The Iranian Parliament has edged closer to blocking the key Strait of Hormuz shipping route as Tehran looks set to ignore Donald Trump’s warning.

Tehran, which looks set to rock global markets by disrupting trade flows in the region, is expected to hand its National Security Council the final decision on the matter.

The Strait of Hormuz carries through it an estimated 20 per cent of global oil and gas demand.

Iranian MPs threw their weight behind the closure shortly after the US urged Tehran against retaliating.

Speaking after the US launched its strikes against Iran, Trump hailed Operation Midnight Hammer a “spectacular military success”, adding: “Iran, the bully of the Middle East must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.”

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‘E3’ leaders issue joint statement on Iran bombing raid The leaders of the “E3” nations – France, Germany and Britain – have released a joint statement this afternoon. “We have discussed the latest developments in the Middle East earlier today,” it says. “We reiterate our commitment to peace and stability for all countries in the region. We affirm our support for the security of Israel. “We have consistently been clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and can no longer pose a threat to regional security. “Earlier today, the United States has conducted targeted military strikes against nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Our aim continues to be to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. “We call upon Iran to engage in negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all concerns associated with its nuclear programme. We stand ready to contribute to that goal in coordination with all parties. “We urge Iran not to take any further action that could destabilise the region. “We will continue our joint diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions and ensure the conflict does not intensify and spread further.”

‘You should be thanking us’, says Israel as Russia, China and Pakistan queue up to condemn US bombing raids Israel’s UN ambassador has demanded that Russia, China and Pakistan thank his country and the US following Donald Trump’s overnight bombing raids on Iran. The three countries have urged the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East – which cannot pass if just one of the US, France, Britain, Russia or China vetoes it. Iran, meanwhile, has urged the 15-member council “to address this blatant and unlawful act of aggression, to condemn it in the strongest possible terms”. Israeli ambassador Danny Danon then said in a statement that the US and Israel “do not deserve any condemnation, but rather an expression of appreciation and gratitude for making the world a safer place”.

Israeli fighter jets blitz ‘dozens of targets’ across Iran Israeli fighter jets have struck “dozens” of targets in 10 Iranian cities today – including a long-range missile facility in central Iran for the first time. A military statement said “approximately 30 IAF (air force) fighter jets struck dozens of military targets throughout Iran” – including “the ‘Imam Hussein’ Strategic Missile Command Center in the Yazd area, where long-range Khorramshahr missiles were stored”.

Terrified Tel Aviv resident tells GB News: ‘If Iran had access to a nuclear weapon, they would have used it too’ Yifat Fouchs has told GB News of the chaos Iran wreaked on Israel overnight YIFAT FOUCHS Yifat Fouchs, who lives in Ramat Aviv, a suburb of Tel Aviv, has told GB News of the chaos Iran wreaked on Israel overnight. “This morning, we were sitting in the bomb shelter when the entire building shook. “The feeling was terrifying. When I went outside, I saw everything destroyed entire homes had collapsed. It’s devastating. Friends of ours, families, children – we know so many who have been evacuated. “But despite the shock, we are strong. “We understand this is a war for Israel’s very existence. “They fired ballistic missiles at us without hesitation. If they had access to a nuclear weapon, they would have used it too. That’s why the decision taken by Israel and the United States was bold but absolutely necessary.”

RECAP: Iran warns ‘every American is a target’ and threatens revenge as Tehran to meet Vladimir Putin Iranian state media has warned that every American in the Middle East is now a target following Donald Trump’s bombing blitz last night. In a state televised broadcast, a TV anchor was heard issuing the warning towards both citizens and military personnel, stressing: “The US has committed a crime against Iran by violating Iran’s airspace. “It has no place in the West Asian region. Mr President of the United States, you started it and we will end it.” The warning comes as Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi prepares to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Ahead of Monday’s meeting, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told Tehran that the Kremlin is prepared to work to de-escalate the situation. The White House is also believed to be discussing the possibility of meeting with Iranian officials.

REVEALED: How US took Iran completely by surprise as Pentagon shares secret plan Iran was caught out by America’s overnight bombing blitz, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine has said, as he shed light on the Pentagon’s clinical operation. The top Trump official faced reporters to reveal how the US went about pulverising Iran’s nuclear infrastructure in an operation that has been codenamed ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’. The US airstrikes have been praised by President Trump who said the sites were “completely and totally obliterated” before warning Tehran more action could be taken should it refuse to renege. In a comprehensive summary of the operation, Caine told reporters: “Last night, on the President’s orders, US Central Command executed Operation Midnight Hammer, a deliberate and precise strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities. READ THE FULL STORY HERE

‘Not about regime change!’ US claims strikes only focused on Iranian nuclear programme US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has claimed that Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran were not focused on bringing about regime change in Tehran. Speaking in a press conference at the Pentagon, Hegseth said: This mission was not and has not been about regime change. “The president authorised a precision operation to neutralise the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear programme, and the collective self-defence of our troops and our ally, Israel.”

‘Obliterated!’ Hegseth confident US strikes ended Iran’s nuclear plans US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has claimed Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran ended Iran’s nuclear plans. Speaking from the Pentagon, Hegseth said: “Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been obliterated.” Hegseth also said that the operation, known as Operation Midnight Hammer, was the “final blow” to Tehran’s nuclear programme, He added: “When this president speaks, the world should listen. “And the US military – we can back it up. “The most powerful military the world has ever known – no other country on planet Earth could have conducted the operation that the chairman is going to outline this morning.”

US Defence Secretary holds press conference after Iran strikes – ‘Overwhelming success!’ US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth GBNEWS US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has held a press conference after Donald Trump bombed Iran in the early hours of the morning. Hegseth admitted that the aim was “to destroy or severely degrade Iran’s nuclear programme”. “It was an incredible and overwhelming success,” he added. “We devastated the Iranian nuclear programme.”

WATCH IN FULL: Keir Starmer issues response to Donald Trump’s Iran strikes

China condemns Donald Trump strikes and warns US ‘violated’ UN charter China’s foreign ministry has “strongly condemned” Donald Trump’s strikes and warned that the US “violated” UN’s charter.

Keir Starmer to hold emergency Cobra meeting as he urges Iran de-escalation Keir Starmer to hold emergency Cobra meeting as he urges Iran de-escalation GB NEWS Keir Starmer will hold an emergency Cobra meeting today after overnight US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Cobra (Cabinet Office Briefing Room A) meetings are called in emergency scenarios including civil unrest and international conflicts. Speaking out about the attack, Starmer called for de-escalation as he ponders the threat of all-out war. READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Keir Starmer to hold emergency Cobra meeting after backing Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran Sir Keir Starmer will hold an emergency Cobra meeting this afternoon after Donald Trump launched air strikes on Iran last night. The Prime Minister has held multiple Cobra meetings since Israel launched its aerial assault on Iran last Friday. Today’s meeting is expected to address Trump’s bombings of the underground Fordow plant and two other targets on Sunday morning.

British soldiers ‘prepared for all eventualities’ as Iran sends grisly warning after US strikes Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has addressed concerns about Britain’s military preparedness following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, acknowledging public anxiety about potential escalation. Speaking on GB News, Reynolds said: “A lot of people will be getting up, having their breakfast and wondering, ‘what does this mean?'” The Labour minister sought to provide reassurance about the UK’s readiness for various scenarios.

“While Britain’s armed forces have not been involved, we have been preparing for some time for all eventualities,” he stated. READ THE FULL STORY HERE

WATCH IN FULL: Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi blasts ‘lawless bully’ Donald Trump

‘Too far!’ Iran blasts ‘lawless bully’ Trump as Starmer’s diplomacy call falls on deaf ears Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has blasted Donald Trump as a “lawless bully” amid calls for Tehran to show “restraint” after last night’s US strikes. Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul, Araghchi said: “He has come too far and especially to allow a lawless bully to take us back to the law of the jungle. “The Islamic Republic of Iran calls on the Security Council to convene an emergency session to unequivocally condemn the criminal act of aggression by the United States against Iran, and to hold the administration in Washington accountable for its violations of fundamental principles of United Nations Charter and of norms of international law. “The responsibility of the IAEA and its Director General, who, through evidence bias in favour of warmongering parties, paved the way for the current violence and bloodshed is now clearer than ever. “We call on the IAEA Board of Governors to immediately convene and carry out its legal responsibility in response to the dangerous US attack on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities, all of which have been under the agency’s full safeguards and monitoring.” He added: “The world must not forget that it was the United States which, in the midst of a process to forge a diplomatic outcome, betrayed diplomacy by supporting the genocidal Israeli regime’s launch of an illegal war of aggression on the Iranian nation. “Not content with such malign actions, the United States itself has now also opted for a dangerous military operation and aggression against the people of Iran. “In doing so, the US administration holds sole and full responsibility for the consequences of its actions, including the Islamic Republic of Iran’s right to self-defence under the principles of the United Charter.”

UK invites Britons to complete booking portal for flights out of Israel The UK has invited British Nationals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) to register their interest in a flight to help them depart. As the Foreign Office prepares a flight to transport British nationals early next week, the UK is urging all those interested in flying to register their presence now. An FCDO spokesman said: “This is a perilous and volatile moment for the Middle East. “The safety of British Nationals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories continues to be our utmost priority – that’s why the UK government is preparing flights to help those wanting to leave. “Working closely with the Israeli authorities, our staff are continuing to work at pace to assist British Nationals on the ground and ensure they receive the support they need”.

IRGC labels Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu members of ‘criminal gang’ in warning to West The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has labelled US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu members of a “criminal gang” following last night’s aerial bombardment. In comments reported by Reuters, the IRGC said that US bases in the Middle East are a “point of vulnerability”. It said the US had placed itself directly “at the front line of aggression” by attacking nuclear facilities that Iran claims are peaceful and adamantly claimed that its programme cannot be destroyed by an attack. The statement added the US cannot escape consequences of its airstrikes, and said Iran would not be intimidated by Israel or the US, terming them “criminal gangs ruling the White House and Tel Aviv”. Tehran has also maintained that it reserves “all options” in how it could respond to US-Israeli action. In a warning this morning, Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said: “The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations. “The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior. “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.”

READ IN FULL: Foreign Sec David Lammy urges Iran to show ‘restraint’ after Donald Trump’s strike Foreign Secretary David Lammy has urged Tehran to show “restraint” after Donald Trump conducted strikes against Iran last night. In a statement released on social media, David Lammy said: “Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. “The US has taken action to alleviate the threat that would pose to the global community. “The UK did not participate in these strikes. We urge Iran to show restraint and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis.”

PICTURED: Iran’s strike reduces Haifa to rubble as 20 injured in Iran’s latest barrage against Israel A first responder walks by an impact site following Iran’s strike on Israel, amid the Iran-Israel conflict, in Haifa, Israel REUTERS

‘Dangerous war!’ Iran fires 40 missiles at Israel after Donald Trump’s strike Emergency personnel work at an impact site following a missile attack from Iran on Israel, amid the Iran-Israel conflict REUTERS Iran has claimed its latest attack on Israel included 40 missiles and targeted three major sites. In a statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said: “The twentieth wave of Operation True Promise 3 began with the launch of 40 solid and liquid fuel missiles.” Iran’s targets included: Ben Gurion Airport, a biological research centre and a command centre. Images from Israel showed Tel Aviv and Haifa were particularly impacted by the Iranian strikes. Sirens rang out across Israel following the latest onslaught from Tehran.

The ‘unstoppable’ US stealth bombers that dropped 30,000-pound ‘bunker-busting’ bombs in Iran attack Images of the B2 stealth bomber with an inset of its capabilities GETTY/REUTERS Donald Trump “completely obliterated” Iran’s Fordow nuclear site using 12 massive 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs, US officials have confirmed. The underground nuclear fuel enrichment facility was targeted by B-2 stealth bombers in what marks the first combat deployment of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator. The precision-guided weapons, designed to penetrate deeply buried targets, can reach approximately 200 feet below the surface before detonating. US military officials suggested that Fordow was “taken off the table” following the devastating strike, with Trump hailing the strikes as a “spectacular military success”. READ THE FULL STORY HERE

PICTURED: Scenes in the ‘Situation Room’ last night as America struck Iran PICTURED: Donald Trump holds a meeting with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine and other cabinet members in the Situation Room at the White House REUTERS

Iran’s nuclear sites MAPPED – Exactly where the US and Israel dropped ‘full payload of bombs’ Three of the five main known facilities of Iran’s nuclear programme were bombed overnight. Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were all stuck in the strikes, which Israel said were conducted in “full coordination” with the US. Donald Trump revealed that a “full payload of bombs” was dropped on Fordow, the heavily-fortified enrichment plant hidden in a mountainside which has been vital to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. And now, GB News readers can see just where the bombs fell… READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Britain has been ‘reduced to an irrelevant bystander’ as America takes ‘vital’ action, Suella Braverman blasts Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has issued a scathing verdict this morning on Britain’s response to the Iran-Israel conflict in recent days and weeks. “The US takes vital, urgent action to combat one of the biggest threats to global and national security,” she said. “We should all stand with Israel and the US today – nations fighting to keep us safe. “The UK spends weeks criticising Israel, urges ‘de-escalation’ and ‘calm’, equivocates and puts out stupid videos of the Prime Minister around the world trying to look important. “The truth is that the UK should have been standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel and assisting the US but instead has been reduced to an irrelevant bystander on this historic step that will keep us all safer.”

‘Iran is sure to respond’ says top analyst as world braces for new ‘dangerous phase’ Iran “is sure to respond” to the US strikes overnight, Gregory Brew, a senior analyst at the Eurasia Group political risk consultancy firm, has warned. He said the US “has very likely used enough force to significantly damage, if not destroy, the enrichment facility” at Fordow – but “we likely won’t know for quite some time”. “It’s possible we may never know, as that will be a big part of Iran’s response,” he added. Brew continued: “Iran is sure to respond to this attack. To do nothing would be a colossal blow to the regime’s credibility. There will be a short-term response. But the bigger response, the more significant one, is likely to play out on the nuclear file.” Tehran could now move to exit the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, of which it has been signed up to since 1970, he said. “That’s probably the end of nuclear diplomacy for a while. There goes hope for sanctions relief. It also likely means the programme could pursue weaponisation, away from IAEA observation. It won’t be public. We won’t know for sure. “That means the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme could now be slowly entering a much more dangerous phase.”

EU echoes Keir Starmer as Brussels issues statement on Iran bombing “Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, as it would be a threat to international security,” the EU’s foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas has said. “I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation. EU Foreign Ministers will discuss the situation tomorrow.”

Iran claims to have moved both staff and uranium from Fordow nuclear site before US strikes Iran has claimed it moved most of its staff and “highly enriched” uranium from the Fordow nuclear site before the American bombing raids. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that the uranium – crucial in nuclear power and weaponry – was shifted to an undisclosed location before the strikes. Staff headcounts were reduced to a minium, the source said. Uranium-235, a highly enriched form of the element, was the isotope used in both the Hiroshima atomic bomb and the Chernobyl nuclear power station.

Keir Starmer was told of American bombing raid on Iran before it happened Keir Starmer was told of the US bombing raids on Iran in advance, it is understood. There is also said to have been no UK involvement in the attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. Yesterday morning, B2 stealth bombers were believed to have departed from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri with aerial refuelling support from eight KC-135 Stratotankers, according to open-source flight tracking data.

Iran wreaks ‘significant damage’ on Tel Aviv after launching volley of ‘cluster bombs’ at Israel PICTURED: Emergency personnel work at an impact site in Tel Aviv following a missile attack from Iran REUTERS Iran has wreaked “very significant damage” on buildings in the centre of Tel Aviv, Israeli medical services have said. Sixteen people are confirmed to have been injured in this morning’s ballistic missile strikes on the Jewish state – with ominous reports suggesting the latest round of rockets carried warheads packed with cluster munitions. Cluster bombs release numerous smaller “bomblets” over a wide area once they strike – and pose serious risks to civilians both during and after attacks.

Nigel Farage: ‘Reform UK stands with the USA’ Nigel Farage has also released a statement this morning. He said: “Reform UK stands behind the military actions of the USA overnight. “Iran must not be allowed to have nuclear weapons – the future of Israel depends on it.”

Keir Starmer BACKS Donald Trump’s bombing raid – despite vowing he had ‘no doubt’ President wouldn’t join conflict just five days ago ​Sir Keir Starmer has backed Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran – despite saying he had “no doubt in my mind” the US would not directly join in the conflict just five days earlier. A Downing Street statement this morning reads: “Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. “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.”

WATCH: GB News’ Mark White reacts as Donald Trump says US forces have conducted ‘very successful’ strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities

The Israeli military said Sunday its fighter jets struck “dozens” of targets across Iran, including a long-range missile site in Yazd, located in central Iran, marking the first attack in that region.

“Approximately 30 IAF (air force) fighter jets struck dozens of military targets throughout Iran,” the military statement said, including “the ‘Imam Hussein’ Strategic Missile Command Center in the Yazd area, where long-range Khorramshahr missiles were stored.”

The Israeli military also confirmed strikes on missile launchers in Iran’s southwestern Bushehr province, where Iranian media reported a “massive explosion” on Sunday. Additional strikes were reported in Ahvaz in the southwest and in central Isfahan.

Isfahan hosts a uranium conversion facility that was separately targeted overnight by more than two dozen missiles launched from a US submarine in the Middle East.

Earlier Sunday, Israeli military spokesman Effie Defrin pledged there would be no pause in Israel’s offensive against Iran despite overnight US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which President Donald Trump described as having been “obliterated.”

“We are continuing and are determined to achieve the objectives of the operation: eliminating the existential threat to the state of Israel, damaging Iran’s nuclear programme and destroying its missile systems,” Defrin said.

The military statement also noted Israeli fighter jets targeted a drone command center and surface-to-air missile facilities.

Previous statements from the Israeli military said it had struck locations in western Iran and destroyed two aging Iranian F-5 fighter jets dating from the 1960s or 1970s at Dezful airport, located in western Iran.

Israel claims it has destroyed more than half of Iran’s missile launchers in an attempt to halt daily missile barrages from Iran.

Israeli air defenses have largely protected the nation’s towns and cities, intercepting hundreds of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones that might otherwise have caused significant damage.

However, some projectiles managed to penetrate defenses Sunday morning, striking coastal Tel Aviv, Haifa in the north, and Ness Ziona, south of Tel Aviv.

Rescue services reported at least 23 injuries.

The latest military figures indicate that 24 people have died in Israel since it initiated attacks against Iran on June 13, with another 1,272 injured, including 14 seriously.

Analysis: Likely Iran will lash out to divide and survive – with UK potentially in firing line

By Dominic Waghorn, international affairs editor

Donald Trump has upped the ante by choosing to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities, so what happens next, and how bad could things get?

The US president has given the Iranians a choice: negotiate or face devastating escalation.

The next move is down to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader.

He has spent his entire life trying to roll back American power and influence in the region. Expecting him to negotiate with the US now – with B-2 bombers held to his head – is a tall order. More likely, he will order some kind of retaliation, at least for now

He will want to deter Trump from launching more attacks and may calculate that killing Americans is the best way of doing so.

The ayatollah knows it could drive a wedge between Trump and his MAGA supporters, who say America is getting drawn into yet another Middle Eastern war, risking US lives.

There are plenty of US targets for Iran to aim at, with bases throughout the Middle East – Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The Iranians could attack them directly with drones and missiles, or use proxies in the region – Iran-backed militias in Iraq or the Houthis based in Yemen.

Iran could threaten shipping and the oil industry in the Persian Gulf. If the Gulf becomes a war zone, expect a big hit to the global economy and the price of oil to rocket.

But all that would invite massive retaliation from the US. The Trump administration has spelled that out in no uncertain terms.

America has sent an awesome amount of firepower to the region: three aircraft carrier groups bristling with fighter jets and submarines loaded with cruise missiles.

So the Iranians may instead go for the kind of asymmetric warfare they excel at. The UK could be in the firing line too. We could see Iranian terrorist attacks here in Britain.

One way or another, this is almost certain to escalate, but could it widen and draw other countries into the conflict?

Russia and Iran have a strategic partnership agreement but it doesn’t require Russia to come to its support.

Iran is also China’s closest ally in the Middle East, but Beijing is also likely to sit this one out and watch from the sidelines.

Wars have unintended consequences but there are strong reasons for other powers to avoid becoming involved in this one.

Looking further ahead, there are two competing priorities to watch:

For Iran’s leadership, it is all about survival. To absorb the blows and live to fight another day, and eventually build the bomb if it can, to stop this ever happening to them again.

And Israel is equally determined that will not happen.

Watch below: Netanyahu praises Trump after US strikes

One method would be regime change in Iran, but its leadership is proving resilient so far despite the mounting challenges it faces.

Instead, it faces a long period of managing the threat posed by Iran. It will need to monitor the Iranians, watching for signs they are developing their missile programme, meddling in the region or reviving their nuclear project and then cutting them down to size when necessary.

That could mean years more of military action and could be hugely costly for Israel and its backers, the US taxpayer.

In summary, Iran’s leadership is in a very tight spot and is likely to lash out.

But the future will not be a walk in the park for Israel either – and there are big risks for America, too.

Donald Trump’s administration “does not seek war” and is not trying to create regime change, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has claimed after the president authorised a stunning attack on Iran.

With the world reeling over the stealth bomber raids on three nuclear sites – dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer – President Trump claimed he had “completely obliterated” Iran’s chances of obtaining nuclear weapons.

But despite Mr Hegseth’s comments on Sunday, the attacks have prompted the UK and others to organise repatriation flights for citizens from Israel, Iran and surrounding countries amid fears of all-out war.

Click here for the latest on the ongoing conflict.

Defence secretary Pete Hegseth revealed new details of the attack at the Pentagon in Washington on Sunday (AP)

UK bases in Cyprus are on high alert with the theocratic regime in Tehran vowing revenge on America and her allies.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, announced he will fly to Moscow for meetings with Vladimir Putin on Monday. Meanwhile, Iran let off another barrage of missiles at Israel while US allies took stock of the latest round of international turmoil.

Mr Trump’s methods, which appear to have been kept secret from all but a close inner circle, were condemned by UN secretary seneral Antonio Guterres.

In a statement, he said: “I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.”

The attack came despite Mr Trump apparently assuring fellow G7 leaders in Canada last week that he was seeking de-escalation.

UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer held an emergency Cobra meeting with senior members of the government in London but backed the president’s sudden move. A similar security meeting took place in France chaired by president Emmanuel Macron.

The assault, which involved more than 125 aircraft, was dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer (Getty)

The two also joined German chancellor Friedrich Merz in an E3 joint call between the UK, France and Germany. UK foreign secretary David Lammy called other allies.

But Mr Hegseth admitted that knowledge of the attack had been kept to a very small group within the administration and leaders of allies were only told about it when the bombers were on their way home.

On a day of drama, the US defence secretary appeared with General Dan Caine, chair of the joint chiefs of staff, at a press conference in the Pentagon.

Seeking to appease anger among isolationists in Mr Trump’s right-wing Maga base, Mr Hegseth praised the president’s “brilliant leadership”.

“The operation President Trump planned was bold and it was brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back. When this president speaks, the world should listen,” Mr Hegseth said.

He admitted the operation with stealth B-2 bombers “had been planned for weeks” and spoke of the “deliberate deception” used to distract from Operation Midnight Hammer.

This has led to speculation that Mr Trump apparently agreeing to de-escalation at the G7 summit last week and giving Iran two weeks to get back to negotiations on Friday was in fact part of the deception.

Satellite picture shows Iran’s underground nuclear enrichment site at Fordo after the US airstrike targeted the facility (Planet Labs PBC)

The US strikes included 14 bunker-buster bombs, more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles and over 125 military aircraft.

But despite the surprise attack overnight on Iranian nuclear sites, Mr Hegseth insisted America “does not seek war” and denied there was a desire to force regime change.

Mr Hegseth said it was important to note that US strikes did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people, a veiled effort to indicate to Iran that they don’t want retaliation on American targets in the region.

The operation pushes the Middle East to the brink of a major new conflagration in a region already aflame for more than 20 months with wars in Gaza and Lebanon and a toppled dictator in Syria.

“Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been obliterated,” Mr Hegseth told reporters in a briefing, adding that the strikes did not target Iranian troops or people.”

US vice-president JD Vance reiterated the message in a broadcast interview, describing it as “an incredibly targeted attack” but admitted it is “an incredibly delicate moment”.

He added that Iran responding by attacking US troops would be “the stupidest thing in the world”, which would be “met with overwhelming force”.

Offering Tehran advice, he added: “If the Iranians are smart, they are going to have to look in the mirror and say, ‘Maybe we are not so good at this war thing, let’s give peace a chance, let’s drop our nuclear weapons programme and start to make some smart decisions’.”

Earlier, Iran’s regime vowed revenge and accused America of breaching international law.

Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said: “This aggression showed that the United States is the primary instigator of the Zionist regime’s hostile actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“Although they initially tried to deny their role, after our armed forces’ decisive and deterrent response and the Zionist regime’s clear incapacity, they were inevitably forced to enter the field themselves.”

Foreign minister Mr Araghchi announced he would seek aid from Russia in person.

“We enjoy a strategic partnership and we always consult with each other and coordinate our positions,” he said, referring to Russia.

Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi accused Trump of lying to his voters and betraying democracy (Reuters)

The attack delighted Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had initiated military action against Iran more than a week ago, claiming it was days away from having nuclear weapons.

“Congratulations, President Trump,” he said. “Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history. History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime the world’s most dangerous weapons.”

An Israeli official has suggested that Iran had enough uranium for nine nuclear bombs and could have turned it to weapons-grade level “in a matter of days”.

Israeli soldiers inspect a site in Tel Aviv struck by a missile launched from Iran, as attacks continue (AP)

Former UK security minister Tom Tugendhat pointed out that if Iran had been successful, it could have hit London with nuclear-armed ballistic missiles.

But left-wing MPs in the UK, including independent former Labour MP Zarah Sultana, accused the US of “warmongering” and the UK of “acting like an American poodle”.

Sir Keir gave his support for the raid, saying Iran should “never be allowed nuclear weapons”.

In a statement, the prime minister said: “Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. 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.”

He would later hold an E3 security meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz.

In a joint statement they said: “Our aim continues to be to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

“We call upon Iran to engage in negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all concerns associated with its nuclear program. We stand ready to contribute to that goal in coordination with all parties.

“We urge Iran not to take any further action that could destabilize the region.

“We will continue our joint diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions and ensure the conflict does not intensify and spread further.”

Flights from London to Dubai and Doha have been cancelled after Donald Trump ordered a US attack on Iran’s nuclear sites.

It comes after a British Airways (BA) flight from London Heathrow to Dubai was diverted to Zurich on Saturday night.

The BA109 flight departed from the UK at 9.53pm on Saturday and reached Saudi Arabia before the Boeing 787 Dreamliner changed its course, landing in Switzerland, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.

All of the airline’s flights to Dubai and Doha that were scheduled to depart from Heathrow on Sunday have been cancelled, including return flights, the company said.

Israel announced on Sunday that it had closed its airspace to both inbound and outbound flights in the wake of the US attacks.

The US struck three nuclear sites in Iran overnight prompting Tehran to launch a retaliatory ballistic missile barrage against Israel. The escalation followed days of intensifying hostilities between Iran and Israel, with the United States now formally drawn into the conflict.

President Trump, in a late-night address, said the Iranian sites had been “obliterated” and warned Tehran to either “make peace or face greater tragedy”. Iran has vowed “everlasting consequences” in response. Its Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Tehran “reserves all options” in its response to what it called an “outrageous” and “criminal” US act.

Iran has since requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and suggested that all US personnel in the region are now legitimate targets. While the US has stated no further strikes are planned for now, President Trump warned: “Now is the time for peace. If Iran does not stop immediately, there will be more.”

The UK government has not commented directly on the US airstrikes, but Keir Starmer reiterated Britain’s stance that “Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon” and called for all parties to return to the negotiating table.

In a statement about the travel disruption, British Airways said: “As a result of recent events, we have adjusted our flight schedule to ensure the safety of our customers and crew, which is always our top priority.

“We are contacting our customers to advise them of their options while we work through this developing situation.”

BA is offering a flexible booking policy for customers already booked onto flights to Dubai and Doha between Sunday and Tuesday who wish to change their dates of travel.