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U.S. Strikes Iran Nuclear Facilities In "Operation Midnight Hammer"; U.N. Holds Emergency Security Council Meeting After U.S. Strikes In Iran; IDF Says Still Has Targets To Strike In Iran; Iranian Foreign Ministry Calls U.S. Strikes A "Betrayal Of Diplomacy"; Interview With Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) About U.S. Strikes On Iran; Trump's Decision Was Minutes Before Bombs Dropped. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired June 22, 2025 - 16:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[16:00:00]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: And this is CNN's special coverage of the breaking news, the unprecedented strikes on Iran.

This hour, we're learning new details about the U.S. attack on three Iranian nuclear facilities. Codenamed "Operation Midnight Hammer," the attacks lasted just over two hours, using more than 125 aircraft and included the Tomahawk missiles fired from submarines. The operation also included a decoy of B-2 bombers deployed over the Pacific to try to draw attention away from the actual strikes, which came from the east.

Today, we're also learning the president gave the final order to strike Iran just minutes before the bombs dropped. And just a short time ago, some of the B-2 bombers that took place -- took part in the operation returned to the Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. New images into CNN show the impact, the impact craters from the massive bunker buster bombs that were dropped on the Fordow nuclear site.

The Pentagon's top general says the military's initial assessment is that all three sites had extremely severe damage and destruction, though a full review will take more time. Video broadcast by the Iranian state media and geolocated by CNN shows more smoke, shows a lot of smoke in fact rising from the direction of the Fordow facility. After those strikes, Iran is accusing the U.S. of beginning a dangerous war and violating international law, saying, and I'm quoting now, "We have to respond."

We have a team of our correspondents covering every detail from Washington to the Middle East. CNN's senior correspondent, Kristen Holmes, is joining us from the White House. CNN correspondent Julia Benbrook is in D.C. as well. And chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward is joining us from Tel Aviv. CNN's senior international correspondent, Fred Pleitgen, by the way, is in Tehran for us. But let's start with Kristen Holmes over at the White House.

Kristen, Vice President JD Vance said the president made the final decision on Saturday's strikes but you have new details on what led up to that decision. Share those details with us. KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right,

Wolf. We are told that the talks about whether or not the United States would join Israel in attacking Iran began in earnest earlier this month when President Trump made a last minute trip to Camp David with his National Security Team. It was there that he was presented with plans that had been drawn up months and weeks in advance by his team, who had really worked together to try and sort out their differences before they brought it to the president of the United States.

Now, obviously, we know after that meeting was when Israel struck Iran. The United States said that was done unilaterally. But by the time we got to this Thursday, when Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stood up and said that the president was going to take two weeks to decide whether or not he was going to strike Iran, allowing Iran to come to the table, we are told by people close to President Trump that it seemed that he had already made up his mind that he was going to strike.

Now, one thing to keep in mind here is that President Trump, in the weeks leading up to this final decision, was asking his team two things. One, is it possible that these strikes will be decisive enough to actually take out these nuclear facilities? That was incredibly important to him. He didn't want to just do something half part. But the other part of this was if we do enter into this conflict, does that mean that the United States is going to be part of a long term conflict in the Middle East, something that President Trump has said over and over again he does not want?

Now, he was assured on both fronts, however, obviously we're going -- we're waiting now to see what happens next. Now, a couple of things to note in all of this. One, there is a real concern among U.S. officials that Iran is going to retaliate. They have been preparing for that for weeks. They have been moving ships. They have been moving planes. They even brought in extra blood into the region.

We also know that as of last night, they were departing or helping bring out a number of personnel from the region, both non-essential and some essential personnel. Clearly, they're holding out hope that they're not going to be retaliated on but getting ready for the case that Iran could strike back -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Kristen Holmes over at the White House for us. Kristen, thank you.

Right now, the United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency meeting following the U.S. strikes on Iran.

CNN correspondent Julia Benbrook is following these developments for us.

What can you tell us, Julia?

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, that meeting is ongoing. The United Nations Security Council is having an emergency meeting to discuss the escalating situation in the Middle East. And a U.N. source tells our team that Iran requested that meeting.

Now, this council is made up of 15 members, five permanent members that have veto power, including China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. And then the 10 other members are elected by the general assembly for two-year terms.

[16:05:08]

Now, the U.N. secretary-general and the general assembly work in complementary roles with this council, and the first person to take the floor to speak during this meeting today was U.N. Secretary- General Antonio Guterres. And he said from the outset of this crisis, he has condemned military escalation in the Middle East. He went on to speak directly about the action that the United States took over the weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONIO GUTERRES, UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL: Two days ago in this very chamber I made a direct appeal. Give peace a chance. That call was not heeded. Instead, the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States marks a perilous turn in a region that is already reeling.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BENBROOK: And this echoes some of the comments that he has made in recent days, in fact, want to pull up a statement from him just yesterday where he said, quote, "There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region and the world."

Now, according to reporting from Reuters, China, Russia and Pakistan have proposed that this panel adopt a resolution that would call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East. At this time, it is unclear when or if that would go up for a vote, but according to their reporting, those three countries have circulated a draft and have asked members for any sort of feedback by Monday evening.

BLITZER: All right. We'll stay in close touch with you, Julia. Thank you very much for that report.

I want to go right now to our chief international correspondent, Clarissa Ward, who's in Tel Aviv.

Clarissa, Israel is still conducting strikes against Iran today. What are you learning?

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it was just a couple of hours ago that we heard from the chief spokesperson for the IDF, who talked about the longest distance strike that they have made so far in Iran. More than 2,000 kilometers away from Israel. The target of that strike reportedly a missile engine production site. And when the spokesman was asked whether this -- whether these U.S. strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities would now bring a kind of pause in the fighting, he said, "We have goals to achieve and we will continue to achieve them."

So the message from Israel is that its strikes will continue. We also heard the IDF for the first time, Wolf, saying that they assessed that the damage done by these U.S. strikes was, quote, "a deep impact and a significant hit." That is slightly different language from what we heard from the president, Donald Trump, who talked about total obliteration. IDF also saying that they're still waiting for further details and a more detailed assessment on what damage was done.

And meanwhile, of course, Wolf, the strikes here in Israel have continued as well. Early this morning, about just after 7:00 a.m., we all went down to the shelter. A barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles, one of the heaviest barrages we've heard we could actually feel the force of that blast. And our colleagues were at the site in a residential area north of Tel Aviv, where one of those missiles made impact.

And you can see, I hope the pictures are showing now, the extent of the damage and the destruction. Multiple buildings completely destroyed, debris everywhere. Remarkably, nobody was killed. Reports that there were about 20 people who were lightly injured. And that's because, Wolf, as we've discussed before, Israelis now understand and are very much in the routine that the minute they hear that pre-alert, they have about 10 minutes to find shelter. Then when they hear those sirens, they've got 90s until they absolutely must be inside a shelter.

One other thing to mention, Wolf, the home front command here had talked about reopening the economy in a phased progression as of Wednesday night. Well, last night, after those U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, they immediately went back to the highest state of protective measures. No public gatherings, no school, no work, and really urging people to stay close to shelter and home unless they need to be outside, Wolf.

BLITZER: Most important thing is to save lives. And that's what they're trying to do.

Clarissa Ward, thank you very, very much for that update.

Iranians are speaking out against President Trump's decision to strike their country's nuclear sites. The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry calling it, and I'm quoting now, "a betrayal of diplomacy."

[16:10:01]

Our senior international correspondent, Fred Pleitgen, who was the first Western journalist to enter Iran after the conflict with Israel began, is on the ground in Tehran speaking to residents.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iran's leadership has absolutely blasted the Trump administration for bombing several Iranian nuclear sites. In fact, the country's foreign minister has come out and said that the United States has begun what he calls a dangerous war and that there would be, as he also says, everlasting consequences.

Now we are in the Iranian capital, in Tehran, and we've spoken to a lot of folks here on the street, and a lot of them say they are very angry at the United States. They voiced that anger to us. And also absolutely ripped into President Trump.

(Voice-over): "They attacked us," she says. "We were living our normal lives and they attacked us. If someone strikes the United States, would they not answer? Of course they would. We're not doing anything but defending ourselves."

"Iranian people are people of honor, and we will definitely give a strong response," this man says. "We will stand strongly like we have been for the past 40 years."

"There is no one dirtier than Trump," he says. "First, he gives us two weeks' time, but then after two days strikes us. We do not have nuclear weapons. So why does he strike us? Such a guy only thinks about his own benefit."

"I support the supreme leader with my life," he says. "I approve of him. Really. Because he's moving forward for the sake of our land."

So, as you can see, a lot of people saying that if anything, this has strengthened their support for their leadership. All this, by the way, comes as a lot of folks are coming back to Tehran. A lot of shops are opening again after many people had left fearing that there could be a big bombing campaign by the Israelis and by the Trump administration.

Iran's leadership has warned the U.S. that Iran has many things at its disposal with which it could resist, as it puts it, the United States. One of the things, of course, that they keep talking about is the militias in the Middle Eastern region that are loyal to Iran. There's Iranian commanders who have said, look, next to almost every American military base in the region there is a militia that is loyal to Iran.

And that could cause trouble for the U.S. At the same time, Iran's leadership says it understands that right now it has entered into a phase of serious conflict with the United States.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Tehran.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Thank you very much, Fred.

Coming up, Vice President JD Vance says the administration is still willing to work with Iran following President Trump's strikes. But is that option still really on the table? We have details. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:17:19]

BLITZER: Welcome back to our breaking news coverage of the unprecedented U.S. airstrikes on Iran. We're now learning Iran's top diplomat arrived in Moscow to consult with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

Joining us now is the former U.S. Defense secretary, former CIA director, former White House chief of staff, former congressman, Leon Panetta.

What's your assessment, Mr. Secretary, about these U.S. strikes carried out over the past several hours against various nuclear targets in Iran by the U.S.?

LEON PANETTA, FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, first of all, Wolf, as a former secretary of Defense, whether one is for or against these attacks, they were conducted with great precision and great planning by our military to really place our bombers in place over thousands of miles, our ships, our subs, our pilots, and be able to get everything in place in order to conduct very precise attacks on three targets, which they did.

I think is a tribute to the United States military. And I'm proud of our men and women in uniform and the way they did this attack.

The question obviously --

BLITZER: Do you think, Mr. Secretary -- Mr. Secretary, excuse me for interrupting, but do you think President Trump made the right call?

PANETTA: You know, I think we have made very clear that the United States would not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. I think there was an effort to try to negotiate, but I think the bottom line was that Iran was not interested in negotiating and willing to do anything to stop their enrichment and bomb capability. And so I don't think the United States had any alternative but to conduct this type of attack.

But as always, the question is, what is the end game, and that is, I hope, something that the president and his National Security Team have thought about because if this only results in a prolonged war in which the regime continues its effort to use the enrichment that it does have, and that's something I think we need to understand that they have a large quantity of enriched fuel that is still ready to go.

And if they continue to proceed, even though it may be over the long term, it raises a real question about what should the United States and Israel do to make sure that doesn't happen?

[16:20:00]

That is not an easy challenge to overcome by either the United States or Israel, unless they're willing to put boots on the ground. And I don't think that's something either one wants to do.

BLITZER: What's your assessment, Mr. Secretary, of Iran's military capability right now to actually make good on the threats that it's making?

PANETTA: I think their military capability has been greatly weakened. You know, Israel deserves credit for having weakened Hamas, weakened Hezbollah, and now weakened Iran. And so there are a lot of questions about just exactly what their capability is going to be.

But the real issue here, Wolf, is whether or not the regime is going to continue. And as far as I can see, even though with these attacks, it's clear that the regime will continue and they will use whatever capabilities they have in order to make sure that they are now going to proceed I think with their nuclear ambition, that's a concern. That's a concern. Will they negotiate now? I don't think so.

They have every reason to basically continue to do what they were trying to do before. And so that raises a real question. What will the United States and Israel do to make very clear that Iran does not have the enrichment capability or the bomb-making ability that this was all about?

BLITZER: Days before these latest U.S. strikes, you told CNN an attack on Iran would lead the U.S. into a regional war. Do you still feel that way?

PANETTA: I don't think there's any question that this is a watershed moment for the United States in the Middle East. We have now engaged militarily with Israel in going after Iran. We are now basically fighting this war together. And that means that the United States and Israel are going to have to continue to put pressure on Iran through attacks in the future because if Iran does not agree to negotiation, the United States and Israel have no other choice but to continue what will be a prolonged Middle East war, something that I think Trump had promised we would never be engaged in.

BLITZER: Certainly it looks like it's moving in that direction. Iran's top diplomat has now arrived in Moscow to consult with Putin following these strikes. What do you think they will be trying to do? What's the objective of this visit?

PANETTA: I would think the objective of the visit is to try to determine whether Putin will continue to provide support to Iran, just as Iran provided support to Putin in Ukraine. They are now there to basically cash in with the Russians to try to get the weapons and equipment and drones that they're going to need if they're going to try to conduct any kind of retaliation. I think that's what this meeting is about.

BLITZER: Interesting. Could be very significant.

Leon Panetta, thank you very, very much for joining us.

PANETTA: Good to be with you, Wolf.

BLITZER: And coming up, some lawmakers are pushing to restrict President Trump's war powers following his strikes on Iran. Democratic Senator Peter Welch standing by to join us live. We'll discuss. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:28:21] BLITZER: We're continuing to follow the major breaking news out of Iran, where U.S. military, the U.S. military, carried out airstrikes against key Iranian nuclear facilities overnight.

Joining us now to discuss what's going on, Democratic Senator Peter Welch of Vermont.

Senator, thanks so much for joining us. So what's your initial reaction to these overnight airstrikes carried out by the U.S. military?

SEN. PETER WELCH (D-VT): Very dangerous. I mean, essentially what the president did is abandon the diplomatic route and chose the warrior route. And there is enormous danger associated with what will happen next. By all accounts, this was -- we don't know really how successful the strike is in terms of getting rid of the weapons grade uranium or incapacitating Iran's nuclear program.

But what we do know is that there is enormous risk. The Strait of Hormuz, retaliation against American interests in the area. And once there is a decision by the ayatollah as to whether there will be significant retaliation, then that is going to lead to war. So I, for one, believe that the president made a very rash decision by choosing to abandon the diplomatic route.

BLITZER: Do you see the military conflict right now evolving into a prolonged, full-scale war?

WELCH: Well, it definitely could. I mean, essentially the decision, the next decision that's going to be operative is, what does Iran do?

[16:30:00]

And keep in mind, any country that gets a wave after wave of B-2 bombers and 30 thousand-pound bombs dropped on its facilities, that's an act of war. And they're going to, in all likelihood, retaliate. We don't know for sure. If it's not much of a response, then we may avoid it.

But the reality is that the diplomatic route has been successful to date. OK, it's risky. And none of us want Iran to have a nuclear weapon.

But what you see here is Netanyahu is actually hell bent, not just on destroying the nuclear program. But his outcome, in my view, is he wants regime change. And we saw what happened with a regime change agenda in Iraq. We saw what happened with it in Afghanistan. And those have been catastrophic wars for the United States and for peace in the region.

And what is shocking to me, frankly, is that Donald Trump, who rightly criticized those two wars and promised his voters that there would be no more forever wars under his watch, is now starting one.

BLITZER: How do you think, Senator, the U.S. should respond, if Iran were to retaliate and directly target U.S. military troops in the region, not very far away from Iran.

WELCH: Well, see, here's the dilemma. If the -- if there is a significant retaliation by Iran, the President is going to respond with massive military force. So, I -- that is why the question for me is how do we return to the diplomatic approach? Because there are so many things that are beyond the control of the President.

And escalation leads to escalation. And when you're in a diplomatic situation which has worked for us imperfectly. It doesn't give us the security that we want, but we avoid the worst potential of another forever war in the Middle East.

That's, I think, where the President has to really focus. And it's going to be out of his hands for a while, because we're all going to be waiting to see what the response is from Iran. And we're not in control of that. And that's the risk that Donald Trump has taken and put America and our soldiers, potentially, in harm's way.

BLITZER: Congressman Himes, the Ranking Democratic Member of the House Intelligence Committee, one of the members of the so-called Gang of Eight which are privy to the most secretive national security issues out there, said he found out about the strikes on Twitter. What do you make of the Trump Administration deciding not to inform senior Democrats about this upcoming strike?

WELCH: Well, it -- you know, I was on the Intelligence Committee with him in the House. And that procedure that we have where the Gang of Eight so-called is informed, has been followed by every President. And, once again, Donald Trump is breaking with any kind of norms.

So, it makes, I think, a mockery of any consultation with Congress, let alone, in this case, a very clear act of war. Where, under the Constitution, it's Congress that has the responsibility to declare that. And there was not even a presentation to Congress for us to have an opportunity to vote on this.

So, I think this is Donald Trump on his own, acting like Donald Trump does unilaterally. But it is with incredible stakes about the security of our country and the potential for yet more escalation in another Iraq or another Afghanistan in the Middle East.

BLITZER: Democratic Senator Peter Welch of Vermont, thanks, as usual, for joining us.

WELCH: Thank you.

And the Department of Homeland Security is now warning of a heightened threat environment in the United States. The national security concerns following the U.S. strikes on Iran. We have new information. That's next.

[16:34:07]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to our breaking news coverage of the U.S. airstrikes on Iran. The U.S. now says it has obliterated, obliterated, Iran's nuclear sites with its attacks on three key nuclear-related facilities. But this question remains. Does Iran still have any nuclear capabilities left?

I want to bring in retired U.S. Navy SEAL, Admiral Robert Harward. He's a former deputy commander of the U.S. Military's central command, under the leadership at the time of General James Mattis.

Admiral, thanks so much for joining us. What's your very early assessment of how successful these latest U.S. airstrikes were in disabling the Iranian nuclear potential?

ADMIRAL ROBERT HARWARD, RETIRED DEPUTY COMMANDER, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: Well, I think, Wolf, they've been tremendously successful. But I think the real important part is to understand this is just one component of what I believe is a broader Israeli campaign. And I think that campaign began after Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, 2023.

And that campaign is very broad. As you saw immediately after 2023. They went after the surrogates, Hamas and Hezbollah, and they decimated them.

Now, they turn their attention to Iran. And the Iran we know before October 7, 2023, and the leadership is in tough and dire straits.

[16:40:01]

HARWARD: The Israelis have incapacitated their surface to air missiles, so now they can fly unchallenged in their airspace. They've gone after their leadership. They've gone after their ICBM, long-range and medium-range missiles and their launchers. They're going after their facilities.

And we fell in support, direct support, as part of that campaign to ensure they cannot produce and deliver nuclear weapons. But overall, we may just be seeing the start of this. I think Israeli wants to ensure that all elements of Iranian power and their ability to project power is decimated and cannot be reconstituted for decades. And that creates an incredible opportunity for the region.

BLITZER: So, what is your best assessment right now, Admiral, of how close Iran actually was to having a nuclear weapon?

HARWARD: Well, I think Israel has demonstrated that to us and so has our intel operate -- organizations. We knew they had progressed to the point of having the material or could enrich. Go from 60 percent to weapons-grade material in a matter of days. The other part that's not as clear, the weaponization and the ability to deliver that weapon.

So, those are two different components, as we saw in this long- standing Israeli campaign. They had gone after their systems. Their people who were involved in weaponizing that.

So, it's not clear to me where they were in that brink. But it, apparently, based on the timing of this, would seem to confirm that they were close. And, of course, that's an existential threat to Israel. So, if their intelligence indicated that both those components had reached a point where it could not be stopped, they had to act.

BLITZER: Three --

(CROSSTALK)

HARWARD: I believe our intelligence must have confirmed that to act in direct support of their campaign plan.

BLITZER: -- three U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups are now moving. If they're not already there, they're moving very close to the region to deal with this. How concerned are you, specifically about the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, which is based in Bahrain, right across from Iran right now? How vulnerable are the U.S. Sailors and Marines who are based there?

HARWARD: Well, they're always at risk, and we got to keep that in the forefront of our thoughts. But then, again, I think our ability and what the campaign has done to neutralize Iranian threats, minimize the risk or help abate it to some point.

I think Iran may have a bigger problem. Not projecting power, but ensure now, because they've demonstrated themselves proven to everyone how really weak they are and how vulnerable. So, their focus may be more internally controlling the people inside the country as they watch this layout.

So, I'd be -- I think it may be counterproductive for them to strike out, because then it would justify a much broader campaign plan for American involvement. I think President Trump has been very clear. He wants to negotiate. He wants to ensure they are unable and agree to never have a nuclear weapon.

But -- so, if they do strike back and retaliate, I think it becomes a much broader campaign and much more threatening to the regime in Iran.

BLITZER: Retired Admiral Robert Harwood, thanks so much for your expertise. Thanks so much for joining us.

HARWOOD: Thanks, Wolf. Good to be with you.

BLITZER: Still ahead, 30,000-pound bombs and decoy bombers. We have details on how the Trump Administration carried out its military operation against Iran, and how it's preparing right now for possible Iranian retaliation.

[16:43:56]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN's breaking news coverage of the historic U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. More than 125 U.S. aircraft, decoy B-2 bombers, 30,000-pound bombs, all involved in last night's bombing. An attack named Operation Midnight Hammer. Listen to the chairman of the U.S. joint chiefs of staff, General Dan Caine, lay out the timeline in detail.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEN. DAN CAINE, CHAIRMAN, U.S. JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: At midnight Friday into Saturday morning, a large B-2 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-2 Spirit bombers, each with two crew members, proceeded quietly to the east with minimal communications throughout the 18-hour flight into the target area. The aircraft completed multiple in-flight refuelings.

Once over land, the B-2s linked up with escort and support aircraft in a complex, tightly timed maneuver, requiring exact synchronization across multiple platforms in a narrow piece of airspace.

[16:50:00]

CAINE: All done with minimal communications.

At approximately 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time last night, and just prior to the strike package entering Iran, a U.S. submarine, in the central command area of responsibility, launched more than two dozen Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles against key surface infrastructure targets at Isfahan.

As the Operation Midnight Hammer strike package entered Iranian airspace, the U.S. 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, sweeping in front of the package for enemy fighters and surface to air missile threats.

As the strike package approached Fordow and Natanz, the U.S. 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 U.S. strike package on the way in. At approximately 6:40 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 2:10 a.m. Iran time, the lead B-2 dropped two GBU-57 massive ordnance penetrator weapons on the first of several aim points at Fordow.

As the President stated last night, the remaining bombers then hit their targets as well, with a total of 14 MOPs dropped against two nuclear target areas. All three Iranian nuclear infrastructure targets were struck between 6:40 p.m. And 7:05 p.m. Eastern time.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: Just a point out, MOPs are massive ordnance penetrators. Those are the bombs. The bunker busting bombs.

And joining us now is retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Mark Schwartz. He's the former U.S. security coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian authority.

General, thanks so much for joining us. Can you give us insight on the significance, first of all, of this decoy operation that was publicly disclosed with B-2 bomber planes flying toward the Pacific? But the real planes attacking from the east?

LT. GEN. MARK SCHWARTZ (RETIRED), UNITED STATES ARMY: Well, the strategic deception that was put in place, I remember, you know, listening to the announcement and seeing it in the news yesterday, of six B-2s taking off out of Whiteman and heading towards Guam. And then, you know, potentially, Diego Garcia.

So, my belief was that it was -- it was very effective. And, of course, it was advertised on through air traffic control, which isn't the norm.

But I -- you know, when I was asked about this yesterday, I'm, like, well, that's part of the strategic messaging. You know, there's -- the intent here is to continue to set the theater for a potential strike, not knowing that it was going to take place, as the chairman just outlined.

So, very effective as was the tactical deception that the chairman laid out in his briefing this morning, to divert any type of acquisition radar away from the intended targets of those three nuclear sites, Wolf.

BLITZER: I'll just point out, I was surprised that they publicly released that kind of decoy information, because pay -- it, perhaps, could undermine operations down the road, if this kind of information is made public.

The B-2 planes, General, were in the air for, what, up to 18 hours before the bombs actually started dropping on those Iranian nuclear sites. And the missiles were launched.

But, today, we learned that the President's final decision to launch the strikes didn't actually come until minutes before the bombs started to drop. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, the final decision, Kristen, of course, is made right before. And I'm talking about --

KRISTEN WELKER, HOST, NBC NEWS "MEET THE PRESS": When is that?

VANCE: -- minutes before the bombs were dropped. And, of course -- well, that was last night. (END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Once the President says, OK, work up options for me, they obviously go back and, you know, refine those.

And then, there are multiple points along the way in which the President has decisions to make about go or no go. And it really comes right up to 10 minutes before the bombs are actually dropped.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: So, what does that tell you, General? What does that tell you? That the President actually waited until the very last minute or so to give the green light to launch these attacks.

SCHWARTZ: Well, throughout an operation of this complexity, there are several conditions' checks that start from the time the forces assembled and all these aircraft, this armada that you described and the chairman described, over 125 aircraft. And so, the -- you know, there comes a point to where, you know, you're kind of hit a mission go or no go.

And, you know, really, that's what the senior leadership wants to do, is to wait to the last minute, so that if a condition changes that would increase risk to force specifically.

[16:55:02]

SCHWARTZ: You know, conditions change on the ground, based on near or real time intelligence.

So, I think -- I think that was great. It reminded me of the Abbottabad raid that took place. Again, you know, it was up to the last minute. Even though the aircraft launched to go after and conduct that raid, the decision to go and actually go into the compound happened, you know, just minutes prior to actual execution.

BLITZER: Yes, we actually did learn, over these past few hours, a lot of very sensitive, specific information. General Mark Schwartz, thanks very much for joining us.

We'll continue these discussions down the road to be sure.

SCHWARTZ: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: And to our viewers, thanks very much for joining me. I'm Wolf Blitzer. I'll be back, of course, in "THE SITUATION ROOM" tomorrow morning starting at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.

Our special coverage continues with Erin Burnett right after this quick break.

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