Latest news with #OperationMidnightHammer
The Herald Scotland
28 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Iran-Israel live updates: Fate of Iran's nuclear program still unknown
President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the U.S. attack obliterated the Iranian program and prompted the ceasefire. However, a U.S. official briefed on the Defense Intelligence Agency's initial assessment told USA TODAY the core components of Iran's nuclear program appeared to remain intact. An outraged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday countered by calling the bombings a "resounding success" and accusing some media outlets of "trying to make the president look bad." Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also chimed in, saying the bombings "failed to achieve anything significant," forcing Israel and the U.S. to abandon their attacks. "They could not accomplish anything," he said. "They failed to achieve their goal. They exaggerate to conceal and suppress the truth." Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, took a middle road, saying the Iranian program suffered "enormous damage." He said three primary sites - Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan - were hit hard but that others locations were not affected at all. The nuclear program can be rebuilt, he said, but he declined to put a timeline on it. "What I can tell you, and I think everyone agrees on this, is that there is very considerable damage," Grosso told French radio. The U.S. intelligence community has been consistent: It does not believe Iran has been building a nuclear weapon. U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said as much when she testified to Congress about Iran's nuclear program in March. U.S. spy agencies, Gabbard said, "continue to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003." Trump and Netanyahu dismissed that assessment. Trump has doubted U.S. intelligence agencies before - for example, over who was responsible for the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi (it was Saudi Arabia). Netanyahu, meanwhile, has been talking about Iran's existential nuclear threat to Israel for as along as he's been in the public eye. Still, U.S. intelligence agencies, Trump, Netanyahu and the United Nations' nuclear watchdog - the International Atomic Energy Agency - agree on the issue of Iran's uranium. All believe Iran had developed a large stockpile, and at a sufficiently enriched level, to sustain a nuclear reaction that could be used in a bomb if it decided to. But how quickly Iran would have been able to "sprint to a nuclear weapon," as Gen. Michael E. Kurilla put it on June 10, is also a matter of dispute, and estimates ranged from one week to one year. -Kim Hjelmgaard Trump ordered the strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities - Operation Midnight Hammer - effectively joining a war that Israel started on June 13 when it began bombing Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure. Israel said it helped the U.S. coordinate and plan the strikes. Trump said all three sites were "totally obliterated." A Pentagon assessment was less definitive, and Iran says its nuclear program will hardly skip a beat. The actual damage and the impact on Iran's program could become more clear in coming days. The saga between Iran and the United States goes back seven decades and 13 presidents, a relationship that broke down after the people of Iran rose up in 1978 against a regime the United States helped install in 1953. While Trump's decision to bomb the country's nuclear sites has Americans on edge, the United States has a long history of punishing Iran's government, most often through sanctions. At the center of it all is the state of Israel, the United States' key ally in the region - one that consistently finds itself at war with Iran or with the Islamic extremist groups that are proxies for Iran's interests. For some key moments in the relationship between the U.S. and Iran, read more here. Contributing: Reuters
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Operation Midnight Hammer: 'Bunker-busters' not used on Iran's Isfahan nuclear site, top US general tells senators; cites target depth
The United States military did not use the "bunker-buster" bombs on Iran's Isfahan nuclear facility during last week's Operation Midnight Hammer, chairman joint chiefs of staff, General Dan Caine, told senators during a classified briefing. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The facility is so deep that the bomb - actual name Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) - likely would have not been effective, the general informed senators on Thursday, CNN . US officials believe that Isfahan's underground structures contain nearly 60 per cent of the Islamic Republic's enriched nuclear stockpile, which Tehran would need in order to ever produce nukes. Only Tomahawk missiles were used to strike Isfahan. On the other hand, the B-2 Spirit bombers dropped more than a dozen bunker-busters on the other two targets - Fordow and Natanz. The classified session was held by Caine, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, secretary of state Marco Rubio and John Ratcliffe, director, CIA. During the briefing, Ratcliffe said that the US intelligence community assesses that the majority of Iran's enriched nuclear material is buried at Isfahan and Fordow, according to an official. Following the strikes, a preliminary assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency the attack did not destroy the core components of Iran's nuclear programme, including its enriched uranium, and likely only set it back by months. The assessment was disputed by members of the Donald Trump administration. President Trump has repeatedly asserted that Iran's nuclear programme was "obliterated."
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First Post
2 hours ago
- Science
- First Post
Latest satellite images confirm Iran now expanding its Fordow site after US bombings
Signs of 'fresh earth movement,' including new access roads and clusters of crater zones are visible at the Fordow site read more Latest satellite images show Iran might be working to expand the Fordow nuclear facility days after the site was targeted by US B-2 stealth bombers. Images released by Maxar Technologies reveal that heavy machinery has been moved into the site, and signs of additional earthwork are visible. There are signs that tunnel entrances may have been deliberately sealed off before the US bombers dropped Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) on the underground site. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Fordow was among the three nuclear sites that US bombers targeted overnight on June 21–22 under Operation Midnight Hammer. Now, signs of 'fresh earth movement,' including new access roads and clusters of crater zones are visible at the Fordow site. Significance The US administration has claimed that the bombings ' obliterated ' the underground facility at Fordow; however, satellite images indicate Iran may have already moved enriched uranium 'to a safe location'. An analysis by the Open Source Centre in London also suggested that visuals show that Iran may have been preparing the site for a strike. However, it is unclear exactly what, if anything, was removed from the facility. What do the new images reveal? In recent imagery, earth-moving equipment is visible near the northern tunnel complex. Bulldozers are shifting soil around a ridgeline crater, with new access paths evident. Imagery from June 19-20 showed several bulldozers and trucks near the tunnel entrance, likely part of an effort to block or reinforce access points. In the new images, the entrances appear filled with dirt, and debris from MOP impacts is noticeable in several areas. Can Iran still build a nuclear bomb? With the high probability that Iran has moved its stockpile of enriched uranium elsewhere, there are chances that the nation could build a nuclear weapon. However, Ronen Solomon, an Israeli intelligence analyst, told The Telegraph that even if Iran had moved its uranium, it would be 'like having fuel without a car', adding: 'They have the uranium, but they can't do a lot with it unless they have built something we don't know about on a small scale.'
Economic Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
'Disrespectful, condemnable': Iran hits back at Donald Trump, asks if he's 'genuine about a deal'
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has warned Donald Trump to change his 'disrespectful and unacceptable' tone towards Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei if the US wants nuclear talks. Trump claimed he saved Khamenei from an 'ugly and ignominious death' during clashes with Israel. The US bombed three Iranian nuclear sites under Operation Midnight Hammer. Despite the White House insisting it seeks peace, Iran says respect must come first, vowing it will not bow to threats. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Trump claims he saved Khamenei Talks or no talks Iran holds its ground Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has called out US President Donald Trump 's recent outburst against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei . He said bluntly that if the US President truly wants to talk, he must first watch his words.'If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran's Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, and stop hurting his millions of heartfelt followers,' Araghchi posted on remain high after Israel struck Iranian nuclear and military sites on 13 June. The fighting lasted 12 days. Washington joined the offensive by bombing three of Iran's nuclear facilities on 22 June under what it called Operation 'Midnight Hammer'. Iran hit back by launching missiles at a US base in Israel, Araghchi wrote, 'The Great and Powerful Iranian People, who showed the world that the Israeli regime had NO CHOICE but to RUN to 'Daddy' to avoid being flattened by our Missiles, do not take kindly to Threats and Insults.'While the dust settled, Trump took to Truth Social and claimed he had stopped Israeli and US forces from killing Khamenei. 'I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life,' Trump wrote.'I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH, and he does not have to say, 'THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!'' he also questioned Khamenei's claim of victory over Israel. He said the Iranian leader had 'blatantly and foolishly' lied about winning the war. 'As a man of great faith, he is not supposed to lie,' Trump US President said he had been working on possible sanction relief for Iran. 'But no, instead I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust, and immediately dropped all work on sanction relief, and more,' Trump that, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insists the door to talks is not closed. 'I spoke to our special envoy Witkoff at length this morning and I can assure all of you we continue to be in close communication with the Iranians and through our intermediaries as well, namely the Qataris, who have been an incredible ally and partner throughout this entire effort,' she said. She added the US wants Iran to agree to a non-enrichment civil nuclear Araghchi showed no sign of softening. He warned, 'If Illusions lead to worse mistakes, Iran will not hesitate to unveil its Real Capabilities, which will certainly END any Delusion about the Power of Iran.'He reminded the world that Iran's resilience runs deep. 'The complexity and tenacity of Iranians are famously known in our magnificent carpets, woven through countless hours of hard work and patience. But as a people, our basic premise is very simple and straightforward: we know our worth, value our independence, and never allow anyone else to decide our destiny.'He signed off with a line that leaves little doubt where Tehran stands. 'Good will begets good will, and respect begets respect.'The 12-day conflict may have ended but both sides keep their guards up. Trump's claim that Iran is 'a burned out, blown up Country, with no future, a decimated Military, a horrible Economy, and DEATH all around them,' has only hardened Tehran's now, Iran's message is clear. They will not bow to threats, or insults. They say any deal must begin with respect — or not at all.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Disrespectful and condemnable': Iran on Trump's Khamenei remarks; asks US president if he is 'genuine about a deal'
Donald Trump; Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday asked Donald Trump to withdraw his "disrespectful and unacceptable" remarks on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, if the US president is "genuine about wanting a deal. " Also Read | 'Ugly and ignominious death': Trump's 4-word description of what he saved Iran's Khamenei from "If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran's Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, and stop hurting his millions of heartfelt followers," Araghchi posted on X. The "deal" he mentioned relates to Iran's nuclear programme, which was at the centre of the recent conflict between US ally Israel and their common rival Iran. The hostilities began with Israel's strikes on Iran's nuclear and military sites on June 13, ahead of fresh US-Iran talks over the latter's nuclear programme. Also Read | 'We would have taken him out': Israeli defence minister confirms Khamenei's elimination was on cards Mocking Israel, Araghchi said the Jewish State had "no choice but to run to daddy,' a reference to the United States, which bombed three key Iranian nuclear sites on June 22. "The Great and Powerful Iranian People, who showed the world that the Israeli regime had NO CHOICE but to RUN to "Daddy" to avoid being flattened by our Missiles, do not take kindly to Threats and Insults. If Illusions lead to worse mistakes, Iran will not hesitate to unveil its Real Capabilities, which will certainly END any Delusion about the Power of Iran," he wrote on social media. The 12-day war ended the day after America's Operation Midnight Hammer in Iran, which had retaliated by launching missiles on a US air base in Qatar.
