US strikes Iran's three main nuclear installations

(Sharecast News) - US bombers hit all three of Iran's nuclear installations in a bid to halt Tehran's nuclear programme. Overnight, eight B-2 Spirit bombers launched 30,000lb. so-called 'Bunker Buster' bombs and ballistic missiles against uranium enrichment facilities at Fordow and Natanz, as well as the nuclear research centre at Isfahan.

In financial markets, attention will now switch to Iran's response, especially risks to oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, although any such attack would also hit its own economy extremely hard.

Following the strikes, President Donald Trump urged Iran to return to the negotiating table, adding that it otherwise risked further strikes, including if it struck at US targets.

On 19 June, Trump said that he would decide whether to attack in "at most" two weeks.

Some reports had however indicated that a decision was, in fact, expected over the next 48 hours.

Negotiations between Iran, the UK, France, Germany and the EU concluded on 20 June but without any date set for further contacts and Iran insisting that it would not negotiate while under attack.

Tehran has long held that its partially secret nuclear development programme was wholly peaceful, but many observers have long feared that its real aim was to - at least - come within a whisker of being able to build its own nuclear weapons in short order if deemed necessary.

No radiation fallout was reported following Saturday evening's attacks by the US.