US to offer new defence of strikes on Iran nuclear sites
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to hold a news conference on Thursday to offer a fresh assessment of strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, following a stinging row over how much American bombardment set back Tehran's nuclear program.
After waves of Israeli attacks on nuclear and military sites and retaliatory missile fire from Iran since June 13, the United States bombed three key Iranian atomic facilities at the weekend.
The extent of the damage in Iran, where Israel said it had acted to stop an imminent nuclear threat, has become the subject of profound disagreement in the United States.
An initial classified assessment, first reported by CNN, was said to have concluded that the strike did not destroy key components and that Iran's nuclear program was set back only months at most.
Another key question raised by experts is whether Iran, preparing for the strike, moved out some 400 kilogram (880 pounds) of enriched uranium -- which could now be hidden elsewhere in the vast country.
Live Events
The US administration has hit back furiously, with Trump repeatedly saying the attack "obliterated" Iran's nuclear facilities, including the key site of Fordo buried inside a mountain.
"I can tell you, the United States had no indication that that enriched uranium was moved prior to the strikes, as I also saw falsely reported," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News.
"As for what's on the ground right now, it's buried under miles and miles of rubble because of the success of these strikes on Saturday evening," she said.
Trump said that Hegseth, whom he dubbed "war" secretary, would hold a news conference at 8 am (1200 GMT) on Thursday to "fight for the dignity of our great American pilots".
CIA chief John Ratcliffe said in a statement on Wednesday that "several key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and would have to be rebuilt over the course of years".
The Israeli military said it had delivered a "significant" blow to Iran's nuclear sites but that it was "still early" to fully assess the damage.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that "we have thwarted Iran's nuclear project".
"And if anyone in Iran tries to rebuild it, we will act with the same determination, with the same intensity, to foil any attempt," he said.
- Nuclear talks? -
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told Al Jazeera that "nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that's for sure".
After the war derailed nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, Trump said Washington would hold discussions with Tehran next week, with his special envoy Steve Witkoff expressing hope "for a comprehensive peace agreement".
Trump told reporters that Israel and Iran were "both tired, exhausted", before going on to say that talks were planned with Iran next week.
"We may sign an agreement. I don't know," he added.
Iran has systematically denied seeking a nuclear weapon while defending its "legitimate rights" to the peaceful use of atomic energy.
It has also said it was willing to return to nuclear negotiations with Washington.
In both Iran and Israel, authorities have gradually lifted wartime restrictions.
Iran on Wednesday reopened the airspace over the country's east, without allowing yet flights to and from the capital Tehran.
In the Israeli coastal hub of Tel Aviv, 45-year-old engineer Yossi Bin welcomed the ceasefire: "Finally, we can sleep peacefully. We feel better, less worried... and I hope it stays that way."
- State funeral -
While Iran and Israel have been locked in a shadow war for decades, their 12-day conflict was by far the most destructive confrontation between them.
The Israeli strikes on Iran killed at least 627 civilians, Tehran's health ministry said.
Iran's attacks on Israel killed 28 people, according to official figures.
According to Mehr news agency, the funeral of Revolutionary Guard commander Hossein Salami, who was killed in an Israeli strike, will no longer be held in his hometown on Thursday.
Instead, a state funeral will be held on Saturday in Tehran for top commanders including Salami and nuclear scientists killed in the war.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
After treating friend Asim Munir to a sumptuous lunch, Trump now warns Pakistan over missiles that can strike US
Why is the US worried about Pakistan's nuclear missile program? Live Events How close is Pakistan to developing an ICBM? Is China playing its long game to make Pakistan another proxy against the US? Trump's message to Pakistan: Lunch one day, warnings the next What is the broader context behind this move? Has Pakistan signed any nuclear control treaties? A global nuclear realignment may be unfolding FAQs: (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a development that's raising serious concerns in Washington, Pakistan is reportedly working on a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could reach the continental United States, according to a detailed Foreign Affairs report citing US intelligence story has caught international attention, not just because of Pakistan's long-standing nuclear program, but because such a capability would mark a dramatic shift in how the United States sees Islamabad—from a key regional partner to a potential nuclear report states that US intelligence agencies believe Pakistan is not only expanding its nuclear arsenal but is also developing ICBMs with the potential to hit targets across the Atlantic.'If Pakistan acquires an ICBM, Washington will have no choice but to treat the country as a nuclear adversary,' US officials told Foreign Affairs. 'No other country with ICBMs that can target the United States is considered a friend.'While Pakistan continues to insist that its nuclear program is designed solely to deter India, US agencies are not buying that narrative anymore. Instead, they believe Pakistan's missile development may be aimed at deterring US involvement in any future India-Pakistan conflict or a preemptive strike against its exact status of Pakistan's ICBM development is classified, but intelligence officials say the program is gaining momentum, with signs that Islamabad is sourcing critical technology and materials from China—a long-time push for a long-range missile capability reportedly intensified after Operation Sindoor, a covert operation that rattled Pakistan's military establishment, though the report didn't disclose specific details about that present, Pakistan is estimated to possess about 165 nuclear warheads, according to global defense analysts. Most of its current missile systems are medium-range, designed to counter threats from India. But the development of an intercontinental missile would represent a significant strategic is the question now dominating discussions inside US strategic Foreign Affairs report suggests that Beijing's involvement in Pakistan's missile program is deeper than previously thought. Intelligence sources point to covert transfers of missile materials, nuclear assistance, and joint development and Pakistan have long maintained close military ties, often described as 'higher than the Himalayas' by both governments. But this new cooperation—if tied to ICBM development—may signal a strategic shift by China to position Pakistan as a nuclear-armed proxy capable of putting pressure on the US from the West, while China and Russia ramp up pressure from the East and China expanding its own nuclear arsenal and Russia pulling out of arms control treaties, Pakistan's ICBM program could be part of a wider global strategy—one where the US faces nuclear threats on multiple fronts.'If Pakistan joins the club of countries that can strike the US homeland, the strategic landscape will shift significantly—and not in Washington's favor,' one senior US defense official was quoted as saying in the this rising tension follows a private lunch between Donald Trump and Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir, according to sources familiar with recent events. While the gesture seemed warm at the time, the tone has shifted is now said to be alarmed by the intelligence shared with him and has reportedly warned that the United States will not tolerate any attempt by Pakistan to become a long-range nuclear new revelations come at a time when the global nuclear order is under increasing strain. The report notes that as Russia walks away from arms control agreements and China rapidly expands its nuclear stockpile, the United States now faces a multi-front nuclear challenge—from two great powers and several regional threats, including North Korea, Iran, and now possibly Pakistan.'Mounting nuclear dangers now lurk in every region of vital interest to the United States,' the report nuclear journey began in the early 1970s, shortly after India's first nuclear test in 1974. In response, Islamabad accelerated its own efforts, culminating in six nuclear tests in May 1998, which formally made it the seventh nuclear power in the then, the country has developed a range of nuclear delivery systems, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and tactical nukes designed for use on the Pakistan is not a signatory to either the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). It has long argued that such agreements would unfairly restrict its sovereign right to maintain national security, especially given its tense relationship with India over policy makes it harder for the international community to enforce transparency or restrictions on Pakistan's nuclear the US navigates an increasingly dangerous global security environment, Pakistan's push for an ICBM adds one more unpredictable element. Beijing's quiet support, Russia's growing defiance, and North Korea's frequent missile tests are already challenging Washington's post-Cold War with Islamabad entering the long-range missile race, the United States faces the possibility of a multi-vector nuclear threat—all happening as traditional arms control treaties is no longer just about India and becoming a part of a larger geopolitical chessboard—one that China might be orchestrating, piece by intelligence reports suggest Pakistan is developing an ICBM capable of reaching the continental Pakistan may soon join the few countries with ICBMs that can directly target the US homeland.
India.com
31 minutes ago
- India.com
China in BIG trouble due to Israel-Iran war; Xi Jinping now depends on Putin for..., good news for Russia due to...
(File) China's support for Iran in the recent Israel-Iran war may prove costly for Beijing as the South Asian power is likely to bear the brunt of a potential oil crisis if the conflict reignites. Beijing issued a harsh condemnation of Israel and the United States, after the two allies bombed Iranian nuclear sites last week. But experts believe that China's support for Iran will likely decrease in the future due its emerging role as a mediator in the Middle East and the damage caused by Tehran's threats to block the Strait of Hormuz. On the other hand, Russia is expected to benefit more from the Israel-Iran war, which is why Moscow largely distanced itself from the conflict, barring a few strong statements, even though Tehran is a major ally. China now more dependent on Russia for energy needs As per media reports, China, which purchases a large chunk of Iran's oil and gas produce, is worried because Tehran will likely blockade the Strait of Hormuz in case of another attack by Israel and/or the US, which will negatively impact Beijing's energy needs. The situation has forced China to once again consider Russia's proposed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. Citing anonymous sources close to Beijing, the WSJ report said China has begun showing interest in the Power of Siberia 2 project, after Beijing had earlier disagreed with Moscow's proposals regarding the ownership and cost of the proposed pipeline. The report also noted that China does not want to be overly dependent on any single source for its energy needs, and is considering to purchase more oil and gas from other oil-producing countries apart from allies like Iran and Russia. Notably, about a third of China's gas imports come as LNG from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the WSJ report said, citing data from Rystad Energy. Additionally, Russia is China's third-largest LNG supplier after Australia and Qatar, and according to S&P Global, Russia is also China's largest pipeline supplier, via Siberia 1, whose throughput is set to reach 38 billion cubic meters this year.
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
'We're throwing them in jails': Bondi's fiery clash with Reed on Mexican cartel arms flow
Bondi pushed back hard against Democratic criticism, declaring, 'We're not sending people back to Mexico with guns, we're throwing them in jail.' She cited recent ATF data showing nearly 9,700 firearms intercepted since Trump's return to office on January 20th, underscoring the administration's aggressive strategy to stop deadly weapons from reaching Mexican gangs. Show more Show less
