Trump says future attacks on Iran will be far greater if no peace agreed
US President Donald Trump declared the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites a spectacular success, warning of far greater attacks to come if Tehran refuses peace.
US President Donald Trump declared the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites a spectacular success, warning of far greater attacks to come if Tehran refuses peace.
"Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror," US President Donald Trump said in his speech at the White House.
"Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated."
"Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier," Trump added.
"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."
"I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we have gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel," Trump continued.
"God bless the Middle East. God bless Israel and God bless you, America. Thank you very much."
US lawmakers almost instantly reacted on social media to the US President's shock announcement he had ordered an attack on Iran, with Republican hawks celebrating the move and the other side of the aisle voicing sharp disapproval.
"Good. This was the right call," US Senator Lindsey Graham said.
"The regime deserves it. Well done, President @realDonaldTrump. To my fellow citizens: We have the best Air Force in the world."
Republicans have generally urged a hard line on Iran. Most consistently back Israeli military operations in the region and have been vocal critics of Tehran's policies.
Texas congressman Dan Crenshaw urged people to back Trump: Support President Trump. You think these decisions were easy? They weren’t. You think this means WW3? You’re wrong. You think it means American soldiers deploying to Iran? You’re wrong."
"You think it means long term stability in the Middle East and a safer future for Americans? You’re right. Because the regime that wanted ‘Death to the Great Satan’ is at its end."
Democrats have been reticent about Trump's two-month-old diplomatic effort with Iran, quietly backing its goal to deprive Iran of a nuclear weapon capability.
But criticism of a potential attack by Democrats had ramped up in recent days and early condemnation by party members was sharp.
"Trump is acting fully outside of his authority and is once again trampling on the Constitution. This is an illegal and terrifying escalation," Representative Summer Lee said.
"Dropping bombs on Iran brings us closer to war, not peace, and he is putting millions of lives at stake. Congress must immediately pass our War Powers Resolution to rein him in."
"This is insane," Massachusetts Democratic representative Jim McGovern spluttered.
"Trump just bombed Iran without Congressional approval, illegally dragging us into war in the Middle East. Have we not learned our lesson!?!?"
A rare maverick on the Democratic side is Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman, among the chamber's biggest backers of Israel.
"As I’ve long maintained, this was the correct move by @POTUS. Iran is the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities," he said.
"I’m grateful for and salute the finest military in the world."
US President Donald Trump on Saturday launched the most serious ever US attack on its Mideast arch-nemesis Iran on Saturday, saying air strikes had hit three nuclear facilities including the underground nuclear site Fordow but calling for peace.
"We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump said on Saturday.
Trump had hinted at a potential intervention for days and US bunker-busting bombs are widely viewed as the only ordnance capable of penetrating the underground Fordow site.
"All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," he added in a post on Truth Social.
"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!"
Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran last week which has drawn Iranian missile fire, and Trump mooted possible US involvement, urging Tehran to resolve its nuclear impasse with Washington through talks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would not negotiate under fire but wanted to pursue diplomacy.
Tehran has repeatedly vowed to target the substantial US military presence in the region if it comes under direct attack.
"This is an historic moment for the United States of America, Israel, and the world. Iran must now agree to end this war," Trump added in another post.
B-2 bombers were used in the US attacks against Iran's nuclear facilities, Reuters reported citing a US official.
The US had informed Israel in advance about the attack on Iran and the matter was coordinated, Walla News reported citing a senior Israeli official.
US President Donald Trump announced US forces had attacked Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday, ramping up the biggest Mideast flare-up among major powers in over twenty years.
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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has named three senior clerics as possible successors in case he is killed in the war with Israel, The New York Times reported, citing three Iranian officials familiar with his emergency war plans.
The unprecedented step reflects the seriousness with which the 86-year-old leader views the current threat environment, as Israeli airstrikes continue to target Iranian military and nuclear assets.
Khamenei, who is now operating from a secure underground location and communicating through a trusted aide, has also named backups for key military positions in case more senior commanders are killed, the NYT cited the officials as saying.
“Ayatollah Khamenei’s son Mojtaba, also a cleric and close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, who was rumored to be a front-runner, is not among the candidates,” the report said.
The identity of the three clerics has not been disclosed, but the move is seen as an effort to ensure a swift and orderly succession via the Assembly of Experts if the supreme leader is assassinated or dies unexpectedly.
As Iran International previously reported, Khamenei was relocated to an underground bunker in Lavizan, northeast Tehran, shortly after the airstrikes began. His close family, including Mojtaba, are also at the facility. The transfer followed internal assessments of vulnerability at top levels of Iran’s leadership.
In a separate report, Iran International learned that Khamenei has delegated key powers to the Supreme Council of the Revolutionary Guards in what officials described as a wartime precaution, allowing critical decisions to proceed should the Supreme Leader become incapacitated.
American citizens are being detained and imprisoned in Iran, the Washington Post reported Friday citing a State Department cable, as hundreds of other US nationals left the country through land borders amid Israeli airstrikes.
"There are a small number of unconfirmed reports of Americans being detained and imprisoned," the report said, citing the cable.
US diplomats are following up on these reports, the cable said, acknowledging that many Americans are in harm's way as Donald Trump considers military action against Iran.
Many of the US citizens who were leaving Iran faced delays and harassment, the Washington Post reported, citing the cable.
There is no definitive count of how many US citizens remain in Iran. The State Department has said it is not offering US government-assisted departures from Iran. Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said on Friday, “Americans seeking to depart should take advantage of existing means to leave.”
Detentions and diplomatic strain persist
Since the beginning of the Iran-Israel conflict on June 13, foreign nationals have been advised to leave Iran and avoid travelling to the country.
The Islamic Republic has a long history of detaining and convicting foreign nationals, using them as leverage in negotiations with world powers.
US permanent resident Shahab Dalili is among those known to be imprisoned in Iran.
Iran and the US broke diplomatic ties following the 1979 hostage crisis involving US diplomats in Tehran, which lasted 444 days.
US warns citizens to leave Iran as land borders remain limited
The US Virtual Embassy in Tehran urged American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing continued airspace closures and security risks amid hostilities with Israel, according to a security alert issued on their website.
The alert said land borders with Armenia and Turkey are open, while crossings into Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan require prior government approval. The embassy warned it cannot guarantee the safety of those attempting to exit by land and noted internet disruptions and limited consular support.
US citizens were advised to prepare for emergencies and avoid relying on the US government for evacuation assistance.
