What is the purpose of the US attack on Iran's nuclear facilities?

According to the Daily Mail , President Donald Trump gave a speech to the nation after deciding to attack Iran's nuclear facilities. The White House boss said the purpose of this attack was to destroy Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity.

"Our goal was to destroy Iran's nuclear enrichment capability and stop the nuclear threat posed by Iran. Iran's three major nuclear enrichment facilities have been destroyed. Tonight (June 21), I can report to the world that the attacks were a spectacular military success," President Trump said.

President Trump (right) has decided to attack Iran's nuclear facilities. Photo: PN.

Earlier, NBC News quoted unnamed White House officials as saying that in his address to the nation, President Trump is expected to announce that the US currently has no plans to conduct further attacks on Iran. The US airstrikes are believed to be aimed at forcing Iran back to the negotiating table to reach an agreement to end the conflict with Israel.

Citing unnamed sources, CBS News reported that in an apparent effort to de-escalate, the US sent a message to Iran after the airstrikes, asserting that they were limited to the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and that Washington was not seeking regime change.

According to Al Jazeera on June 22, US President Donald Trump said US planes had left Iranian airspace after conducting "very successful" attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

Iran's Tasnim news agency quoted an official in Qom as confirming that part of the Fordow nuclear facility had been attacked.

"A few hours ago, after Qom's air defense system was activated and hostile targets were identified, part of the Fordow nuclear facility was attacked by enemy airstrikes," said Morteza Heydari, spokesman for the Qom Provincial Crisis Management Command.

Israeli public broadcaster Kan quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying that Israel was "in full coordination with the United States" in its attacks on Iran.

US Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he supports Mr Trump's decision to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities.

"Iran has rejected every diplomatic path to peace. As we take action tonight to ensure nuclear weapons are beyond Iran's reach, I stand with President Trump and pray for our troops and service members," Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, said in a post on Twitter.

However, Thomas Massie, who led the legislative effort to limit the ability to attack Iran without congressional approval, said the strikes violated the US Constitution, which gives lawmakers the authority to make decisions about war.

“President Trump ordered an attack on Iran without any authorization from Congress,” said Ro Khanna, a Democrat.

Iran has previously said that if the US joins this military campaign with Israel, Iran will consider US troops and bases in the region as legitimate targets to attack.

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