US President Donald Trump, in a statement on the social media platform Truth Social, said that American planes were in Iran Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities were hit Trump said the American planes had left Iranian airspace and described the operation as a “very successful attack.”
Importance of Targeted Facilities
Natanz: It is Iran's largest uranium enrichment facility and is located about 250 kilometers south of Tehran.
Ford: It is known as a highly protected underground uranium enrichment centre and is located about 160 kilometres south of Tehran.
Isfahan: A major facility that produces uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas needed for enrichment at Natanz and Fordo.
In his televised address to the American people at 05:00 Turkish time, Trump said that the nuclear capacity in these facilities “was completely destroyed" he said.
Threatening Statements from Trump
In his speech after the operation, Trump said, “Either there will be peace or there will be a tragedy for Iran that is much greater than what we have witnessed in the last eight days.” He also said, “Remember, there are many more targets. Tonight was the most difficult, perhaps the most lethal,” and added that they will also target these targets “if peace does not come quickly.”
Conflicting Statements from Iran
Iranian officials have confirmed the explosions near Natanz, Fordo and Isfahan with different explanations. However, the extent of damage to the facilities has not yet been confirmed by independent sources. Hassan Abedini, a senior official of Iranian state television, claimed on live TV that the three facilities were evacuated “a while ago” and therefore Iran “did not suffer a major blow” even if Trump’s statements were “true”.
“We Are Not Planning Regime Change” Message
CBS News reported that there were “diplomatic” steps coming from Washington ahead of the attack. According to CBS, the US sent a message to Iran on Saturday, June 21, that its plans were limited to these attacks and that the US was “not planning regime change.”
Speaking to reporters in Istanbul on June 21, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi said that US involvement in the conflict would have “very, very dangerous” consequences.
Full Coordination with Israel and B-2 Bombers
An Israeli official told his country's state television that Israel had "...full coordination" he said. It was stated that security measures were increased in the country.
An American official said the facilities were bombed B-2 bombers The B-2 is described as the world's largest non-nuclear "bunker buster" bomb. GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) It is the only bomber aircraft capable of carrying a bomb. US Department of Defense officials confirmed to the American CBS channel that these bombs were used in the attack and added that two MOP bombs were dropped on each targeted facility.
Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on June 13, and the two countries have been bombing each other since then. Israel has called for the US to join the attacks. Trump said on June 18 about the possibility of the country attacking Iran, “I may or may not do it… Nobody knows what I want to do.” The latest statement from the White House said Trump would make his decision within two weeks.
