From the Skying Center. This is Paul Murray Live.
Good Evening, Welcome to special edition of the program. We will be on for the full two hours tonight. We expect before we are off the air tonight we will be hearing from the United States Secretary of Defense. He will be giving a briefing in Washington from the Pentagon Pete Heggzeth about the success as the President has put it,
the tremendous military success that has taken place. As we all were getting our thoughts together around brunch time today when Donald Trump made it formal what we all assume to be happening in the next few days, well, now it has happened. Now we are in a new place, which is of course that Donald Trump has bombed Iran, the three most significant of the military facilities, apparently with
an obvious connection to their nuclear ambitions. We have got a lot of guests both in Australia and around the world, including Shari Markson. Chris Kenny joined me here in the man Cave in a moment or two's time. Normally, Sunday Nights is the Table of Knowledge, that's where we talk about all sorts of big issues. But obviously this is what is going to dominate tonight, Dave Sharma, former Ambassador
to Israel and from the IPA, John Roscombe. But as I say, Sophie Ellsworth is in Israel as we speak, and we will get to a lot as it all happens, because, believe it or not, there is still plenty that is happening after the headline became clear. Now let's check the time. It is now just about half past eight on the East coast of Australia, Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Well right now in Washington, DC, the sun is just coming up.
It is seven am. They're live again. We will not hear from Donald Trump in the next couple of hours, but we will hear for the man who was in the situation room with him watching those B fifty two bombers drop that massive payload. So you will hear from Pete Hegseth very shortly. The retaliation from Iran is taking place right now where it is about one point thirty in the afternoon now in Israel, and in fact there is a very significant damage. The expectation is that there
are going to be casualties here. But remember the network of bomb shelters that exist under virtually every major structure in Israel means that many people are safe. But of course you don't know that these things are coming. There is all sorts of warning systems in place. I'll talk to Shari specifically about that. Of course, she experienced that herself in the past few months, about how that system works. But there is a lot of devastation as Iran is
uping its game in its response to Israel. In terms of Iran itself. Right now, I can tell you that it is two o'clock in the afternoon. They are thirty minutes further down the timeline from Israel. We are beginning beginning to see some pictures from Iran. But there is some satellite imagery which is now starting to make its way around Global News. I'll bring that to you tonight
about exactly the main site. Now, remember the whole the Americans needed to do the bombing was because they were the only ones with the bomb and with the planes to carry the bomb to specifically blast away at one of three major nuclear sites in Iran. Those the one that of course was the main focus was the one that was underground. And again, some satellite photos starting to come through and Pete exit with much more information in
a moment or two's time. Now, all of our guests, all of the expert all of the different opinion, including some of the talking points that are starting to come out of Iran. But first five things is always when there's major news to tell you about. And five things that I think you need to be across tonight after an extraordinary day both in the United States and in the Middle East and its effects when it comes to
the safety of the rest of the world. Now Number one, Trump hit hard, he hit fast now because of the flying time and about exactly where these planes took off from, they were able, with some refueling, to be able to involve in potentially as long as a thirty hour flight. The expectation was that it may not have been that lot. Again, Pete,
Hegxeth will give us the TikTok. And by that I don't mean the Chinese surveillance app I mean that what happened when the minute by minute of all of this again around brunch time today in Australia, we got Donald Trump confirming what he said was going to happen at some point in the next two weeks. Well, it, of course,
happened within a couple of days. Specifically, it seems to have been aimed in and around the weekend, one because there wouldn't be as many people in those facilities, and two because there is going to be a potential response from Iran that may well affect the world oil price. I'll explain that in a moment, But first the President informing the world that he had taken the step to help Israel and kill off the Nikoo ambitions of Iran.
Toned I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Around's key nuclear and Richmond facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Around the Bully of the metal least must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks would be far greater and a ludd easier.
Now, remember, the balancing act for this president specifically, was that he was called on by the Israelis to use the technology that they did not have. Now, as you know, over the past two weeks or so, Israel had been pounding pretty heavily away at the Iranian regime, the Iranian
regime firing back into Israel. But obviously, the only way to get inside that mountain to be able to break away where much of the work was being done to enrich uranium, to move it all the way up past anything to do with conventional nuclear power, but to move it all the way up to weapons grade. Well, depending on particular batches and depending on particular intelligence services, some of that was at twenty percent, some of us at
fifty percent. Some of it was apparently on its way towards eighty percent of being able to get to the place where they'd be able to use it for a boy. So, of course, the men who campaigned against Forever Wars in many way putting together a coalition of people who say they had learnt the lessons out of long time interventions into the Middle East, like places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Well, the message that he puts out there today is that this is as far as he is willing to go now.
But what around does next means America has every right to respond.
There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left to Night's was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal but if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes.
Now, I know that there's a lot of AI generated images about exactly what to place, as if somebody was being able to film the incident. Obviously, no one's been able to do that, with the exception of the United States itself. And as I say, by the time we're done tonight a two hour version of pal Maria Live this Sunday night, we should have some of those pictures
in and around some of the operation. Because remember, in and of itself, the United States has now shown that it is willing to use the technology, but for obvious reasons, also doesn't want to show too much of its hand about how this technology gets used, not just in terms of the bombs, but also in terms of those planes. And again, some of them were based in and around Guam, some suggestions they might be in lots of other places
around the world. They apparently were in and around the Pacific according to some who have been monitoring those movements. But again they're stealth fighter For obvious reasons, we're not supposed to know as to where they have hit really important to see. Okay, now there are more than just three places inside Iran where there is some sort of nuclear industry. Now, this could be everything from the serious bunker that needed to be blown up that's in and
around that fourdoh base. That's why they had to remember bash in. It goes about twenty stories down, multiple explosions as it goes, and then like any other sort of provision precision ordinance, you've got to drop another one after that and try to go down a hole, but expand it as well. There's obviously those two other locations, but that's not the only nuclear facilities. The assumption from the Americans apparently is that the Israelis will be able to
handle those, but all of those seemingly above ground. But again, Donald Trump keen for the world to know that in just a few hours they can change the world, change the trajectory of history, and if pushed, they'll do it again.
For forty years around has been saying death to America, death to Israel. They've been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs with roadside bombs.
That was their specialty.
We'll loss over and people, and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East and around the world have died as a direct result of their hate. In particular, so many were killed by their general cassem solemony. I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue.
So again, you know that Trump hit hard and fast. Number two of the five things that I want to mention before we get into these broader conversations again. Sherry Marks and Chris Kenny, they joined me in a moment or two time. But put simply, Iran will decide what happens next. Now, obviously Israel will continue its campaign to try to remove as much of the military capability of Iran. But in terms of whether the United States comes back into all of this again, well, we get to hear
what the Iranians have to say. Now. They have given a press conference in the past ninety minutes or so. There's pretty strong messages that are coming across the propaganda vicev. But in terms of their foreign minister, he's been very clear to say or try to cast that he was involved in a campaign of diplomacy. It's the Israelis in the United States that have blown things up. But of course, as always with these stories, what about before, what about before?
What about before? This is a story that is decades in the making, and obviously, as we said at this moment, it's a fork in the road about where it goes from here? Here in part was the Iranian officials speaking in Istanbul tonight.
You say that you need to respond right now, but we know that Iranians are known for their talents and negotiations and diplomacy and trade. What would were the conditions after responding for Iran to come back to a negotiation table, maybe with the US as well. And Turkya has been offering that Ankara can mediate for its try later all between Turkey, US and Iran. What would be your response to that? Because right now the US is technically involved in this conflict, it is.
Irre irrelevant to ask Iran to return to diplomacy because we were in the middle of diplomacy. We were in the middle of talks with the United States when Israelis blew it up. And again we were in the middle of talks and negotiations with Europeans. Happened only two days ago in Geneva, when this time Americans decided to blow it up. So we were in diplomacy, we were what we were attacked militarily. So it was not Iran but
the US who betrayed the plomacy. They betrayed negotiations when at the middle of negotiations with US they gave green light to Israelis, if not instructed them to attack Row's nuclear facilities. I think they have proved that they are not men of diplomacy and they only understand the language of threat and force.
Interesting word war not used. Does that suggest that there's going to be some limited response here, Well, at the very least there is a consideration from the Supreme Leader, the military officials, many of which of course had been killed. And metaphorically, once you cut the head off the snake and other will grow somewhere else. So the idea the entire military is disappearing around is obviously not true. But
there'll be people stepping into those roles. And as I said to you, while the back and between Iran and Israel, Israel and Iran has been obvious, the damage that is happening, and these are the latest pictures that happened just around the start of the day in Tel Aviv. Remember, of course, it's full up and around lunchtime there. Now, that is
an awful lot of damage right now. But because of those bombshellders I've spoke about before fingers crossed, we'll have the scenario of well fewer casualties, but there's going to be problems here Jerusalem. We've got some pictures from there as well. This is a live picture of what is happening there. Some stills photography which is starting to pop up. And remember during all of this breaking new stuff the homepage skynews dot com that I use, sky News dot
Com that I use. The stills are particularly moving about people saving children in the streets of Israel. Now, the reason that I say that it's all up to Iran what happens next? Can I show you this next graphic. This is from the New York Times. Basically every red dot, depending on its shade, is where American troops are. Now obviously Kuwait, which is just to Iran. That would be a place obviously incredibly easy for Iran to be able to aim at. Now currently there's the situation involving Israel
that in and of itself is dire. But obviously we've seen that the Israeli government has been able to handle that. The next stage the ratchet up here is if Iran starts to aim itself towards any of those red dots. Now, obviously, if it's able to make its way from Iran to Israel, they're able to shoot something from Iran to Kuwait. But have a look at this one again New York Times, where there's short range missiles at four hundred and thirty five miles will clearly cover off where the Americans are
in Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE or Qatar. Now, obviously there's all of the geopolitical reasons as to why Iran doesn't shoot at some of those countries, but the idea about American facilities being that close. This has been one of the concerns about the sowats neck about the day after, okay, the day after, the week after, the month after, the year after those red dots. As you can see as well,
why they're able to get so many in towards Israel. Again, their medium ranges anywhere between that four thirty five and twelve hundred miles. All right, Third thing I want to mention tonight, obviously, Israel is safer because of the actions of the President of the United States. Now they have been asserting themselves to make sure that a country that does not just have an ambition of a nuclear bomb, but an absolute stated ambition to wipe it off the map.
That this is pushing Iran right back. Now. As you know, the Israelis have for a long period of time, well the past couple of weeks, i should say, been hitting all around lots of military stuff. Here again is a map from the New York Times. Every little dot there is where some of those missile strikes have fallen. The reason the Americans get involved is because there's this one place it's really difficult. You've got the gear. You're on
our side. Again. When you actually have a look at Tehran, their capital, you can see even further about just how many have not just been in and around the left hand side of the country, as you would say, having
a look at the map here closer to Israel. But once you start to thump around you can start to see lots of different things, including things like their state broadcaster, fuel depots, communications, all of course necessary when you're trying to blind what Iran can do, because even in its weakened state, it's still able to cause a lot of
damage right now in Israel. For his part, Benjamin Etnia, who made a statement pretty briefly today but powerfully in response to the actions of the President today, have a look.
Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous mind of the United States will change history. In Operation Rising Line, Israel has done truly amazing things. But in tonight's action against the On's nuclear facilities, America has been truly unsurpassed. It is done what no other country on Earth could do. History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's
most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapons. His leadership today has created a pivot of history that can help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace. President Trump and I often say peace through strength. First comes strength, then comes peace. And tonight President Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength. President Trump, I thank you the people of Israel, thank you the forces of civilization. Thank you. God bless America,
God bless Israel. And may God bless our unshakable alliance, our unbreakable fears.
Right the next time, I'm not going to spend a lot of time on because they are, yes, part of the discussion, but they're not the main game. I want to focus on the main game because we are still in breaking news coverage because of the first military response from Iran, the political response as well, and then the latest news we're about to get out of Washington, d C. But the fourth one I want to tell you about is, yes, MAGA is strained over this issue. Okay, however, it's not
going to break. Firstly, apart from anything else, we are barely and I think what in the next couple of days, six months into a presidency which is going to go for four years. Okay, many of the people who have bashed the tables with whatever intent, they all know that their proximity to Trump in many ways is their power. Their access to Trump is their power. I'm not imagining that any of them are going to want to burn that bridge with so much of a presidency still to go.
So that's the first thing to note. But Steve Bannon, who of course at one point worked with the President, went to jail for not giving evidence upon subpoena in and around January sixth, as Maga's MAGA gets his program. The war Room is basically the id of the Mega movement. He actually had lunch with Donald Trump the day that he came out and said the two week thing. This was read by a whole bunch of people as I he's listening to Magaworld, he's holding back, but obviously Steve
Bannon after saying, don't go there. It's a quagmire. All the rest of it. Well, he had rolling coverage himself in the United States today and it's pretty fair to say on early counts he falls in line.
President of the United States. Nate made probably the biggest and boldest move of his first or second term.
Right.
What he doesn't want to do is get dragged in this thing, as we talked about earlier, so that it overwhelms his presidency.
And while he didn't want to go all the way to the full bended knee, et cetera, etc. A MAGA loyalist, former Congressman in Matt Gates was brought on by bad And as a guest to say this. So the smoke signals coming out of the War Room, it's going to be okay in terms of magaland there.
Is no greater force for peace in this world today than Donald Trump.
That man deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Peace Prize discussion happening right now, by the way, Pakistan is actually nominated or Pakistani official has nominated Trump in relation to the Pakistan and India situation. Fifth one, Albo and wog out in the cold. I will not waste a further second, but basically, de escalate, de escalate, de escalate
is where they sit. Let's get into the conversation right now with my colleagues who have been very patiently watching me surmise the five things that I think people need to know, and we go from there. Sharry Markson. Of course, you can see at the eight o'clock hour astral in Eastern time each and every weeknight here and at five o'clock you can see when Primetime kicks in and common sense begins and the great Chris Kenny at five pm.
All right, Sharry, when you heard it, we know in your editorials in the lead up to it, there was a clear choice. It was obvious choice you wanted to be made. The choice has now been made. So what do you think.
Look, I think there's a lot of analysis at the moment about what next regime change. Can we just sit for a moment and say thank you, thank you to the President of the United States, because this move today makes Israel, makes the Jewish people, and makes the entire world, the whole of Western civilization, a safer place. This was a bold move. I had confidence he was going to make the right call until yesterday, and I even expected
it would be this weekend. But then yesterday, when he put that two week time frame on it, I thought the maga isolationists have got to him. I was starting to lose confidence. And then to wake up this morning and I heard about a couple of hours before the strike happened that it was going to happen. You know, we can't overstate how significant this is. For me to sit here and say Iran no longer poses a nuclear existential threat to Israel, to the Jewish state in the world,
is unbelievable. Yes, I am happy, haven't I haven't felt so happy for a long time. This has been Israel's greatest enemy for the for you know, decades, well since post nineteen seventy nine, and Iran's financing was partly behind the massacre on October seven. That's no secret that part of the reason October seven even happened is because Israel was becoming close to a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia,
which Iran needed to stop happening. But as a result of those attacks, Israel is now in the most secure position it's been in a very long time. And I really hope that this is now the start of a pathway to peace, that after removing the nuclear threat of Iran and perhaps more, we'll see how far they go. That now Nada Yahu and Trump can continue to work together, get the normalization deals on the table, expand that Abraham accords from Trump's first term, and we could be looking
at an entirely new Middle East. There's everything to celebrate about this, right, Chris, your.
First take, and then we'll get into the mini sides of this.
Yeah, I look it similar to Shari, but I think you've got to broaden this out. The world is a safer place today it has been for a year or so thanks to Israel. What Israel has been able to do to Iran and as proxies, and now with Trump coming in, and I believe it was always inevitable that the US military action would occur in this way. I think Benjamin nettinaw who made it inevitable by Israel taking the first action here against those nuclear facilities. America had
to finish it. And if you want to play politics, I believe any American president would have done this, whether it was a Barba or Joe Biden or Bill Clinton. It was always going to happen. But I think people at home need to understand what's happened here.
If you go back two years.
Ago, Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons. All of the Western world was worried about that, especially Israel of course, but America, all the European nations, Australia, We're all imposing sanctions to try and stop this happening. The whole of the Middle East was worried about it. Iran was funding and organizing Humas in the south of Israel. They were funding and organizing Hezballah in Lebanon and Syria. They were funding and organizing the uties in Yemen.
And what happened after.
October the seventh, the atrocity that was which has been so terrible for Israel, and the trauma goes on. Three more hostages returned dead today, but what people don't understand is in the war since then, thanks to Israel's military action, Iran has been smashed. Hummas has been almost wiped out, Hesballa has been almost wiped out, the Hooties cut off, and also Iranian missile capacity and air defense is knocked out.
So the job was nine tenths done.
And now America's come in and finished off with these nuclear nuclear strikes. The most malevolent force in the Middle East has now been put back in its box. Now that's not just good for Israel, that's good for Lebanon, for Syria, for Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States, for Europe, for the whole world. And I think that, yeah, there are uncertain times in the days ahead, but most certainly Iran will not be the malevolent threat it's been for the last forty five years.
Now, again we're going to bounce in and out of our view on this about just how granular or the thirty thousand foot version. Again, as we're starting to see some pictures that are now coming out of Israel about what the Iranian military response has been. This stuff looks a lot more physically devastating than what we've seen over the past few days. But again, as both of you know about the bomb shelter, when Australians read about this is basically they're one at the end of each street.
Is there a basement underneath most buildings. So when we see something that looks like it's turned to matchticks fingers crossed, most people got downstairs. What's it like there?
Yeah, and you adjust there, Chris, Well.
That's why that's why the casualties casually counts are so low. Say building like this, we're in an office building here with an underground car park. What's happening in Israel now is you get at least ten minutes warning with these missiles coming in from Iran? Said, because so they've got great interception and surveillance mechanisms. So people have ten minutes and they'll come down from the offices or flats above and they'll go down into.
The car park.
The car park is effectively becomes the bomb shoulder, and everyone will hang in there as long as they need to. And then sure, and when you see these devastating hits where buildings have been almost completely obliterated, very few casualties because everybody's in the basements underneath. Now you know there have been deaths, there have been injuries, and we don't want any but that's why they've been able to keep them so low.
And again it just proves the point about why this action had to take place. Iran doesn't hesitate to hit civilian site, so that's what they're taught. I mean, Israel has been targeting the military and nuclear facilities in Tehran and right around Iran, whereas Iran hit the Soroco hospital in Bearsheva on Thursday, it's hitting residential buildings. It's only targeting residential areas. So if they had a nuclear weapon, can you imagine the damage they do. That's why it
was an existential threat. And I think eighty six people have been wounded according to the Times of Israel and the latest hits today. I think something went wrong. There was a failed interception, but I expect that the retaliation will hopefully get less and less now though there are concerns about sleeper cells in the West and potential terror attacks as well.
I was going to say, so this brings us to again, it's up to Iran what happens next. All right, Again, if we want to bring back those maps team, that'd be great. To see those little red dots about where all of the US military is. Again, the capacity, the ability for somebody get from Iran to Kuwait not exactly impossible, clearly closer than Israel and State TV, which I know they can distance themselves to somehow pretend is different than the regime. Of course, it's pr for the regime, just
like the CCP in China. They're openly now saying that all military, any civilian, is all now fair game. You can see they're the differences about what types of missile. So even if they're starting to run out of the stuff that's going to make it to Israel, clearly the stuff that wouldn't make it to Israel, they may well have plenty of goes to Kuwait. If a hair on the head of a single further American is in any way attacked by Iran, then we are off to something
very different from here. So again no one knows, but you're reading of things, guys about how Iran responds.
Well, we saw just a couple of days ago the Ayotola Ali Kamani said he does not intend to negotiate. There's going to be no surrender. He doesn't intend to negotiate. So I can't imagine why his position would change drastically from that. You know that they've been utterly humiliated, their nuclear sites destroyed. He's gripping onto power. I think that what happens now is most likely there might be an internal power struggle. There could be someone else within the
IIGC who challenges him for power. The concern is, you know, we all want to be rid of this radical Islamist extremist regime that's been terrorizing the world, committing terror tacks on Israel. But the concern is, well, what would come next? Would that variation be worse, would it be more repressive for the Iranian people, would it be more dangerous?
We don't know.
I mean, you know, to completely have an Iranian uprising and become a democracy, that's the ideal dream scenario. But how you get that seems unlikely Immediately.
When you look at that map, Paul, and you see what Iran has been able to do in Israel with its missiles, you know it could still do damage to American or other interests in the region. Now points on that though, one that's comforting, and that is it would be madness, right, It would be literally madness for them to broaden the war out, especially to bring in an American retaliation like that, because they would be obliterate.
They have no hope.
They're seriously depleted now thanks to weeks of attacks from Israel. It would be madness on their parts. So that's the comforting thought. But the second point is it's the worrying thing that is, they are not rational actors.
The Iranian government is.
A theocratic regime, a theocratic dictatorship. It is sure, there are many, many educated and sophisticated operatives in Iran.
It's a very sophisticated country.
But the people who call the shots, the Tyler and the other mullas, these are religious fanatics who believe that they have a god given mission to destroy Israel and death to America and everyone else as well. I've been to TEHRANO, I've met with these people. It's frightening to see their take on the world. So that is the trouble. You can't think this through rationally because you're not dealing with rational actors.
It's also interesting how increasingly isolated Iran is. I mean, we barely heard a word of objection. I mean, the most basic word of objection really from China and Russia that they didn't step in in any serious way. So Iran is completely isolated here. It has no friends, it has no power based, no one else arguing its case. In fact, he's.
Turning up in Moscow tomorrow, the Foreign Minister. He's going to meet Putin and he's going to ask Putin for help. But I think Putin says, hey, mate, I've got plenty on my plate. I can't do much for it. We will see that will be critical, right well.
Interestingly, interestingly, remember, of course, before all of this, in the back and forth of a couple of days, that Donald Trump was saying that at some point Fladmir Putin in a phone call with them, We're saying, look, I'll help negotiate, of course, which the President's response was the OK, pal, you're involved with your stuff right now. That said, there are some nation states that have come out very strong against it, places like Saudi Arabia, but of course they
are about to turn on the United States. Well, no, the President was just there.
Let me jump in there, mate, let me jump in there. Let me tell you something close. Saudi Arabia will be absolutely grateful to America and Israel for doing this Saudi Arabia, I was worried about Iran, as Israel has been almost over the last couple of decades. So they have to say that as a Muslim nation, they have to condemn this action. But I'm telling you, behind the scenes, the Saudis are applauding America and Israel and saying go for it.
So again, right, so sorry, you're going to get their glasses. It's breaking news. The Foreign Ministry condemned and denounced the violation of Iran's sovereignty and said it followed with deep concern and every effort should be made to de escalate. So they've taken the wrong position, and we'll get to that in a second. The Iranian foreign minister now again, so let's imagine good, normal Iranian people. They've got state
TVs at them. From one thing, then there's of course the people that are outside that get to see the messages that are being said by that Iranian foreign minister who's currently not in the country. He's in Turkey where he's in Istanbul. He made some comments there this evening, and the talking point that seems to have moved from what he has said where he hasn't used the word war. He's talked about aggression and cruelty, but not the W word. In fact, this is him saying that, and then I'll
add to it in the moment. What the talking point is.
The war mongering.
A lawless administration in Washington is solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and far rich and implement implications of its act of aggression.
But the talking point that's starting to run through here is that people who are involved in the Iranian nuclear program are trying to through a whole bunch of friendly media and international met start to say things like, well, who cares that you hit? Who cares that you hit the mountain? We already moved a whole bunch of stuff out. Here's some satellite photos of twelve days ago, and a
whole bunch of trucks. Even the International Atomic Energy Association that the main people who monitor will would inspect things like nuclear weapons. The response to them Iran has been, well, you know, you may know about that one, but there's a whole bunch you don't know about here. Now again, you could see that a crumbling regime trying to save face could be just smearing garbage everywhere. Why wouldn't it. However, the reality was that there were three places that were hit.
And again all day we've heard so many different stats and numbers that are starting to sort of blend together, but these are not the only three places that has some relevance to the nuclear capacity of Iran. So what do you say about that talking point that they are trying to push out to the rest of the world.
Israel had already done some seventy five percent of the job in terms of destroying Iran's nuclear sites and many military sites as well. I mean, they've destroyed about fifty percent of their ballistic missile launchers.
Now the sites that.
The US hit today four doh, of course Estefan and Atans now Estefan and a tons. They didn't even need the B two bombers, is my understanding. That was done with Tomahawks, and it was just finishing off the job. Israel had already done about seventy five percent of that. The US went in to finish off the job. Now Fourdah is obviously the nuclear the fuel enrichment facility that we've been talking about the whole world has been talking about for the past week. That's south of Tehran. Underneath
Mount Alvint. Now that was the one that was eighty to ninety meters underground, and that was the one that required the specialist technology. The B two bombers carrying the bunker bunker busting bombs that the US did use sixteen thousand kilograms each for those bombs. Now you now, Israel has the best intelligence in the world. Mossad has shown that with the page Or operation, has shown that with the Tehran strike, has shown that time and time again
over the past twenty months. If they come out, if we are told that those sites have been annihilated, I would trust Massad one hundred percent. And this is part of the game of deception we've been seeing. Do you remember the media reports two weeks ago that Trump had asked NED and Yahoo not to take any military action in Iran to avoid death and destruction.
That was false.
That was part of the deception, so that the nuclear scientists and the military chiefs didn't go into hiding in their bunkers. They were there sleeping happily in their beds when Israel came and took them out in the middle of the night. So deception has been a big part of this game. Israel knows where they are, they know where the sites are, and we have to trust the President of the United States and not some nutters on the internet when he says they've been obliterated.
So again that talking point, because again that I've listened to some discussions in other places and they'll turn around and say, well, hang on, you know, because the Orange man bad Oh, maybe they haven't hit everything. Maybe this isn't half as successful as it seems. Maybe he's going to get dragged back in because literally towards the left and wait till I show some of the political reaction in the United States is they are casting this as
a giant, giant mistake. So therefore they are echoing what they're hearing back from Tehran that despite the bluster, it didn't work.
Well, That's why I was keen to say at the start of this discussion that the world is a safer place now and that all preceding presidents would have done taken the same action here. This is not something that's come up in the last six months or even in the last twenty months. Since October the seventh, it has been a threat that successive American presidents of both a Democrat and Republican have said we need to stop around getting a nuclear weapon. All of the leaders of European nations,
the United Nations, thea Australia. It has been a global consensus about stopping this happening.
It's just been the.
Pathetic diplomacies failed to deliver on it, and now it's happened physically. And just on that point, I agree with everything Shari said about how detailed the Israeli action has been and they've taken out these other sites and the expertise they've taken out, the nuclear scientists that would do all this work.
But you do have to worry.
There's four hundred kilograms of sixty percent enriched uranium somewhere in Iran. Now it's either been blown up with these bombs or they would have could have shifted it in the last few weeks. I would have thought that Mossad and the CIA, American and you'd be looking to.
Find out where is that enriched uranium.
Now that can't be made into a nuclear weapon straight away. It would need more, more enrichment, They would need to get more centrifuges. But yeah, I think the are two points. So it's been very thorough this, but I think the reconnaissance and intelligence on the back of this to make sure it's done properly will be ongoing.
Yeah. Well, and again that idea that the idea that oh Trump was brought into this two minutes before the end, wasn't really aware of what was going on. But as you say, there's plenty back and forth here of the part of the wall. Now can I just turn too as somebody But just.
On that point, by the way, President Trump said today, and I loved the line. He said that he'd been working with Bib Netanyahu as a team, perhaps the best team ever, so Trump, but everything's the best ever.
This has been.
You know that they might have the odd difference, but this has been a terrific partnership, unlike how difficult it was for Israel under Joe Biden. Well, and I don't have your confidence, by the way, Chris, that every president would have handled this, because we've seen other presidents choose to strike so called you know, trade deals where billions are given to a run which ends up sure finance.
The difference here, though, it was that Israel had taken eighty percent of the action the job, and you're in a situation now where Iran's on the back foot, most of their nuclear activity taken out. The whole world knows it needs to be taken out.
So it was.
It was almost a gift given to the president.
You've got I'm not Kamala har They would have been saying ceasefire, de escalate like Penny Wong does.
Kamala would have been laughing five. Who would have been asleep?
You know, I think think of a reasonable one Clinton, go back to Clinton or Obama.
Maybe those Democrats would have done it all right.
Now, now again some of the reaction inside the United States to the left of politics. Now again we spoke about the mega stuff. It is a sideshow to the reality of how the world has changed today. But of course, in the United States, the capacity of a president to be able to start something without having to go and get permission first from Congress is an area where that
has often can be debated. Now, generally speaking, the theory of the executive power of the president, generally speaking, seems to win out, presumably if this was litigated all the way up to a Supreme Court that is dominated by its current justices that have previously said things like if it's an official act, it's not a you get that.
Generally speaking, it would probably fall Trump's way. But if there's a question, we know there are people that want to go there, And he's part of the explanation about people who are suggesting that the action that the president took and not asking Congress first would be grands for a potential impeachment. This doesn't happen to morrow, doesn't happen
next year. But remember, if the Democrats get control of the House in November of next year, they'd be in exactly the position they had been twice before to be able to impeach, not removed, but impeach the president for the third time.
Look, I think the most striking things that we've heard from Capitol Hill is that in the past couple of moments, so Seawan Caston, who is a Democrat from northern Illinois, he has said that this is an unambiguous impeachable offense. He's saying, I don't think we have the votes to impeach, he said, but you don't do this with our congressional approval.
So let's get to all of that. The idea that again the orange Man, bad crowd, and again, but if you've been watching, and you wouldn't have been un less a push on the flash app fairly available flash news dot com dot au to sign up to is you'd be watching MSNBC. That's the sort of left wing cable news station.
Right.
They are basically saying Trump started World War three, it's all his fault. Dumbest thing ever. So that's what all this garbage is playing to. But Chris again, knowing how much the Australian media loves first of the Orange Man bad, secondly loves the process story all the rest of it here and despite the fact they've said logically you got to wait a long time and a lot's going to
go your way, and it probably doesn't. But this question of basically, is he involved in a war by dropping one series of ordinance on one night or you can get away with that one and done, meaning you don't have to go to Congress.
Yeah.
Look, he's the commander in chief and he obviously has the ability, the authority, and indeed the duty to act in this way. Look, having seen the way the left globally have effectively supported Hummas over the past twenty months, nothing surprises me. But they're now talking about this is some sort of unilateral active aggression by the United States.
Even American Congress people are saying that that is absolutely outrageous, And He's going to think about what people are saying here if they're trying to say that America and Israeli the aggresses here. They are giving a leave pass to the Islamic Republic of Iran for supporting and facilitating the
slaughter and atrocities of October the seventh. They're giving them a leave pass for having Hezbollah in Syria and Lebanon raining down rockets on civilian areas of Israel for month after month after month.
They're giving a leave.
Pass to the Hooties for attacking ships in the Gulf and also sending missiles into Israel, hitting airports and civilian areas. They're giving a leaf pass to Iran for directly targeting its missiles at Israeli cities, at suburban areas. This is a war crime, but the UN doesn't say, Didley squat about it? They're too focused on humanizing Israel and the US.
Now people have to think logically about the appalling regime that Iran is, the horrible atrocities they've either committed themselves or facility facilitated others to deliver and talk.
That they would. They have been trying to get a nuclear weapon.
That's not in question that the International Atomic Energy Agency has been trying to check this and they've been hiding stuff from them. The whole of the world, the EU and all the European nations, all those lefty nations you all like, and Democrat presidents and the like, they've all been onto this trying to stop this happening. So if you want to stand back and say it was okay to let this happen and let them get a weapon to fire at Jerusalem, I mean, give me a break.
People have to actually use some logic and some morality in these debates.
And it's not like Trump rushed into this. I mean he spent five months negotiating, five or six rounds of negotiations. Even last week he was urging Iran to come to the table, and on Thursday that Ayatolda said there will be We're not coming back to the negotiating table. We're
not going to surrender. He couldn't have done more. And just to add to your list, Chris as well, that's not to mention all of the countless terror attacks on Americans, on American that Iran has committed over decades, and there's you know, this weak need response constantly from the international community where they don't want to take any military action.
And what we saw today and I don't know was it was explicitly mentioned by Ned and YEAHO it was he said peace through strength, that Reagan face, peace through strength. You need America to show deterrence that was lost when Biden withdrew from Afghanistan in the appalling way he did. There has been no American deterrence. America has not been the leader of the free world really since then. That wars have started up that returns now China and Russia. This sends a strong message to them as well.
Yeah, exactly. Well, and remember Obama with the red lines and all of that stuff. This is a moment where Hey told you sixty days, you got sixty days to come up with something, sixty days to start to show me you're pulling this thing apart. Welcome to sixty one, sixty two. Once we're going past the sixty this is what's happening. By the way, Bernie Sanders doing his bit to try to talk again about how unconstitutional of this is.
And then let's turn our attention to our leadership here, and then Sophie Ellsworth will join us in moment or two from Israel. You're watching a two hour edition of Paul Murray Live, where we will also be hearing from the US Defense Secretary Pete Exeth in a moment or two's time.
And I want to tell you something.
Not only is this news that I've just heard the second alarming that.
All of you have just heard, but it is so grossly unconstitutional.
All of you know.
That the only entity that can take this country to war is the US Congress.
The president does not have the right Paul, the left have just lost it.
One thing I just wanted to mention to you the complicating factor here when you go outside this particular issue.
Of course, we talked.
About how Putin is going to be critical or the Iranian foreign minister going there.
They're asking him for help.
Of course, Trump and the rest of the Western world needs Putin's help to end the war in Ukraine. Putin is a savvy operator to stay out of Iran, to make sure he doesn't give support to Iran. He might try and strengthen his hand in Ukraine watch out for that in coming days.
The Australian government wants de escalation now. Of course, if we followed every single time the Australian Government says pull back, well, history would be very different after the period of time
of October seventh. Certainly those very groups we've been talking about tonight that have been able to launch missiles, to interrupt trade, to keep things coming from the north, and even the situation now of remember, if the Iranians was let's say, sixty seventy eighty percent close enough to a bomb, you just keep gibbering until you get tow one hundred percent right, I'll push it off, push it or push it off. Well, that's basically what the Australian government's position
has been through all of this. Andrew Hasty has spoken on the behalf of the opposition in the past couple of hours. His response a little more clear ride and I would suggest where the majority of Australians are when it comes to stopping a country having a nuclear bomb that has promised promised to wipe another one off the map.
This is a regime committed to the destruction of Israel, and our allies like the United States it's also a highly repressive regime which has persecuted women, dissidents are religious minorities, and that is why we support the actions today.
All right, of course, So Penny Wong Foreign Minister, de Escalation Prime Minister about a week ago said that it wasn't Australia's war. I won't lie as somebody who not quite Maga wing but has been part of that hayo. I I want to get into the third version of difficult things over the past twenty years. I didn't hate that statement then, but certainly after action has been taken for the Australian government to basically go back to the GS. We wish it didn't happen. Position pretty weird, showy.
Look that the Australian government is so irrelevant now it has given up at seat at the table because of stupid statements like this. The night of October seven, when families were still searching for their loved ones, their bodies weren't even called yet, Penny one called for restraint. A week ago on Sunday, she went on Insiders after the Israeli strikes in Iran. She said she called for de escalation and dialogue. There was some equivalents between Iran and Israel,
calling for both sides to show restraint. Richard Miles this morning, two hours before the strikes, he didn't know they were coming. I'd heard about it. Why hadn't he? Is Australia not being shared information in the five Ice intelligence circles. Now he again was calling for a return to dialogue. Israel and Iran haven't had dialogue since pre nineteen seventy nine. What dialogue does he want them to return to? This is absurd, It is so the Australian government is useless.
How can they not endorse America and Israel removing the nuclear threat of Iran, a threat that that.
You know doesn't exclude Australia. It is utterly shocking.
That Albanezi can't say we welcome this, thank you President for making our world safer today. None of them can say it, and you know why, because of their blind hatred towards Israel. They can't say anything that endorses the actions of Israel. That's what it comes down to.
And we'll see whether we hide behind statements. We I hope things move on to another couple of days, or does he go to Nado where they'll be yet another and again the Australian media will get very excited about being able to do body language suggestions about potential meetings between the President and the Prime Minister. But again the Australian government response today just pathetic.
Paul just now.
I wrote in the Weekend Australian about this on the weekend, and then today with the military action happens, it's even more pathetic. They're still talking about de escalation and dialogue.
It's now.
The point here is for the reasons I've outlined earlier about how this action by Israel and America makes the world a safer place. Therefore, it's in Australia's strategic interests that we support this action. And we've been pathetic. We have not given Israel any support, or the US any support. For moral support, diplomatic support, none of our words have given them any support, and strategically it's in Australia's interest
to do so. Secondly, in moral terms, of course, as a nation that stands up for freedom and democracy, we should be standing for nations who are free and democratic against theocratic dictatorships.
That are trying to take them out. So on a moral level and on.
A strategic level, Australia should have supported this action and hasn't.
But the killer is the third point, and that.
Is they've actually hurt Australia's alliance relationship with the US by being so pissed weak.
All they had to do is do the right thing, and the bonus was guess.
What, Anthony Albernezi was actually quite useful to America. Sure, we haven't got all the money and weapons they would love. They're much bigger and more powerful than us, we all know that, but our voice of support in diplomatic circles as a free and democratic nations would have helped them. It helps them diplomatically, they would have liked it. We haven't even taken that opportunity.
And Penny One keeps claiming that she's taking this principled position. It's an unprincipled, unethical position in aligning herself with radical terrorist regimes instead of supporting those who try and take away that threat.
And the think again that let's imagine from the position that I don't want to repeat a rack, I don't want to repeat Afghanistan, but stud you can have the clarity that today was a good day, that today something
good had taken place. Right, So this idea that no matter the circumstances, the answer is always the same from the Australian government is so frustrating to watch here, right, and we know for all the obvious reasons, why with all the establishment media that will only view this in the way that it is, which is yet again, you know over each from Israel and Orange Man bad you
know the narrative that will be there all day every day. Well, of course, not everyone's favorite former prime minister, but certainly someone with that moral clarity was Scott Morrison when he appeared here a bit earlier in the day.
This was a necessary event. There were no other options available to the president. I think President Trump has been very clear about seeking to get.
An agreement with Iran.
This was completely rejected and made it very clear that there was no negotiation. Now there was the opportunity for complete capitulation.
All right, Like everyone at home, I've enjoyed this conversation very much, but I've got a whole bunch of guests that are currently circling like planes waiting to land. But a final thought from both of you will start with you, Chris.
Look, I think look in coming days for the countries that will welcome this, or when you look at somewhere like Saudi Arabia, they'll gently admonish it, but we know it makes life better. That one country to look out for here is Iraq, a very very strong SAR presence of the Shear in control in Iraq. They'll have a lot of sympathy for their enemies across in Iran, so
they could be ones to watch. But generally speaking, the world is a safer place because of this action, and because of that, I think we'll see some pleasing developments in days and weeks to come.
You good stuff sharing.
I just want to end by recognizing the incredible leadership. You know, most people in the media like to put down Israeli Prime Minister Benjaminatijahu and Donald Trump, as you say, but what we have seen that this is historic levels of courage, bravery of taking a bold step to destroy a nuclear existential threat not just for Israel, but a threat for the world. Nadi Yahoo and Trump should be given that credit buying their controversial figures.
They do that credit.
And I heard a couple of commentators today and I think it's spot on. Comparing US commentators, I should say Australian ones would never make this comparison, but comparing that moment to Ronald Reagan standing by the Berlin Gate and saying to Gorbachev, tear down the wall. And that's what the significance of what we've seen from Bibi and from Trump and the way they've worked together, the way also nedn Yah, because Israel did most of the heavy lifting.
The way he first dealt with her Mus, then he dealt with Hesbela, then when those threats were removed, because taking on a run when you've got it's proxy terrorist army Hesbela firing rockets over the boarder would have been extremely difficult. We've seen the Iron Dome already struggled in the weight of the incoming missiles from Tehran. So that you know, the strategy I think is just brilliant.
I know that. Again, there's a lot on You're both planning big shows tomorrow. Thank you for coming in tonight, Schry before us at o'clock east and tomorrow night and remember common sense kicks in at five o'clock with christ Any. Thank you guys, Thank you all right. Sophie Ellsworth is our colleague and she's joining us right now. In Israel, where she has been for the past couple of days, and she has seen the reaction. Sophie, love you to
see you mate, incredible stuff you saw a bit earlier. Today, we're literally billboards in the streets of Israel are thanking Donald Trump tonight.
Well, it's really amazing to be here in Tel Aviv.
And as you can see behind me, there are these electronic billboards that have just gone up in the last few hours saying thank you, mister President.
There's a real sense here on the ground of relief. In Tel Aviv. People are quite happy.
It's like a surreal moment, the devastation that they've been through in the tragedy that this country.
Has been through for so long.
That feels like there's a sense of just we can breathe now, we can smile, we can feel okay. I saw a man just in the street walking around in a President Donald Trump T shirt speaking to people in cafes because anything's here, Paula closed. They're relieved, they feel like they've got ahead of this, but it is not over yet. For we are just waiting here in Tel Aviv for that next siren to go off, for those next bone alerts to go off. It's very tense here
and you're just constantly worried. Like I'm standing on this freeway now and running through my head is thinking where am I going to be able to stop and run to a bomb shelter. You're just constantly thinking anything can happen here at any moment.
Interestingly, we're just getting some comments from merkias Starma which have happened in the past couple of minutes. I'll turn those around in a moment and show everyone. But I want to make the most of our little window with you here again. I spoke about it with Shari and Chris right, But for Australians to understand what happens in a daily sense that obviously, because of the physical distance between Iran and Israel, there's a little bit of time
to know how something's coming in, go downstairs? Is it basically every building, as Chris said before, it's down to the car parks. Give me just a couple of examples of just you in the past couple of days. You'll be in a random location and it's all people welcome off the street. How does it work practically?
So I was out on location the other day doing a story speaking to people who've just lost their homes. And the photographer and I were driving through the streets, you know, here in Israel, and we heard the sirens go off on our phones. It learns go off. We're in a moving car. You just see people, Paul.
They start running.
They're just running to the nearest house, the nearest location where there's a safe room or a bomb shelter. In our situation, there was a university that we were close to. We had to run into that university. It's very got heavy security. Forget all that doors open.
Gates open. People are rushing you in. Come, come, come. You're in these safe rooms, Paul. And you can feel the vibration and you can feel it happening under.
Your feet, and it's not great. You just think, when is this going to impact me or the next person. You just constantly worried. But today I was down on Tel Aviv Beach. I just walked out of my hotel. Sure enough, the emergency alert went on my phone. There
were people out in the ocean swimming. Now they don't have their phones on them, but suddenly the loud speakers all along Tel Aviv are yelling to people come in come in, get out of the ocean quickly, almost like what happens in Australia when there's a shark.
In the ocean. It's an emergency. Get out of there.
People just running in their swimsuits to the nearest hotel. Doesn't matter where they were saying, doesn't matter who they are, doesn't matter where they're from.
Get somewhere saved.
While we're talking, I'm obviously just checking a bunch of other sources and I'm having a look at some of the reportage which is coming from our colleagues in the UK, and it is showing just basically again a whole bunch of one, two story, four story buildings that where all the windows have been blown out, essentially the tiles have come off roofs, and its matchsticks. You would literally obviously
know that a bomb has gone off. But because of what you've just talked about, we're not talking about those casualty numbers. Again. As a visitor to a country like that at this extreme time, the emotional impact would be obvious. But if you get a chance to talk to a local, what do they talk about about this time and about the danger to property or they know the division between preserving life and danger to property that sometimes people in countries like ours don't always see.
So Paul, this morning I was out in central Tel Aviv talking to people on the ground, local Israeli's, Australians, even coming up Sky News viewers. We've got in the paper tomorrow several people We've spoken to you on the ground, locals who.
Say this is we're nervous.
While we thank Donald Trump for what he has achieved overnight, we are nervous. We're happy, but we're nervous. This is not over yet. Cafe was just talking to this morning at Barista and he said they just ran into the safe room behind the cafe, everyone in there. But then, Paul, an hour later, he can walk down the street and it's a weird feeling. People are just walking around, kids are playing. It almost feels like what happened, nothing happened
an hour ago. Things can change very quickly here. But as I have said on Sky the thing that shines through for me is the.
Resilience of the Israelis.
They band together, they stick together, and they are going to do everything they can to make sure they can come out of this as humanly possible unscathed.
But many people. As we know.
I've lost property, they've lost family members. The destruction is shocking, but there is a sense of hopeful and that's the message that I think Israelis really want to to stress to me.
But one thing I will add. There was one man at the cafe.
I said I was an Australian reporter and he was livid. He said, your government have done nothing for us and he told me to leave. It got very hostile. So things can turn here on the ground. As a reporter, people can welcome you in as a journalist, and others have reacted extremely badly once they know your form Australia. And that's just a sense of what is happening from my own experience.
Thank you, mate, what an extraordinary thing. Where over your shoulder those signs And then again people should always be lovely to Sayphi, she's gorgeous, she's delightful, and she's in it for all the right reasons. Mate. Thank you for everything you're doing, both print, Internet and telling mate, we really really appreciate it all the best. Thanks mate, Thanks Paul, didn't you great? The euro of correspondent normally for the company,
but she is currently in Tel Aviv. In Israel. Alex Rifkin, my apologies is from the Australian Council of Jury, and he joins us now, sorry Alex about getting titles and names wrong, but I'm trying to think about seventey things at once. So Alex, nice to see you. Obviously, we've seen you over many many months in Australia dealing with things like anti Semitism, but obviously as a person who's a great student of what's happening around the world. How do you feel about the blow that has been struck
on Iran? How decisive do you feel that it is?
Well, Paul, I feel like we're living through one of the most faithful moments in Jewish history and perhaps in world history. And what occurred today was a resounding blow by the United States, a spectacular demonstration of US power and also the strength of the relationship between Israel and the US. It hasn't always appeared that way to go to the previous administration, and when Donald Trump returned to power and was filling his administration, some were worried about
some of his choices. But I think it's abundantly clear where President Trump stands and whether it's in the course of the negotiations of Iran through the into midiary oman whether he realized at that point that there that they weren't serious, that they were simply using the negotiations to creep close and closer to a bomb, or whether he knew it all along, but whatever it was as a master's stroke, and partly through Israeli daring and power over
the past twenty months, but particularly last week or so in its preliminary strikes against the IRGC, the military and nuclear sides and scientists, and now this devastating blow by the US. I think they're well on their way to redrawing the Middle East and actually ushering in an era of peace for the long term.
We know that part of the rhetorical response from Iran is in part to suggest, look, you might have thought that this is where everything is, but we've moved it all around and there may well be other sites. Again, I don't want to ruin that feeling that has been building throughout the day of this being a seismic recorrection of what's taking place. But how should people take either with a grain of salt or as an insight into what the other hand may be planning what runs rhetorical response.
Is here, Well, I think there can be multiple truths at once. And on the one hand, I think very clearly Iran has been dealt a very devastating blow, and not merely in the last twenty four hours, in the last few weeks. But you look at what's happened in the past twenty months with their proxy armies in Gaza, in Lebanon, the SAD regime, this was really the vanguard of Iranian power projected abroad and they are now shattered, largely through Israeli power. The pager attack against Hasberlava full
of the SAD regime. What Israel's manat to accomplishing Gaza? All of this, But we can't underestimate the regime. This is not a proxy force. This is a country of ninety million people with a revolutionary regime that's embedded itself into every aspect of society. It has a very powerful internal militia, the Basiege, which maintains domestic power. It has the IRGC which projects to run in power abroad. It has a strong military. So this is not the last
whimp of the Ranian regime. And I think given what this regime has done in the past, in terms of international terrorism, I think we need to brace ourselves. We haven't seen the end of them, but certainly they've been dealt a very powerful blow. And looking at Donald Trump's statements, the intention is to now compel them, coerce them to negotiate, whereas previously they were just playing the world for fools and playing them like fiddles. And now they won't be allowed to do that any longer.
See. I'm so glad to hear you talk about that and that concept about those multiple truths, because it is something that has been dawning on me, something that I've been trying to read into, trying to help understand, to explain to everyone watching us this evening, that reality of yes, has a giant step been taken today? Absolutely? Is it the end, of course not. We know that literally runs ability to respond and cause damage, as we saw with
Sophie in Israel is still in existence. The ability potentially for other sites to be where other things have been taken when it comes to the nuclear program. Absolutely the case. But give me an idea about what you're hearing from friends and family in Israel about their sense of the past twenty four hours in what has been many many months and obviously many years of tension.
Well look, I think Sophie captured it very beautifully in her reporting just a few minutes ago. Certainly there's a sense of fear and anxiety and terror.
You know.
I'm speaking to my best mate who formerly of Bondi, Sydney and has lived in israelis at north of Tel Aviv for about ten years now. He's got three young kids and the attacks happened predominant nights, so they're being deprived of sleep night after night. The country's exhausted. They're
running to bombshelters all the time. You know, my friends describing hearing the world of the rockets flying past, and then occasionally it doesn't fly past and you hear and you feel the impact someone in your media vicinity.
It's terrifying.
I've got elderly relatives in high for the north of the country who for years lived through hes blah at Tax, but this is on a whole different scale in terms of the ferocity and sophistication of the weapons. It's terrifying, But at the same time, there's a sense in this role that they're living through something deeply faithful and significant. I can only liken it to London is living through
the Blitz. They're all rallying together, and I feel like what they're enduring, terrible as it is, it is a sacrifice in pursuit of a greater good, the defeat of a great evil. And they also feel this great kinship towards the Iranian people. They have no ill will towards them at all. They know that they're the first victims of the Iranian regime, and they yearn for a time again as a curred pre seventy nine, where the two peoples can live in fraternity and they can be pieced between them.
Alex, thank you so much. Again. I'm not wasting time tonight by talking too much about the Australian government, its response. It's lack of response, it's it's itself out and they've removed themselves essentially from the discussion in the issue. But Alex, I was pleased to get you on and get your perspective as somebody who's been very much available to us, very much open and honest about what's been happening in that part of the world. Thank you, Alex, I appreciate
thank you. J all right, all right, let me just reset some things here because we're in the middle of a two hour edition of Paul Murray Live. Normally, we're in the nine o'clock hour in the Eastern States. That started a little bit earlier, and we'll be going a little bit later, so essentially we'll be moving all the way through for about another hour. Why because let me set the scene for you about what is happening as
we speak. Yes, Donald Trump has decided to take out those military facilities and go after the nuclear program of Iran, where Iran, in the past couple of hours has decided to respond by firing even deadly and missiles back towards Israel. Right now, it is nine minutes past three in the
afternoon on a Sunday afternoon in Iran. It is just gone twenty minutes to three o'clock in the afternoon in Israel, and in the morning in Washington, d C. The reason I give you this time at twenty minutes to eight o'clock in the morning is that at eight o'clock in the morning local time, twenty minutes from now in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane that will be the top of the next hour. At ten pm, we are due to hear from Pete Heigzeth. Pete Heggsseeth is, of course the Defense
Secretary of the United States. We are due to hear from him, and the expectations of what I've been able to glean while on the air here is that he will be giving a detailed briefing. Now in military terms, in news terms, you may well have heard of a term called the TikTok That is not the Chinese surveillance app. This means what happened at what time and when. Obviously, we won't know everything of every base, of every moment, because there's a whole bunch of secrecy that both the
Americans and Israelis would like to keep upon things. But we will probably hear about when flights were, maybe some refueling potentially, and most likely we may well get some footage. There is some satellite images that we're trying to verify, which is why I haven't put them up on the air for you yet that had been taken over Tehran. Just because things turn up on social media does not mean they are automatically going to turn up on television.
We want to make sure that we know what is true and is true to show you but that live picture right now is of a white house that have had a very big few hours. Kiyostama is the United Kingdom's Prime Minister and he is one of many world leaders to respond. But before I get to him, the breaking news is that China has had a reaction to all of this put simply Iran much closer to Russia. Their foreign minister is actually on his way to Russia to meet with the Russian President, as Chris Kenny and
Sherry Markham were referring to before. Apart from all of the obvious difficulties and complications there, the issue is that if Vladimir Putin is some sort of a go between between Israel, the United States and Iran, that's one thing, but of course there is a want from the United States to get Russia and Ukraine to a position of peace,
so multiple issues there. On top of all of that is again the situation playing out when it comes to China, who have previously said that they have a loyalty to helping Russia and of course an affinity to what is happening in Iran and Iran. So the Chinese Foreign Ministry has just released a statement forgive me the glasses come on and off during breaking news, but it is said here that it strongly condemns what's taken place. China calls on all parties in the conflict, especially Israel, to cease
fire as soon as possible. That is the statement from China.
Russia.
We hear from them in the next little while, as the Iranian Foreign minister. While missiles are being lobbed from Iran into Israel, which is why you can see the pictures that you currently do there. The reason you don't hear about death and destruction is because people go straight into the basement, and because of the proximity of quite a period of time that it were taken missile to go from Oran to Israel, they get enough warning to
be able to go downstairs. But as I said, Keirstarmer is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, his defense officials were confirming in the past year hour or so that they were informed that the bombs were on their
way before they landed. Now, whether that was before the order was given, but that of course was many hours before the bombs hit, or between when the order was given and the bombs landed, we'll all find out together in the next couple of days, but normally the special relationship would mean the United States and the United Kingdom in lockstep. Let's see what happens in relation to this moment in history.
We've long had concerns about the Ordian nuclear program and been very clear that Dran cannot have a nuclear weapon. The US has now taken action to alleviate the threat. It is important that we now de escalate the situation, stabilize the region, and get the parties back around the table to negotiate. And I've been speaking with international leaders
this morning to that end. So I want to reassure the British public that we're doing everything we can to stabilize the situation, to de escalate the situation and to get to a negotiated outcome. But I'm very clear in my own mind that around cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. That is the greatest threat to stability in the region.
All right, let's just be joined by two new guests who've got plenty to say about what has happened in the part of the while former Ambassador of Australia to Israel, Dave Sharma, of course, a Senator for New South Wales in the Federal Parliament and John Roscombe has been very patient, not just waiting to work out what he's going to be doing for the IPA or riding in the financial Review, but listening along with everyone at home, but one of
the big brains of our country. Normally we'd be talking about all sorts of issues, but there's only one we'll focus on tonight. Dave, your response to the government's response which seems to be very close to countries like Saudi Arabia and China, which is the conversation about de escalation rather than recognizing the enormity of the United States action in the past twenty four hours.
Look, I've been a little confused by the government response and generally speaking by the absence of the government on there's something. People in Australia want to know what their government thinks and do they support the action the United
States has taken or not. Now, you know, no one ever wants to seek conflict to all war, but I think we've reached the point where the ran nuclear ambitions, the failure of nuclear talks, that other steps had to be taken to preventer around from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The United States has taken those. Israel has taken those as well, and that's not something that we should be shoying away from what hazardant about here in Australia.
John, your thoughts on what's happened in the past twenty four hours and again, now Australia thankfully is not in the middle of these things, which means we've all had a very peaceful weekend. But we have an opportunity to be part of the national conversation, part of the decision making process. We know that our Prime Minister couldn't get FaceTime with the President. Instead, he went back to deal
with this situation. While doing it, of course, he whacked up two flagpoles either side of the White House, so his time wasn't completely busy. We also expect in the next fifteen minutes to hear from the US Defense Secretary, but again the Australian impact into all of this. While we have a look at some of the pictures of the announcement which is due to come in from the Pentagon.
That's the picture we're working like clockwork. Obviously very interesting to note that to the right of your TV screen or mobile wherever you're watching us right now, you will be able to see that plasma screen. That means they're going to be showing some not just maps, maybe photos, maybe video, and not one but two podiums. All of that fascinating deceit all right, John, enough intro your response.
Well, Paul, as you've been talking about tonight, the consequences of what's happened.
We will know in months and years. The President has said the operation was successful. We hope it was.
And as the Senator just pointed out, we've been shown up by the rest.
Of the world. When Kiir Starmer can be more.
Supportive of US operations than the Australian government, we have a very big challenge. It wasn't necessary, perhaps for the Prime Minister to explicitly endorse the US actions, but at least implicitly acknowledging that Iran can't have nuclear weapons, and it's not a position that the Prime Minister or Pennywong can take, and they are out of step with democratic opinion around the world.
But obviously, Senator, the theory would be here that any and anything to do with Donald Trump is going to be politically toxic. So therefore, if your default position is to somehow be at the very least skeptical or very very late to the party that only works for their standing in Australia.
Look, I think that's possibly Rdaman. I think that's struggled to mature beyond the student union mindset in approaching international issues like this. I mean, throughout their calls to action, if you like, have been completely at odds with the reality on the ground, whether it was the call for Israel and Iran to have direct dialogue when the two countries have not spoken for forty five years, Iran does not recognize Israel, the calls for de escalation, even this
morning from Richard Marles. I mean, I think that's so focused on process that they've lost sort of outcome here and what is it that's in Australia's national interest And it's clearly in Australia's national interests in Iran that it is no longer able to terrorize, harm and destabilize its neighbors.
But also, John, let's let's be honest here, and for many Australians right, the sense of maybe twenty years ago, the sense of for one of a better term good and evil has been complicated by the experiences of what happened when it came to Iraq and Afghanistan. I know that plays out in the United States in terms of the Forever Wars, a lot of things to do with that. There's also a great deal of emotional complexity in and
around Gaza about what's proportional, what's too much. And this falling on top of all of that is that, in part not necessarily what the government, but what many average Australians when trying to think about all of this, that it's all in one pot, when the reality is that, yeah, okay, maybe, but there are very individual things that you can have complex opinions about.
Look, that's exactly right, Paul, and I think there's a few other things.
We tend to personalize.
The relationship with the United States our most important ally, So if there's someone like Obama, we like America.
If it's someone like Trump, we don't. But you said something really important.
I think we've tended to relativize good and evil. And for me as an Australian, my parents came to Australia after the Second World War, for me as an Australian to see the reaction of so many Australians to what happened on the seventh of October in Israel to see a reaction that didn't recognize evil, that didn't recognize Sometimes actions need to be taken that are not ideal, but
necessary to defend people and countries. That to me showed an Australia that I don't recognize, and I think increasingly many Australians don't recognize. And this is another example of how we've tended to perhaps lose our moral compass.
Yeah, and again, Senator, the reality is that compared to where we were twenty years ago, thirty years ago, many Australians watching events like this may well not know a single person from any of the countries of which we are talking about, But twenty thirty years later they could be colleagues, friends, fellow Australians. That's really important too in all of this, right, because again, we don't want anyone, regardless of whatever side, all the rest of it ancient conflicts,
to come here. We want people to have the experience that many people have had for many decades, which is, regardless of where you come from, you turn up here and you go, how good's this joint? Great? What can I do to help?
All?
Right? But this is part of again the emotional response the media response, the political response is that again, it's not the other side of the world. It is obviously physically, but it's not emotionally. For an awful lot of people, regardless of where in and around that map people have friends or family all were from.
No.
Look, that's very true, bull and it's an immensely complicated part of the world. And even just since the seventh of October. I mean, if you're in Australian and you've been following the news, you've had the hamas Terrists attacks, Israel's.
War and Ghazi.
You've had a war between Israel and Hezbela and Lebanon. You've had the booties blocking shipping in the Red Sea. You've had the regime of Bashar al Assadful. Now you've got this thing in Iran happening. It's pretty hard to stay in breast of what's going on. And I don't, you know, I don't I completely understand many Australians think this is just another chapter in what seems to be
a region that's in that's in conflict. But I think that's why it's important to you know, it's why it would be good to hear from the government about this, about where do Australia's national interests slide. How do we see this conflict? And frankly, I mean, yes, we should be speaking about it, we should be analyzing this, but you know, we don't want to be importing this conflict either. We don't need people to be picking sides or joining
a team or anything else like that. We all need to be on Australia side and saying, you know, this is where Australia's national interests slide. This is how Australia should be approaching and is seeing this issue.
When we started this broadcast, the best part of it ninety minutes ago, I said that one of the things that mattered was how Iran responds. Now, Iran has lifted the amount and type of ordinance that they're throwing towards Israel. Two maps that are really worth talking about here. One is the United States and where it has much of its defenses, bases or ships, soldiers, all types of people in their defense force. Those are the red dots are
about to show you. Those are the red dots in and around places like as you can see places like Kuwait very close to Iran. Now I want to show you the second one, which is there's a whole bunch of military ordinance that don't make it all the way
to Israel. We know that they have been pummeling Israel and sending plenty of things their way, but the stuff that they haven't been using to go that far, they'd be able to hit a lot of those little red dots, which of course are wear the Americans currently are on top of that, they have the capacity, as you can see there in the bottom of the map, you can
see how there's like a little sort of snaggle tooth. Well, that very small area is vital to the world shipping lanes, and if Iran wanted to do a thing to disrupt that, there would be major issues. Interestingly, because it is on the weekend, because we don't know what Iran's response has been.
The price of oil has only increased by about fifty cents globally, But john of what Iran does now we know that sleeper cells are all the way around the world, or our kaider on their behalf may well decide to pick up arms. But what do you think about that very small patch of land, a very small bit of the sea that could cause havoc for the world, And it's not about necessarily firing shots, it's about slowing down ships.
Well, it absolutely could, Paul, and this is why it's going to be weeks and months before we know all the consequences. So you've spoken about the potential impact on the price of oil, this speculation that this conflict could cause world stop markets to drop by some ten percent.
So we'll see what happens tomorrow on the ASX.
This has got many different dimensions to it, and we're going to have to understand and hope that Iran understands it can't win in this situation. As you've identified from that map, America can project.
Overwhelming force into that region.
The challenge for the Americans is it might potentially be committed to two other theaters as well well.
And that's the issue too, very correct, right, which is that we are talking about all sorts of things from Taiwan all the way through to Ukraine and obviously these parts of the Middle East. But again, it's not about speculating for the sake of it, David, It's about trying to bring people into the conversation about not just why
it matters, but what those potential consequences are. Again, we're waiting to hear from the US Defense Secretary as soon as he starts speaking, will interrupt whatever's taking place here. But how Iran responds vitally important, isn't it here, because that's the conversation about whether we go to the whole new level, and then how America responds to Iran's response, and then the story of the Middle East is response to response to response to response.
Yeah, I think that's the big unknown at this point, Fallen. Look, I think Iran has a number of options here. Obviously, they're continuing to find missiles at Israel, but there are significant concentrations of US forces and personnel in the region, whether it's Bahrain, Qatar, in Kuwait, even in places like Iraq. But there's also commercial shipping, so there's the straighter for moves, which carries a lot of the world's oil traffic. But there's also the Babble Munda, which leads into the Red
Sea and the Suez Canal. Now, if Iran chooses to seek to disrupt shipping or attack US forces, I think it will invite a response in turn, and that will probably pose a risk to the survival of the Iranian leadership and the regime. And I think that's what they'll be weighing up. They've got their nation's interest, but they also have regime survival interests if you like, and you can they keep the Islamic Republic of Iran going. And so I don't know if we'll ness necessarily see a response.
Certainly we should be prepared for it. Certainly, I think the US has assets in place and has increased hardening measures to deal with that. And certainly our advice to travelers and Australians in the region is to be mindful of those risks. But I think we need to see what unfold, and I think Iran will need to be weighing this up very carefully.
Yeah, just before I ask John and another question, can we go to the full shot of what's happening there with the Pentagon, because I just want to go through again some of the detail that we're starting to see here. You can see television screen potentially, that's where we're going to see maps and video. They love a prop in American politics and certainly the discussions in and around military operations. That's what you can see to the right of your
screen right now. So we're going to see presumably some photos, some maps, potentially some video. John, again, the difficulty for the Trump administration in particular was the want to not be involved in an Iraq or in Afghanistan. The expectation and the statements from the president essentially are this was
one and done. Do you expect that sort of a message to be heard from these podiums that look, we've done what we've done and we have no plans to do anything else or they always have to leave a door open somewhere.
That's a key question, and the so called magabase, as you know Paul, has been split on this. The thing for Americans to understand and us in Australia to know is that the unbridled trust that we had in American decision making and their capacity to undertake regime change and build democracies, as you identified at the beginning of this discussion, has been challenged. The American ability to build nations hasn't been overwhelmingly successful. So that is something that I think
Australians and Americans and people around the world understand. And as many people have said, the irony of Donald Trump being an America first president ending forever wars and he said he'd end the Ukraine War quickly he said he'd fix the Middle East.
None of those two things have happened.
And I think you're right that Donald Trump may well have to leave the door open to further action, which will then encourage further debate in the US and even debates on the floor of the Congress as to whether
he needs to declare war or not. So this has been a purely defensive action, but that's a very live discussion in the US as well, which he has done this without congressional approval well, and to that question too, And I know that we're very close to this key news moment in understanding, so I won't.
Overstep too far. But I've got to say, as somebody who's been Trump lived for pro Trump on the train, off the train, whatever, the Forever Wars part was actually quite significant to me. So I'm desperately concerned about Okay, will come in and help, but certainly not a boots on the ground scenario. But obviously, as Israel was able to show to the ability to knock out any air defense, essentially meant that they didn't need any of that, and
it was obviously able to happen from the flyover. But interesting to note that somebody who was sort of chief amongst those discussing things like Forever Wars in Steve Bannon on his variety of broadcasts which nobody should convince themselves or anything other than pretty significant about an insight into
the magaland he was starting to bend the knee. And why wouldn't he, Because of course there's what three and a half years left of a presidency, and certainly many of those people know proximity two power is what in part brings attention to them. Let me reset here again. We're at the top of the hour in the East coast of Australia, which is right now just ten pm.
It has just gone eight am in Washington, DC. What you're about to see on your screen is the Defense Secretary of the United States, Pete Hegzeth, who will be joined by a general who was the person responsible for the nuts and bolts of the hitting of the Iranian
nuclear assets. His name is General Dan Cain. He will be joining the Defense Secretary to explain for the detail of exactly what took place in and around I'm going to say brunch time Australian time, and then on its way in towards lunchtime, and this afternoon and this evening. In terms of reaction, as soon as they appear at the lecterns again, they will either be military precise, or like many things to do in breaking news environments, they
could be many minutes late. Either way, we will make sure that we remain commercial free, to make sure that the second that they appear, we will be in that conversation. We're also going to be joined by former British Commander Richard Kemp. We're currently in conversation with John Roscombe from the IPA. You can also read his stuff in the Financial Review. One of the great free thinkers of our country. Speaking of Dave Sharman, former Ambassador of Australia to Israel
and Liberal Senator for New South Wales. Now, in terms of Iran and its response, it already has, for want of a better term, taken up a certain type of arms towards Australia, Dave, and that is cyber attacks. Literally, there are thousands and thousands of them that happen each
and every day. We know that state actors like Iran, North Korea and China are principally the ones that are often identified for everything from literally hacking into the maps of the AS headquarters from years ago, all the way through to the computer systems at Parliament House. So in many ways, if people are going to say again it's over there, who cares. That's no responsible person's position. But the reality is is that the Iranian cyber fingers stretch across the world.
They do, Paul, I mean the extraterritorial activities, whether it's cyber attacks, but it's also sometimes fundraising recruitment, you know, indoctrination that Iran and the state arms have done is quart remarkable.
I mean sorry, sorry, Sanada pet Haggsath is the Defense Secretary in the United States. He speaks now about the operation. We all live in Washington here on scot News, so thank.
You for joining us this morning. Last night, on President Trump's orders, US Central Command conducted a precision strike in the middle of the night against three nuclear facilities in Iran for doah Ntans and Esfahan in order to destroy or severely degrade Iran's nuclear program. And as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs will demonstrate, it was an incredible and overwhelming success.
The order we.
Received from our Commander in chief was focused, it was powerful, and it was clear, we devastated the Iranian nuclear program, but it's worth noting the operation did not target Iranian troops of the Iranian people. For the entirety of his time in office, President Trump has consistently stated for over ten years that Iran must not get a nuclear weapon full stop. Thanks to President Trump's bold and visionary leadership and his commitment to peace through strength, Iran's nuclear ambitions
have been obliterated. Many presidents have dreamed of delivering the final blow to Iran's nuclear program, and none could until President Trump. The operation President Trump planned was bold and it was brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back. When this president speaks, the world should listen, and the US military can back it up, the most powerful military the world has ever known. No other country on planet Earth could have conducted the operation that the Chairman is
going to outline this morning. Not even close. Just like Solimani found out in the first term, Iran found out. When Potus says sixty days that he seeks peace and negotiation, he means sixty days of peace and negotiation. Otherwise that nuclear program, that uclear capability will not exist. He meant it. This is not the previous administration. The President Trump said no nukes. He seeks peace, and Iran should take that path.
He sent out a truth last night saying this, any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight, Signed the President of the United States, Donald J.
Trump.
Iran would be smart to heed those words. He said it before and he means it. I want to give recognition to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Staff, the Joint Staff, General Eric Carilla at CENTCOM, who did a phenomenal job. He and his staff, all of SENTCOM policy across the board. This was a joint effort and across the Pentagon effort. I want to recognize the pilots who flew those bombers, who flew those fighters, who flew those refuelers, Warriors.
I want to recognize the sailors on those destroyers, in those subs, on those carriers, warriors, all of them. I want to recognize our soldiers doing Air Defense defense QRF warriors, all of them. Every American involved in this operation performed flawlessly. And I want to give recognition to our allies in Israel as well. This is a plan that took months and weeks of positioning and preparation so that we could be ready when the President of the United States called
It took a great deal of precision. It involved misdirection and the highest of operational security. Our B twos went in and out of downtown Tehran, Tehran, excuse me of these nuclear sites, in and out and back without the world knowing at all. In that way, it was historic, a strike that included the longest B two spirit bomber mission since two thousand and one and the first operational
employment of the mop A massive ordinance penetrator. The mission demonstrated to the world the level of joint and allied integration that speak to the strength of our alliance and our joint forces. As President Trump has stated, the United States does not war, but let me be clear, we will act swiftly and decisively when our people, our partners, or our interests are threatened. Iran should listen to the President the United States and know that he means it
every word. I want to give congratulations to our commander in chief. It was an honor to watch him lead last night and throughout, and to our great American warriors on this successful operation. God bless our troops, God bless America, and we give glory to God for his providence and continue to ask for his protection. I turn it over now to the Chairman for specifics.
Thank you, Miss strick Terry, thanks for recognizing all of our folks out there doing our nation's work, and nice to see everybody on this early Sunday morning. Last night, on the President's orders, US Central Command, under the command of General Eric Kirilla, executed Operation Midnight Hammer, a deliberate and precise strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities. This was a complex and high risk mission carried out with exceptional
skill and disciplined by our joint force. I want to thank every service member, planner, operator that made this mission possible. Their actions reflect the highest standards of the United States Armed Forces. This operation was designed to severely degrade RAN's nuclear weapons infrastructure. It was planned and executed across multiple domains and theaters with coordination that reflects our ability to
project power globally with speed and precision. At the time and place of our nation's choosing, this was a highly classified mission, with very few people in Washington knowing the timing or nature of this plan. I'll refer you to the graphic on the side as I walk you through some of the operational details. At midnight Friday into Saturday morning, a large B two strike package comprised of bombers launched from the continental United States as part of a plan
to maintain tactical surprise. Part of the package proceeded to the west and into the Pacific as a decoy, a deception effort known only to an extremely small number of planners and key leaders here in Washington and in Tampa. The main strike package, comprised of seven B two Spirit bombers, each with two crew members, proceeded quietly to the east with minimal communications. Throughout the eighteen hour flight into the
target area, the aircraft completed multiple inflight refuelings. Once over land, the B twos linked up with escort and support aircraft in a complex, lightly timed maneuver requiring exact synchronization across multiple platforms in a narrow piece of airspace, all done with minimal communications. This type of integration is exactly what our Joint Force does better than anyone else in the world.
At approximately five pm Eastern Standard time last night, and just prior to the strike package entering Iran, a US submarine in the Central Command Area of responsibility launched more than two dozen Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles against key
surface infrastructure targets at Esfahan. As the Operation Midnight Hammer strike package entered Iranian airspace, the US employed several deception tactics, including decoys as the fourth and fifth generation aircraft pushed out in front of the strike package at high altitude and high speed, keeping in front of the package for
enemy fighters and surface to air missile threats. The strike package was supported by US Strategic Command, US Transportation Command, US Cyber Command, US Space Command, US Space Force, and US European Command. As the strike package approached for DOEU and NATANCE, the US protection package employed high speed suppression weapons to ensure safe passage of the strike package, with fighter assets employing preemptive suppressing fires against any potential Iranian
surface to air threats. We are currently unaware of any shots fired at the US strike package on the way in. At approximately six forty pm Eastern Standard time two ten am a RAN time, the lead B two dropped two GBU fifty seven massive ordnance penetrator weapons on the first of several aim points at four doh. As the President stated last night, the remaining bombers then hit their targets as well, with a total of fourteen mops dropped against
two nuclear target areas. All three Iranian nuclear infrastructure targets were struck between six forty pm and seven ZHO five pm Eastern Time. Again, that's about two ten in the morning local time in Iran, with the Tomahawk missiles being the last to strike at Esfahan. To ensure we retain the element of surprise throughout the operation. Following weapons release, the midnight hammer Strike package exited Iranian airspace and the package began its return home. We are unaware of any
shots fired at the package on the way out. Iran's fighters did not fly, and it appears that Iran's surface to air missile systems did not see us. Throughout the mission, we retained the element of surprise. In total, US forces employed approximately seventy five precision guide of weapons during this operation. This included, as the President stated last night, fourteen thirty thousand pounds GBU fifty seven massive ordnance penetrators, marking the
first ever operational use of this weapon. I know that battle damage is of great interest. Final battle damage will take some time, but initial battle damage assessments indicate that
all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction. More than one hundred and twenty five US aircraft participated in this mission, including B two stealth bombers, multiple flights of fourth and fifth generation fighters, dozens and dozens of air refueling tankers, a guided missile submarine, and a full array of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, as well as hundreds
of maintenance and operational professionals. As this Secretary said, this was those largest B two operational strike in US history and the second longest B two mission ever flown, exceeded only by those in the days following nine to eleven. Well prior to the strike, General Carilla elevated force protection measures across the region, especially in Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf. Our forces remain on high alert and are fully postured to respond to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks, which
would be an incredibly poor choice. We will defend ourselves. Safety of our service members and civilians remains our highest priority. This mission demonstrates the unmatched reach coordination and capability and capability of the United States Military. In just a matter of weeks, this went from strategic planning to global execution. This operation underscores the unmatched capabilities and global reach of
the United States military. As the President clearly said last night, no other in the no other military in the world, could have done this. I joined the President and the Secretary and being incredibly proud of the air crews, naval forces, cyber operators, planners and support teams and commanders who made this mission possible. It is their skill, discipline, and teammate
teamwork that makes this operation possible. I am particularly proud of our discipline related to operational security, something that was of great concern to the President, the Secretary, General, Carilla, and me, and we will continue to focus on this. As we stand here this morning, many assets are still airborne and we have hundreds deployed. I asked that we keep our war fighters on their way home and our
deployed service member in our thoughts. Our joint Force remains ready to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests in the region. Thank you very much.
We will take a few questions them.
Yeah, so is regime change off the table, mister Secretary and to the chairman, you know you said the battle damage assessment is still ongoing, but do you believe that some nuclear capability in Iran remains?
This mission was not and has not been, about regime change. The President authorized a precision operation to neutralize the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear program and the collective self defense of our troops and our ally Israel.
Thanks for your question. I think BDA is still pending and it would be way too early for me to comment on what may or may not still be there.
But thanks for the question.
Green Green, no behind you.
Excuse them, the Secretary, Can you tell me it was there a particular moment when the President decided to pull the trigger on this operation where he said, now, rather than being you know, something in the holes are now, We're going to pull the trigger on.
I would just say, having the opportunity to witness his leadership, he was fully committed to the peace process, wanted wanted a negotiated outcome, gave Iran every single opportunity and unfortunately was met by stonewalling, which is why he gave them plenty of time to continue to come to the table
and give up enrichment, give up the nuclear program. But there was a I won't say the particular moment, there was certainly a moment in time where he realized, uh that it had to be a certain action taken in order to minimize the threat to US in our troops.
Yeah, General, you say that General Carolla increased force protection in Iraqs area and go from those areas.
We were they given any advance warning the attacks were coming, and also as a secretary when we're congressional leaders.
Notified how long before the attacks?
Your plays sure to you to your first question, you know the the risk has clearly been rising over the last few weeks in the region. Based on that and not a particular awareness of this operation, We've made smart decisions to minimize the risk to US forces in the region.
No advance warning, No.
Sure, Congress they were.
They were notified after the planes were safely out, when we complied with the notification requirements War Powers Act. They were immediately thereafter.
Yes, thank you.
Two questions.
We believe you completely destroyed Iranian nuclear program and how about Iranian ballasted missiles as I always saying that his biggest threat.
And second question is very important. What will be your next step if Iran or militias under Iranian influence from the region attack US interests or all eyes.
In the region, and you can chime in on this too, mister Chairman. The battle damage assessment is ongoing, but our initial assessment, as the Chairman said, is that all of our precision munitions struck where we wanted them to strike and had the desired effect, which means, especially in four Doho, which was the primary target here, we believe we achieved
destruction of capabilities there. Ultimately, wherever it may be, whether it's in Iraq or Syria or Basis in the Gulf, as the President said, it would be or excuse me, as the Chairman said, it would be a very bad idea for Iran or its proxies to attempt to attack American forces.
Yes, thank you, miss the Secretarier. Regarding retaliations, Iran and North Korea are cooperating on your career and missile development. Do you think there is a possibility that Iran knows Korea and the other forces such as China will join forces to retaliate against the United States.
Well, Unfortunately, because of the policies under the previous administration, we drove those countries together, and ultimately that creates a challenging environment for this particular operation. The focuses on Iran
and Iranian nuclear capabilities. That's our focus here is to not just say that they can't have but President Trump has said from over twenty years, frankly, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and ultimately he decided this is the moment, given their stonewalling, when direct military action had to be taken to prevent that from happening.
Yes, thank you very much.
General Kane, I understand obsek I respect on the Act. Can you say at all what security procedures are being taken to protect US troops in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East? And Secretary Hegseth as a global war on terrorism veteran, what do you say to veterans who may be concerned the US is getting into another open ended war in the Middle East over weapons.
Of mass destruction?
Thanks sir for the question. I won't comment on what force protection measures or are being taken in the region. What I will say is we're being proactive and not reactive, and being very thoughtful about ensuring that we do all that we can to protect our forces out there.
And I would just say, as the President has directed and made clear, this is most certainly not open ended. It doesn't mean it limits our ability to respond. We will respond if necessary. The most powerful military in the world is postured and prepared to defend our people. But what the President gave us, as I said, was a focused, powerful and clear mission on the destruction of Iranian nuclear capabilities. Those were the targets. That's what was struck. That was overwhelming.
That's what was overwhelming. That's what the Iranian regime needs to understand. As the President put out last night, he wants peace. There needs to be a negotiated settlement here. We ultimately demonstrated that Iran cannot have a nuclear capability. That is a very clear mission set on this operation. Yes, hold on, yes, right.
There, Thank you, mister secretary. I'm question for the Secretary and the chairman. How was this strike coordinated with the Israelis on a strategic level, militarily and on a tactical level. Was there any direct Israeli military participation in this operation?
Well, I would say certainly, Israel had an incredible military success, especially at the beginning and ongoing in degrading Iranian capabilities, degrading Iranian launchers MRBMs. It's been incredible to watch what our ally Israel has been able to do, and there certainly have been conversations. I mean, General Carilla at sent Kam has worked closely in the defense of Israel for many years, and part of this operation was the defense
of visual and the ongoing defense of Israel. But as it pertains to this strike, this was US operated in US LED.
We took advantage of some of the preparatory work that's been done over the past week and a half in terms of access of approach. I won't get into the particulars, but as the Secretary said, it was a US strike, we made sure we were not in the same piece of airspace and sky. Aside from that, that was the extent of it.
We'll take a couple more yeah, right there.
Question of the Secretary, first, are you concerned whatsoever now about the reaction from US allies given the strike, particularly those in the Gulf, And to the Chairman, if I may, I understand you don't want to speak to specific assets force protection measures, but do you anticipate at least having to bring in any further assets from other theaters to aid and forced protection over the coming days.
We certainly understand the challenges of allies in the region, and we have been respectful and in working in collaboration with them as it pertains to basing and sensitivities there. Ultimately, they've got a lot of assets and people in those locations, also where American troops are co located, So that's a consideration of ours. We've been in close consultation with them when we appreciate the support that we have got.
Thanks for the question on sort of the global picture, And as you know, that's one of my jobs is to look globally at the entire range of challenges. We are always carefully considering our force posture around the world and then offering options to the Secretary and to the President. I won't comment on any future things, but the American people should know that we carefully consider those moves around the world and try to modulate as needed our force structure in the region.
Yeah, right here, thank you.
What communications are being sent to the Iranians right now? And is there any possibility of diplomacy now we're in the coming days.
I can only confirm that There are both public and private messages being directly delivered to the Iranians in multiple channels, giving them every opportunity to come to the table. They understand precisely what the American position is, precisely what steps they can take to allow for peace, and we hope they do so. Yes, the President may not want an open ended conflict.
The ira Audians may disagree. Are you prepared for protracting war?
Well, anything can happen in conflict. We acknowledge that. But the scope of this was intentionally limited. That's the message that we're sending. With the capabilities of the American military nearly unlimited. So Iran in that sense has a choice. But we've made it very clear to them. This is nuclear sites, this is nuclear capabilities. This is the line that the presidents set and we set that back. Now is the time to come forward for peace.
But we I think.
But one of the takeaways from this as well is the unprecedented level of ongoing cooperation. I can't speak highly enough of the Chairman and his staff and General Carilla Incent what they've done to look around the corner to preposition to understand how an operation like this comes together. The scope and scale of what occurred last night would take the breath away of almost any American if you
had an opportunity to watch it in real time. And I think Taran is certainly calculating the reality that planes flew from the middle of America and Missouri overnight completely undetected over three of their most highly sensitive sites, and we were able to destroy nuclear capabilities. And our boys in those bombers are on their way home right now. We believe that'll have a clear psychological impact on how they view the future, and we certainly hope they take
the path of negotiate a peace. But I could not be more proud of how this building operated, of the precision, the sensitivity, and the professionalism of the troops involved in this effort. I will take one more, will take one more question, Yes right there.
Thank you, mister Secretary.
Concerning the justification for these strikes. In March, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released their threat assessments concluding, quote, Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Kamani has not authorized the nuclear programs he suspended in two thousand and three unquote, So what new intelligence does the US have since then that the Rans have changed their position
on nuclear weapons. And does this new intelligence come from US sources and methods or are we getting this information from other countries.
Well, I would just simply say that the President's made it very clear He's looked at all of this, all of the intelligence, all of the information, and come to the conclusion that the Iranian nuclear program is a threat and was willing to take this precision operation to neutralize that threat in order to advance American national interests, reduced the Iranian nuclear program and obviously collective self defense of ourself and our So he looked at all of it,
understood the nature of the threat, and took all the action I think the American people would expect in a commander in chief.
That's all we've got.
Thank you very much, appreciate it.
Thanks.
Chairman pet Hegserth is the Defense Secretary in the United States. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has also just briefed in extraordinary detail over the past thirty minutes, where it has just gone eight point thirty am in Washington, DC, ten thirty on the east coast of Australia right now, extraordinary detail about an operation of these bombers that made it from Missouri in the middle of the United States
over to the targets in Iran within a day. The operation was called Midnight Hammer, and during the briefing, while you didn't see it on screen, it was shown publicly. This map. Now, this map is worth looking at here because it basically explains timeline. The timeline is that it took the best part of seventeen hours to fly from the United States to an area where the b two bombers were then surrounded by a bunch of other support aircraft.
By about eighteen hours they entered Iranian airspace, and about eighteen hours forty minutes or for the next twenty minutes between eighteen forty and nineteen hours in is when you saw a scenario of the bombs being dropped, an extraordinary amount of them. By the way, there were seven different bombers that were flying. There was in terms of a payload, fourteen fourteen of those giant bombs that were dropped at
three different sites. There was incredible detail about how the planes which left, as the secretary set at the end from Missouri, that some of them flew in the wrong direction to try to give people the idea that they were coming from the Pacific. Now, I had mentioned this a couple of hours ago, because the assumption was that they may well have been coming out of places like Guam, but also that they may well have been circling around in Asia. That's a message being sent to the Chinese.
But an incredible nineteen hours when they take off in the United States to when they drop they leave Iran thirty minutes later, and they are on their way back into American airspace. Right now. Richard Kemps a former British commander, and he joins US now after listening to all of that detail, extraordinary detail in a major operation that was
weeks in the planning and flawless in execution. Not only were they able to fly over Iranian airspace undetected, they also basically suggest there's no record of a shot being fired back at them.
Yeah, I mean, it's quite an extraordinary operation.
I think, as Secretary Exit says, no other armed forces in the world could even come close to something like this.
It's phenomenal.
We've seen some very impressive work from the Israelis, many many thousands of miles closer to Iran. Despite that they're distance from Iran, very very impressive stuff.
But this is something you know Israel, the Israelis don't have the capability to do it.
And I think it's you know, what's happened here as a testament to both the US and the Israeli armed forces and also to the leadership of the two countries, President Trump and Prime Internet and they are who and clearly there was very close coordination between those two countries and those two armed forces over a lengthy.
Period of time.
This kind of operation does not just get This has not happen overnight. It's planned. It has to be planned well well in advanced.
Also, just the fascinating amount of detail. And again, if this is what they're willing to tell us, imagine that the rams and rams and realms of deeper detail. That's obviously we know that America was the only country that had the bomb that was able to penetrate the ground. The idea that they were able to drop fourteen of them would suggest that there's plenty more that are sitting
in a shed somewhere. That in part is a message not just to Iran but to the countries that may well be trying to find some cracks in the army. Here we didn't just have one. This is you know, this is not the end of World War II. We've got plenty more, and if we need to, we'll do it, and we'll fly in and out of your country and you won't even know until it's hit you.
Yeah.
And of course they were somewhat reserved over their assessment of battle damage, because it's something you can't really assess immediately. You have to wait for the detail and the analysis to come through. But of course it may will be that there's a need to revisit these sites, or even one of the sites using more of these bunker buster bombs, So of course there'll be plenty in stock. And of course you're to point out that this message is not just to Iran. It's also a message that applies to
America's other adversaries who have aggressive intent. And I think you know, the people at the Chinese and the Russians will be looking at this probably quite wide eyed, because although they have, particularly China has and Russia as well have some significant capabilities, they have nothing even remotely approaching this of.
The dtail that we just heard. Was there any particular datail that stood out to you as a man who knows his stuff, that you were sitting back in some sort of well fascination about what they were able to do.
Yeah, And I think that you know, hitting these bombs, these bunker buster bombs were designed specifically to deal with the nuclear Iranian nuclear program buried a great deal of distance underground. That's what they were first designed to do. So in some ways, the effect, whatever it actually was,
is not a huge surprise. But I think one thing that is quite particularly impressive and somewhat surprising is the distance something like seven thousand miles from Missouri to fodoh, Okay, and you've got multiple air.
To air refueling stations on the way.
Again, that's something that you've got to have a lot of air to air refueling tankers available to do that, and few countries have that sort of anything like that capability. So I think the distance from the United States to Fodo and Aspahan were probably the most impressive. And then coordinating all that, I mean, coordinating air to air refueling,
coordinating flight paths, coordinating with the IDF. And the General said that the coordination was limited pretty much to not flying in the same airspace, but of course in.
Reality it was a great deal.
More than that, I have no doubt the American and Israeli staffs have been working side by side for a long time coordinating all this action. I think that, you know, the actual dropping of the bombs or the firing of atom Tomahawk cruise missiles relatively straightforward, well planned, well rehearsed, but actually coordinating operation on the scale in a hostile area with another major armed force Israel fighting fighting at the same time is quite an impressive feat.
The idea that apparently not a single shot fired or certainly any recognition of it. Obviously the they made the choice essentially to be known when it comes to radar after they were taking out some of the stuff that may well have been shot back at them. But let's talk about the potentials and obviously no one knows until we see, but about how Iran responds here. Basically, the concern of some of the President's supporters were that they
don't want to Rack or Afghanistan. They don't want to be drawn into multiple years regime change, all the rest of it. We know Israel needed to essentially the call in from the United States to do what they have just done. All night, we've been looking at a map which is about where all of the well publicly known locations of American bases or their forces will happen to be. They are tantalizingly close to Iran in places like Kuwait.
But the message clearly that's come out of that message out of that press conference is you touch one of them, you're going to be in a world of trouble. So what militarily are the options for a country like Iran that doesn't want what happened today to happen again.
Well, I don't think Iran has any strategically significant options. I think it's been boxed in to a position where it can't do anything really change this game. Now, of course it can lash out, and probably will latch out. Immediately after these strikes took place here in Tel Aviv, there was a something thirty missiles launched, but not more a Tel Aviv's but of Israel and blued the thirty
ballistic missiles launched. That wasn't any big deal. But it was a big deal, but it wasn't really anything new. It's been happening pretty much every night for the last week. But that's an initial reaction which may or may not have been triggered actually by this strike. It may have been planned anyway, but there's every reason to think that they will try and lash out at US spaces in the region, probably not directly from Iran, probably using their
proxies in Iraq. They've got multiple proxies in Iraq which have got significant quantities of missiles themselves supplied by Iran. And of course the Huthi's in Yemen, which could also attack military bases, could attack shipping in the Red Sea as they've done before, and they could also either of the you know, either proxies in Iraq, proxies in Yemen, or indeed Iran itself could launch missiles at Gulf nations oil installations for example, as a form of retaliation. There's
all of those options. But in addition to that, there is the possibility of terrorist attacks around the world. And Iran has sleeper cells in probably most countries in Europe certainly many of them, and in the United States, which exist and we're put in place years ago for exactly this situation, so to carry out retaliation against America's enemies and against America if there was a strike on Iran.
So those sleeper cells could well be activated in any of those countries. Whether they would succeed, obviously is another question. Now all of our security services in these countries.
Are well aware of them and hopefully able to prevent attacks, but that wouldn't be a surprise at all.
The final thing, which may be a bit.
Out of the box I'll mention it anyway place, is the possibility that Iran still does maybe have some uranium enriched uranium which has not been destroyed at foordoh or
any of the other locations. Potentially they can manufacture a dirty bomb in other words, radiological dispersal device which is not as powerful as a nuclear bomb, but can cause severe damage if it's if it's definated, and somehow smuggle that into Israel, that would be or and D potentially another hour country if they couldn't get it into Israel. So I don't I'm not saying that's a highly likely option, but it remains one of the possibilities for Iranian retaliation.
Well absolutely, And about the success of the operation again, multiple days to work it all out, and then the Iranians themselves are suggesting, well, no, you didn't get it all So that very much becomes an option to be feared Richard, thank you so much, which you kemps a former commander. We've Britain in Israel tonight. That's where I'll labor to make sure that you make your homepage tonight and tomorrow and every day to come for the latest on all of this. Skyies dot com do are you.
Let's send over to our colleagues who are currently in the Middle East and across Europe from sky News UK