All about bunker buster bombs ‘Bunker buster’ is a broad term to describe bombs that penetrate deep below the surface before exploding B-2 Spirit stealth bomber: It can carry a payload of 18,000 kg but the US Air Force has has tested a total weight of 27,200 kilograms The roughly 13,600 kilogram precision-guided bomb can attack deeply buried and hardened bunkers and tunnels tirupati l monday l june 23, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l anantapur EDITION Iran can have reactors, but can’t enrich uranium: Rubio No reports of radiation from Iran, says IAEA chief 80 injured in Israel as Iran fires volley of missiles Iran will be allowed to operate nuclear power plants but not enrich its own fuel, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi said the Iranian regulatory authorities have reported no increase in off-site radiation levels Iran fired a barrage of missiles against Israel, targeting Ben Gurion Airport, and other key targets. According to Israeli media, over 80 were injured TRUMPFIRE ON IRAN Nuclear SITES key sites in iran hit by the U.S. Natanz Israeli attacks had already damaged the country’s largest uranium enrichment center In this case, it refers to the GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator bomb that US used to bomb Iran’s three key nuclear sites Iran Fordo Bunkerbuster bombs were dropped on Iran's most critical nuclear site A merican strikes I sraeli strikes since June 13 Isfahan Near-bomb-grade nuclear fuel is reportedly stored here U.S. bombs Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan ‘obliterated’ them, claims Trump Iran says ‘a very big red line’ crossed, warns of ‘dangerous consequences’ world leaders call for calm A g en c i e s @ Dubai/Washington/Jerusalem AFter waiting on the sidelines for days, the US on Sunday joined Israel’s war against Iran, bombing three of the country’s major nuclear sites using the rarely deployed GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs and the powerful Tomahawk cruise missiles. “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace,” US President Donald Trump said after the strikes. He said Tehran must now make peace or brace for more attacks. The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran confirmed that attacks took place on the Fordo and Natanz enrichment facilities as well as the Isfahan nuclear site. Both Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there were no immediate signs of radioactive contamination around the sites. Iran reacted sharply to the attack, saying the US crossed ‘a very big red line’ and warned that there will be ‘dangerous consequences’ and ‘far- reaching implications’. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hit out at the US, saying the attack revealed it was the “main factor behind” Israel’s military campaign in the Islamic republic. Vowing to defend itself at all costs, Iran fired another volley of missiles at Israel, injuring scores of people and damaging buildings. “There is no red line that they have not crossed. And the last one, and the most dangerous one, happened only last night. They crossed a very big red line by attacking nuclear facilities,” said Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi. The foreign minister said he would soon fly to Moscow to hold discussions with Russia. “We enjoy a strategic partnership and we always consult with each other and coordinate our positions,” he said, referring to Russia. If US claims that the nuclear sites have been damaged beyond repair are confirmed, it could mark the end of for Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s ambitious plan to transform the Islamic Republic into a greater regional power that holds enriched nuclear material a step away from weapons-grade. The developments have caused fears of the conflict intensifying and spreading wider. While the Trump administration said it still wanted to resume diplomatic talks with Iran, Tehran said the time for diplomacy had passed and that it would now do the needful to defend itself. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Trump administration does not seek a regime change in Iran. He said the strikes ordered by Trump overnight had “devastated” Iran’s nuclear programme and urged Iranian leaders to seek peace to avoid further attacks. He also sought to clarify that the strikes did not target Iranian troops or civilians. Global leaders responded to the developments with shock and calls for restraint. The United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting on Sunday. Egypt warned of ‘grave repercussions’ for the region. Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Middle East-based Fifth Fleet, called on Iran and the US to ‘quickly resume talks.’ Jagan booked for culpable homicide in rally death case E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Guntur Newlywed killed, wife’s role suspected E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Kurnool In a chilling case, Tejeswar, a 32-year-old private land surveyor and dance master from Rajaveedhinagar, Gadwal Town, Telangana, was found murdered near the HNSS canal in Sugalimetta, under Panyam police station limits in Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh. The grim discovery, made just a month after his marriage to Iswarya from Kallur, Kurnool, has sparked allegations of foul play, with the victim’s family pointing fingers at his wife and her alleged accomplices. According to Panyam Circle I n s p e c t o r K i r a n Ku m a r, Tejeswar had been missing since June 17, prompting his brother, Tejavardhan, to file a missing person report with Gadwal Town Police. Using mobile location tracking, authorities located his body on June 21 near the HNSS canal. The remains were subsequently handed over to the Gadwal police for further invesP4 tigation.  In a dramatic escalation following the death of a 55-yearold man during a rally former , Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has been booked for culpable homicide, with Guntur police confirming that the vehicle involved in the fatal accident was the one he was travelling in. The case, initially considered a road mishap involving an unauthorised vehicle, took a serious turn after video evidence and eyewitness accounts revealed that the black SUV carrying Jagan had run over party worker Cheeli Singaiah. Speaking to the media on Sunday Guntur SP S Satish Ku, mar said that, alongside Jagan, police have named his personal assistant K Nageshwar Reddy, former MP YV Subba Reddy, f o r m e r m i n i s t e r s Pe r n i Venkateswara Rao (Nani) and Vidadala Rajini, and driver Ramana Reddy, who has been allegedly taken into custody, as they were allegedly present in the vehicle at the time of the incident. The case, initially filed under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint by the victim’s wife Cheeli Lurdhu Mary, has now been reclassified under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 49 (act endangering human life or personal safety of others). The incident occurred on June 18 near the Etukuru bypass in Guntur district during a political rally from Tadepalli P4 to Rentapalla.  Case against Rambabu Guntur Police have registered cases against former minister Ambati Rambabu in connection with recent incidents surrounding YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s visit to Sattenapalli last week. express read Op Sindhu continues, two more flights reach Delhi DGCA to revise norms for rough weather operations New Delhi: India on Sunday evacuated 602 more citizens from the Iranian city of Mashhad, as tensions continue to escalate between Iran and Israel. The evacuees arrived in New Delhi at 4:30 pm on a special chartered flight, taking the total number of Indians brought home under Operation Sindhu to 1,719 | P7 New Delhi: To ensure safe flight operations during the monsoon, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has come out with a revised circular highlighting additional safety measures and guidelines for airlines and pilots. The guidelines are in light of an incident involving an Indigo flight from Delhi to Srinagar | P7 Youths roped in to launder liquor scam money P h a n i n d r a pa pa s a n i @ Vijayawada The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged `3,500-crore liquor scam that reportedly took place during the previous YSR Congress Party regime has unearthed another startling revelation engineering graduates and unemployed youth were used to transport and store illicit money procured from liquor sales and distillery commissions. The involvement of young professionals came to light during the questioning of one of the key persons and 34-year-old engineering graduate Katta Pranay Prakash by SIT officials recently . According to sources close to the probing agency, over 200 youth, mostly engineering graduates and unemployed youths with links to YSRCP leaders, were recruited between 2019 and 2024. These individuals were allegedly enticed with lucrative incentives for P4 their participation.  Chanakya played a key role in recruiting and monitoring the youth. After their tasks were completed, they were distanced SIT official It’s believed to be able to penetrate about 61 metres below the surface before exploding, and the bombs can be dropped one after another, effectively drilling deeper and deeper with each successive blast. GRAPHIC: Sourav roy Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace Donald Trump, US prez Weight 13,608 kg Length 20 feet Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian president Fordo is Iran’s second nuclear enrichment facility after Natanz. In addition to being 80 metres underneath, it is protected by Iranian and Russian missiles ■ Iran dials India, Modi calls for de-escalation j aya n t h j a c o b @ New Delhi PRIME Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday, voicing concern over the escalating Iran-Israel conflict, particularly as New Delhi is wary about rising tensions threatening regional stability . The 45-minute call, initiated by President Pezeshkian following US strikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites, included a detailed briefing on the evolving situation. “India reiterates its call for immediate de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward and for early restoration of regional peace, security and stability,” Modi said after the call. Pezeshkian described India as a friend and partner. He expressed appreciation for India’s consistent stance advocating dialo gue and diplomacy. “India’s voice and role is important in restoring regional peace,” Pezeshkian told Modi. Buzz on closure of Strait of Hormuz A g en c i e s This aggression showed that is the main factor behind the Zionist regime’s hostile actions against Iran How tough a target is Fordo nuke site CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI ■ Amid the escalating tensions with Israel and the additional conflict of US strikes on Iran, foreign minister Abbas Araghchi was asked about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. He responded, saying that “a variety of options are available to Iran”. The Strait, located between Iran and Oman, and links the Gulf north of it with the Gulf of Oman to the south, is the passage for one-fifth of the world’s oil consumption. Iran’s parliament has approved the plan to close the Strait of Hormuz - the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world’s most strategically important choke points -- and the country’s Supreme Nation- al Security Council will take the final call, Iranian media reported on Sunday . If Iran decides to close the strait, it will impact global oil and gas shipments. According to estimates, around 20% of the world’s oil and gas moves through the Strait of Hormuz. The reported move follows US strikes on three Iranian military sites early on Sunday .