Kim oversees launch of repaired North Korea warship
North Korea has repaired its damaged second destroyer and launched it into the water in the presence of leader Kim Jong-un.
North Korea's Korean Central News Agency said it launched the destroyer - the second it built in 2025 - off the east coast of the country on Thursday.
KCNA cited Kim as saying the country's two destroyers would play a big role in improving the North Korean navy's operational capabilities.
Kim reiterated previous claims that his naval build-up was a justified response to perceived threats posed by the United States and its allies in Asia, which in recent years have expanded their combined military exercises and updated their deterrence strategies to counter Kim's nuclear ambitions.
He said the North would respond to the threats by his rivals with "overwhelming military action" and vowed to build a navy with "long-range operational capabilities".
In May, North Korea said the ship was damaged in a failed launch, sparking fury from Kim, who has vowed to build a stronger navy to cope what he calls escalating US-led threats against his country.
Kim earlier said the failed launch was caused by criminal negligence.
North Korea's state media later said that authorities detained four officials including the vice director of the Workers' Party's munitions industry department over the botched launch.
North Korea's extremely secretive nature makes it virtually impossible to independently confirm its announcement on the ship's repair.
Outside experts earlier said it remained unclear how severely the 5000-tonne-class destroyer was damaged and questioned North Korea's announcement that it could repair the ship's damage at an early date.
The damaged warship was North Korea's second known destroyer and seen as a crucial asset toward Kim's goal of modernising its naval forces.
It was in the same class as the country's first destroyer unveiled in April, which experts assessed as the North's largest and most advanced warship to date.
Kim lavishly praised that ship, which was launched in the western port of Nampo, saying it advances his goal of expanding the military's operations range and nuclear strike capabilities.
North Korea has repaired its damaged second destroyer and launched it into the water in the presence of leader Kim Jong-un.
North Korea's Korean Central News Agency said it launched the destroyer - the second it built in 2025 - off the east coast of the country on Thursday.
KCNA cited Kim as saying the country's two destroyers would play a big role in improving the North Korean navy's operational capabilities.
Kim reiterated previous claims that his naval build-up was a justified response to perceived threats posed by the United States and its allies in Asia, which in recent years have expanded their combined military exercises and updated their deterrence strategies to counter Kim's nuclear ambitions.
He said the North would respond to the threats by his rivals with "overwhelming military action" and vowed to build a navy with "long-range operational capabilities".
In May, North Korea said the ship was damaged in a failed launch, sparking fury from Kim, who has vowed to build a stronger navy to cope what he calls escalating US-led threats against his country.
Kim earlier said the failed launch was caused by criminal negligence.
North Korea's state media later said that authorities detained four officials including the vice director of the Workers' Party's munitions industry department over the botched launch.
North Korea's extremely secretive nature makes it virtually impossible to independently confirm its announcement on the ship's repair.
Outside experts earlier said it remained unclear how severely the 5000-tonne-class destroyer was damaged and questioned North Korea's announcement that it could repair the ship's damage at an early date.
The damaged warship was North Korea's second known destroyer and seen as a crucial asset toward Kim's goal of modernising its naval forces.
It was in the same class as the country's first destroyer unveiled in April, which experts assessed as the North's largest and most advanced warship to date.
Kim lavishly praised that ship, which was launched in the western port of Nampo, saying it advances his goal of expanding the military's operations range and nuclear strike capabilities.
North Korea has repaired its damaged second destroyer and launched it into the water in the presence of leader Kim Jong-un.
North Korea's Korean Central News Agency said it launched the destroyer - the second it built in 2025 - off the east coast of the country on Thursday.
KCNA cited Kim as saying the country's two destroyers would play a big role in improving the North Korean navy's operational capabilities.
Kim reiterated previous claims that his naval build-up was a justified response to perceived threats posed by the United States and its allies in Asia, which in recent years have expanded their combined military exercises and updated their deterrence strategies to counter Kim's nuclear ambitions.
He said the North would respond to the threats by his rivals with "overwhelming military action" and vowed to build a navy with "long-range operational capabilities".
In May, North Korea said the ship was damaged in a failed launch, sparking fury from Kim, who has vowed to build a stronger navy to cope what he calls escalating US-led threats against his country.
Kim earlier said the failed launch was caused by criminal negligence.
North Korea's state media later said that authorities detained four officials including the vice director of the Workers' Party's munitions industry department over the botched launch.
North Korea's extremely secretive nature makes it virtually impossible to independently confirm its announcement on the ship's repair.
Outside experts earlier said it remained unclear how severely the 5000-tonne-class destroyer was damaged and questioned North Korea's announcement that it could repair the ship's damage at an early date.
The damaged warship was North Korea's second known destroyer and seen as a crucial asset toward Kim's goal of modernising its naval forces.
It was in the same class as the country's first destroyer unveiled in April, which experts assessed as the North's largest and most advanced warship to date.
Kim lavishly praised that ship, which was launched in the western port of Nampo, saying it advances his goal of expanding the military's operations range and nuclear strike capabilities.
North Korea has repaired its damaged second destroyer and launched it into the water in the presence of leader Kim Jong-un.
North Korea's Korean Central News Agency said it launched the destroyer - the second it built in 2025 - off the east coast of the country on Thursday.
KCNA cited Kim as saying the country's two destroyers would play a big role in improving the North Korean navy's operational capabilities.
Kim reiterated previous claims that his naval build-up was a justified response to perceived threats posed by the United States and its allies in Asia, which in recent years have expanded their combined military exercises and updated their deterrence strategies to counter Kim's nuclear ambitions.
He said the North would respond to the threats by his rivals with "overwhelming military action" and vowed to build a navy with "long-range operational capabilities".
In May, North Korea said the ship was damaged in a failed launch, sparking fury from Kim, who has vowed to build a stronger navy to cope what he calls escalating US-led threats against his country.
Kim earlier said the failed launch was caused by criminal negligence.
North Korea's state media later said that authorities detained four officials including the vice director of the Workers' Party's munitions industry department over the botched launch.
North Korea's extremely secretive nature makes it virtually impossible to independently confirm its announcement on the ship's repair.
Outside experts earlier said it remained unclear how severely the 5000-tonne-class destroyer was damaged and questioned North Korea's announcement that it could repair the ship's damage at an early date.
The damaged warship was North Korea's second known destroyer and seen as a crucial asset toward Kim's goal of modernising its naval forces.
It was in the same class as the country's first destroyer unveiled in April, which experts assessed as the North's largest and most advanced warship to date.
Kim lavishly praised that ship, which was launched in the western port of Nampo, saying it advances his goal of expanding the military's operations range and nuclear strike capabilities.
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Iran strikes back at Israel with missile barrage
Iran has launched retaliatory air strikes at Israel, with explosions heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv following Israel's biggest-ever military strike against its longstanding enemy. Air raid sirens sounded across Israel on Friday as authorities urged the public to take shelter. Missiles were seen over Tel Aviv's skyline, with the military saying Iran had fired two salvos. Israel's military said Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles and most were intercepted or fell short. The US military helped shoot down Iranian missiles headed for Israel, two US officials said. Israel's Channel 12 said two people were critically injured, eight moderately and 34 slightly from shrapnel. Several buildings were struck in the attack. The Israeli strikes on Iran and the Iranian retaliation raised fears of a broader regional conflagration, although Iran's allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been decimated by Israel. Iranian state news agency IRNA said Tehran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel after Israel blasted Iran's huge Natanz underground nuclear site and killed its top military commanders. Iran says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes, while Western countries have long accused Iran of refining uranium at Natanz to levels suitable for a bomb rather than civilian use. The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Natanz had been destroyed, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council on Friday. He said the UN was still gathering information about Israeli attacks on two other facilities, the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and at Isfahan. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of starting a war, and a senior Iranian official warned that revenge would be painful. Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people, including senior military officials, were killed in Israel's strikes on Iran and more than 320 people were wounded, most of them civilians. He accused the US of being complicit in the attacks and said it shared full responsibility for the consequences. Israel's operation "will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat", Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a TV address. "Generations from now, history will record our generation stood its ground, acted in time and secured our common future." Netanyahu, who for decades has raised the alarm about Iran's nuclear program, said he authorised the assault to prevent Iran building nuclear weapons - an objective Tehran denies. Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon said intelligence had confirmed that within days Iran would have produced enough fissile material for multiple bombs. Iran has long insisted its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only. The UN nuclear watchdog concluded this week that it was in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty. US President Donald Trump said it was not too late for Tehran to halt the Israeli bombing campaign by reaching a deal on its nuclear program. Tehran had been in talks with the Trump administration on a deal to curb its nuclear program to replace one that Trump abandoned in 2018. Tehran rejected the last US offer. The price of crude leaped on fears of wider retaliatory attacks across the oil-producing region. In a phone interview with Reuters, Trump said nuclear talks between Tehran and the United States, scheduled for Sunday, were still on the agenda though he was not sure if they would take place. "We knew everything," Trump said of the Israeli attack plans. "I tried to save Iran humiliation and death. I tried to save them very hard because I would have loved to have seen a deal worked out," Trump said. Two regional sources said at least 20 Iranian military commanders were killed, a stunning decapitation reminiscent of Israeli attacks that swiftly wiped out the leadership of Lebanon's once-feared Hezbollah militia in 2024. Iran also said six of its top nuclear scientists had been killed. Among the generals killed were the armed forces chief of staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and the Revolutionary Guards chief, Hossein Salami. Iran has launched retaliatory air strikes at Israel, with explosions heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv following Israel's biggest-ever military strike against its longstanding enemy. Air raid sirens sounded across Israel on Friday as authorities urged the public to take shelter. Missiles were seen over Tel Aviv's skyline, with the military saying Iran had fired two salvos. Israel's military said Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles and most were intercepted or fell short. The US military helped shoot down Iranian missiles headed for Israel, two US officials said. Israel's Channel 12 said two people were critically injured, eight moderately and 34 slightly from shrapnel. Several buildings were struck in the attack. The Israeli strikes on Iran and the Iranian retaliation raised fears of a broader regional conflagration, although Iran's allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been decimated by Israel. Iranian state news agency IRNA said Tehran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel after Israel blasted Iran's huge Natanz underground nuclear site and killed its top military commanders. Iran says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes, while Western countries have long accused Iran of refining uranium at Natanz to levels suitable for a bomb rather than civilian use. The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Natanz had been destroyed, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council on Friday. He said the UN was still gathering information about Israeli attacks on two other facilities, the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and at Isfahan. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of starting a war, and a senior Iranian official warned that revenge would be painful. Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people, including senior military officials, were killed in Israel's strikes on Iran and more than 320 people were wounded, most of them civilians. He accused the US of being complicit in the attacks and said it shared full responsibility for the consequences. Israel's operation "will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat", Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a TV address. "Generations from now, history will record our generation stood its ground, acted in time and secured our common future." Netanyahu, who for decades has raised the alarm about Iran's nuclear program, said he authorised the assault to prevent Iran building nuclear weapons - an objective Tehran denies. Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon said intelligence had confirmed that within days Iran would have produced enough fissile material for multiple bombs. Iran has long insisted its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only. The UN nuclear watchdog concluded this week that it was in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty. US President Donald Trump said it was not too late for Tehran to halt the Israeli bombing campaign by reaching a deal on its nuclear program. Tehran had been in talks with the Trump administration on a deal to curb its nuclear program to replace one that Trump abandoned in 2018. Tehran rejected the last US offer. The price of crude leaped on fears of wider retaliatory attacks across the oil-producing region. In a phone interview with Reuters, Trump said nuclear talks between Tehran and the United States, scheduled for Sunday, were still on the agenda though he was not sure if they would take place. "We knew everything," Trump said of the Israeli attack plans. "I tried to save Iran humiliation and death. I tried to save them very hard because I would have loved to have seen a deal worked out," Trump said. Two regional sources said at least 20 Iranian military commanders were killed, a stunning decapitation reminiscent of Israeli attacks that swiftly wiped out the leadership of Lebanon's once-feared Hezbollah militia in 2024. Iran also said six of its top nuclear scientists had been killed. Among the generals killed were the armed forces chief of staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and the Revolutionary Guards chief, Hossein Salami. Iran has launched retaliatory air strikes at Israel, with explosions heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv following Israel's biggest-ever military strike against its longstanding enemy. Air raid sirens sounded across Israel on Friday as authorities urged the public to take shelter. Missiles were seen over Tel Aviv's skyline, with the military saying Iran had fired two salvos. Israel's military said Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles and most were intercepted or fell short. The US military helped shoot down Iranian missiles headed for Israel, two US officials said. Israel's Channel 12 said two people were critically injured, eight moderately and 34 slightly from shrapnel. Several buildings were struck in the attack. The Israeli strikes on Iran and the Iranian retaliation raised fears of a broader regional conflagration, although Iran's allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been decimated by Israel. Iranian state news agency IRNA said Tehran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel after Israel blasted Iran's huge Natanz underground nuclear site and killed its top military commanders. Iran says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes, while Western countries have long accused Iran of refining uranium at Natanz to levels suitable for a bomb rather than civilian use. The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Natanz had been destroyed, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council on Friday. He said the UN was still gathering information about Israeli attacks on two other facilities, the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and at Isfahan. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of starting a war, and a senior Iranian official warned that revenge would be painful. Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people, including senior military officials, were killed in Israel's strikes on Iran and more than 320 people were wounded, most of them civilians. He accused the US of being complicit in the attacks and said it shared full responsibility for the consequences. Israel's operation "will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat", Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a TV address. "Generations from now, history will record our generation stood its ground, acted in time and secured our common future." Netanyahu, who for decades has raised the alarm about Iran's nuclear program, said he authorised the assault to prevent Iran building nuclear weapons - an objective Tehran denies. Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon said intelligence had confirmed that within days Iran would have produced enough fissile material for multiple bombs. Iran has long insisted its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only. The UN nuclear watchdog concluded this week that it was in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty. US President Donald Trump said it was not too late for Tehran to halt the Israeli bombing campaign by reaching a deal on its nuclear program. Tehran had been in talks with the Trump administration on a deal to curb its nuclear program to replace one that Trump abandoned in 2018. Tehran rejected the last US offer. The price of crude leaped on fears of wider retaliatory attacks across the oil-producing region. In a phone interview with Reuters, Trump said nuclear talks between Tehran and the United States, scheduled for Sunday, were still on the agenda though he was not sure if they would take place. "We knew everything," Trump said of the Israeli attack plans. "I tried to save Iran humiliation and death. I tried to save them very hard because I would have loved to have seen a deal worked out," Trump said. Two regional sources said at least 20 Iranian military commanders were killed, a stunning decapitation reminiscent of Israeli attacks that swiftly wiped out the leadership of Lebanon's once-feared Hezbollah militia in 2024. Iran also said six of its top nuclear scientists had been killed. Among the generals killed were the armed forces chief of staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and the Revolutionary Guards chief, Hossein Salami. Iran has launched retaliatory air strikes at Israel, with explosions heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv following Israel's biggest-ever military strike against its longstanding enemy. Air raid sirens sounded across Israel on Friday as authorities urged the public to take shelter. Missiles were seen over Tel Aviv's skyline, with the military saying Iran had fired two salvos. Israel's military said Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles and most were intercepted or fell short. The US military helped shoot down Iranian missiles headed for Israel, two US officials said. Israel's Channel 12 said two people were critically injured, eight moderately and 34 slightly from shrapnel. Several buildings were struck in the attack. The Israeli strikes on Iran and the Iranian retaliation raised fears of a broader regional conflagration, although Iran's allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been decimated by Israel. Iranian state news agency IRNA said Tehran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel after Israel blasted Iran's huge Natanz underground nuclear site and killed its top military commanders. Iran says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes, while Western countries have long accused Iran of refining uranium at Natanz to levels suitable for a bomb rather than civilian use. The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Natanz had been destroyed, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council on Friday. He said the UN was still gathering information about Israeli attacks on two other facilities, the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and at Isfahan. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of starting a war, and a senior Iranian official warned that revenge would be painful. Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people, including senior military officials, were killed in Israel's strikes on Iran and more than 320 people were wounded, most of them civilians. He accused the US of being complicit in the attacks and said it shared full responsibility for the consequences. Israel's operation "will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat", Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a TV address. "Generations from now, history will record our generation stood its ground, acted in time and secured our common future." Netanyahu, who for decades has raised the alarm about Iran's nuclear program, said he authorised the assault to prevent Iran building nuclear weapons - an objective Tehran denies. Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon said intelligence had confirmed that within days Iran would have produced enough fissile material for multiple bombs. Iran has long insisted its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only. The UN nuclear watchdog concluded this week that it was in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty. US President Donald Trump said it was not too late for Tehran to halt the Israeli bombing campaign by reaching a deal on its nuclear program. Tehran had been in talks with the Trump administration on a deal to curb its nuclear program to replace one that Trump abandoned in 2018. Tehran rejected the last US offer. The price of crude leaped on fears of wider retaliatory attacks across the oil-producing region. In a phone interview with Reuters, Trump said nuclear talks between Tehran and the United States, scheduled for Sunday, were still on the agenda though he was not sure if they would take place. "We knew everything," Trump said of the Israeli attack plans. "I tried to save Iran humiliation and death. I tried to save them very hard because I would have loved to have seen a deal worked out," Trump said. Two regional sources said at least 20 Iranian military commanders were killed, a stunning decapitation reminiscent of Israeli attacks that swiftly wiped out the leadership of Lebanon's once-feared Hezbollah militia in 2024. Iran also said six of its top nuclear scientists had been killed. Among the generals killed were the armed forces chief of staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and the Revolutionary Guards chief, Hossein Salami.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
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Iran's Natanz enrichment plant destroyed, UN told
The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Iran's Natanz nuclear site has been destroyed in Israel's strikes on Iran, the UN nuclear watchdog chief says. "At present, the Iranian authorities are informing us of attacks on two other facilities, namely the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and at Isfahan," International Atomic Energy Agency's head Rafael Grossi told the UN Security Council on Friday. "At this moment we do not have enough information beyond indicating that military activity has been taking place around these facilities as well," he said. Iran is enriching uranium up to 60 per cent purity, close to weapons grade of 90 per cent, at the Natanz pilot plant. But the Fordow site, which is dug into a mountain, produces more of the material, and military experts say it would be difficult for Israel to destroy through bombardment. Grossi said electricity infrastructure at Natanz was also destroyed and the loss of power to a cascade hall might have damaged centrifuges there. But the level of radioactivity outside Natanz remained unchanged and normal, he said. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi requested the Security Council meeting, saying Israel "has now crossed every red line, and the international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished". "Iran reaffirms its inherent right to self-defence as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and will respond decisively and proportionately to these unlawful and cowardly acts," Araghchi wrote in a letter. Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel on Friday evening. Israel launched a barrage of strikes across Iran on Friday, saying it had attacked nuclear facilities and missile factories and killed military commanders in what could be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran building an atomic weapon. "We don't know how long it will take," Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters. "We will continue to act until we will know that we eliminated the threats." "The goals of our operation are very clear - to make sure that Iran will not have nuclear capabilities and to stop the ballistic missile operation." Araghchi, in his letter to the Security Council, said Israel had not only violated Iran's sovereignty but also committed "acts of aggression and war crimes". The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Iran's Natanz nuclear site has been destroyed in Israel's strikes on Iran, the UN nuclear watchdog chief says. "At present, the Iranian authorities are informing us of attacks on two other facilities, namely the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and at Isfahan," International Atomic Energy Agency's head Rafael Grossi told the UN Security Council on Friday. "At this moment we do not have enough information beyond indicating that military activity has been taking place around these facilities as well," he said. Iran is enriching uranium up to 60 per cent purity, close to weapons grade of 90 per cent, at the Natanz pilot plant. But the Fordow site, which is dug into a mountain, produces more of the material, and military experts say it would be difficult for Israel to destroy through bombardment. Grossi said electricity infrastructure at Natanz was also destroyed and the loss of power to a cascade hall might have damaged centrifuges there. But the level of radioactivity outside Natanz remained unchanged and normal, he said. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi requested the Security Council meeting, saying Israel "has now crossed every red line, and the international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished". "Iran reaffirms its inherent right to self-defence as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and will respond decisively and proportionately to these unlawful and cowardly acts," Araghchi wrote in a letter. Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel on Friday evening. Israel launched a barrage of strikes across Iran on Friday, saying it had attacked nuclear facilities and missile factories and killed military commanders in what could be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran building an atomic weapon. "We don't know how long it will take," Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters. "We will continue to act until we will know that we eliminated the threats." "The goals of our operation are very clear - to make sure that Iran will not have nuclear capabilities and to stop the ballistic missile operation." Araghchi, in his letter to the Security Council, said Israel had not only violated Iran's sovereignty but also committed "acts of aggression and war crimes". The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Iran's Natanz nuclear site has been destroyed in Israel's strikes on Iran, the UN nuclear watchdog chief says. "At present, the Iranian authorities are informing us of attacks on two other facilities, namely the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and at Isfahan," International Atomic Energy Agency's head Rafael Grossi told the UN Security Council on Friday. "At this moment we do not have enough information beyond indicating that military activity has been taking place around these facilities as well," he said. Iran is enriching uranium up to 60 per cent purity, close to weapons grade of 90 per cent, at the Natanz pilot plant. But the Fordow site, which is dug into a mountain, produces more of the material, and military experts say it would be difficult for Israel to destroy through bombardment. Grossi said electricity infrastructure at Natanz was also destroyed and the loss of power to a cascade hall might have damaged centrifuges there. But the level of radioactivity outside Natanz remained unchanged and normal, he said. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi requested the Security Council meeting, saying Israel "has now crossed every red line, and the international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished". "Iran reaffirms its inherent right to self-defence as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and will respond decisively and proportionately to these unlawful and cowardly acts," Araghchi wrote in a letter. Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel on Friday evening. Israel launched a barrage of strikes across Iran on Friday, saying it had attacked nuclear facilities and missile factories and killed military commanders in what could be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran building an atomic weapon. "We don't know how long it will take," Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters. "We will continue to act until we will know that we eliminated the threats." "The goals of our operation are very clear - to make sure that Iran will not have nuclear capabilities and to stop the ballistic missile operation." Araghchi, in his letter to the Security Council, said Israel had not only violated Iran's sovereignty but also committed "acts of aggression and war crimes". The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Iran's Natanz nuclear site has been destroyed in Israel's strikes on Iran, the UN nuclear watchdog chief says. "At present, the Iranian authorities are informing us of attacks on two other facilities, namely the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and at Isfahan," International Atomic Energy Agency's head Rafael Grossi told the UN Security Council on Friday. "At this moment we do not have enough information beyond indicating that military activity has been taking place around these facilities as well," he said. Iran is enriching uranium up to 60 per cent purity, close to weapons grade of 90 per cent, at the Natanz pilot plant. But the Fordow site, which is dug into a mountain, produces more of the material, and military experts say it would be difficult for Israel to destroy through bombardment. Grossi said electricity infrastructure at Natanz was also destroyed and the loss of power to a cascade hall might have damaged centrifuges there. But the level of radioactivity outside Natanz remained unchanged and normal, he said. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi requested the Security Council meeting, saying Israel "has now crossed every red line, and the international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished". "Iran reaffirms its inherent right to self-defence as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and will respond decisively and proportionately to these unlawful and cowardly acts," Araghchi wrote in a letter. Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel on Friday evening. Israel launched a barrage of strikes across Iran on Friday, saying it had attacked nuclear facilities and missile factories and killed military commanders in what could be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran building an atomic weapon. "We don't know how long it will take," Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters. "We will continue to act until we will know that we eliminated the threats." "The goals of our operation are very clear - to make sure that Iran will not have nuclear capabilities and to stop the ballistic missile operation." Araghchi, in his letter to the Security Council, said Israel had not only violated Iran's sovereignty but also committed "acts of aggression and war crimes".
Perth Now
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Iran's Natanz enrichment plant destroyed, UN told
The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Iran's Natanz nuclear site has been destroyed in Israel's strikes on Iran, the UN nuclear watchdog chief says. "At present, the Iranian authorities are informing us of attacks on two other facilities, namely the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and at Isfahan," International Atomic Energy Agency's head Rafael Grossi told the UN Security Council on Friday. "At this moment we do not have enough information beyond indicating that military activity has been taking place around these facilities as well," he said. Iran is enriching uranium up to 60 per cent purity, close to weapons grade of 90 per cent, at the Natanz pilot plant. But the Fordow site, which is dug into a mountain, produces more of the material, and military experts say it would be difficult for Israel to destroy through bombardment. Grossi said electricity infrastructure at Natanz was also destroyed and the loss of power to a cascade hall might have damaged centrifuges there. But the level of radioactivity outside Natanz remained unchanged and normal, he said. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi requested the Security Council meeting, saying Israel "has now crossed every red line, and the international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished". "Iran reaffirms its inherent right to self-defence as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and will respond decisively and proportionately to these unlawful and cowardly acts," Araghchi wrote in a letter. Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel on Friday evening. Israel launched a barrage of strikes across Iran on Friday, saying it had attacked nuclear facilities and missile factories and killed military commanders in what could be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran building an atomic weapon. "We don't know how long it will take," Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters. "We will continue to act until we will know that we eliminated the threats." "The goals of our operation are very clear - to make sure that Iran will not have nuclear capabilities and to stop the ballistic missile operation." Araghchi, in his letter to the Security Council, said Israel had not only violated Iran's sovereignty but also committed "acts of aggression and war crimes".
