China strongly condemns the US attacks on Iran and bombing of nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday after US President Donald Trump announced that the United States carried out strikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran — Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan.
The actions of the US seriously violate the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, and have exacerbated tensions in the Middle East, the spokesperson said in a statement.
China calls on the parties to the conflict, Israel in particular, to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible, ensure the safety of civilians, and start dialogue and negotiation, the statement said.
China stands ready to work with the international community to pool efforts together and uphold justice, and work for restoring peace and stability in the Middle East, the spokesperson added.
18:57 2025-06-22
Israeli army says struck fighter jets, missile launchers in Iran
JERUSALEM -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that its fighter jets struck two warplanes at the Dezful Airport in western Iran on Sunday morning.
The statement noted that in separate strikes earlier in the morning, eight missile launchers were"neutralized," including six that were poised to fire at Israeli territory.
It added that on Saturday evening, approximately 20 Israeli fighter jets struck dozens of military targets in Iran.
Among the targets hit were a military site housing components for explosive production, weapons storage and manufacturing facilities, and air defense systems, according to the statement.
It added that the IDF also targeted military infrastructure at Isfahan Airport to prevent the Iranian air force from utilizing the site.
17:59 2025-06-22
Iran FM condemns US attack on nuclear facilities as red-line violation
ISTANBUL -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday strongly condemned the US military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, saying Tehran has multiple options under consideration in response to this"red line" violation.
"The US attack on Iran is an outrageous, grave, and unprecedented violation of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law," Araghchi said at a press conference in Istanbul.
He added that the"lawless" US administration is "solely and fully" responsible for the consequences of its act of "aggression."
"Of course, the door to diplomacy should be always kept open," Araghchi said."But this is not the case right now. My country is under attack, under aggression, and we have to respond based on our legitimate right of self-defense. We will do so for as long as needed and necessary."
"We are now calculating the damages," he added, urging the world and international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, to act in accordance with their responsibilities in the face of this"violation of international law."
Araghchi also announced that he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in Moscow to discuss the latest developments following the US strikes.
Araghchi is in Turkiye to attend the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul.
17:26 2025-06-22
Pakistan condemns US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites
ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan on Sunday condemned the US attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities, showing grave concerns at the possible further escalation of tensions in the region.
"The unprecedented escalation of tension and violence, owing to ongoing aggression against Iran, is deeply disturbing. Any further escalation of tensions will have severely damaging implications for the region and beyond," the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Pakistan emphasized the imperative need to respect civilian lives and properties and immediately bring the conflict to an end, the foreign ministry said, adding that all parties must adhere to international law, particularly the international humanitarian law.
It added that recourse to dialogue and diplomacy, in line with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, remains the only viable pathway to resolve the crises in the region.
17:17 2025-06-22
Asia-Pacific countries voice concern over US attacks on Iran
Asia-Pacific countries have expressed their willingness to find a political solution to US and Israeli attacks against Iran while some voiced condemnation of or expressed concern over US attacks against Iran's atomic energy facilities.
The head of the Pakistani parliament's defense committee said,"The US aggression against Iran's nuclear facilities is a war crime."
Iraqi government spokesperson Bassem Al-Awadi said,"Targeting nuclear facilities inside Iran is a dangerous threat to security and peace in the Middle East and exposes regional stability to great risks."
Iraq "expresses its deep concern and strong condemnation of the targeting of nuclear facilities" in Iran, Bassem Al-Awadi said on Sunday."This military escalation constitutes a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East and poses serious risks to regional stability," he added.
The Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry, in a statement on X platform,"affirmed its condemnation and denunciation of violating the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran, expressing the need to exert all efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate, and avoid escalation."
The kingdom also called on the international community to boost efforts in such "highly sensitive circumstances" to reach a political solution to end the crisis, Arab News reported.
Oman, which was mediating nuclear talks between Washington and Teheran, on Sunday strongly condemned US strikes on nuclear sites in Iran.
The Gulf sultanate"expresses deep concern, denunciation and condemnation of the escalation resulting from the direct air strikes launched by the United States on sites in the Islamic Republic of Iran", the official Oman News Agency said.
Qatar, host of the biggest US military base in the Middle East, on Sunday said the foreign ministry"warns that the current dangerous escalation in the region may lead to catastrophic consequences at both the regional and international levels."
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, in statement released by the Lebanese Presidency on X, said,"The bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities raises fears of an escalation of tensions that could threaten security and stability in more than one region and country.
Aoun called for restraint and the launch of constructive and serious negotiations to restore stability to the countries of the region and avoid further killing and destruction.
The Palestinian Resistance committees stated,"The attack on the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan facilities is an act of aggression and a threat to the entire region, and requires a united stance from all the free people of the nation to confront these arrogant aggressors," according to Mehr News Agency of Iran.
Both governments of Japan and the Republic of Korea are reportedly holding meetings on the latest situation.
In New Zealand, Foreign Minister Winston Peters instead clarifying whether New Zealand supported President Trump's actions, said the crisis is"the most serious I've ever dealt with" and that "critical further escalation is avoided."
"Diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action," he said.
Australia, which evacuated embassy employee in Teheran on Friday, said it will"continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy". But a government official said in a written statement:"We note the US President's statement that now is the time for peace."
Jan Yumul contributed to this report.
17:08 2025-06-22
26 injured, heavy damage caused in Israel by new round of attacks from Iran
JERUSALEM/TEHRAN -- Ballistic missiles fired from Iran into central and northern Israel on Sunday morning wounded 26 people, two of whom in moderate condition, Israel's national emergency service Magen David Adom reported.
The Israeli police said that the strike, including two barrages of a total of about 30 missiles, directly hit the cities of Tel Aviv and Ness Ziona in central Israel and Haifa in the north, causing heavy damage to residential buildings, roads and vehicles.
It was the first missile strike from Iran towards Israel after a pause of around 29 hours, and the first since the United States bombed Iran's nuclear facilities.
Shortly after the Iranian attack, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that its air force struck and destroyed the missile launchers in Iran that carried out the latest strike targeting Israel.
Hours before the missile strike and following the US bombing, Israel closed its airspace in an apparent precautionary measure, the Israel Airports Authority announced.
The IDF's Home Front Command also announced additional emergency rules for the public, including bans on educational activities, gatherings and workplaces, except for essential sectors.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement following the US attack in Iran that it was carried out in full operational coordination with Israel.
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps on Sunday confirmed the attack, saying that the fresh wave of attacks targeted Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and a biological research center, among others.
In a statement published on its official news outlet Sepah News, it also announced the beginning of its 20th wave of strikes against targets inside Israel.
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said the new wave of attacks featured a combination of long-range solid- and liquid-fuel missiles equipped with"devastating" warheads and employing new tactics to render Israel's air defense ineffective.
It added the strikes targeted backup bases as well as different layers of the command and control centers.
On June 13, Israel launched major airstrikes on different areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing several senior commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians.
Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks. As of Saturday, more than 400 Iranians have been killed and over 3,000 wounded, according to Iran's Health Ministry. In Israel, 24 civilians were killed by Iranian missile strikes, according to local authorities.
15:35 2025-06-22
Iran: US military aggression to be resisted with 'full force'
Iran"condemns the brutal US military aggression against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities" and reserves the right to defend itself with full force, said an official statement by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Sunday.
The US military assault on Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities is not only a blatant and unprecedented violation of the UN Charter -- particularly the principles prohibiting the use of force and requiring respect for states' territorial integrity and national sovereignty-- but also a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, the statement said.
"The world must not forget that it was the United States that, in the midst of a diplomatic process, betrayed diplomacy by supporting the genocidal and lawbreaking Israeli regime to impose a war of aggression on the Iranian nation. Now, in completion of that regime's unlawful and criminal acts, the United States itself has launched a dangerous war against the Islamic Republic of Iran," said the statement released on X platform.
Iran"is resolved to defend Iran's territory, sovereignty, security and people by all force and means against the United States' criminal aggression," said the statement.
At a news conference earlier, US President Donald Trump said Saturday local time that Iran's key nuclear facilities had been"completely and totally obliterated". US military struck Iran's atomic energy sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. But Iran had evacuated these three nuclear sites"a while ago," said Hassan Abedini, deputy political director of Iran's state broadcaster.
Trump also threatened that future attacks against Iranian targets will be"far greater and a lot easier"."If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill," he said at his news conference.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry also urged the UN Security Council to convene an emergency session to"unequivocally condemn this criminal act of aggression by the United States against Iran" and to hold the United States accountable for its egregious violation of the fundamental principles of United Nations Charter and of the norms of international law.
The ministry also called on the IAEA Board of Governors to immediately convene and"carry out its legal responsibility in response to this dangerous US attack on Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities, all of which have been under the Agency's full safeguards and monitoring."
The "war-mongering and lawless regime of the United States of America" is held fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and far-reaching implications of this egregious act of aggression and heinous crime, the ministry said.
Jan Yumul contributed to this report.
13:29 2025-06-22
Sirens sound in Israel as Iran launched new wave of missiles
JERUSALEM - Sirens sounded across central, northern Israel and Israel-controlled Jerusalem as Iran launched a new wave of ballistic missiles.
Israelis in affected areas were instructed to remain in bomb shelters.
It marked the first Iranian ballistic missile strike on Israel in over a day -- and the first since the United States attacked Iran's three nuclear facilities.
Israel closed its airspace in an apparent precautionary measure following the US strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, the Israel Airports Authority announced earlier.
A statement from the Israel Defense Forces said with the approval of the Defense Minister Israel Katz, and following the situational assessment, it was determined that as of Sunday at 03:45 am (0045 GMT), immediate changes will be made to the Home Front Command instructions.
As part of the changes, it was decided to shift all areas of the country from Partial and Limited Activity to Essential Activity. The instructions include a prohibition on educational activities, gatherings and workplaces, except for essential sectors, said the statement.
US President Donald Trump said earlier on Saturday that the United States has completed attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran, namely"Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan."
13:14 2025-06-22
US' lawbreaking attacks further step toward abyss: Editorial flash
The United States' unilateral military strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan constitute a reckless escalation and a flagrant violation of international law. This direct intervention in the volatile Israel-Iran conflict violates the sovereignty of Iran and fundamental principles of the UN Charter. Such unilateralism undermines the rules-based international order and sets a dangerous"might-makes-right" precedent.
Although Washington is suggesting that the US' bombing of multiple Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday is a contained move to prevent the Islamic republic producing nuclear weapons, it has all the hallmarks of another"washing powder" moment with Israel resolutely trying to drag the US into a war with Iran.
As House Representative Hakeem Jeffries said, President Donald Trump didn't seek Congressional authorization for the use of military force and he therefore"shoulders complete and total responsibility" for the risks of entangling America in a disastrous war. This marks a stark reversal from Trump's"America First" campaign pledge to avoid foreign conflicts.
The attacks may have already opened Pandora's box. What the world should be concerned about now is the immediate consequences and implications of the strikes, which not only violated Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also breached multiple international laws and rules on nuclear security.
International law provides clear protection for nuclear facilities worldwide. Article 56 of the Additional Protocol 1 to the Geneva Conventions expressly prohibits attacks on nuclear plants, because such attacks can cause nuclear leaks jeopardizing the lives of thousands of civilians. The International Atomic Energy Agency, too, has, in many of its resolutions, condemned attacks on nuclear facilities as gross violations of international law and the UN Charter.
The attacks came amid intensive diplomatic efforts to reach a political resolution of the Iran nuclear issue. Although the US signaled that after the attacks its bilateral talks with Iran can continue, the Saturday attacks are likely to have derailed the whole process aimed at securing a negotiated settlement of the issue.
The attacks also came at a time that Iran's increasingly effective response to Israel's aggression has pushed the latter to a breaking point dragging their conflict in the direction of a war of attrition that Israel is in no position to wage.
But although the US' Saturday attacks may have seemed to help Israel reverse the situation, they have only served to push the situation further toward the abyss.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres rightly warned the actions pose a"direct threat to international peace and security", risking uncontrolled escalation with catastrophic humanitarian consequences for civilians already suffering across the Middle East.
Trump's threatening of more strikes"if peace does not come quickly", issued shortly after the bombings, starkly underscores this volatility. Further conflict will inevitably undermine global stability by jeopardizing peace, energy security and disrupting critical shipping lanes, sending shockwaves through a fragile world economy.
As the world stands on the brink of a cataclysm, it is imperative that reason prevails. Diplomacy, not unilateral force and threats of escalation, is the only viable path to sustainable security and preventing nuclear proliferation.
12:42 2025-06-22
Tehran says 'reserves all options' to retaliate against US attacks
WASHINGTON/TEHRAN -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities were"outrageous" and "will have everlasting consequences."
Tehran "reserves all options" to retaliate, said the minister.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it has detected the launch of missiles from Iran after US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
"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 IDF said on Telegram.
The Israeli army added that an air raid alert has been declared in some regions of Israel and ordered residents to take shelter in protected areas.
The Israel Airports Authority said in a statement earlier that Israel has closed its airspace after the US attack on Iran's nuclear sites, although land crossings with Egypt and Jordan are operating normally.
"Israel's airspace is closed to entry and exit. The public should stay updated with the airlines. Land crossings to Sinai and Jordan are operating as usual," the statement said.
The Iranian state media reported that there were"no signs of contamination" at the nuclear sites at Esfahan, Fordo and Natanz after US airstrikes, quoting a statement from the country's National Nuclear Safety System Center.
"There is no danger to the residents living around the aforementioned sites," the statement said.
US President Donald Trump said earlier on Saturday that the United States has completed attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran, including"Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan."
"All planes are now outside of Iran's airspace. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," he said on the social platform Truth Social.
Tehran must agree to"end this war," Trump wrote on Truth Social after the strikes.
Iran's state-run IRNA news agency acknowledged attacks on the country's nuclear facilities.
Iran had evacuated these three nuclear sites"a while ago," said Hassan Abedini, deputy political director of Iran's state broadcaster, adding that Iran"didn't suffer a major blow because the materials had already been taken out."
Iran's Atomic Energy Organization confirmed the US attacks, but said its work will not be stopped.
"The Atomic Energy Organization 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," the agency said in a statement issued after Trump announced the US attacks.
The organization also confirmed that Iran's nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were attacked again early Sunday, following Trump's remarks that the US military had struck three nuclear targets.
"Necessary measures, including legal procedures, are on the agenda to defend the country's rights," said the organization.
It condemned the attacks as a violation of international law, particularly the Non-Proliferation Treaty, calling on the international community to denounce the strikes and support Iran's pursuit of its legal rights.
The Saudi Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission has confirmed that no radioactive traces have been detected in the environment of the country or other Arab Gulf states following the US military strikes.
In a post on its official X account, the Saudi nuclear body said that continuous monitoring has shown no signs of radiological impact on the region's environment.
In its strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the United States used the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator bomb, known as the"bunker buster," local media quoted two sources familiar with the operation.
B-2 bombers are the only aircraft capable of carrying the bombs, said the report.
Trump and his team were in touch with top congressional Republicans before the strikes, but did not brief top Democrats on his plans until after the bombs had been dropped, the report added.
The attacks marked a historic escalation in the Middle East. It may provoke retaliation from Tehran against US troops and military installations across the region, said the report.
A senior official from Yemen's Houthi group said in a social media post early Sunday that it would hold Trump responsible for the attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
"Trump must bear the consequences," Houthi political bureau member Hizam al-Assad posted on X.
Prior to the US attacks, the Houthi group said in a statement that it would target US ships if Washington attacks Iran.
"If America is involved in the attack and aggression against Iran... the armed forces (Houthi forces) will target its ships and battleships in the Red Sea," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in the statement, aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.
For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on Sunday after the US attacks, calling it a"bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities."
Trump had created a "pivot of history," he added.
The US air raids on Iran came on the ninth day after Israel launched attacks on Iran on June 13.
Trump threatens more strikes on Iran if 'peace does not come quickly'
WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Iran will face more military strikes if peace does not come quickly.
Addressing the nation Saturday evening, Trump said that Iran's key nuclear facilities had been"completely and totally obliterated," and that future attacks will be "far greater and a lot easier."
"If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes," he said.
Trump said that he decided a long time ago not to let Iran gain a nuclear weapon and that without peace, there will be"tragedy" for Iran that will far exceed what's taken place.
"War starts right now," Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said after Trump's announcement of US successful attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities of "Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan."
Iran had evacuated these three nuclear sites "a while ago," said Hassan Abedini, deputy political director of Iran's state broadcaster.
Appearing on state-run television, he said that Iran"didn't suffer a major blow because the materials had already been taken out."
Iran's Atomic Energy Organization confirmed the US attacks, but said that its work will not be stopped.
"The Atomic Energy Organization 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," the agency said in a statement issued after Trump's announcement of the US attacks.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Saturday that US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites are"a dangerous escalation" and "a direct threat to international peace and security."
"I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge -- and a direct threat to international peace and security," said Guterres in a statement.
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.
Guterres called on UN member states to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law.
"At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace," he said.
11:41 2025-06-22
Trump says Iran's key nuclear sites 'obliterated' by airstrikes
WASHINGTON - US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites in a"very successful attack," President Donald Trump said on Saturday, adding that Tehran's nuclear program had been obliterated.
After days of deliberation and long before his self-imposed two-week deadline, Trump's decision to join Israel's military campaign against its major rival Iran represents a major escalation of the conflict.
"The strikes were a spectacular military success," Trump said in a televised Oval Office address."Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated."
In a speech that lasted just over three minutes, Trump said Iran's future held"either peace or tragedy," and that there were many other targets that could be hit by the US military.
"If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill."
The US reached out to Iran diplomatically on Saturday to say the strikes are all the US plans and it does not aim for regime change, CBS News reported.
Trump said US forces struck Iran's three principal nuclear sites: Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow. He told Fox News six bunker-buster bombs were dropped on Fordow, while 30 Tomahawk missiles were fired against other nuclear sites.
US B-2 bombers were involved in the strikes, a US official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," Trump posted."Fordow is gone."
"IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR," he added.
Reuters
US attacks on nuclear sites contradict international law, Iran says; UN chief alarmed
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has condemned the attacks of the United States on Iran's nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, which it said, contradicts international law, especially the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), according to its statement.
"This action, contrary to international law, was unfortunately carried out in the shadow of indifference and even with the cooperation of the International Atomic Energy Agency," the statement said.
The US, through its president, has taken responsibility for the attack on the aforementioned sites, which are under the continuous supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, based on the Safeguards Agreement and the NPT Treaty, the AEOI added, according to Mehr News Agency.
IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi warned of the risk of nuclear contamination from Israel's attacks on nuclear facilities in Iran on Friday in his briefing at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
Talking of serious damage at the Natanz site in Israeli air strikes, Grossi was quoted as saying by Xinhua News Agency as saying:"The main concern inside the facility is chemical toxicity."
Grossi also warned of the serious consequences of an attack on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, which is an operating nuclear power plant and hosts thousands of kilograms of nuclear material, and the Tehran Nuclear Research Reactor.
In a post on X, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he is"gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today".
"This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge — and a direct threat to international peace and security," said Guterres.
He also called on all UN Member States to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law.
"At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos," said the UN secretary-general.
Analysts have been concerned that potential contamination from the attacked atomic energy sites might be disastrous for the whole region.
Jan Yumul contributed to this report.
10:49 2025-06-22
UN chief Guterres says US strike on Iran a dangerous escalation
UNITED NATIONS -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday branded the US strikes on Iran as a"dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge — and a direct threat to international peace and security."
"There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control — with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world," Guterres said in a statement.
"At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace," he said.
Reuters
10:38 2025-06-22
Trump says Iran must make peace or 'we will go after' other targets
WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Iran must now make peace or"we will go after" other targets in Iran after US strikes that he said "obliterated" Iranian nuclear sites.
"There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days," Trump said in a nationally televised speech at the White House.
Reuters
10:36 2025-06-22
Khamenei reiterates previous warning of US entering conflict 'to its own detriment'
The United States is entering Israeli attacks on Iran"to its own detriment," Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei repeated an earlier warning to the United States early Sunday after the US bombed key Iranian nuclear sites. At least parts of the cites, especially at the key site of Fordow, were struck, but detailed information on specific damage to the sites was to be confirmed.
Khamenei's Telegram account has re-shared his televised comments on Wednesday, in which he said that the US would be entering the Iran-Israel conflict"to its own detriment,""The damage it will suffer will be far greater than any harm Iran will encounter," Khamenei says in the video.
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran condemned the US strikes in a statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanks the US president after the US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, according to the Jerusalem Post. Six bunker-buster bombs were used during the strike on Fordow, with 30 tomahawk missiles being used on the additional nuclear sites, according to Fox News.
However, the Israeli Defense Forces' Home Front Command has raised the threat level nationwide, ordering only essential activity to take place.
An Iranian official in Qom confirmed part of the Fordow nuclear site has come under attack.
Morteza Heydari, a spokesman for Qom Provincial Crisis Management Headquarters, was quoted by Iran's Tasnim news agency as saying:"Hours ago, after Qom's air defenses were activated and hostile targets were identified, part of the Fordow nuclear site was attacked by enemy airstrikes."
The IRNA news agency quotes an official with the country's public broadcaster as saying: "There are no materials in these three nuclear sites that cause radiation."
The comment suggests that Iranian authorities may have removed enriched uranium from the facilities before they were bombed, the report said.
The three nuclear facilities have been evacuated, Iranian national television confirmed.
Iran had been expecting attacks on Fordow for several nights, the facility had been evacuated before the airstrikes occurred, and did not suffer irreversible damage, according to an advisor to Iran's Parliament Speaker.
"Two things are certain: 1. Knowledge cannot be bombed. 2. This time, the gambler will definitely lose," the advisor was quoted by The Jerusalem Post as saying.
On Saturday in Istanbul, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi cautioned the US against the dangerous consequences of getting involved in the Israeli regime's war of aggression.
Araqchi told reporters that it would be"very, very dangerous for everyone" if the United States becomes actively involved in the war along with Israel. He attended diplomatic talks with Europeans in Geneva earlier.
Israeli public broadcaster Kan, citing an anonymous Israeli official, said that Israel was"in full coordination with the US" during its attacks on Iran. B-2 stealth bombers are the only aircraft capable of carrying and deploying the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP, commonly nicknamed The Mother of All Bombs.
10:23 2025-06-22
Senior leader of Iraqi armed group killed in Israeli attack
BAGHDAD -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella body for Iraqi Shiite militias, confirmed on Saturday the death of a senior security leader in an Israeli strike on a border area with Iran.
Haider al-Moussawi, head of the security unit of the militias Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, was killed in the attack, the pro-Iran Islamic Resistance in Iraq said in a statement.
Abu Ali al-Khalil, an aide to the killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and his son were also killed in the attack, the statement added.
The deaths were caused by an Israeli attack on the border area between Iraq and Iran, the statement said without giving more details.
09:31 2025-06-22
US attacks three Iranian nuclear sites
By MINGMEI LI in New York and YIFAN XU in Washington DC
The United States has launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, drawing the US military directly into the conflict after days of uncertainty over whether President Donald Trump would intervene.
"Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat...There's no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight," Trump said in a four-minute national address at the White House Saturday night, adding that Iran's nuclear sites are"totally obliterated".
He also warned of possible retaliation from Tehran.
"If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill," he said.
Trump said the strikes targeted Iran's main enrichment sites at Fordo and Natanz, which were hit days earlier by Israel, and a third site near Isfahan, believed to store near-weapons-grade uranium recently inspected by international monitors.
Iranian officials confirmed the attacks and said on state television that Iran had evacuated three nuclear sites that were struck some time ago. They said there were no materials at the sites that could cause radiation.
Iranian state television responded to Trump, saying,"You started it, and we will end it,' and warned that"every American citizen or military personnel in the region is now a target."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has not commented since the attack, but earlier on Saturday, he said,"If the United States enters the war, the situation will become very, very dangerous".
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement that Trump's decision to strike Iran's nuclear facilities would"change history".
"President Trump and I often say: 'Peace through strength.' First comes strength, and then comes peace. And tonight, President Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength," Netanyahu said.
Earlier Saturday, multiple American B-2 bombers were flying west over the Pacific Ocean and they were used in the strike. These bombers are capable of carrying 30,000-pound 'bunker-buster' bombs designed to penetrate fortified underground facilities.
Trump, who has pledged to avoid"forever wars" during his campaign and in past speeches, said on Thursday he would decide whether to strike Iran"within the next two weeks". After days of uncertainty and conflicting signals, US forces have now been drawn directly into the conflict.
"The thinking in Trump's mind right now is that he could get a quick 'win' with a minimum of military effort and then get to brag about it," Sourabh Gupta, a senior fellow at the Institute for China-America Studies, told China Daily. He previously warned that attacks would affect the US' relations with Iran, the Islamic world, Russia, China and the Middle East.
Gupta added that strikes would"almost certainly exacerbate regional instability and roil oil and gas markets", impacting the global economy.
Jack Midgley, an adjunct associate professor at Georgetown University's Center for Security Studies, told China Daily that the US strikes serve no clear strategic purpose.
"There is no US strategic objective advanced by military action against Iran as it could strengthen Iran's regional position," he said.
He added that Iran's retaliation would cost the US.
"Iran should be expected to take aggressive measures to defend itself," including attacks on US bases in Qatar or Bahrain, cyber-attacks, or closing the Strait of Hormuz, which could disrupt global oil flows, he said.
US lawmakers are divided over the strikes and the country's entry into the Middle East conflict. Even within the Republican Party, some have praised the decision, while others worry the aggressive action could cost the party support from MAGA voters.
Contact the writer at mingmeili@chinadailyusa.com.
08:15 2025-06-22
Trump says US has attacked 3 Iranian nuclear sites
WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States has completed attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran, including"Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan."
"All planes are now outside of Iran airspace. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," he said on the social platform Truth Social.
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