Trump's bombs on Iran blow up heat of Mideast war
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said US air strikes on Sunday "totally obliterated" Iran's main nuclear sites, with Tehran later accusing Washington of "blowing up" talks aimed at a deal on its nuclear programme. Following the attack — the United States' first large-scale strikes on Iran — Trump warned Washington would hit more targets if Tehran did not make peace. Hours later, Iran launched two waves of attacks against long-time foe Israel.
"Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success," Trump said, adding the key underground enrichment site at Fordo was hit, along with facilities in Isfahan and Natanz. "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran the bully of the Middle East must now make peace," he said, warning future attacks would be "far greater" unless a diplomatic solution was reached. "Remember, there are many targets left."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a press conference at the Lutfi Kirdar Congress Center, in Istanbul. — AFP
Trump's intervention — despite his past pledges to avoid another "forever war" — threatens to dramatically widen the conflict, after Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign on Iran last week, with Tehran vowing to retaliate if Washington joined in.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of sabotaging diplomacy after talks with European powers. "This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy," he wrote on X. Aragchi later told reporters in Istanbul the United States and Israel had "crossed a very big red line", asserting Iran would continue to defend itself "by all means necessary". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the US strikes, saying Trump's decision to "target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history".
In response to the US attack, Iran's armed forces said they targeted multiple sites in Israel including Ben Gurion Airport, the country's main international gateway near Tel Aviv. Israeli rescuers said at least 23 people were wounded. Police said at least three impacts were reported. One of them was the Ramat Aviv area of Tel Aviv, tearing holes in the facades of apartment blocks. "Houses here were hit very, very badly," said Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai. "Fortunately, one of them was slated for demolition and reconstruction, so there were no residents inside." In Jerusalem, Claudio Hazan, a 62-year-old software engineer, said he hoped the US intervention would hasten an end to the Iran-Israel war. "Israel by itself would not stop... and it would take longer," he said.
Protesters hold placards condemning the US attacks on Iran during a protest, in Seoul. — AFP
Israel said it had launched fresh strikes on western Iran and in Qom, south of Tehran. Iran's official IRNA news agency reported four Revolutionary Guard members were killed in strikes on a military base in the city's north. The Israeli military said it had "struck missile launchers ready to launch towards Israeli territory, soldiers in the Iranian Armed Forces, and swiftly neutralised the launchers that launched missiles towards Israeli territory a short while ago".
In Tehran, journalists said the roar of aircraft flying over the city could be heard repeatedly for the first time since Israel's initial attacks. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency said it had not detected any increase in radiation levels at key nuclear sites in Iran following the strikes and Tehran said on Sunday there were "no signs of contamination".
The Iranian foreign minister said he would travel to Moscow for "serious consultations" with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. US media reported the strikes were carried out by B-2 stealth bombers dropping bunker-buster bombs, as well as submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Following his address, Trump warned Iran against "any retaliation". Iran and its proxies have previously attacked US military bases in Iraq and elsewhere in the region. The US president had stepped up his rhetoric against Iran since Israel first struck Iran on June 13, repeating his insistence it could never have nuclear weapons. Israel and Iran have traded wave after wave of devastating strikes since then. Tehran denies seeking an atomic bomb. On Saturday, President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran's right to pursue a civilian nuclear programme "cannot be taken away... by threats or war". — AFP
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