US President Donald Trump gave final approval for the operation to strike Iranian nuclear facilities on June 21 from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, Axios reported, citing its sources.
According to their data, despite public statements that the attack might not take place, the American leader on June 20 ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegsett to send B-2 strategic bombers from US territory to the operation area.
A few hours later, the planes took off from their air base in Missouri. Some of them flew west as "fake targets", the portal notes. On the afternoon of June 21, it was announced at the American leader's golf club that the bombers were about to reach the so-called point of no return - the moment when they will fall into complete radio silence. Then the president gave final permission to strike Iranian nuclear facilities.
Shortly after that, Trump flew back to Washington. In the White House Situation Room, his national security team briefed him on the operation. During the strike, the president's special envoy Stephen Witkoff sent a message to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in which he made it clear that the operation was a one-time operation, limited only to Tehran's nuclear program, Axios reports. Witkoff added that the United States still wants a diplomatic solution and Iran's return to the negotiating table, after the destruction of the country's key uranium enrichment facilities.