US prepares for possible Iranian retaliation in next 48 hours

‘Next 48 hours of concern’ US prepares for possible Iranian retaliation, while Tehran denies damage to nuclear facilities following the attack.

At 4:00 a.m. on June 22 (Iran time), six US B-2 Spirit stealth strategic bombers dropped 12 GBU-57A/B MOP bombs on a nuclear complex north of the Iranian city of Qom (along with the Fordow complex).

In coordination with the strategic air force, the US Navy also launched about 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles from submarines into air defense positions, protecting nuclear facilities in Natanz and Isfahan, so that strategic bombers could safely carry out bombing missions.

According to Western media reports, the US Air Force used special bunker-busting bombs, which is what Israel wanted from the US. “The nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan were attacked by the enemy,” the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) announced.

“Early this morning, the nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan were attacked by the enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, an act contrary to all international norms, especially the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,” the AEOI said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

Regarding the US attack on Iran's nuclear facilities this morning, Iranian MP Mohammad Mena Raisi said that the Fordow nuclear complex was not damaged by the US attack. "There was no damage to the underground facilities. There was no radiation leak," Raisi said.

Iran had anticipated an attack on the Fordow nuclear facility and had evacuated the equipment and nuclear fuel there; there was no irreparable damage, the politician said.

However, satellites from the US space agency NASA are recording a fire on the slopes near the above-ground part of the nuclear complex. According to some information, there are ventilation shafts there. Apparently, the US Air Force considers this the most vulnerable place to attack, because these ventilation shafts themselves are the weak points of the bunker, making it easier for bombs to penetrate underground targets.

According to the statement of US President Donal Trump, the US military attacked three Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan. Of which, the Fordow nuclear facility was completely destroyed. President Trump declared that after the US airstrikes, Tehran must agree to "end this war" immediately.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran noted that US President Donald Trump himself took responsibility for the incident, but did not directly accuse Washington of the attack.

Mr Trump's decision marks an escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict since Israel began carrying out air strikes on Iran and represents the most serious foreign policy decision of his two terms.

Iran has confirmed the US attack on Iran. For obvious reasons, the results of the bombings were not made public, but the tone of the representatives of the republic has not changed – “there is no sign of surrender”, as the US wanted.

The US has not ruled out the possibility of Iran retaliating against US troops in the Middle East, with the White House particularly concerned about the "next 48 hours", NBC News reported, citing Trump administration officials. "The Trump administration is preparing for the possibility of retaliation from Iran, and the next 48 hours are of particular concern," NBC News said.

Iran could attack US military bases in the next two days, the Iranian military has been planning for this for a long time, all US bases are under threat of "a potential attack". However, after 48 hours, the possibility of Tehran taking retaliatory action will decrease. Currently, there is no sign that Iran is preparing for "retaliatory attacks".

Meanwhile, Iran’s Defense Ministry has published a post threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, thereby creating an oil blockade. There has been no threat of attacks on US military bases. “Oil tankers will not pass through the Strait of Hormuz to Europe,” the statement said. (Photo: Al Jazeera, IRNA, CCTV, Wikipedia)

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/my-chuan-bi-kha-nang-tra-dua-cua-iran-trong-48-gio-toi-post1549638.html