US and Iran: What's happening?
The United States has launched military strikes in Iran, attacking three nuclear bases in the country.Speaking in a televised speech from the White House, US President Donald Trump called the operation a "spectacular military success" and warned that Iran should make peace or face "far greater" attacks.In response to the strikes, Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said: "The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences."
What's the background to this?
The US bombing of Iran's nuclear sites comes just over a week after Israel launched strikes on Iran.Since then Israel and Iran have continued to fire missiles at each other.Israel and the US have long been allies. Now President Trump has decided to support Israel by joining the attack on Iran.Trump said American warplanes attacked three nuclear sites in Iran - including an underground nuclear site called Fordo.Iran has always said its nuclear research is for peaceful purposes like electricity.Following the strikes President Trump said: "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated."
What has been the reaction?
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Iran's nuclear programme as "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," Starmer added.UK Foreign Minister David Lammy says "the UK did not participate in these strikes" and urged Iran to "show restraint and reach a diplomatic solution to end the crisis", which means through peaceful discussion.The UN Secretary-General António Guterres said:"There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace."Since the US bombing, missile attacks between Israel and Iran have continued.
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