Israel-Iran strikes continue: What we cognize
President Trump is considering joining Israel's multiday effort to onslaught Iranian atomic facilities, aggregate sources acquainted with the substance told CBS News.
One imaginable people is Fordo, a subterranean uranium enrichment tract that's believed to beryllium cardinal to Iran's atomic program, according to the sources, which see a elder quality authoritative and a Department of Defense official.
Fordo is buried astir 300 feet beneath a upland and protected by important aerial defenses and is believed to beryllium the astir apt determination for a hypothetical atomic weapons "breakout" program. Nuclear non-proliferation experts accidental that it's astatine Fordo wherever Iran has aimed to enrich uranium for weapons purposes and grow its stockpile of enriched uranium.
Infographic with outer representation from Planet Labs PBC, from March 19, 2025, showing the Fordo atomic tract successful Iran.
© 2025 PLANET LABS PBC / AFP / Getty Images
There is not afloat statement among Mr. Trump's closest advisers connected however to proceed.
The contented was expected to beryllium discussed successful a gathering with Mr. Trump's nationalist information squad successful the White House Situation Room earlier Tuesday. Attendees included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and peculiar envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
Shortly aft launching strikes connected Iran aboriginal Friday morning, Israel alleged the state is making swift advancement toward gathering atomic weapons. But earlier this year, a U.S. quality appraisal said Iran is not gathering atomic weapons, but unit has apt built connected the authorities to restart its atomic program.
Iran has dramatically increased its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium successful caller months, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Iranian authorities has agelong insisted its atomic programme is intended for peaceful purposes.
The Trump medication has said publicly and privately that the U.S. is not progressive successful Israel's offensive, though CBS News has previously reported the U.S. has helped Israel intercept missiles fired by Iran successful retaliation.
Mr. Trump hasn't ruled retired getting involved, and a bid of posts connected Truth Social earlier Tuesday person raised questions astir the U.S.'s level of engagement successful the conflict.
The president posted connected Tuesday, "We present person implicit and full power of the skies implicit Iran." He besides wrote that the U.S knows the whereabouts of Iran's ultimate leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but added, "We are not going to instrumentality him retired (kill!), astatine slightest not for now." CBS News antecedently reported that Mr. Trump opposed an Israeli plan to termination Khamenei.
Most recently, Mr. Trump posted, "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!"
Sara Cook and Margaret Brennan contributed to this report.
James LaPorta is simply a nationalist information coordinating shaper successful CBS News' Washington bureau. He is simply a erstwhile U.S. Marine infantryman and seasoned of the Afghanistan war.
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