Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant stated on Tuesday that there is a possibility of a renewed military campaign against Iran.
In a statement released by his office, Gallant emphasised the need to develop an effective future strategy to ensure that Iran does not resume its nuclear program.
His remarks came during a comprehensive security briefing with several senior Israeli military officials, including the Chief of Staff.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump declared his readiness to carry out repeated strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities “if necessary.”
Trump wrote on Truth Social:
“Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks about the damage to Iran’s nuclear sites: ‘The damage is severe, they have been destroyed’… That’s exactly what I said, and we’ll repeat it if needed.”
Trump’s threat followed an interview with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Fox News, where he described the extensive damage sustained during a previous attack, adding that Iran is not prepared to engage in nuclear negotiations with the United States at this time.
Araghchi stated that “Tehran will not abandon its uranium enrichment program, even after the severe damage it sustained during the recent Israeli-Iranian war, during which U.S. forces bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities.”
In the same interview, he added:
“The program has halted due to the extensive and severe damage. But clearly, we will not abandon enrichment. It is an achievement of our scientists, and more importantly now, a matter of national dignity.”
Araghchi noted that the damage to the nuclear facilities following the joint American-Israeli strikes was significant and that a broad assessment is underway.
He continued:
“Our facilities were heavily damaged, and the Atomic Energy Organization is currently evaluating the scale of the destruction. But as far as I know, the damage is severe.”
On June 21, U.S. airstrikes using B-2 bombers targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow — the latter of which was located beneath a mountain, at a depth of half a mile.
Trump affirmed on Truth Social that the strikes “obliterated” the nuclear sites, noting that the most extensive damage occurred underground.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the impact of the bombs is now “buried under Iran’s rubble,” and accused skeptics of the operation’s success of seeking to undermine the President.
For his part, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the strikes inflicted “severe damage” on Iran’s nuclear program, confirming that the operation involved the deployment of 14 heavy “bunker buster” bombs over the course of an 18-hour mission.
Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission declared that the Fordow site is now “inoperable” and that the strikes have set back Iran’s nuclear capabilities “for several years.”
The Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, described the damage as “massive,” adding that Iran will face major difficulties in resuming its nuclear program at its previous pace.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly praised the operation, stating that the world is now “a safer place” thanks to President Trump’s decisive leadership.
