Iran's supreme leader, in first public statement since end of Israel-Iran war, says Iran achieved victory over Israel
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's supreme leader, in first public statement since end of Israel-Iran war, says Iran achieved victory over Israel.
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Washington Post
9 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Israelis love Trump. But some are unnerved by his vow to 'save' Netanyahu from his corruption trial
JERUSALEM — President Donald Trump's call for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial to be thrown out has plunged the American leader into one of Israel's most heated debates, unnerving some in its political class just days after they unanimously praised his strikes on Iran. Trump's social media post condemning the trial as a 'WITCH HUNT,' and his vow that the United States will be the one who 'saves' Netanyahu from serious corruption charges , came just two days after he called off an Israeli bombing raid in Iran to preserve a ceasefire.
San Francisco Chronicle
15 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Israelis love Trump. But some are unnerved by his vow to 'save' Netanyahu from his corruption trial
JERUSALEM (AP) — President Donald Trump's call for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial to be thrown out has plunged the American leader into one of Israel's most heated debates, unnerving some in its political class just days after they unanimously praised his strikes on Iran. Trump's social media post condemning the trial as a 'WITCH HUNT,' and his vow that the United States will be the one who 'saves' Netanyahu from serious corruption charges, came just two days after he called off an Israeli bombing raid in Iran to preserve a ceasefire. Both were dramatic interventions in the affairs of an ally that previous U.S. administrations had always insisted was a sovereign nation that made its own decisions. Now the one leader nearly all Israelis seem to support has fully embraced the one who most divides them. 'With all due respect for Trump, he is not supposed to interfere in a legal process in an independent country," opposition leader Yair Lapid told Israeli media. Trump says trial should be canceled In an extended post on his Truth Social site, Trump condemned Netanyahu's trial in the same language that both he and Netanyahu have long used to describe their legal woes. Both contend they are the victims of witch hunts by hostile media, crooked law enforcement and political opponents. 'I was shocked to hear that the State of Israel, which has just had one of its Greatest Moments in History, and is strongly led by Bibi Netanyahu, is continuing its ridiculous Witch Hunt against their Great War Time Prime Minister!' Trump wrote, using a common nickname for Netanyahu. 'Bibi Netanyahu's trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero, who has done so much for the State. ... It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu," Trump wrote. Netanyahu's allies took to social media Thursday to praise Trump and a spokesperson from Netanyahu's Likud party translated the post into Hebrew. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, a former rival who once challenged Netanyahu over the corruption charges, only to join his Cabinet last year, said the trial was harming the state: "When the president of the United States calls for an annulment of the trial or for a pardon — can anyone say that he is wrong?' Netanyahu himself said in a post addressed to Trump that he was 'deeply moved by your heartfelt support for me and your incredible support for Israel and the Jewish people.' Netanyahu is a polarizing figure in Israel Netanyahu became the only sitting prime minister in Israeli history to be indicted when he was charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases after yearslong investigations accusing him of exchanging favors with wealthy political supporters. He took the witness stand for the first time late last year and his cross-examination began earlier this month. Several hearings have been postponed as he has dealt with the wars and unrest stemming from Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack out of the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu portrays himself as a towering statesman fighting for Israel's very survival and accuses his political opponents of trying to achieve in the courtroom what they failed to do at the ballot box during his nearly unbroken 16 years in power — the longest of any Israeli leader. His critics accuse him of prolonging the war in Gaza and of leaving dozens of hostages languishing in Hamas captivity to cling to power and more effectively battle the allegations. Massive weekly protests against Netanyahu have been held for years. Trump seen as Israel's greatest U.S. friend Trump is seen by Netanyahu — and many Israelis — as the greatest friend they have ever had in the White House. He has lent unprecedented support to Israel's claims to territories seized in war, he brokered the Abraham Accords with four Arab nations in his first term and over the weekend he ordered direct strikes on Iran's nuclear program, which Israel views as an existential threat. Still, even some staunch supporters of Netanyahu and Trump seemed a bit unnerved. Simcha Rotman, a lawmaker from the far-right Religious Zionist party and one of the architects of Netanyahu's controversial judicial overhaul, wrote on X that Netanyahu's trial 'may be an example of an accumulation of many faults' of the justice system. 'Still, it is not the place of the president of the United States to interfere in legal proceedings in Israel."
News24
15 minutes ago
- News24
Khamenei says Trump 'exaggerated' impact of US strikes on nuclear sites
Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei dismissed US claims of major damage to its nuclear programme, calling the strikes exaggerated and ineffective. Trump insisted key Iranian nuclear sites were 'obliterated', while leaked US intelligence suggests only a few months' delay. Iran and the US may resume nuclear talks next week, following a 12-day war that left over 650 people dead. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused US President Donald Trump on Thursday of exaggerating the impact of US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, in his first appearance since a ceasefire in the war with Israel took hold. In a televised speech, Khamenei hailed what he described as Iran's 'victory' over Israel, vowed never to yield to US pressure and insisted Washington had been dealt a humiliating 'slap'. 'The American president exaggerated events in unusual ways, and it turned out that he needed this exaggeration,' Khamenei said, rejecting US claims Iran's nuclear programme had been set back by decades. The strikes, he insisted, had done 'nothing significant' to Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Trump, however, maintained the US attacks were devastating. The US president said key facilities, including the underground Fordo uranium enrichment site, had been 'obliterated' by American B-2 bombers. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump dismissed speculation Iran might have removed enriched uranium prior to the raid, saying: 'Nothing was taken out... too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!' Donald J. Trump Truth Social 06.26.25 09:13 AM EST The cars and small trucks at the site were those of concrete workers trying to cover up the top of the shafts. Nothing was taken out of facility. Would take too long, too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move! — Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) June 26, 2025 He added that satellite images showed trucks at the site only because Iranian crews were attempting to shield the facility with concrete. Khamenei dismissed such claims, saying 'the Islamic Republic won, and in retaliation dealt a severe slap to the face of America'. His remarks followed the end of a 12-day war between Iran and Israel - the deadliest between the two countries to date. Both sides have claimed victory: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a 'historic win', while Khamenei said Iran's missile retaliation had brought Israel to the brink of collapse. US defence In Washington, the true impact of the strikes has sparked sharp political and intelligence debates. A leaked classified assessment suggested the damage to Iran's nuclear programme may be less severe than initially claimed - possibly delaying progress by only a few months. This assessment contrasts with statements from senior US officials. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said several facilities would need to be 'rebuilt over the course of years'. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth accused the media of misrepresenting the operation. He said the United States used massive GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs on Fordo and another underground site, while submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles targeted a third facility. Hegseth said: President Trump created the conditions to end the war, decimating - choose your word - obliterating, destroying Iran's nuclear capabilities. Doubts remain about whether Iran quietly removed some 400 kilograms of enriched uranium from its most sensitive sites before the strikes - potentially hiding nuclear material elsewhere in the country. Netanyahu says Iran 'thwarted' Following waves of Israeli attacks on nuclear and military sites and retaliatory missile fire from Iran since mid-June, the US bombed three key Iranian atomic facilities. Initial intelligence reports, first revealed by CNN, suggested the strikes did not destroy critical components and delayed Iran's nuclear programme only by months. Experts questioned if Iran had pre-emptively moved enriched uranium to protect it. The US administration has forcefully rejected such suggestions. Trump described the attack as having 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear facilities, including the Fordo site, which is buried inside a mountain, and claimed it had set back the programme by 'decades'. READ | Trump slams report Iran moved uranium before strikes, even as nuclear watchdog 'lost visibility' The Israeli military said it delivered a 'significant' blow to Iran's nuclear sites but cautioned it was 'still early' to fully assess the damage. Netanyahu said Israel had 'thwarted Iran's nuclear project', warning any attempt by Iran to rebuild it would be met with the same determination and intensity. Nuclear talks? Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told Al Jazeera that 'nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that's for sure'. After the war derailed nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, Trump said Washington would hold discussions with Tehran next week, with his special envoy Steve Witkoff expressing hope 'for a comprehensive peace agreement'. Trump told reporters Israel and Iran were 'both tired, exhausted', before going on to say that talks were planned with Iran next week. Iran has consistently denied seeking a nuclear weapon while defending its 'legitimate rights' to the peaceful use of atomic energy. It has also said it is willing to return to nuclear negotiations with Washington. The Israeli strikes on Iran killed at least 627 civilians, Tehran's health ministry said. Iran's attacks on Israel killed 28 people, according to Israeli figures. A state funeral will be held on Saturday in Tehran for top commanders and nuclear scientists killed in the war.
