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US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites not as effective as Trump administration claims - intelligence assessment

Donald Trump's claim that Iranian nuclear sites were "totally destroyed" are in doubt, after a US intelligence report emerged appearing to contradict his assessment. Follow the latest.

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Our strikes on Iranian nuclear sites worked perfectly, says US defence secretary

We've got a little more to bring you now on the report suggesting US strikes did not destroy Iranian nuclear sites (see our 21.16 post).

Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, has responded to the claims, which are based on initial US intel assessments and contradict Donald Trump's claims.

Here's what he said:

Based on everything we have seen - and I've seen it all - our bombing campaign obliterated Iran's ability to create nuclear weapons.

Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target - and worked perfectly.

The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran; so anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the president and the successful mission.

'Time for diplomacy', UK, France and Germany tell Iran

Sir Keir Starmer has been joined by his French and German counterparts in calling for Iran to "come to the negotiating table".

Now is the "time for diplomacy", Starmer's office said in a statement.

The UK prime minister met with Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz at the NATO summit in The Hague earlier today.

"The leaders reflected on the volatile situation in the Middle East," the statement added.

"Now was the time for diplomacy and for Iran to come to the negotiating table, they agreed."

Iran has argued they were at the negotiating table with the US, before Israel's attacks began.

Drones shot down by Iran and Israel - reports

Reports are coming out of both Israel and Iran, suggesting drones have been detected either heading to or in each country's airspace.

Two Iranian news sites said air defences were activated over the northern city of Tabriz - though there was no official confirmation from authorities.

ISNA news agency then reported attack drones have been shot down in the city of Rasht, also in the north, citing the deputy provincial governor.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has said it has intercepted two drones that were making their way to the country "most likely from Iran".

Israel's Kan Radio has reported the drones were likely launched in the morning, around the same time as a missile attack, they said.

Neither incident has been verified - we will bring you more as we get it.

US assessment suggests strikes on Iran didn't destroy nuclear sites - intelligence report

While Donald Trump has been claiming US strikes "totally destroyed" sites in Iran over the weekend, a new report suggests this may not be the case.

According to Reuters, which cites three sources with knowledge of the matter, a preliminary US assessment has found the attacks have set back Tehran's program by only a matter of months.

Assessing the damage at the Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites is expected to be a difficult task, and the Defence Intelligence Agency - which compiled this report - is not the only agency tasked with the job.

One source said the assessment was not universally accepted and there is significant disagreement.

An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the US does not know the extent of the damage yet.

But the initial assessment indicates the attacks may not have been nearly as successful as Trump has claimed.

One of the sources said Iran's enriched uranium stocks had not been eliminated.

In fact, that source said the country's nuclear program may have been set back only a month or two.

White House denial

The Pentagon disputed the notion that the damage was minor, but it does not dispute the DIA assessment exists.

The White House's press secretary Karoline Leavitt has denied the report, which has also been run by CNN.

"This alleged assessment is flat-out wrong," she said, adding it was "leaked to CNN by an anonymous, low-level loser in the intelligence community".

Our own science and technology editor Tom Clarke has broken down how much damage can be seen at the sites...

Mapped: Where strikes were targeted in Iran and Israel

While the ceasefire has put an end to attacks - at least for now - here is a reminder of where strikes had landed in both countries.

Israel 'will respect' ceasefire as long as Iran does

The ceasefire appears to be holding between Israel and Iran. 

And Israel's defence minister has said it will stay that way, as long as Iran doesn't break it.

Posting on social media after speaking with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth, he said he "emphasised that Israel will respect the ceasefire - as long as the other side does".

We reported a similar message earlier from Iran's president, who said Tehran won't violate the deal unless Israel does.

Iran airspace not reopened yet, but will do tonight - reports

Despite a flight-tracking website suggesting otherwise, reports in Iran are saying the country's airspace has not yet been reopened.

We reported earlier that Flightradar 24 had said flights are now free to resume in Iran with prior permission.

But the Young Journalists' Club media website cited statements by the spokesperson for the country's roads and urban development ministry in denying that claim.

State-run Nour News has reported it will reopen tonight, but it did not give a time.

Explained: From 'Make Iran Great Again' to a sudden ceasefire - how Trump's words marked a U-turn

The past 36 hours or so have seen the Middle East teeter on the brink, only for Israel and Iran to agree a sudden - but fragile - ceasefire.

At the centre of it all has been Donald Trump, whose posts on social media - often written in block capital letters and with plenty of exclamation marks - have had major geopolitical implications.

Here's a quick recap of the week so far, shaped through the president's own words:

'MIGA!!!'

Late on Sunday - and just a day after the US struck nuclear sites in Iran - Trump hinted at regime change, warning the country's leaders must "MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN".

'Bullseye!!!'

He followed that up in the early hours of Monday with another post on Truth Social, this time hailing the "monumental damage" done to Iran's nuclear sites.

"Obliteration is an accurate term," he wrote, adding "bullseye!!!".

Dig at the 'fake news'

He doubled down on the above claim - just as a US military base in Qatar came under attack from Iran in retaliation.

He wouldn't address that attack in this social media post, instead he took aim at "the Fake News" for seemingly not sticking to his claim that targets were "totally destroyed" in Iran.

'Very weak response'

But little more than an hour later, he finally addressed the Iranian attack on a US base, which Washington said caused no damage.

He described it as a "very weak response", adding no US soldiers were hurt and thanking Iran for warning them of the impending attack.

The sudden ceasefire

Then it came - at around 11pm last night, Trump claimed Iran and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire.

That came mere hours after Iran attacked the US base, with the president writing "CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE" as he toasted the truce.

The F-bomb

But his apparently cheery mood wouldn't last, as reports came in of an Israeli attack as the truce was due to come into effect this morning.

A visibly angry Trump told reporters he has "got to get Israel to calm down", before he dropped a bomb of his own.

"We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the f*** they're doing," he said.

Warning for Israel

Trump, who was said to have "direct" words for Israel's prime minister, posted again, insisting there will be no more attacks on Iran.

"All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly 'Plane Wave' to Iran," he wrote, before separately adding Iran will never rebuild their nuclear facilities.

Gushing texts

It didn't stop there. This afternoon, he shared what he said was a message from NATO chief Mark Rutte.

"Congratulations and thank you for your decisive action on Iran," reads the effusive screenshot.

An 'honour'

And most recently, he wrote: "Both Israel and Iran wanted to stop the War, equally! It was my great honor to Destroy All Nuclear facilities & capability, and then, STOP THE WAR!"

He's now attending the NATO summit in the Netherlands, but there's every chance we will hear more from him in the meantime.

We'll bring you the latest as he speaks - or types.

Netanyahu: We achieved a historic victory - and we will strike again if needed

In a video message to Israelis broadcast just now, Benjamin Netanyahu hails what he calls a "historic victory".

He says this victory will "stand for generations".

He adds Israel has "never had a better friend" than Donald Trump in the White House.

Turning his attentions to the "Iranian axis", he says Israel "must complete the campaign".

That means defeating Hamas and bringing all the Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza home, both living and dead.

He also said: "We have dismantled the Iranian nuclear project.

"And if anyone in Iran thinks of rebuilding it - we will strike again."

Watch: Trump dodges question on key NATO defence

Donald Trump has now arrived in the Netherlands for a NATO summit, fresh from brokering a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. 

On his way, he was asked if the US would adhere to Article 5, which is the alliance's mutual defence clause.

That's what a NATO member could trigger if it ever came under attack, and would request help from the rest of the alliance.

But Trump said earlier today there are "numerous" definitions of Article 5.

The NATO chief has since said he has "no doubt" the US is committed to that defence pact.

Hear what Trump said for yourself in the video below...