US defence secretary issues warning from Pentagon after strikes on Iran

The Pentagon has briefed the public after the US struck three nuclear facilities in Iran overnight - Donald Trump's first direct military move in the fast-escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.

Secretary of defence Pete Hegseth said US forces "conducted a precision strike in the middle of the night against three nuclear facilities in Iran". The aim was "to destroy or severely degrade Iran's nuclear programme," and "it was an incredible and overwhelming success," he said. "We devastated the Iranian nuclear programme." Hegseth called it an "incredible and overwhelming success", that devastated the Iranian nuclear program, but "did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people."

HE continued: "For the entirety of his time in office, President Trump has consistently stated for over 10 years that Iran must not get a nuclear weapon, full stop. Thanks to President Trump's bold and visionary leadership and his commitment to peace through strength, Iran's nuclear ambitions have been obliterated. Many presidents have dreamed of delivering the final blow to Iran's nuclear program, and none could - until President Trump.

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"The operation President Trump planned was bold and it was brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back. When this president speaks, the world should listen. And the US military - we can back it up. The most powerful military the world has ever known. No other country on planet earth could have conducted the operation that the chairman is going to outline this morning - not even close.”

The US military says it used six bunker-busting bombs and submarine-launched missiles to "obliterate" key Iranian nuclear sites in what it’s called a "spectacular military success." Trump announced the strikes on social media, confirming they included a direct hit on the heavily fortified Fordow enrichment plant, buried deep beneath a mountain in Qom. Other sites targeted in the early hours of Sunday were in Natanz and Isfahan.

In an address from the White House, Trump declared: "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."

The response in Washington was split. Republican leaders hailed the president's actions, while Democrats accused him of bypassing Congress, violating the Constitution, and endangering US personnel overseas.

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, warned of "everlasting consequences" after the strikes, calling the attack "extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal" and insisting Iran "reserves all options" for retaliation. As tensions mount, Iranian state media says Tehran has called for an emergency meeting with the United Nations, urging immediate global action to preserve peace and condemn what it says are illegal US attacks.

Keir Starmer meanwhile said Tehran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and called Iran’s nuclear programme "a grave threat to international security." He said: "Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat.

"The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis."

He urged Brits trapped in Israel to contact the Foreign Office to register for a Government-organised flight home. They are set be evacuated in "hours, not days" following the attack, which sparked retaliatory strikes on Isreal. Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds says the UK has been working on charter flights for Britons in Israel - and that the country's airspace will reopen on Sunday for repatriation flights.

China and Russia have both strongly condemned the US strikes, with Iran's top diplomat heading to Moscow and due to meet with Putin tomorrow to "have serious consultations with the Russian president". Araghchi described Moscow as a "friend of Iran", adding "we always consult with each other."

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