A satellite picture shows an underground complex in a mountainous desert landscape.

Iran's Fordow underground nuclear enrichment site after a US airstrike targeted the facility on Sunday. Credit: Planet Labs PBC / AP

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The US attack on Iran's nuclear facilities and its aftermath — as it happened

Iranian officials have pushed back on United States President Donald Trump's claim that "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated" by US strikes.

A satellite picture shows an underground complex in a mountainous desert landscape.

Iran's Fordow underground nuclear enrichment site after a US airstrike targeted the facility on Sunday. Credit: Planet Labs PBC / AP

Published

Updated

By Niv Sadrolodabaee, Hannah Ritchie, Sherpa Hossainy, Zacharias Szumer
Source: SBS News


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3 months ago
The Coalition 'supports actions taken' by the US
Sussan Ley, the leader of the Opposition, and Andrew Hastie, the Opposition's acting spokesperson for foreign affairs, have issued a statement supporting the "actions taken by the United States of America to ensure that the Iranian regime is stopped from acquiring nuclear weapons".

"The world can never accept a nuclear-armed Iranian regime, and today the United States military has taken proactive action to ensure that we never need to," they said.

"While Australians will never seek conflict in the world, we can never forget that the Iranian regime is a militantly theocratic autocracy.

"It is the Iranian people who are the victims of this brutal regime, and we stand in solidarity with them.

"The Coalition stands with the United States of America today."

— Niv Sadrolodabaee
3 months ago
Israel closes its airspace
The Israel Airports Authority has announced that the country has closed its airspace in an apparent precaution following the US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, according to the Times of Israel.

The land crossings into Egypt and Jordan remain open, the port authority said.

— Niv Sadrolodabaee
3 months ago
From New Zealand to Mexico, world leaders react
Leaders from different countries, including Australia, have reacted to the recent escalation of the conflict.

New Zealand foreign minister Winston Peters said:

"We acknowledge developments in the last 24 hours, including president Trump's announcement of US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran. Ongoing military action in the Middle East is extremely worrying, and it is critical further escalation is avoided.

"New Zealand strongly supports efforts towards diplomacy. We urge all parties to return to talks. Diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action."

Venezuelan foreign minister Yvan Gil said on Telegram: "Venezuela Condemns US Military Aggression Against Iran and Demands an Immediate Cessation of Hostilities."

Mexico's foreign ministry in a statement said: "The ministry urgently calls for diplomatic dialogue for peace between the parties involved in the Middle East conflict."

Niv Sadrolodabaee
3 months ago
Fordow nuclear facility is not seriously damaged, Iranian official says
Manan Raeisi, a member of Iran’s parliament representing Qom, the province where the Fordow facility is located, has said that "contrary to the false claims made by the US president, the Fordow nuclear facility has not sustained serious damage".

"Most of the impact was limited to surface-level structures, which are repairable.

"I can also confirm that any potentially hazardous materials had been removed in advance, and fortunately, no nuclear radiation has been reported.

"Trump’s claim about destroying Fordow is exaggerated — the attacks were so minimal that not even a single fatality has been reported from the site."

Read more:
— Niv Sadrolodabaee
3 months ago
Australian government issues a statement
"We have been clear that Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a threat to international peace and security," a government spokesperson said.

"We note the US President's statement that now is the time for peace. The security situation in the region is highly volatile. We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy.

"Australians in Israel and Iran and the region should continue to monitor public safety information provided by local authorities, including to shelter in place when required. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will be communicating directly with registered Australians about preparations for assisted departures."
3 months ago
UN secretary-general says he is 'gravely alarmed'
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a statement saying he is "gravely alarmed" by the use of force by the United States against Iran.

"This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge — and a direct threat to international peace and security," he said.

"There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control, with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world.

"I call on member states to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law."

— Niv Sadrolodabaee
3 months ago
Trump clearly had no further options, Scott Morrison says
Speaking with the ABC, former prime minister Scott Morrison said Donald Trump "had no further options available to him other than to do what only the US military could do".

"[Trump] did not rush towards this action. He exhausted every other opportunity. And this was the only one remaining. And he had been clear from this intent to go there if he had to. That's exactly what he did.

"It's important for Australia to speak with clarity about these events in terms of the actions undertaken by our closest ally and to acknowledge the context of those actions — and to express our support."
3 months ago
'First comes strength, then comes peace': Netanyahu thanks Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shared a video message congratulating Trump on US attacks on Iran.

He said that this will "change history".

"America has been truly unsurpassed; it has done what no other country on earth can do," Netanyahu said.

"President Trump and I often say peace through strength; first comes strength, then comes peace."
— Niv Sadrolodabaee
3 months ago
'Grossly unconstitutional': Bernie Sanders' response to the US attack
US Senator Bernie Sanders was at a rally in Oklahoma when he heard about the US strikes on Iran and broke the news to the crowd in Tulsa, which began chants of “no more war".

“I agree,” he said.

"It is so grossly unconstitutional. All of you know that the only entity that can take this country to war is the US Congress. The president does not have the right.”
Niv Sadrolodabaee
3 months ago
Where exactly has the US attacked?
According to US officials, Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow nuclear facilities were the main targets, which are all located in central Iran.
GFX 220625 IRAN STRIKES MAP.png
Credit: SBS
Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities were targeted multiple times by Israeli army in previous days, however this is the first attack on Fordow, one of Iran's main nuclear facility which is located in a mountainous area.

Niv Sadrolodabaee
3 months ago
There will be 'peace or tragedy' in Iran, Trump says
Hours after the attack, Donald Trump addressed the people of the United States and described it as "spectacular".

"Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated," he said.

"Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater.
"There's no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight. Not even close.

"There will be peace or tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left."

— Niv Sadrolodabaee
3 months ago
Trump speaks after US strikes on Iran
Donald Trump is speaking regarding the "very successful military operation in Iran".

You can watch the livestream of the speech here:
3 months ago
Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran confirms attack
Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation has confirmed the attacks in a statement.

"Iran’s nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were targeted by the enemies at dawn today in a savage operation that violates international law, particularly the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)," it said.

"Regrettably, this violation of international law has taken place under the indifference, and even complicity, of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)."

— Niv Sadrolodabaee
3 months ago
'It is time that Iran stopped sponsoring terrorist groups', the Coalition says
Michaelia Cash, leader of the Opposition in the Senate and their spokesperson for foreign affairs, has reacted to the US strikes, saying, "The Iranian regime has destabilised the region for decades."

"The Coalition notes the targeted strikes by the US on nuclear facilities in Iran," she said.

"It is time that Iran stopped sponsoring terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah and gives up their nuclear ambitions."
— Niv Sadrolodabaee
3 months ago
Things we know and don't know about Iran's nuclear ambition
One of the main reasons behind the recent conflict between Israel, Iran, and now the United States has been Iran's nuclear ambitions, which some say there are many things about it that we don't know.

Dara Conduit, a political science lecturer at the University of Melbourne, told SBS News that it's "very difficult to know" what Iran's nuclear ambition is.

"The best information we have is the US Intelligence Assessment that was released in March, which said that there was no evidence that Iran was attempting to make a nuclear weapon," she said.

Read more about Iran's nuclear program here:
— Niv Sadrolodabaee
3 months ago
Israeli army raises country's alert level
The Israel Defence Force has increased its alert level, allowing only essential activities until further notice, the military announced on Sunday following US strikes on Iran.

"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," IDF wrote.

Niv Sadrolodabaee
3 months ago
Trump spoke with Netanyahu after the attacks
US President Donald Trump has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the US attack on three nuclear sites in Iran, according to a senior White House official speaking to NBC News.

Israel's public broadcaster Kan quoted an Israeli official as saying the country was "in full coordination" with the US on the attack.

Niv Sadrolodabaee
3 months ago
What are the Iranians saying?
There haven't been any official statements from Iranian politicians yet, but some local officials from the cities hosting the nuclear facilities have confirmed attacks, without providing any details.

The country's state TV is still using the word "unconfirmed" about attacks on three nuclear facilities, which are located near the cities of Isfahan and Qom.

Reuters has also reported that one Iranian state TV commentator has said every American citizen or military in the region is now a legitimate target.

— Niv Sadrolodabaee
3 months ago
Trump set to speak at 12pm AEST
Donald Trump has said that he will be addressing the nation at 12 pm AEST at the White House, regarding the "very successful military operation in Iran".

You can watch the livestream of the speech here:
In a brief phone interview with Reuters, the US president said that "this was an amazing success tonight".
Reuters has reported that B-2 bombers were involved in strikes on the nuclear sites in Iran.

These bombers can be equipped to carry massive bombs that experts say would be ideal to strike the sites.
3 months ago
Trump confirms US attacks on Iran
Earlier this morning, US President Donald Trump, announced that US planes had conducted attacks on Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear sites in Iran.

"We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran," he wrote on his Truth social media platform.

"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 no other military in the World that could have done this."

He added that "now is the time for peace".
— Niv Sadrolodabaee
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