Iran says it will not halt its nuclear programme “under any circumstances”

The United States has completed its successful attack on three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, the US President Donald Trump has confirmed.

He said: “A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary target, Fordow.

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“All planes are now outside Iranian airspace and heading home safely.

“All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors.”

Earlier six B-2 stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri were tracked heading toward a US base in Guam, according to flight data and air traffic control communications. The B-2’s unique two-ton bunker buster bomb could be crucial in targeting Iran’s most secure nuclear facility, reported Fox News. President Donald Trump, who has yet to decide on US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, is expected to return to the White House Saturday afternoon.

Separately, Israel’s military confirmed last night’s strike on the Isfahan nuclear complex—the ninth straight night of targeted attacks on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure—as Tehran flatly rejected any prospect of nuclear diplomacy amid the bombardment. And the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has also claimed to have assassinated two senior Iranian military commanders.

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President Donald Trump announced that the US struck three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday. Soon after the 78-year-old’s post on Truth Social, The New York Times and Reuters cited sources to report that a number of B-2 stealth bombers were used in the operation. Trump, however, did not confirm if the bombers were used. The B-2 bombers were reportedly used in US strikes on Iran(AFP)

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. 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! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he said on Truth Social.

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Earlier in the day, reports noted that the US had deployed its B-2 bombers to Guam. Neither the White House nor Trump officials confirmed the details.

Here is all on US Air Force’s B-2 Spirit stealth bomber

How Many Bunker Busters Can the B-2 Carry?

The B-2 can carry two GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, each weighing 30,000 pounds (15 tons), designed to destroy deeply buried targets like Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility. The MOP’s size limits the B-2 to two per mission, though it can carry other munitions simultaneously if payload allows, National Interest notes. The GBU-57 penetrates up to 200 feet of earth or 60 feet of concrete, ideal for fortified sites.

Read More: Truth Social down minutes after Trump says US bombed Iran’s nuclear sites

Can the B-2 Be Detected on Radar?

The B-2 is engineered for low observability, making it difficult to detect on conventional radar. Its flying-wing design, radar-absorbent materials, and reduced infrared signature yield a radar cross-section of about 0.001 square meters, comparable to a small bird.

What Is the B-2’s Payload Capacity?

The B-2’s total payload capacity is 40,000 pounds (20 tons), per afgsc.af.mil. This allows configurations like two GBU-57 MOPs (60,000 pounds total, with mission-specific adjustments), 80 500-pound Mk 82 bombs, 16 2,000-pound JDAMs, or 16 nuclear B61/B83 bombs, per nationalinterest.org.

Israel and Iran exchanged attacks on Friday, marking a week since the war began, as US President Donald Trump considered potential American military involvement. Meanwhile, top European diplomats met Iran’s foreign minister in Geneva in a bid to find a diplomatic resolution.

Trump said he would delay a decision on joining Israel’s air campaign for two weeks to allow diplomacy a chance. If the U.S. does take part, its role would likely focus on targeting Iran’s underground Fordo uranium enrichment site, which only American “bunker-buster” bombs can effectively reach.

Regardless of US participation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel’s military campaign would continue “for as long as it takes” to neutralize what he described as the existential threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran.

The long-simmering tensions between Israel and Iran have exploded into open warfare since Friday, June 13, 2025, marking an unprecedented period of direct military confrontation. Israel initiated a major campaign of fighter jet and drone strikes across Iran, targeting nuclear and military sites, including surface-to-surface missile production facilities, detection radar sites, and surface-to-air missile launchers. Reports indicate strikes on residential areas and fuel depots, with Iran’s health ministry reporting at least 224 fatalities and over 1,200 injuries, mostly civilians. Israeli forces have also reportedly killed several top Iranian military commanders and atomic scientists. The IDF claims to have destroyed one-third of Iran’s surface-to-surface missile launchers and achieved “full air superiority over Tehran,” also striking an Iranian refueling aircraft 2,300 km away.

In retaliation, Tehran has launched barrages of missiles and drones, hitting Israeli cities and towns, causing at least 24 deaths and 592 injuries, with a major oil refinery in Haifa among the targets. The IDF confirmed intercepting over 100 Iranian UAVs.

The international community, including China, Turkey, and G7 leaders, has urgently called for de-escalation, but both sides remain defiant. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserts the offensive aims to thwart “existential” nuclear and missile threats and has not ruled out targeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, suggesting it would “end the conflict.” The UN’s IAEA reported physical damage to an above-ground component of Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility but normal external radiation levels, while warning of potential internal contamination. Amidst the crisis, planned nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington were called off.

Following his detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities in March, Mahmoud Khalil arrived in Newark on Saturday.

In a video released by the New York Times, Khalil is seen with his wife, infant son and U.S. representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, saying that he will continue to protest Israel’s war in Gaza.

“The fight is far from over, the genocide is still happening in Gaza, Israel is still waging a full war against Palestinians, across Palestine,” Khalil could be seen saying.

“The U.S. government is funding this genocide, and Columbia University is investing in this genocide,” he said. “This is why I will continue to protest with every one of you. Not only if they threaten me with detention. Even if they would kill me, I would still speak up for Palestine.”

Khalil, a legal U.S. resident whose wife gave birth during his 104 days of detention, said he also will speak up for the immigrants he left behind in the detention center.

“Whether you are a citizen, an immigrant, anyone in this land, you’re not illegal. That doesn’t make you less of a human,” he said.

A U.S. judge ordered on Friday that Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil be released from the immigration detention center where he has been held since early March, in a major victory for rights groups that challenged what they called the Trump administration’s unlawful targeting of a pro-Palestinian activist.

President Donald Trump announced that the United States carried out what he called a “very successful attack” on three nuclear sites in Iran—Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. Donald Trump said US has completed a “very successful attack” on three nuclear sites in Iran.(Bloomberg)

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“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! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he added.

B-2 bombers used

A US official confirmed to Reuters that B-2 stealth bombers were used in the strikes.

On Friday night, multiple B-2 bombers were seen taking off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and heading west, according to CNN. By Saturday, the aircraft were spotted flying over the Pacific Ocean, reportedly en route to Guam.

CNN also reported that the B-2 Spirit bombers are capable of carrying the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, which is a 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bomb believed to be the only weapon capable of penetrating Iran’s fortified Fordow nuclear site. Each B-2 can carry two of these munitions.

Also Read: Iran Israel war news LIVE updates: US strikes Iran, Trump suggests Fordow nuclear site ‘is gone’

Israel-Iran conflict

The conflict in the Middle East escalated on June 13, when Israel launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, reportedly killing several of the country’s top military commanders and nuclear scientists. In response, Iran retaliated with a wave of drones and missiles targeting Israel.

On Friday night, Israel carried out further attacks, with its military claiming it had struck the Isfahan nuclear facility and additional military sites in southwestern Iran. By Saturday, Israeli officials stated the country was preparing for a potentially “long war” with Iran.