Daily Briefing: IS THE ISRAEL-IRAN WAR REALLY OVER?

“Fordow’s destruction – surgical, stunning, a reminder of Israeli and American reach – is a victory, yes. But it is the sort of victory that merely brings the war into new terrain. And this terrain, my dear readers, is not geological. It is ideological, and it is mobile.” — Catherine Perez-Shakdam

SUCCESS?

Iran Concedes U.S. Strikes ‘Badly Damaged’ Nuclear Facilities: James Lynch, National Review, June 25, 2025 — The Iranian foreign ministry admitted that their nuclear facilities were “badly damaged” by U.S. strikes over the weekend after reports surfaced about a low-confidence U.S. intelligence assessment suggesting otherwise.

Months Are Needed to Assess Damage, But Israel Must Prepare for Another Round With Iran: Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet News, June 24, 2025 — Israel must ensure that Iran is not attempting a rapid breakout toward a basic nuclear weapon, such as a crude “dirty bomb”—using its remaining stockpile of 60% enriched uranium and several hundred advanced centrifuges reportedly hidden away.

What About Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Reactor?: Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, June 22, 2025 — On Saturday night, as we’ve detailed, President Donald Trump ordered military strikes that, he says, “obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear enrichment sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. When the news broke, I had half-written a post about whether the past week’s “should he or shouldn’t he?” debate was missing something.

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The Israel–Iran War: Concluded but not Resolved: Raz Zimmt, INSS Insight No. 1998, June 25, 2025

This is only the First Round between Israel and Iran: Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom, June 24, 2025

After Fordow: A Pause, Not a Peace: Catherine Perez-Shakdam, Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, June 24, 2025

Khamenei’s Strategy in the War with Israel: Yoni Ben Menachem, Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, June 23, 2025

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FOR FURTHER REFERENCE

Results of US Strikes on Fordo ‘Really Not Good,’ Israeli Sources Say: Nava Freiberg, Times of Israel, June 25, 2025 — The results of the damage done to Iran’s uranium enrichment facility in Fordo, while still being assessed, are not satisfactory, Israeli sources tell ABC News.

Trump Torches ‘Disgraceful’ CNN, ‘Failing’ NYT Over Leaked Iran Intel Report: ‘Fake News!’: David Gilmour, Mediaite, June 25, 2025 — President Donald Trump has hit back at reports downplaying the impact of U.S. airstrikes on Iran, accusing “disgraceful” CNN and the “failing” New York Times of distorting early intelligence to embarrass his administration.

Its Missile Stock Is Depleted, But Iran’s Arsenal May Still Be a Threat: Stav Levaton, Times of Israel, June 24, 2025 — With the Iran-Israel conflict possibly brought to a halt by a US-brokered ceasefire on Tuesday, questions remain over the true condition of Iran’s missile arsenal after nearly two weeks of punishing exchanges.

‘I Hate This Word Ceasefire!’ Mark Levin Seethes Over Trump Iran Announcement — Protests ‘Hitler Wasn’t Thrown a Lifeline’: Charlie Nash, Mediaite, June 23, 2025 — Mark Levin seethed over President Donald Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on Monday, complaining that “Adolf Hitler wasn’t thrown a lifeline” at the end of World War 2.

Military Experts in Awe of Israel’s Rising Lion: Hanan Greenwood, Times of Israel, June 24, 2025 — Operation Rising Lion has reinvigorated Israeli national confidence.

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