Trump Says Iran Nuclear Sites Hit Are Covered in Rocks, No Attack Today
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
U.S. President Donald Trump stated there would be no attack on Iran today and claimed its nuclear sites, previously bombed, were inactive and covered in rocks. This contrasts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assertions about Iran's nuclear program. The U.S. also ordered partial embassy staff departures from Riyadh due to regional conflict. Meanwhile, U.S. military leadership visited the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing safe navigation, and Sri Lanka rescued 40 Iranian sailors from commercial vessels.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- President Trump stated there would be no attack on Iran today.
- Trump claimed Iran's bombed nuclear facilities are inactive and covered in rocks.
- The U.S. ordered partial staff departures from its embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- U.S. military leadership visited the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting safe navigation.
- Sri Lanka rescued 40 Iranian sailors from commercial vessels at Tehran's request.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that there would be no attack on Iran today, despite ongoing tensions. He also claimed that Iran was not actively working at its nuclear facilities that had been bombed, asserting they were covered in "thousands of tons of rocks." Trump made these remarks in a conversation with reporters and in an interview with Fox News, where he was asked about satellite imagery of the sites. He stated, "We can read the logo on a man's shirt from space. We know exactly what is happening at the three other facilities. They (the Iranians) are not moving too much there. We are watching them. We have access to every one of the facilities we bombed."
This comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated claims that Iran had renewed its nuclear program. Trump's comments suggest a different assessment of the situation on the ground regarding Iran's nuclear activities.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department officially confirmed it had ordered the departure of some personnel and their families from the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This decision was made due to fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen and reports of diplomat evacuations from the Middle East.
In parallel, Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), visited the Strait of Hormuz. According to CENTCOM, his visit highlighted a milestone in assisting Gulf partners with the export of over 1.5 billion barrels of crude oil since the summer. Cooper stated that U.S. forces continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Gulf partners and the shipping industry, emphasizing a strong commitment to freedom of navigation in the Strait. He noted that U.S. forces have successfully cleared Iranian naval mines in recent months, allowing for safe passage. CENTCOM reported that over 95% of vessels transiting the Strait have sailed safely despite Iranian aggression, demonstrating U.S. and regional partners' control over the waterway.
Separately, Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it had facilitated the rescue of 40 Iranian sailors from 19 commercial vessels in international waters at Tehran's request. The sailors were reportedly experiencing medical issues. While the ministry did not elaborate on the reasons for the rescue, local media suggested the vessels were oil tankers subject to U.S. sanctions. This incident follows a March event where a U.S. submarine reportedly sank an Iranian warship, the IRIS Dena, off the coast of Sri Lanka, with dozens of Iranian sailors killed and Sri Lanka assisting in the recovery of survivors and bodies.
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