Israel-Iran conflict highlights: UK, France and Germany urge Iran not to retaliate for US strikes

Israel military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, on Sunday said that Israel and the US are working together to assess the damage to Iran’s nuclear program. "The damage is deep. We’re continuing to gather intelligence together with our partners to assess the depth," he noted. 

United States State Department has doubled the number of emergency evacuation flights it is providing for American citizens wishing to leave Israel, ordered the departure of nonessential staff from the US Embassy in Lebanon and is stepping up travel warnings around the Middle East amid concerns Iran will retaliate against US interests in the region.

In internal and public notices, the department over the weekend significantly ramped up its cautionary advice to Americans in the Mideast. In a notice on Sunday, after American strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities, the department said it had ordered nonessential personnel and the families of staff at the US Embassy in Beirut to leave Lebanon “due to the volatile and unpredictable security situation in the region.

The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah condemned the US strikes on Iran in a statement Sunday but did not threaten to join in Tehran’s retaliation.

"The blatant deceit and deception practiced by US President Donald Trump, driven by illusions of control and arrogance confirms that the United States of America, along with the tyrants of arrogance, is a threat to the security and stability of the Islamic Republic," the statement said. "This proves to the entire world that America is the official sponsor of terrorism and does not recognize international conventions, humanitarian laws, pledges, or obligations."

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated that while it is difficult to predict the immediate impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure on oil prices, global markets have sufficient oil availability. He noted that oil prices have fluctuated in recent years but emphasised that traditional and new suppliers, especially from the Western Hemisphere, continue to contribute to supply due to their own revenue needs.

Puri reassured that the Modi government has consistently ensured both the stability and affordability of fuel and will take all necessary measures to maintain that in the face of current geopolitical tensions.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz jointly urged Iran to return to negotiations and avoid actions that could further destabilise the region. In a statement following their Sunday talks, the leaders emphasized that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons and reaffirmed their commitment to regional security and Israel’s safety.

While they did not endorse the recent US strikes on Iran, they stressed continued diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions. The appeal came just a day after European diplomats met Iran's foreign minister in pursuit of a peaceful resolution.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated that India has been closely monitoring the Middle East crisis for the past two weeks. He assured that due to diversification efforts under PM Modi’s leadership, much of India's oil supply now bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. He added that Oil Marketing Companies have sufficient reserves for several weeks and continue to receive energy through multiple routes.

The government will take all necessary steps to ensure stable fuel supply for Indian citizens.

The US State Department has instructed non-essential staff and family members at the American Embassy in Lebanon to leave the country amid growing concerns over possible Iranian retaliation following US airstrikes in Iran.

In a security alert issued on Sunday, the department cited the "volatile and unpredictable" situation in the region as the reason for the decision.

While the notice did not mention any special evacuation flights or assistance for private US citizens in Lebanon, it advised them to depart using available commercial travel options. The US has already facilitated several evacuations of its citizens from Israel and is currently providing guidance to Americans in Iran on how to leave the country.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, confirmed that under President Trump's orders, US Central Command executed Operation Midnight Hammer, a highly classified mission targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities. The operation aimed to significantly degrade Iran's nuclear weapons infrastructure and was carried out with global coordination and precision.

Caine emphasised that only a few in Washington were aware of the mission’s timing or scope, highlighting its strategic secrecy and scale. 

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized on Sunday that the recent airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities were not intended to pursue regime change. In a detailed statement, he praised the operational precision and allied coordination involved in the strike, calling it historic due to the secrecy, scale, and use of B2 bombers and the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). "The United States does not seek war," Hegseth reiterated, but warned that the Trump administration would act “swiftly and decisively” if its people, partners, or interests are threatened.

Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the mission dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer” achieved its objective of severely damaging Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. While a final assessment is pending, initial battle damage reports indicate extensive destruction at all targeted sites.

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi has strongly condemned the June 22 U.S. aerial strikes on Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities, Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, calling them unprovoked and illegal. The statement asserted that these peaceful sites were under IAEA monitoring and fully compliant with international safeguards.

Iran termed the attacks a blatant violation of the UN Charter, IAEA resolutions, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The embassy warned that the strikes threaten regional and global stability and affirmed Iran’s right to take appropriate retaliatory measures in its national interest.

Russian President Vladimir Putin does not currently plan to hold a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump following Washington’s recent strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, the Kremlin announced on Sunday.

“There are no such plans,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, while noting that a call could be quickly arranged if needed. His comments came in response to questions about possible diplomatic engagement between the two leaders after the United States launched attacks on Iran’s Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz nuclear facilities.

AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the recent US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, calling them violations of international law, the UN Charter, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). He also stated that the attacks breached the US Constitution, which requires Congressional approval for military action. Owaisi expressed concern that such actions may push Arab nations in the Middle East toward developing nuclear weapons in response to Israel’s "blackmailing and hegemony."

"The attack on Iran’s three or four nuclear sites (by the USA) in the morning is a violation of international law, United Nations Chapter, NPT. It also violates the United States' Constitution because it says without Congressional permission, the country can not fight," he said. 

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot clarified that France was not involved in or informed about the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, expressing concern over the escalation.

“It was neither involved in these strikes nor in their planning,” Barrot said, adding that France “urges the parties to show restraint in order to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict.” Barrot emphasised that a lasting resolution must come through negotiations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty framework, and France remains ready to assist diplomatically.

Cabinet minister Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News that Britain was notified as a key ally, though he didn’t know the actual timing. He said the U.S. did not ask for support and Britain was not involved. "Whilst the British government, the UK, has not been involved in these attacks, we have been making extensive preparations for all eventualities," Reynolds said. He said the government was working on how to look after British nationals as well as its military bases, personnel and infrastructure in the region. (AP inputs)

A day after recommending President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for his "decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership", Pakistan on Sunday "condemned" the US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. The United States carried out airstrikes early Sunday on three critical Iranian sites, Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, targeting key facilities associated with Iran's nuclear program. 

Qatar’s foreign ministry in a post on X said that dangerous tensions following US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites would lead to "catastrophic repercussions" on both regional and international levels.

The foreign ministry of Oman, which was mediating nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran, "expressed deep concern and condemnation regarding the escalation resulting from the direct airstrikes conducted by the United States" in Iran. In a statement, it called the American attack a "serious violation of international law," as reported by The New York Times.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said it is in Lebanon’s best interest to avoid any involvement in the war. In a post on X, Salam stated that it is "increasingly important" for the country to remain committed to its supreme national interest. "Our awareness of our supreme national interest is our most powerful weapon in these critical circumstances," he said.

Israel's President has just released a statement, calling Donald Trump's attack on Iran 'historic'. Isaac Herzog says Trump’s words show the "deep and courageous alliance" between the US and Israel. But he also warns that "the campaign is not over", adding that "the coming days may be sensitive, complex, and challenging", and urges Israelis to keep following officials; life-saving instructions.

The island kingdom of Bahrain, in a warning that shows the growing concern in the Gulf Arab states, told drivers to stay off main roads if possible. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry wrote on X: "In light of recent developments in the regional security situation, we urge citizens and residents to use main roads only when necessary, to maintain public safety and to allow the relevant authorities to use the roads efficiently.

Bahrain is home to the US Navy’s Mideast-based 5th Fleet and long been a threatened target of Iran.

Saudi Arabia says it is monitoring the situation with 'great concern' and calls for restraint and de-escalation after US strikes on Iran. 

 The Israeli Health Ministry says Iranian attacks overnight and into Sunday have wounded more than 80 people. The vast majority, more than 70, were lightly wounded, it said.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard says it launched 40 missiles, including its Khorramshahr-4 missile, during the attack on Israel on Sunday morning. Iran has said the Khorramshahr-4 can carry multiple warheads.

The Israeli Air Force bombed two Iranian F-5 fighter jets at Dezful Airport in Iran a short while ago, the military says. Additionally, strikes this morning destroyed eight ballistic missile launchers, including six that were primed for an immediate attack on Israel, the IDF says. The military says that strikes last night carried out by 20 fighter jets in central Iran hit dozens of Iranian military targets. The targets included “a military site containing components for the production of explosives, sites for the storage and production of weapons, and Iranian air defense systems,” along with military infrastructure at Isfahan Airport, to prevent the Iranian Air Force from using the site’s military facilities,” the IDF says.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that Iran's nuclear programe was a 'grave threat to international security.' The Labour leader's statement comes after US launched strikes against three nuclear sites in Iran. "Iran's nuclear programme is 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," he wrote on X.  The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis," he added. 

Iran Israel war news: Following the US' strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Saudi regulatory authorities stated that "no radioactive effects were detected" in the Gulf region after the American strikes. "No radioactive effects were detected on the environment of the Kingdom and the Arab Gulf states as a result of the American military targeting of Iran's nuclear facilities," the kingdom's Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission wrote in a post on X.

Kuwait's National Guard also posted on X that "radiation levels in Kuwait's airspace and waters are stable and the situation is normal".

Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has called for an emergency meeting for the board of governors of the UN nuclear watchdog. "In light of the urgent situation in Iran, I am convening an emergency meeting of the @IAEAorg Board of Governors for tomorrow," he wrote on X. 

Iranian state TV showed what appeared to be previous test-firing footage of the Khorramshahr-4 missile, with an on-screen caption saying it was used on Sunday in a barrage on Israel. The Khorramshahr-4 has the heaviest payload of Iran’s ballistic missile fleet, which analysts say may be designed to keep the weapon under a 2,000-kilometer range limit imposed by the country’s supreme leader. The missile has been described as having a 2,000-kilometer (1,240-mile) range with a 1,500-kilogram (3,300-pound) warhead. (AP inputs)

Israel's largest carriers, El Al, Israel Airlines, Arkia and Israir, say they will suspend flights allowing people to return to the country until further notice. El Al also said it would extend its cancellation of scheduled flights through June 27. Airlines continue to avoid large parts of the Middle East after US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, according to the flight tracking website FlightRadar24. Traffic was already skirting airspace in the region because of recent missile exchanges between Israel and Iran. (Input: Al Jazeera)

Iran's Foreign Ministry says "the US has itself launched a dangerous war against Iran" after America attacked three nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic. "The world must not forget that it was the United States — during an ongoing diplomatic process — that betrayed diplomacy by supporting the aggressive actions of the genocidal and lawless Israeli regime," the ministry said in a lengthy statement.

It added that "Iran reserves its right to resist with full force against US military aggression and the crimes committed by this rogue regime, and to defend Iran’s security and national interests." (AP inputs)

Iranian parliament member Mohamad Manan Raisi, who represents the city of Qom near the Fordow nuclear facility, said that the site’s underground section has suffered significant damage, though initial assessments indicate there are no radiation leaks, as reported by The New York Times

Reza Kardan, the deputy director of the Atomic Energy Organization and the head of the National Nuclear Safety System Center in Iran, says that “no radiation contamination or nuclear radiation has been observed outside” the sites and facilities hit by US air strikes.

"Preliminary plans had been made and measures had been taken to protect the safety and health of the dear people of the country, and despite the criminal actions this morning in attacking nuclear facilities, due to the previously planned measures and the measures taken, no radiation contamination or nuclear radiation has been observed outside these sites and facilities," Kardan said, according to the IRNA news agency.

"People can continue their normal lives in the areas around these sites without any worries," he added.

A man convicted of spying for Israel has been executed, the Iranian judicial news outlet Mizan Online reports. "Majid Mosayebi … was hanged this morning after going through the full process of criminal procedure and after his sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court,” Mizan said.

Mosayebi allegedly sought to provide “sensitive information” to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, it added. Caught in a decades-long shadow war with Israel, Iran has executed numerous individuals over their alleged links to Mossad, particularly those accused of sabotage and assassination efforts aimed at undermining its nuclear programme.

Iran's armed forces say they targeted multiple sites in Israel including Ben Gurion Airport, after US attacks on key nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic. "The twentieth wave of Operation Honest Promise 3 began using a combination of long-range liquid and solid fuel missiles with devastating warhead power," the armed forces say in a statement quoted by Fars news agency.

The targets included the airport, a "biological research center," logistics bases, and various layers of command and control centers, it adds. Missiles hit residential areas of Tel Aviv, Nes Tziona and Haifa.

Israeli security and rescue forces at the scene where a ballistic missile fired from Iran hit and caused damage in Tel Aviv, June 22, 2025. Israeli security and rescue forces at the scene where a ballistic missile fired from Iran hit and caused damage in Tel Aviv, June 22, 2025. Magen David Adom raises the wounded toll of the latest Iranian ballistic missile attack to 16. A man in his 30s is moderately wounded by shrapnel, and 15 other people are lightly hurt, MDA says. Several missile impacts were reported in central Israel after sirens sounded. One missile hit Haifa, where no sirens sounded ahead of the impact.

The Israeli Air Force has launched a new wave of airstrikes on Iranian military targets in western Iran, the IDF announces. A short while ago, ballistic missile launchers used in the attack on Israel this morning were destroyed in strikes, the military says. Additionally, the military says that this morning, the IAF struck several primed ballistic missile launchers and eliminated Iranian soldiers.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Sunday said, "Following attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran - including Fordow - the IAEA can confirm that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this time. IAEA will provide further assessments on situation in Iran as more information becomes available."

Magen David Adom CEO Eli Bin says that teams from the rescue agency are responding to reports of impacts of missiles and shrapnel at more than 10 sites across the country.

At least 11 people have been wounded in the most recent Iranian ballistic missile barrage to Israel, medical emergency services, Magen David Adom said. A man in his 30s is moderately wounded by shrapnel, while 10 others are lightly hurt,   it added.

Some 20-30 ballistic missiles are estimated by the IDF to have been launched from Iran in the latest attack on Israel. Medics are scanning several impact sites for any potentially injured people.

Blasts heard in Tel Aviv and Haifa.

Israeli media reports about 25 missiles in latest Iranian attack.

Major US cities such as Washington and New York City are on alert after the US struck Iran's nuclear sites. 

The IDF said Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against Israel. Following the alert, air raid sirens have been sounded across Israel. The public has been asked to go to shelters and protected areas and remain there until further notice.  "A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel. The public is requested to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command. At this time, the IAF is operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat," said the IDF. 

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has asked for an emergency Security Council meeting for what he described as the US's 'heinous attacks and illegal use of force' against Iran. In a letter, obtained by AP, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, said that the U.N.’s most powerful body must “take all necessary measures” to hold the U.S. accountable.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns and denounces in the strongest possible terms these unprovoked and premeditated acts of aggression, which have followed the large-scale military attack conducted by the Israeli regime on 13 June against Iran’s peaceful nuclear sites and facilities," the letter continued. (With AP inputs)

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi strongly condemned the US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, saying, "The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations. The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior. In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people."

Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 865 people and wounded 3,396 others, a human rights group said Sunday. The Washington-based group Human Rights Activists offered the figures, which covers the entirety of Iran. It said of those dead, it identified 363 civilians and 215 security force personnel being killed.

Israeli Air Force, "The Air Force intercepted two unmanned aerial vehicles that were launched from the east towards the territory of the State of Israel, following alerts that were activated regarding the intrusion of hostile aircraft at 6:40 AM in Paren and at 6:46 AM in Yahal."

Hamas has condemned the US strikes on Iran, calling them a violation of international law in a statement early Sunday. "This brutal aggression is a dangerous escalation, a blind obedience to the agendas of (Israel), a flagrant violation of international law, and a direct threat to international peace and security," Hamas said.

The Palestinian militant group, which has strong ties to Iran, said the strikes were “a violation of all international norms and conventions,” and vowed to hold the US and Israel responsible.

The US is stepping up evacuation flights for American citizens from Israel to Europe and continuing to draw down its staff at diplomatic missions in Iraq as fears of Iranian retaliation again US interests in the Middle East grow.

Iran said early Sunday there were "no signs of contamination" at its nuclear sites at Isfahan, Fordo and Natanz after US airstrikes targeted the facilities. Iranian state media quoted the country’s National Nuclear Safety System Center, which published a statement saying its radiation detectors had recorded no radioactive release after the strikes. "There is no danger to the residents living around the aforementioned sites," the statement added.

Earlier Israeli airstrikes on nuclear sites similarly have caused no recorded release of radioactive material into the environment around the facilities, the International Atomic Energy Agency has said.

Israel's Airport Authority announced it was closing the country’s airspace to both inbound and outbound flights in the wake of the US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. The agency said it was shutting down air traffic "due to recent developments" and did not say for how long.

Military Yemen in an X post said, "Yemen will officially enter the war    keep your ships away from our territorial waters."

The US military used bunker-buster bombs in its attack on Iran's Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant, which is built deep into a mountain, a U.S. official said. That official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. The 30,000-pound bunker-busting American bomb known as the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator uses its weight and sheer kinetic force to penetrate underground and then explode. Saturday’s strikes were the first time it has been used in combat.

US submarines also participated in the attacks in Iran, launching about 30 Tomahawk land attack missiles, according to another US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. It was not clear what those missiles were aimed at. Two Iranian nuclear sites besides Fordo were attacked, Isfahan and Natanz. (AP inputs)

"Any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight. Thank you! Donald J. Trump, President of the United States," the US President said in a post on Truth social. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video that Trump called him after the strikes: "It was a very warm conversation, very emotional."

A prominent official from the Iran-supported Houthi rebels in Yemen said in a social media post early Sunday that it would hold US President Donald Trump responsible for the US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. "Trump must bear the consequences," Houthi political bureau member Hizam al-Assad posted on X.

Iran's Supreme Leader threatens 'Americans should expect greater damage and blows than ever before'. 

Iran's state television warned US President Donald Trump that every American citizen or military personnel in West Asia was now a target, after the United States launched successful airstrikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. "The US has committed a crime against Iran by violating Iran’s airspace. It has no place in the West Asian region. Mr. President of the United States, you started it and we will end it," said the Iranian broadcaster, while displaying a graphic of US bases in the region.

Fox News said that US President Donald Trump told him that six bunker-buster bombs were used by the US to target Iran’s underground Fordo nuclear facility. It was previously speculated that two bunker-busters would be needed to destroy the site. The Natanz and Isfahan sites were hit with 30 Tomahawk missiles launched by American submarines some 400 miles away.

Iranian state television said entry and exit points of Fordow nuclear facility have been damaged in the US airstrikes

The US has struck three key nuclear sites in Iran, President Donald Trump said Saturday evening. The sites are Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz, which lie at the heart of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Here's what we know about the three facilities:

1. Natanz: The nuclear complex, about 250 kilometers (150 miles) south of the capital Tehran, is considered Iran’s largest uranium enrichment facility. Analysts say it is used to develop and assemble centrifuges for uranium enrichment, a key technology that turns uranium into nuclear fuel. Natanz has six above-ground buildings and three underground structures, two of which can hold 50,000 centrifuges, according to the non-profit Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI). Iran had been enriching uranium up to 60% purity at its above-ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Weapons-grade uranium is enriched to 90%.
2. Fordow: Much is still unknown about the full size and nature of this facility, located close to the holy city of Qom and buried deep in a group of mountains. A good chunk of what we do know comes from a trove of Iranian documents stolen years ago by Israeli intelligence.The main halls are an estimated 80 to 90 meters (around 262 to 295 feet) beneath the ground. The US is the only country with the kind of bomb required to strike that deep,  Israeli officials and independent reports have previously said. Recently, IAEA reports suggested Iran had ramped up production of enriched uranium to a level of 60% at Fordow. The facility now contains 2,700 centrifuges, according to experts and the IAEA.
3. Isfahan: Isfahan, in central Iran, is home to the country’s largest nuclear research complex. The facility was built with support from China and opened in 1984, according to the NTI. According to NTI, 3,000 scientists are employed at Isfahan, and the site is "suspected of being the center" of Iran’s nuclear program. It "operates three small Chinese-supplied research reactors," as well as a "conversion facility, a fuel production plant, a zirconium cladding plant, and other facilities and laboratories," the NTI says.

President Donald Trump says that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will hold a news conference at 8 am Eastern Time on Sunday about the bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities. Hegseth will be accompanied by Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Trump in his White House remarks specifically congratulated Caine for the aerial strike.

US President Donald Trump said he worked "as a team" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the collaboration was "perhaps" like "no team has worked before." But Trump also noted that no military in the world except for that of the US could have pulled off the attack.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he was 'gravely alarmed' by the 'dangerous escalation' of American bombers attacking nuclear sites in Iran. "There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control — with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world," he said in a statement. He added that "at this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos" and called for further diplomacy.

Iran's nuclear agency on Sunday confirmed attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz atomic sites, but is insisting its work will not be stopped. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran issued the statement after Trump announced the American attack on the facilities. "The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran assures the great Iranian nation that despite the evil conspiracies of its enemies, with the efforts of thousands of its revolutionary and motivated scientists and experts, it will not allow the development of this national industry, which is the result of the blood of nuclear martyrs, to be stopped," it said in its statement.

President Donald Trump called Iran "the bully of the Middle East” and warned of additional attacks if it didn't make peace. "If they do not, future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier," Trump said at the White House after the bombings of Iran’s nuclear facilities were announced earlier. Trump portrayed the strike as a response to a long-festering problem, even if the objective was to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. "For 40 years Iran has been saying death to America, death to Israel," Trump said. "They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs with roadside bombs."

President Donald Trump said that the 'strikes on Iran's nuclear sites were a spectacular military success'. 

US President Donald Trump called Iran 'number-one state sponsor of terror'. 

Trump says Iran's key nuclear sites 'completely and fully obliterated' by strikes.

President Donald Trump is now addressing the nation after he announced this evening that the US has successfully hit three nuclear sites in Iran. Trump had been weighing military action for days as Israel and Iran continued to trade strikes.

US President Donald Trump's decision to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities will “change history,” Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Sunday. "Congratulations President Trump, your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history," Netanyahu said in a video statement. "President Trump and I often say: ‘Peace through strength.’ First comes strength, then comes peace. And tonight, President Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength," Netanyahu added.

Iran's state-run IRNA news agency early Sunday acknowledged an attack on the country's Fordo nuclear site. Attacks also targeted Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites, it said. IRNA quoted Akbar Salehi, Isfahan's deputy governor in charge of security affairs, saying there had been attacks around the sites. He did not elaborate. Quoting a statement from Iran's Qom province, IRNA said: "A few hours ago, when Qom air defences were activated and hostile targets were identified, part of the Fordo nuclear site was attacked by enemies." (AP inputs)

US President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social account that America has conducted “successful” air strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The US president said that all the planes are now out of the Iranian air space. In a post on Truth Social, Trump confirmed about the successful completion mission: "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home." "Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter," he added.