Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, stated in a recent interview that Iran no longer poses an imminent threat, asserting that their capabilities have been significantly degraded. Speaking to NBC News, Danon emphasized, “If we had an imminent threat, it doesn’t exist anymore.” While he refrained from commenting on initial American intelligence assessments regarding the effectiveness of recent U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, he affirmed, “One thing is for sure: Iran is not a threat today-not to Israel, the Middle East, or global stability.” He maintained that Iran is not currently in a position to assemble a nuclear bomb rapidly, although Israel will continue to monitor the nation closely.
The backdrop to Danon’s comments came from remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a press conference, Netanyahu asserted that Israel “will strike again” if Iran attempts to rebuild its nuclear program, pointing out significant destruction at key facilities in Arak, Natanz, and Isfahan. He characterized Israel’s recent military actions as a “historic victory,” stating that without decisive action, the nation would have faced “the danger of annihilation.” Netanyahu praised former President Donald Trump’s unwavering support and reiterated that Israel will press forward against threats, including Hamas.
Concurrently, U.S. assessments have indicated that the missile strikes did not fully incapacitate Iran’s core nuclear capabilities. Reports from multiple officials suggest that key sites remain largely intact, causing concerns about the efficacy of the strikes. One source remarked, “We were assuming that the damage was going to be much more significant,” highlighting the ongoing challenges in completely dismantling Iran’s nuclear ambitions. While the strikes set Iran’s nuclear program back by approximately three to six months, the anticipated destruction did not occur. This starkly contrasts assertions from Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who claimed that the strikes “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities.
In a series of developments following the strikes, Israel has lifted wartime restrictions across the country and resumed normal operations at Ben Gurion Airport. The move reflects a cautious yet optimistic approach, in light of a ceasefire announced by Trump between Israel and Iran. Both nations expressed a mutual desire to halt hostilities after extensive exchanges of rocket fire.
Upcoming briefings for Congress on the situation are critical, with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson confirming the postponement of classified sessions to accommodate available senior administration officials. Lawmakers from both sides are questioning the whereabouts of Iran’s enriched uranium amid heightened scrutiny of its nuclear program, with concerns about potential threats remaining widespread.
Notably, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized the U.S. strikes as “unwise,” calling for a coherent strategy moving forward. Additionally, Vice Admiral Charles Cooper II, during his confirmation hearing for U.S. Central Command, warned of an emerging axis of cooperation among Iran, North Korea, Russia, and China, calling for increased vigilance.
As tensions ebb with the ceasefire taking effect, financial markets have shown signs of recovery, with significant gains noted in stock indices, reflecting cautious optimism about stability in the region moving forward.
By synthesizing these developments and perspectives from government officials, analysts urge continuous scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear capabilities and advocate for strategic engagement in future negotiations to uphold global security.
Original Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/24/israel-iran-ceasefire-live-updates-trump.html
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Publish Date: 2025-06-25 02:54:00
