…as Trump Declares Successful Airstrikes on three major Iran nuclear facilities.
The United States President, Donald Trump has confirmed that the US carried out coordinated airstrikes on three major nuclear facilities in Iran on Saturday night, June 21, The iNews Times reports.
According to the US president, the targeted sites include Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, critical to Iran’s uranium enrichment and nuclear development programs.
The iNews Times learnt that the operation involved B-2 Spirit stealth bombers using GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs, massive 30,000-pound bunker-busting weapons designed to penetrate heavily fortified underground facilities.
The B-2, one of the most advanced aircraft in the United States military arsenal, is the only aircraft capable of carrying such a weapon.
Trump confirmed that the strikes were successful, with all US aircraft exiting Iranian airspace without incident and returning safely. “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. 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!,” the US president declared.
It was gathered that the Fordow facility, deeply buried within a mountain, was reportedly the main target of the strike. It has long been a point of concern for Western governments due to its high-level enrichment capabilities and potential for weaponization.
Another facility-the Natanz, Iran’s main uranium enrichment site, was also targeted, with the strikes focusing on above-ground infrastructure and underground cascades of centrifuges.
The third hit was Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre, which employs thousands of nuclear scientists and houses three Chinese research reactors.
The US airstrikes come amid heightened tensions in the region following a series of tit-for-tat strikes between Israel and Iran and growing concerns about Iran’s accelerated nuclear development following the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal.
The US had given Iran a two-week deadline to reach a diplomatic solution to the growing conflict, which had been fueled by concerns over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Iran, while condemning the strikes said it is a violation of international law and vowed to continue its nuclear program.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi slammed Washington’s action, warning of “everlasting consequences.”
“The US has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the NPT by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations,” Araghchi said.
Adding that “Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.”
The iNews Times also learnt that the US airstrikes were carried out by six B-2A Spirit strategic bombers, each valued at roughly $2 billion, which flew non-stop for 37 hours with multiple aerial refueling to cover the over 7,000 miles from the Missouri airbase to the target areas.
The US bombers dropped 12 GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-buster bombs, designed to penetrate up to 200 feet of earth or 60 feet of reinforced concrete before detonating.
Trump’s destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities have drawn a mixed response from US lawmakers, with some praising the operation and others raising constitutional concerns about the president’s unilateral military action without Congressional approval.
