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PM Modi calls Iranian President after US strike, calls for de-escalation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, hours after the United States carried out strikes on three nuclear facilities in the country. The Prime Minister reiterated his call for a swift reduction in tensions and urging all sides to de-escalate. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Spoke with President of Iran @drpezeshkian. We discussed in detail about the current situation. Expressed deep concern at the recent escalations. Reiterated our call for immediate de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward and for early restoration of regional peace, security and stability."
Spoke with President of Iran @drpezeshkian. We discussed in detail about the current situation. Expressed deep concern at the recent escalations. Reiterated our call for immediate de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward and for early restoration of regional…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 22, 2025
Earlier in the day, Iran's foreign minister said that the country will defend itself by all means necessary. "Iran continues to defend Iran's territory, sovereignty, security and people by all means necessary against not just US military aggression, but also the reckless and unlawful actions of the Israeli regime," said Iranian diplomatic chief Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul. During his Cyprus visit earlier this month, PM Modi had said, 'We expressed worry over the ongoing conflicts in West Asia and Europe. We believe this is not an era of war.'
Urge both sides to avoid escalation: MEA
Last week, India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement expressing serious concern over the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. 'India urges both sides to avoid any escalatory steps. Existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy should be utilised to work towards a de-escalation of the situation and resolving underlying issues,' the statement said. It further added, 'India enjoys close and friendly relations with both countries and stands ready to extend all possible support.'
Maintaining its stance of strategic autonomy and nonalignment, India chose not to associate itself with a recent statement by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that criticised Israel's actions against Iran. The SCO — a regional bloc led by China and Russia — voiced 'serious concern' over the developments and strongly condemned the Israeli airstrikes. While India remains a member of the 10-nation grouping, it continues to navigate a delicate balance, especially given its complex ties with China.
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20 minutes ago
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Iran's Fordow hit by US bunker buster bombs: What you need to know about the secret nuclear site
The United States has struck Iran's deeply fortified Fordow nuclear site, marking a dramatic escalation in efforts to dismantle Tehran's nuclear capabilities. The overnight airstrike on June 21, part of Operation Midnight Hammer, was carried out using B-2 stealth bombers armed with 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs—making it the first known US attempt to penetrate the underground facility near Qom. The move comes after days of Israeli bombardment that failed to significantly damage Fordow, a site central to Iran's uranium enrichment program and long considered beyond the reach of conventional weapons. Here are key facts about Iran's Fordow nuclear facility: Iran's Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant is one of the most heavily fortified and controversial sites in the country's nuclear infrastructure. Located about 100 kilometers southwest of Tehran near the holy city of Qom, Fordow is buried deep within a mountain — up to 300 feet underground — and is designed to be shielded from conventional airstrikes. Originally constructed in secret around 2006 and officially revealed by Iran in 2009, the site is operated by Iran's Atomic Energy Organization and plays a central role in uranium enrichment. It is one of two facilities — alongside Natanz — where uranium has been enriched to levels close to weapons-grade. Fordow's significance lies in both its output and its protection. The facility has been used to enrich uranium up to 60% purity — just a short step from the 90% enrichment level needed to produce nuclear weapons. In 2023, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) detected particles enriched to 83.7% purity at the site — the highest level ever publicly recorded in Iran. This brought heightened international scrutiny, especially from Israel, which considers any Iranian move toward weapons-grade material an existential threat. Fordow's fortified location makes it nearly invulnerable to Israeli munitions. Only the United States possesses the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator — a 'bunker buster' capable of reaching its underground centrifuge halls. In the early hours of Saturday night (June 21), the United States launched a military operation — Operation Midnight Hammer — targeting Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. US President Donald Trump authorised the use of B-2 stealth bombers equipped with GBU-57 bombs to strike Fordow's underground halls. 'We devastated the Iranian nuclear program,' said US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the strikes. 'This operation was about neutralizing threats — not regime change.' According to satellite imagery and initial Pentagon assessments, the attacks caused visible damage around the facility, including craters and collapsed tunnel entrances. However, the IAEA has reported no increase in off-site radiation levels, and a full damage assessment is still underway. The IAEA confirmed that no elevated radiation levels have been detected following the strike. But experts caution that radiation and chemical contamination inside the site are likely, and monitoring efforts have become more difficult. Due to the destruction of infrastructure and dispersal of materials, traditional environmental sampling techniques — essential for detecting illicit nuclear activity — may now be unusable at the site. The Fordow strike was viewed as a turning point in the conflict. Israeli airstrikes over the past week had failed to significantly damage Fordow due to its depth and air defenses. By stepping in with bunker busters, the US delivered what many analysts view as a critical blow to Iran's nuclear capabilities. Still, experts warn that much of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile may have already been moved to undisclosed hardened sites, complicating efforts to track and contain its nuclear ambitions.
Time of India
21 minutes ago
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'Midnight Hammer': What if US bombing on Iran's nuclear sites was effective - and that's the problem?
By striking three major nuclear facilities in Iran -- Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan -- US President Donald Trump may have delivered a "bold" military blow to Tehran's declared nuclear program. But analysts warn that this apparent tactical victory may come at a strategic cost- making it far more difficult to track what's left of Iran's nuclear activities and where they now lie. The US, in a midnight operation, targeted Iran's three key sites using B-2 bombers loaded with Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs). Satellite images of Fordow show new craters and possible tunnel collapses, but no confirmed damage to the underground enrichment halls. Natanz suffered only partial damage to surface-level infrastructure during earlier Israeli raids, with the extent of US impact still unclear. The most visible destruction appears to be at Isfahan, though reports suggest Iran may have relocated uranium stockpiles ahead of the attacks. Trump hailed the operation as a 'spectacular military success,' saying the sites had been 'totally obliterated.' US defense secretary Pete Hegseth added that the strikes were focused and avoided civilian casualties. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mannheim: GEERS sucht 700 Testhörer für Hörgeräte ohne Zuzahlung GEERS Undo However, the long-term consequences may be less about what was destroyed and more about what's now untraceable. Follow live updates on Iran-Israel crisis Fallout for nuclear monitoring The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which previously conducted inspections at these sites, has now lost access to key materials and locations. The core mission of the IAEA is to meticulously track even gram-level quantities of uranium globally to prevent its diversion for nuclear weapons. However, according to Tariq Rauf, former head of the agency's nuclear verification policy, the recent airstrikes have significantly complicated efforts to monitor Iran's uranium stockpile. 'It will now be very difficult for the IAEA to establish a material balance for the nearly 9,000 kilograms of enriched uranium, especially the nearly 410 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium,' Bloomberg reported quoting Rauf. Moreover, inspectors, last week, admitted they had lost track of Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, citing Israeli military operations as a key obstacle to their monitoring efforts. The uranium—previously verified by IAEA inspectors at the Isfahan facility—is sufficient to produce up to 10 nuclear warheads if processed at a covert location. Given its compact volume, small enough to fit into just 16 containers, experts believe the material may have already been relocated to an undisclosed site. What's left and what's next? Iran's nuclear capabilities are widely distributed across hardened facilities and backed by a workforce of thousands. Even if major sites are damaged, the infrastructure, expertise, and undeclared centrifuge stockpiles remain intact. "As for Iran's technical expertise, it cannot be destroyed, knowing that thousands of people have participated in Iran's nuclear programme," AFP quoted nuclear expert Heloise Fayet saying. While Iran is yet to respond militarily, experts suggest it may opt for a measured escalation — symbolic retaliation against Israel or Gulf targets, rather than directly drawing the US into a prolonged conflict.
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First Post
21 minutes ago
- First Post
Pentagon says US not seeking war with Iran after strikes on nuclear sites
The operation, named 'Operation Midnight Hammer', utilized decoy tactics and encountered no resistance from Iranian forces, according to Hegseth and Air Force General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a Pentagon news conference read more U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday that the United States 'does not seek war' with Iran, following surprise overnight airstrikes on three of Iran's nuclear facilities while Vice President JD Vance stated that the strikes present an opportunity for renewed negotiations between Tehran and Washington. The operation, named 'Operation Midnight Hammer,' utilized decoy tactics and encountered no resistance from Iranian forces, according to Hegseth and Air Force General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a Pentagon news conference. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'This mission was not and has not been about regime change,' Hegseth added. General Caine confirmed that the objective of neutralizing nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan had been accomplished. 'Final battle damage will take some time, but initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction,' Caine said. Vance said in a television interview that while he would not discuss 'sensitive intelligence about what we've seen on the ground,' he felt 'very confident that we've substantially delayed their development of a nuclear weapon.' Pressed further, he told NBC's 'Meet the Press' that 'I think that we have really pushed their program back by a very long time. I think that it's going to be many many years before the Iranians are able to develop a nuclear weapon.' The vice president said the U.S. had 'negotiated aggressively' with Iran to try to find a peaceful settlement and that Trump made his decision after assessing the Iranians were not acting 'in good faith.' 'I actually think it provides an opportunity to reset this relationship, reset these negotiations and get us in a place where Iran can decide not to be a threat to its neighbors, not to a threat to the United States and if they're willing to do that, the United States is all ears,' Vance said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He said it would make sense for Iran to come to the negotiating table and give up their nuclear weapons program over the long term. 'If they're willing to do that, they're going to find a willing partner in the United States of America,' he said, describing a possible chance of a 'reset' for Tehran. Much of the world is absorbing the consequences of the strikes and the risk that they could lead to more fighting across the Middle East after the United States inserted itself into the war between Israel and Iran. Airstrikes starting on June 12 by Israel that targeted Iran's nuclear facilities and generals prompted retaliation from Iran. While U.S. officials urged for caution and stressed that only nuclear sites were targeted by Washington, Iran criticized the actions as a violation of its sovereignty and international law. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Sunday that Washington was 'fully responsible' for whatever actions Tehran may take in response. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'They crossed a very big red line by attacking nuclear facilities,' he said at a news conference in Turkey. 'I don't know how much room is left for diplomacy.' Both Russia and China condemned the U.S. attack. Araghchi said he would travel to Moscow later Sunday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement warned about the risk of the conflict spreading beyond the Middle East to 'a global level.' The Pentagon briefing did not provide any new details about Iran's nuclear capabilities. Hegseth said the timeline was the result of a schedule set by President Donald Trump for talks with Iran about its nuclear ambitions. 'Iran found out" that when Trump 'says 60 days that he seeks peace and negotiation, he means 60 days of peace and negotiation,' Hegseth said. 'Otherwise, that nuclear program, that new nuclear capability will not exist. He meant it.' That statement was complicated as the White House had suggested last Thursday that Trump could take as much as two weeks to determine whether to strike Iran or continue to pursue negotiations. But the U.S. benefited from Iran's weakened air defenses as it was able to conduct the attacks without resistance from Iran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Iran's fighters did not fly, and it appears that Iran's surface to air missile systems did not see us throughout the mission,' Caine said. Hegseth said that a choice to move a number of B-2 bombers from their base in Missouri earlier Saturday was meant to be a decoy to throw off Iranians. He added that the U.S. used other methods of deception as well, deploying fighters to protect the B-2 bombers that dropped 14 bunker-buster bombs on Iran's site at Fordo. The strikes occurred Saturday between 6:40 pm and 7:05 pm in Washington, or roughly 2:10 am on Sunday in Iran.
