had no written agreement with the Zionist regime (Israel) that included any binding clauses. What happened was simply the halt of aggression by the Israelis."TRUMP SAYS CEASEFIRE ACHIEVED AMID TENSIONSOn Tuesday, US President Donald Trump claimed he brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran and urged the long-time rivals not to violate the agreement. However, hours later, Israel fired missiles on Iran, which then ordered retaliatory strikes.A frustrated Trump then said that Israel and Iran had violated the ceasefire but insisted that the truce was on. He also said that he urged Israel not to bomb Iran again and that all Israeli planes were returning home.advertisementTrump asserted that Israel "unloaded" right after agreeing to the deal. He also said he was not happy with either country, especially Israel."I am going to see if I can stop it (the fighting). I have to get Israel to calm down. We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the f*** they're doing," he said.The surprise declaration of ceasefire by Trump came just 48 hours after he ordered strikes on Iran's underground nuclear facilities.In response, Iran retaliated by launching missiles towards the Al Udeid air base, a US military base in Qatar, as part of a campaign against what Tehran called "blatant military aggression" by Washington. Rockets were also fired at the Ain Al Asad base housing US troops in Iraq.This marked a major escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict, leading to the shutting of airspaces by the Gulf countries and affecting the movement of international flights. It also came as the Middle East remained under strife in 20 months following Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza and its conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.On June 12, Israel launched aerial attacks on Iran under Operation Rising Lion, asserting that Tehran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran, which has insisted that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, fired a volley of missiles and drones, causing massive infrastructural damage and civilian casualties on both sides.- EndsTune InMust Watch
IN THIS STORY#Iran#Israel#Middle East#Donald Trump#United States of America
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