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Middle East conflict: The United States attacked three nuclear sites in Iran

El Tiempo

Colombia

Saturday, June 21


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Iranian Perspective

Israeli Perspective


Nine days have passed since the start of the conflict between Israel and Iran. On the one hand, the Israeli armed forces continue to attack"military targets," a move that has not gone unnoticed by their opponents.

Iran, on the other hand, has planned constant bombings against Israeli territories such as Tel Aviv and nearby cities. The most significant attack in recent days involved the missile attack on one of the most important hospitals in the Israeli capital. For now, there is no sign of any attempt at dialogue: Iran has stated that it would not speak to anyone until its opponents' attacks cease.

However, President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that the United States had"successfully" completed an attack on three Iranian nuclear facilities, without revealing details about the damage.

The European Union, for its part, has called for dialogue and peace.

MINUTE BY MINUTE

Sat. June 21, 6:53 p.m.

The President of the United States reported that the United States attacked three nuclear sites in Iran.

In recent hours, the president announced via social media that the attack on the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities had been successfully completed.

"A full bomb load was dropped on the main facility, Fordow. All aircraft are returning safely home. Congratulations to our great American warriors," the head of state said.

Sat. June 21, 6:30 p.m.

The United States government announced the evacuation of 60 American citizens from Israel.

In the afternoon, US President Donald Trump arrived at the White House to meet with his national security cabinet to continue discussions and determine whether they will join the strikes against Iran.

The decision on the possibility of launching an offensive to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon will be announced in the coming weeks. However, several U.S. Air Force B-2 bombers took off for the Pacific.

Sat. June 21, 5:20 p.m.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced early Sunday (local time) that they had launched a drone attack on Israel, a new wave on the tenth day of the war.

"A large wave of attack drones and suicide bombers has been heading toward their strategic targets across Israel for several hours," said Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini, quoted by state television.

Sat. June 21, 4:30 p.m.

Bombing in Shiraz, southern Iran

Israel attacked the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, which houses military bases, on Saturday, activating air defense systems, according to Iranian media.

Sat. June 21, 4:00 p.m.

Iran claims the Arak reactor attacked by Israel was intended for medical activities.

The head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, said on Saturday that the Arak reactor (center) attacked by Israel on Thursday was dedicated to health and medicine.

"The products from the Arak facility are used in the health and medical sectors. You (Israel) are attacking an active center in the field of radiopharmaceutical research," he said, according to an official statement.

Sat. June 21, 2:14 p.m.

Settlers under the protection of Israeli forces attacked a West Bank village

Wafa, citing local sources, reports that settlers under the protection of Israeli forces have attacked the village of Deir Jarir, east of Ramallah in the West Bank.

The Palestinian news agency reported that local residents clashed with settlers to repel the attack, and that Israeli forces fired live ammunition and stun grenades at them. No injuries were reported.

The occupied West Bank is home to more than three million Palestinians living under Israeli military rule, while the Palestinian Authority governs limited areas.

Sat. June 21, 10:17 a.m.

Internet has been partially restored in Iran

Internet service was partially restored in Iran on Saturday after Tehran imposed a digital blackout during its conflict with Israel, London-based online monitoring organization NetBlocks reported.

NetBlocks noted that Friday's internet shutdown"severely limited the public's ability to express political opinions, communicate freely, and follow security alerts."

Sat. June 21, 10:46 a.m.

Macron and Pezeshkian speak on the phone.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he received a call from his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian.

During the discussion, Macron said he and Pezeshkian agreed to"accelerate" nuclear negotiations between European powers and Iran.

Sat. June 21, 10:10 a.m.

Qatari Prime Minister denounces"Israeli aggression" in meeting with Araghchi

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting in Istanbul.

During the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed reiterated Qatar's"strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli aggression against Iranian territory," calling it a "violation of Iran's sovereignty and security" and a violation of international law, according to a statement from the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sat. June 21, 10:03 a.m.

Centrifuge workshop in Isfahan, Iran, was hit

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Saturday that a centrifuge production facility, machines used to enrich uranium, was"hit" following renewed Israeli bombing of the nuclear facilities in Isfahan, central Iran.

Sat. June 21, 7:55 AM

Macron says talks between Iran and European countries will be 'accelerated'

French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday, after receiving a call from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, that talks between Iran and European nations will be"accelerated" to seek a negotiated solution to the war with Israel.

"I am convinced that there is a way out of the war and to avoid more serious dangers. To achieve this, we will accelerate the negotiations initiated by France and its European partners with Iran," Macron said on the social network X, after the telephone conversation with Pezeshkian.

Macron's remarks came after a meeting in Geneva on Friday between the heads of foreign policy of France, the United Kingdom, and Germany, as well as the European Union's (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and his team.

Sat. June 21, 7:51 AM

The Iranian Health Ministry on Saturday raised the death toll to 430 and the number of wounded to 3,500 in the military offensive launched by Israel against the Persian country on June 13.

"Since the beginning of Israel's attacks on Iran, 430 civilians have died and more than 3,500 people have suffered injuries of varying severity," the ministry said in a statement reported by media.

Sat. June 21, 3:37 AM

The Israeli military says it has killed an Iranian commander in charge of coordinating with Hamas

The Israeli military said Saturday it killed an Iranian commander responsible for military coordination with the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in a bombing raid in Qom, south of Tehran.

"Israeli warplanes struck and killed Saeed Izadi, commander of the Palestinian Quds Force Corps and a key coordinator between the Iranian regime and the Hamas terrorist organization, in the Qom area," the army said in a statement.

Sat. June 21, 3:00 AM

Israel claims it killed three more Revolutionary Guard commanders and Iran in bombings

Israel announced this Saturday the death of three commanders from different branches of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in bombings, according to military and defense sources, while its air force continues to decimate the country's military leadership and also cause deaths among the civilian population.

Sat. June 21, 1:59 AM

Israel claims to have delayed Iran's nuclear weapons development by"two or three years"

Israel estimated on Saturday that it had delayed Iran's development of an atomic bomb by "at least two or three years," a country that Donald Trump gave a "maximum" of two weeks to prevent the United States from entering the conflict.

However, after meeting with European foreign ministers to seek a diplomatic solution, Iran's foreign minister ruled out negotiations with Washington if Israel's attacks do not end.

On Saturday, the attacks continued, with Israeli forces launching multiple airstrikes against the Iranian nuclear facility in Isfahan, in the center of the country, the Fars news agency reported, citing a security official.

Sat. June 21, 1:07 AM

Iran repels attack on nuclear facility in Isfahan, local press reports

Israel attacked Iran's nuclear facility in the city of Isfahan on Saturday, the state-run Fars news agency reported, ruling out leaks of materials hazardous to the population.

Citing a security official, this outlet reports that Israel launched multiple attacks against the complex. However,"most of the explosions heard during these attacks were related to air defense activity," this source stated.

Sat. June 21, 12:00 AM

Trump gives two weeks to decide on Iran

President Donald Trump declared Friday that Iran has a"maximum" of two weeks to avoid potential U.S. airstrikes, suggesting he could make a decision sooner than the two-week deadline he set the day before.

On June 13, Israel launched a campaign of airstrikes and bombings against Iran, claiming that Tehran was on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran responded with missile and drone launches.

Trump also ruled out the potential success of talks between European powers and Iran on resolving the conflict between Israel and Tehran, which began Friday in Geneva.

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