US bombs Iran recap: ‘Gross and unprecedented violation’ Iran Foreign Ministry slams US bombing attacks
Recap the events as they happened below.
Key Events
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UN nuclear watchdog to hold emergency meeting
The boss of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has called for an emergency meeting nearly nine hours after the US bombed nuclear sites in Iran.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General, Rafael Mariano, Grossi confirmed the meeting will take place tomorrow.
“In light of the urgent situation in Iran, I am convening an emergency meeting of the @IAEAorg Board of Governors for tomorrow,” he posted to X.
Footage shows Bernie Sanders learning of American strikes live on stage
United States Senator Bernie Sanders was speaking live at a rally when news broke of American air strikes in Iran.
Footage shows Sanders speaking at the rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as part of his “Fight the Oligarchy” tour across the US when news broke of the American attacks at three Iranian nuclear sites.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW
‘Return to the negotiating table’: UK Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer has released a statement, calling for Iran to return to the negotiating table.
“Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security,” Mr Starmer posted to X.
“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.”
Ex-Liberal PM praises Israel and US for seeking to dismantle Iran’s nuclear ambitions
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has joined other ex-leaders, including Scott Morrison, in weighing in on US strikes against Iran.
“Israel is doing the world’s work in trying to destroy forever the Iranian nuclear weapons program and it’s good that America has supported its ally,” the ex-Liberal PM said.
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‘Lawless regime’: Iran slams US bombing attacks
Iran has issued a statement on X, slamming the United States after it bombed three of Iran’s nuclear sites.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran condemns in the strongest possible terms, the United States’ brutal military aggression against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry said.
“The war-mongering and lawless regime of the United States of America is held fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and far-reaching implications of this egregious act of aggression and heinous crime.”
Israel announces “series of strikes” in Western Iran
Israel’s Defence Force has said it will carry out new attacks on Western Iran via X.
“The IAF has begun a series of strikes toward military targets in western Iran,” it said in a statement.
“Additionally, this morning, the IAF struck missile launchers ready to launch toward Israeli territory, soldiers in the Iranian Armed Forces, and swiftly neutralized the launchers that launched missiles toward Israeli territory a short while ago.”
Airlines will avoid Middle Eastern airspace
Airlines will continue skirting significant airspace areas in the Middle East following the US strikes, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.
Its website showed airlines were not flying in the airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel.
They have chosen other routings such as north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia, even if it results in higher fuel and crew costs and longer flight times.
‘We could never accept a nuclear Iran’: Andrew Hastie
Speaking at a press conference in Perth, acting shadow foreign minister Andrew Hastie says the Coalition backs the United States after it bombed three Iranian nuclear sites.
“The Coalition supports military action taken by the United States to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, specifically the strikes today taken against the facilities at Esfahan, Natanz and critically, Fordow,” he said on Sunday.
“It’s very clear just 10 days ago that Iran was in breach of its Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations with a stock piling 400kg of 60 per cent enriched uranium.
“The only explanation for that was that they were moving towards acquiring a nuclear weapon.
“They couldn’t give the International Atomic Energy agencies any guarantee, nor could the IAEA verify that these this enrichment was being taken for peaceful purposes, and that’s why I believe President Trump today has taken the decision to strike those three facilities.
“We could never accept a nuclear Iran.
“Iran is a repressive, theocratic autocracy, and it’s a sponsor of terrorism as we’ve seen over the last few years.”
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