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Trump hails ‘monumental’ damage as experts await verdict on Iran’s nuclear program

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As the dust still settles following the U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear sites, analysts say the next steps will determine whether the Islamic Republic’s atomic ambitions have truly been crippled. 

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Commenting on the mission, President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that: «The damage to the Nuclear sites in Iran is said to be «monumental.» The hits were hard and accurate. Great skill was shown by our military. Thank you!»

Also on Sunday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine told reporters, «Final battle damage will take some time, but initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction.» He added it was far too early to comment «on what may or may not still be there.»

A senior Israeli security source told Fox News Digital, «It’s still too soon to know for sure, but it appears the sites were seriously damaged — it looks excellent.»

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HERE’S WHAT A POST-AYATOLLAH IRAN COULD LOOK LIKE IF WAR WITH ISRAEL LEADS TO REGIME’S FALL

U.S. strikes three sites in Iran (Fox News)

«History is being written,» said Reserve Brig. Gen. Yossi Kuperwasser, head of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and a former IDF intelligence chief. «This is a powerful development that significantly weakens the Iranian threat and highlights the deep cooperation between Israel and the United States. But the journey is far from over.»

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According to Kuperwasser, the strikes caused heavy damage to core parts of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. «But I don’t think the program is destroyed,» he told Fox News Digital. «They still have enriched uranium, the ability to produce centrifuges, and scientists. We killed many, but not all. And even the bombed facilities — we don’t know for sure that nothing remains.»

Kuperwasser emphasized that while Tehran may retain some nuclear assets, a key strategic threshold has now been crossed. «Until now, everything was covert: sabotage, diplomacy, sanctions. But now, military action has proven far more effective. If Iran tries to restart its program, they know we — and the Americans — are prepared to strike again.»

Sima Shein, a former senior Mossad official and Iran expert at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), agreed that Iran’s capabilities have been degraded, but not eliminated.

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A map shows the targets hit by American B2 stealth bombers during Operation Midnight Hammer.

A map shows the targets hit by American B2 stealth bombers during Operation Midnight Hammer. (Fox News)

«There’s no doubt these were the three most important sites,» Shein told Fox News Digital, referring to the U.S. strike Saturday night that hit Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, but claimed «Iran has dispersed its enriched uranium — both 60% and 20% — across various unknown locations. They’ve likely hidden advanced centrifuges as well, because production oversight hasn’t existed for years.»

She added that if a future diplomatic agreement is reached, the first condition must be «full disclosure and removal» of all remaining fissile material.

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EXPERT CONFIDENT IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM IS ‘NO LONGER’ AFTER MASSIVE US STRIKE

Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told Fox News Digital that all remaining Iranian nuclear facilities must be completely dismantled and referred to FDD expert’s plan, which outlined a strategy for the permanent dismantlement of Tehran’s nuclear weapons enterprise. 

The report calls for the destruction of all enrichment sites, the removal or seizure of enriched uranium, the dismantling of advanced centrifuges, and a permanent halt to weaponization efforts. It also demands unrestricted inspections, irreversible disarmament, and strict enforcement through snapback sanctions. FDD argues that anything less would leave Iran capable of rebuilding its nuclear program.

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Map showing Iran's primary nuclear facilities

A map shows where Iran’s most important nuclear facilities are situated. (Fox News/FDD)

Amos Yadlin, a former head of Israeli military intelligence and president of the Mind Israel think tank, called the American strike a «game-changer.»

«Trump’s doctrine of ‘peace through strength’ is in action,» Yadlin said. «Geopolitically, this changes the entire war — and sends a message to China, Russia, and others.»

But Yadlin also believes Iran’s nuclear capabilities haven’t been wiped out completely. «There are two possible Iranian responses: retaliation and changing nuclear policy. Retaliation may come via terror attacks in the Gulf, or pressure through proxies like Hezbollah or the Houthis. But I think the more likely shift is in nuclear posture — perhaps withdrawing from the NPT.»

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«They’re in a dilemma,» Shein told Fox News Digital. «They don’t want to drag the U.S. further into military conflict, and they can’t risk harming ties with Gulf neighbors. A military retaliation — like closing the Strait of Hormuz — would invite overwhelming force. Expelling inspectors or quitting the NPT [Non-Proliferation Treaty] may be their next moves.»

The Fordo nuclear site in Iran.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows damage at the Fordow enrichment facility in Iran after U.S. strikes, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Maxar Technologies via AP) (Maxar Technologies via AP)

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Kuperwasser added that military pressure alone may not bring lasting resolution — unless paired with either a diplomatic agreement with intrusive inspections, or a credible threat of continued strikes.

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«If there’s an agreement, it must be based on verification — not trust,» he said. «Anywhere, anytime inspections. But if they refuse, we can continue striking any new facility they build.»

As Israel and the U.S. prepare for potential cycles of response and counter-response, Kuperwasser believes the Israeli public is ready.

«These are historic times,» he said. «We understand the sacrifice — and we’re ready to see it through.»

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Democrats demanding ICE reforms lose airport escorts in shutdown they triggered

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The Trump administration is escalating pressure on Senate Democrats as negotiations to end the partial government shutdown remain at a standstill.

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The partial government shutdown, which is only affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), entered its second week on Monday. So far, the impacts of the shutdown have been minimal, but the pain could be coming soon as the agency activates «emergency measures» while the shutdown drags on.

DHS announced over the weekend it would be making tweaks to some Transportation Security Administration (TSA) functions that could lead to longer wait times for passengers and lawmakers alike.

The Department of Homeland Security enacted emergency measures over the weekend, tweaking some TSA functions as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Democrats remained dug in on their positions. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images; Robert Alexander/Getty Images)

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«Shutdowns have real-world consequences, not just for the men and women of DHS and their families who go without a paycheck, but it endangers our national security,» DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. «The American people depend on this department every day, and we are making tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions to mitigate the damage inflicted by these politicians.»

The agency announced that, for now, TSA PreCheck would stay operational after a back-and-forth over whether to continue the program during the shutdown. The program is used by more than 20 million people to speed up wait times at airports across the country, according to the agency. However, courtesy escorts for members of Congress have been suspended.

«At this time, TSA PreCheck remains operational with no change for the traveling public,» a spokesperson for the agency told Fox News Digital. «As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis and adjust operations accordingly.»

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DHS SHUTDOWN EXPLAINED: WHO WORKS WITHOUT PAY, WHAT HAPPENS TO AIRPORTS AND DISASTER RESPONSE

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the agency would begin emergency measures over the weekend as the government shutdown dragged into its second week. (Ash Ponders/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Much of the real pain that could come from a prolonged shutdown will have to do with TSA agents missing paychecks. That became a major factor during the historic 43-day shutdown last fall that saw wait times skyrocket and flight cancellations compound by the day.

Some Republicans believe it will take that kind of disruption to get Democrats to reverse course on their current position.

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«Nothing’s going to happen here until flights get shut down, right? When TSA workers stop showing up,» Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital. «When the Democrats, you know, can’t fly, then they’ll give in. I mean, they don’t care, because they’re being paid.»

Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the White House are gridlocked in their ongoing back-and-forth over a compromise to fund the agency.

DEMOCRATS RISK FEMA DISASTER FUNDING COLLAPSE AS DHS SHUTDOWN HITS DAY 5

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Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said Senate Democrats wouldn’t take the shutdown seriously until flight delays and cancellations started to stack up. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)

Schumer and his caucus want more stringent reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following deadly shootings in Minnesota amid immigration operations. The White House has so far been willing to entertain some of the changes they’ve proposed, but Republicans have drawn red lines on imposing judicial warrant requirements and unmasking agents, among other provisions.

That means a bulk of the agency is going without funding as both sides continue to butt heads, given that ICE and some immigration enforcement functions are flush with funding from the «big, beautiful bill.»

The tweaks to TSA are not the only steps DHS has taken to implement emergency measures during the shutdown.

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Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has halted Global Entry at airports and diverted agents to instead help process travelers.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has also stopped all public assistance for ongoing disasters, paused non-emergency work, halted non-disaster-related activities and restricted personnel travel to activities «strictly necessary to respond to active disasters and life-safety emergencies,» according to the agency.

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‘El Mencho’ tracked to secret rendezvous with romantic partner before deadly raid

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Mexico’s most-wanted fentanyl kingpin, «El Mencho,» was captured and killed Sunday after authorities tracked his romantic partner to a secret rendezvous location over the weekend, Mexican officials revealed Monday.

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The operation reportedly began Feb. 20, targeting Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as «El Mencho.» He carried a $15 million U.S. bounty and rose to power following the arrest of Joaquín «El Chapo» Guzmán, the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla Trejo said during a news conference that military intelligence identified and located a trusted courier or guard connected to one of Oseguera Cervantes’s romantic partners.

The associate then transported the partner to a designated cabin for an overnight meeting with «El Mencho.»

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A mughsot of Ruben «Nemesio» Oseguera Cervantes, known as «El Mencho,» beside graffiti depicting the letters of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, covering the facade of an abandoned home in El Limoncito, in the Michoacan state of Mexico. (Eduardo Verdugo/AP Images; Drug Enforcement Administration)

«On February 20, through central military intelligence work, a man of trust of one of El Mencho’s romantic partners was located, who took her to a facility in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco,» Trevilla Trejo said.  

The following day, the partner left the property, but intelligence confirmed that Oseguera Cervantes remained behind with a small security detail, prompting authorities, including Army Special Forces and the National Guard’s Immediate Reaction Force, to carry out the operation.

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Security forces reportedly raided the private property after aerial surveillance spotted Oseguera Cervantes’ inner circle openly carrying illegal high-caliber weapons, including rocket launchers and long guns.

Newspaper highlights Mexico-U.S. collaboration in killing of Nemesio Oseguera, known as ‘El Mencho

A worker sorts freshly printed copies of the newspaper PM bearing the headline «U.S. mapped ‘El Mencho’ and Mexico delivered the final blow, Caught between two fires,» following the killing of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as ‘El Mencho,’ in a military operation, Sunday, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico,.  (Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters)

During the confrontation, Oseguera Cervantes’ security detail reportedly fired «very violently» on military personnel, triggering Special Forces to engage the attackers. Officials said eight criminals were killed in the initial phase — correcting earlier reports of four — and two military personnel were also wounded.

CARTELS OUTGUN POLICE: ROCKET LAUNCHERS SEIZED IN EL MENCHO RAID SPOTLIGHT CJNG FIREPOWER

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Smoke billows, following a military operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," was killed, in Puerto Vallarta

Smoke billows from burning vehicles amid a wave of violence, with torched vehicles and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states, following a military operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as «El Mencho,» was killed, Sundya, in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. (@morelifediares via Instagram/YouTube/via Reuters)

Amid the chaos at the cabins, Oseguera Cervantes and his «close circle» fled into a nearby wooded area, officials said. After soldiers located them «hidden among the brush,» cartel suspects allegedly opened fire on the troops. Military personnel then wounded «El Mencho» and two of his escorts in the shootout, according to Trevilla Trejo.

Military medics determined that Oseguera Cervantes and his two escorts were in critical condition and required immediate evacuation by helicopter. Oseguera Cervantes and his two escorts ultimately died during transport, officials said.

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Authorities noted that 2,500 reinforcements were sent to join the 7,000 already in the state to prevent further violence in the cartel’s retaliation.

Oseguera Cervantes’ capture and subsequent death marks one of Mexico’s most significant blows to drug trafficking and organized crime since President Donald Trump called for intensified crackdowns on cartel violence.

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Liberaron bajo fianza al ex embajador británico en EEUU, Peter Mandelson: permanecerá bajo investigación por conducta indebida

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La policía de Londres liberó bajo fianza al ex embajador en Estados Unidos, Peter Mandelson en la madrugada de este martes, en el marco de una investigación sobre sus vínculos con el financista estadounidense Jeffrey Epstein.

El documento oficial informó que Peter Mandelson permanece bajo fianza “y pendiente de posteriores investigaciones”, sin proporcionar detalles adicionales “para no prejuzgar la integridad de esa investigación”.

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El arresto de Mandelson, de 72 años, ocurrió días después de la detención del ex príncipe Andrés, ambos implicados en indagaciones sobre conducta indebida en un cargo público relacionadas con documentos recientemente divulgados sobre Epstein.

Mandelson, figura clave en la política británica y ex enviado del Reino Unido a Washington, fue arrestado alrededor de las 17:00 (hora local) del lunes bajo sospecha de mala conducta en un cargo público.

“Un hombre de 72 años arrestado bajo sospecha de mala conducta en un cargo público ha sido puesto en libertad bajo fianza en espera de una mayor investigación”, informó el lunes la policía metropolitana en un comunicado emitido aproximadamente nueve horas después del traslado de Mandelson a una comisaría de Londres.

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Peter Mandelson, ex embajador británico en los EE. UU., asiste a una entrevista (REUTERS)

Imágenes difundidas por la televisión británica mostraron a Mandelson acompañado por un hombre y una mujer al salir de su residencia en el norte de Londres, después de que la policía allanara sus propiedades a principios de mes.

El arresto se produjo pocos días después de la detención de Andrés Mountbatten-Windsor, hermano menor del rey Carlos III, quien fue liberado bajo investigación en una causa separada por mala conducta en un cargo público, también relacionada con los nuevos documentos sobre Epstein.

Mandelson está siendo investigado por presuntamente haber enviado documentos confidenciales a Epstein durante su gestión como ministro del gobierno, incluso en el contexto de la crisis financiera de 2008. Hasta el momento, la policía no detalló cuáles documentos forman parte de la investigación.

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En septiembre pasado, el primer ministro Keir Starmer removió a Mandelson de su puesto como enviado a Washington, luego de la publicación de documentos que documentaban el alcance de su relación con Epstein. El nombramiento desató una crisis política en Downing Street, provocando la renuncia de dos asesores principales de Starmer.

El primer ministro pidió disculpas a las víctimas de Epstein por la designación de Mandelson y acusó al ex enviado de falsear la información sobre su relación con el financista durante el proceso de selección. “Defenderemos la integridad de la vida pública y haremos todo lo que esté a nuestro alcance y en interés de la justicia para garantizar que se haga efectiva la rendición de cuentas”, expresó Starmer.

El ex embajador británico en
El ex embajador británico en Estados Unidos, Peter Mandelson, fue liberado bajo fianza (Carl Court/REUTERS

La Comisión de Inteligencia y Seguridad del Parlamento revisa actualmente los documentos vinculados al nombramiento de Peter Mandelson, aunque los archivos completos permanecen sin publicar a solicitud de la policía para no interferir con la investigación en curso.

El pasado 8 de febrero, la policía metropolitana informó que agentes del equipo de delitos especializados ejecutaron órdenes de allanamiento en dos direcciones del área de Londres: una en Wiltshire y otra en Camden. Las autoridades señalaron que estos operativos forman parte de la investigación en curso contra Peter Mandelson.

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La investigación también examina la posible revelación de hechos sensibles relacionados con el rescate financiero de 500.000 millones de euros que la Eurozona evaluaba en 2010. Durante ese periodo, Peter Mandelson se desempeñaba como ministro en el gobierno encabezado por el ex primer ministro británico Gordon Brown.

El Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos difundió el 30 de enero más de tres millones de archivos vinculados al caso Epstein. Entre los documentos figuran tres pagos a Peter Mandelson de 25.000 dólares cada uno, enviados entre 2003 y 2004 desde cuentas bancarias del multimillonario.

(Con información de AFP)

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