Trump Returns from NATO Summit as Iran Tensions Persist

Washington D.C. - President Donald Trump has returned to Washington following a whirlwind NATO summit in the Netherlands, immediately facing questions regarding the escalating tensions with Iran. The President indicated that face-to-face talks with Iran could occur next week, though no official meeting has yet been scheduled. Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader has made his first public statement since a ceasefire was declared in the conflict with Israel, claiming a "great victory" for Iran and asserting that the US "gained nothing from this war." He stated that the Islamic Republic emerged victorious and delivered a "harsh slap to America's face." President Trump has vehemently rejected a preliminary report from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) concerning the impact of US strikes on Iran's nuclear program. While the DIA's assessment described the damage as "preliminary, low confidence," suggesting the program was only set back by "days to weeks" rather than completely destroyed, Trump insisted that the Iranian nuclear program was "obliterated." He cited an Israeli assessment that concluded US bunker-buster bombs "destroyed the site's critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperable." On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are still seeking more detailed information. A classified briefing scheduled for yesterday was postponed, with senators now expected to be briefed today and House members tomorrow. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D) Connecticut emphasized the need for clarity, stating, "There's a difference between severe damage and obliteration... I want to know how much we set back in days or months or years." The conflicting reports underscore the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the true extent of the damage to Iran's nuclear capabilities.