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International Business Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- International Business Times
Netanyahu Says Israel Is Capable of Striking Iran's Highly Secretive Fordow Nuclear Site Buried Under a Mountain Without Help from US
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly suggested that Israel has all the capabilities to strike all of Iran's nuclear sites — including the highly secretive Fordow Fuel Enrichment Facility, which is believed to be buried deep underground, nearly half a mile beneath a mountain. Netanyahu insisted that Israel "will achieve all our objectives," even though several military analysts have time and again questioned whether the Jewish state has the capability to destroy the highly secretive nuclear facility buried under a mountain. "We will achieve all our objectives and hit all of their nuclear facilities. We have the capability to do that," Netanyahu said when asked by a reporter about Fordow specifically. Netanyahu's Indirect Threat Israel has targeted several Iranian nuclear sites, including a major installation in Natanz and others near Tehran and Isfahan, since launching its "Operation Rising Lion" air campaign against the Islamic Republic. The Israelis have also eliminated more than a dozen high-ranking Iranian scientists and senior military officials. Meanwhile, the Fordow facility has played a major role in influencing President Donald Trump's deliberations on whether the United States should get involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran. Several military experts believe that the United States is the only ally Israel has with advanced bombers capable of reaching the region and delivering heavy bunker-busting bombs powerful enough to destroy the hidden Fordow facility. However, there is ongoing debate among analysts about whether even those powerful weapons would be enough to completely eliminate the site. On Thursday, Trump announced that he would make a final decision within the next two weeks on whether to launch a strike against Iran, as he is still holding out hope for diplomatic talks. "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 a statement delivered by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The president is also facing backlash from within his MAGA support base over the conflict, with key figures like Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson publicly urging the U.S. to avoid getting involved in the fast-growing crisis. Netanyahu Leaves It to the US Netanyahu said that the decision of whether the United States joins the conflict is "entirely" in Trump's hands. "He'll do what's good for the United States, and I'll do what's good for the State of Israel," the prime minister said, adding, "as the saying goes — every contribution is welcome." Over the weekend, Netanyahu stood by Israel's decision to launch strikes against Iran and dismissed concerns regarding Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's earlier testimony, in which she said that the intelligence community had assessed "Iran is not building a nuclear weapon." "The intel we got and we shared with the United States was absolutely clear — was absolutely clear — that they were working in a secret plan to weaponize the uranium," Netanyahu said on a special edition of Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier" Sunday. "They were marching very quickly. They would achieve a test device and possibly an initial device within months and certainly less than a year," he added. "I think we have excellent intel in Iran." Trump later told reporters he believes Iran is close to making a nuclear weapon, contradicting Gabbard's earlier assessment. In response, Gabbard downplayed any perceived disagreement between her and the president on the matter. Netanyahu, for years, has repeatedly warned that Iran was on the verge of completing a nuclear weapon. Prior to Israel's recent strikes, Iran had been enriching uranium to 60 percent purity. While weapons-grade uranium is typically enriched to 90 percent, experts at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have pointed out that the jump from 60 percent to 90 percent is significantly easier than reaching 60 percent in the first place. Iran has denied pursuing nuclear weapons, claiming its uranium enrichment efforts are solely for peaceful purposes. However, enrichment at 60 percent is not required for civilian nuclear energy. Last week, the IAEA released a 22-page unclassified report on Iran's nuclear activities. While the report didn't confirm that Iran is developing a nuclear bomb, it did raise concerns about the high levels of uranium enrichment. "The Agency has no credible indications of an ongoing, undeclared structured nuclear program of the type described above in Iran and notes the statements of the highest officials in Iran that the use of nuclear weapons is incompatible with Islamic Law," the report said.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump Excludes Gabbard, Hegseth From Secret Iran Strategy Group Amid Nuclear War Fears
President Donald Trump has reportedly removed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard from high-level discussions surrounding the Iran-Israel conflict. Sources suggest Gabbard's opposition to claims that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon contributed to her exclusion. Hegseth has also been sidelined as military generals take charge of operations in the Middle East. Trump now leans on a tight inner circle, including Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, to shape Iran policy. Despite denials from officials, Gabbard's absence from key meetings and her history of challenging US intelligence assessments point to a diminished role. The White House is expected to decide within two weeks whether to support Israel's bombing campaign against Iran. The situation reveals deep divisions in Washington as nuclear fears and war rhetoric intensify.#IranIsraelCrisis #TrumpWarRoom #TulsiGabbard #PeteHegseth #MiddleEastConflict #ClusterOfPower #WhiteHouseDrama #IranNuclearCrisis #USIsraelAlliance #NationalSecurity
New York Post
14 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Israel's Netanyahu implies Jewish state can attack Fordow without US help
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly implied that his country is capable of attacking all of Iran's nuclear facilities — even the secretive Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, which is believed to be buried half a mile under a mountain. Netanyahu insisted the Jewish state 'will achieve all our objectives' despite many military experts doubting that the Jewish state has the capabilities of taking out the underground nuclear facility site. 'We will achieve all our objectives and hit all of their nuclear facilities. We have the capability to do that,' Netanyahu said when asked by a reporter about Fordow specifically. Israel has struck several Iranian nuclear sites since launching its 'Operation Rising Lion' airstrikes on the Islamic Republic, including a primary facility in Natanz, as well as ones near Tehran and Isfahan. The Israelis have also taken out over a dozen top Iranian scientists and key military brass as well. Fordow, meanwhile, has loomed large over President Trump's decision on whether or not the US should enter the Israel-Iran conflict. 5 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that his country can hit all of Iran's nuclear facilities. via REUTERS 5 Israel has bunker buster bombs, but is believed to lack the heavy-duty type that could destroy Fordow. Merrill Sherman / NY Post Design Many military analysts have said that the US is Israel's only ally with advanced bombers within range that could carry heavy bunker-buster bombs to take the secretive site out. However, there is some debate among analysts about whether the US can even successfully destroy Fordow with those high-powered bombs. The president said Thursday he would make his final decision on whether to strike Iran in the 'next two weeks,' because he's still hoping for negotiations. '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 a statement read aloud by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt Thursday. The commander in chief has faced a MAGA revolt among his base over the conflict, with prominent allies such as Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson demanding the US stay out of the rapidly escalating situation. 5 Fordow is widely seen as one of the most complicated Iranian nuclear facilities to penetrate. Merrill Sherman / NY Post Design Netanyahu said that the decision of whether the US should enter the conflict is 'entirely' up to Trump. 'He'll do what's good for the United States, and I'll do what's good for the State of Israel,' the prime minister said, adding, 'as the saying goes — every contribution is welcome.' Over the weekend, Netanyahu defended Israel's decision to attack Iran and brushed aside questions about Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's testimony earlier this year that the intelligence community has assessed that 'Iran is not building a nuclear weapon.' 'The intel we got and we shared with the United States was absolutely clear — was absolutely clear — that they were working in a secret plan to weaponize the uranium,' Netanyahu said on a special edition of Fox News' 'Special Report with Bret Baier' Sunday. 5 The Israel-Iran conflict has been rapidly escalating since Israel launched its preemptive strikes last week. IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER'S WEBSITE/AFP/POOL/AFP via Getty Images 'They were marching very quickly. They would achieve a test device and possibly an initial device within months and certainly less than a year,' he added. 'I think we have excellent intel in Iran.' Trump has since told reporters he believes Iran is close to a nuke in a rebuke of Gabbard. Gabbard later downplayed murmurs of daylight between her and Trump on that assessment. For years, Netanyahu has warned that Iran was close to finishing a nuclear weapon. Iran had been enriching uranium up to 60% purity before Israel's attack. Typically, 90% enrichment is seen as the weapons-level threshold, but scientists at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have noted that it's easier to get from 60% to 90% enrichment than it is to get to 60%. Iran has denied that it is pursuing a nuke, insisting it was only enriching uranium for peaceful means. However, 60% enrichment is not needed to achieve nuclear power for peaceful means. Last week, the IAEA disclosed a 22-page unclassified report about Iran's nuclear program that did not provide evidence that the regime was after a nuke, but raised concerns about its enrichment levels. 'The Agency has no credible indications of an ongoing, undeclared structured nuclear programme of the type described above in Iran and notes the statements of the highest officials in Iran that the use of nuclear weapons is incompatible with Islamic Law,' the report said. Skeptics have argued that Israel's attack came in the middle of US negotiations with Iran over the theocratic regime's nuclear program and have speculated that Israel is taking advantage of Tehran's weaknesses after its proxies have been battered since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
Black America Web
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Black America Web
President Trump, Tulsi Gabbard Reportedly Clash Over Iran-Related Nuclear War Tweet
President Donald Trump and the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, once appeared to be in lockstep when it came to foreign policy. However, there are rumblings in Washington that Tulsi Gabbard's recent actions on social media have angered President Trump, showing a potential fracture within the administration. Politico published a report highlighting the tensions between Gabbard and Trump that came in the wake of the rising conflict between Iran and Israel. On June 10, Gabbard took to X and shared an ominous video that displayed to viewers that the 'political elite' and 'warmongers' were recklessly at odds and suggested that Earth is 'on the brink of nuclear annihilation.' The outlet added in its report that Trump saw the video, which was not approved by the administration, and told others at the White House that she went outside the lines regarding messaging around the Iran and Israel conflict. Trump met last week with Israeli officials who sought the United States' support in its assault on Iran. It was also stated that Trump reportedly thought Gabbard was trying to steer him away from working with Israel on their recent offensive maneuvers. 'I don't think he dislikes Tulsi as a person. But certainly the video made him not super hot on her, and he doesn't like it when people are off message,' a source close to Trump told Politico . The rumors of disdain appeared somewhat true after Trump spoke to a throng of reporters aboard Air Force One. When asked about Gabbard's comments made in March that Iran was not developing a nuclear weapon, Trump made a stern statement. 'I don't care what she said,' Trump said on Tuesday (June 17). 'I think they were very close to having one.' Tulsi Gabbard spoke to reporters as well yesterday, claiming that she and President Trump were in agreement about the situation unfolding in Iran. That said, outside observers are seeing this potential split as a troublesome thing for the Trump administration. We've got reactions from X regarding the situation below. — Photo: Andrew Harnik / Getty President Trump, Tulsi Gabbard Reportedly Clash Over Iran-Related Nuclear War Tweet was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Hegseth out: Meet Trump's 'Tier One' group deciding on Iran
Nobody is discussing anything on Iran with Pete Hegseth or Tulsi Gabbard, claimed reports. As President Donald Trump weighs in on the Middle East crisis, dropping all indications that he may strike Iran, reports claimed that he is relying on a high-profile group of Cabinet picks and not those who are supposed to be advising him by the virtue of their posts: Defense secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard . Instead, Trump is leaning more on Vice President JD Vance, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. This group of four is also being called the "Tier One Group". Another crucial member is Army Gen Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, which has operational authority for the Middle East. Why Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard sidelined? 'Experience over star power' Pete Hegseth served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba but he is more of an ex-Fox star. Tulsi Gabbard is a war veteran but she has apparently upset Trump by issuing a video where she spoke against fresh conflicts and said "political elite warmongers" are carelessly fomenting fear and tensions between nuclear powers. The Washington Post reported that Trump even confronted Gabbard at a White House meeting while others were present and said: "I saw the video, and I didn't like it." In March, Gabbard testified that US intelligence agencies asserted that Iran has not started a nuclear weapons program. Trump recently shot down the remark and said he doesn't care what Tulsi Gabbard said. Trump said he thinks Iran is very close to having one nuclear program. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Click Here] - 2025 Top Trending Search - Local network access Esseps Learn More Undo Both Hegseth and Gabbard camps downplayed their diminishing importance. Gabbard said she and the president were on the same page. But Gabbard was not there when Trump held a meeting on June 8 at Camp David presidential retreat. Insiders believe Trump is prioritizing experience over star power. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell said it is not true that Hegseth had been sidelined. 'The Secretary is speaking with the President multiple times a day each day and has been with the President in the Situation Room this week,' Parnell said in a statement. 'Secretary Hegseth is providing the leadership the Department of Defense and our Armed Forces need, and he will continue to work diligently in support of President Trump 's peace through strength agenda.'
