E3 leaders urge Iran to show restraint, call for return to nuclear talks

US strikes on Iran’s Fordow nuclear site did not destroy the facility but severely damaged it, the New York Times reported citing unnamed US and Israeli officials.

It appeared Iran had moved equipment, including uranium, from the site, the report cited the officials as saying.

Even twelve bunker-busting bombs could not destroy the site, an unnamed senior US official said.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said on Sunday it would form a ministerial contact group to engage with international and regional actors to support de-escalation efforts and “stop the aggression against Iran.”

In a joint statement following a meeting of foreign ministers in Istanbul, the 57-member group condemned “the aggression of Israel” but made no reference to overnight US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

In a separate statement on Sunday, the OIC's General Secretariat expressed "deep concern" over US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.

"The US strikes are a dangerous escalation that could lead to heightened tensions and threaten regional security, peace, and stability," the statement read.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that if Tehran retaliates against US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, “it'll be the worst mistake they've ever made.”

Speaking to Fox News, he added that the United States is not looking for war in Iran.

The US top diplomat said Iran has highly enriched uranium in sufficient quantities in order to make at least nine or 10 nuclear bombs.

"They had it all in place, now not so much," he added.

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The United States deliberately limited the scope of its military operation on Iranian nuclear sites, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday, adding that Tehran has received direct messages about the strike.

“We conducted a precision strike in the middle of the night against three nuclear facilities in Iran, Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan,” Hegseth said, adding that the US “devastated the Iranian nuclear program, but it’s worth noting the operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people.”

“This mission was not, and has not, been about regime change.”

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine also described the operation’s execution: bombers departed from the US, with some flying west into the Pacific as a decoy.

Approximately 75 "precision guided weapons" were dropped, including 14 “Massive Ordnance Penetrators,” also known as bunker busters.

Hegseth said no shots were fired at US forces and that the bombers are returning home.

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