Iran considering 'all options' after US strikes on three nuclear sites

Irish Daily Mirror

4 hours ago

The United States has completed its successful attack on three nuclear sites in Iran, Donald Trump has confirmed.
The locations hit include Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, with the US President announcing "a full payload of bombs was dropped on the primary target, Fordow."
The president took to Truth Social to confirm the news, the full post reads: "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow.
"All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter"
In the early hours of this morning Iran's foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, called the "outrageous" attack "extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour". In a post on X he wrote: "The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations.
"The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior. In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people."
It was the first statement from the Iranian government regarding the US strikes that occurred overnight.
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Tehran has released a statement vowing to defend itself against US "warmongering".
It said in a statement shared on social media: "The Islamic Republic of Iran is resolved to defend Iran's territory, sovereignty, security and people by all force and means against the United States' criminal aggression."
It branded the US attack a "flagrant breach" of a UN security council resolution and asked the alliance to convene an emergency meeting to condemn the attack, adding: "Silence in the face of such blatant aggression would plunge the world into an unprecedented level of danger and chaos."
The head of UN's nuclear watchdog says he will be convening an emergency meeting of the Board of Governors on Monday following the US intervention in Iran.
Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has been the target of much Iranian criticism in recent days for what they describe as conflicting statements that incited Israel's initial attack. He posted to X: "In light of the urgent situation in Iran, I am convening an emergency meeting of the @IAEAorg Board of Governors for tomorrow."
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says Iran needs to "get back around the table" and negotiate with the US as tensions continue to escalate.
He told Sky News: "We support the prevention of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. We had proposed a diplomatic course of action, as other European countries had done. The Iranians had rejected that. And I know people will be waking up this morning, and they'll be worried. They'll want to know what this means."
He added that the UK has been making extensive preparations for all eventualities - including how to get British nationals out of the country, and "the assets we have in the region to protect British infrastructure, British bases, British personnel if we need to do that."
"Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, but we need a diplomatic process to turn this round," he added.
Iran's retaliatory strikes have injured 16 in Israel, while new Israeli strikes on Iran have been reported this morning. The Magen David Adom rescue service says one of those wounded was a 30-year-old man in moderate condition and the other 10 were lightly wounded.
Shortly after the Iranian missile barrage, Israel announced its warplanes were conducting strikes on "military targets" in western Iran, without immediately elaborating.
On June 13, Israel launched a surprise barrage of attacks on sites in Iran.
Israeli officials said the attack was necessary to head off what they claimed was an imminent threat that Iran would build nuclear bombs.
Iran has retaliated with a series of missile and drone strikes in Israel, while Israel has continued to strike sites in Iran.
On Sunday morning, the US intervened by striking three nuclear sites in Iran. In response, Iran's Foreign Ministry said "the US has itself launched a dangerous war against Iran" and vowed to defend Iran's security and national interests.
According to Donald Trump, the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities were a "spectacular military success".
He said Iran was the "bully of the Middle East", and that Iranian leadership "must now make peace" - otherwise there would be "future attacks" which would "be far greater".
Later on in a phone interview, Trump said Iran "should make peace immediately - otherwise they'll get hit again".
Iranian state TV showed what appeared to be previous test-firing footage of the Khorramshahr-4 missile, with an on-screen caption saying it was used on Sunday in a barrage on Israel.
The Khorramshahr-4 has the heaviest payload of Iran's ballistic missile fleet, which analysts say may be designed to keep the weapon under a 2,000-kilometer range limit imposed by the country's supreme leader. It has been described as having a 2,000-kilometer (1,240-mile) range with a 1,500-kilogram (3,300-pound) warhead.
UN chief Antonio Guterres says he is "gravely alarmed" by the US attacks on Iran.
The secretary general described the move as a "dangerous escalation," adding: "There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world. "
Guterres said: "I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world.
"I call on Member States to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the @UN Charter and other rules of international law. At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace."
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has backed Donald Trump's decision to strike Iran.
He said: 'Reform UK stands behind the military actions of the USA overnight.
'Iran must not be allowed to have nuclear weapons, the future of Israel depends on it.'
Iran's Foreign Ministry says 'the US has itself launched a dangerous war against Iran' after America attacked three nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic.
'The world must not forget that it was the United States - during an ongoing diplomatic process - that betrayed diplomacy by supporting the aggressive actions of the genocidal and lawless Israeli regime,' the ministry said in a lengthy statement.
It added that Iran 'reserves its right to resist with full force against U.S. military aggression and the crimes committed by this rogue regime, and to defend Iran's security and national interests.'
Keir Starmer has said Tehran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon - as the US bombed three sites in Iran in a massive escalation of the Middle East crisis.
In a statement on Sunday morning, the PM said:'Iran's nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat. The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis.'
Overnight it was reported bunker-busting missiles were dropped from American B-2 stealth bombers, including on the Fordow nuclear site.
Full story here: Keir Starmer responds to US bombs hitting Iranian nuclear targets
Responding to the US' strikes on Iran, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 'Iran's nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat.
'The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis.'
Iran has warned of "everlasting" consequences after the US carried out a "very successful attack" on three of its nuclear sites, President Donald Trump said.
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has warned the US strikes "will have everlasting consequences" and that his country "reserves all options" to retaliate.
There have been no radioactive traces detected in Gulf Arab states following the US strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, according to Saudi Arabia's nuclear regulator.
'No radioactive effects were detected on the environment of the Kingdom, and the Arab Gulf states as a result of the US military targeting of Iran's nuclear facilities,' the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority said in a post on X.
The White House has now shared a rare behind-the-scenes look inside the room where Donald Trump made the decision to bomb Iran.
Iran's foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, called the "outrageous" attack "extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour" in a post on X. He added that every member of the United Nations should be "alarmed" by the "grave violation of the UN charter".
It's the first statement from the Iranian government regarding the US strikes that occurred overnight.
The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations.The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting…
A senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader has called for missile strikes on US Navy vessels and the closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route, reports CNN.
'Following America's attack on the Fordow nuclear installation, it is now our turn,' warned Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor-in-chief of the hardline Kayhan newspaper, a well-known conservative voice who has previously identified himself as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's 'representative.'
A Telegram message from Kayhan quoted Shariatmadari as saying: 'Without hesitation or delay, as a first step we must launch missile strikes on the American naval fleet based in Bahrain and simultaneously close the Strait of Hormuz to American, British, German, and French shipping.'
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he was 'gravely alarmed' by the US strike on Iran early on Sunday, urging calm and warning against further escalation in the volatile region.
I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of…
President Donald Trump took social media after his address to the nation to issue a stark warning to Iran, vowing overwhelming retaliation if Iran responds with force.
Giving a short presidential address from the White House, Donald Trump says Iran's nuclear facilities have been"completely and totally obliterated". He went on to discuss the mission's outcome.
Read Trump's full address here.
Trump also threatened "future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier." He continued, 'This cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left.'
Trump warned that the US could 'go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill,' which he said could be done 'in a matter of minutes.'
Giving a short presidential address from the White House, Donald Trump says Iran's nuclear facilities have been"completely and totally obliterated".
Standing alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the President delivered the confident update on the mission's outcome.
Speaking of his objective he said: "Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror. Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success."
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Donald Trump and the US have acted with strength following strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Posting on X, the Israeli leader says Trump's "bold decision" to target the three nuclear sites "will change history".
President Trump and I often say: 'Peace through strength.'First comes strength, then comes peace.And tonight, @realDonaldTrump and the United States acted with a lot of strength. pic.twitter.com/7lTWCZkgw7
The following interactive map produced by the American Security Project shows US bases in the Middle East, including air bases, land posts and naval facilities
California Governor Gavin Newsom said the state's threat assessment center is 'actively monitoring for any potential impacts" in the state following the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites.
Following the President's action in Iran, California's State Threat Assessment Center is actively monitoring for any potential impacts in California. While there are no specific or credible counter threats we are aware of at this time, we urge everyone to stay vigilant and report…
Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va., called the decision to strike Iran today 'horrible judgment,' adding he will push for a Senate vote 'on whether they are for this third idiotic Middle East war.'
The American public is overwhelmingly opposed to the U.S. waging war on Iran. And the Israeli Foreign Minister admitted yesterday that Israeli bombing had set the Iranian nuclear program back 'at least 2 or 3 years.' So what made Trump recklessly decide to rush and bomb today?… https://t.co/uylhibTCQp
Congressional Republicans — and at least one Democrat — immediately praised President Donald Trump after the US bombed three nuclear sites in Iran.
'Well done, President Trump,' Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina posted on X. Texas Sen. John Cornyn called it a 'courageous and correct decision.' Alabama Sen. Katie Britt called the bombings 'strong and surgical.'
Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin posted: 'America first, always.'
The Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, said Trump 'has made a deliberate — and correct — decision to eliminate the existential threat posed by the Iranian regime.'
Fordow has been completely emptied and evacuated for several months now.