U.S. bombs Iranian nuclear sites

Iran's state media downplays Trump's strikes04:49 BST

Ghoncheh HabibiazadBBC Persian, World Service reporter

Bluff. It is a word repeated a lot since I started watching Iran’s state TV a few hours ago to see their reaction to the US attacks on its nuclear sites.

A presenter on state TV said Donald Trump is “bluffing” about destroying Fordo nuclear site, adding that “only two tunnels at the entrance and exit of Fordo have been damaged”.

Iranian official media began downplaying the attacks early on, calling them “unverified reports”.

Morteza Heydari, spokesperson for Qom province crisis management, who had confirmed the attack on “a part” of Fordo, was quick to say afterwards that the whole province was “entirely calm”.

Iranian outlets also tried to downplay by saying the explosions were “not that loud”.

At the same time, Iran has limited access to the internet, citing “enemy cyberattacks” as the reason. This has led to a drop in videos and photos sent to the BBC and shared on social media, meaning we have to rely more on videos by Iranian outlets and state media and their narratives.

More mixed reaction from US lawmakers04:46 BST

More reaction has come in from across the US political spectrum on Trump's decision to strike Iran.

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell is commending Trump for taking "decisive action" to deny Iran a nuclear weapon.

"Seizing this opportunity is not an escalation toward war - it is a prudent response to the warmongers in Tehran. Iran would be foolish to misunderstand American resolve."

In contrast, Mark Warner, Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, says Trump's decision risks dragging the US into another "open-ended" war that could "cost American lives and resources for years to come".

The Democrat also urges Trump to go before Congress and explain his objectives and plans to ensure the US is not drawn into an "unnecessary and avoidable conflict".

Hamas condemns 'blatant aggression' of US04:21 BST

Hamas describes the US strikes in Iran as "blatant aggression".

In a statement, Hamas says the attack is a "flagrant violation of international law and a direct threat to international peace and stability".

Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October, 2023, killing about 1,200 people. Israel's military offensive in Gaza in response has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Hamas, a Palestinian armed group and political movement, is designated a terrorist group by many countries including the US, UK and Israel.

Trump's name written in gold in history books, says Israeli foreign minister04:12 BST

More reaction is coming out of Israel, where we're hearing from the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar.

He says Trump has written his name in gold in the history books thanks to his "courageous decision" to carry out the strikes, according to a translation of his post on X.

He adds that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu led the "historic move".

White House releases photos of Trump in Situation Room03:58 BST

We're now getting some images from the White House showing Donald Trump and other US officials in the Situation Room during the strikes on Iran.

Iran retaliation will be met with 'force far greater', says Trump03:54 BST

US President Donald Trump has doubled down on his warnings to Iran against any retaliation.

In a post on Truth Social, posted after his address in the White House, Trump wrote:

"ANY RETALIATION BY IRAN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT."

'Greater chance than not' Fordo out of action, former US official says03:53 BST

Mark Kimmitt, the US former deputy assistant secretary of defence for the Middle East, has just been speaking with the BBC News channel.

Kimmitt said that while it was clear the US had launched "a substantial hit" on Iran's nuclear facilities, formal assessments would still be needed to confirm the extent of the damage.

He added that if multiple so-called "bunker-buster" bombs were used on the Fordo nuclear facility, there was a "greater chance than not that the facility is out of action".

Would Trump go as far as regime change in Iran?03:44 BST

Gary O'DonoghueChief North America correspondent

When Israel hit Iran last Thursday week, Donald Trump’s Secretary of State and National Security Adviser, Marco Rubio, immediately distanced the US from the action, calling it “unilateral” on Israel’s part.

Fast forward to now, and America is a combatant.

The president hopes this is a ‘one and done’ action, as Americans like to put it, but the one thing that is out of his hands is how Iran responds.

He is urging Iran to make peace – warning that future attacks would be “far worse and a lot easier”.

Does that mean he’s prepared to go as far as regime change? That would certainly be counter to his promise to avoid taking the US into foreign wars and could cause a significant domestic backlash among many of his supporters.

US presidents often come into office vowing to focus on their agenda at home – and many have ended up getting drawn into international hotspots and wars. Is the same happening to the most isolationist president in living memory?

Possible lesson for America's adversaries03:37 BST

Jake KwonNorth America Correspondent

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un is likely patting himself on the back today.

President Trump in his first term mulled bombing North Korea's nuclear sites after the country tested missiles that can reach the continental US. Ultimately Washington chose diplomacy over military strikes.

It was understood that the US couldn't risk attacking a country who had already demonstrated it had working nuclear bombs.

Iran gave up its enriched uranium after the 2015 deal with the US and Europe. Trump's spy chief Tulsi Gabbard said in March that Iran was not building nuclear weapons.

After today's strike, future adversaries of the US may believe that North Korea calculated correctly.

US strikes a dangerous escalation, says UN secretary general03:36 BST

The UN has also issued its response to the strikes.

Calling it a "dangerous escalation", the UN Secretary General António Guterres says there is now a "growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world".

He adds in the post on X: "At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace."

Iran Atomic Energy Organisation condemns US attacks03:30 BST

Ghoncheh HabibiazadBBC Persian, World Service reporter

We're just getting some more reaction from Iran following the US strikes.

The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) condemns America's “savage assault” on three Iranian nuclear sites.

The organisation also criticises the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for being “indifferent and even complicit”.

The AEOI called on the global community to “condemn the attacks and support Iran’s rightful position”.

The organisation says that “despite the malicious plans of the enemies”, scientists and experts will “keep the country’s nuclear industry moving forward”.

The organisation will be taking “necessary" steps which will include “legal actions” following the attacks, the statement said.

Israel and US worked as 'a team'03:12 BST

Trump says thousands were killed by Iran's former military commander Qasem Soleimani.

"I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen, it will not continue."

He also congratulates Benjamin Netanyahu, saying they worked as a "team" to erase this "horrible threat to Israel".

Trump remarks lasted for about four minutes.

Trump warns of more strikes if peace 'doesn't come quickly'03:10 BST

"There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater that we have witnessed over the last eight days," Trump warns.

"Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal.

"But if peace doesn't come quickly we will go to those other targets with precision, speed and skill," the US president says.

Strikes were 'a spectacular military success'03:07 BST

Trump confirms the US struck Iran's nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan a short while ago.

"Everyone heard those names for years as they built this horrible destructive enterprise," he says.

"Tonight I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success."

He goes on to say "Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated".

Iran must 'now make peace', Trump says03:05 BST

Iran "must now make peace," says US President Donald Trump.

"If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier," he says.

Trump addresses nation03:03 BST

Donald Trump has started his address. Follow more for the latest updates.

Trump set for televised address02:59 BST

Donald Trump is set to make a televised address any moment now after earlier using social media to announce the US strikes on Iran.

You can follow all the latest here and watch it by clicking 'Watch live' at the top of this page.

Democrats respond to US strikes on Iran02:55 BST

US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says that US strikes on Iran has "dramatically increased" the risk of war.

In a post on X, Jeffries says: "President Trump misled the country about his intentions, failed to seek congressional authorisation for the use of military force and risks the entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East."

He added that Trump "shoulders complete and total responsibility for any adverse consequences that flow from his unilateral military action".

Separately, Democratic US senator Bernie Sanders says that Trump's strikes are "grossly unconstitutional".

"The only entity that can take this country to war is the US Congress. The president does not have the right," Sanders added.

'Trump and the US acted with a lot of strength,' Netanyahu says02:52 BST

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has just issued a statement following the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.

"President Trump and I often say: 'Peace through strength.' First comes strength, then comes peace," he says.

"And tonight, president Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength," Netanyahu says.

As we've reported earlier, the US had given Israel a heads up ahead of the strikes. Netanayhu and Trump also spoke afterwards.