IAEA Chief Calls Out U.S. Claims: Iran’s Nuclear Program Still Alive and Kicking
Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, isn’t sugarcoating the situation. After U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran’s nuclear sites in June, President Donald Trump loudly proclaimed the facilities were “totally obliterated.” But according to Grossi, that’s not the case—not even close.
Grossi, who leads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), says the damage was severe, sure, but nowhere near complete. Iran’s underground sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan took hits, but the regime still has the scientific brainpower and industrial muscle to get things spinning again—literally. He warned that if Iran decides to resume enriching uranium, it could do so within months. That’s not a hypothetical. That’s a real-world timeline.
The IAEA hasn’t had full access to the affected sites, and it’s not clear what happened to Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Some of it might’ve been destroyed, but some could’ve been moved or hidden. That’s a big unknown. And without boots on the ground and eyes inside every vault and bunker, we’re operating in the dark.
In a classic move, Iran’s parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA—because transparency has never been their strong suit. Tehran insists its nuclear program is peaceful. Western intel and Israeli officials call that a joke, pointing out that before the strikes, Iran was closing in on breakout capability.
Grossi’s warning makes one thing clear: this was no knockout blow. The centrifuges may have stopped spinning, but the knowledge, infrastructure, and intent haven’t gone anywhere. Iran’s nuclear program is wounded, not dead. And if the regime chooses to fire it back up, it won’t take long before they’re right back in the game.
IAEA Chief Calls Out U.S. Claims: Iran’s Nuclear Program Still Alive and Kicking
Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, isn’t sugarcoating the situation. After U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran’s nuclear sites in June, President Donald Trump loudly proclaimed the facilities were “totally obliterated.” But according to Grossi, that’s not the case—not even close.
Grossi, who leads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), says the damage was severe, sure, but nowhere near complete. Iran’s underground sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan took hits, but the regime still has the scientific brainpower and industrial muscle to get things spinning again—literally. He warned that if Iran decides to resume enriching uranium, it could do so within months. That’s not a hypothetical. That’s a real-world timeline.
The IAEA hasn’t had full access to the affected sites, and it’s not clear what happened to Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Some of it might’ve been destroyed, but some could’ve been moved or hidden. That’s a big unknown. And without boots on the ground and eyes inside every vault and bunker, we’re operating in the dark.
In a classic move, Iran’s parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA—because transparency has never been their strong suit. Tehran insists its nuclear program is peaceful. Western intel and Israeli officials call that a joke, pointing out that before the strikes, Iran was closing in on breakout capability.
Grossi’s warning makes one thing clear: this was no knockout blow. The centrifuges may have stopped spinning, but the knowledge, infrastructure, and intent haven’t gone anywhere. Iran’s nuclear program is wounded, not dead. And if the regime chooses to fire it back up, it won’t take long before they’re right back in the game.
Trump Targets Iran Intel Leak: Threatens Journalists, Demands Source Disclosure
Donald Trump is on the warpath again—this time over leaked intelligence that throws cold water on his narrative about the recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear program. After a Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report found that the airstrikes only set Iran back by a few months—not wiped out their nuclear capability as Trump claimed—someone leaked it to the press. And now Trump wants blood.
In a Fox News interview, Trump floated the idea of dragging journalists into court to force them to reveal who leaked the report. “You go up and tell the reporter, ‘national security, who gave it to you?’ You have to do that,” he said, suggesting subpoenas and even prosecution could be on the table. He didn’t stop there—he hinted that legal action might be taken not just against the leakers, but against the journalists themselves if they refuse to play ball.
The leaked report contradicts Trump’s victory lap, where he claimed the Iranian nuclear program had been “obliterated” by U.S. and Israeli strikes. Now, with major outlets like The New York Times and CNN reporting the reality—that the damage was serious but far from total—Trump’s team is accusing the media of undermining national security. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the FBI is already involved in a leak investigation.
If Trump follows through, this could set up a major First Amendment showdown between the federal government and the press. For now, he’s using the bully pulpit to hammer the media and stoke outrage over the leak, but the next steps could involve courtrooms and subpoenas. Either way, this isn’t going away quietly.
Thailand on the Brink: Protests Erupt, Coup Rumors Swirl After Leaked Call Scandal
Thailand is once again staring down the barrel of political chaos. The biggest anti-government protests since 2023 have taken over central Bangkok, with thousands demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign. The spark? A leaked phone call between Paetongtarn and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, where she appeared to criticize a Thai military commander and told Hun Sen to ignore “the other side” in Thailand during a recent border clash that left a Cambodian soldier dead. That didn’t sit well with anyone—especially in a country where the military isn’t just part of the power structure, it often is the power structure.
Protesters have swarmed Victory Monument, waving flags and calling Paetongtarn an “enemy of the state.” These aren’t students or one-off activists—it’s a mix of hardcore nationalist groups, old-school protest leaders, and everyday citizens who see her remarks as a betrayal of Thai sovereignty and a direct shot at the military.
The political damage is already piling up. The Bhumjaithai Party, a key part of the ruling coalition, has bailed out, leaving Paetongtarn with a razor-thin majority and an open path for a no-confidence vote in parliament next month. That vote could end her time in office—or at the very least, cripple her government further.
Tensions are rising fast. Jatuporn Prompan and other protest leaders have promised more—and bigger—rallies if Paetongtarn doesn’t step down or if the courts try to prop her up. And in a country with a long history of military coups—like the ones in 2006 and 2014—people are getting nervous. One protest leader even said publicly that he’d support another coup to “stabilize” the country. That kind of talk is dangerous, and both sides of the aisle are trying to shut it down, but the damage may already be done.
Right now, Thailand is teetering. If Paetongtarn’s coalition collapses, the country could see a new prime minister, snap elections, or—if things spiral further—yet another military takeover. One thing’s for sure: this isn’t business as usual, and the next few weeks will be critical.
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