Trump officials floated $30bn nuclear energy plan to lure Iran to talks - CNN

Iran’s army said Thursday it shot down 17 Israeli drones during the recent conflict, targeting them in the country’s western region.

The commander of the western regional base of Iran’s ground forces said the military’s air defense units had intercepted and destroyed “17 advanced Hermes and Heron drones” operated by Israel.

100%

There was no indication that Iran moved enriched uranium from any of the three nuclear sites targeted by the United States in its June 21 strike, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday.

“We were watching closely and there was no indication to the United States that any of that enriched uranium was moved prior to the strike,” Leavitt said during a briefing.

Asked to confirm the material remained in place at all sites, she replied, “Correct.”

Leavitt also criticized selective leaks to the media of what she described as “low-confidence, preliminary intelligence,” calling them illegal and misleading. “Only tidbits of that assessment were leaked to CNN,” she said. “We have seen this playbook run before.”

She added that the FBI was investigating the source of the leak.

On reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hoped to visit Washington, Leavitt confirmed his interest but said no date had been set. “The President is obviously very open to that,” she said.

100%

Israel’s military campaign against Iran had created a window of opportunity to expand its normalization agreements, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday, just hours after reports of a new US-Israeli plan to end the Gaza war within two weeks.

“We fought valiantly against Iran – and achieved a great victory,” Netanyahu said in a video message.

“This victory opens up an opportunity for a dramatic expansion of the peace agreements. We are working hard on this.”

“Along with the release of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas,” he added, “there is a window of opportunity here that must not be missed. Not even a single day can be wasted.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House in the coming weeks to celebrate their countries’ joint bombing of Iran’s nuclear program, Axios reported Thursday citing three Israeli officials.

Despite prior strains, Netanyahu and Trump now appear “closer than ever,” Axios wrote, presenting the attack as a shared triumph for their nations and political legacies.

100%

President Masoud Pezeshkian appeared at rallies and toured ministries despite multiple drones being assigned to target him during the peak of recent assassinations, his top media aide said Thursday.

“Pezeshkian personally made waves, appearing at rallies and touring ministries even when drones had been assigned to target every key figure, including several aimed directly at the president,” said Elyas Hazrati, head of the presidential media council.

Hazrati rejected that Iran sought a ceasefire with Israel.

“We didn’t ask for a truce. We only said that as long as Israel keeps attacking, we will respond decisively,” he said.

“Stopping the war doesn’t mean the enemy has stopped trying,” Hazrati added. “It continues with assassinations, psychological warfare, and sabotage.”

100%