He said few people seem to understand that one of the three sites that was hit, Isfahan, housed a “conversion facility.” Such a facility is needed at both the beginning and end of the uranium-enrichment process essential to nuclear bomb-making. That above-ground site, which he said was the only facility in Iran that they knew of that could do that, was “completely destroyed,” he said, preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
“They have no conversion opportunity and that means they cannot weaponize, even if they’ve enriched to 90 percent,” he said.
Witkoff also said that the underground facility at Fordow was hit with 12 “bunker-buster” bombs, so “there’s no doubt that it was obliterated,” and the below-ground nuclear reactor at Natanz was “eviscerated.” The above ground one in Nantanz was destroyed by the Israelis, but he said that the United States dropped a bomb on it just to be sure.
He told Ingraham that he read “all” the damage reports from the U.S. government as well as other governments and emphasized that it was “completely preposterous” to suggest that the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites were unsuccessful.
He also said that any leak of highly classified intelligence information, which mainstream outlets reported they obtained, is “treasonous.”
After trading fire for about 12 days, Iran and Israel have agreed to wind down a conflict that set the Middle East on edge.
The conflict began amid an impasse over Iran’s nuclear program. U.S. President Donald Trump had pressed Iran to agree to abandon its nuclear programs. While Iran has insisted it’s not pursuing nuclear weapons, Iranian negotiators had signaled reluctance to give up Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities.
In the early morning hours on June 13, Israeli warplanes launched a surprise attack aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear program and offensive military capabilities. Following the attack, Iranian representatives pulled out of talks set for June 14 with U.S. counterparts in Oman.
Iran also retaliated for the Israeli strike with barrages of explosive drones and ballistic missiles, several of which managed to slip through Israel’s air defense networks, causing death, injuries, and damage throughout Israel.
As the conflict grew, the U.S. military diverted the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East and set its troops on heightened alert.
Before the fighting came to a close, Trump ordered an around-the-world stealth bomber strike targeting three Iranian nuclear sites. The primary target of this U.S. bombing mission was the Fordow uranium enrichment facility, situated hundreds of feet underground, mostly out of reach of the weapons Israel’s Air Force possesses. The Trump administration has touted the strikes on the three Iranian nuclear facilities as a huge success, though the full extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear program is not entirely clear.
Following what he cast as a “weak” and largely theatrical Iranian retaliatory missile barrage targeting a U.S. base in Qatar, Trump announced that both Iran and Israel had agreed to a cease-fire to end the conflict.
“I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR,’” Trump wrote in a June 23 Truth Social post laying out the cease-fire plan.
Reflecting on the course of the conflict in an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier later that evening, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the short-lived conflict marked an opportunity to change the course of diplomacy in the Middle East.
“I actually think, when we look back, we will say the 12-Day War was an important reset moment for the entire region,” Vance said.
June 13
- In the early hours of June 13, Israeli warplanes conduct a surprise attack across Iran, targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities, multiple top Iranian military officials, and leading nuclear scientists.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming that Iran was drawing closer to a nuclear weapon, says the attacks “struck at the heart” of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.
- In a post on social media, U.S. President Donald Trump says he had given Iran a 60-day window to make a deal to constrain its nuclear program, and says Israel’s strikes were conducted on the 61st day. Trump urges Iran to seek a deal limiting its nuclear program.
- In the waning hours of June 13, Iranian forces begin a retaliatory strike, launching salvos of missiles and explosive drones toward Israel.
June 14
- Iranian representatives back out of June 14 talks with U.S. representatives in Oman. The talks had been scheduled before the June 13 Israeli surprise attack.
- Israeli and Iranian forces continue to launch strikes at each other.
June 15
- Trump posts on social media that there will soon be peace between Israel and Iran and says there are “many calls and meetings now taking place.”
June 16
- Iranian missiles hit four areas in Israel.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says if Trump genuinely wants an end to the war, he needs to rein in Israel.
- Israeli aircraft strike a studio operated by Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting network, claiming it was being used for military purposes.
- Leaders of the G7—the United States, the UK, Japan, France, Italy, Germany, and Canada—hold a summit in Canada. They issue a joint statement affirming support for Israel, calling Iran “the principal source of regional instability and terror,” and declaring that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.
- Trump departs the summit early to return to Washington as the Israel–Iran conflict rages on. On board Air Force One on the return flight, Trump says, “I’m not looking for a cease-fire. We’re looking at better than a cease-fire.”
June 17
- Israeli forces issue an evacuation order for Area 3 of the Iranian capital of Tehran, where an estimated 330,000 people live.
- Trump posts in all caps on social media, “Unconditional surrender!”
June 18
- The U.S. Embassy in Israel announces it will be closed from June 18 to 20.
- U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announces efforts are underway to evacuate U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents in Israel.
June 19
- An Iranian missile damages the Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, Israel, injuring 240 people.
- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issues a threat to Iranian leader Ali Khamenei after the hospital strike, saying, “This man absolutely should not continue to exist.”
- The White House announces Trump will decide within the next two weeks whether the United States should join the conflict between Israel and Iran.
June 20
- Israeli forces say they carried out strikes on dozens of Iranian military targets.
- The British, French, and German foreign ministers, along with the European Union’s foreign policy chief, hold talks with Iran’s foreign minister to find ways to resolve the conflict. The Iranian foreign minister states, “As long as the aggression and attacks continue, there is simply no room for talk of dialogue or diplomacy.”
June 21
- Just after midnight ET: U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit bombers depart Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, heading east across the Atlantic.
- 5 p.m. ET: B-2 bombers enter the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, while U.S. warships begin launching Tomahawk cruise missiles at Iran’s Isfahan nuclear facility.
- 6 p.m. ET: U.S. fighter jets flying ahead of B-2 bombers begin striking Iranian air defense systems along the route to the Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities.
- Between 6:40 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET: B-2 bombers drop bunker-buster bombs on Fordow and Natanz.
- 7:05 p.m. ET: The last U.S. Tomahawk missiles fall on Iran’s Isfahan nuclear facility.
- 7:30 p.m. ET: B-2 bomber crews exit Iranian airspace.
- 7:50 p.m. ET: Trump announces the U.S. strike on Iran.
June 22
- Briefing the press, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the goal of the operation was not regime change in Iran and was “intentionally limited.”
- Trump announces the B-2 bombers have all returned back to the Whiteman base, nearly two days after they departed.
- Trump publishes a social media post stating: “It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change’, but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!”
- Iran’s Supreme National Security Council begins deliberations on whether or not to close the Strait of Hormuz following the U.S. strikes.
- In an interview with Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says it would be “economic suicide” for Iran to block the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio calls on China to help sway Iran against such a move.
June 23
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt again warns Iran against closing the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran launches a missile barrage at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Airspaces close around Qatar, Bahrain, and United Arab Emirates.
- U.S. forces report they successfully intercepted the Iranian missiles. Trump reports that of the 14 missiles fired by Iran, U.S. forces “knocked down” 13 and “set free” another that was heading in a nonthreatening direction. Qatar’s government reports that 19 missiles were fired, with only one striking a military base, without causing casualties.
- Trump announces that Iran gave advanced notice of the attack, and no U.S. personnel or Qataris were harmed.
- At 6 p.m. ET, Trump says Israel and Iran have agreed to a cease-fire, which will be phased in over the ensuing 24 hours.
June 24
- In the hours following Trump’s cease-fire announcement, Israel and Iran both report attacks emanating from the other side.
- While departing for the NATO summit in the Netherlands, Trump criticizes Israel and Iran for continuing to carry out attacks during the cease-fire phase-in period.
- Trump distances himself from talk of regime change in Iran. “I’d like to see everything calm down as quickly as possible,” he says.
- Netanyahu announces that Israel called off additional strikes on Iran following a call with Trump.
“For decades I have promised you that Iran will not have nuclear weapons,” he said in a post translated into English. “Indeed, with all the swift actions our fighters have taken, we have brought Iran's nuclear project to a standstill. And if anyone in Iran tries to revive this project—we will act with the same determination, with the same force, to thwart any such attempt. I repeat: Iran will not have nuclear weapons.”
The prime minister listed off several of the Israel Defence Forces’ accomplishments over the past several days, including eliminating multiple members of Iran’s senior command, and destroying dozens of missile manufacturing facilities. He also thanked President Donald Trump and the United States for their part in the campaign.
Top House Democrats raised their concerns after a classified security briefing on the recent U.S.-backed strike in Iran was postponed, delaying what they say is a necessary opportunity to evaluate the U.S. government’s actions in Iran and assess the situation in the Middle East.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on June 24 that the White House had confirmed the briefing will now take place on June 27. The session is expected to include senior administration officials and cover developments involving Israel and Iran following escalations in recent weeks and the U.S. strike over the weekend.
“The American people deserve to know the facts and the truth,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who spoke alongside Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) at a press conference on June 24. Jeffries said the Trump administration has not yet presented evidence supporting claims that Iran’s nuclear program was neutralized and asked why congressional authorization was not sought.
The press conference came shortly after CNN reported, citing anonymous sources, that U.S. strikes did not destroy Iranian nuclear sites—something the White House quickly disputed.
“FAKE NEWS CNN STRIKES AGAIN: This alleged ‘assessment’ is flat-out wrong and was classified as ’top secret' but was still leaked to CNN by an anonymous, low-level loser in the intelligence community,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X. “The leaking of this alleged assessment is a clear attempt to demean President Trump, and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran’s nuclear program. Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.”
The administration has said the strike was coordinated with Israel and justified on national security grounds.
Clark emphasized the constitutional role of Congress in decisions involving the use of military force.
“The Constitution is not a suggestion. Congress is not here for show,” she said. “Our democratic institutions exist because there are no kings in this country,” she said.
Aguilar, who leads the House Democratic Caucus, said members are eager to fulfill their oversight responsibilities and understand the implications of recent actions.
“Our primary concern is the safety of American troops and American interests in the region,” he said.
Jeffries noted that while Friday’s briefing is a step forward, it does not replace the leaders’ call for continued transparency. He said congressional leaders—including those on the intelligence committee—had not received a full classified update prior to or immediately following the strike, only brief notifications that military activity was forthcoming.
Democrats also said that a classified setting, while necessary for certain details, should not limit broader accountability.
“The American people deserve to understand what was done in their name, and why,” Jeffries said.
Johnson said more details on the upcoming briefing would be shared with members shortly.
“FAKE NEWS CNN STRIKES AGAIN,” Leavitt wrote in a post on the X social media platform, echoing President Donald Trump’s name for the network.
“This alleged ‘assessment’ is flat-out wrong and was classified as ‘top secret’ but was still leaked to CNN by an anonymous, low-level loser in the intelligence community.”
Leavitt went on to say that the report was a “clear attempt to demean President Trump, and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran’s nuclear program.
“Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.”
The House rejected a resolution put forth by Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) on June 24 to impeach President Donald Trump over the U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
The motion to table the resolution passed 344–79.
The resolution accused Trump of bypassing Congress in launching the strikes on the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear sites.
In a speech on the House floor, Green said this action falls under the categories of “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
“President Trump failed to seek prior congressionally mandated authorization for the use of military force,” he said. “Congressional leaders were not appropriately briefed or notified of the attack plans, despite foreign leaders being given advanced notice of the U.S. military action.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on June 22 that congressional leaders were notified after U.S. military planes left Iranian airspace.
Green said that Trump violated the war powers clause of the Constitution, which states that only Congress has the power to declare war.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told The Epoch Times in a statement that the U.S. strikes should not be condemned.
“President Trump was able to quickly accomplish what no other president has been able to achieve—thanks to his ‘peace through strength’ leadership, Iran’s nuclear program has been obliterated and a ceasefire has been agreed to,“ she said. ”Eliminating the prospect of nuclear war is a non-partisan and unifying accomplishment that everyone should celebrate as a historic moment for United States, the Middle East, and the entire world.”
Trump decried a call from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) for him to be impeached over the U.S. strikes.
“The President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers. He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on social media platform X.
Trump’s response consisted of personal attacks against Ocasio-Cortez, and he dared Democrats to impeach him.
“She and her Democrat friends have just hit the Lowest Poll Numbers in Congressional History, so go ahead and try Impeaching me, again, MAKE MY DAY!” he wrote on Truth Social.
Ocasio-Cortez responded on X: “Mr. President, don’t take your anger out on me—I’m just a silly girl. Take it out on whoever convinced you to betray the American people and our Constitution by illegally bombing Iran and dragging us into war. It only took you 5 months to break almost every promise you made.”
The impeachment resolution stated: “Trump, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, abused the powers of the presidency when he disregarded the doctrine of separation of powers by usurping Congress’s power to declare war and ordered the United States military to bomb another country without the constitutionally mandated congressional authorization or notice to Congress—cognizant of the fact that should another country’s military bomb a facility within the United States of America, it would be a de facto declaration of war against the United States of America.”
The minister of defense, in a post on social media platform X, said he also thanked Hegseth for President Donald Trump’s decision to take part in Israel’s war against the Iranian nuclear threat.
Katz said the secretary “praised Israel and the IDF for the historic achievements made,” and that the pair “agreed to deepen the close U.S.–Israel security cooperation.”
“Regarding the additional strikes to Fordow that were reported early on Monday—after the U.S. bombing of the facility early on Sunday—the IAEA assesses that access roads close to the underground facility and one of its entrances were hit,” the statement read.
The U.N. agency said it identified “two impact holes from the U.S. strikes above the underground halls that had been used for enrichment as well as for storage.”
“Based on its knowledge of what these halls contained, the IAEA assesses that this strike may have caused localized contamination and chemical hazards,” it added.
The agency is pushing Iran to allow it to resume work in the area.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on June 24 that his country’s military “refrained from additional attacks” targeting Iran after a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump on Monday night announced a cease-fire between Iran and Israel after 12 days of strikes, and after the United States launched airstrikes of its own on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
In a thread on social media platform X, Netanyahu’s office wrote that a cease-fire between his country and Iran “was set for 07:00 this morning.”
“At 03:00, Israel forcefully attacked in the heart of Tehran, struck regime targets and eliminated hundreds of Basij and Iranian security forces personnel,” he said.
“Shortly before the ceasefire was due to take effect, Iran launched a barrage of missiles, one of which took the lives of four of our citizens in Be’er Sheva. The ceasefire took effect at 07:00,” his office said.
Minutes later, Iran launched one missile at Israel, and two or three missiles were launched three hours later, the office added. The missiles either did no damage or were intercepted, while Israel moved to destroy a radar installation near Tehran, it said.
“Pursuant to the conversation between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel has refrained from additional attacks,” Netanyahu’s office said, adding that Trump had “expressed his great appreciation for Israel, which achieved all of its objectives for the war, as well as his confidence in the stability of the ceasefire.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said later on Tuesday that Tehran would not violate the cease-fire unless Israel did so, and that it was prepared to return to the negotiating table, without elaborating, according to state-run Tasnim News Agency.
Trump scolded both Iran and Israel for early violations of the truce that he had announced but directed particularly stinging criticism at Israel over the scale of its strikes, telling it to cease the attacks.
During a press gaggle with reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said that he was unhappy that Israel and Iran had engaged in fighting after he had announced the cease-fire on Monday evening.
“We have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know” what they’re trying to do, he told reporters before heading to a NATO Summit. “I’m not happy with them. I’m not happy with Iran either, but I’m really unhappy with Israel going out this morning,” Trump said.
The president also took to his Truth Social platform to warn Israel to end its strikes.
“Israel, do not drop those bombs. If you do it is a major violation,” Trump wrote on the platform in all caps. “Bring your pilots home, now!”
Israel launched the surprise air war on June 13, hitting Iranian nuclear sites where it said Iran was trying to develop an atomic bomb and killing top military commanders in what may be the worst blow to the Iranian regime since the Iran–Iraq War that lasted throughout the 1980s.
Iran says its uranium enrichment program is for peaceful purposes and denies trying to build nuclear weapons. However, both the United States and Israel have long said that Iran is trying to build atomic weapons.
Since the start of the conflict, Trump has said repeatedly that Iran cannot gain possession of a nuclear weapon and that U.S. strikes on Saturday were meant to prevent the regime from achieving that goal.
Reuters contributed to this report.
“The IDF performed at its best—the Intelligence Directorate delivered unprecedented intelligence achievements,” he said after taking a situational assessment with members of the general staff.
“IAF pilots operated with courage, while putting their lives at risk, thousands of kilometers from Israeli territory and struck and destroyed military targets. The Aerial Defense Array and communication units operated with their unique operational capabilities to protect the home front.
“Despite the phenomenal achievement—we must keep our feet on the ground,” he added. “Many challenges still lie ahead”
He also said that Israel’s focus will now shift back to Gaza, dismantling Hamas, and bringing all the hostages home.
Grossi said he was ready to meet with Araghchi, saying in a statement published by the agency, “Resuming cooperation with the IAEA is key to a successful diplomatic agreement to finally resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear activities.”
The statement said the group’s inspectors have “remained in Iran throughout the conflict and are ready to start working as soon as possible, going back to the country’s nuclear sites and verifying the inventories of nuclear material—including more than 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60 [percent]—which they last verified a few days before the Israeli air strikes began on 13 June.”
“President Trump’s decision to neutralize Iran’s regime’s nuclear program is a watershed moment,” Bush said in a social media post shared by Trump. “It reasserts U.S. strength, restores deterrence, and sends an unmistakable message to rogue regimes: the era of impunity is over.”
Bush serves as chairman for the New York City-based nonprofit United Against Nuclear Iran, through which he also offered his support of the military action, on June 22.
Trump said the comments were “very much appreciated.” The pair have historically traded public jabs on issues ranging from the political to the personal.
Iran displayed that capability with its limited retaliatory missile strike on an American military base in Qatar on Monday, Cooper said.
When asked if Iran still presents a threat to U.S. military personnel and Americans worldwide, he said, “They do.”
Cooper made the comments at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing considering his nomination for the position of commander of Central Command, where he currently serves as deputy commander.
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he’s not seeking regime change in Iran. The comments come two days after floating the possibility on social media, amid a cease-fire that he announced hours later.
“I don’t want it. I’d like to see everything calm down as quickly as possible,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to a NATO summit in Europe, responding to a question on whether he wants the Islamic regime to collapse. “Regime change takes chaos and ideally, we don’t want to see so much chaos, so we’ll see how it does.”
Over the weekend, he wrote on Truth Social that “if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???”
On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told ABC News said that “if the Iranian regime refuses to come to a peaceful, diplomatic solution—which the president is still interested in engaging in ... why shouldn’t the Iranian people take away the power of this incredibly violent regime?”
In response to Trump’s comment on Truth Social, the press secretary said that Trump “was just simply raising a question” about Iran and added that “as far as our military posture, it has not been changed.”
Trump’s comment on Tuesday was made after he criticized both Iran and Israel for launching strikes after he announced a cease-fire on social media on Monday evening. The two countries had been bombing one another for more than a week before the United States launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, while Iran launched a volley of missiles at an American base in Qatar on Monday.
Following the Israeli air campaign, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that Iran should be able to rebuild.
“You know, the Iranians are very good traders, very good businesspeople, and they’ve got a lot of oil. They should be fine. They should be able to rebuild and do a good job,” he said on Tuesday. “They’re never going to have nuclear, but other than that they should do a great job.”
As the cease-fire between Iran and Israel took effect Tuesday, Israel’s emergency services released final figures from 12 days of fighting. According to the data, 1,347 people in Israel were affected, including 28 killed, 17 seriously wounded, 29 moderately wounded, 872 lightly wounded, and 401 treated for anxiety.
On Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office acknowledged that Israel had struck a radar site near Tehran in what it said was retaliation for Iranian missiles fired three-and-a-half hours after the cease-fire had been due to begin.
It said Israel had decided to refrain from further attacks following a call between Netanyahu and Trump, but did not explicitly say whether the strike on the radar site took place before or after they spoke.
Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday that “all planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!”
That followed a social media post that said: “Israel. Do not drop those bombs. If you do it it is a major violation. Bring your pilots home, now!”
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
“The strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities were clearly within President Trump's Article II powers as commander-in-chief. It shouldn’t even be in dispute,” he said at a press briefing.
“The framers of our Constitution never intended for the president to seek the approval of Congress every time he exercises his constitutional authority under Article II, as commander-in-chief.”
Johnson went on to suggest that the War Powers Act of 1973, which requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing forces to military action, is itself unconstitutional.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi says the Department of Justice (DOJ) is on “high alert” following U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear program over the weekend.
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), during a House Appropriations Committee meeting on Monday, asked Bondi about the number of Iranian nationals who may have entered the United States illegally.
“Over 1,000 have entered our country, and I can tell you we are on high alert and everyone is looking at that very closely,” Bondi said.
The attorney general suggested the FBI is on guard against possible Iranian sleeper cells located inside the United States, connecting those cells with Iranian nationals who entered the United States across the U.S.–Mexico border during the Biden administration.
“When the DOJ submitted their budget, the United States was a nation at peace, and now we’re a nation at war,” Gonzales said.
“I want us to, as much as we can, get ahead of it to give you the resources, the instruments that you need to go out and make sure that we’re preventing things from happening, not waiting until after the fact.”
Gonzales also suggested that proposals to cut funding to the DOJ, which encompasses the FBI, could undermine national security initiatives, noting a possible threat posed by Iran to the United States following U.S. airstrikes that targeted the country’s nuclear program.
“Those are the programs that we need more resources [for], more manpower,” the lawmaker said at one point.
Iran launched a barrage of missiles at a U.S. military base in Qatar on Monday. Later that day, President Donald Trump called for a cease-fire between Iran and Israel after the countries had launched airstrikes on one another for more than a week.
Bondi also said that the DOJ is committed to “doing more with less” amid budget cuts across the DOJ and the federal government, before suggesting that Congress pass the Trump administration-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act that is currently being considered by the Senate.
“The One Big Beautiful Bill gives us a lot of additional funding at the Department of Justice to carry out our mission,” Bondi said. “That’s where it will truly help [the] Department of Justice combat all of these issues that you brought up.”
On Monday morning, Trump told reporters at the White House before departing for a NATO summit that, in his view, both sides had violated the cease-fire agreement. He had particularly strong words for Israel, a close ally, while suggesting Iran may have fired on the country by mistake.
Later, Trump wrote that the cease-fire deal was intact.
“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly “Plane Wave” to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
The DOJ indicted three individuals in 2024 in connection with an assassination plot that officials say originated in Iran, involving the killing of Trump and a journalist before last year’s presidential election.
“The charges announced today expose Iran’s continued brazen attempts to target U.S. citizens, including President-elect Donald Trump, other government leaders and dissidents who criticize the regime in Tehran,” former FBI Director Christopher Wray said at the time of the indictment of the three individuals.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
“China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran. Hopefully, they will be purchasing plenty from the U.S., also. It was my Great Honor to make this happen!” he posted on Truth Social.
“Following President Trump’s conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel refrained from additional attacks,” said Netanyahu’s office.
- President Donald Trump announced on June 23 that a cease-fire had been reached between Iran and Israel to end 12 days of fighting.
- Trump said the cease-fire would be phased-in over 24 hours from midnight Tuesday, with Iran first halting its attacks and Israel stopping its attacks in the 12th hour.
- Israel launched airstrikes on Iran ahead of the cease-fire, prompting retaliation from Tehran.
- Iran launched a rocket that did not land and Israel vowed to retaliate.
- Israel struck an Iranian radar in response then pulled back.
- Later on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will refrain from further attacks, signalling the cease-fire is intact for now.
“I don’t want it. I’d like to see everything calm down as quickly as possible,” he said. “Regime change takes chaos and ideally, we don’t want to see so much chaos, so we’ll see how it does,” Trump said.
“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!” he wrote on Truth Social.
“These guys have got to calm down ... I didn't like plenty of things I saw yesterday. I didn't like the fact that Israel unloaded right after we made the deal. They didn't have to unload, and I didn't like the fact that the retaliation was very strong,” the president said.
“Israel unloaded a lot, and now I hear Israel just went out because they felt it was violated by one rocket that didn't land anywhere.”
Trump added, “That's not what we want. I'll tell you, and I'm telling you I'm not happy about that Israel either.”
In a post on social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote in all caps: “Israel. Do not drop those bombs. If you do it is a major violation. Bring your pilots home, now!”
State-run Tasnim News Agency reported that the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces denied claims by Israeli media that Iran had fired missiles at Israel.
Before the truce began, both sides exchanged heavy fire overnight.
The slide could be short-lived, as it came ahead of Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz's saying this morning that Iran had “completely violated” the cease-fire, and vowing retaliation.
Before Katz’s comments, Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, fell to $67.66 a barrel, below the level it was at when Israel launched missiles at Iran’s nuclear sites on June 13.
Prices had recently risen over fears that Iran could disrupt global supplies by blockading the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil and gas.
Katz said he had instructed the Israeli military to resume targeting Iranian paramilitary and government sites in Tehran.
No injuries were reported from the missiles, which were launched toward Israel after the cease-fire began, according to Israel’s emergency services.
Katz said he had instructed the Israeli military to "respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire with high-intensity strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran.”
He said this was due to "Iran’s blatant violation of the ceasefire declared by the President of the United States — through the launch of missiles toward Israel — and in accordance with the Israeli government's policy to respond forcefully to any breach."
“At this time, the Air Force is operating to intercept and strike wherever necessary to eliminate the threat,” the Israeli Air Force said in a post on the social media platform X.
The warning came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it acknowledged the cease-fire deal with Iran but reserved the right to "respond forcefully to any violation of the cease-fire."
The prime minister’s office formally acknowledged the cease-fire in a statement on Tuesday morning, declaring success in Operation Rising Lion and Israel’s other military targets, according to the Times of Israel.
“Israel has removed a dual immediate existential threat—both in the nuclear and ballistic missile fields,” the statement read.
Israel also stated that another senior Iranian nuclear scientist was killed and thanked Trump and the United States for their contribution in “eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat.”
“In light of the achievement of the operation’s objectives, and in full coordination with President Trump, Israel has agreed to the president’s proposal for a bilateral ceasefire,” while reserving the right to ”respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire,” said the statement from Netanyahu’s office.
The IDF said in an earlier statement that overnight, the Israeli Air Force had struck multiple ballistic missile launchers in western Iran that had been primed to join the morning attacks.
It said the operation foiled a much larger attack on Israel.
“The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it,” he wrote.
One of those missiles hit an apartment complex in southern Israel, killing at least four people.
According to the details of the cease-fire agreement announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, Iran would “start the ceasefire,” with Israel to follow 12 hours later, but during that time, “the other side will remain peaceful and respectful.”
“We couldn’t have made today’s ‘deal’ without the talent and courage of our great B-2 pilots, and all of those associated with that operation. In a certain and very ironic way, that perfect ‘hit,’ late in the evening, brought everyone together, and the deal was made!!!” he said.
Trump announced the cease-fire deal six hours earlier on Truth Social, saying that the conflict will be declared over by midnight Wednesday.
Trump’s latest post came amid salvos of missiles being fired at Israel from Iran. He did not mention the missile attacks in his comments.
According to an assessment by the IDF, between 10 and 15 ballistic missiles were launched from Iran in six salvos. While most were intercepted, one struck civilians in a Beersheba apartment building in southern Israel, killing at least four and leaving others wounded. The last salvo triggered sirens in Israel around 7:15 a.m. local time.
There appeared to be no further attacks on Israel from Iran by 8 a.m. local time in Tel Aviv.
In a post on X, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) wrote, “Sirens sounding in Israel due to a missile launch from Iran.”
The missiles came after Tehran announced a 4 a.m. local time deadline to cease hostilities.
Trump had announced on social media the cease-fire approximately 5 hours earlier.
“It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!”
The cease-fire is less than one hour away from coming into effect.
After Trump’s announcement, the IDF issued an evacuation notice to Iranian residents ahead of its attacks on District 6 and Tehran that happened around 2:30 a.m. local time. Israeli media later reported that an Iranian nuclear scientist was killed in the strikes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Araghchi then indicated in a post on X that Iran intended to abide by the cease-fire agreement reported by Trump earlier Monday, but said that Israel would need to stop its attacks three hours earlier, at 4 a.m. instead of 7:30 a.m. local time. Tehran is half an hour ahead of Israel.
He said that so long as “the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards.”
Around two hours after that deadline, salvos of missiles from Iran triggered sirens across southern, central, and northern Israel, and civilians were instructed to remain in their bomb shelters. On average, missiles take about 7–8 minutes to arrive in Israel from Iran.
Israelis were quickly given the green light to leave their shelters. Initial reports said that a multi-story residential building in Beersheba was hit by a missile. Israel’s Magen David Adom ambulance service reported at least three deaths and eight injuries at the site.
On Monday, Trump told NBC News that he expected the cease-fire to “go forever,” a day after the U.S. inflicted serious damage to three Iranian nuclear facilities in a surprise air attack to eliminate the nuclear threat that was Israel’s justification for its attacks on Iran.
"I think the cease-fire is unlimited. It's going to go forever," the president told the network.
Reuters contributed to this report.
While speaking at the U.S. Capitol, he said he hoped for peace in the Middle East. “That's what the people there deserve and they yearn for, even the Iranians,” he said. “And we hope that it all comes about.”
Johnson also commented on his colleague, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has clashed with Trump on this issue and government spending.
“I hope that Thomas Massie will come around and do what is right by his constituents, and support good legislation, and stop teaming up with Democrats on everything,” he said.
“I think the president really hit the reset button and said, 'Look, let’s actually produce long-term peace for the region,'” Vance said.
“I actually think when we look back, we will say the 12-Day War was an important reset moment for the entire region.”
Vance portrayed the moment as an opportunity for Iran to pursue a “path of peace.” He added that the Iranians’ support of terror networks and failure to develop a nuclear weapon demonstrated “they’re just not very good at war.”
In the six hours between the president's announcement and midnight, each side is expected to “have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions,” he said.
The phased cease-fire is scheduled to start with Iran, and then at about noon ET on Tuesday, Israel will start its cease-fire, Trump said.
After 24 hours, around midnight Wednesday, Trump said, the conflict should have concluded.
“During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL.”
“It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE … for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Both sides will wind down their final military operations within 6 hours, in a process that Trump expects to be “PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL” on both sides. A formal cease-fire will begin in approximately 12 hours, while the conflict will be declared over within 24 hours, Trump said.
“I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR,’” Trump wrote. “This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn't, and never will!”
The initial order was issued early on June 23 prior to Iran’s missile launches at a U.S. military base in the region. Iran fired at the military installation in response to the U.S. airstrikes on the nation’s nuclear facilities over the weekend.
While Qatari airspace remained closed, the instructions for embassy personnel in Doha to stay inside was revoked, though it noted that the security situation could change rapidly.
Maj. Gen. Shayeq Al Hajri told reporters on June 23 that Qatar’s U.S. base sustained some damage from the Iranian missiles.
The official said there were seven initial missiles fired by Iran, and all were intercepted by Qatari air defenses over water between the two nations. An additional 12 were launched, and 11 were intercepted over Qatar, but one hit the Al Udeid base.
The figure differs from President Donald Trump’s initial announcement of the interaction. The president said 14 missiles were launched by Iran in response to the American bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The Epoch Times has reached out to the Pentagon for clarification on the number of missiles fired and intercepted.
In a Truth Social post, the president wrote in all caps, “Congratulations world, it’s time for peace!”
Iran said earlier that its attack equaled the number of bombs dropped by the United States on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. The U.S. military said it dropped 14 bunker-buster bombs on three Iranian nuclear sites.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said "I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same.”
Trump also called Iran's attack “weak.”
“NO Americans were harmed” and that “hardly any damage was done."
“Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their 'system,' and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE."
In a subsequent post, Trump said that "very importantly" no Qataris were wounded or killed.
The city of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, has also reopened its airspace and resumed full operations at its airports following what the Dubai media office in a post on social media platform X called a “temporary precautionary pause.”
“While Dubai Airports is working with airlines to ensure flights operate according to schedule, some flights may experience delays or cancellations,” Dubai’s media office added. "Travellers are advised to stay informed by checking regularly with their airlines for the latest updates.”
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) introduced the resolution on June 17, along with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
Johnson said Monday that now is not an “appropriate time” for a war powers resolution.
Such resolutions are privileged and therefore force votes in the House and Senate. With Republicans overwhelmingly backing the strikes, it is unlikely that such a measure would pass both chambers.
“Tomorrow, there will be an opportunity for every single member of the House to hear the information from the administration, and hopefully they will present it in a manner that's comprehensive,” Jeffries said.
Jeffries and other Democrats have demanded a more comprehensive briefing for the Gang of Eight, made up of House and Senate leadership as well as intelligence committee leaders.
The minority leader later confirmed he was not alerted by the administration Monday morning about the potential for a retaliatory strike ahead of Iran’s attack on the U.S. military base at Al Udeid in Qatar.
The Gang of Eight includes the leaders of the House and Senate and the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate and House Intelligence Committees.
Egypt said the attack was a “violation to its sovereignty and a threat to its territorial integrity” and called for a cease-fire.
The UAE said it “strongly condemns” the attack. The UAE foreign ministry in a statement said it was a "flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty and airspace, and a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter."
“I can confirm that al Udeid Air Base was attacked by short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles originating from Iran today,” the official said.
“At this time, there are no reports of U.S. casualties. We are monitoring this situation closely and will provide more information as it becomes available.”
The attack is the first time that Al Udeid has ever been directly targeted by a foreign power.
The kingdom said in a statement on social media platform X that it “expresses its condemnation and denunciation, in the strongest terms possible, the aggression launched by Iran against the brotherly State of Qatar, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the principles of good neighborliness, and an entirely unacceptable act that cannot be justified under any circumstances.”
Saudi Arabia went on to say that it “affirms its full solidarity with and unwavering support for the State of Qatar and places all its capabilities at Qatar's disposal in support of any measures it may take.”
“We affirm that Qatar reserves the right to respond directly in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale of this brazen aggression, in line with international law,” foreign affairs spokesman Majed al-Ansari posted on social media platform X.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council issued a statement saying that the attack targeted facilities far from civilians and that Tehran was “committed to preserving and continuing its warm and historic relations with Qatar.”
“The base targeted by Iran’s powerful forces was also a significant distance from urban facilities and residential areas in Qatar,” the country’s Supreme National Security Council said in a statement.
“This action posed no danger to our friendly and brotherly nation of Qatar and its honorable people,” it added. “The Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to preserving and continuing its warm and historic relations with Qatar.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Air raid sirens were heard in Bahrain, where the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters is located. The U.S. Air Force’s 380th Air Expeditionary Wing likewise is stationed in the UAE.
It is unclear at this time if the airspace closures corresponded to direct threats or were taken in response to the attack against nearby Qatar.
Qatar’s defense ministry confirmed the barrage targeted the Al Udeid Air Base.
“Thanks to God, the vigilance of the armed forces, and the precautionary measures taken, the incident did not result in any deaths or injuries,” Qatar’s defense ministry said.
The ministry said Qatar’s airspace and territory are now safe, and Qatari armed forces are ready to respond to continuing threats. The ministry also advised citizens and residents in the country to continue to monitor official sources for guidance and news on the latest developments.
Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned the Iranian missile barrage as “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law, and the United Nations Charter.”
Ansari said Qatar reserves the right to respond in a manner equivalent to the Iranian attack.
- Iran launched a missile attack against the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday.
- The base is the United States’ largest military installation in the Middle East and has served as the forward headquarters for U.S. Central Command since 2009.
- Iran said that it launched a number of missiles at the base. It said the attack equaled the number of bombs dropped by the United States on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.
- Qatar’s ministry of defense said that it intercepted the missiles and that there were no casualties.
The Iranian regime made the announcement on state television and through state-run media outlets including PressTV and Fars News.
“The message of this decisive action by the sons of the nation in the armed forces to the White House and its allies is clear and direct,” the Iranian military said in a statement through state-run media, adding that Iran won't "leave any violation of its territorial integrity, sovereignty, or national security unanswered."
Further details about the attack were not released by the military. Fars News said that only one base in Qatar was targeted, while PressTV said multiple bases were targeted.
A statement from Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari on Monday said that the energy-rich nation “condemns the attack that targeted” the Al Udeid Air Base, where U.S. troops are stationed, according to a translation from Arabic to English.
“We reassure that Qatar’s air defenses successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles,” it said, adding that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was responsible.
The statement, which said there were no casualties during the attack on the air base, said Qatar would push for diplomatic efforts for “a serious return to the negotiating table and dialogue.”
Al Udeid is home to the U.S. Combined Air Operations Center, which provides command and control of airpower across the region, as well as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the largest expeditionary wing in the world.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who announced the U.S. airstrikes on Iran on Saturday night, visited the air base last month.
During the visit, he spoke to troops stationed at the base and said that his “priority is to end conflict, not start them.”
“But I will never hesitate to wield American power, if it’s necessary, to defend the United States of America or our partners. And this is one of our great partners right here,” he said, referring to Qatar.
Trump added that if the United States is threatened in some manner, the military “will answer our enemies without even thinking about it. We have overwhelming strength and devastating force.”
Right before the missiles were launched, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a statement on social media platform X that the regime cannot allow strikes on the country’s nuclear facility to go “unanswered” and will “respond,” according to a translation.
The U.S. military has yet to issue a statement on the alleged missile barrages. The Epoch Times contacted the Pentagon for comment Monday.
In early 2020, after the U.S. airstrike that killed powerful Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, the regime launched multiple volleys of missiles at U.S. bases in the region.
After Saturday’s airstrikes, officials said the Trump administration is open to negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, which the United States has long said is designed to produce nuclear weapons.
“We’ll defend our people … but let’s hope they don’t choose that route. Let’s all hope that they actually decide, ‘let’s go negotiate’ because we want a diplomatic and peaceful solution,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a Sunday interview with CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
