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In this bonus episode of The World podcast, Richard and Yalda get together and talk about President Trump鈥檚 decision to strike three nuclear sites in Iran.

Yalda is in Jerusalem and Richard is in Tel Aviv where both of them have been reporting all night long.

Yalda reveals what her contacts are telling her about the extent of the damage done to the sites. They then ask, what could happen next?

To get in touch or to share questions, email theworld@AG百家乐在线官网.uk

The UK's former ambassador to Iran says he doubts Tehran will follow Western advice and put out the white flag immediately after being attacked with missiles.

Donald Trump has offered Iran "peace or tragedy" following strikes on three of its nuclear sites, warning against retaliatory attacks.

But, speaking to Kamali Melbourne, Sir Richard Dalton questions why Iran would accept calls to deescalate "having been attacked by two nuclear powers, having been humiliated and having had immense damage done to them".

"Iranians have already made plain that they will respond at a time of their own choosing," he says.

"It really is quite something to hear all these calls for de-escalation, immediately after this operation by the United States."

Security Council debate 'unrealistic'

On the emergency UN Security Council meeting that happened today in New York, Sir Richard says the debate is "unrealistic".

He says this is because nobody will call on Israel to show restraint or respond to Iran's legitimate request for the Council to take a position on the illegality of Israel's aggression.

"This was not a legitimate action in self-defence by Israel, but of course, that's too difficult for countries like Britain and France to raise," he says.

"And that's one of the reasons why this debate is unlikely to have much impact on the course of events."

UN ambassadors from Israel, Iran and the US have all spoken at an emergency Security Council meeting in New York.

The meeting was called by Tehran following America's intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict yesterday.

Here's how each representative used their time at the Council:

Amir-Saeid Iravani (Iran)

Iran condemned "blatant US aggression" and said all American allegations against Iran are "unfounded, with no legal basis and politically motivated".

He said the timing, nature and scale of Tehran's response to US strikes will be decided by its armed forces.

"This is a historic test for this Council and for the United Nations as a whole," he adds.

"Every state and every responsible actor must rise to this occasion and condemn without ambiguity these blatant crimes."

Danny Danon (Israel)

Speaking last, Danny Danon said the cost of inaction in Iran would have been "catastrophic" and that a nuclear Iran "would have been a death sentence".

"This is what the last line of defence looks like when every other line has failed," he said.

Danon also accuses Iran of using nuclear negotiations as "camouflage" to buy time to build missiles and enrich uranium.

Dorothy Shea (US)

America's ambassador said Iran had "long obfuscated its nuclear weapons programme" and "stonewalled good-faith efforts" by the US in recent nuclear talks.

Dorothy Shea urged the Council to "call on Iran to end its efforts to eradicate Israel" and to "terminate its drive for nuclear weapons".

Other speakers:

• Russian ambassador Vasily Nebenzya says America has "opened a Pandora's box" and that nobody knows what new catastrophes it will bring;
• Ambassador to the United Kingdom Barbara Woodward called this a "pivotal moment" for the Middle East and urged Iran to cooperate fully with the UN's nuclear watchdog;
• China's ambassador, Fu Cong, said Beijing "strongly condemns" US attacks on Iran;
• Antonio Gutteres, UN secretary-general, said US strikes constituted a "a perilous turn in a region already reeling", calling for an end to "another cycle of destruction".

Israel's ambassador to the UN has now addressed the UN Security Council.

Danny Danon says the cost of inaction in Iran would have been "catastrophic" and that a nuclear Iran "would have been a death sentence".

"This is what the last line of defence looks like when every other line has failed," he says.

Danon also accuses Iran of using nuclear negotiations as "camouflage" to buy time to build missiles and enrich uranium.

Iran has maintained its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes and not to make weapons.

Donald Trump has shared another message on Truth Social calling to "make Iran great again".

He says: "It's not politically correct to use the term, "Regime Change," but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn鈥檛 there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!"

In another post a moment later, Trump says the B-2 bomber pilots used in the attack on Iran's nuclear facilities have now returned safely home to the US. 

Iran's ambassador to the UN says the timing, nature and scale of Tehran's response to US strikes will be decided by its armed forces.

Amir-Saeid Iravani condemned "blatant US aggression" and said all American allegations against Iran are "unfounded, with no legal basis and politically motivated".

"Once again, the internationally wanted war criminal Netanyahu succeeded in hijacking US foreign policy, dragging the United States into yet another costly and baseless war," he says.

"America has, once more, recklessly chosen to sacrifice its own security merely to safeguard Netanyahu."

"This is a historic test for this Council and for the United Nations as a whole," he adds.

"Every state and every responsible actor must rise to this occasion and condemn without ambiguity these blatant crimes."

Donald Trump has just shared a message on Truth Social calling US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities "hard and accurate".

"Great skill was shown by our military," he adds.

Earlier, the UN's nuclear watchdog said the Natanz facility in Iran has been "completely destroyed" and the Isfahan site suffered "very significant damage".

But damage at the underground Fordow facility still remains "unclear", Rafael Grossi said (see 16.15 post).

The B-2 stealth bombers that dropped bunker busting bombs on Iranian nuclear facilities have begun returning to a US base in Missouri.

An Associated Press journalist watched on as at least seven of the B-2 aircraft came in for landing at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.

Sir Keir Starmer spoke with Donald Trump on the phone this evening, a Downing Street spokesperson says.

The two leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East and "reiterated the grave risk posed by Iran's nuclear programme to international security".

They also discussed the need for Iran to return to the negotiating table "as soon as possible".

America's ambassador to the UN has just spoken to the Security Council in New York.

Dorothy Shea says Iran "long obfuscated its nuclear weapons programme" and "stonewalled our good-faith efforts" in recent nuclear talks.

She urges the Security Council to "call on Iran to end its efforts to eradicate Israel" and to terminate its drive for nuclear weapons.

Iran has maintained its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes and not to make weapons.