Iran foreign minister to meet Putin after Trump threatens more strikes
Craig Munro
Iran’s foreign minister will travel to Moscow for a meeting with Vladimir Putin after three key nuclear sites were ‘completely and totally obliterated’ in a morning attack by US bombers.
President Donald Trump announced the significant escalation in a late-night address from the White House.
The raid comes just over a week after Israel escalated the conflict in the Middle East with a surprise round of strikes on nuclear and military locations in Iran.
The US has now officially joined Israel in its campaign to end an alleged effort by Iran – denied by its leaders – to acquire a nuclear weapon.
symbol
00:18
02:24
Read More
In a lengthy statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the US had ‘launched a dangerous war against Iran’, adding: ‘The world must not forget that it was the United States — during an ongoing diplomatic process — that betrayed diplomacy by supporting the aggressive actions of the genocidal and lawless Israeli regime.’
It added that Iran ‘reserves its right to resist with full force against U.S. military aggression and the crimes committed by this rogue regime, and to defend Iran’s security and national interests.’
Over the past eight days, Iran and Israel have exchanged missile fire, resulting in dozens of deaths – including several top Iranian military officials, as well as civilians.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X the ‘outrageous’ attack would have ‘everlasting consequences’.
He wrote: ‘Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour.’
In another post, he addressed the UK directly, writing: ‘To Britain and the EU High Rep, it is Iran which must “return” to the table. But how can Iran return to something it never left, let alone blew up?’
Speaking at an event in Istanbul today, Araghchi said: ‘I’m going to Moscow this afternoon, and I have a meeting with President Putin tomorrow morning.’
He described Russia as ‘friend of Iran’, adding the two countries ‘always consult with each other’.
In a statement delivered at the White House, Trump thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli military, and ‘the great American patriots who flew those magnificant machines’.
Flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, he said: ‘Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success.
‘Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.’
US authorities said they had heightened security in major cities including New York and Washington after the strikes on Iran.
In New York City, there was an increased police presence at religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites seen as possible targets for retaliation.
In a statement this morning, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the US had taken action to ‘alleviate’ the ‘grave threat to international security’ posed by the Iranian nuclear programme.
(FILES) This handout satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Isfahan nuclear enrichment facility in central Iran on June 14, 2025, after it was hit by Israeli strikes. President Donald Trump said June 21, 2025 the US military has carried out a "very successful attack" on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordo. "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. (Photo by Satellite image ??2025 Maxar Technologies / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Satellite image ??2025 Maxar Technologies " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - The watermark may not be removed/cropped / THE WATERMARK MAY NOT BE REMOVED/CROPPED (Photo by -/Satellite image ??2025 Maxar Technologies/AFP via Getty Images)
A satellite image of the Isfahan nuclear site in Iran after it was hit by an Israeli strike (Picture: Maxar Technologies/AFP via Getty Images)
He added: ‘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.’
What bombs were used in the US strikes?
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency confirmed the Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites had been attacked.
Speculation over a potential US strike on Iran has been building for the past week, with Trump refusing to commit one way or the other.
At a White House press briefing on Thursday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president would decide whether to go ahead with the action ‘within the next two weeks’.
The bombs were dropped just two days later.
US President Donald Trump addresses the nation, alongside US Vice President JD Vance (L), US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2nd R) and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (R), from the White House in Washington, DC on June 21, 2025, following the announcement that the US bombed nuclear sites in Iran. President Donald Trump said June 21, 2025 the US military has carried out a "very successful attack" on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordo. "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. (Photo by CARLOS BARRIA / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CARLOS BARRIA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Donald Trump announced the raid in a White House address, joined by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (Picture: Carlos Barria/AFP via Getty Images)
There were questions over whether the US might deploy its 13,500kg ‘bunker buster’ bomb to penetrate the deepest levels of the Fordo facility.
While Trump confirmed B-2 stealth bombers had been involved in the raid, he did not say which type of bombs were used.
B-2 bombers are only used by the US military, and they are the only aircraft capable of carrying and delivering the penetrator bomb.
What will happen next?
Following the announcement, Trump posted on his Truth Social site that any retaliation against the US by Iran would be ‘MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT’.
Spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry Esmail Baghaei previously declared ‘any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region’.
However, CBS News reported US officials had contacted Iran to say there were no plans for further attacks beyond the missile strikes.
In his post on X this morning, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi made clear retaliation would be possible.
He wrote: ‘In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.’
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings