***

US strike on Iran delayed by bunker buster uncertainty

By Al-Mayadeen English, Source: The Guardian

June 19, 2025, 00:22

Trump delays Iran strike amid internal disputes over whether the GBU-57 bunker buster can penetrate Fordow’s deeply fortified nuclear facility.

In this photo released by the US Air Force on May 2, 2023, airmen look at a GBU-57, or the Massive Ordnance Penetrator bomb, at Whiteman Air Base in Missouri (US Air Force via AP, File)

In a political bombshell, US President Donald Trump, despite escalating threats to strike Iran, has privately voiced doubts about the very weapon meant to do it. According to The Guardian, a rift has emerged inside the White House and Pentagon over the effectiveness of the GBU-57 bunker buster bomb, casting uncertainty over plans to target Iran’s fortified Fordow nuclear facility. Trump has withheld authorization, questioning whether the 30,000-pound ordnance can penetrate the deeply buried site.

Insiders report that Trump has made it clear any strike would only be accepted if the United States could be absolutely certain that the bomb would obliterate the Fordow enrichment site in its entirety, as per the report.

“It would not be a one and done,” said retired Maj. Gen. Randy Manner, former deputy director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

“Fordow could be quickly rebuilt. It might set the program back six months to a year. It sounds good for TV but it’s not real,” Manner told The Guardian.

Despite assurances from defense officials that the GBU-57 might collapse tunnels or disable parts of the site, Trump remains unconvinced and has withheld approval, for now. The Guardian reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions, that he is also weighing whether the mere threat of US direct attacks could bring Tehran back to the negotiating table.

Fordow too deep for conventional bombs?

The Fordow facility, buried deep inside a mountain and reportedly fortified up to 300 feet underground, presents a daunting challenge, as per the piece. While the 30,000-pound GBU-57 is reportedly designed to penetrate hardened underground targets, the Pentagon has long debated its true capabilities against a site like Fordow.

Defense officials familiar with DTRA assessments acknowledge that even multiple bunker busters might only bury segments of the facility or disrupt operations temporarily, falling short of complete destruction.

“It would not be a one and done,” Manner repeated, adding that the weapon might slow Iran’s progress but would not prevent eventual reconstruction.

The DTRA, which has tested the GBU-57 and evaluated its performance, reportedly concluded that permanently disabling Fordow without the use of nuclear weapons would be "extremely difficult".

Plan B is apprehensive

Though some defense experts believe only a tactical nuclear strike could fully neutralize Fordow, White House officials alleged that Trump is not considering such an option. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine have not presented any nuclear scenarios during briefings.

Even with conventional force, the odds are uncertain, the report said. Defense analysts note that achieving the required precision would demand full US air superiority, suppression of GPS jamming, and exact intelligence on Fordow’s internal layout. The bomb has never been tested in a real-world mission targeting such a deeply buried and reinforced facility.

"Israel", which has publicly threatened to act unilaterally against Iran’s nuclear program, lacks both the delivery systems and the ordnance needed to strike Fordow. While Israeli war planners have reportedly floated more unconventional options, including a commando infiltration and internal sabotage plan, Trump has already dismissed that proposal, according to The Guardian, citing sources.

The Guardian claims that Trump’s caution reflects growing awareness of the strategic risks. One official familiar with Pentagon briefings emphasized that Fordow’s deep fortification presents “significant challenges", especially given that the GBU-57 has never faced a real-world target of this magnitude.

As one senior defense official explained, “even with a B-2 stealth bomber, success is far from guaranteed.”

Despite growing pressure from within "Israel" and some US hawks, neither the Pentagon nor the White House has made any official comment. But behind closed doors, the debate underscores the limits of conventional military power and the high stakes of miscalculating the consequences of escalation.

***

Trump claims Iran talks possible, war decision due in two weeks

By Al-Mayadeen English Source: Agencies

19 Jun 2025, 22:21

Trump claims Iran may seek negotiations, but with Situation Room meetings escalating, the prospect of US strikes remains firmly on the table.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP)

US President Donald Trump alleged Thursday that he will make a final decision on whether to launch military action against Iran within the next two weeks, citing what he called a “substantial chance” of possible diplomatic engagement.

The announcement, delivered by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during the daily briefing, comes as Israeli aggression against Iran enters its seventh consecutive day, fueling speculation over the extent of Washington’s military involvement.

“Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” Trump said in the statement read by Leavitt.

Leavitt declined to provide specifics on what prompted Trump’s cautious optimism toward diplomacy and offered no details regarding any concrete plans for talks with Tehran.

This development comes shortly after The Times of Israel cited an Israeli official as saying, “Israel still expects that US President Donald Trump will join the strikes against Iran’s nuclear program.” The official clarified, “The expectation is that they join, but no one is pushing them,” adding, “They have to make their own decision.” When asked for a timeline, the official claimed, “We’ll know in the next 24–48 hours.”

Not an isolated incident: US issues vague, controversial remarks

On Wednesday, Trump claimed that Iran had initiated communication with the US about potentially sending envoys to Washington for negotiations over its nuclear program and to end the war, a claim that Iranian officials strongly rejected.

When asked whether diplomatic outreach was ongoing, Leavitt replied, “Correspondence has continued” between Washington and Tehran. However, she added that she was “not tracking” whether Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, would attend any meetings in Geneva for potential direct dialogue with Iranian officials.

The White House confirmed that Trump convened his third Situation Room meeting in as many days on Thursday to continue deliberations over the possibility of a direct US war against Iran.

Earlier this week, the president struck a more ambiguous tone when asked directly about potential strikes on Iran. “I may do it, I may not do it,” Trump said on Wednesday, which many observers view as a strategic move aimed at deceiving Iran, framing the prospect of negotiations as a smokescreen for escalating military preparations.

Iran denies media reports on delegation landing in Oman for talks

Iran’s Foreign Ministry categorically denied on Thursday a Reuters report that claimed that an Iranian negotiating delegation had arrived in the Sultanate of Oman amid ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions with the United States and "Israel".

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei refuted the report, stating clearly that “no Iranian delegation has gone to Oman.” His comments were echoed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who also dismissed the claim, telling Iranian media, “No one has gone to Oman.”

Reuters had earlier reported that an Iranian negotiation team had landed in Muscat as part of renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at containing the growing regional situation. The report suggested the move was part of indirect backchannel discussions involving Western and regional intermediaries.

Iran fires back at Trump's 'lies': Never 'asked to grovel at WH gates'

In a related context, Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations issued a scathing rebuke to US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, rejecting his latest remarks about Tehran’s willingness to negotiate and condemning his threats as provocative and unfounded.

The response followed Trump’s claim that “Iran wants to negotiate” and had allegedly suggested coming to the White House.

"They’ve suggested that they come to the White House,” he claimed.

Trump also boasted that “nobody knows what I’m going to do” and floated the notion of “unconditional surrender” from Iran.

Iran’s mission dismissed the comments as political theater, stating unequivocally, “No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House.” The statement directly challenged Trump’s narrative, portraying it as a fabrication intended to serve domestic political goals.

The mission further condemned Trump’s past threats, including what it described as a “cowardly” call to “take out” Iran’s Leader, labeling the US president a “has-been warmonger clinging to relevance.”

Reiterating Iran’s long-standing position, the mission stated, “Iran does NOT negotiate under duress, shall NOT accept peace under duress,” emphasizing that the Islamic Republic will meet any threat with a counter-threat and any hostile action with reciprocal measures.

Trump’s narrative clashes with reality

US President Donald Trump has reignited tensions with Iran through a series of provocative remarks, claiming that Tehran “wants to negotiate,” is “in a lot of trouble,” and is “totally defenseless". His comments, however, stand in stark contrast to recent developments on the ground and the broader context of US-Iran diplomacy.

Speaking at a campaign event this week, Trump alleged that Iran had reached a desperate point, saying, “They should have negotiated. Nothing is too late. Unconditional surrender means I’ve had it.” He also claimed Iran lacks effective air defenses, describing the country as “totally defenseless, with no air defense whatsoever.”

These assertions come despite the fact that Iran’s air defense systems have reportedly demonstrated significant capability in recent days. According to Iranian sources, Iranian forces successfully downed four Israeli F-35 fighter jets, intercepted multiple missile attacks, and shot down a US MQ-9 drone operating in the region.

Trump’s remarks also overlooked the status of diplomatic engagement. Prior to the current escalation, the US and Iran had completed five rounds of indirect nuclear negotiations, with a sixth round scheduled. However, that process was abruptly halted following an Israeli attack on Iranian territory, an aggression that came just two days before the sixth round of talks was due to begin.

"Israel" has justified its strikes by citing alleged Iranian nuclear ambitions, even as it continues to maintain its own undeclared and unmonitored nuclear arsenal, a point of international criticism and regional tension, not to mention its genocide in Gaza and ongoing attacks on Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria.

Trump’s framing of Iran as both eager to negotiate and militarily weak has drawn scrutiny from analysts, who point to the timing of Israeli strikes as a significant factor in disrupting talks and escalating war.

While Trump boasted that “nobody knows what I’m going to do,” Iran’s leadership and military posture suggest it is far from capitulating. Tehran has repeatedly stated it will not accept negotiations under duress, and Iranian officials have vowed to respond to any threat with proportional force.

As the rhetoric sharpens and the regional crisis deepens, diplomatic prospects continue to dim, complicated by US domestic politics and ongoing Israeli aggression.

***

True Promise 3, wave 15: Missiles make direct impact northern 'Israel'

By Al-Mayadeen English

 19 Jun 2025, 18:07

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps launched its 15th wave of missiles on the occupied territories, achieving direct hits in northern "Israel" amid a media blackout.

Iran launched successive waves of missile strikes toward the Israeli entity on Thursday afternoon, as alarm sirens sounded across wide areas of the northern occupied Palestinian territories.

Sirens blared repeatedly across dozens of settlements in the north, especially in the occupied Syrian Golan, Tabarayya, Akka, Haifa, Caesarea, and Afula, with loud explosions rocking the north after a heavy Iranian missile struck, while Israeli military censorship blocked the release of further details. Fires were reported to have spread across al-Jalil.

Iran's missile barrage resulted in a power blackout in multiple settlements across the occupied Golan Heights and northern Palestine.

IRGC announces 15th wave of True Promise 3 

Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) published statement no.13, announcing the 15th wave of missile barrages on "Israel" as part of Operation True Promise 3.

"A new wave of coordinated missile and drone attacks is now targeting military sites and defense industry centers in Haifa and Tel Aviv," the statement detailed, noting that more than 100 different types of drones were being employed in the attacks targeting military installments, and especially air defense batteries in Haifa and Tel Aviv.

"Notably, the escalating focus on missile strikes against military and defense-industrial targets now appears to be a deliberate strategy," the statement concluded.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council has declared that its military response will continue until the aggressor is held accountable, while issuing a stern warning that if any third party intervenes in the war, they will face immediate retaliation according to predetermined military protocols.

***

Senior lawmaker: Iran to close Strait of Hormuz if US joins aggression

Mehr News,

TEHRAN, Jun. 19 (MNA) –

Iran will not close Strait of Hormuz for the time being but if the Global Arrogance (US and Western states) joins Israeli regime, Tehran will have to shut the strategic waterwar way to protect its national interests.

Tehran MP in the Iranian parliament Seyyed Ali Yazdi Khah said that the enemies must know that Iran has too many choices that will employ them if needs be.

The lawmaker stressed that Iran will not close Strait of Hormuz for the time being but if the Global Arrogance (US and Western states) joins Israeli regime directly, Tehran will shut the strategic waterwar way as the good and easy choice.

The Islamic Republic of Iran will allow freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz only if the Iranian strategic interests are not endangered.

MNA/6504770

***

Iran parliament speaker: Israel without US support cannot endure for one single day

Mehr News,

TEHRAN, Jun. 19 (MNA) –

The Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has said that the aggressor Zionist Israeli regime will cease to exist without Washington's support.

In an interview on Thursday, Speaker Ghalibaf said: “We do not aim to expand the war, but the United States’ delusional president should know that our nation is not like Western nations, which he may be able to take control of and impose anything on.”

He said the United States cannot impose the potential terms of peace on Iran by pressuring the country either.

The Israeli regime attacked Iran, including residential buildings in Tehran, in an unprovoked act of aggression overnight on June 13. Top Iranian military officials were assassinated in targeted strikes. Civilians died when houses were directly struck. Entire population centers were affected.

Ghalibaf said the Israeli regime assumed it can follow up on the early attacks on the Iranian military commanders, but the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic quickly reclaimed the field.

After the early morning strikes on June 13, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei appointed new military commanders later that same day and said life would turn bleak for Israel. Shortly afterwards, the Iranian Armed Forces promised to “open the gates of hell” to Israel and began punitive strikes inside the Israeli-occupied territories, hitting sensitive sites in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa, among others, with salvos of missiles and drones.

Life has come to a halt in the occupied territories as Israelis spend day and night in underground bomb shelters. Many Israelis are paying large sums of money to smugglers to take them to Greece and Cyprus by boat.

Iranian officials have said the mission will continue as long as necessary.

MNA

***

Iran warns against joining Israeli-imposed war

Mehr News,

TEHRAN, Jun. 19 (MNA) –

Iran has issued a firm warning, saying it will respond decisively to any third-party intervention in the course of the ongoing Israeli aggression against its territory.

The country's Supreme National Security Council, one of the most significant decision-making bodies of Iran, emphasized in a statement on Thursday that its military and strategic response will be swift and proportionate should external actors attempt to further escalate the conflict. 

The council declared: "If any third party intervenes in this aggression, Iran will confront it immediately according to a predetermined plan." 

The statement underscores Tehran’s resolve to defend its sovereignty against  hostile Israeli acts coordinated with Western powers, notably the United States, which Iranian officials stress has been complicit in Tel Aviv's recent aggression. 

The Israeli regime launched an unprovoked act of aggression against Iran last Friday, martyring over 300 Iranians—including revered IRGC Commander Hossein Salami, Chief-of-staff Mohammad Bagheri, and nuclear scientists Fereydoon Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi—while injuring over a thousand civilians. 

Iranian officials have characterized the attack as “deliberately coordinated” with Washington based on the actions and the statements of the U.S. officials. 

U.S. President Donald Trump, however, says Washington may directly enter the war as well. 

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, said in his latest remarks that Iran will resist both “imposed peace” and “imposed war." He also said any direct intervention by the U.S. would result in "irreparable harm" for Americans. 

Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has intensified its military operations against Israel. 

On Thursday, the IRGC launched the 15th wave of Operation True Promise 3, targeting the regime's military and industrial sites across occupied territories.

MNA

***

Official briefs on Israeli attack on Khondab nuclear site

Mehr News,

TEHRAN, Jun. 19 (MNA) –

The Director General of Crisis Management of the Markazi Province that the Israeli regime's attack on the Khondab heavy water complex did not result in any casualties, radioactive emmision, or environmental pollution.

Earlier on Thursday, Iranian media reported air defences were activated in the area of the Khondab nuclear facility and two projectiles hit an area close to it

Morteza Miri said that "At around 6 am today, the Khandab heavy water complex area was attacked by the Israeli regime's air force."

He added that "With the evacuation of the complex and the measures that had been taken in advance, this attack did not result in any emmision of materials from the complex and does not pose any danger to the people in the sorrounding area."

However, this morning's Israeli attack has also been reported in the International Atomic Energy Agency as according to international treaties, attacks on nuclear facilities are prohibited.

MNA/6504966

***

Iran pounds Israeli regime targets in new strikes on Thursday

Mehr News,

TEHRAN, Jun. 19 (MNA) –

Iranian armed forces conducted a new wave of combined missile and drone attack on military targets of Israeli regime on Thursday aternoon.

The lloca lranian media cited the military sources that the new combined attack was aimed at strategic military centers in Haifa and Tel Aviv.

A statement released by IRGC public relations said that as many as 100 kamikaze and combat drones were fired at the Zionist regime today.

The IRGC statement also said that the upward trend of the effective missile strikes on Israeli military strategic centers will continue.

The consecutive self-defense operations are carried out in response to the US.-backed Israeli aggression on Iran that led to the injury of about 1,800 Iranians.

The Iranian missiles poured on the Israeli-occupied territories of Palestine have so far dismantled vital infrastructure including Haifa refinery and several intelligence headquarters such as Mossad and Aman.

Israeli minister of energy announced that recovery of Bazan refinery in Haifa is impossible at least for the next one month. Sirens are sounding across the occupied territories.

MNA/FNA1750343113713092341

***

Mr. Grossi! You betrayed the non-proliferation regime!

Mehr News,

TEHRAN, Jun. 19 (MNA) –

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says that IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi has betrayed the non-proliferation regime and made the agency a partner to the unjust war of aggression against Iran.

Baghaei made the comments in an X post on Thursday;

"DG @rafaelmgrossi:“We did not have any evidence of a systematic effort [by Iran] to move into a nuclear weapon.”This is too late, Mr. Grossi: you obscured this truth in your absolutely biased report that was instrumentalize by E3/U.S. to craft a resolution with baseless allegation of 'non-compliance'; the same resolution was then utilized, as a final pretext, by a genocidal warmongering regime to wage a war of aggression on Iran and to launch an unlawful attack on our peaceful nuclear facilities."

"Do you know how many innocent Iranians have been killed/maimed as a result of this criminal war? Is it how an international civil servant tested for assigning the UN leadership? Misleading narratives have dire consequences, Mr. Grossi, and demand accountability."

"You betrayed the non-proliferation regime; You've made IAEA a partner to this unjust war of aggression; You turned IAEA into a tool of convenience for non-NPT members to deprive NPT members of their basic right under Article 4. Any clear conscience?!"

MNA/

***

Iran, European troika to hold meeting in Geneva

Mehr News,

TEHRAN, Jun. 19 (MNA) –

Iranian Foreign minister confirmed the reports of a meeting with the European troika top diplomats.

The meeting is scheduled to be held in Geneva between the foreign ministers of Iran, France, Germany, and the UK.

The meeting was requested by the European troika, according to Araghchi.

MNA/6504769

***

Iran will attack any target belonging to Israel

TEHRAN, Jun. 19 (MNA) –

Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, has promised more attacks on Israel as the regime continues its aggression against Iran for nearly a week now.

“With God’s help, we will constantly attack any target that belongs to the invading Zionist regime, and we see no limitation ahead of us,” the top military official said on Thursday.

Mousavi made the remarks as he paid a visit to one of the bases of the Aerospace Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.

He praised the forces at the base for their high morale and full preparedness.

He also hailed the I.R.G.C.’s Aerospace Force for its crushing and precise attacks conducted on Israeli targets over the past several days in response to the regime’s aggression against Iran.

On Wednesday night, the I.R.G.C. said in a statement that the Armed Forces had launched a new type of powerful missiles at targets in Israel. It said that the missiles were of the Sejjil type, potent weapons that are two-stage, long-haul, and super-heavy.    

Israel attacked Iran, including residential buildings in Tehran, in an unprovoked act of aggression overnight on June 13. Top Iranian military officials were assassinated in targeted strikes, and civilians lost their lives when houses were struck directly.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei appointed new military commanders later that same day and said life would turn bleak for Israel. Shortly afterwards, the Iranian Armed Forces began punitive strikes inside the Israeli-occupied territories, hitting Tel Aviv and Haifa, among other targets, with salvos of missiles and drones. On Tuesday, Major General Mousavi said that the Armed Forces would shortly switch from deterrent strikes to punitive ones.

MNA/IRN85866746

***

Residential, civilian areas: Primary target of Zionist regime in Iran

Jun 16, 2025 09:12 UTC

Pars Today –

On Saturday evening, the Zionist regime targeted several residential and civilian areas in Iran.

Over the past 24 hours, the Zionist regime attacked multiple residential buildings in Tehran and other Iranian cities, with many of the strikes being intercepted by the air defense systems of the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to Pars Today, during the Zionist regime’s attack on Tehran on Saturday evening, several homes were damaged, and a number of women and children were injured.

Areas such as Narmak, Nobonyad, Zamzam, Shahran, and Shahr-e Rey were among those targeted by the Zionist regime’s attacks.

One of the most significant targets was the Shahran oil storage facility in western Tehran, where a massive fire broke out. However, emergency and operational forces quickly intervened. Reports indicate that the level of stored fuel at the site was low, and the situation was swiftly brought under control.

Another fuel depot in southern Tehran was also attacked. In both cases, official sources confirmed that firefighting and safety operations were successfully carried out, and a detailed assessment of the damage is underway.

Additionally, Iran’s air defense systems were activated in cities such as Bandar Abbas, Khorramabad, Tabriz, Mashhad, Shiraz, and Isfahan, with some sources reporting the destruction of unidentified drones in these areas.

According to Iranian officials, despite the intensity of the Zionist regime’s attacks on residential and civilian areas, the situation is fully under control. Emergency and security forces have been deployed, and air defense systems have continuously repelled numerous aerial threats.

It should be noted that during the Zionist regime’s attack on Tehran’s Shahid Chamran residential complex on Friday evening, 60 residents of a 14-story building were martyred, including 20 children.

MG/ME

***

The battle begins: Khamenei responds to Trump's threats amid possible US attack

Story by India Today

June 17, 2025 

In his first social media post since US President Donald Trump's threats of unconditional surrender, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a warning to Israel on X, saying, "The battle begins."

"Ali returns to Khaybar," the post says, according to a translation by the Iran International news outlet. The statement is a reference to the first imam of Shia Islam and his conquest of the Jewish town of Khaybar in the 7th century, reported The Times of Israel. The post was originally shared in Farsi.

The battle begins: Khamenei responds to Trump's threats amid possible US attack

The post includes an image of a man holding a sword entering a castle-like gate, with fiery streaks in the sky overhead.

Minutes later, Khamenei posted another warning to Israel: "We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy."

The battle begins: Khamenei responds to Trump's threats amid possible US attack

CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRAN ENTERS SIXTH DAY

The conflict between Israel and Iran entered its sixth day as the two nations traded new missile strikes at each other on Wednesday despite a call from US President Donald Trump for Iran's unconditional surrender. The Israeli military said two barrages of Iranian missiles were launched toward Israel in the first two hours of Wednesday morning. Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv.

Meanwhile, after leaving the G7 Summit early, Trump met for 90 minutes with his National Security Council on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the conflict, a White House official said. He reportedly spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Axios reported.

TRUMP DEMANDS UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER

Trump on Tuesday declared that the United States has full control of Iranian airspace, stating that Iran's defence systems, including advanced tracking equipment, are no match for American-made military technology. He hailed the superiority of US defence capabilities in a post on Truth Social.

On Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn't compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured 'stuff.' Nobody does it better than the good ol' USA."

He also warned that US patience was wearing thin. While he said there was no intention to kill Iran's leader "for now," his comments suggested a more aggressive stance towards Iran as he weighs whether to deepen US involvement.

"We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding," he wrote on Truth Social, referring to Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now ... Our patience is wearing thin."

The battle begins: Khamenei responds to Trump's threats amid possible US attack

Three minutes later Trump posted, "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!"

The US is deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes, according to news agency Reuters. Trump is reportedly considering all potential options available for dismantling Iran's underground nuclear bombs.

The battle begins: Khamenei responds to Trump's threats amid possible US attack

***

Israel 'undermined Trump's position' as Netanyahu signals country is 'losing' to Iran

Story by Jeremiah Hassel  

The Mirror US, June 17, 2025

Israel "undermined Donald Trump's negotiating position" with Iran and placed the U.S. president in an impossible predicament — both for his diplomatic goals and for his ego, an expert claimed.

Israel's primary goal in attacking Iran was to utterly dismantle its nuclear program and prevent it, once and for all, from producing a nuclear weapon. But Israel has fallen short of that goal — and it won't be able to achieve it without either sparking negotiations with Iran or involving the U.S.

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That's where things get tricky for President Trump.

On the one hand, Iran is already blaming the U.S. for Israel's attack — the U.S. helped Israel's Iron Dome defense system intercept Iranian missiles flying into Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and it also provided many of the weapons Israel used to strike Iranian targets. Actual U.S. offensive involvement in the conflict is irrelevant to Iran. It comes after Trump was slammed for an alarming White House decision.

Trump cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against the strikes, believing — and accurately so — that they would escalate the conflicts already raging in the Middle East.

He also believed that they would harm his negotiating position with Iran as the countries work toward a new nuclear proliferation agreement.

Donald Trump© Getty

"With its unprovoked war, Israel has undermined Trump’s negotiating position," Trita Parsi, co-founder and executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, told the Mirror US.

"Support for acquiring a nuclear weapon has surged among Iran’s elite and broader society in response to the Israeli bombings. This has raised the political cost for Tehran to agree to limit enrichment to civilian levels, making a deal more difficult."

Trump did, however, provide his blessing for Israel to go to war with Iran — something Parsi said was unexpected. And it may have had ramifications on America's negotiations with Iran.

Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports and entertainment stories.

"America’s backing of Israel’s attack — coupled with Trump’s self-congratulatory rhetoric — has led Tehran to believe he deliberately lulled Iran into a false sense of security to boost Israel’s chances," Parsi said. "As a result, what little trust remained in Trump as a negotiating partner has further eroded. And the less trust there is, the narrower the path to a deal."

"Had Trump stuck to his original red line — no weaponization — he might now be on the verge of a historic nuclear agreement with Iran," he added.

On the other hand, "Trump likes winners" and hates losers. And, by asking the U.S. to intervene, "Israel is signaling that it's losing," Parsi wrote.

"It has failed to eliminate Iran's regime or cripple its nuclear program and is now absorbing unexpected blows in return," he said. "Despite inflicting significant damage on the Natanz nuclear site, Israel has failed to penetrate the far more critical and heavily fortified Fordow facility. As a result, the actual impact on Iran’s nuclear program appears limited."

To strike the Fordow facility, Israel will need the help of the U.S., which boasts specialty drones and aircraft that would allow it to strike inside the facility — not just crippling it but utterly dismantling it.

Israel's failures, however, have made it convincing the U.S. to join the conflict and strike at the heart of Iran's nuclear facilities even more difficult, Parsi said — even with Israeli allies in Washington lobbying Trump to enter the war and begin offensive strikes.

So, Netanyahu has turned toward other means of eliciting a U.S. response to the conflict. It began by seeking "a green light for Israel to act," he said.

But, he added, "Seeking America’s blessing to go to war is a far lighter ask than requesting America’s direct military involvement." He noted that "Trump, unexpectedly, agreed to the former" but added that "it would be exceptionally unwise for him to agree to the latter."

Trump was quick to take credit for the success of the strikes after the initial wave. "Impressed by Israel's early success, Trump moved quickly to claim credit for the operation despite Secretary of State Marco Rubio having declared just hours earlier that the strikes were a 'unilateral action' by Israel and that the U.S. was not involved," Parsi said.

Just 18 hours later, however, Iran had completely restructured its chain of command — the strikes killed at least three of its top generals — and activated its air defenses. But "most critically," Parsi said, the country launched four missile barrages at Israeli targets in Tel Aviv, penetrating the country's Iron Dome defense system and landing a direct hit on the country's Ministry of Defense.

"That Tehran could mount such a response just hours after losing several top military commanders was the first clear sign that Israel’s initial success would be short-lived," Parsi analyzed. And that, he said, didn't impress Trump.

"Why would Trump risk American lives, endanger his presidency and join a war he didn't start — just to rescue Israel from a failed and unprovoked conflict? Trump prefers to take credit for victories, not inherit blame for someone else’s potential fiasco," he said.

"Israel’s war of choice with Iran is proving far less decisive than President Donald Trump initially believed when he praised Israel’s performance as 'excellent,'" he added. "What now appears to be an escalating, inconclusive conflict with no clear end in sight will soon force Trump into a challenging decision: end the war — or enter it."

"It is becoming increasingly clear to Washington that Israel’s war of choice is far from a success, and a decisive outcome may not materialize at all."

Nevertheless, Parsi said a deal "remains possible." But achieving one will come down to how quickly Trump can stop Israel. "The sooner Trump halts Israel's war, the better his chances," Parsi wrote.

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said on Monday that the reopening of discussions between Iran and the U.S. simply requires a phone call from Trump to Netanyahu.

"If President Trump truly believes in diplomacy and wants to stop this war, the next steps are crucial," Aragchi wrote in a public Telegram channel. "Israel must stop its aggression. Without a complete cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue."

"It only takes one phone call from Washington to silence someone like Netanyahu," he continued. "This could pave the way for a return to diplomacy."

Parsi emphasized the importance of Aragchi's ultimatum. "One thing is certain: if Trump and Iran return to the negotiating table, he must quickly abandon the self-defeating zero-enrichment demand championed by Israel and [John] Bolton — the very stance that gave birth to this needless and messy war," he concluded.

Israel 'undermined Trump's position' as Netanyahu signals country is 'losing' to Iran

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The US Should Not Support Israel's War on Iran, say Democrats and Republicans

Story by John Nichols  

The Nation, June 17, 2025.

Bernie Sanders has sponsored an anti-war resolution in the Senate, while conservative Thomas Massie is doing the same in the House.

The members of Congress who put adherence to the United States Constitution ahead of presidential demands or elite partisan loyalties are uniting in an uncommon coalition to oppose deeper US involvement in the burgeoning conflict between Israel and Iran.

How uncommon? On Monday, as President Trump was sending signals that caused at least some analysts to suggest that he might increase US military support for Israel’s war efforts, US Rep. Thomas Massie, the Kentucky Republican who by just about any measure is the most seriously conservative member of Congress, went on social media to announce: “This is not our war. But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution. I’m introducing a bipartisan War Powers Resolution tomorrow to prohibit our involvement. I invite all members of Congress to cosponsor this resolution.”

“Signing on!” came the rapid response from one of Massie’s most prominent colleagues on the opposite side of the ideological spectrum: New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Another high-profile member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, California Democrat Ro Khanna, is Massie’s co-lead sponsor for the resolution, which seeks to force Trump to get congressional approval to enter the Israel-Iran war. The pair have structured the measure as a privileged resolution, meaning that it must receive a vote. “It’s time for every member to go on record,” said Khanna. “Are you with the neocons who led us into Iraq or do you stand with the American people?”

That message has gained traction not just in the House but in the Senate, where Vermont’s Bernie Sanders called out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Friday decision to launch the attack on Iran. “Netanyahu started this war with a surprise unilateral attack against Iran, which has already killed hundreds of people and wounded many more,” explained Sanders. “This attack was specifically designed to sabotage American diplomatic efforts: Israel assassinated the man overseeing Iran’s nuclear negotiating team, despite the fact that further talks with the United States were scheduled for Sunday. Whatever you think of the corrupt and authoritarian Iranian regime, this attack clearly violates international law and the United Nations Charter.”

On Monday evening, Sanders introduced the No War Against Iran Act in the Senate, with a statement that referenced the oft-neglected Constitutional requirement that wars must be declared by Congress, not initiated by presidential whim.  “Our Founding Fathers entrusted the power of war and peace exclusively to the people’s elected representatives in Congress, and it is imperative that we make clear that the President has no authority to embark on another costly war without explicit authorization by Congress,” said the senator. “Another war in the Middle East could cost countless lives, waste trillions more dollars and lead to even more deaths, more conflict, and more displacement. I will do everything that I can as a Senator to defend the Constitution and prevent the U.S. from being drawn into another war.”

Though Sanders has a long record of lonely opposition to illegal wars, this time he did not stand alone. Democratic Senators Peter Welch of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Tina Smith of Minnesota signed on as cosponsors of the plan “to prohibit the use of federal funds for any use of military force in or against Iran absent specific Congressional authorization.”

Another Democratic senator, Virginia centrist Tim Kaine, the 2016 Democratic nominee for vice president, has introduced a War Powers Resolution “expressing concern about the escalating violence in the Middle East and its potential to pull the U.S. into conflict. The resolution will “require a prompt debate and vote prior to using any U.S. military force against Iran.” And a key Republican senator, Kentucky’s Rand Paul, echoed the message, arguing that “it’s not the U.S.’s job to be involved in this war. Iraq was a mess, Afghanistan was a mess.” Paul expressed hope that Trump would resist pressure from GOP hawks, such as South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who are urging the president “to go all in” on the war.

The best protection against presidential war mongering has always been a reassertion of Congress’s authority to declare wars. And many members of the House are crossing party lines to do that by supporting the Massie-Khanna resolution.

“I support this resolution because the American people do not want another war,” US Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, said Tuesday. Another supporter, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan, said, “The president cannot circumvent congressional war powers and unilaterally send U.S. troops to war with Iran. This is a violation of Article I of the Constitution which requires congressional approval to declare war. The American people do not want another endless war in the Middle East that will cost lives and tear their families apart.”By Tuesday morning, the cosponsor list for the Massie-Khanna resolution had grown to include more than a dozen representatives, including the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Texas Representative Greg Casar, and the top Democrat on a key committee, Rules Committee ranking member Jim McGovern. “President Trump must pursue off-ramps and negotiation to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and not let Netanyahu drag Americans into conflict,” said McGovern, who a number of years ago helped form the House No War With Iran Caucus. Now, he is urging “de-escalation away from a bloody and expensive conflict.”

The US Should Not Support Israel's War on Iran, say Democrats and Republicans

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