An adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the country had preserved its enriched uranium stockpiles despite US strikes on key nuclear sites. The US is preparing for possible attacks by Iran.
Iran retains enriched uranium stockpiles
“Even if the nuclear facilities are destroyed, it is not the end of the game. The enriched materials, knowledge and political will remain,” Ali Shamkhani wrote on the X platform.
He added that “the initiative lies with those who act wisely and avoid blind strikes. Surprises will continue.”
The US Department of Homeland Security has warned of an increased threat of terrorist attacks following airstrikes on Iran.
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The National Terrorism Warning System bulletin said “low-level cyberattacks” from pro-Iranian activists were expected.
The US also fears that an escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran could push extremists to commit violent acts or hate crimes.
Risks for the US after the Iran strikes
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a former U.S. Navy captain, warned that the U.S. strikes on Iran have significantly increased the risks not only for the 40,000 American troops in the Middle East but also for U.S. civilians.
“It could lead to terrorist attacks here at home. Iran has a lot of proxy forces and they could respond,” he told NBC News.
The strikes themselves were announced by US President Donald Trump, who said the attacks were carried out on three Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan.
“We have successfully completed the attack on three nuclear sites in Iran, including the main one, Fordow. All aircraft have left Iranian airspace. Everyone is returning home,” Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform.
The strike on Iran came two days after the White House said Trump would decide within two weeks whether to involve the United States in the conflict between Iran and Israel.
It was a major shift in rhetoric. Trump had recently been pushing for a diplomatic solution and sending envoys to Tehran for nuclear talks.
The conflict between Israel and Iran is now in its second week. The United States officially entered the conflict on June 21, striking Iranian nuclear facilities.
