Israel-Iran live: Trump administration warns retaliation would be ‘worst mistake’ after Tehran vows consequences
Marco Rubio warns Tehran against responding after US launched ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’ on three key Iranian nuclear sites
US secretary of state Marco Rubio has warned Tehran that a retaliation to the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites would be “the worst mistake they’ve ever made”.
Mr Rubio issued the warning on Fox News on Sunday, just after the Iranian foreign minister threatened the US with “dangerous consequences” for the attacks when speaking at a news briefing.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth denied that regime change was a motivation behind ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’, saying that damaging Iran’s nuclear programme was the aim, after negotiations failed.
Mr Hegseth described the bombing of the Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan sites as an “incredible and overwhelming success”, adding that they “devastated the Iranian nuclear programme”.
He also warned that any Iranian retaliation will be met with a force “far greater” than the latest strikes.
His comments follow Mr Trump’s earlier announcement that US warplanes had “obliterated” the three nuclear facilities.
Meanwhile, Tehran accused the US of crossing a “very big red line” in launching the “unforgiveable” attacks, with the extent of the damage unclear.
Speaking from Istanbul, where he met counterparts from European and Arab states earlier this week, Mr Araghchi accused Washington of having “betrayed” negotiations over a nuclear deal.
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Israel rescue flights for British nationals and their families: What is planned?
After days of demands for repatriation flights from British nationals in Israel, the Foreign Office has set out plans for a first charter flight from Tel Aviv.
The announcement follows the US targeting sites in Iran with missiles on Saturday, which is likely to lead to further Iranian reprisals aimed at Israel as the Middle East conflict continues to deepen
“Those with greatest need will be prioritised for flights,” the FCDO said on Sunday.
But how will the system work, and what alternatives are there? The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder addresses the key questions and answers:
Israel rescue flights for British nationals and their families: What is planned?
Flights from London to Doha and Dubai cancelled after US strikes Iran
Flights from London to Dubai and Doha have been cancelled after Donald Trump ordered the US attack on Iran's nuclear sites.
It comes after a British Airways (BA) flight from London Heathrow to Dubai was diverted to Zurich on Saturday night.
The BA109 flight departed from the UK at 9.53pm on Saturday and reached Saudi Arabia before the Boeing 787 Dreamliner changed its course, landing in Switzerland, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.
All of the airline's flights to Dubai and Doha that were scheduled to depart from Heathrow on Sunday have been cancelled, including return flights, the company said.
Israel announced on Sunday that it had closed its airspace to both inbound and outbound flights in the wake of the US attacks.
Iran's parliament approves closing Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reports
Iran’s parliament has approved closing the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media has reported.
However, the top security body is required to finalise the decision on the measure, PressTV added.
Threat to US-linked commercial shipping 'high' in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden after attacks on Iran, maritime center says
The multinational, US-led combined maritime force's JMIC information centre said it has categorized the threat to US associated commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as "high" after US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Vice President Vance: US wants to pursue diplomatic process with Iran
Vice President J.D. Vance said on Sunday that the United States had successfully set back Iran's nuclear weapons program, adding that President Donald Trump now hopes to pursue a diplomatic solution.
"We do not want to protract this or build this out anymore than it's already been built out. We want to end their nuclear program," Vance said, speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press with Kristen Welker."
"We want to talk to the Iranians about a long-term settlement here," he added.
Watch: Trump's 'Midnight Hammer' attack on Iranian nuclear sites used more than 125 US aircrafts
Trump set 'focussed, powerful and clear mission', says Hegseth
The US attacks on Iran were thanks to a “clear mission” set by Donald Trump, Hegseth said.
“What the president gave us was a focussed, powerful and clear mission on the destruction of Iranian nuclear facilities.
“That’s what the Iranian president needs to understand, as the president put it out last night: he wants peace, there needs to be a negotiated settlement here.
“We ultimately demonstrated that Iran cannot have a nuclear capability, that is a very clear mission statement.”
Hegseth: Operation was not about regime change
Hegseth says the American operation to destroy Iranian nuclear sites was not about regime change.
Rather, Washington decided that Iran could not continue with its nuclear programme.
“[Trump] decided this is the moment, given their stonewalling, when direct military action had to be taken,” Hegseth says.
Gen Caine explains how US operation Midnight Hammer unfolded
General Dan Caine has given a minute-by-minute guide of the US operation, described as ‘Midnight Hammer’. Here is what he detailed:
- Midnight on Friday into Saturday morning, a “large B2 bombers strike package” departed the US
- To maintain tactical surprise, some of the package went West and into the pacific, described as a “deception effort” which only few were aware of.
- The main strike package, seven B2 Spirit Bombers “proceeded quietly to the east with minimal communications” and completed multiple in-flight refuellings
- They then linked up with escort and support aircraft with “minimal communication” in what Gen Caine describes as a “complex maneuver”.
- 1am Iran time: US submarine launches more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles against targets in Isfahan nuclear facility.
- Bombers enter Iranian air space and approached Fordow and Natanz. The US is “currently unaware of any shots fired at the US strike package on the way in”.
- 2:10am Iran time: lead B2 bomber drops “massive ordnance penetrator weapons” on the first of multiple aim points at Fordow.
- The remaining bombers hit their targets, with 14 weapons dropped on two nuclear targets.
- All three Iranian nuke infrastructure targets were struck between 2:10am until 2:35am Iran time, chairman of the general chiefs of staff Dan Caine said.
- The Midnight Hammer strike package exited Iranian air space.
Analysis | Pete Hegseth seems more concerned about bigging up Trump
Political editor David Maddox writes:
US defense secretary Pete Hegseth is giving his press conference from the Pentagon but it is clear he is more interested in domestic rather than international politics.
The defense secretary is labouring the point that only his boss Donald Trump could have “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear weapons.
“Many presidents dreamed of delivering the final blow,” he said, but only Trump could do it.
The issue at hand is that many of Trump’s base is isolationist with leading MAGA figures like Steve Bannon attacking the US getting involved in the conflict.
Some on the right see Israel as a distraction which is only helping China.So Hegseth has an important role to persuade MAGA America that this attack on Iran was necessary.
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