The bombers arrived at dawn: Following a massive air strike against key Iranian nuclear facilities, US President Donald Trump told the world that Iran’s uranium enrichment program had been “completely destroyed.” In a dramatic speech to the nation, Trump described the attacks as a “spectacular military success.”

Donald Trump called on Iran to choose the “path of peace” – otherwise further air strikes would follow. The US attacks were aimed at “permanently destroying” Iran’s nuclear capabilities and ending “the world’s largest state-sponsored threat to global security.” “If peace does not come quickly, we will strike with precision, speed, and resolve,” the president warned. The remaining targets could be eliminated “within minutes,” Trump said.

Trump had already confirmed on his platform Truth Social that the US military had bombed three significant Iranian nuclear sites, including the heavily secured underground facility in Fordo. The nuclear facilities in Natanz and Isfahan had also been hit. The mission had been completed and all aircraft involved had returned safely.

A US government representative confirmed to the New York Times that several GBU-57 “Massive Ordnance Penetrator” bunker-busting bombs were used in the attack on Fordo. These 13,600-kilogram bombs were specially developed to destroy deeply bunkered targets and are considered the only conventional weapon capable of effectively hitting a target as well protected as Fordo.

Iran announces continuation of its nuclear program

Despite the attacks, the Iranian Atomic Energy Agency announced its intention to continue its nuclear program. In a statement released by state media, it said: “We will not abandon the path of technological development despite the hostile aggression.” The US attacks on the facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan were “barbaric,” the agency said.

Thanks to Israel

In his speech, Trump thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli army for their support. The US president also emphasized the role of the American armed forces: “I am proud of our great patriots who flew this mission. The world has not seen anything like this in decades.”

Military experts had recently emphasized that Israel alone would hardly be able to effectively destroy deeply bunkered Iranian nuclear facilities such as Fordo. The country lacks both the appropriate bombs and the necessary long-range bombers. The US intervention could therefore be seen as a decisive step in Israel’s efforts to cripple Iran’s nuclear program.

Here is the exact sequence of events of the attack on the nuclear facilities (all times CET):

Before 2:00 a.m. – Israeli drones triggered air defense systems in several Iranian regions.

2:14 a.m. – Fighter jets reported over Shiraz.

2:22 a.m. – Several aircraft sighted over central Iran.

3:04 a.m. – Two jets (probably bombers) and a loud explosion were reported near Qom, close to the #Fordow nuclear facility.

3:13 a.m. – Explosion near Kashan, another city close to Fordow.

3:38 a.m. – Explosion in Fordow. Initially, it was assumed that this was an intercepted drone, but this turned out to be incorrect.

3:41 a.m. – Loud explosion reported at the Isfahan nuclear power plant.

3:46 a.m. – Explosion heard at the Natanz nuclear power plant.

3:55 a.m. – Large-scale GPS disruptions observed throughout Iran.

IMAGE: APA