Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (June 22) stated Israel was nearing its strategic targets in Iran following a collection of high-profile US-led airstrikes on Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure.
“I’ve little question that this can be a regime that desires to wipe us out, and that is why we launched into this operation to eradicate the 2 concrete threats to our existence: the nuclear menace and the ballistic missile menace,” Netanyahu stated, addressing reporters.
“We’re shifting step-by-step in the direction of reaching these targets. We’re very, very near finishing them.”
He pressured that the marketing campaign would finish solely when these goals had been met. “We gained’t pursue our actions past what is required to realize them, however we additionally will not end too quickly,” he added.
“We gained’t be dragged right into a battle of attrition”
Netanyahu made it clear that Israel would keep away from getting slowed down in extended battle. “We gained’t be dragged right into a battle of attrition but additionally gained’t finish the marketing campaign prematurely,” he stated.
He additionally revealed that Israeli intelligence had new insights: “We now have fascinating intel on the situation of Iran’s 60% enriched uranium,” he stated, suggesting additional strikes may very well be imminent.
Netanyahu prays for Trump after strikes
Hours after the strikes, Netanyahu visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem to wish for US President Donald Trump, whose administration licensed the bombing of Iranian nuclear websites.
In a video launched by the Western Wall Heritage Basis, Netanyahu is seen praying along with his spouse Sara and putting a handwritten observe into the wall. “Bless, defend and assist the President of the USA, Donald Trump, who has taken it upon himself to drive out evil and darkness on the planet,” he prayed.
Trump: “Iran should now make peace”
President Donald Trump, who authorised the strikes as a part of Operation Midnight Hammer, defended the choice and warned Iran towards retaliation.
“Iran’s key nuclear enrichment amenities have been fully and completely obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Center East, should now make peace,” Trump declared.
He added a stark warning: “There’ll both be peace, or there shall be tragedy for Iran.”
US army delivers devastating blow
The Pentagon confirmed that B-2 bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on Iran’s key nuclear amenities, together with Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Whereas Iran and the IAEA stated there was no radiation leak, the Pentagon stated the amenities had suffered “sustained, extraordinarily extreme harm and destruction.”
Iran condemns US, vows response
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned, “The Individuals should obtain a response to their aggression,” in remarks made to French President Emmanuel Macron.
Iran’s Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi known as the US assault a violation of worldwide regulation and the UN Constitution, warning of “harmful penalties.”
“The warmongering and lawless administration in Washington is solely and absolutely chargeable for the damaging penalties and far-reaching implications of its act of aggression,” Araghchi stated, including that he would fly to Moscow to coordinate with Russia.
US says diplomacy nonetheless on desk
Regardless of the aggressive strike, the Trump administration signaled openness to diplomacy. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio kept away from specifying whether or not the US would reply with army pressure if Iran tried to shut the Strait of Hormuz or if Iranian proxy teams focused oil infrastructure. “I am not going to take choices away from the president, that is not one thing we’re speaking about proper now by way of being fast.”
Rubio acknowledged that whereas such a transfer would influence the U.S., it might have far larger penalties globally—significantly for China.
“That might be a suicidal transfer on [Iran’s] half, as a result of I believe the entire world would come towards them in the event that they did that,” Rubio stated.
