Trump says Israel sent agents to inspect Iran's Fordo nuclear site after US strike
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that Israel sent agents to Iran's Fordo nuclear site after the US struck it earlier this week, insisting the attack was a success and warning that he was willing to strike again if Iran tried to revive its enrichment program.'You know they have guys that go in there after the hit, and they said it was total obliteration,' Trump told reporters at the NATO summit in The Hague, referring to the bombing of the Fordo nuclear site.advertisement'Israel is doing a report on it now, I understand, and I was told that they said it was total obliteration. I believe it was total obliteration, and I believe they didn't have a chance to get anything out because we acted fast.'
A leaked US intelligence report suggested this week that the strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities did not destroy their underground components and that much of Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium may already have been spirited out of the sites before they were bombed. The White House has rejected the report's findings while condemning the leak.Israeli officials told the Kan public broadcaster Wednesday, responding to Trump's comments, that they were unaware of any Israeli operation at the Fordo nuclear facility after the strike.US President Donald Trump says he will strike Iran again if it tries to restart its nuclear enrichment program, but he's sure it won't be necessary.advertisementAsked by a reporter if the US would carry out more attacks if Tehran rebuilds its uranium enrichment facilities, Trump said, 'Sure. But I'm not going to have to worry about that. It's gone for years.'Asked how long he thinks the Iranian nuclear program has been set back, Trump said: 'I think it's basically decades because I don't think they'll ever do it again. I think they've had it. I mean, they just went through hell. They've had it.''The last thing they want to do is enrich anything right now,' added Trump. 'They want to recover.' 'They're not going to have a bomb and they're not going to enrich,' he stressed.Trump compares his Iran strikes with the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. pic.twitter.com/Xdg9wHPvra— Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) June 25, 2025Trump compared the US bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites to the nuclear weapons America dropped on Japan to end World War II: 'That hit ended the war. That hit ended the war. I don't want to use an example of Hiroshima, I don't want to use an example of Nagasaki, but that was essentially the same thing that ended that war. This ended that, this ended that war. If we didn't take that out, they would have been fighting right now.''I think we'll end up having somewhat of a relationship with Iran,' he added.- EndsTune InMust Watch
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Mint
6 minutes ago
- Mint
Trump Says US and Iran Will Talk Next Week, Mideast War Over for Now
President Donald Trump said the US would hold a meeting with Iran next week but cast doubt on the need for a diplomatic agreement on the country's nuclear program, citing the damage that American bombing had done to key sites. 'We're going to talk to them next week,' Trump said Wednesday at a press conference during the NATO summit at The Hague, without giving more details. 'We may sign an agreement. I don't know, to me, I don't think it's that necessary.' He reiterated that the US strikes on the Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow facilities had 'obliterated' them, again disputing an American intelligence assessment that said Tehran's nuclear program had only been set back by a matter of months. The comments came on day two of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, ending 12 days of conflict that threatened to escalate into a wider regional war and upend energy markets. As the missiles fell silent and oil prices plunged — wiping out most of their increase during the hostilities — focus has switched to a possible next stage of nuclear diplomacy. Trump said the conflict was effectively 'over' after the US bombing mission — though he also warned: 'Can it start again? I guess someday it can. It could maybe start soon.' Iran has been sending signals that it's ready to resume talks, which were underway with the US before Israel attacked. 'The logic of war has failed — return to the logic of diplomacy,' Iran's mission to the United Nations said Wednesday. The mission didn't immediately respond to requests for comment on Trump's hint at new talks. Before Israel's June 13 attack on Iran, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff had taken the lead in five rounds of talks with the Islamic Republic, seeking a deal to replace the 2015 nuclear agreement that Trump abandoned during his first term. 'We're hopeful for a comprehensive peace agreement,' Witkoff said Wednesday on CNBC when asked what the next steps are for diplomacy with Iran. 'We were hopeful when we first started negotiations. It didn't quite work out that way, but today, we are hopeful. The signs are there.' Witkoff said the US has been 'having conversations with the Iranians' and that 'multiple interlocutors are reaching out to us,' adding that his 'strong sense' is that 'they're ready.' 'For Iran, a diplomatic track makes as much sense today as it did before the attack,' said Ray Takeyh, a senior fellow at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations. 'It seems that the Iranian program was not fully disabled. This may tempt Israel or the US to conduct additional strikes. A diplomatic process will obviate that possibility.' It's not clear what that would entail. The UN's nuclear watchdog has for decades been central to monitoring of Iranian nuclear activities. But Tehran is in no hurry to resume working with the agency, which it blames for failing to condemn the US and Israeli attacks. Iran's parliament has approved legislation that would suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency until nuclear sites are secured, though any ultimate decision will be taken at higher levels of the state. The IAEA said Tuesday that inspections in Iran should resume 'as soon as possible' to determine what's happened to stocks of uranium enriched to 60% levels, not far short of the 90% required to build a bomb. The IAEA says it last verified those inventories a few days before Israel's June 13 attack and their whereabouts is now unknown, suggesting they may have been moved preemptively from sites targeted by US bombs. Trump said the US bunker-buster strikes had eliminated some key risks by burying the country's atomic materials under 'granite, concrete and steel.' 'We think everything nuclear is down there,' he said. 'They didn't take it out.' Pressed about the sources for such findings, he cited new intelligence assessments and also said 'we've also spoken to people who've seen the site,' without identifying them. The White House declined to specify to whom Trump was referring. Iran's nuclear installations were 'badly damaged' by US airstrikes, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told Al Jazeera TV on Wednesday, in the first such comments from Tehran. The official didn't give further details and said authorities were still reviewing the situation on the ground. Trump cited that assessment during his NATO press conference, as well as a statement by Israel's nuclear agency that said the Fordow site had been rendered inoperable and Tehran's ability to make a nuclear weapon set back by 'many years.' Earlier this month, Trump had said Iran was 'weeks away' from having an atomic weapon, though some experts and US intelligence estimates said it could take months or years for the nation to develop a weapon. Iran maintains that its nuclear program has purely civilian purposes, and that it's entitled to pursue that goal under international law. Witkoff said that 'enrichment is the red line' for the US with Iran, 'and beyond enrichment, weaponization is the red line.' Israel's attacks on Iranian military and nuclear sites killed several top generals and atomic scientists. Iran countered by firing drones and ballistic missiles into Israel. Both have declared victory. The death toll from the Israeli airstrikes climbed to 627 and more than 4,800 people have been wounded, according to Iranian state media reports. At least 28 people have been killed in Israel in Iranian missile attacks, emergency services officials said, including four on Tuesday morning just as the truce was to take effect. Oil has slid back to around the levels it was trading at before the fighting began, posting a two-day decline of some 14%. It rebounded slightly on Wednesday as Trump played down the prospect of near-term sanctions relief for Iran. Asked if his Tuesday comments approving Chinese purchases of Iranian oil undermined his strategy of maximum pressure on Iran, Trump said he is 'not giving up' on it. But he also indicated US financial penalties are doing little to stop Beijing from buying Tehran's supplies. 'If they're going to sell oil, they're going to sell oil,' Trump said. 'China is going to want to buy oil. They can buy it from us. They can buy it from other people.' Bank of Israel chief Amir Yaron told Bloomberg that the military campaign cost the government about 1% of gross national product and would require revisions to this year's budget. He said gains on the country's financial markets suggest that they see the conflict resulting in 'a positive outcome for Israel.' Iran's civil aviation authority said 13 airports in the country's eastern regions have reopened for flights, though Tehran's airports remain closed until further notice, according to state media. Trump said both nations are 'tired, exhausted. They fought very, very hard and very viciously, very violently, and they were both satisfied to go home and get out.' With assistance from Ryan Chua, Kate Sullivan, Skylar Woodhouse, Hadriana Lowenkron and Golnar Motevalli. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hans India
11 minutes ago
- Hans India
Trump and Netanyahu are victors in the war against Iran, Islamic terror
US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have emerged as victors in the war in the Middle East, notwithstanding the mainstream media's claims to the contrary. Both have neutralised—at least for a long time—the nuclear threat from Tehran. The latter's resolute leadership has resulted in the serious degradation of terror outfits like Hamas and Hezbollah, the ouster of the Assad regime in Syria, and a considerable weakening of Iran, the head of the octopus of terror in the region. On his part, Trump has achieved the goal of bringing peace to the Middle East without entering into war; the strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities a few days ago helped end the hostilities rather than make the US belligerent. This was in keeping with his promise to his MAGA (Make America Great Again) base, which is against Washington's involvement in global wars. MAGA's isolationist proclivity being against America's direct involvement in global affairs, Trump also made it clear that his administration's goal in the region was limited to stopping Iran from going nuclear; his goal was not to oust the present government. 'I'd like to see everything calm down as quickly as possible. Regime change is chaotic and ideally, we don't want to see so much chaos,' he has clarified. After orchestrating a major strike on Iran and successfully persuading the US to target key Iranian nuclear facilities, Netanyahu finds himself in a significantly stronger position. With the immediate threat from Tehran weakened, Netanyahu can now turn his full attention to the conflict with Hamas in Gaza. His tough stance against Iran has generated a wave of popular support across Israel, bolstering his political standing. In fact, Netanyahu's approval ratings are now among the highest they have been since the war in Gaza erupted after the barbaric attack on the Jewish state by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The shift in public sentiment has changed the political landscape. If his government were to collapse today, Netanyahu would stand a reasonable chance of securing re-election—a prospect that had seemed far less likely even a few months back. This surge in popularity has also fueled cautious optimism among some Israelis and political observers. They hope that Netanyahu, now less dependent on the hardline factions of his coalition for political survival, might be more inclined to show flexibility regarding the Gaza war and go in for diplomatic avenues to end the prolonged fighting. The strengthened position could give him space to override the concerns of his coalition partners, who have previously resisted compromises of any sort. However, Netanyahu himself has shown no public indication of a shift in policy. For months, he has maintained an uncompromising position: the war in Gaza will not end until Hamas agrees to disarm, surrenders its authority in Gaza, and its leadership leaves the territory—terms Hamas has consistently rejected. When asked to clarify Israel's stance, his office reiterated this hardline position. In a brief statement, his office said, 'Hamas is the only obstacle to ending the war. It must release all the hostages, surrender, give up control of Gaza, and get out. The choice is theirs.' Netanyahu's determination against the jihadist outfit will go a long way in the war against Islamic terror all over the world. This will undoubtedly help India.
Time of India
13 minutes ago
- Time of India
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump discuss air defence, drone cooperation at NATO summit
Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Donald Trump at the NATO Summit. Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on US actions in the Middle East. They discussed Ukraine's need for air defense systems. Co-production of drones was also a topic. Zelenskyy updated Trump on battlefield situation. Recent Russian missile strikes in Dnipro caused casualties. NATO members pledged to increase defense spending. Russia claimed control of Dyliivka. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a significant diplomatic engagement with US President Donald Trump on critical defence issues, military cooperation, and the current state of the conflict in Ukraine on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in The Hague on the conversation as "a good meeting", the Ukrainian leader, in a detailed post on X, congratulated President Trump on what he called a "successful operation in the Middle East", referring to the recent US strikes that targeted and disabled key components of Iran's nuclear and drone infrastructure."I had a good meeting with POTUS in The Hague. I congratulated President Trump on the successful operation in the Middle East. It is important that the U.S. actions have weakened not only their nuclear program but also their drone production capabilities. We will continue to keep an eye on the situation," Zelenskyy of the key themes of the meeting was Ukraine's growing urgency to strengthen its air defence systems amid continued Russian missile and drone confirmed that Ukraine is actively pursuing the purchase of US-made air defence systems to protect its cities, critical infrastructure, churches, and civilian population, also urging broader European cooperation in this two leaders also discussed the potential for US-Ukraine co-production of drones, as Kyiv seeks to enhance its domestic defence industry while simultaneously contributing to Western security supply Ukrainian president also informed Trump about the recent technical meetings held in Istanbul, which included discussions on humanitarian issues such as the exchange of prisoners and repatriation of the fallen."We discussed the protection of our people with the President -- first and foremost, the purchase of American air defence systems to shield our cities, our people, churches, and infrastructure. Ukraine is ready to buy this equipment and support American weapons manufacturers. Europe can help. We also discussed the potential for co-production of drones. We can strengthen each other," he said."I also informed the President about how the technical team's meetings in Istanbul went, as well as the exchanges of prisoners and the fallen. Russia handed over the bodies of its own troops. Forensic examinations are currently being carried out in Kyiv to identify their relatives," the Ukrainian President also briefed Trump on the latest developments on the battlefield, offering what he described as a factual account that contradicts Russian President Vladimir Putin's claims of progress."We talked about the situation on the battlefield. Putin is definitely not winning. I presented the President with the facts about what is really happening on the ground. Thank you for the meeting and your support. I'm also grateful for the truly kind words about our people. We will keep working," Zelemesky to the latest developments in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which is now in its fourth year, Moscow's missile strikes in southeastern Ukraine claimed 17 lives in the city of Dnipro and left over 200 people injured on Tuesday (local time), causing widespread damage to buildings and key infrastructure, as reported by Al Jazeera. A separate Russian assault killed two individuals in the city of also reported intercepting dozens of drones overnight across various regions, including the border-area Voronezh region, with Russian forces announcing they had taken control of the village of Dyliivka in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region--a long-contested battleground since the conflict first erupted in 2014, as reported by Al the member states of NATO have committed to ramping up their defence spending by investing 5 per cent of their country's GDP annually on "core defence requirements" as well as defence- and security-related sectors by 2035, to bolster their military capabilities, particularly against the long-term threat posed by Russia and the persistent challenge of terrorism.
