Feed aggregator
Netanyahu: ‘Trump Administration Helping Wonderfully’
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}
White House Says Iran Able To Produce Nuclear Bomb In ‘A Couple of Weeks’
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.
{Matzav.com}
Trump To Make Final Decision ‘Within The Next Two Weeks’ On US Taking Military Action Against Iran
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}
Trump Balances Diplomacy and Strength in Iran Policy, Says Press Sec
Press Sec Warns: Iran Poised for Nuclear Weapon, Awaits Supreme Leader’s Decision
IDF Intel Chief Reveals New Details From Iran Strikes: ‘Hunt The Officials Down’
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}
Report: Direct US-Iran Talks Held Amid Israel-Iran War
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 Cannot Completely Neutralize Iranian Nuclear Threat Without U.S. Support, Says Ex-Mossad Official
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 Claims Country Never Sought Nuclear Weapons
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}U.S. Cargo Planes Deliver Arms to IDF, Boosting Israel’s War Efforts Against Iran
PIKUACH NEFESH: El Al To Fly Emergency Medical Flights This Shabbos
New Vaccine Panel to Discuss Measles Shot
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}Israeli Defense Minister Katz: Khamenei Must Be Eliminated — “He Cannot Continue to Exist”
NOW: Trump Receives Iran Briefing from National Security Council in Situation Room
Poll: Netanyahu Surges As Bennett Loses Ground
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 Reveals Iran Rejected Russia’s Joint Missile Defense Proposal
Iran Releases Video of Ballistic Missiles Launched in Latest Strikes on Israel
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito Pays Tribute in Hiroshima Ahead of 80th Anniversary
“YOU NEED A DIAPER”: Knesset Members Receive Threatening Calls from Iran: “We Will Continue Until Israel’s Destruction”
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}Pages
