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US says strikes ‘devastated’ Iran’s nuclear program

Unprecedented US strikes have wrecked Iran’s nuclear program, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday as Washington sought to assess what remained of the three targeted sites.The surprise strikes threaten to deepen conflict in the Middle East after Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran, with Tehran vowing to retaliate against US involvement.But the United States said President Donald Trump wanted peace and urged Iran to end the conflict after strikes on a key underground uranium enrichment site at Fordo, along with nuclear facilities in Isfahan and Natanz.”We devastated the Iranian nuclear program,” Hegseth told a Pentagon press briefing, adding that the operation “did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people.”Trump “seeks peace, and Iran should take that path”, Hegseth said. “This mission was not, and has not been, about regime change.”Standing beside Hegseth, top US general Dan Caine said that “it would be way too early for me to comment on what may or may not still be there.””Initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction,” he told reporters.- Protests in Tehran -People gathered in the center of Tehran to protest against US and Israeli attacks, waving flags and chanting slogans, state TV showed.Trump claimed total success for the operation in an address to the nation hours after the attack, and Vice President JD Vance followed up on Sunday morning.”We know that we set the Iranian nuclear program back substantially last night, whether it’s years or beyond,” he told ABC.”We’re not at war with Iran — we’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program,” he added. “The president took decisive action to destroy that program last night.”In Tehran, AFP journalists said the roar of aircraft flying over the city was heard repeatedly for the first time since Israel’s initial attacks.The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency said it had not detected any increase in radiation levels at the nuclear sites and Tehran said Sunday there were no signs of contamination.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters in Istanbul the United States and Israel had “crossed a very big red line,” asserting Iran would continue to defend itself “by all means necessary.”Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the US strikes, saying Trump’s decision to “target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history.”The Israeli military was also checking the results of the US raid on the deeply buried nuclear facility in Fordo, with a spokesman saying it was “too soon” to know if Iran had removed enriched uranium from the site.The main US strike group was seven B-2 Spirit bombers flying 18 hours from the US mainland to Iran with multiple aerial refuelings, Caine said.- Global concern -In response to the US attack, Iran’s armed forces said they targeted multiple sites in Israel including Ben Gurion airport, the country’s main international gateway near Tel Aviv.Israeli rescuers said at least 23 people were wounded.In Jerusalem, Claudio Hazan, a 62-year-old software engineer, said he hoped the US intervention would hasten an end to the Iran-Israel war.”Israel by itself would not stop… and it would take longer,” he said.Israel said it had launched fresh strikes on western Iran and in Qom, south of Tehran. Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported four Revolutionary Guard members were killed in strikes on a military base in the city’s north.The Israeli military said it had “struck missile launchers ready to launch toward Israeli territory, soldiers in the Iranian Armed Forces, and swiftly neutralized the launchers that launched missiles toward Israeli territory.”Iran’s Shargh newspaper reported that a “massive explosion was heard” Sunday in Bushehr province, home to Iran’s only nuclear power plant.Iranian news agencies also reported strikes in Yazd province.The United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman, which had been mediating Iran-US nuclear talks, criticized the US move and urged de-escalation.The European Union called on all sides “to step back,” while stressing Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.The Iranian foreign minister said he would travel to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.Following his address, Trump warned Iran against retaliation. Iran and its proxies have previously attacked US military bases in Iraq and elsewhere in the region.Iran’s Huthi allies in Yemen on Sunday repeated their threat to resume attacks in the Red Sea if Washington joined the war, saying they were ready to target US ships and warships.The US president had stepped up his rhetoric against Iran since Israel first struck the country on June 13, repeating his insistence it could never have nuclear weapons.Tehran denies seeking an atomic bomb. On Saturday, President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran’s right to pursue a civilian nuclear program “cannot be taken away… by threats or war.”burs-wd/bgs/ft

US intervention ‘devastated’ Iran’s nuclear programme says Pentagon

A series of unprecedented US strikes against Iran “devastated” its nuclear programme, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday, as he asserted Washington was not seeking regime change in Tehran. The Pentagon chief urged Iran’s leaders to find an off-ramp to the conflict after President Donald Trump announced the strikes on a key underground uranium enrichment site at Fordo, along with nuclear facilities in Isfahan and Natanz.”We devastated the Iranian nuclear programme,” Hegseth told a Pentagon press briefing, adding that the operation “did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people”.Trump “seeks peace, and Iran should take that path”, Hegseth continued. “This mission was not, and has not, been about regime change,” he added.Trump’s intervention — despite his past pledges to avoid another “forever war” — threatens to dramatically widen the conflict after Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran last week, with Tehran vowing to retaliate if Washington joined in.Earlier the US president said Washington would hit more targets if Tehran did not capitulate. Hours later, Iran launched two waves of attacks against its long-time foe Israel.”Iran the bully of the Middle East must now make peace,” Trump said, warning future attacks would be “far greater” unless a diplomatic solution was reached. “Remember, there are many targets left,” he added.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of sabotaging diplomacy after talks with European powers.”This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy,” he wrote on X.Araghchi later told reporters in Istanbul the United States and Israel had “crossed a very big red line”, asserting Iran would continue to defend itself “by all means necessary”.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the US strikes, saying the attack revealed Washington was the “main factor behind” Israel’s military campaign.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the US strikes, saying Trump’s decision to “target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history”.-‘Morning of alarms’-The Israeli military said it was checking the results of the US raid on the deeply buried nuclear facility in Fordo, with a spokesman saying it was “too soon” to know if Iran had removed enriched uranium from the key site or if it had been buried in the attack.US Vice President JD Vance maintained his country was “not at war with Iran, we’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program”.He added the strikes had “substantially delayed” the development of a nuclear weapon — something Iran has long denied pursuing.Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine said the “main strike package comprised of 7 B-2 Spirit bombers” flying 18 hours from the US mainland to Iran with multiple aerial refuelings.The head of Iran’s Red Crescent Society, Pir Hossein Kolivand, said there were no fatalities in the US strikes on the nuclear facilities, according to Iranian state television.In response to the US attack, Iran’s armed forces said they targeted multiple sites in Israel including Ben Gurion airport, the country’s main international gateway near Tel Aviv.Israeli rescuers said at least 23 people were wounded. Police said at least three impacts were reported.One of them was the Ramat Aviv area of Tel Aviv, tearing holes in the facades of apartment blocks.In Jerusalem, Claudio Hazan, a 62-year-old software engineer, said he hoped the US intervention would hasten an end to the Iran-Israel war. “Israel by itself would not stop… and it would take longer,” he said.David, a 43-year-old Jerusalem resident, told AFP: “We’re all happy that the US is lending a hand.”Israel said it had launched fresh strikes on western Iran and in Qom, south of Tehran. Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported four Revolutionary Guard members were killed in strikes on a military base in the city’s north.The Israeli military said it had “struck missile launchers ready to launch toward Israeli territory, soldiers in the Iranian Armed Forces, and swiftly neutralised the launchers that launched missiles toward Israeli territory a short while ago”.Iran’s Shargh newspaper reported that a “massive explosion was heard” Sunday in Bushehr province, home to Iran’s only nuclear power plant.- ‘Step Back’ -Iranian news agencies also reported strikes in Yazd province.In Tehran, AFP journalists said the roar of aircraft flying over the city could be heard repeatedly for the first time since Israel’s initial attacks.The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency said it had not detected any increase in radiation levels at key nuclear sites in Iran following the strikes and Tehran said Sunday there were “no signs of contamination”.Saudi Arabia said no radioactive effects were detected in the Gulf and voiced “great concern” over the US strikes.The United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman, which had been mediating Iran-US nuclear talks, criticised the US move and urged de-escalation.The European Union called on all sides “to step back”, while stressing Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Iran to “return to the negotiating table” over its nuclear ambitions.The Iranian foreign minister said he would travel to Moscow for “serious consultations” with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.Following his address, Trump warned Iran against “any retaliation”. Iran and its proxies have previously attacked US military bases in Iraq and elsewhere in the region.Iran’s Huthi allies in Yemen on Sunday repeated their threat to resume attacks in the Red Sea if Washington joined the war, saying they were “ready to target US ships and warships”.The US president had stepped up his rhetoric against Iran since Israel first struck Iran on June 13, repeating his insistence it could never have nuclear weapons.Tehran denies seeking an atomic bomb. On Saturday, President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran’s right to pursue a civilian nuclear programme “cannot be taken away… by threats or war”.burs-csp/smw

United behind Iran war effort, Israelis express relief at US bombing

Israelis expressed relief and optimism Sunday after US President Donald Trump ordered air strikes on Iran, 10 days into a war that has widespread public support.Despite daily nerve-shredding trips to bomb shelters and growing damage around the country, Israelis appeared united behind Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s move to attack Iran on June 13. Trump’s decision to authorise overnight bombing raids on Iran’s nuclear facilities has provided further reassurance after more than a week of sorties by the Israeli air force. “The war with Iran was inevitable. You knew it would happen sooner or later,” Claudio Hazan, a 62-year-old software engineer, told AFP in central Jerusalem on Sunday. “I hope that it will shorten the war, because otherwise Israel by itself would not stop until they get that Fordo place bombed,” he explained, referring to the deeply buried Iranian nuclear site targeted by heavy US bombers overnight. Israelis have hunkered down for the last 10 days, with businesses closed, schools shuttered and people urged to stay home.Few have slept a full uninterrupted night since the conflict erupted due to the screeching missile warnings that flash up on mobile phones at all times of day.”We woke up to a Sunday morning of alarms and then we saw that the US attacked,” David, a 43-year-old Jerusalem resident, told AFP. “We’re all happy that the US is lending a hand, it has always been lending a hand.”Israeli President Isaac Herzog told the BBC on Sunday that “now is an opportunity to come to a dialogue of peace, also a dialogue of peace between all nations in the region, including Israelis and Palestinians”.- ‘God is with us’ -Israel’s sophisticated air defences have kept Israeli towns and cities relatively safe, shooting down hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones that would otherwise have caused widespread devastation.Dozens have slipped through, however, with three more impacts reported on Sunday morning in the northern port of Haifa and around the coastal hub of Tel Aviv. At least 50 strikes have been acknowledged nationwide and 25 people have died, according to official figures.When a missile blasted her modern apartment block on Thursday in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, resident Renana lamented to AFP that “it will take a long time until this building recovers.”But she showed no rancour towards Netanyahu who has deployed Israeli forces in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and now Iran since the attack on Israel by Palestinian group Hamas in October 2023. “The truth is that God is with us and the government should go on with whatever they’re doing, which is exactly what should have been done a long time ago,” Renana, who did not give her surname, told AFP.- ‘Sharp contrast’ -Israel’s usually divided political scene has also lined up behind the attack on Iran, a country generations of Israelis have grown up fearing as a threat to their existence. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is my political rival, but his decision to strike Iran at this moment in time is the right one,” opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote in a Jerusalem Post op-ed last week.A survey carried out by the Israel Democracy Institute in the days immediately after Israel’s first strikes on June 13 found that 70 percent of Israelis supported the war, although the results revealed a major divide.Among Jewish Israelis, there was 82 percent support, while only 35 percent of respondents from Israel’s Arab minority, who mostly identify as Palestinian, were in favour.Dahlia Scheindlin, an Israeli pollster and political analyst, told AFP that Israelis were much more united behind the Iran campaign than the grinding conflict in Gaza which many saw as a “dirty war”.Netanyahu has been criticised for failing to secure the return of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas and accused of prolonging the war for domestic political purposes.He is also subject to an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza where nearly 56,000 people have been killed, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. “There’s a very sharp contrast between how Israelis view the war in Gaza and how they view this war with Iran,” Scheindlin said.She cautioned, however, that sentiment could change if it turns into a long conflict. 

Trump says US strikes ‘obliterated’ Iran nuclear sites

President Donald Trump said US air strikes on Sunday “totally obliterated” Iran’s main nuclear sites, with Tehran later accusing Washington of “blowing up” talks aimed at a deal on its nuclear programme.Following the attack — the United States’ first large-scale strikes on Iran — Trump warned Washington would hit more targets if Tehran did not make peace. Hours later, Iran launched two waves of attacks against long-time foe Israel.”Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success,” Trump said, adding the key underground enrichment site at Fordo was hit, along with facilities in Isfahan and Natanz.”Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran the bully of the Middle East must now make peace,” he said, warning future attacks would be “far greater” unless a diplomatic solution was reached. “Remember, there are many targets left.”Trump’s intervention — despite his past pledges to avoid another “forever war” — threatens to dramatically widen the conflict, after Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign on Iran last week, with Tehran vowing to retaliate if Washington joined in.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of sabotaging diplomacy after talks with European powers.”This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy,” he wrote on X.Aragchi later told reporters in Istanbul the United States and Israel had “crossed a very big red line”, asserting Iran would continue to defend itself “by all means necessary”.- ‘Change history’ -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the US strikes, saying Trump’s decision to “target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history”.In response to the US attack, Iran’s armed forces said they targeted multiple sites in Israel including Ben Gurion airport, the country’s main international gateway near Tel Aviv.Israeli rescuers said at least 23 people were wounded. Police said at least three impacts were reported.One of them was the Ramat Aviv area of Tel Aviv, tearing holes in the facades of apartment blocks.”Houses here were hit very, very badly,” said Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai. “Fortunately, one of them was slated for demolition and reconstruction, so there were no residents inside.”In Jerusalem, Claudio Hazan, a 62-year-old software engineer, said he hoped the US intervention would hasten an end to the Iran-Israel war.”Israel by itself would not stop… and it would take longer,” he said.Israel said it had launched fresh strikes on western Iran and in Qom, south of Tehran. Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported four Revolutionary Guard members were killed in strikes on a military base in the city’s north.The Israeli military said it had “struck missile launchers ready to launch toward Israeli territory, soldiers in the Iranian Armed Forces, and swiftly neutralised the launchers that launched missiles toward Israeli territory a short while ago”.In Tehran, AFP journalists said the roar of aircraft flying over the city could be heard repeatedly for the first time since Israel’s initial attacks.The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency said it had not detected any increase in radiation levels at key nuclear sites in Iran following the strikes and Tehran said Sunday there were “no signs of contamination”.- ‘Step back’ -Saudi Arabia said no radioactive effects were detected in the Gulf and voiced “great concern” over the US strikes.The United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman, which had been mediating Iran-US nuclear talks, criticised the US move and urged de-escalation.The European Union called on all sides “to step back”, while stressing Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Iran to “return to the negotiating table” over its nuclear ambitions.The Iranian foreign minister said he would travel to Moscow for “serious consultations” with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.US media reported the strikes were carried out by B-2 stealth bombers dropping bunker-buster bombs, as well as submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles.Following his address, Trump warned Iran against “any retaliation”. Iran and its proxies have previously attacked US military bases in Iraq and elsewhere in the region.Iran’s Huthi allies in Yemen on Sunday repeated their threat to resume attacks in the Red Sea if Washington joined the war, saying they were “ready to target US ships and warships”.The US president had stepped up his rhetoric against Iran since Israel first struck Iran on June 13, repeating his insistence it could never have nuclear weapons.Israel and Iran have traded wave after wave of devastating strikes since then.Tehran denies seeking an atomic bomb. On Saturday, President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran’s right to pursue a civilian nuclear programme “cannot be taken away… by threats or war”.burs-csp/dv

Israelis emerge from shelters to devastation after Iran attacks

First responders fanned out across Israel Sunday following fresh waves of Iranian missile strikes that left pockets of devastation in their wake — as the Islamic republic hit back after a US attack on its nuclear sites.In both Haifa and areas around Tel Aviv, the scenes were all too similar.Rubble filled streets at impact sites as the facades of apartment buildings were eviscerated by the falling projectiles, as rescue teams picked through the debris looking for people.In the Ramat Aviv neighbourhood near Tel Aviv, the mere skeletons of homes were left standing following the barrage, with the wooden frames visible amid a sea of debris.As the country was jolted awake by air raid sirens warning residents of air attacks, many in Ramat Aviv left their shelters later to discover the destruction.A man and woman embraced each other and cried.”Our entire house was destroyed — there’s nothing left,” said Aviad Chernichovsky, who had rushed out of his home to get to a shelter.Several elderly residents were placed on chairs and beds to allow for medical evacuation. One woman, injured in the face, appeared anxious as paramedics led her away from the rubble.Officials were still taking stock of the damage.”Houses here were hit very, very badly,” Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai said at the scene.”Those who were in the shelter are all safe and well. The damage is very, very extensive, but in terms of human life, we are okay.”- Devastating power -The Israeli police said in a statement that they had been deployed to at least two other impact sites, one in Haifa in the north and another in Ness Ziona, south of Tel Aviv.A public square in a residential area of Haifa was left strewn with rubble and surrounding shops and homes were heavily damaged.Palm trees withstood the impact in a small public garden, while storefronts were bent, shop windows shattered, and air conditioners left dangling from building facades.Sirens however did not sound in this area. Authorities said they were actively working to clarify what happened.”The possibility of a malfunction with the interceptor (of the air defence system) is under investigation,” said an army spokesperson.Two salvos of missiles were launched at Israel from around 7:30 am (0430 GMT), the Israeli military said.Iran has been firing daily missile barrages at Israel for over a week, since a wide-ranging Israeli attack on the Islamic republic’s nuclear installations and military bases triggered war.Israel’s sophisticated air defences have intercepted more than 450 missiles along with around 1,000 drones, according to the latest figures from the Israeli military.Even still, at least 50 impacts have been officially acknowledged nation-wide with the country’s air defence batteries unable to prevent all of the strikes.Iran’s armed forces said Sunday’s barrage targeted multiple sites in Israel including Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, and relied on some of their most sophisticated long-range missiles with “devastating warhead power”.

At least three impacts in Israel during Iran missile attacks, 23 hurt

Three areas of Israel including coastal hub Tel Aviv were hit Sunday morning during waves of Iranian missile attacks, with at least 23 people injured, according to rescue services and police. Several buildings were heavily damaged in the Ramat Aviv area in Tel Aviv, with holes torn in the facades of apartment blocks.”Houses here were hit very, very badly,” Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai told reporters at the scene. “Fortunately, one of them was slated for demolition and reconstruction, so there were no residents inside. “Those who were in the shelter are all safe and well. The damage is very, very extensive, but in terms of human life, we are okay.”The Israeli police said in a statement that they had been deployed to at least two other impact sites, one in Haifa in the north and another in Ness Ziona, south of Tel Aviv.A public square in a residential area of Haifa was left strewn with rubble and surrounding shops and homes have been heavily damaged, AFP photos showed. Eli Bin, the head of Israeli rescue service Magen David Adom, told reporters that a total of 23 people had been wounded nationwide in the attacks, with “two in moderate condition and the rest lightly injured.”Two waves of missiles were launched at Israel from around 7:30 am (0430 GMT), the Israeli military said. Sirens rang across the country, with air defences activated shortly afterwards, causing loud explosions heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.Israeli police reported “the fall of weapon fragments” in a northern area encompassing the port of Haifa, where local authorities said emergency services were heading to an “accident site”.Reporting on missile strikes is subject to strict military censorship rules in Israel, but at least 50 impacts have been officially acknowledged nation-wide and 25 people have been killed since the war began with Iran on June 13, according to official figures.Tel Aviv, the southern city of Beersheba and the northern port of Haifa have been the three areas most frequently targeted by Iran.Israel’s sophisticated air defences have intercepted more than 450 missiles along with around 1,000 drones, according to the latest figures from the Israeli military. 

Trump says US attack ‘obliterated’ Iran nuclear sites

President Donald Trump said US air strikes on Sunday “totally obliterated” Iran’s main nuclear sites, as Washington joined Israel’s war with Tehran in a flashpoint moment for the Middle East.In a televised address to the nation from the White House, Trump warned that the United States would go after more targets if Iran did not make peace quickly.The intervention by a US president who had vowed to avoid another “forever war” in the region threatens to dramatically widen the conflict, with Iran having said it would retaliate if Washington got involved.”Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success,” said Trump, adding that they targeted the crucial underground nuclear enrichment plant of Fordo along with facilities at Natanz and Isfahan.”Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran the bully of the Middle East must now make peace,” said Trump.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on the strikes, saying that “with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history.”Condemning the US attacks as “lawless and criminal,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country has a right to defend its sovereignty.”The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,” he posted on X. “Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.”Not long after, sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and explosions were heard from Jerusalem as Iranian state TV announced a fresh salvo of missiles launched.Tehran said Sunday there were “no signs of contamination” after the US attacks and Saudi regulators said “no radioactive effects were detected” in the Gulf region.Iranian media confirmed that part of the Fordo plant as well as the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites were attacked.- Surprise attack -Trump had said Thursday that he would decide “within two weeks” whether to join Israel’s campaign, in a move that many saw as a window of diplomatic opportunity.But the Republican’s decision to strike Iran came far sooner.Flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump said that future attacks would be “far greater” unless Iran reached a diplomatic solution.”Remember, there are many targets left,” he said.Trump however made no mention of regime change, despite having warned last week that Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was an “easy target.”The raid on the Iran nuclear sites was carried out by B-2 stealth bombers that dropped so-called “bunker buster bombs,” along with submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles, US media reported.Trump said earlier on his Truth Social site that a “full payload of BOMBS” was dropped on Fordo and said that “all planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors.” Pictures posted by the White House showed Trump in a red “Make America Great Again” cap meeting with top national security officials in the Situation Room, shortly before the strikes were announced.After the address, Trump warned Iran against “any retaliation.” Iran and its proxies have previously attacked US military bases in the region, including in Iraq.Iran’s Huthi allies in Yemen had on Saturday threatened to resume their attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea if Washington joined the war.The US president had stepped up his rhetoric against Iran since Israel first struck Iran on June 13, repeating his insistence that it could never have a nuclear weapon.Israel and Iran have traded wave after wave of devastating strikes since then.- MAGA split -Trump spoke to Netanyahu after the attacks, while the United States also gave key ally Israel a “heads up” before the strikes, a senior White House official told AFP.Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian had warned earlier Saturday of a “more devastating” retaliation should Israel’s nine-day bombing campaign continue.Iran denies seeking an atomic bomb, and on Saturday Pezeshkian said its right to pursue a civilian nuclear program “cannot be taken away… by threats or war.”Iran’s Revolutionary Guard meanwhile announced early Sunday that “suicide drones” had been launched against “strategic targets” across Israel.The US military strikes on Iran also threaten to cause political tensions at home for Trump.The issue has opened a split in Trump’s “MAGA” movement, with many key Republican supporters calling on Trump to avoid embroiling the United States in another foreign war.Trump’s first 2016 election victory in particular came on the back of his promises to get America out of its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.Democrats have also assailed him.Leading US Democrat Hakeem Jeffries said Trump risked US “entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East,” while others have accused him of bypassing Congress to launch a new war.