“End Nuclear Insanity Before Nuclear Insanity Ends Humanity” ~llaw
Jun 26, 2025
The Capitol is viewed in Washington on Monday, as Congress returns to work following President Donald Trump’s bombardment of three sites in Iran.
LLAW’s NUCLEAR WORLD NEWS TODAY and the GLOBAL RISKS & CONSEQUENCES TOMORROW
In My Opinion:
Note that this coverage by CNN of the USA strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities is ongoing, and what you see here doesn’t include some of the updates that are posted every several minutes.
But what is clear is that there is a huge question mark about what Trump has reported to the American public as having “obliterated” Iran’s three major uranium enrichment facilities versus the full classified briefing, and that now there is an attempt to keep the full story of the attack out the hands of Congress even though the contradiction to Trump’s “obliteration” and his own DoD evaluation that the bombing was only “a two or three month setback” to Iran’s facilities.
The White House is trying to prove Trump correct about the devastation, and Congress wants a full report — which they have a right to — but has been told that they will not be allowed to review and evaluate the full military briefing.
One way or another, someone is covering up and trying to continue to deceive the actual results — and the American people — of the U.S. attack, and someone may have intentionally misrepresented the official intelligence briefing. I wonder who that could be . . . ~llaw
Expect more here tomorrow, because as for now, I am already well-behind the “knowledge” curve.
Senate receives classified briefing after Pentagon says Iran strikes went as planned
By Lucas Lilieholm, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Maureen Chowdhury, Elise Hammond and Aditi Sangal, CNN
Updated 3:12 PM EDT, Thu June 26, 2025
Gen. Caine shares info about US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities
00:55
What we’re covering
• New details on US strikes: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine offered new details about the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities but did not provide evidence that its nuclear program was “obliterated,” as President Donald Trump claimed. Caine revealed that Iran attempted to cover the main shafts of the facilities with concrete ahead of the attack. The US Senate is now receiving a classified briefing on Iran.
• Khamenei weighs in: In his first comments since the ceasefire, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared victory over Israel, despite its killing of senior Iranian military leaders and strikes on nuclear sites. He also claimed the US gained nothing from its attack.
• Key centrifuges disabled: The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said the centrifuges at Fordow, one of Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities, are “no longer operational.” Separately, the nuclear watchdog said it has yet to receive a response from Tehran on resuming inspections.
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US and Israel have told Iran to hand over enriched uranium, Israeli defense minister says
From CNN’s Dana Karni and Catherine Nicholls
The United States and Israel have told Iran it must hand over its enriched uranium, the Israeli defense minister said.
In an interview with Israel’s Channel 13, Israel Katz discussed the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities that took place over the weekend.
“It was clear from the beginning that the strike would neutralize the surrounding infrastructure — it wouldn’t eliminate the (nuclear) material itself. Now there is a joint American-Israeli position saying to Iran, ‘You must hand over this material,’” Katz said in the interview, which aired Thursday.
The intention of Israel’s recent attacks on Iran was to “neutralize capabilities,” Katz said.
“Today, they have no way to produce a nuclear bomb, because we also destroyed the conversion facility that turns uranium into solid form,” he claimed.
1 hr 9 min ago
White House won’t say how it is limiting intelligence sharing with Congress
From CNN’s Simone Pathe
The White House declined to say Thursday how it will be limiting the classified information it shares with Congress, or how it will respond to lawmakers who insist their oversight duties necessitate access to the information.
The comments came shortly before a classified briefing on Iran by Trump administration officials for the Senate, which is now underway after being delayed by several days earlier this week.
“This administration wants to ensure that classified intelligence is not ending up in irresponsible hands, and that people who have the privilege of viewing this top-secret classified information are being responsible with it,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a briefing.
“And unfortunately, clearly, someone who had their hands on this — and it was a very few people, very few number of people in our government who saw this report. … That person was irresponsible with it,” Leavitt added, referring to the early Defense Intelligence Agency assessment that found US strikes on Iran did not destroy the core components of the country’s nuclear program and likely only set it back by months.
“We need to strengthen that process to protect our national security and protect the American public,” Leavitt said.
The Trump administration is planning to limit what it shares with Congress, a senior White House official told CNN on Wednesday, believing that the report came out after it was posted on Monday to CAPNET, a system used for sharing classified intelligence with Congress.
This post has been updated to reflect that the Senate briefing is underway.
59 min ago
White House brushes off Iranian supreme leader’s refusal to surrender: “You have to save face”
From CNN’s Kate Irby and Mostafa Salem
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday dismissed comments from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that Tehran will “never surrender.”
“When you have a totalitarian regime, you have to save face. I think any common-sense, open-minded person knows the truth about the precision strikes on Saturday night — they were wildly successful, and it’s what led to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, which the president is very grateful for,” Leavitt told reporters at a briefing.
Some context: The 86-year-old Khamenei issued his pre-recorded statement from an undisclosed private location Thursday. Khamenei predictably declared victory over Israel and the United States in his address, despite the killing of key Iranian leaders and the strikes on Tehran’s nuclear sites.
US President Donald Trump’s call for “unconditional surrender” last week appeared to have hit a nerve with Iran’s leader, for whom preserving Iranian sovereignty against Western influence is a central tenet.
While Trump has voiced confidence that US strikes dealt a massive blow to Iran’s nuclear aspirations, US assessments are still ongoing about the extent of the damage.
1 hr 6 min ago
Trump “very open” to Netanyahu visit, White House says
From CNN’s Kate Irby
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “expressed interest in coming to the White House” and President Donald Trump is “very open” to it, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday.
“The president is obviously very open to that, but we don’t have a date. When we do, we’ll let you all know,” Leavitt told reporters at a briefing.
Israeli media reported Thursday that Netanyahu is planning to visit Washington as early as the second week of July.
Remember: Trump and Netanyahu are close allies. The US leader denounced an ongoing corruption trial against his Israeli counterpart as a “witch hunt” Wednesday night, and Netanyahu has previously called Trump the “greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House.”
1 hr 7 min ago
Trump pushing for more countries to join Abraham Accords, White House says
From CNN’s Alejandra Jaramillo
President Donald Trump is pushing for more Gulf and Arab nations to join the Abraham Accords, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters today.
Leavitt said Trump’s effort to expand upon the landmark series of agreements from his first term, which saw Israel normalize relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, illustrates his commitment to “durable peace” efforts in the Middle East.
“The president and his team, namely special envoy (Steve) Witkoff, continue to be in communication with the Iranians, and especially our Gulf and Arab partners in the region, to come to an agreement with Iran,” said Leavitt.
“And we see a new era in which perhaps some of these Gulf and Arab states can sign on to the Abraham Accords,” Leavitt added, saying Trump had already requested the new Syrian president sign on to the accords when the two met in May.
2 hr ago
There was no opportunity to assassinate Khamenei during conflict with Iran, Israeli defense minister says
From CNN’s Dana Karni and Catherine Nicholls
There was no opportunity for Israel to assassinate Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the 12 days of conflict between the two countries, Israel’s defense minister has said.
“If (Khamenei) had been in our sights, we would have taken him out,” Israel Katz said in an interview with Channel 13 that aired today.
Though there was not an opportunity to kill the Iranian leader during Israel’s “Rising Lion” operation, Katz said his country would have “taken him out” if one had arisen.
2 hr 5 min ago
Democrats hope classified briefing will provide better idea of damage dealt to Iran
From CNN’s Alison Main, Lauren Fox and Nicky Robertson
Senate Democrats said they hope Thursday’s classified briefing from Trump administration officials can provide them with a better idea of the realities on the ground in Iran after last weekend’s US military strikes.
Sen. Dick Durbin told CNN he wants the “best report on what damage was done,” but also, “more importantly, we’ve got to start a conversation about what follows.” This includes whether hindering Iran’s nuclear program will require Americans on the ground in the region, he said.
Asked if there is already a trust deficit between the briefers and lawmakers after the briefing was delayed several days, Durbin responded: “I understand now why they canceled the first briefing: There was no good news, there’s bad news. Obliteration turned out to be something much different.”
President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that three Iranian nuclear sites were “obliterated,” while CNN reported that the US strikes did not destroy the core components of the country’s nuclear program and likely only set it back by months, according to an early US intelligence assessment.
Durbin also called reports that the White House plans to limit the classified information shared with Congress a “disappointment” and a “direct contradiction” to Congress’ constitutional war powers.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal emphasized, “we are still at a preliminary fact-finding stage.” He said remaining questions include what remains of Tehran’s nuclear program and the “mission still ahead, whether it is military or diplomatic.”
“Right now, there’s no strategy except for a confused and contradictory version of what actually happened, and that is a disservice so far as it exaggerates the degree of success. I think it was successful to a large extent, but by no means should we be saying, ‘Mission accomplished,’” he added.
2 hr 14 min ago
Israel’s “victory” against Iran “opens the door” to other peace agreements, Netanyahu says
From CNN’s Dana Karni, Catherine Nicholls and Hira Humayun
Israel’s “victory” against Iran provides opportunities for a “dramatic expansion of the peace agreements,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement today.
“We fought bravely against Iran and achieved a great victory. This victory opens the door to a dramatic expansion of the peace agreements,” Netanyahu said. “We are working on this vigorously.”
The prime minister said there is now a “window of opportunity” to defeat Hamas and ensure the release of hostages currently held by the terror group in the Gaza Strip.
“We must not waste even a single day,” Netanyahu said.
For his part, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also declared victory in the 12-day conflict, despite Israel’s killing of senior Iranian military leaders and strikes on nuclear sites.
More context: Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon had hinted on Tuesday that Israel was open to new relationships with Arab nations.
Speaking to reporters at the United Nations in New York, Danon said now is the “time to build bridges and partnerships in the region.” Danon did not point to any particular country but cited Israel’s normalization of relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco via the Abraham Accords.
2 hr 19 min ago
White House says “no indication” enriched uranium was removed from sites in Iran
From CNN’s Alejandra Jaramillo
There is no evidence that Iran moved any enriched uranium from its nuclear sites before US strikes last weekend, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday.
“There was no indication to the United States that any of that enriched uranium was moved prior to the strike from any of the sites,” Leavitt said when pressed about Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz, the three facilities targeted in the attack.
President Donald Trump said earlier Thursday that “nothing was taken out of” Iran’s nuclear facilities ahead of the strikes.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said this morning that in the days leading up to the attack, Iran attempted to cover the main shafts of the facilities with concrete.
2 hr 48 min ago
US Senate classified briefing on Iran set for this afternoon
From CNN’s Morgan Rimmer
The Capitol is viewed in Washington on Monday, as Congress returns to work following President Donald Trump’s bombardment of three sites in Iran.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
The all-Senate classified briefing on the situation in Iran has been scheduled for 2 p.m. ET today, after being rescheduled from earlier in the week.
The Trump administration has faced criticism from top Democrats on the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, who have expressed frustration at the lack of communication about the US strikes in Iran. Some have warned the administration against manipulating facts ahead of the briefings.
The House is expected to be briefed on Friday.
2 hr 49 min ago
Iran’s president set to enact law suspending cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog
From CNN’s Mohammed Tawfeeq
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a meeting in Ilam, Iran, on June 12.
Iran’s Presidential website/West Asia News Agency/Reuters
Iran has moved closer to approving a bill that would suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iranian state media IRNA reported on Thursday.
The bill is now on its final step before becoming law, having been sent to the country’s president for his signature. This follows its approval by Iran’s 12-member Guardian Council, which holds the power to vet legislation and oversee elections.
The Council’s approval came just one day after the Iranian parliament’s national security committee passed the bill to halt cooperation with the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog.
The IAEA said on Thursday that it is “aware of these reports.” In a short statement shared with CNN, it added: “As of now, the IAEA has not received an official communication from Iran on this matter.”
According to IRNA, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said cooperation with IAEA will be suspended until Iran’s nuclear facilities are guaranteed security.
3 hr 8 min ago
Watch: Joint Chiefs chairman shares test footage of “bunker buster” bomb used in Iran strikes
From CNN staff
Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Daine shared video of a test of the “bunker buster” bomb used during US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The US used six B-2 bombers to drop 12 of those “bunker-busting” bombs during its strikes, a US official told CNN.
A CNN analysis of satellite imagery showed that the US strikes left at least six large craters at the Fordow nuclear site, pointing to the use of bunker-busting bombs.
Watch the moment Cain shows the test footage:
3 hr 29 min ago
Pentagon reveals new details about US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Here’s what we know
From CNN staff
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (L), accompanied by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine (R), speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon today in Arlington, Virginia. The Department of Defense top officials gave an update after three Iranian nuclear facilities were struck by the US military last weekend and Iran countered by launching missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth doubled down on the Trump administration’s claim that the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities “obliterated” the country’s nuclear program, during a Pentagon briefing this morning.
Meanwhile, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine offered new details on Operation Midnight Hammer.
Here’s what was revealed during the briefing:
- Emphasis that operation went as planned: Caine said the strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities went as planned, and the 30,000 pound bombs dropped “functioned as designed, meaning they exploded.” He added, “We know this through other means intelligence means that we have that were visibly, we were visibly able to see them. And we know that the trailing jets saw the first weapons function.”
- Iranians attempted to cover shafts at Fordow facility: Caine said that in the days leading up to the US’ attack, Iran attempted to cover the main shafts of the facilities with concrete. “The planners had to account for this, they accounted for everything. The cap was forcibly removed by the first weapon, and the main shaft was uncovered.”
- “Nothing was taken out” of Iran’s nuclear facilities: “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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Hegseth made a similar point during today’s briefing. “I’m not aware of any intelligence that I’ve reviewed that says things were not where they were supposed to be — moved or otherwise,” Hegseth said when asked about the enriched uranium stockpiles.
- Defense of “obliteration” claims and assessment timeline: Hegseth indicated that the administration’s claim that the sites were “obliterated” was based on the capability of the weapons used. Meanwhile, Caine deflected when asked what had changed in the US’ ability to assess the damage of its strikes on Iranian nuclear sites — just days after the chairman said a final assessment would take time. Caine also said he has “never been pressured” by Trump or Hegseth to provide a different intelligence assessment on the US’ military operation against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
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TODAY’s NUCLEAR WORLD’s NEWS DIGEST, Thursday, (06/26/2025)
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Video: Gen. Caine shares info about US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities | CNN
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Nuclear Power Emergencies
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UN nuclear watchdog wraps up major global nuclear emergency exercise in Romania
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Global Response Tested In Simulated Nuclear Reactor Accident
RTTNews
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Nuclear War Threats
NEWS
With July 4 just days away, US law enforcement on high alert for Iran retaliation – ABC News
ABC News – The Walt Disney Company
In reponse to the U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear apparatus, the … threats and counterterrorism efforts, sources familiar with the matter …
Keir Starmer warns of ‘grim reality’ of threat from Putin’s Russia after Britons are told to …
Daily Mail
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An Illegal and Indefensible Attack – Current Affairs
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Nuclear War
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CIA chief says ‘credible evidence’ Iran nuclear program severely damaged in US strikes | CNN
CNN
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Trump says US will meet Iran ‘next week’ as he maintains strikes destroyed nuclear sites
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Yellowstone Caldera
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