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In an interview with Kan News on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu disclosed that Israel’s military offensive against Iran nearly didn’t go forward, with the mission being on the verge of cancellation at the last minute.

When asked whether Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is a potential target, Netanyahu made it clear that no one in Iran is exempt. “I instructed that no one in Iran has immunity. It is inappropriate and unnecessary to add more than that. We need to let the actions speak more than the words.”

Commenting on whether Israel is actively seeking to topple the Iranian regime, Netanyahu emphasized that neutralizing the nuclear threat remains the highest priority. “Our top goal is the removal of the nuclear threat. Second, is the removal of the threat of ballistic missiles. As that happens, it’s clear that the regime will be undermined.” While he noted that regime change is not the objective, he acknowledged it could be a consequence. “That’s the matter of the Iranian people,” he added.

Netanyahu also offered insight into the timing of the military campaign, saying Iran’s network of regional power had already crumbled. “We broke the Iranian axis. Hezbollah collapsed, Assad collapsed. All that Tehran had left was the nuclear and ballistic missile threat. We didn’t leave it for the next generations, because maybe there won’t be any.”

Reflecting on past challenges in securing backing for major operations, Netanyahu noted a shift. “In the past, I couldn’t enlist the security forces and the Mossad, to put it lightly. This time, everyone came.” He also stated that Israel did not wait for a go-ahead from Washington before acting, though he acknowledged the support of the Trump administration: “They help us wonderfully with defense. American pilots are intercepting UAVs.”

Netanyahu sharply criticized the Biden administration’s stance, contrasting it with Trump’s backing. He accused the current U.S. government of attempting to stop Israel from responding to Iran’s allied groups. According to Netanyahu, the Biden team tried to block Israeli actions against “Iranian proxies.”

Pressed about Israel’s broader war strategy and specific targets, Netanyahu declined to reveal operational details. “We’re at war, we won’t give schedules. We will achieve all the goals, we will hit all the nuclear facilities, we have the ability to do so,” he stated.

He also highlighted that Israel had taken early steps to prepare for domestic defense and commended Israeli citizens for their resilience. Netanyahu praised the public, saying they were “standing strong.”

Responding to concerns about the missile threat and reported shortages of interceptors, Netanyahu downplayed the issue. “It doesn’t matter how many missiles Iran has. We are striking launchers, I think we destroyed half of them.”

{Matzav.com}

The White House has issued a stark warning about Iran’s nuclear capabilities, stating that the country could be mere weeks away from developing a nuclear bomb. This revelation comes as President Donald Trump continues to weigh the possibility of launching a military response against the Iranian regime.

“Iran has all that it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon. All they need is a decision from the supreme leader to do that, and it would take a couple of weeks to complete the production of that weapon,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the press, underscoring the immediacy of the threat.

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President Trump announced on Thursday that he would decide within two weeks whether to authorize military action against Iran, as he remains optimistic about a potential diplomatic breakthrough.

“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,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, quoting Trump during her press briefing.

Speaking the day before, Trump mentioned that Iranian officials were expressing interest in meeting with him directly at the White House.

“If there’s a chance for diplomacy, he’s not afraid to grab it,” Leavitt said.

The proposed agreement under discussion would require Iran to completely halt its uranium enrichment activities.

{Matzav.com}

PRESS SEC: “President Trump is a peacemaker-in-chief. He is the peace-through-strength president, & so if there’s a chance for diplomacy, the President’s always going to grab it, but he’s not afraid to use strength as well.”

PRESS SEC: “Iran has all that it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon. All they need is a decision from the Supreme Leader.” “Which would, of course, pose an existential threat not just to Israel, but to the United States and to the entire world.”

During a tour of the IDF Intelligence Directorate’s Targeting Center on Wednesday, Major General Shlomie Binder, who heads the Intelligence Directorate, stated that Israel’s current military actions are effectively shifting Iran’s status from a remote strategic issue to a direct and immediate concern.

“We struck the Quds Force very hard on the first night. This includes roughly 30 commanders; the names that were published are those of the more senior ones. But we’re talking about Chiefs of Staff and Air Force Commanders,” said Binder.

He went on to describe a recent Israeli operation that zeroed in on a hidden Iranian command post nestled in a mountainous region. “Some of the commanders managed to flee to a secondary location. Twelve hours later, we succeeded in striking the Chief of Staff of Khatam al-Anbiya, who had fled to the same secondary location in another mountain ridge in Tehran,” he noted.

Binder stressed the critical nature of sustained pursuit and pressure. “We need to hunt them down wherever they flee. And you are succeeding in turning Iran, as I said earlier, from some distant place, 1,500 kilometers from here, into an army that we know how to deal with, with the sense of it being a first-circle threat.”

He closed his remarks by reinforcing the strategic imperative behind the operation. “Your ability to deliver high-value results in the coming days is integral. We need to deliver, increase the pace, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. Because this is the kind of threat that, I emphasize, the State of Israel cannot tolerate. Period. That’s the reason we launched this campaign, and that’s the reason you are working hard.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have held several phone conversations in recent days, according to a Reuters report released Thursday. These communications came in the wake of Israel’s June 13 air offensive against Iran and represent the most extensive contact between the two officials since April, three diplomats familiar with the situation told Reuters.

Speaking anonymously, the diplomats said that Araghchi made it clear that Iran would refuse to come back to the negotiating table unless Israel put a stop to its military actions. The discussions also reportedly included a brief mention of a U.S. initiative first floated in late May that proposed establishing a uranium enrichment program managed by a regional consortium outside Iran’s borders—an idea that Tehran has so far turned down.

The article states that the U.S. placed the initial call, using the opportunity to offer a revised proposal intended to break the diplomatic impasse. A regional source with ties to Iran suggested that Araghchi might be open to compromise on the nuclear issue if Washington could influence Israel to suspend its attacks.

Reuters also cited a European diplomat who said Araghchi signaled a readiness to reengage in nuclear talks, but only if the Israeli strikes came to a halt. Until this latest communication, Araghchi and Witkoff had only spoken briefly on the sidelines of five indirect negotiation sessions held since April.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s dramatic initial strike against Iran was a significant achievement in terms of military coordination and intelligence execution, but it will not be enough to entirely eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities without American involvement, said Sima Shine, a former senior Mossad official.

Shine expressed genuine admiration for the precision and synchronization displayed by both the Mossad and the IDF in launching Operation Rising Lion. She described the attack as a masterclass in planning and execution. Nevertheless, she emphasized that dismantling the entirety of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure would require active U.S. participation.

Now heading the Iran and Shiite Axis research program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), Shine had previously led the Mossad’s Research Division. She offered her insights during a briefing following the surprise Israeli campaign on June 13, which struck more than 100 military and nuclear targets across Iran.

Although Tehran has already begun its retaliation, Shine warned that much more is likely to come. “Everything in their capacity will be used,” she cautioned, urging the Israeli public to closely follow directives issued by the Home Front Command.

She said that Iran’s response might not be conventional, and could include asymmetric attacks by dormant terror networks stationed internationally—especially in Europe—something the regime has attempted before. Iran might also take steps on the diplomatic front, such as quitting the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and expelling international inspectors.

Since Israel’s opening strike, Iran has been launching daily barrages of missiles and drones, some of which have inflicted serious damage on major Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Haifa. A state of emergency has been declared, and the country’s defense systems—both civilian and military—remain in a heightened state of readiness.

Shine warned that Tehran’s vengeance may be intense enough to spark a broader regional war. She noted that attacks from the Houthis in Yemen are expected to persist despite recent mixed signals from Iran’s network of allied groups. Hezbollah, for instance, issued a rare public statement: “Hezbollah will not initiate its own attack on Israel in retaliation for Israel’s strikes.”

She pointed out that Iran’s affiliates in Iraq are in a precarious position, especially after Iraq’s Prime Minister made it clear that his government has no interest in joining the current conflict. This is a stark departure from the atmosphere last year when Iran’s so-called “ring of fire” was fully ablaze.

“Israel cannot probably take out completely the nuclear project on its own without the American participation,” she said. “If the US will not be a part of the war, I assume that Iran will have some parts of the nuclear project remain from my point of view, this is a huge point of question mark to what will happen after.”

She elaborated that several key nuclear sites in Iran are located deep underground, making them extremely difficult to destroy completely. “This does not mean that Israel will not attack it and will not damage them,” she said. “In order to make sure this program cannot be rebuilt, in the same places where it is now, there is a need for American involvement.”

On the diplomatic front, Shine noted an unusually strong consensus between Israel, the U.S., and Europe. “No question of daylight between us and the Europeans and the Americans about the evilness of the regime and the destabilizing role of Iran in the Middle East,” she remarked.

For the moment, Israel is pressing forward with momentum. But the question remains: Will Washington join the campaign directly? Shine suggests this decision will determine whether Iran’s nuclear program is merely disrupted—or fully dismantled. The real danger, she warned, lies in the possibility that the most threatening elements of the program will remain untouched.

Shine characterized Operation Rising Lion not as a singular operation, but as the opening chapter of a larger confrontation. She pointed out that the situation unfolding now deserves to be described as a full-scale war. The term “operation,” she explained, implies limited scope and duration, while this campaign was clearly designed to hit a broad set of targets over an extended period.

She expects tit-for-tat escalation going forward, noting: “Once Iran retaliates, Israel will again retaliate.”

Israel’s June 13 strikes hit Iran’s nuclear facilities, its missile and air defense systems, and command centers belonging to the IRGC and military. In the following days, the scope of the operation widened. On June 14 and 15, Israeli forces bombed Iranian oil and gas infrastructure. By the third day, strikes were hitting Tehran and surrounding regions, while diplomatic negotiations in Oman fell apart as a result of the ongoing escalation.

The attacks intensified further on June 16 and 17, with Israeli jets targeting Iran’s Foreign Ministry and the headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). The IRIB compound was struck during a live broadcast, causing massive explosions.

Shine stated that Iran’s response calculus will depend largely on two factors: how its population reacts and whether the regime’s grip on power begins to show signs of stress.

International reactions to Israel’s operation have been varied. Shine views Iran as part of a strategic axis involving Russia and China, all of whom are seeking to challenge American influence globally.

“It is no question that Iran is part of the war in Ukraine,” she said, pointing to the well-documented supply chain of drones and other weapons from Tehran to Moscow that has kept the fighting alive. She also noted that China has recently supplied missile fuel to Iran. These partnerships, she added, are rooted in shared interests—but those interests are not necessarily identical. “These states have mutual interest but not all their interests are mutual.”

Initially, the U.S. distanced itself from the June 13 strikes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made clear: “Israel acted independently… we’re not involved.”

According to Shine, that statement was a deliberate move to shield American assets in the region from potential retaliation. “It was important for the US to make a statement distancing themselves to try to ensure that Iranians do not touch US interests in the region.”

Still, on June 17, Trump made headlines when he called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”

In Shine’s view, even though Israel showcased exceptional operational prowess on the first day of strikes, eliminating Iran’s nuclear project in its entirety is beyond its solo capabilities. For that, U.S. cooperation is not just helpful. It’s essential.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi defended his country’s recent actions, describing them as acts of self-defense while reiterating Tehran’s dedication to diplomacy in a statement posted to X/Twitter.

“Even in the face of the most outrageous aggression against our people, Iran has so far only retaliated against the Israeli regime and not those who are aiding and abetting it,” Araghchi wrote on Thursday.

He directed sharp criticism at Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, accusing him of deliberately igniting conflict in order to derail any chance for diplomacy. Araghchi warned that the international community should take seriously “increasing attempts by the failing Israeli regime to get others to bail it out and to expand the flames to the region and beyond.”

Araghchi also insisted that Iran has no interest in developing nuclear weapons, but emphasized that the nation would not hesitate to defend itself. “Iran will continue to exercise its right to self-defense, with pride and bravery, and we will make the aggressor regret and pay for its grave error,” he wrote.

He closed his message with a reaffirmation of Iran’s diplomatic stance: “As before, we are serious and forward-looking in our outlook.”

According to a report published Wednesday by the New York Times, a high-ranking Iranian Foreign Ministry official revealed that Iran is preparing for a potential meeting with US President Donald Trump. The official stated that Abbas Araghchi would likely agree to sit down to discuss a possible ceasefire with Israel, though Trump reportedly wants any discussions to center around Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

{Matzav.com}

Several cargo planes carrying armaments and military equipment for the IDF landed in Israel today, the Defense Ministry says. The ministry says the delivery is “part of efforts to strengthen operational continuity and support all the IDF’s needs, both for achieving the goals of the war and for improving readiness and stockpiles.” Since the start of Israel’s operation against Iran, 14 cargo planes with equipment for the IDF have landed in Israel, the ministry says, joining 800 others that have arrived since the beginning of the war. The vast majority of the planes have come from the US.

In response to numerous life-threatening situations and at the request of medical professionals, El Al airline has been authorized to operate special emergency medical flights during the upcoming Shabbos. These flights will be classified as “life-saving medical emergency flights.” After receiving approval from Israel’s Chief Rabbis, it was decided that the flights will depart to Israel from Larnaca and Athens. The list of passengers includes El Al travelers and others in urgent need of reaching Israel, all of whom have been approved by a senior specialist who oversees leading medical centers in Israel. The cases were deemed to involve life-saving situations or a threat to life. This measure has been officially approved by Israel’s Chief Rabbis. Due to the exceptional circumstances, each case is carefully reviewed and authorized as a matter of life preservation by the company’s rabbi. The flights will be free of charge for all approved passengers. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A newly formed group of vaccine advisors, appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is set to evaluate several immunization policies in an upcoming session, including a vote on flu vaccines that use thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative. They will also consider guidance related to the measles vaccine.

The panel, which provides recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will meet on June 25 and 26. According to a preliminary schedule published on the CDC’s website, members will also vote on eligibility guidelines for receiving vaccines targeting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza.

One key topic for the meeting includes a discussion on whether the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine should be administered to children under the age of five.

As of now, the agenda does not list specific individuals who will be speaking about either MMRV or thimerosal during the proceedings.

The CDC notes that thimerosal has been used in the United States for decades, particularly in multi-dose vials of vaccines and other medications.

{Matzav.com}

In his most forceful statement to date, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Thursday openly called for the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declaring that the man behind Tehran’s military machine “cannot continue to exist” in the wake of Iran’s brazen missile strike on Israel on Thursday morning that left the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva and homes near Tel Aviv in ruins. Standing amid the wreckage of residential buildings in Holon, Katz unleashed a fiery warning: “Khamenei is the one personally giving the orders to fire on hospitals and civilians. This is not collateral damage — this is doctrine. A man like that — under any standard of morality or security — cannot continue to exist.” While the defense minister stopped short of explicitly calling for regime change in Tehran, his rhetoric marked a dramatic escalation in Israel’s war posture. Katz went even further, comparing Khamenei to Adolf Hitler. “If we had the ability during the Holocaust to send the IDF to eliminate Hitler, we would have done so. Khamenei is today’s Hitler. He must be stopped.” The statement came amid swirling reports that Israel had considered assassinating Khamenei during its initial wave of airstrikes last week, only to be blocked by U.S. President Donald Trump — a claim Israeli officials have denied. Still, the speculation has added a combustible layer to the already volatile situation. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, in contrast, chose more measured language during a visit to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva. Asked directly about Khamenei’s fate, Netanyahu refused to echo Katz but made clear that “no one is immune.” He added, “All options are open,” though cautioned that “during a war, words must be chosen with care, and actions with precision.” The prime minister also appeared to rebuke Katz’s public threats, saying, “It’s best not to speak about these matters in the press. I expect that from my ministers as well.” Netanyahu was similarly careful when asked about American involvement in the conflict. “That’s a decision for President Trump,” he said. “He will do what’s best for America, and I will do what’s best for Israel.” While Trump recently threatened Khamenei himself, he clarified there were “no plans to kill him — at least not for now.” As the war intensifies, Israeli leaders continue to walk a tightrope between operational secrecy and political messaging. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, speaking from Beersheva, said that regime change in Tehran is not currently a stated objective. But he made clear the campaign would press forward “until the mission is complete.” “This,” he said, gesturing toward the shattered remains of civilian buildings behind him, “is a war crime. Iran is deliberately targeting our population — children, families, the elderly. We will not tolerate it.” The Iranian regime has denied intentionally targeting civilians, though international observers remain unconvinced. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin weighed in from an economic forum in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, warning Israel against any move to eliminate Khamenei. “I don’t even want to discuss it,” Putin said grimly, adding that Russia’s partnership with Tehran does not currently include military support. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

NOW: President Trump is being briefed on Iran by his National Security Council inside the Situation Room.

In a dramatic shift amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, a new Channel 13 News poll released on Wednesday showed Likud reclaiming its spot as the most popular party in Israel.

The poll indicated that if elections were held today, Likud would capture 27 Knesset seats. A hypothetical party led by Naftali Bennett would come in second with 24 seats. Yisrael Beytenu and the Democrats were both projected to receive 11 seats each, followed by Shas with 10, Yesh Atid, National Unity, and United Torah Judaism each with 7, Otzma Yehudit and Hadash-Ta’al with 6 apiece, and Ra’am bringing up the rear with 4 seats.

In this particular survey, the Religious Zionist Party did not meet the minimum electoral threshold required to enter the Knesset.

The poll also revealed widespread support for the war effort, with 75% of Israelis backing military action against Iran. Just 17% expressed opposition to the war, while another 8% said they were still unsure.

Participants were also asked about what they believed was driving Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s decision-making. A majority—64%—said they thought the campaign was motivated primarily by a sincere intention to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities. In contrast, 28% felt that political motives were behind the move.

{Matzav.com}

Putin says he proposed joint missile defense projects to Iran, but they turned down the offer.

Iran has released video showing ballistic missiles launching to attack Israel in its most recent series of strikes.

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito paid respects to atomic bombing victims in Hiroshima as the city marks the 80th anniversary of the tragedy later this year. Naruhito, accompanied by his wife, Empress Masako, bowed deeply at the cenotaph for the atomic bombing victims and offered bouquets of white flowers. The atomic bomb dropped by the United States on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroyed the city, killing 140,000 people. A second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000 more. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II and its nearly half-century aggression in Asia. Naruhito has repeatedly stressed the importance to remember and keep telling the tragedy of the war to younger generations. Naruhito and Masako were also to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to observe exhibits, including those featuring Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots organization awarded last year’s Nobel Peace Prize. The couple were to meet atomic bombing survivors, or hibakusha, and those born after the war and trained to tell the stories on behalf of those who can no longer do so. Naruhito is making his third trip to mourn the war dead this year. In April, the couple visited Iwo Jima to pay tribute to about 20,000 Japanese and nearly 7,000 U.S. Marines killed in the Battle of Iwo Jima, fought from Feb. 19 to March 26, 1945. Earlier this month, Naruhito also visited Okinawa to mourn about 188,000 Japanese, half of them Okinawan civilians, and about 12,000 Americans, killed in the Battle of Okinawa. Naruhito accompanied his daughter, Princess Aiko, underscoring his wish that she would learn the hardships of the Okinawan people and share their stories with younger generations. (AP)

As the war with Iran continues, several Israeli Knesset members received threatening phone calls in recent days from individuals identifying themselves as Iranian. According to a report by Channel 12 News on Wednesday, lawmakers from both right-wing parties and coalition factions were targeted with disturbing messages of intimidation and mockery.

The report, by journalist Dafna Liel, revealed that one of the calls was received by an aide to MK Sheli Tal Meron of the Yesh Atid party. The caller, speaking in Hebrew with a heavy Persian accent, made direct threats.

“I’m calling you from Iran. Are you scared or not?” the caller asked. “Why aren’t you answering? Today you need to wait for our missiles.”

The caller went on to say: “Run to the shelter. We will continue this war until the destruction of Israel. We will take revenge on you, okay? I think you need a diaper. Understand? A diaper.” He then broke into laughter.

The aide asked for the caller’s name and identity, to which the caller replied, “It doesn’t matter. Whenever you go to the shelter, okay?”

When the aide told the caller that his phone number was being traced and encouraged him to keep talking, the caller retorted, “I’m not afraid,” and accused the Israelis of being cowards. The aide calmly responded, “Very well.”

In response to the incident, MK Sheli Tal Meron issued a statement: “I thank the Knesset’s security officer and the head of Knesset cyber defense for their devoted handling of the matter. Even such calls will not deter or frighten us. I express my full support and appreciation to the IDF, our security forces, and the State of Israel in this just and determined war against the head of the snake—the dictatorial Iranian regime. Am Yisrael Chai.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rahm Emanuel, who once served as White House chief of staff and later as mayor of Chicago, said Wednesday that he is weighing a presidential bid for 2028 on the Democratic ticket, citing a lack of strong contenders in the current party landscape.

In an interview with Crain’s Chicago Business, Emanuel stated: “’Of course’ it’s fair to say he’s considering running for president, declared Rahm Emanuel, hands for the moment neither waving nor pointing but resting on the table. ‘I’m looking at the (Democratic) field and, most importantly, what I have to contribute.’”

Emanuel gained national prominence for orchestrating the Democratic Party’s strategic victories in the 2006 midterm elections, promoting centrist candidates in competitive districts to attract disillusioned Republican voters, particularly those upset over the Iraq War.

During his time as chief of staff to President Obama, Emanuel was instrumental in launching the administration’s aggressive progressive initiatives—even as many Americans were more concerned about the economic downturn. He summed up the administration’s philosophy in a now-famous quote to the Wall Street Journal: “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.”

Still, Emanuel expressed reservations about the administration’s push for sweeping health care reform. He advised a more measured path, but his suggestions were dismissed. Obamacare ultimately passed, triggering political backlash that fueled the emergence of the Tea Party and cost Democrats control of the House in 2010.

Before the fallout from that political wave, Emanuel exited the White House and campaigned for the mayorship of Chicago. His time in office was contentious, marked by disputes with the teachers’ unions and rising tensions with the early Black Lives Matter movement. His abrasive style and sharp tongue earned him a reputation for being difficult to work with, limiting his ability to form lasting alliances.

In recent years, Emanuel has sought to rebrand himself as a centrist voice within a Democratic Party that continues to lean left, even as it faces electoral setbacks.

After a stint as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Emanuel is once again seeking opportunity amid political disarray—this time, stepping into what he sees as a leadership void within the Democratic field.

He is the first figure to openly express interest in entering the 2028 race. His background suggests he could tap into significant fundraising networks, particularly from Wall Street, due in part to his past role on the board of Freddie Mac before the financial collapse. However, his past political baggage and the party’s current ideological climate could present steep obstacles. Emanuel may find himself out of step with a base that has shifted dramatically in recent years.

{Matzav.com}