United States Vice President JD Vance made a public announcement on Sunday stating that the U.S. has no ongoing feud with Iran as a country, but rather, is contesting Iran’s nuclear advancement. Following an unexpected offensive on three Iranian nuclear facilities, VP Vance highlighted the subpar warfare abilities of Iran. Seizing the opportunity, he suggested Iran might consider looking to former President Trump’s peace efforts. Vance reassured, if Iran is truly invested in peaceful negotiations, they can count on the American President’s sincerity in echoing their determination.
Pete Hegseth, the Defense Secretary, spoke to the press at a Pentagon briefing on Sunday, emphasizing that the United States harbors no intention of waging war with Iran. Moreover, he elaborated that any recent operations should not be misconstrued as an attempt to topple the Iranian regime. The targeted mission named ‘Operation Midnight Hammer,’ cleverly deployed decoys and trickery, encountered no opposition from Iranian forces. Hegseth, backed by Air Force General Dan Caine – the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – provided these details at the press conference.
General Caine ascertained at the news conference that the principal objective of the operation – which was to annihilate the nuclear sites situated in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan – had been successfully accomplished. ‘Comprehensive assessments of the final damages will take a while, but preliminary evaluations suggest that all three facilities have endured substantial destruction,’ stated Caine, demonstrating the operation’s effectiveness.
Iran’s minister for foreign affairs, Abbas Araghchi, proclaimed on Sunday that the United States will be held completely accountable for any retaliatory action taken by Tehran. Conveying his dissatisfaction at a press briefing in Turkey, he accused Washington of overstepping a significant threshold by targeting nuclear installations. Araghchi lamented the dwindling avenues for diplomatic discourse, calling attention to the seriousness of the situation.
In reaction to the events, Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the U.S. has no immediate plans for military operations against Iran. However, he did not rule out the potential for defensive actions should Iranian operatives jeopardize U.S. interests. The international community now finds itself grappling with the radical implications of these strikes and the looming possibility of increased conflict throughout the Middle East due to American intervention in the ongoing Israel-Iran dispute.
Israel had initiated air strikes on June 12, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and high-ranking military officials. This prompted an Iranian counter-attack, creating a sequence of events leading to America’s eventual intervention. Both China and Russia vocally condemned the American military initiative. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that Britain was mobilizing its military resources in the region to safeguard its national interests, citizens, and allies, but added that Britain was committed to pursue a diplomatic resolution.
Calls for an immediate return to diplomatic negotiations were also echoed by the heads of state of Italy, Canada, Germany, and France. The Iranian response could impact global oil trade, particularly exports through the Strait of Hormuz, and could trigger inflationary spikes. Worth noting is that the Israel-Iran conflict has already effected an increase of 21% in oil prices over the last month.
Despite the tumultuous landscape, VP Vance expressed faith in the United States’ ability to considerably impede Iran’s quest for nuclear weaponry. In a reassurance to concerned parties, he noted the aggression and progression in diplomatic negotiations, disclosing that indirect communication channels with Iran might already be in motion following the recent strikes.
Hegseth revealed that protective measures for military forces in the region had been heightened, especially across Iraq, Syria, and the Persian Gulf. The warnings were echoed by a middle eastern maritime center operating under American military guidance, which raised the risk level to ‘high’ for all U.S.-linked vessels post the American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
It was President Trump’s timetable which set the stage for discussions with Iran about its nuclear aspirations, noted Hegseth. He explained that ‘when Trump sets a 60-day window for peaceful negotiations, he intends precisely that — a finite period devoted solely to peace talks.’ At the end of this period, Hegseth said the President was determined to ensure Iran’s nuclear advancements would no longer exist. He wanted Iran to know: ‘he meant it.’
Notably, America’s actions were largely facilitated by the compromised state of Iran’s air defense system, eliminating any potential resistance from the Iranian side. Hegseth expanded on the operation’s strategic measures by mentioning their successful use of deception, deploying multiple B-2 bombers to serve as diversions.
The airstrikes took place on Saturday evening Washington time, roughly early Sunday morning in Iran, lasting from approximately 6:40 pm to 7:05 pm in Washington – or roughly from 2:10 am for observers in Iran. This timely execution of the operation underlines the meticulous planning and strategic execution of ‘Operation Midnight Hammer.’
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