Iranian officials on Sunday assured their public there is “no danger” from U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, in an escalation of tensions between Washington and Tehran.
U.S. forces conducted coordinated strikes on Iran’s Natanz and Fordow nuclear facilities, which American officials claim were being used to rapidly advance uranium enrichment activities, in an attempt to cripple their ability to develop nuclear weapons. This action drew strong global reactions as well as fear of potential retaliation or regional conflict from many quarters.
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization dismissed any safety concerns at Natanz despite reports of widespread structural damage, in a televised press briefing spokesperson Behrouz Kamalvandi said there is “absolutely no danger to the public. Nuclear material remains safe; radiation leakage was nonexistent during and post attack” (Kamalvandi).
Iranian state media reiterated these assurances, showing footage supposedly depicting normal activities at nearby towns such as Isfahan and its surroundings where residents were walking through markets and schools were operating as usual. IRNA (the state-run news agency) reported: “Life goes on uninterrupted… the people of Isfahan and surrounding areas remain calm, strong, and united.”
U.S. Department of Defense officials have not provided all operational details, but sources confirm the strikes were conducted using precision-guided munitions launched from stealth aircraft operating with regional allies in coordination. American officials described this action as an effective “defensive measure” designed to prevent Iran from reaching a nuclear threshold threshold.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the attacks as a “cowardly act of aggression,” vowing that U.S. would face consequences in response. However, Iranian officials have yet to declare immediate military retaliation against American aggression.
Iran has ramped up diplomatic pressure, filing formal complaints with the UN and calling for an emergency session of Security Council. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian issued a statement which read, ‘The Islamic Republic reserves its right to respond appropriately while upholding safety and dignity of our people.”
Concerns have been expressed among international observers over the strikes’ potential impacts on environmental and public health. On Sunday, experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated they had seen no immediate evidence of radioactive contamination in the region but stressed “independent verification”.
Iranian public sentiment was mixed. While national media urged calm, social media platforms saw a surge of posts from citizens near Natanz, some expressing fear while others sharing patriotic messages with hashtags such as #NoFearIran trending on Iranian networks.
Global reactions remain mixed; US allies like Israel and the UK supported Operation Protective Edge while the European Union encouraged both sides to de-escalate. Russia and China issued statements condemning it as violating international law.
As events progress, Iran’s attempts at projecting stability and minimizing panic will be put through rigorous scrutiny by both public opinion as well as what actions they take next in response to an already fragile geopolitical environment.
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