A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex, after the U.S. struck the underground nuclear facility, near Qom, Iran June 22, 2025.

U.S. missile strikes did not completely destroy Iran’s key nuclear sites, an initial American assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency found, according to three people familiar with the report who spoke to NBC News.

“We were assuming that the damage was going to be much more significant than this assessment is finding,” one of the three sources told NBC News. “This assessment is already finding that these core pieces are still intact. That’s a bad sign for the overall program.”

The assessment also found that the U.S. strikes set Iran’s nuclear program back by around three to six months. But Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium was not destroyed and Tehran’s centrifuges remain largely intact.

CNN first reported the existence of the report.

The assessment was based on U.S. Central Command’s analysis of battle damage from the bombings of three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. That analysis is ongoing.

The New York Times reported that the preliminary, classified report found the bombings did not collapse underground buildings of the Iranian nuclear sites.

The intelligence findings appear to contradict both Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who have asserted that the strikes completely “obliterated” the Iranian nuclear sites.

Asked for comment by CNBC, the Pentagon shared a statement from Hegseth that, “Based on everything we have seen — and I’ve seen it all — our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons.”

“Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target — and worked perfectly,” Hegseth said in the statement. “The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran; so anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the President and the successful mission.”

Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday, “The sites that we hit in Iran were totally destroyed, and everyone knows it.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told NBC News in a statement that the “alleged assessment is flat-out wrong and was classified as ‘top secret’ but was still leaked to CNN by an anonymous, low-level loser in the intelligence community.”

“The leaking of this alleged assessment is a clear attempt to demean President Trump, and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran’s nuclear program,” Leavitt said.

She added: “Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.”

— Kevin Breuninger

CNN —

The US military strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities last weekend 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 that was described by seven people briefed on it.

The assessment, which has not been previously reported, was produced by the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon’s intelligence arm. It is based on a battle damage assessment conducted by US Central Command in the aftermath of the US strikes, one of the sources said.

The analysis of the damage to the sites and the impact of the strikes on Iran’s nuclear ambitions is ongoing, and could change as more intelligence becomes available. But the early findings are at odds with President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that the strikes “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also said on Sunday that Iran’s nuclear ambitions “have been obliterated.”

Two of the people familiar with the assessment said Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium was not destroyed. One of the people said the centrifuges are largely “intact.” Another source said that the intelligence assessed enriched uranium was moved out of the sites prior to the US strikes.

“So the (DIA) assessment is that the US set them back maybe a few months, tops,” this person added.

The White House acknowledged the existence of the assessment but said they disagreed with it.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN in a statement: “This alleged assessment is flat-out wrong and was classified as ‘top secret’ but was still leaked to CNN by an anonymous, low-level loser in the intelligence community. The leaking of this alleged assessment is a clear attempt to demean President Trump, and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran’s nuclear program. Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.”

Trump, who’s in the Netherlands attending this week’s NATO summit, pushed back on CNN’s report in a Truth Social post. “One of the most successful military strikes in history,” Trump wrote in the all-caps post adding, “The nuclear sites in Iran are completely destroyed!”

The US military has said the operation went as planned and that it was an “overwhelming success.”

It is still early for the US to have a comprehensive picture of the impact of the strikes, and none of the sources described how the DIA assessment compares to the view of other agencies in the intelligence community. The US is continuing to pick up intelligence, including from within Iran as they assess the damage.

Israel had been carrying out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities for days leading up to the US military operation but claimed to need the US’ 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs to finish the job. While US B-2 bombers dropped over a dozen of the bombs on two of the nuclear facilities, the Fordow Fuel Enrichment plant and the Natanz Enrichment Complex, the bombs did not fully eliminate the sites’ centrifuges and highly enriched uranium, according to the people familiar with the assessment.

Instead, the impact to all three sites — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — was largely restricted to aboveground structures, which were severely damaged, the sources said. That includes the sites’ power infrastructure and some of the aboveground facilities used to turn uranium into metal for bomb-making.

The Israeli assessment of the impact of the US strikes also found less damage on Fordow than expected. However, Israeli officials believe the combination of US and Israeli military action on multiple nuclear sites set back the Iranian nuclear program by two years, assuming they are able to rebuild it unimpeded which Israel would not allow. But Israel had also stated publicly before the US military operation that Iran’s program had been set back by two years.

Hegseth also told CNN, “Based on everything we have seen — and I’ve seen it all — our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons. Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target and worked perfectly. The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran; so anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the President and the successful mission.“

On Tuesday morning, Trump repeated his belief the damage from the strikes was significant.

“I think it’s been completely demolished,” he said, adding, “Those pilots hit their targets. Those targets were obliterated, and the pilots should be given credit.”

Asked about the possibility of Iran rebuilding its nuclear program, Trump responded, “That place is under rock. That place is demolished.”

While Trump and Hegseth have been bullish about the success of the strikes, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine said Sunday that while the damage assessment was still ongoing it would be “way too early” to comment on whether Iran still retains some nuclear capabilities.

Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, the chairman emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, would not echo Trump’s claims that the Iranian program had been “obliterated” when pressed by CNN on Tuesday.

“I’ve been briefed on this plan in the past, and it was never meant to completely destroy the nuclear facilities, but rather cause significant damage,” McCaul told CNN, referring to the US military plans to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. “But it was always known to be a temporary setback.”

Jeffrey Lewis, a weapons expert and professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies who has closely reviewed commercial satellite imagery of the strike sites, agreed with the assessment that the attacks do not appear to have ended Iran’s nuclear program.

“The ceasefire came without either Israel or the United States being able to destroy several key underground nuclear facilities, including near Natanz, Isfahan and Parchin,” Lewis said, referring to the ceasefire between Israel and Iran that Trump announced on Monday. Parchin is a separate nuclear complex near Tehran.

“These facilities could serve as the basis for the rapid reconstitution of Iran’s nuclear program.”

Earlier on Tuesday, classified briefings for both the House and Senate on the operation were canceled.

The all-Senate briefing has been moved to Thursday, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Two separate sources familiar told CNN the briefing for all House lawmakers has also been postponed. It was not immediately clear why it was delayed or when it would be rescheduled.

Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan of New York said on X on Tuesday that “Trump just cancelled a classified House briefing on the Iran strikes with zero explanation. The real reason? He claims he destroyed ‘all nuclear facilities and capability;’ his team knows they can’t back up his bluster and BS.”

As CNN has reported, there have long been questions about whether the US’ bunker-buster bombs, known as Massive Ordnance Penetrators, would be able to fully destroy Iran’s highly fortified nuclear sites that are buried deep underground — particularly at Fordow and Isfahan, Iran’s largest nuclear research complex.

Notably, the US struck Isfahan with Tomahawk missiles launched from a submarine instead of a bunker-buster bomb. That is because there was an understanding that the bomb would likely not successfully penetrate Isfahan’s lower levels, which are buried even deeper than Fordow, one of the sources said.

US officials believe Iran also maintains secret nuclear facilities that were not targeted in the strike and remain operational, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Jim Sciutto, Lauren Fox, Annie Grayer and DJ Judd contributed reporting.

I truly hope this Iran-Israel ceasefire holds and gets extended to the Gaza Strip — first and foremost to see an end to all the killing. But second, because I think this war will trigger in its aftermath much-needed debates in Iran, Israel and the Palestinian community.

These debates won’t happen the morning the guns fall silent, when leaders from every country involved will try to claim some sort of victory. But everything in my gut tells me these debates will happen the morning after the morning after – when all the internal politics will start to kick in.

Palestinians carry sacks and boxes of food and humanitarian aid on June 16. Credit: AP

Among Palestinians in Gaza, the question will be asked of their defeated Hamas leaders: “What in the world were you thinking on October 7, 2023? You started a war with Israel, a vastly superior military foe, with no endgame other than destruction, which only got the Jews to retaliate with no endgame other than destruction. You sacrificed tens of thousands of homes and lives to win the sympathies of the next generation of global youth on TikTok, but now there is no Gaza.”

Among Israelis, the question that will be asked of Israel’s radical religious-nationalist government by the largely secular elements of that society – air force pilots, cyberwarriors, technologists, scientists, weapons designers and Mossad agents, the people who actually defeated Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran – is this: “Where do you think you’re taking us? We were the ones who won this war and we will not let you leverage this victory to win the next election and carry out your plan to crush our Supreme Court, annex the West Bank, excuse the ultra-Orthodox from serving in the army and create a pariah Israel that our kids will no longer want to live in. No way.”

An emergency worker helps a child at the site of a missile strike in the Ramat Aviv neighbourhood of Tel Aviv on Sunday. Credit: Getty Images

And among Iranians, the question that surely will be asked of its clerical leaders and corrupt Revolutionary Guard: “You spent billions of dollars trying to build a nuclear bomb to threaten Israel and remote-control Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. But you brought the war home to our country – our families had to flee Tehran and our generals were killed by Israeli drones in their own beds. All you did was destroy a few buildings and kill some civilians in Israel, and when Donald Trump attacked our three key nuclear facilities, your response was to put on a harmless sound and light show over a US air base in Qatar. You were paper tigers, who only knew how to use technology to repress our own people. Meanwhile, our great Persian civilisation is destitute, broken and miles behind the rest of the world.”

Read more on this opinion piece from Thomas L. Friedman here.

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Trump’s special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said the US airstrikes achieved their objectives and the White House called the assessment “flat-out wrong.”

According to the sources, the report issued by the Defense Intelligence Agency on Monday found that although Iran’s nuclear sites sustained significant damage, at least some of Iran’s highly enriched uranium was moved prior to the strikes and survived, and Iran’s centrifuges were largely left intact.

A new US intelligence report found that Iran’s nuclear program has been set back only a few months after a US strike, and was not “completely and fully obliterated” as President Trump has said, according to two people familiar with the early assessment.

pinned How Trump’s Israel-Iran cease-fire agreement came together Link copied By The Associated Press President Trump arrived for a formal dinner at the Paleis Huis ten Bosch ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on Tuesday. Markus Schreiber/Associated Press In a 48-hour whirlwind, President Trump veered from elated to indignant to triumphant as his fragile Israel-Iran ceasefire agreement came together, teetered toward collapse, and ultimately coalesced. The effort was helped along as his aides, and Qatari allies, sensed an opening after what they saw as a half-hearted, face-saving measure by Tehran on Monday to retaliate against the US for strikes against three key nuclear sites. And it didn’t hurt that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after 12 days of bombing, could tell the Israeli public that Iran’s nuclear program had been diminished. Here’s a look at how the cease-fire came together.

The US and Iran are in early discussions about resuming negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, Trump envoy says — 7:45 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Trump’s special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, says the U.S. and Iran are engaged in both direct talks and through intermediaries about getting back to the table after Israeli and U.S. strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

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“The conversations are promising. We’re hopeful,” he said in an interview with Fox News.

“Now it’s time to sit down with the Iranians and get to a comprehensive peace deal.”

Witkoff did not provide details but said the weekend U.S. airstrikes achieved their objectives: eliminating Iran’s ability to convert any weapons-grade uranium it might have had or produce in the future into an actual weapon; and setting back Iran’s ability to enrich uranium to that point by years.

Vance says Ohio represents those who feel abandoned by the Democratic Party — 7:28 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

The vice president made the comment while describing his home state as invaluable to electing Trump.

During the fundraiser in working class Lima, in Ohio’s northwest corner, Vance said Trump “recognizes that what the state represents is hard-working, patriotic Americans who feel abandoned by the Democratic Party.”

He said that the GOP “is now a home for people who work hard and play by the rules, who want to live in safe communities, and just want a government that looks out for their interests and no one else.”

Trump easily defeated Democrat Kamala Harris in Ohio in the November presidential election.

JD Vance says Trump’s actions in Iran avoided ‘another protracted war’ — 7:24 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

The vice president is telling a crowd of fellow Republicans in his home state of Ohio that Trump’s actions in Iran represent a middle ground between defending American interests abroad and entering a war.

Vance told about 900 people at a fundraiser in the city of Lima he empathizes with those who voted for Trump because they don’t want another lengthy war abroad.

“And so what I call the Trump Doctrine is quite simple,” Vance said.

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“Number one, you articulate a clear American interest and that’s, in this case, that Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon.

“Number two, you try to aggressively, diplomatically solve that problem.

“And, number three, when you can’t solve it diplomatically, you use overwhelming military power to solve it, and then you get the hell out of there before it ever becomes a protracted conflict.”

Speaker Johnson says delayed House briefing on Iran will be Friday — 6:32 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

The Louisiana Republican made the announcement on social media.

The Trump administration postponed classified briefings for Senate and House members as lawmakers look for answers about the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.

The Senate briefing has been rescheduled for Thursday.

The briefings were to be led by CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, along with Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and deputy secretaries of state Christopher Landau and Steve Feinberg.

Congress has not received any new intelligence since Gabbard told lawmakers in March that the U.S. believed Iran was not building a new nuclear weapon, according to two people familiar with the intelligence. The people insisted on anonymity to share what Congress has been told.

France urges Iran to reach deal on nuclear program this summer or face ‘snapback’ of UN sanctions — 6:26 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

France’s UN ambassador called on Iran to resume full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency agency and allow access for UN nuclear inspectors as soon as possible to its nuclear facilities to determine that its uranium stocks have not been moved.

Jerome Bonnafont also called on Tehran to return to negotiations on “a robust, verifiable and lasting diplomatic solution” that responds to international concerns that it is pursuing nuclear weapons.

He spoke at a Security Council meeting on its resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers to rein in its nuclear program that imposed wide-ranging sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The last sanctions, on Iran’s nuclear activities and transfers, expire on Oct. 18.

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Bonnafont said France and its European partners Britain and Germany, who are still part of the nuclear deal – President Trump pulled the US out in 2018 – are ready to use the 2015 resolution’s provision to “snapback” UN sanctions “if such an agreement were not to be found by the summer.”

He said an agreement with Iran needs to take account the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, regional stability and European security interests.

A whirlwind 48 hours: How Trump’s Israel-Iran ceasefire agreement came together — 5:45 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

In a 48-hour whirlwind, Trump veered from elated to indignant to triumphant as his fragile Israel-Iran ceasefire agreement came together, teetered toward collapse and ultimately coalesced.

Trump, as he worked to seal the deal, publicly harangued the Israelis and Iranians with a level of pique that’s notable even for a commander-in-chief who isn’t shy about letting the world know what he thinks.

The effort was helped along as his aides, and Qatari allies, sensed an opening after what they saw as a half-hearted, face-saving measure by Tehran on Monday to retaliate against the US for strikes against three key nuclear sites. And it didn’t hurt that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after 12 days of bombing, could tell the Israeli public that Iran’s nuclear program had been diminished

“This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will!” Trump declared in a social media post announcing the ceasefire.

READ MORE

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US urges Iran ‘to seize this opportunity for peace’ and stop violating UN resolutions — 4:53 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

The acting US ambassador to the United Nations pointed to Iran’s accelerated nuclear activities, including uranium enrichment to 60 percent, in violation of the 2015 nuclear deal it signed with six key powers which was endorsed by the Security Council. President Trump pulled the US out of the deal known as the JCPOA in 2018.

Dorothy Shea told a Security Council meeting on compliance with the 2015 agreement that Iran also violated U.N. resolutions by providing weapons to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, and by transferring hundreds of drones to Russia in 2022 to use in attacks against Ukraine.

“Iran’s failure to uphold its nonproliferation obligations has prolonged conflicts and perpetuated instability across the Middle East and beyond for many years,” she said.

Shea warned that “The United States will not turn a blind eye to Iran’s noncompliance and ongoing threat to regional stability.”

She said US airstrikes June 21 on three Iranian nuclear facilities were aimed at mitigating Iran’s threat to Israel, the region and more broadly to international peace and security — and degraded its capacity to produce a nuclear weapon.

“In this critical moment,” Shea said, “we must all urge Iran to seize this opportunity for peace and prosperity – and abide by its international obligations.”

Early US intelligence report suggests US strikes only set back Iran’s nuclear program by a few months, AP sources say — 4:50 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

A new US intelligence report found that Iran’s nuclear program has been set back only a few months after a US strike, and was not “completely and fully obliterated” as President Trump has said, according to two people familiar with the early assessment.

The early intelligence report issued by the Defense Intelligence Agency on Monday contradicts statements from Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the status of Iran’s nuclear facilities. The people were not authorized to address the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

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According to the people, the report found that while the Saturday strikes at the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites did significant damage, they were not totally destroyed.

The White House strongly pushed back on the assessment, calling it “flat-out wrong.”

“The leaking of this alleged assessment is a clear attempt to demean President Trump, and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran’s nuclear program,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

The CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on the DIA assessment.

US stocks approach an all-time high as oil prices tumble — 4:28 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Oil prices eased further on hopes that Israel’s war with Iran will not damage the global flow of crude.

The S&P 500 climbed 1.1 percent, following up on big gains for stocks across Europe and Asia, after Trump said late Monday that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire. The main measure of Wall Street’s health is back within 0.8 percent of its record set in February.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 507 points, or 1.2 percent, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 1.4 percent.

The strongest action was again in the oil market, where a barrel of benchmark US crude fell 6 percent to settle at $64.37. Brent crude, the international standard, had a similar drop.

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Michael Nagle/Bloomberg

European Union says lasting solution to Iran nuclear issue can only be through a negotiated deal — 4:27 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

EU Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis told the U.N. Security Council that following the Israel-Iran ceasefire “we urgently need to come back to a diplomatic solution.”

He said Iran’s nuclear program can only be addressed with “adequate involvement of the international community.”

Ensuring Iran doesn’t acquire or develop a nuclear weapon is “a key security priority” for the 27-nation EU, he stressed.

Lambrinidis said the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, must remain “the sole impartial and independent international organization to monitor and verify the implementation of Iran’s nuclear non-proliferation commitments.”

Trump administration authorizes $30 million for Israeli-backed group distributing food in Gaza — 4:19 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

That’s according to a US official speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive diplomatic issue involving a controversial aid program.

The operation has drawn criticism from other humanitarian organizations.

It’s the first known US government funding for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s aid distribution efforts amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Violence has plagued the new food distribution sites since opening last month. GHF says no one has been killed at the aid sites themselves and that it has delivered 44 million meals to Palestinians in need.

Palestinian witnesses and health officials say Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire on crowds heading to the sites. The Israeli military says it has fired warning shots at people it said approached its forces in a suspicious manner.

Palestinian youth and children are seen at a tent camp set up amid war-damaged infrastructure in Gaza City, Monday, June 23, 2025. Jehad Alshrafi/Associated Press

Israel-Iran cease-fire is opportunity `to avoid catastrophic escalation,’ UN political chief says — 4:01 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Rosemary DiCarlo told the U.N. Security Council that the ceasefire is also an opportunity to peacefully resolve the Iran nuclear issue.

She said, “Diplomacy, dialogue and verification remain the best option to ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program and to bring about concrete economic benefits to the people of Iran.”

DiCarlo spoke at a council meeting on the remaining U.N. sanctions on Iranian nuclear activities and transfers under the 2015 nuclear deal it signed with six key nations in 2015 that expire in October. US President Trump pulled the US out of the deal in 2018.

Israel’s UN ambassador says diplomacy ‘will happen soon’ following the Israel-Iran cease-fire — 3:30 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Danny Danon told U.N. reporters that “We will have to speak and negotiate and make sure that we will not repeat and get to the situation where we were 12 days ago, where we had a major threat in the Middle East.”

While it’s still too early to assess all the strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, he said, “We know we were able to push back the program, we were able to remove the imminent threat that we had.”

As for calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Danon said Israel hopes to renew negotiations on the ceasefire proposal that US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff put on the table.

He also said he has no doubt that Israel’s ability to confront the threats it faced during the conflict will lead other countries to normalize relations with his country.

In response to a question, Danon said, “I think that president Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize.”

Israel to ease nationwide civil defense restrictions — 3:22 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Israel’s military announced Tuesday that it is easing nationwide civil defense restrictions, allowing most of the country to return to full activity starting at 8 p.m. local time.

The decision, made following a situational assessment and approved by Defense Minister Israel Katz, applies to all areas except communities near the Gaza border, which will continue to follow Southern Command guidelines, the military said.

Netanyahu says Israel brought Iran’s nuclear program ‘to ruin’ — 3:14 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel’s war against Iran brought the country’s nuclear program “to ruin.”

Speaking in a televised statement, he listed Israel’s achievements in the war, including its attacks on top generals and nuclear scientists. He said Israel destroyed nuclear facilities in Natanz and Isfahan, along with the Arak heavy water reactor.

“For dozens of years, I promised you that Iran would not have nuclear weapons and indeed … we brought to ruin Iran’s nuclear program,” Netanyahu said.

After US strikes on Iran, Trump told Netanyahu not to expect further American offensive military action, White House official says — 2:40 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

After the US carried out strikes on Iran, President Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to expect further American offensive military action, a senior White House official said.

Following Sunday’s bombardment on three key Iranian nuclear sites, Trump told Netanyahu that it was time to stop the war and return to diplomatic negotiations.

Trump’s position was that the US had removed any imminent threat posed by Iran, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive diplomatic talks.

The US official said Netanyahu understood Trump’s stance that the US had no desire to be further involved with the situation militarily.

Secretary of State makes Iran-related phone calls with various foreign ministers — 2:27 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

The State Department said Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken to Turkmenistan’s foreign minister, Rashid Meredov, about the conflict, mainly to impress the importance the US places on allowing American citizens to leave neighboring Iran by land through his country.

Nearly 200 American citizens had been stuck at the Iranian-Turkmenistan border over the weekend waiting for permission to enter.

The State Department sent a diplomatic note to Turkmenistan appealing for assistance in the matter on Sunday and officials said Tuesday that the situation appeared to have been resolved.

“The United States expressed gratitude for Turkmenistan’s cooperation and looks forward to further partnership with Turkmenistan, including expanding economic and commercial ties,” the State Department said in a readout of Rubio’s call.

Rubio also spoke by phone about Iran with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in part to review “next steps to promote a durable peace between Israel and Iran.”

Italy has hosted several rounds of now-stalled nuclear talks between the US and Iran and has offered, along with the Vatican, to host more in the future. The readout of the Rubio-Tajani call provided no additional details.

UN chief urges Israel and Iran to respect the cease-fire and hopes it can be replicated in Gaza — 2:12 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed US President Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire and said the fighting must stop.

“The people of the two countries have already suffered too much,” he tweeted on X.

As for the war in Gaza, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the United States, Qatar and Egypt have been able to achieve limited ceasefires between Israel and Hamas.

“It is high time that leaders on both sides find the political courage to put a stop to this carnage,” he said.

House votes to set aside Trump impeachment over Iran strikes — 2:11 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

The US House voted overwhelmingly to table the Trump impeachment effort, for now.

A lone Democrat, Rep. Al Green of Texas, forced the sudden vote arguing Trump abused his power without authorization from Congress for the military action. It quickly divided his party.

Most Democrats joined Republicans to shelve the matter, but dozens voted with Green. The tally was 344-79.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez tells Trump to take his anger out on someone else — 2:07 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

The New York Democrat responded to the president’s earlier social media post in which he dared her to pursue his impeachment.

She had said over the weekend that Trump should be removed from office for bombing Iran without approval from Congress.

“Trump should take it out on whoever convinced him to betray the American people and our Constitution by illegally bombing Iran and dragging us into war,” she wrote in a fundraising appeal. “It only took him 5 months to break almost every promise he made.”

Ocasio Cortez also responded to Trump’s saying they’re both from Queens. He was born there. She was born in the Bronx but represents a Queens congressional district.

“I’m a Bronx girl. Trump should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast,” she said.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) listens to testimony during a House committee hearing March 5. Graeme Sloan/For The Washington Post

Trump calls CNN and MSNBC ‘scum’ and says they should apologize to pilots that bombed Iran — 1:20 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Trump sounded especially peeved over reporting that cast doubt on his claim that the US military strikes had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities.

Damage assessments are still underway.

Trump said the B-2 bomber pilots that dropped powerful explosives on the nuclear sites “should be given credit” for doing “an unbelievable job” and that both cable news networks “ought to apologize” to them.

Trump has harbored disdain for these two networks and some of their correspondents for a long time over their tough reporting on him and his administrations.

He said both are “scum.”

“These networks, these cable networks are real losers,” Trump said at the White House.

Pakistan welcomes cease-fire between Iran and Israel, urges parties to uphold the agreement — 1:09 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said in the Tuesday statement that Islamabad welcomes and supports efforts aimed at reviving dialogue and diplomacy in the region.

“Pakistan believes that lasting peace and stability can only be achieved through strict adherence to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and by refraining from the use of force,” the ministry said.

The country has no diplomatic ties with Israel and has said it is ready to play a role in promoting peace in the Middle East.

Schumer blasts postponement of classified briefing on Iran — 12:49 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is voicing anger with the Trump administration’s postponement of a classified briefing Tuesday for senators on the US’s military strike in Iran, calling the delay “outrageous” and “evasive.”

“Senators deserve full transparency. There is a legal obligation for the administration to inform Congress about precisely what is happening,” Schumer said. “What are they afraid of? Why won’t they engage Congress in the critical details?”

The Senate briefing has been rescheduled for Thursday so Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio can attend, but Schumer said their appearance should be in addition to Tuesday’s schedule briefing, not as a replacement. He said he didn’t believe they would be informing senators of much compared to the witnesses for the previously scheduled briefing.

“I think Hegseth is probably just going to give us talking points,” Schumer said, adding that he preferred to hear from Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Dan Caine, who was scheduled to brief lawmakers.

“He probably knows more about the military operations both now and in the future than anybody,” Schumer said. “There were good people from the State Department who knew all of the diplomatic stuff. We want to hear them.”

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) walks to speak at a news conference following the weekly Senate Democratic policy luncheon at the US Capitol on June 17, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Anna Moneymaker/Getty

The IAEA says additional impacts from US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran may have caused localized contamination — 12:42 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

The IAEA said it has identified additional impact points at the Fordo and Natanz nuclear sites, including possible localized contamination and chemical hazards.

“Regarding the additional strikes to Fordow that were reported early on Monday – after the US bombing of the facility early on Sunday – the IAEA assesses that access roads close to the underground facility and one of its entrances were hit,” the statement read.

At Natanz, the IAEA said that it has identified “two impact holes from the US strikes above the underground halls that had been used for enrichment as well as for storage.”

“Based on its knowledge of what these halls contained, the IAEA assesses that this strike may have caused localized contamination and chemical hazards,” it added.

Trump administration postpones classified briefings for lawmakers on Iran — 12:39 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

The Trump administration on Tuesday postponed classified briefings for Senate and House members as lawmakers are looking for more answers about Trump’s directed strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend and his announcement on Monday that the two countries had reached a ceasefire agreement.

Both briefings were canceled and the Senate briefing has been rescheduled for Thursday so Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio can attend, according to multiple sources who requested anonymity ahead of an official announcement. It is unclear when the House will be briefed.

UN nuclear watchdog chief stresses need for agency to resume work in Iran — 12:36 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said that he wrote a letter to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressing the need for a resumption of the agency’s work in Iran and expressing readiness for a meeting.

“Resuming cooperation with the IAEA is key to a successful diplomatic agreement to finally resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear activities,” he said in the statement published by the agency.

The agency’s inspectors have “remained in Iran throughout the conflict and are ready to start working as soon as possible, going back to the country’s nuclear sites and verifying the inventories of nuclear material – including more than 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60 percent – which they last verified a few days before the Israeli air strikes began on 13 June,” the statement said.

Oil prices drop further — 12:23 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Oil prices are dropping further on hopes that Israel’s war with Iran will not damage the global flow of crude.

A barrel of benchmark US crude has fallen 4.9 percent to $65.12. Brent crude, the international standard, has dropped 4.8 percent to $67.13.

Oil prices have dropped so much in the last two days that they’re below where they were before Israel attacked Iran nearly two weeks ago.

Iran is a major producer of crude, and it could try to block the Strait of Hormuz off its coast. That’s where 20 percent of the world’s daily oil needs pass through on ships.

A tug boat tows a barge off the coast of Khasab, on northern Oman’s Musandam Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Hormuz on June 24, 2025. Oil prices sank and stock markets jumped on June 24, even as uncertainty reined over a Israel-Iran cease-fire. GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

UN calls Israeli attack on an Iranian prison a breach of international law — 12:15 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

The United Nations human rights office has called Israel’s attack on Iran’s Evin prison a “grave” breach of international humanitarian law. It says the prison should not have been a target.

Israel’s attack on Monday blew open a gate at the prison, which is known for holding political activists. Israel said it attacked “regime targets and government repression bodies in the heart of Tehran.”

Iran says it has transferred all inmates out of the prison so workers can repair damage.

US strikes on Iran add to global travel disruptions — 12:00 p.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

The US entry into Israel’s war with Iran caused travel disruptions to pile up globally this week, with flight cancellations continuing Tuesday.

Airports and skies throughout the region have been on edge since Israel began the deadly war on June 13. And in the days following the escalatory US strikes, more and more carriers canceled flights, particularly in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which sit just across the Persian Gulf from Iran.

Qatar Airways said its flights were suspended because of Monday’s closure of air traffic in Qatar. Qatar Airways shared that it was working to restore operations after the country’s airspace reopened — but noted that disruptions may continue through Thursday.

Emirates suspended all flights to Iran and Iraq, including those serving Baghdad and Basra, through June 30.

Elsewhere, Singapore Airlines, British Airways and Dutch carrier KLM were among firms cancelling some flights to Middle Eastern airports.

Passenger aircraft, operated by British Airways Plc, at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, in London, UK, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. Jason Alden/Bloomberg

Iran still faces ‘tactical capability’ to threaten US, military official says — 11:58 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

A top US military official says Iran still possesses “significant tactical capability” despite an American strike over the weekend on three of the country’s nuclear sites.

Vice Admiral Brad Cooper told lawmakers Tuesday that that capability was demonstrated by Iran’s limited retaliatory missile strike on a US military base in Qatar.

In response to a question about whether Iran still poses a threat to US troops and Americans around the world, he replied, “They do.”

Cooper is currently the deputy commander of the US Central Command. He made the remarks at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing as the panel considers his nomination for the position of commander of Central Command.

Trump says it was ‘my great honor’ to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities — 11:53 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

But the extent of the damage hasn’t been fully determined, despite Trump’s claim that Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been “completely and totally obliterated.”

In a fresh social media post, Trump said Israel and Iran wanted to stop the war equally. A ceasefire is in effect after 12 days of hostilities between the enemy countries.

“It was my great honor to Destroy All Nuclear facilities & capability, and then, STOP THE WAR!” Trump posted.

Military leaders said at the Pentagon on Sunday that the US bombardment inflicted “severe” damage to Iran’s nuclear sites, but officials were still conducting a damage assessment. Almost 400 kilograms, or 880 pounds, of uranium the Iranians had enriched to 60% are publicly unaccounted for.

China says it supports Iran in achieving real cease-fire — 11:28 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

China supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty and security and “achieving a real ceasefire,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a phone call Tuesday with his Iranian counterpart.

Wang repeated China’s earlier condemnation of the military strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran and thanked Tehran for its support in evacuating Chinese citizens in Iran, according to a readout of their conversation published on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that though Iran and Israel have agreed on a ceasefire, the situation remains unstable.

He said “real negotiations” can only begin once Israel halts its “aggression.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation Convention (IOMed) in Hong Kong on May 30, 2025. PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images

Egypt and Iran agree to work on de-escalation in the region — 11:21 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Egypt’s foreign minister Badr Abdelatty has emphasized to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, the importance of honoring the sovereignty of Gulf and Arab states.

During the call on Tuesday, Araghchi confirmed that Iran respects the sovereignty and peace of Qatar and honors the friendly neighborhood policy, according to a statement released by Egypt’s foreign ministry.

Both foreign ministers agreed to work on de-escalation in the region.

Trump: China can continue to purchase oil from Iran — 11:02 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

President Trump has said in a social media post said that “China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran,” suggesting that the ceasefire would prevent the disruption of Iranian oil production.

A 2024 report by the US Energy Information Administration contained estimates suggesting that roughly 80 percent to 90 percent of the oil exported by Iran went to China.

The Chinese economy could struggle to preserve its industrial production without the roughly 1.2 million barrels of oil and other fossil fuels provided by Iran.

Oil plunged by more than 7 percent as Iran’s response to US military strikes spared energy infrastructure, allaying investor concerns that the conflict would severely disrupt supplies from the Middle East.

About 100 French nationals arrive in Cyprus from Israel — 10:58 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

About 100 French citizens have arrived in Cyprus on Tuesday aboard a French military aircraft that evacuated them from Israel.

The passengers, who flew from Tel Aviv, will catch flights from Cyprus back to France.

Jeremie Khiat said he arrived in Israel 15 days ago for a vacation when the missiles started flying at the start of the war between Israel and Iran on June 8.

He said “lots of buildings where destroyed” in the area where he was staying near the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv.

“There was like a few attacks that were very scary, but everyone is doing great,” said Khiat.

Cyprus has become a key transit hub for people evacuated from Israel to be repatriated following the start of the war.

Russia says it is ready to help settle the conflict — 10:35 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow is ready to help settle the conflict between Israel and Iran, but will not act as a mediator.

Lavrov spoke Tuesday in Moscow. He also asserted that there was no evidence Iran had been readying an attack on Israel before Israel attacked.

Analysts say Russia’s muted response to the U.S. attack on Iran nuclear sites, without any apparent military aid, is likely to disappoint Iran. It also reflects Russia’s diminished influence in the Middle East.

The Kremlin has bristled at suggestions it is abandoning or neglecting Iran. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday denied claims that Moscow had not given meaningful support.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends the talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Interim President of the Republic of Mali Assimi Goita at the Grand Kremlin Palace at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025. Pavel Bednyakov/Associated Press

India welcomes cease-fire — 9:59 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

India has welcomed the role played by the U.S and Qatar in bringing about the cease-fire between Iran and Israel.

“There is no alternative to dialogue and diplomacy,” India’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday, expressing hope that all concerned parties will work towards sustained peace.

Israeli ambassador: Strikes have killed at least 14 Iranian scientists — 9:56 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

In an interview with The Associated Press, Israel’s ambassador to France said Israeli strikes have killed at least 14 Iranian physicists and nuclear engineers who he alleged were “personally involved” in nuclear weapons development.

Ambassador Joshua Zarka said “the fact that the whole group disappeared is basically throwing back the program by a number of years.”

He said the strikes could deter other scientists from taking their place. “I do think that people that will be asked to be part of a future nuclear weapon program in Iran will think twice about it,” he said Monday.

On Tuesday, Iran state TV reported the death of another Iranian nuclear scientist, Mohammad Reza Sedighi Saber, in an Israeli strike.

Nuclear analysts say Iran has other scientists who can take their place.

China says it hopes a cease-fire can be realized soon — 9:50 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

China has reacted to President Donald Trump’s announcement of a cease-fire between Israel and Iran, saying it does not want to see “the spiral of escalations.”

China’s comments came in a foreign ministry briefing Tuesday. It said it hopes that “a cease-fire can be realized as soon as possible.”

China is Iran’s largest trading partner and only remaining oil customer. It had condemned the weekend U.S. strikes on Iran nuclear sites and called them a serious violation of international law that further inflamed tensions in the Middle East.

Iran calls Qatari Emir to express regret over attack on military base — 9:42 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Iran’s president has called the Qatari Emir and expressed his regret over the attack on a US military base in Qatar, according to Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

The Emir told the Iranian president on Tuesday that Qatar is a friendly neighbor and and didn’t expect a move that violated the country’s sovereignty, Al Thani said.

“We welcome the announcement (of the cease-fire) despite the violations we saw today. We hope the ceasefire holds and we call parties to abide by the ceasefire reached,” he said.

Trump: Iran ‘should be able to rebuild and do a good job’ — 9:07 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

“You know, the Iranians are very good traders, very good businesspeople, and they got a lot of oil. They should be fine. They should be able to rebuild and do a good job,” Trump continued on Air Force One.

“They’re never going to have nuclear, but other than that they should do a great job,” he told reporters.

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Washington. Evan Vucci/Associated Press

Israel’s emergency services: 28 killed during 12 days of war with Iran — 8:57 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

As a cease-fire between Iran and Israel took effect Tuesday, Israel’s emergency services released final figures from 12 days of fighting.

According to the data, 1,347 people in Israel were affected, including 28 killed, 17 seriously wounded, 29 moderately wounded, 872 lightly wounded and 401 treated for anxiety.

Netanyahu’s office says he held off on tougher strike after speaking to Trump — 8:41 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Netanyahu’s office says Israel struck an Iranian radar in response to the Iranian missile attack early Tuesday. But it says the Israeli leader held off tougher action after an appeal from President Trump.

“Following President Trump’s conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel refrained from additional attacks,” Netanyahu’s office says.

Benjamin Netanyahu. Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg

Iran TV says another nuclear scientist was killed in Israeli airstrike — 8:40 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

A high-profile Iranian nuclear scientist was killed in an Israeli strike, Iran state TV said, making him the latest in a list of top atomic experts who are said to have been killed in Israeli attacks over the last 12 days.

Mohammad Reza Sedighi Saber, who the U.S. State Department had sanctioned last month, was killed at his father-in-law’s residence in an early Tuesday morning strike in northern Iran, according to the report.

It added that three projectiles had hit the residence, and an earlier round of strikes had killed his 17-year-old son on June 13.

The Council on Foreign Relations on Monday said that Israeli strikes had killed at least 10 nuclear scientists since the Israel-Iran war broke out. The U.S. State Department last month described Sedighi Saber as the head of Iran’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research’s Shahid Karimi Group, which works on explosives-related projects, adding that he was “linked to projects including research and testing applicable to the development of nuclear explosive devices.”

Trump ‘exceptionally firm and direct’ in call with Netanyahu — 8:39 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

President Trump has spoken to Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu from Air Force One as he made his way to the NATO summit at The Hague.

Trump did not mince words, according to a White House official familiar with the matter. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the private leaders’ call, said Trump was “exceptionally firm and direct with Prime Minister Netanyahu about what needed to happen to sustain the ceasefire.”

The official added that Netanyahu understood the severity of situation and acknowledged Trump’s concerns.

Trump says ‘cease-fire is in effect’ — 8:38 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

President Trump has said in a Truth Social post that Israeli fighter jets will “turn around” and won’t attack Iran, as he presses both sides to abide by a ceasefire.

The comments came shortly after he expressed deep frustration with both Israel and Iran as the truce appeared to falter.

“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!” Trump said in his post.

Egyptian president condemns Iran’s attack on US air base in Qatar — 8:37 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

“Egypt completely rejects any violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, following the recent Iranian attacks on the Al-Udeid base,” read a statement from the spokesperson for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi.

It also lauded the Qatari military’s capability and the efficiency of its air defense systems in repelling Iran’s attack.

Iran launched a limited missile attack Monday on the US military base, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi attends his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during the World War II. Yuri Kochetkov/Associated Press

Trump says Israeli fighter jets will ‘turn around’ and won’t attack Iran as he presses both sides to abide by cease-fire — 7:51 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

President Trump said Israel and Iran violated ceasefire terms by carrying out attacks against each other after an early Tuesday deadline to stop hostilities but Israel was going to “turn around” its jets and stop its assault.

Trump, as he pressed both sides to abide by the ceasefire, posted on social media, “ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!”

Trump warns Israel to ‘bring your pilots home now’ — 7:49 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

President Trump has expressed deep disappointment with both Israel and Iran over the truce he helped broker as validation for his strategic gamble of ordering US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

“I’m not happy with them. I’m not happy with Iran either but I’m really unhappy with Israel going out this morning,” Trump said.

The president took to his Truth Social platform to warn Israel to end its attacks.

“ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION,” Trump posted. “BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”

Turkey urges all parties to fully observe cease-fire — 7:48 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Turkey has welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Iran but also said it was closely monitoring statements indicating violations.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry urged all parties to fully observe the ceasefire the “critical period ahead,” saying the Middle East was in need of peace and stability.

The ministry also called for the resolution of the Palestinian issue which it described as being at the “root of many problems in the Middle East.”

Macron expresses concerns that Iran could continue work to enrich uranium — 7:47 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed concerns that the Israel-Iran war has increased the risk that Iranian leaders will continue work in secret to enrich uranium that can be used for nuclear weapons.

“This risk has, it’s true, increased with what has happened recently,” Macron said. He was asked if Iranian uranium-enrichment work could continue in secret after nearly two weeks of Israeli airstrikes and the dropping of giant bunker-busting bombs by U.S. stealth bombers on Iranian nuclear plants.

He repeated France’s desire for negotiations to address concerns about Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

“Our shared objective is that Iran doesn’t equip itself with a nuclear weapon,” he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron is pictured on board the French frigate “Normadie” which is docked at Akershustranda in Oslo, Norway, on June 24, 2025. CORNELIUS POPPE/NTB/AFP via Getty Images

Trump expresses frustration with Israel and Iran as cease-fire deal teeters and strikes continue — 7:34 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

President Trump, in comments to reporters at the White House before departing for the NATO summit at The Hague, expressed disappointment over the continued attacks.

“They violated it, but Israel violated it, too,” Trump said. He added, ”I’m not happy with Israel.”

“I didn’t like the fact that Israel unloaded right after we made the deal,” Trump said. “And now I hear Israel just went out because they felt violated by one rocket that didn’t land anywhere.”

Trump’s frustration was palpable as he spoke to reporters, using an expletive to hammer home his point.

“I’m not happy with them. I’m not happy with Iran, either, but I’m really unhappy with Israel going out this morning,” Trump said. “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.”

Trump says both Iran and Israel violated a cease-fire — 6:53 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump warned Israel to bring its pilots home as he tried to sustain a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

That was in a post on Truth Social Tuesday.

He also told reporters that Israel and Iran violated ceasefire terms with attacks following an early Tuesday deadline to cease hostilities.

Speaking before departing for the NATO summit at The Hague, Trump expressed disappointment about the continued attacks.

“They violated it but Israel violated it too,” Trump said. He added, ”I’m not happy with Israel.”

At around the same time, he said in a Truth post: “ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”

Iran claims Israeli strikes continued until 9am local — 6:13 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

The central headquarters of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has claimed that Israel conducted strikes in Iran until 9 a.m. local (0530GMT,) Iranian state television reported.

However, there were no reports of Israeli strikes in Iran after 4 a.m. local, around the time Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would hold its fire if Israel did the same. The Guard offered no evidence to support their claim of the later Israeli attacks.

Under the ceasefire plan announced by President Trump, Israel had until 1000GMT to conduct strikes.

Military plane evacuates 101 French nationals from Israel to Cyprus — 6:12 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

A military plane evacuating 101 French nationals from Israel to Cyprus took off from Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday, French authorities said.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said similar evacuation flights will follow.

Priority is given to those with medical and humanitarian issues, the foreign ministry said in a statement. Those who can travel on their own can still cross to Jordan and Egypt to take commercial flights, it said.

Iranian governor: Israeli strike before the cease-fire killed 9 civilians — 6:11 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

A deputy governor in Iran’s northern Gilan province along the Caspian Sea said an Israeli strike before the ceasefire killed nine civilians, state media reported.

Iran says it transferred all inmates out of a prison after it was targeted — 6:10 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Iran says it transferred all inmates out of its notorious Evin prison after an Israeli strike targeted the facility on Monday.

Iran’s Prisons Organization said all the inmates had been moved to other prisons around the capital, Tehran. It said the move was necessary for workers to repair damage there.

Evin prison is known for holding both political prisoners and those with Western ties for negotiations with the wider world. It also has a specialized unit overseen by the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

Smoke rises over Tehran, Iran, following Israeli airstrikes targeting Revolutionary Guards sites and the Evin prison on June 23, 2025. ELYAS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Israel’s opposition leader says ‘majority’ of Iran’s enriched uranium destroyed — 5:14 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

A deputy governor in Iran’s northern Gilan province along the Caspian Sea said an Israeli strike before the ceasefire killed nine civilians, state media reported.

Israel’s opposition leader says ‘majority’ of Iran’s enriched uranium destroyed — 5:05 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid told a group of British lawmakers he believes much — but not all — of Iran’s enriched uranium was destroyed by Israeli and US strikes.

“We think at least the majority of it might be, gone, but not everything,” he said.

He said Iran’s nuclear ambitions “were hurt and they were taken backwards significantly. We just don’t know exactly right now how much.”

Lapid told the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee that Iran likely smuggled some of the uranium out of the facilities that have been attacked.

“There are only a limited number of places they can smuggle the uranium to,” he said. “You don’t take it in a suitcase and put it at home until the fire stops.”

Iran’s military denies it fired missiles at Israel after cease-fire — 4:58 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Iran’s military has denied that it fired missiles at Israel hours after a cease-fire proposed by President Trump began, Iranian state television reported.

The report cited the general staff of Iran’s armed forces, which includes its regular military and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

Israel reported missile fire some two and a half hours after the ceasefire began. Israeli officials have ordered a strike on Iran in response, though there’s no immediate report of an attack there.

Top Iranian security body praises military — 4:51 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Iran’s top security body has praised its military for its conduct in the 12-day war with Israel, likely signaling Tehran believes the cease-fire will hold.

The statement from the Supreme National Security Council came as Israel said it would conduct immediate strikes on Iran for allegedly violating the terms of US President Trump’s proposed cease-fire in the war.

The council said Iran’s armed forces “will be ready to give a decisive and regretful response to any act of aggression by the enemy.”

Egypt and Saudi Arabia welcome Trump cease-fire plan — 4:40 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Egypt said in a statement Tuesday morning that it welcomes US President Trump’s announcement of reaching a cease-fire between Israel and Iran.

“It is a critical point into ending this conflict between both countries and restoring peace in the region,” the statement read.

Egypt called upon the countries to fully abide by the ceasefire and practice full restraint.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday also welcomed Trump’s announcement of a cease-fire, though the hopeful statement came as the agreement was faltering.

“The Kingdom looks forward to all parties committing to de-escalation in the coming period,” Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said.

Less than three hours after the cease-fire came into effect, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Iran had “completely violated” the ceasefire by launching missiles.

Qatar summons Iranian ambassador — 4:37 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said it summoned Iran’s ambassador to the country and stressed that Monday’s attack on a US military base there was a violation of international law and Qatar’s sovereignty and airspace.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday it affirmed that it “reserves the right to respond to this blatant violation in accordance with international law.”

A woman wipes away tears as she walks down a row of displays featuring people killed in Israeli strikes in Tehran, on Monday, June 23, 2025. ARASH KHAMOOSHI/NYT

Drones target military bases in Iraq — 4:12 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Drones attacked military bases in Iraq overnight, including some housing US troops, the Iraqi army and a US military official said Tuesday.

Iraqi army spokesperson Sabah Al-Naaman in a statement called the attacks a “treacherous and cowardly act of aggression” and said they had damaged radar systems at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, and at Imam Ali Base in Dhi Qar province.

Iraqi forces shot down drones at other locations, he said.

A senior US military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said American forces had shot down drones attacking Ain al-Assad in the desert of western Iraq and at a base next to the Baghdad airport, while another one crashed.

No casualties were reported and no group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Some Iran-backed Iraqi militias had previously threatened to target American bases if the US attacked Iran.

On Monday, initial reports of an attack on Ain al-Assad base had turned out to be a false alarm triggered by debris from a malfunctioning Iranian missile targeting Israel.

Israel’s defense minister instructs military to resume attacks on Iran — 4:07 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Iran had “completely violated” the ceasefire between Israel and Iran by launching missiles more than two hours after the cease-fire came into effect.

Katz said he instructed the Israeli military to resume targeting Iranian paramilitary and government targets in Tehran.

According to Israel’s emergency services, there were no injuries in the missiles launched towards Israel after the ceasefire started.

Overnight, just before the cease-fire started, Israel launched more than 100 munitions targeting dozens of sites in Tehran, including missile launchers.

Sirens sound again in Israel — 3:51 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Sirens sounded across northern Israel after Israel said it had identified missiles launched from Iran, less than three hours after the ceasefire began.

Explosions could be heard as Israeli air defenses fired.

“Tehran will tremble,” wrote Israeli firebrand Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich on X after the missiles were launched.

Netanyahu says Israel’s war goals attained — 2:40 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has agreed to the bilateral ceasefire with Iran in coordination with President Trump.

Netanyahu said that he had reported to Israel’s security cabinet Monday night that Israel had achieved all of its war goals in the 12-day operation against Iran, including removing the threat of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Israel also damaged Iran’s military leadership and several government sites and achieved control over Tehran’s skies, Netanyahu said.

“Israel will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire,” Netanyahu said.

Residents evacuate buildings in Beersheba — 1:44 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Residents evacuated the impacted buildings, carrying belongings in bags and stuffed suitcases.

Neighbors and family members embraced while trying to figure out where to go next.

More than 9,000 Israelis have been displaced from their homes since the war with Iran began, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Yehezkiel Cheri said he was in a synagogue for morning prayers Tuesday when the first sirens went off.

As he made his way into his apartment building in between waves of missiles, he felt a huge explosion.

“I saw fire in front of me, and I ran into the apartment,” he said.

“I don’t think we need to continue this war. It’s a shame. These are souls of God, and we need to protect each one, from every country, everyone needs to care for each person,” he said.

Emergency workers recover a body from the site of an Iranian missile attack on a residential building in Beersheeba, Israel on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. DANIEL BEREHULAK/NYT

Israeli airspace reopens — 1:30 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Israel’s Airports Authority said the country’s airspace has reopened for emergency flights after closing earlier due to an hourslong barrage of missiles from Iran.

Death toll rises to 4 in Beersheba — 1:21 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Israeli firefighters said they retrieved four bodies from a building hit by an Iranian missile in the city of Beersheba.

The direct hit in the largest city in southern Israel comes just days after the city’s hospital sustained significant damage in a missile strike.

The search and rescue team said they retrieved four bodies from one building in Beersheba and were searching for more.

Israel closes its airspace — 1:02 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

The Israel Airports Authority said the barrages from Iran forced them to close the skies to all passenger planes, including emergency flights that were expected to land and depart on Tuesday.

Some flights were forced to circle over the Mediterranean Sea, according to Israeli media.

Israel’s airports have been closed since the war with Iran began, but a handful of emergency flights had started arriving and departing over the past few days.

Israeli firefighters rescue children trapped in rubble — 12:37 a.m. Link copied

By the Associated Press

Israel warned of another wave of incoming missiles 20 minutes after the ceasefire was supposed to come into effect.

Israeli security forces and firefighters work at the site after a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa, Israel, Friday, June 20, 2025. Baz Ratner/Associated Press

Iran state television announces cease-fire has begun — 12:20 Link copied

By the Associated Press

Iranian state television reported Tuesday that a cease-fire had begun in its war with Israel, even as Israel warned the public of a new missile barrage launched from Iran.

It wasn’t immediately possible to reconcile the messages from Iran and Israel on the 12th day of their war.

Iranian state television announced the ceasefire in a graphic on screen, not immediately acknowledging the new missile barrage coming after the deadline set by President Donald Trump in his earlier ceasefire announcement.