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U.S. Vows Kilmar Ábrego García ‘Will Never Go Free’ Despite Judge’s Release Order

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WASHINGTON (BN24) — The Trump administration declared Monday that Kilmar Ábrego García “will never go free” in the United States, despite a federal judge’s decision to release the Salvadoran national from criminal custody while he awaits trial on human smuggling charges.

Ábrego García, who entered the U.S. illegally as a teenager and was granted deportation protections in 2019, was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March amid a sweeping immigration crackdown under the Alien Enemies Act, a centuries-old wartime law revived by the Trump administration. He was detained at the notorious Cecot mega-prison before eventually being returned to the U.S. earlier this month.

On Sunday, Judge Barbara Holmes ruled that federal prosecutors failed to demonstrate that Ábrego García posed a risk to minors, might flee, or would obstruct justice. She ordered his release from pretrial detention in Tennessee, where he faces federal charges related to a yearslong human trafficking conspiracy.

However, U.S. immigration authorities are expected to re-detain him immediately for removal proceedings.

“Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a dangerous criminal illegal alien,” said Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, in a social media post. “We have said it for months and it remains true to this day: he will never go free on American soil.”

Ábrego García, now in his 30s, faces a federal indictment accusing him of coordinating the movement of undocumented migrants from Texas to Maryland and other U.S. states more than 100 times between 2016 and 2020.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Federal prosecutors have also alleged that he is affiliated with the MS-13 gang, a claim his attorneys and Ábrego García himself have vehemently denied.

His initial deportation in March triggered outrage among immigration advocates and legal scholars after government attorneys acknowledged that he was removed due to an “administrative error.” Despite that admission, the Trump administration initially refused to facilitate his return to the U.S.

Only after a U.S. Supreme Court order mandated that the government “facilitate” his return did Ábrego García re-enter the country to face criminal prosecution.

Judge Holmes emphasized in her decision that Ábrego García’s release from criminal custody does not shield him from immigration detention, noting that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) retains full authority to detain him and pursue deportation.

In 2019, an immigration judge granted him relief from deportation, ruling that he would likely face gang persecution in El Salvador. But with the Trump administration’s crackdown intensifying, legal experts say that earlier protections for asylum seekers and individuals with prior relief orders have eroded sharply.

Ábrego García’s current legal team is now battling on two fronts: defending him against human smuggling charges and seeking to halt any immediate deportation efforts by ICE.

Ábrego García’s case has drawn fresh attention to the Trump administration’s revival of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which has been used in recent months to fast-track deportations of non-citizens from countries the administration deems adversarial.

His arrest and deportation have become a symbol of the expanding powers of U.S. immigration enforcement, particularly under policies that seek to sideline judicial discretion and prioritize mass removals.

Legal advocates say that Ábrego García’s ordeal illustrates the potential for overreach, even as administration officials maintain that strict enforcement is essential to national security.

“The court recognized that Kilmar doesn’t meet the standard for pretrial detention,” said Emilia Rivera, one of his attorneys. “But unfortunately, we still face the possibility that he will be detained again—this time by ICE.”

As of Monday, immigration authorities have not confirmed the timeline for Ábrego García’s expected transfer to an ICE detention facility, but DHS sources have indicated that removal efforts are being actively pursued.

Kremlin Signals Readiness to Assist Iran as Tehran Weighs Response to U.S. and Israeli Strikes

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MOSCOW (BN24) — The Kremlin signaled Monday that Russia is prepared to assist Iran amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, but said any concrete help will depend on Tehran explicitly defining its needs.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that Russia has extended an offer of mediation and remains committed to supporting Iran as it confronts direct military action from both the United States and Israel.

“It all depends on what Iran needs,” Peskov told reporters, according to state news agency TASS. “We have offered our mediation efforts. That’s a tangible step. And we’ve stated our position — that in itself is a significant form of support for the Iranian side.”

Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin will hold talks Monday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss the fallout from the U.S.-led bombing campaign and explore how Moscow might aid Tehran more directly.

“Just today, the Iranian Foreign Minister will meet with President Putin, where they will be able to exchange views in the wake of this traumatic escalation,” Peskov said.

The announcement comes just two days after President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on three of Iran’s most guarded nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — marking a major escalation that pulled the United States into active participation in the ongoing regional war launched by Israel on June 13.

According to U.S. military officials, six bunker-buster bombs were deployed against Fordow, a fortified site deep within a mountain, while over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired at Natanz and Isfahan.

While Iran has yet to retaliate directly against U.S. military targets, its leadership has vowed vengeance and warned that the attacks have expanded the range of “legitimate targets”.

Moscow, which signed a strategic partnership treaty with Iran earlier this year, has repeatedly warned against Western military intervention in the region, saying it risks plunging the Middle East into “an abyss of chaos.”

Though the treaty stops short of a mutual defense pact, Russian officials have indicated that support — logistical, political, or otherwise — could intensify if the situation further deteriorates.

Peskov did not elaborate on what form Russian assistance might take, but defense analysts have speculated that options could include intelligence sharing, diplomatic protection at the United Nations, or even military-technical aid such as electronic warfare or air defense support.

As Putin prepares to meet with Araghchi, Russia finds itself walking a strategic tightrope. While it remains one of Tehran’s closest allies, the Kremlin also maintains diplomatic and military ties with Israel, complicating its role in a rapidly escalating conflict.

Russia’s offer of mediation positions it as a potential broker in a crisis that threatens to ignite a broader regional war — one involving not just Iran, Israel, and the U.S., but also key oil chokepoints and international energy markets.

With Tehran demanding international condemnation of the attacks and signaling further retaliation, the coming days could determine whether Russia’s backing will remain diplomatic or evolve into more overt support for Iran’s war effort.

Israel Strikes Iran’s Fordow Nuclear Site as Trump Hints at ‘Regime Change’ Following U.S. Bombing Campaign

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JERUSALEM/TEHRAN (BN24) — Israel’s military confirmed Monday that it carried out airstrikes targeting Iran’s Fordow nuclear site, just days after the United States launched a barrage of bunker-busting bombs on the same facility. The strikes came amid soaring tensions between Tehran, Washington, and Jerusalem, with President Donald Trump openly speculating about a possible regime change in Iran.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its latest attack was aimed at “obstructing access routes” to the heavily fortified Fordow complex, which is buried deep within a mountain in Qom province. Iranian officials, through the IRNA and Tasnim news agencies, confirmed the strike but downplayed the immediate risk, stating there was “no danger or threat to citizens.”

In a bold escalation, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Israeli forces were “striking with unprecedented force” against Iranian government facilities in Tehran, targeting what he called “regime oppression entities.”

According to a statement posted to social media and translated from Hebrew, the strikes included:

  • The Basij headquarters, the volunteer paramilitary arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
  • Evin Prison, notorious for housing political prisoners and regime dissidents.
  • The “Destroy Israel” clock in Palestine Square.
  • Additional “regime targets,” such as internal security buildings and ideological command centers of the IRGC.

These strikes followed the Saturday night U.S. air assault that hit Iran’s three most sensitive nuclear installations—Natanz, Esfahan, and Fordow—with over 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

While U.S. officials have repeatedly denied that regime change is a goal, President Trump revived the conversation Sunday, posting to Truth Social:

“It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!”

He described the operation—codenamed “Operation Midnight Hammer”—as a “spectacular military success,” and warned Iran that further aggression would be met with even greater force.

Despite the damage inflicted by the strikes, Iran has yet to respond directly against U.S. targets, though missile sirens sounded across Israel throughout Monday morning as Iran launched further salvos aimed at Israeli cities. The IDF reported successful intercepts but noted ongoing security risks nationwide.

The strike on Fordow, already damaged by the U.S. attack two days prior, underscores Israel’s determination to dismantle Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and cripple its ability to reconstitute enrichment capabilities. Satellite imagery and intelligence assessments suggest significant structural damage, though Iran maintains that the site remains operational and vital to its energy ambitions.

The Fordow site has long been a focus of Western scrutiny due to its deep underground location and its suspected role in Iran’s high-level uranium enrichment program, capable of refining nuclear material to weapons-grade levels.

As diplomatic efforts falter and retaliatory threats mount, the latest escalation marks a dangerous phase in a conflict that now openly targets core state institutions in Tehran.

Whether Iran chooses to retaliate against U.S. forces, close the Strait of Hormuz, or escalate proxy warfare through regional allies remains unclear. However, both Israel and the United States appear prepared for a prolonged confrontation—with regime change no longer a whispered possibility but a debated policy direction.

With President Trump invoking nationalist rhetoric and Israeli strikes reaching deep into the capital, the situation inches ever closer to a broader war that could redraw the strategic landscape of the Middle East.

Netherlands Returns 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria in Landmark Colonial-Era Restitution

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BENIN CITY, Nigeria (BN24) — In a historic act of restitution, the Netherlands on Thursday returned 119 looted artifacts known as the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, marking the largest single repatriation of stolen African treasures from the colonial era.

The artifacts—among them human and animal figures, bronze plaques, ceremonial regalia, and a traditional bell—were formally handed over during a ceremony held in Edo State, the heart of the former Benin Kingdom. For decades, the items were held in Dutch collections, most prominently in the Wereld Museum in Leiden, after being plundered by British troops during the violent 1897 sack of Benin.

Addressing dignitaries and traditional leaders at the handover, Oba Ewuare II, the spiritual and cultural monarch of the Benin people, described the long-awaited return as a “divine intervention” and a powerful affirmation of the resilience of Benin’s heritage.

“These artifacts are not just art pieces. They are our history, our identity,” the Oba said, calling their return an answer to the prayers and persistence of generations of Benin people who never stopped demanding justice.

The repatriation follows years of diplomatic pressure and advocacy by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), which has spearheaded Nigeria’s global campaign to recover thousands of cultural artifacts looted during colonial conquests.

“This is the most significant return of Benin artifacts in a single gesture,” said Olugbile Holloway, director of the NCMM. “It sends a clear message: stolen heritage must be returned, no matter how long it has been kept.”

Marieke Van Bommel, director of the Wereld Museum, acknowledged the Netherlands’ role in housing stolen cultural property and said her country remains committed to correcting the wrongs of its colonial past.

“These pieces don’t belong in Dutch museums. They belong in Benin, where their cultural and spiritual value is immeasurable,” she said during the handover.

The Dutch return follows similar moves by other Western institutions, including the Horniman Museum in London, which returned 72 items to Nigeria in 2022, and the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, which repatriated 31 objects the same year.

The Benin Bronzes—crafted with extraordinary artistic and metallurgical skill between the 13th and 19th centuries—were seized in 1897, when British forces led by Admiral Sir Henry Rawson razed the royal palace in Benin City, looting thousands of cultural treasures and exiling the reigning monarch, Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi.

The artifacts were later sold across Europe and the United States, ending up in private collections and museum displays from Berlin to Boston.

Their return marks more than a symbolic victory. For many Nigerians, it represents a broader reckoning with colonial plunder and cultural erasure, and a step toward reclaiming a stolen narrative.

Nigeria’s campaign to retrieve its cultural heritage has gained momentum in recent years as more institutions confront the moral and legal implications of colonial-era acquisitions. In 2022, Nigeria made formal requests for the return of hundreds of looted objects from global museums.

The latest return from the Netherlands is likely to galvanize further action. Holloway confirmed that negotiations are ongoing with museums in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States to secure additional repatriations.

“The world is waking up to the injustice of cultural theft,” Holloway said. “Today is a victory not just for Nigeria, but for Africa and all nations seeking justice for their past.”

As the artifacts return to their rightful home, the Benin Royal Court and Nigerian authorities say they will be housed in a new museum complex in Benin City, currently under construction, that will honor their significance and ensure their preservation for future generations.

Death Toll Rises to 25 in Rare Church Attack Near Damascus Amid Fears of Extremist Resurgence

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DAMASCUS, Syria (BN24) — The death toll from a rare and deadly attack on a Greek Orthodox church near Damascus has climbed to 25, Syrian state media reported Monday, marking one of the worst assaults on a religious site in years and highlighting growing concerns about Islamist extremist sleeper cells in the war-battered country.

The bombing occurred during Sunday morning’s Divine Liturgy at Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Dweil’a, a suburb of Damascus. The Syrian Interior Ministry said a gunman opened fire on congregants before detonating an explosive vest, leaving dozens dead and at least 63 others wounded. According to church officials, approximately 350 worshippers were attending the service at the time.

“This was a deliberate act of terror,” Father Fadi Ghattas told The Associated Press, adding that many of the wounded included women and children gathered for a major feast day in the Orthodox Christian calendar.

The attack drew swift international condemnation. The United States, the European Union, and several Middle Eastern governments denounced the bombing as a terrorist atrocity targeting Syria’s vulnerable minority communities.

No group has yet claimed responsibility, but Syrian authorities immediately pointed to the Islamic State group, whose cells remain active in parts of the country despite the formal collapse of its so-called caliphate. Syria’s Interior Minister accused IS militants of exploiting the country’s instability to reignite sectarian violence.

The violence comes at a precarious moment for Syria, which has been under de facto Islamist rule since President Bashar Assad was ousted in December by a rapid insurgency that fractured the country’s power structure.

His successor, President Ahmad al-Sharaa, has struggled to consolidate control and has made appeals to non-Sunni minority groups, including Christians and Alawites, promising security and inclusion in a new political order. Sunday’s attack threatens to undermine those efforts by stoking fear among minorities already uneasy under a dominant Islamist leadership.

“Sleeper cells of extremist groups are the most serious threat facing Syria right now,” said a Damascus-based security analyst who requested anonymity due to safety concerns. “Their strategy is to destabilize the capital and weaken public confidence in the government’s ability to protect its citizens.”

Although church attacks were once common during the height of Syria’s civil war, Sunday’s bombing is the first such incident targeting a Christian site in years, underscoring a shift in violence from front-line clashes to urban terrorism. The targeting of Mar Elias, a centuries-old religious site, also carries deep symbolic weight for Syria’s Christian communities, who fear erasure amid growing Islamization of political life.

The Syrian Health Ministry confirmed the casualty figures late Monday and said medical teams remain overwhelmed, with many of the wounded requiring intensive care. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and carnage, with bodies scattered inside the church and survivors frantically searching for loved ones.

Calls for a transparent investigation and for greater protections for religious minorities have intensified. While Syria’s transitional government has pledged to bring those responsible to justice, experts say that sectarian and extremist violence is likely to continue unless there is a broader regional strategy to dismantle jihadist networks operating covertly within the country.

As the investigation unfolds, President al-Sharaa faces growing pressure from both domestic and international actors to prove that his government can maintain stability and protect all communities in post-Assad Syria.

For now, the people of Dweil’a mourn yet another tragedy, as churches across Damascus toll their bells in remembrance of those lost in the latest chapter of Syria’s ongoing turmoil.

Russian Attacks on Ukraine Kill at Least 10 and Injure Dozens as Kyiv Suffers Direct Missile Strikes

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KYIV, Ukraine (BN24) — A fresh wave of Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine overnight killed at least 10 civilians and injured dozens more, with the brunt of the damage and casualties reported in Kyiv, where a section of a residential building collapsed following a direct missile hit.

Ukrainian officials said the Kremlin launched a combined aerial assault involving 352 drones, 11 ballistic missiles, and five cruise missiles. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the majority—339 drones and 15 missiles—were intercepted, but enough penetrated to cause widespread destruction and loss of life.

Among the worst-hit areas was Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district, where six people were confirmed dead. The blast reduced part of a five-story apartment block to rubble and left dozens of others wounded, including a pregnant woman rescued from a damaged high-rise. Mayor Vitali Klitschko described it as one of the deadliest attacks on the capital in recent weeks.

Rescue workers continued to dig through debris into Monday afternoon in search of survivors, with shattered cars and scorched debris littering the scene. Emergency officials said more than 30 people were injured in the capital alone.

The assault marked a grim echo of last week’s Russian strike, which killed 28 people, including 23 residents of a Kyiv apartment tower. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the renewed bombardment, saying it demonstrated Moscow’s intent to terrorize civilian populations and destroy morale.

“Russia continues its war against civilians with impunity,” Zelenskyy said, linking the latest barrage to Moscow’s use of foreign-supplied weaponry.

Preliminary Ukrainian assessments suggest that North Korean-made missiles were used in the attack. Zelenskyy denounced the growing alliance between Russia, North Korea, and Iran—the latter of which continues to supply Shahed drones for Russian use—as a “coalition of murderers.”

International leaders reacted with outrage. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called the strikes evidence of Moscow’s “unlimited cruelty” and vowed further European sanctions. Zelenskyy, meanwhile, traveled to London for talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with the war and future NATO support expected to dominate the agenda ahead of this week’s NATO summit in The Hague.

In Kyiv, shell-shocked residents described scenes of terror as missiles tore through neighborhoods. Oleksii Pozychaniuk, who lives in a neighboring building, recalled hearing the rocket’s approach: “We barely made it downstairs with my child. Everything was on fire, and the smoke made it impossible to see the neighboring building.”

Emergency personnel worked through the wreckage of collapsed buildings and destroyed vehicles, while dozens of volunteers helped clear glass and debris. Subway entrances, long used as shelters during Russian air raids, were also damaged, including Sviatoshyn station, where two people were lightly wounded.

The Russian onslaught extended beyond the capital. In the Chernihiv region, a short-range drone strike killed two civilians and injured 10, including three children. In Bila Tserkva, located 85 kilometers southwest of Kyiv, one person died and eight were wounded in a separate strike.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it had shot down 23 Ukrainian drones overnight in what appeared to be a retaliatory exchange amid the intensifying air war.

Though Russia has escalated its military campaign along Ukraine’s 620-mile front line, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War say its gains remain marginal. The latest strikes, they said, reflect Russia’s growing reliance on long-range missile and drone attacks to compensate for faltering ground operations.

“These attacks are about wearing down civilian morale, not battlefield success,” the institute said.

The use of Iranian and North Korean weaponry in Ukraine signals a deepening reliance by Moscow on its authoritarian allies. Western leaders are growing increasingly alarmed at the implications of these partnerships, with concerns that the Tehran-Pyongyang-Moscow axis could broaden the conflict’s reach.

For the people of Ukraine, however, the consequences remain immediate and devastating. In Kyiv and beyond, families are once again counting the cost of Russia’s escalating war of attrition, with no clear end in sight.

ICE Detains Marine Veteran’s Breastfeeding Wife Amid Push for Mass Deportations

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BATON ROUGE, La. (BN24) — The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has left one Marine Corps veteran scrambling to care for his infant daughter after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested his breastfeeding wife during a green card meeting last month.

Adrian Clouatre, a service-disabled Marine veteran, said he is struggling to explain to his children why their mother, Paola Clouatre, has vanished from their home. The arrest has forced him to bottle-feed their 3-month-old daughter Lyn, who had relied on breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact, while trying to comfort their nearly 2-year-old son Noah, who keeps asking for “Mama.”

“She’s just gone,” Clouatre said, still stunned by how swiftly immigration officers acted. “We were trying to do everything right.”

Paola Clouatre, 25, a Mexican national who entered the U.S. as a child seeking asylum, is now in ICE detention and faces deportation, a fate that could separate her from her family indefinitely. Her arrest comes amid a surge in detentions under President Donald Trump’s directive to ramp up deportations to 3,000 per day, targeting undocumented immigrants — even those married to U.S. citizens.

Paola’s arrest came during what was supposed to be a routine green card appointment with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on May 27. There, she disclosed that a 2018 deportation order had been issued after her mother failed to appear at an immigration hearing — a fact Paola, estranged from her mother and raised in shelters, had only recently discovered.

After the couple was asked to wait in the USCIS lobby, Paola was handcuffed and taken away by immigration officers, handing her wedding ring to her husband before being led out. Adrian, 26, said he was blindsided.

“They set her up,” he said. “We were told we’d be called for a follow-up. That was just a ploy.”

Immigration experts say Paola’s case illustrates a sharp shift in how military families are treated. Under past administrations, veterans’ spouses often received special discretion from deportation. But a February 2025 memo from USCIS declared the agency “will no longer exempt” military-connected families from removal.

According to military immigration attorney Margaret Stock, Paola would previously have been allowed to remain in the U.S. while reopening her deportation case. Now, such discretion appears all but vanished.

“They’re arresting breastfeeding mothers married to Marines,” Stock said. “That says everything about where we are.”

Paola’s attorney, Carey Holliday, a former immigration judge, echoed that outrage: “It’s a hell of a way to treat a veteran. You take their wives and send them back to Mexico?”

The couple has filed a motion to reopen the deportation order with a judge in California and await a decision.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Paola is “in the country illegally” and said the administration has “no tolerance for defiance” of immigration orders.

In a June 9 post on X, USCIS appeared to reference her case, writing: “Ignoring an Immigration Judge’s order to leave the U.S. is a bad idea. The government has a long memory and no tolerance for defiance when it comes to making America safe again.”

But Adrian Clouatre insisted his wife’s situation was misunderstood.

“She didn’t even know about the order. She was brought here as a child,” he said. “If she had been defiant, she’d have been deported years ago.”

While Marine Corps recruiters have promoted enlistment as a way to protect undocumented family members, immigration law experts say that promise no longer holds. Social media ads aimed at Latino recruits still suggest joining the Corps offers “protection from deportation” for relatives.

“That’s incredibly misleading,” said Stock. “They’re giving hope that doesn’t exist under current policy.”

In response, Marine Corps spokesperson Master Sgt. Tyler Hlavac said recruiters have now been instructed to stop implying military service guarantees immigration protection.

Adrian now makes an eight-hour round trip from Baton Rouge to the rural ICE detention center in Monroe, Louisiana, whenever he can, bringing updates from home and photos of the children. But the hardship of Paola’s absence is growing heavier by the day.

“I’m not political,” he said, “but I believe if you’re married to an American and trying to do the right thing, you should have a path to stay.”

For now, his only answer to Noah’s nightly question — “Where’s Mama?” — remains:
“She’ll be back soon.”

Kremlin Condemns U.S. Strikes on Iran, Warns of Regional Escalation

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MOSCOW (BN24) — The Kremlin issued a strong condemnation Monday of the U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, expressing deep regret over an action it said could spiral into a broader regional war.

Speaking to reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that the American decision to strike Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had “expanded the number of actors in the conflict” and launched a “new and dangerous spiral of escalation” across the Middle East.

“We deeply regret and resolutely condemn the actions taken by the United States,” Peskov said. “They have exacerbated an already volatile situation and risk plunging the region into uncontrollable instability.”

Peskov said it remained unclear what damage had been done to Iran’s nuclear facilities following the U.S. bunker-buster bombings, and whether there was any radiological hazard. “The situation on the ground cannot fail to raise serious concerns,” he added.

The U.S. operation, launched early Sunday, targeted Iran’s Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz nuclear sites, drawing international scrutiny and deepening fears of a broader confrontation. The International Atomic Energy Agency has not yet confirmed the extent of damage or any radiation risks.

While U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously discussed the possibility of American military involvement in general terms, Peskov said the Kremlin was not informed in advance about the timing or specifics of the strikes.

“There was no prior detailed notification provided to President Putin by the U.S.,” Peskov said, subtly hinting at Washington’s unilateral decision-making despite Moscow’s warnings about potential fallout.

With tensions at a boiling point, Russia has renewed its offer to act as a mediator in the crisis, although Peskov emphasized that any next steps would depend on what Iran required.

“We are prepared to assist in de-escalation,” Peskov said. “What happens next will be dictated by Iran’s needs and position.”

Russia and Iran signed a strategic partnership treaty earlier this year, deepening their political and economic ties, though the agreement did not include a mutual defense clause.

In a signal of Moscow’s ongoing engagement, President Putin is scheduled to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Moscow later Monday. The high-level meeting comes as Tehran weighs its next move following unprecedented strikes by both the U.S. and Israel.

Russia has long maintained that a military solution to the U.S.-Iran standoff would be catastrophic. In the days leading up to the American strikes, Moscow had explicitly warned that direct U.S. intervention could destabilize the entire Middle East and drag multiple countries into conflict.

Iran Warns ‘Gambler’ Trump: ‘You May Start This War, But We Will End It’

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TEHRAN (BN24) — Iran issued a stark warning to U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, vowing to end the war he initiated and expanding its list of legitimate military targets after American forces bombed key nuclear facilities inside the country.

Labeling Trump a “gambler” for joining Israel’s military campaign, Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari declared that Iran will have the final word in the conflict.

“Mr. Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it,” Zolfaqari said in English in a video statement from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command.

Though Iran has continued to launch missile attacks against Israeli cities, it has so far refrained from direct retaliation against U.S. military bases or targeting oil traffic near the Strait of Hormuz, where nearly 20% of global oil supply passes.

The Iranian warning came a day after Trump suggested toppling the regime in Tehran, marking a sharp shift from prior U.S. assurances that the mission was limited to halting Iran’s nuclear program.

“It’s not politically correct to use the term ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!” Trump wrote on social media Sunday.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military confirmed it had launched massive airstrikes on Iran’s Fordow nuclear complex, using bunker-buster bombs in an operation codenamed Midnight Hammer. Satellite imagery and defense analysts reported extensive damage to the uranium enrichment facility buried deep inside a mountain, though independent verification remains incomplete.

Trump called the strike a “Bullseye,” boasting that “monumental damage was done to all nuclear sites in Iran,” including sites at Natanz and Isfahan.

While Iran has not yet retaliated against the U.S. directly, it has continued retaliatory missile attacks on Israel. Iranian strikes have killed 24 civilians and injured hundreds in what Israeli officials called the most successful missile penetration of its air defense in history.

On Monday, Israel said it had conducted a fresh wave of airstrikes, with around 20 fighter jets hitting military infrastructure in Kermanshah and Tehran, including radar installations and missile launchers. Explosions were reported in central Tehran, and sirens rang out in Tel Aviv overnight.

Iran claimed that over 400 civilians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the conflict began on June 13, with many residents fleeing the capital for safety.

Though its rhetoric remains fiery, Iran’s military options appear increasingly constrained. Israeli victories in Lebanon led to the collapse of Hezbollah, once considered Iran’s most potent proxy. In Syria, Iran’s top client, President Bashar al-Assad, was ousted in a pro-Western coup weeks earlier, further isolating Tehran.

Now, Iran’s most formidable response could be economic warfare: closing the Strait of Hormuz, a move that would trigger a global oil crisis. Oil prices spiked above $80 per barrel on Monday before retreating slightly, a signal of market unease.

Iran’s parliament approved a measure to authorize closure of the strait, pending review by the Supreme National Security Council, which is headed by an appointee of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

However, such a move would bring direct confrontation with the U.S. Navy, whose Fifth Fleet is stationed in Bahrain.

“It’s economic suicide for them if they do it,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned. “And we retain options to deal with that.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Monday that diplomacy is off the table until Iran retaliates. Speaking in Istanbul, he confirmed meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow later in the day to coordinate positions. Russia, a strategic partner of Iran, also maintains close ties with Israel, making its role in the crisis pivotal.

“There will be no return to diplomacy until Iran’s sovereignty is respected,” Araqchi declared. “We are considering all options.”

As tensions escalate across the region and world leaders urge restraint, Tehran’s message remains unwavering: Iran will choose the battlefield, the timing, and the scope of its response — but a response is coming.

U.S. Warns Iran Against Retaliation as Trump Suggests ‘Regime Change’ After Nuclear Strikes

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls on reporters for questions during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington, Sunday, June 22, 2025, after the U.S. military struck three sites in Iran, directly joining Israel's effort to destroy the country's nuclear program. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump raised the prospect of regime change in Iran on Sunday in a provocative social media post following devastating U.S. airstrikes on three major nuclear sites inside the Islamic Republic. The comment, made as senior American officials publicly disavowed any intent to topple Tehran’s government, signaled rising tensions amid fears of regional war.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls on reporters for questions during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington, Sunday, June 22, 2025, after the U.S. military struck three sites in Iran, directly joining Israel’s effort to destroy the country’s nuclear program. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

“It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!” Trump posted on his platform, invoking his “Make America Great Again” slogan.

The president’s message contradicted earlier statements from top U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who emphasized that the strikes were aimed strictly at Iran’s nuclear capabilities, not at destabilizing its regime.

“This mission was not and has not been about regime change,” Hegseth said during a briefing at the Pentagon, describing the air campaign as “a precision operation” under the codename Operation Midnight Hammer.

Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Vance reiterated the administration’s stance. “We want to end their nuclear program, and then we want to talk to the Iranians about a long-term settlement. We do not want boots on the ground,” he said.

The remarks came as the Pentagon confirmed the highly classified strike operation, involving seven B-2 bombers and over 125 military aircraft, executed with precision against the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites. The attack included 75 precision-guided munitions, among them 14 bunker-buster bombs and dozens of Tomahawk missiles.

According to Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, the bombing inflicted “extremely severe damage” to all three sites. Satellite images reportedly showed cratered terrain above Fordow, where the U.S. deployed 30,000-pound bombs to penetrate underground facilities.

However, questions remain about the status of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi confirmed strikes on the Fordow enrichment site but cautioned that it was “too early” to assess damage to underground operations.

A senior Iranian source told Reuters that most of the highly enriched uranium stored at Fordow — including material enriched to 60% purity, close to weapons-grade — had been moved before the U.S. attack. The revelation could signal an effort by Tehran to preserve parts of its nuclear program or to hedge against anticipated escalation.

Trump’s comment and the operation itself mark a significant escalation in a region already beset by more than 20 months of warfare in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as instability in Syria. The airstrikes followed Israel’s earlier strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to launch a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israeli targets.

Senior U.S. officials warned Iran against further retaliation. “The response from Tehran will determine whether the U.S. conducts additional operations,” one Pentagon official said.

The success of Operation Midnight Hammer relied heavily on military secrecy. Few in Washington or at U.S. Central Command headquarters in Tampa were briefed in advance. B-2 bombers flew 18-hour round trips to deliver their payloads, using deception to mask their targets.

While Trump’s public suggestion of regime change may have been rhetorical, it has deepened unease among U.S. allies and adversaries alike. Officials across Europe and the Middle East continue to urge restraint, while Iran’s leadership has vowed to defend its sovereignty and people — warning of “all options” on the table in response.

The international community is now bracing for what comes next in a confrontation that has rapidly expanded from shadow warfare to open conflict.

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