US strikes 3 Iranian N-sites as West Asia crisis blows up

The US launched a wave of attacks against three Iranian nuclear facilities in a covert operation on Sunday morning, inserting itself into Israel's war against the Islamic Republic in a surprise move that threatens to escalate the spiralling crisis in West Asia, as Tehran lashed out at Washington for crossing "a very big red line."

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ÚS President Donald Trump said Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities had been "totally obliterated" and warned of "far greater" attacks unless the Islamic Republic agreed to make peace after the biggest Western military action against the country since its 1979 revolution.

Iranian officials however said the ongoing attacks by Israel had left little room for diplomacy, arguing that negotiations are impossible while the country is under assault.

Tehran fired missiles at Israel, but has so far stopped short of targeting American forces or choking off the quarter of the world's oil shipments that pass through its waters, even as the world braced for a wide response.

Top US defence officials said the strikes involved submarines launching Tomahawk missiles and B-2 Spirit bombers dropping 14 "bunker-buster" bombs on an uranium enrichment site buried dozens of metres under a mountain.

"I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success," Trump said in an address from the White House.

"There will be either peace, or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days," he added.

Iranian officials stopped short of detailing the damage, but warned the US that its strikes would have "far-reaching implications".

"The warmongering and lawless administration in Washington is solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and far-reaching implications of its act of aggression," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, adding that he would immediately fly to Moscow to coordinate positions with close ally Russia.

"The US showed they have no respect for international law. They only understand the language of threat and force," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on his "bold decision".