President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. is set to meet with Iran next week to discuss a potential nuclear agreement, despite expressing reservations about its necessity, stating, “I don’t care if I have an agreement or not.”
During a press briefing, Trump reiterated that the U.S. position remains the same: a commitment to ensuring Iran does not develop nuclear weapons. He indicated that previous strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites had been ”highly successful” and underscored that they had effectively damaged Iranian nuclear capabilities.
The White House released a statement supporting Trump’s assertions, highlighting comments from the Israel Atomic Energy Commission. They claimed that U.S. strikes on the Fordow facility had destroyed critical infrastructure, rendering it inoperable. Meanwhile, Trump maintained that intelligence reports suggesting minimal damage were “very inconclusive.”
Speaking at a NATO summit in the Netherlands, Trump claimed the bombing resulted in “complete obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear sites, comparing its impact to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.
Trump dismissed reports from major news outlets such as the New York Times and CNN, emphasizing on his Truth Social platform that Iran’s nuclear sites were “completely destroyed.” He labeled the media’s coverage as “fake news,” accusing them of trying to undermine what he described as “one of the most successful military strikes in history.”
Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff appeared on Fox News to back Trump’s claims, stating that several bunker buster bombs had been deployed on Fordow, further asserting that the site had been breached. He criticized the leaking of information regarding damage assessments as “outrageous” and called for accountability for those responsible for the leaks.
Reports from unnamed officials suggested that, while the U.S. bombing closed entrances to two enrichment facilities, it did not collapse the underground structures where enrichment processes occur. More assessments are forthcoming as the U.S. continues gathering intelligence on the situation.
In response to escalating tensions, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran would refuse to engage in negotiations with the U.S. if continued aggression against the country persisted. In a parallel statement, Eyal Zamir, Israel’s military chief, declared that their campaign against Iran was far from over, although they would be focusing efforts back on Gaza to dismantle Hamas.
As Trump departed for the NATO summit, he criticized both Israel and Iran for their ongoing conflicts, exclaiming, “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing.” He urged Israel to exercise restraint following their airstrikes, claiming he would intervene to de-escalate the situation.
Trump insisted that Israel would not attack Iran, declaring that Israeli planes would return home without any strikes taking place. In a series of posts on Truth Social, he asserted that Iran would “NEVER REBUILD” its nuclear facilities.
Simultaneously, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed on X that he instructed the IDF to respond strongly against Iran for its purported violations of the ceasefire. Katz mentioned that Iran had launched missiles toward Israel, prompting a serious military response under the government’s policy.
Iranian state media denied Israel’s allegations surrounding new aerial attacks and asserted that the ceasefire had been “imposed” on Israel after a successful missile strike against American interests.
Amid this fraught atmosphere, U.S. cities remained on high alert after a suspicious package prompted evacuations in Miami. Local authorities reported that a bomb squad had been dispatched to investigate.
The Israeli military disclosed that they had targeted routes leading to Iran’s Fordow facility in an effort to obstruct access following U.S. airstrikes. This action aligns with the ongoing conflict and concerns over Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Russian President condemned U.S. military action against Iran, labeling it as an “absolutely unprovoked act of aggression.” China also voiced its criticism, asserting that the strikes severely violate international law and escalate tensions within the Middle East.
Reports indicated that Iran sent a warning message to Trump during last week’s G7 summit via an intermediary, threatening to activate sleeper cells for potential terror attacks inside the U.S. as a response to the military actions taken against it.
As the situation continues to unfold, the focus remains on the upcoming talks between the U.S. and Iran, with significant implications for regional stability and international relations.
image source from：forbes
