Donald Trump's press secretary has hailed the US strikes on Iran for making the world a "much safer place". She spoke after the defence secretary furiously defended the mission in the wake of an intel report that questioned its success. Follow live and listen to Trump 100 below.
Thursday 26 June 2025 20:18, UK
With Israeli cities now safe from the threat of incoming Iranian missiles following the ceasefire, attention is now firmly back towards securing the release of hostages in Gaza.
Below are the scenes this evening in Tel Aviv, where protesters are taking part in a march to demand the immediate release of those being held captive.
The EU says discussions will continue over a recent report indicating that Israel has breached its human rights obligations in Gaza under the bloc's partnership deal.
The EU-Israel Association Agreement is a wide-ranging pact that covers economic cooperation in key industries, political dialogue and trade.
A majority of EU countries recently called for a review of the agreement in light of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The subsequent report, released last week, said there were possible breaches of Israel's human rights obligations under the pact.
Spain has since called for the suspension of the agreement, but Germany and Italy have come down against such a move.
We've just heard from Leon Panetta, a former US defence secretary under Barack Obama and ex-director of the CIA from 2009-2011.
Speaking to chief presenter Mark Austin about America's recent strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, Panetta says too many people are "jumping to conclusions" over damage assessments.
The Trump administration has fought with US media over its coverage of a leaked intelligence report suggesting Iran's nuclear capabilities had not been "obliterated", as suggested by the White House.
"This is going to take a few weeks before we really develop an accurate assessment as to the level of damage," Panetta says.
"I really think it's important for everybody to take a deep breath and allow that process to take place."
Donald Trump has also attempted to deny reports that Iran managed to move some of its enriched uranium prior to US strikes on its facilities.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US had "no indication" any uranium had been moved during her daily news briefing this afternoon (see 18.11 post)
But Panetta says it's a "fair assumption" that the Iranians would have taken steps to protect their enriched fuel from being damaged.
That, he adds, "raises a real concern" that Tehran could decide to continue its nuclear programme and attempt to construct a nuclear weapon.
Watch the full interview with Leon Panetta below:
Israel's "victory" against Iran opens the door for a "dramatic widening of the peace agreements," Benjamin Netanyahu says.
The Israeli leader said his country "fought bravely against Iran and achieved a great victory".
Iran has also claimed victory in the 12-day conflict, with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claiming Israel was "crushed" by Tehran's blows.
Poland's embassy in Tehran has taken over the duties of EU countries that have evacuated their posts, the Polish foreign ministry said today.
Portugal, Ireland and Germany temporarily relocated their embassy staff in Tehran abroad last week amid the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Bulgaria also closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated diplomatic staff and their families to neighbouring Azerbaijan.
"We, being the country of the (EU) presidency, take over their duties," the Polish ministry's spokesperson said.
On reports that Benjamin Netanyahu could visit the White House in the next couple of weeks, Karoline Leavitt says there is no date set so far.
She says the Israeli leader has "expressed interest" in coming to Washington and that Donald Trump is "very open to that".
Netanyahu was the first foreign leader to visit Trump at the White House after he was inaugurated in January.
Karoline Leavitt is asked about the talks between Iran and the US that Donald Trump suggested yesterday would take place next week.
She says there isn't anything scheduled "as of now", but adds the administration is "on a diplomatic path" with Iran.
Trump's team, including special envoy Steve Witkoff, are in communication with the Iranians, Leavitt adds.
Asked whether there was any hold up in trying to schedule the meeting, Leavitt calls for patience.
"We just had this strike on Saturday night. The president secured a ceasefire. A lot has happened in the last week... we'll get there."
Karoline Leavitt opens the news conference by claiming the world is in a "much safer place" after Donald Trump's "decisive" strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.
She says there is "broad consensus emerging already that Iran's nuclear capabilities were indeed destroyed".
Leavitt adds that Trump and his team brokered a "historic ceasefire" that is leading the Middle East away from "chaos and bloodshed".
"This was unthinkable at this time last week, and this is what 'Peace through Strength' looks like under President Trump."
'No indication' uranium moved
Leavitt is asked how Trump can be certain that Iran's enriched uranium was not moved away from nuclear sites before US strikes.
"There was no indication to the United States that any of that enriched uranium was moved prior to the strike from any of the sites," she replies.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is due to begin her daily news conference shortly.
You can watch along in the live stream below. We'll also be providing text updates here in the blog.
There's been no shortage of reporting and speculation on how much damage was done to Iran's underground Fordow nuclear facility by American strikes last week.
General Dan Caine, the highest-ranking officer in the US military, told a news conference at the Pentagon today that the strikes targeted Fordow's ventilation shafts.
"All six weapons at each vent at Fordow went exactly where they were intended to go," he said.
Watch below as he uses a simulation to demonstrate how the attack unfolded.
