Top adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader says uranium stockpile intact despite US strikes
Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said American forces bombed Iran's Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites.
23 Jun 2025 08:59am
This handout satellite image courtesy of Maxar Technologies shows cargo trucks postioned near an underground entrance to Iran's Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP), in Fordo, Iran on June 19, 2025. (Photo by Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies / AFP)
ISTANBUL - A senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei confirmed Sunday that Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium is still intact despite US attacks on three nuclear sites, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
"Even if nuclear sites are destroyed, game isn't over, enriched materials, indigenous knowledge, political will remain,' Ali Shamkhani wrote on X. This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him, flanked by the Iranian flag and a portrait of his predecessor the late supreme leader and Iranian revolution leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, giving a televised address in Tehran on June 18, 2025. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)
"With legitimate defence right, political and operational initiative is now with the side that plays smart, avoids blind strikes. Surprises will continue!' he added.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Iran's official radio and television broadcaster, reported Sunday that targeted sites had been evacuated before the attack and sensitive nuclear materials were moved to safe locations, without providing details.
Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said American forces bombed Iran's Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites.
The US targeted the sites with six bunker-buster bombs dropped on the Fordo facility with B-2 stealth bombers, along with dozens of submarine-launched cruise missile strikes on the Natanz and Isfahan facilities.
The attacks came as the latest escalation in a US-backed Israeli military assault on Iran since June 13, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks on Israel.
Both sides have reported fatalities and injuries in the exchange of airstrikes. - BERNAMA-ANADOLU
More Like This
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
18 minutes ago
- The Star
South Korea's Lee says Middle East situation is "very urgent"
FILE PHOTO: South Korean President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a ceremony to mark the 70th Memorial Day at the Seoul National Cemetery in Seoul, South Korea, 06 June 2025. JEON HEON-KYUN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Monday that the situation in the Middle East was "very urgent" and financial markets were becoming unstable due to increasing uncertainty. Lee also called on his senior aides to prepare additional measures that could be incorporated into an extra budget already proposed if needed. Major share indexes slipped in Asia on Monday and oil prices briefly hit five-month highs as investors anxiously waited to see if Iran would retaliate against U.S. attacks on its nuclear sites, with resulting risks to global activity and inflation. "First of all, the situation in the Middle East is very urgent. I think that all ministries, including the presidential office, should prepare an emergency response system to promptly handle," Lee told his senior secretaries. The president expressed concern that rising oil prices could lead to higher inflation that would take a toll on people's livelihoods. Earlier on Monday, a vice industry minister flagged concerns over the potential impact on the country's trade from the recent U.S. strikes on Iran. South Korea is Asia's fourth-largest economy and depends heavily on exports. Seoul has deepened its reliance on crude oil imports from the Middle East, which accounted for 72% of the country's total crude imports in 2023. Market participants are bracing for further oil price hikes amid fears that an Iranian retaliation may include the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of global crude supply flows. Lee had decided not to attend a NATO summit this week due to what his office described as uncertainties caused by the Middle East situation. (Reporting by Ju-min Park and Jack Kim; Editing by Ed Davies)
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Japan PM Ishiba says disagreements remain with US on tariff talks
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba listens during a working session at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis. (AP pic) CALGARY : Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said his country has not reached a comprehensive tariff agreement with the US as some disagreements persist between the two nations. Ishiba, talking to reporters after the Group of Seven leaders' summit in Canada on Tuesday, emphasised the importance of securing a trade deal that benefits both countries while safeguarding Japan's national interests. Ishiba, who was at his first G7 summit as prime minister, held tariff talks with US President Donald Trump on Monday, but the meeting ended without an agreement to lower or eliminate the 25% tariff Trump has imposed on Japanese auto imports. Ishiba said US tariff measures were impacting the earnings of many Japanese companies, including those in the automobile sector, while causing a significant impact on the global economy. 'Both Japan and the US have continued sincere discussions, exploring the possibility of an agreement until the last moment,' he said. But Ishiba added there still remain points of disagreement between the two sides. Ishiba's news conference in Calgary, Canada was held following a gathering of G7 leaders at the nearby Kananaskis mountain resort in the Canadian Rockies. Ishiba also met other leaders for bilateral talks, including his first meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The Japanese leader also discussed security relations with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung before heading back to Tokyo. The summit ended without a joint statement of support from the group for Ukraine after Trump expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and left the event a day early to address the Israel-Iran conflict. On the Middle East, Ishiba said he had told G7 leaders that Iran's nuclear development was 'never tolerable' while stressing the importance of diplomatic efforts through dialogue. Ishiba will participate in the Nato summit in the Netherlands next week, he added.
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
From attendances to NBA-style walkouts: Club World Cup talking points
The clash between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors saw passionate Argentinian fans making up the vast majority of the 63,587 attendance. (AP pic) MIAMI : The opening week of the first 32-team Fifa Club World Cup in the US has been played under a political shadow, while South American sides impress and some games struggle to attract fans. AFP Sport looks at some of the main talking points at the tournament so far: Fifa have faced criticism for their increasingly close links to US President Donald Trump and his administration. Ahead of the tournament, Uefa accused Fifa chief Gianni Infantino of prioritising 'private political interests' after he turned up late for Fifa's own congress because he met with Trump in the Middle East. Infantino was in the Oval Office again on Wednesday with a delegation from Juventus, as they shared an awkward exchange with Trump as he questioned them on transgender athletes. 'It was a bit weird,' said Juventus and USA forward Timothy Weah. 'When he started talking about the politics with Iran and everything, it's kind of, like… I just want to play football, man.' Meanwhile some fans were worried by reports ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers were providing 'security' at Club World Cup stadiums. Plainclothes ICE officers have been targeting what they say are 'undocumented' migrants. To this point they do not appear to have apprehended any match-going supporters. Europe's leading clubs are the richest in the world and it would be a surprise if the winner of the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup came from a different continent. However, the evidence so far is that Europe's representatives are not having it all their own way. Up to Friday, clubs from Europe had won only half of 16 games against opponents from other continents, with South America showing it can more than hold its own. Paris St-Germain lost to Botafogo, while Chelsea were blown away by Flamengo. Real Madrid could not get the better of Saudi side Al-Hilal, but Europe sent far more clubs (12) than any other continent and it still looks likely that over half of the teams in the last 16 will be European. There has been a lot of talk about empty seats, with the low point being the attendance of 3,412 in Orlando for Mamelodi Sundowns against Ulsan HD. There were also barely 22,000 at Chelsea's win over Los Angeles FC in Atlanta, leaving around 50,000 empty seats in the stadium in Atlanta. Yet the average attendance over the first seven days at the tournament was 36,135. That is higher than the average in La Liga, Serie A or Ligue 1 over the last season. The games featuring South American teams have seen some incredible atmospheres, especially in Miami for Friday's clash between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors. 'Amazing, amazing,' said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany when asked about the crowd, with passionate Boca fans making up the vast majority of the 63,587 attendance. 'It is one of these things: if you are not here it is sometimes hard to understand, but being here is an experience, a privilege.' Several matches have been held up because of inclement weather. Common public safety protocols in the US mandate that outdoor sports events are suspended for at least 30 minutes if lightning or thunder is seen or heard in the nearby area. Two matches in Orlando, a regular location for tropical storms, have been suspended, while games in East Rutherford and Cincinnati have also been interrupted. National team coaches preparing for the 2026 World Cup must consider the best way to prepare their players to cope with such delays. Climate change has been linked to an increase in frequency and intensity of storms and extreme weather conditions. Organisers have jumped on the chance to make each game a show in the style of a traditional American sporting event, including having players come out onto the field one by one as their names are announced, like in the NBA. 'Why not bring it to the Premier League,' replied Chelsea's Romeo Lavia when asked if it could become a thing in England. 'It's a bit of a showbiz thing, isn't it? I quite like it.' Not everyone agrees with Lavia. 'It's a bit slow. I find it a bit strange. It seems like putting on a show for the sake of it. It seems a bit pointless,' said the Porto coach, Martin Anselmi.
