US President Donald Trump on Saturday launched the most serious ever US attack on its Mideast arch-nemesis Iran on Saturday, saying air strikes had hit three nuclear facilities including the underground nuclear site Fordow but calling for peace.
"We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump said on Saturday.
Trump had hinted at a potential intervention for days and US bunker-busting bombs are widely viewed as the only ordnance capable of penetrating the underground Fordow site.
"All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," he added in a post on Truth Social.
"All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!"
Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran last week which has drawn Iranian missile fire, and Trump mooted possible US involvement, urging Tehran to resolve its nuclear impasse with Washington through talks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would not negotiate under fire but wanted to pursue diplomacy.
Tehran has repeatedly vowed to target the substantial US military presence in the region if it comes under direct attack.
"This is an historic moment for the United States of America, Israel, and the world. Iran must now agree to end this war," Trump added in another post.
B-2 bombers were used in the US attacks against Iran's nuclear facilities, Reuters reported citing a US official.
The US had informed Israel in advance about the attack on Iran and the matter was coordinated, Walla News reported citing a senior Israeli official.
US President Donald Trump announced US forces had attacked Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday, ramping up the biggest Mideast flare-up among major powers in over twenty years.
Trump strikes
Tension mounted ahead of attacks
Israel kept military campaign on Iran, Plot foiled in Cyprus
Planned executions, German national arrested
"We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday.
"All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," he said.
"All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!"
A group of UN experts on Saturday condemned Israel's attacks on Iranian nuclear sites as well as military, nuclear, energy and residential targets as a violation of international law.
The group of special rapporteurs including the special rapporteur on human rights in Iran also objected to Iranian missile attacks on Israel.
“These (Israeli) attacks represent a flagrant violation of fundamental principles of international law," the UN experts said in a statement.
“Israel’s attack and Iran’s response – with successive waves of attacks against each other's territory – have resulted in many civilian casualties, confirming our grave concerns about this destructive cycle of violence,” they added.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told European allies in recent days that the Trump administration prefers to resolve its nuclear impasse with Iran through diplomacy, the Wall Street Journal reported citing three European and one US official.
Rubio held calls or convened meetings with foreign ministers from France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden and Cyprus, the paper added.
