The United States of America has launched military strikes at several strikes on the Islamic Republic of Iran in the early hours of Sunday. The strikes were on several key Iranian nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
Also read; Renaissance Capital names banks affected by CBN’s dividend payout suspension
During an address at the White House, US President Donald Trump claimed the sites were “totally obliterated” and warned the US could go after additional target if Iran does not make peace.
President Trump had on Friday said his director of national intelligence was “wrong” when she testified before the US congress that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had not re-authorised the country’s suspended nuclear weapons programme.
CNN reports that American B-2 bombers were used in the strikes, and utilized a 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bomb. It’s the first known instance of the bomb being used operationally.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says it has not detected any increase in radiation levels at key nuclear sites in Iran following the US air strikes.
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US of breaching international law.
“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,” Araghchi said in a social media post.
“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.”
He added that Iran “reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people”.
The strikes came as Israel and Iran have been engaged in more than a week of aerial combat, with deaths and injuries in both countries.
Israel launched the attacks on Iran on June 13, saying that it wanted to remove any chance of Tehran developing nuclear weapons. Israel itself is widely assumed to have nuclear weapons, which it neither confirms nor denies.
Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only. Iranian officials have repeatedly said they do not plan to develop nuclear weapons but will pursue its right to nuclear energy and research.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
