The United States has entered the Israel-Iran war, with President Donald Trump confirming US forces carried out attacks on three Iranian uranium enrichment sites.

The attacks come days after Trump, who is also commander-in-chief of the US military, mused whether to enter the escalating conflict amid ongoing calls from Israel for his support, and said he would make a decision within two weeks. 

The war began on June 13 with Israel launching a series of airstrikes against targets linked to Iran’s nuclear program.

Since then, attempts by other nations to broker a diplomatic solution to the fast escalating conflict have failed. 

What has the US done to Iran’s nuclear facilities?

On Saturday (US time), Trump announced US forces had attacked Iran’s Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities.

The Pentagon on Sunday confirmed seven B-2 Spirit bombers flew non-stop from a US Air Force base in Missouri to launch the attacks before returning home. 

Among the payload were 30,000-pound (13,600-kilogram) “bunker-busting” warheads, thought to be the only weapon capable of penetrating deep below the surface to strike at Iran’s subterranean nuclear facilities, and a key reason why the US entered into the conflict.

Were the attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites successful?

Trump claimed “the attacks were a spectacular military success” in a press conference following the three-site attack.

“Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” he said.

While the attacks likely caused significant damage, the extent is yet to be independently verified. Germany believes “large parts” of Iran’s nuclear program have been damaged by the strikes.

However, some analysts believe enriched uranium may have been removed prior to the attack based on satellite images showing activity at the Fordo site.

“Enriched uranium stock may therefore have been transferred to sites not monitored by the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency],” French nuclear expert Heloise Fayet told the AFP news agency.  

Is there a risk of nuclear radiation leaks because of the strikes?

Reports from Iran indicate there has been no increase in “off-site radiation levels” following the attacks.

The IAEA, which will hold an emergency meeting on Monday, has warned that damage to uranium enrichment sites, like the ones attacked by the US, carries the risk of radiation leakage, which could affect the public.

More concerning would be an attack on the Bushehr nuclear reactor— Iran’s only such facility — which IAEA chair Rafael Grossi last week warned could lead to a large-scale release of radioactivity. 

Why did the US become involved?

During the election campaign, Trump promised a more peaceful world if he returned to the White House, well aware of public sentiment surrounding America’s so-called “forever wars.”  

At his inauguration, he said his administration would measure success “not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end, and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.”

His decision to enter the US into the conflict between two long-standing enemies in the Middle East is a notable turnabout from those January remarks. 

The US and other nations have long been concerned about Iran’s desire to develop nuclear weapons despite statements from Iran that its nuclear program serves exclusively civilian purposes.

A previous deal overseen by then US President Barack Obama, which included the signatures of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, limited Iran’s enrichment to energy-generation grades, forced it to both surrender 98% of its enriched uranium and open the door to IAEA inspectors in exchange for eased sanctions.

Following his first election victory, Trump withdrew the US from the agreement and called on Iran to return to negotiations on his terms.

In the years since that withdrawal, Iran has restricted IAEA monitoring and inspection activities, and increased its enrichment reportedly to 60% — well above what is required for civilian energy generation and approaching weapons-grade levels.

Israel’s June attacks on Iran followed five rounds of US-Iran negotiations over a new deal. Iran withdrew from a scheduled sixth round of talks after being attacked by Israel and launched its retaliatory strikes.

Now that the US has entered the conflict, Trump is seeking a swift resolution.

“There will be either peace of there will be tragedy for Iran,” Trump said. “Far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left.”

How is the rest of the world responding?

Beyond praise from Israel and condemnation from Iran, there has been a mixed response to the US insertion into the war.

Regional governments, including those of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Pakistan, India and Iraq, have all expressed concern. Many have explicitly called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations amid fears they too may be drawn into a wider conflict.

Traditional US allies have urged a diplomatic solution, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the European Union among them.

Through a spokesperson, German Chancellor Frederich Merz called on Iran to “immediately enter into negotiations with the US and Israel and find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.” 

Those sentiments were echoed in public statements by Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and France and Italy’s foreign ministers. 

US rivals China, Russia, both allies of Iran, condemned the US attacks.

There are also splits over Trump’s decision to involve the US closer to home.

Many of Trump’s Democratic Party opponents have condemned the decision not to seek the approval of Congress as unconstitutional.

While many Republicans, led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, have publicly supported the decision, others, such as Representatives Warren Davidson and Thomas Massie, have echoed Democrats over the sidelining of congress.

Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the most vocal advocates for Trump’s “America First” agenda, said the Israel-Iran conflict was “not our fight.”

Will this expand into a bigger conflict?

Despite the US now involving itself in the Israel-Iran war, Hegseth told reporters on Sunday the Trump administration “does not seek war” with Iran. 

Nor, he said, was it about overthrowing the Iranian regime.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, concerns will turn to the potential for any further attacks by either side, and the potential for radiation leaks from the destruction of nuclear sites. 

Inside Israel, the news of the US attacks was followed by air raid sirens, prompting locals to take shelter. Some have welcomed Trump’s intervention, despite the escalation possibly shifting the region into the unknown.

The US has warned Iran against retaliatory strikes and again called for it to return to negotiations. 

Iran has responded to the attacks by warning of “everlasting consequences” for the US, and declaring its nuclear program would continue. 

Amid this, Iran’s diplomats intend to meet with ally Russia, and its parliament has approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping channel, subject to confirmation by its national security council. (DW)

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On June 12, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) condemned Iran for being in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost two decades.

Iran responded defiantly to the UN nuclear watchdog by announcing it would open a new enrichment site and upgrade centrifuges at the Fordow nuclear facility.  

Iran has repeatedly denied the claims that it is seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.

The country has spread its nuclear facilities over a number of sites and built some in underground bunkers, making it more difficult to destroy them completely.

Here’s an overview of Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Natanz

Located around 300 kilometers (180 miles) south of Tehran in the province of Isfahan, Natanz is the main center for uranium enrichment in Iran. It’s here that the nuclear program operates centrifuges that enrich uranium for civilian and, potentially, military purposes.

The facility is housed in underground bunkers to protect it from airstrikes. Natanz has been the target of several acts of sabotage attributed to Israel, including the use of the Stuxnet virus, explosions and power outages. The facility’s air defense system was reportedly disabled in April 2024.

The IAEA confirmed on June 13 that the Natanz facility was among the targets in recent Israeli strikes, but said no radiation leaks have been detected.

Isfahan

The Nuclear Technology Center in the city of Isfahan is a uranium processing plant that prepares the radioactive material for enrichment. Here, uranium oxide, also known as yellowcake, is converted into uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) and uranium hexafluoride (UF6). This chemical compound is used in centrifuges for uranium enrichment.

Saghand

This uranium mine is located in the desert region of Yazd province, around 200 kilometers northeast of the city of Yazd. The mine is one of the few known uranium mining sites in Iran and supplies the raw uranium that is used for the country’s nuclear program.

Bushehr

Iran’s first civilian nuclear power plant is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf in southern Iran,and is used to generate electricity. It is not used for military purposes.

Tehran

The Tehran Research Reactor is a research facility in Tehran, mainly used for the production of medical radioisotopes which are used in cancer treatment and nuclear medicine diagnostics.

The Tehran Research Reactor played a central role during the negotiations on the 2015 nuclear agreement, as it could be used not only for medical purposes but also potentially for military applications if highly enriched uranium were used.

Parchin

This facility, about 30 kilometers southeast of Tehran, officially serves as a test site for conventional weapons and missiles. However, there are reports suggesting that activities related to the development of nuclear weapons may also be taking place in Parchin.

Karaj

A research center for nuclear technologies in the fields of agriculture and medicine is located near the city of Karaj, about 40 kilometers west of Tehran. According to reports, this facility could also be used for the production and development of centrifuges for uranium enrichment.

In June 2021, the facility was the target of a sabotage attempt, which, according to Iranian sources, was unsuccessful.

Qom

The Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant is located around 160 kilometers south of Tehran, near the city of Qom. It’s housed in a mountain to protect it from air attacks. This site produces highly enriched uranium.

Arak

A heavy water reactor in the city of Arak, around 240 kilometers west of Tehran, has the potential to produce plutonium suitable for the construction of nuclear weapons.

However, following the 2015 nuclear agreement, the reactor was modified to rule out this possibility. (DW)

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India’s energy landscape has undergone a significant transformation in recent years.

With growing energy demands fuelled by rapid industrialization and urbanization, the country has prioritized diversifying its energy mix to ensure sustainable and reliable power supply.

Among the many avenues explored, nuclear energy has emerged as a critical component of India’s strategy.

On Wednesday (Dec. 11), Indian minister for department of atomic energy, Jitendra Singh, emphasized the revision of India’s power distribution framework, which has increased the southern state of Tamil Nadu’s share of electricity from atomic plants to 50 percent, with 35 percent allocated to neighbouring states and 15 percent to the national grid.

The minister stated in the parliament that India’s nuclear power generation capacity, which has grown from 4,780 MW in 2014 to 8,180 MW in 2024, is projected to touch a milestone of 22,480 MW by 2031-32.

Over the past decade, India has successfully doubled its nuclear power generation, positioning itself as a key player in the global nuclear energy sector.

India’s electricity demand has risen exponentially due to its burgeoning population and expanding economy.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), India’s energy consumption is expected to grow at an annual rate of over 3 percent, making it one of the fastest-growing energy markets globally.

Nuclear energy provides a stable and low-carbon source of power, complementing renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, India has committed to reducing its carbon emissions intensity and increasing its share of non-fossil fuel energy capacity.

Nuclear power, which emits negligible greenhouse gases during operation, aligns with India’s goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based capacity by 2030.

Doubling nuclear power generation has significantly contributed to these objectives.

The Indian government has played a pivotal role in promoting nuclear energy through policy initiatives and institutional backing.

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) have spearheaded the development and expansion of nuclear power plants across the country. Key initiatives include:

Amendments to the Atomic Energy Act: These amendments allowed joint ventures with public sector companies to accelerate nuclear power projects.

Strategic partnerships: Collaborations with countries like Russia, France, and the United States have facilitated technology transfer and the construction of new reactors.

Financial incentives: The government has allocated significant resources to nuclear infrastructure, including a proposed budget allocation of over $11 billion for nuclear projects.

India’s existing fleet of nuclear reactors has seen substantial expansion, with the addition of new units and the operationalization of under-construction projects.

As of 2024, India operates 22 nuclear reactors with a combined capacity exceeding 8,000 MW, compared to approximately 4,780 MW in 2014.

Notable achievements include commissioning new units at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (Tamil Nadu) in collaboration with Russia, operationalizing indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) under the Make in India initiative, and progress on Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) technology, which utilizes thorium, a resource India possesses in abundance.

India’s emphasis on indigenous research and development has led to significant technological advancements in nuclear power.

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has developed efficient and safe reactor designs tailored to India’s needs. These include:

PHWRs: Utilizing natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as a moderator, these reactors have proven cost-effective and reliable.

Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs): These reactors generate more fissile material than they consume, ensuring a sustainable fuel cycle.

Thorium-Based Reactors: India is pioneering the use of thorium, a more abundant resource in the country, to reduce reliance on imported uranium.

India’s civil nuclear agreements with countries like the United States, Russia, and Japan have unlocked access to advanced technologies and nuclear fuel supplies.

Agreements such as the India-US Civil Nuclear Deal and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) waiver have enabled India to import uranium and build reactors using international expertise.

The benefits of India’s doubling nuclear power include:

Energy security: With limited domestic reserves of fossil fuels, India’s reliance on energy imports has been a persistent challenge.

Nuclear power provides a reliable and indigenous source of energy, reducing dependence on volatile international markets.

Environmental benefits: Nuclear power’s low carbon footprint has helped India reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

By replacing coal-fired power plants with nuclear facilities, India has avoided millions of tons of CO2 emissions annually.

Economic growth: The expansion of nuclear power has created jobs, spurred industrial growth, and boosted the domestic manufacturing sector.

The Make in India initiative has further supported local production of reactor components, contributing to the economy.

Despite its benefits, nuclear power faces multiple challenges, including resistance from local communities due to safety concerns and fears of radiation.

Nuclear power projects require substantial upfront investment, often taking years to become operational. Securing financing and maintaining cost efficiency remain significant challenges.

Ensuring compliance with international safety standards and addressing technical challenges, such as waste management and decommissioning, are critical for sustainable nuclear growth.

Despite progress, India remains outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), limiting its access to certain advanced technologies and collaborations.

India’s success in doubling its nuclear power generation over the past decade highlights its commitment to a sustainable and diversified energy future.

By leveraging technological innovation, international cooperation, and policy support, India has established itself as a leader in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

However, achieving its long-term energy and climate goals will require overcoming challenges and maintaining a balanced approach.

As India continues to harness the potential of nuclear energy, it paves the way for a cleaner, greener, and more resilient energy landscape. (News Bomb)

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India will get 9 per cent of its electricity from nuclear sources by 2047, the centenary year of the country’s independence, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Sunday.

The Science and Technology minister made these remarks after reviewing the functioning of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai.

Mr Singh said the rising share of nuclear power in India’s energy basket would help it get closer to the commitment of achieving the net zero target by 2070.

He said the Department of Atomic Energy has been given the target of achieving 20 gigawatts (GW) capacity of nuclear power generation by 2030, which will make India the third-largest producer of atomic energy in the world after the US and France.

Mr Singh said the credit for this rapid stride goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who took the decision of approving 10 reactors in a fleet mode in a single order and also allowed nuclear installations to be developed under joint ventures with PSUs.

India has the sixth-highest number of functional nuclear reactors in the world and the second-highest number of reactors, including those under construction.

During 2021-22, nuclear power reactors generated 47,112 million units of electricity, about 3.15 per cent of the total electricity generated in the country, Singh had told Lok Sabha last week.

The present installed nuclear power capacity is set to increase from 6,780 megawatts (MW) to 22,480 MW by 2031 on progressive completion of projects under construction and accorded sanction, Singh had said. (NDTV)

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