President Donald Trump announced that the United States forces had carried out a "very effective attack" on 3 Iranian atomic objects—Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan—at the same time stressing that the heavy fortified Fordow installation "was razed to the ground".
“We have completed our very successful attack on 3 Iranian atomic objects, including the Ford, Natanz and Esfahan.” “THE TIME IS ROOM!”
In his short, three-minute speech from the Oval Office, Trump pointed out that Iran's future is in terms of "or peace or tragedy" and that the administration has many another possible targets that could hit if needed.
"The future of Iran is either peace or tragedy," he said. "The hits were a spectacular military success. The key Iranian uranium enrichment installations have been completely and definitively destroyed.”
The decision to affect the United States in Israel's run against Iran marks a crucial escalation of the conflict, which has been taking the form of intense air clashes for over a week. According to the Iranian authorities, at that time at least 430 people were killed and 3,500 were injured, while in Israel 24 civilians were killed and more than 450 Iranian missiles were fired towards the judaic state, causing over 1,200 casualties of varying degrees of injury.
The Iranian Atomic Energy Agency confirmed in its Sunday communication that attacks on the centers in Fordow, Esfahan and Natanz had taken place, but assured that "despite malicious enemy intrigues" the improvement of the national atomic program would not be halted by the efforts of "a 1000 revolutionary and motivated scientists and experts".
According to CBS News, Washington warned Tehran that the strikes carried out were a full scope of U.S. plans and were not intended to overthrow the Iranian regime, and in an interview with Fox News Trump revealed that six penetration bombs were dropped on Fordow, while the remaining facilities were attacked by 30 Tomahawk maneuvering missiles.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on this decision, stating:
"Congratulations, president Trump. Your courageous decision to hit Iranian atomic installations with the power and justice of the United States will change the course of history.”
Correspondent Al Jazeery of Washington, D.C. Kimberly Halkett reported that advisors warned the president of the anticipation of an unexpected escalation, but was assured that, as the commander-in-chief of the action, these "will not lead to a further increase in conflict", although Trump himself acknowledged, the hazard of unexpected consequences remains real.
