President Trump announced Wednesday that Iranian representatives have approached the U.S. about holding a peace summit, claiming they are now desperate due to the punishing blows they’ve suffered—but that he rebuffed the idea, warning them it might be too late and that “there’s a big difference between now and a week ago.”
While he has alternated between pushing for negotiations and supporting Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear assets, Trump signaled a clear pivot away from diplomacy for the time being, pointing out that after nearly a week of intense fighting with Israel, the window for talks had nearly closed.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued a scathing statement in response to Israel’s military strikeS on Iran, denouncing the operation as “illegal” and warning the United States against becoming entangled in what he described as “another of Netanyahu’s wars.”
“Netanyahu started this war with a surprise unilateral attack against Iran, which has already killed hundreds of people and wounded many more,” Sanders stated. “This attack was specifically designed to sabotage American diplomatic efforts: Israel assassinated the man overseeing Iran’s nuclear negotiating team, despite the fact that further talks with the United States were scheduled for Sunday.”

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, struck a defiant tone on Wednesday, insisting that Tehran will not yield to President Trump’s demands or be intimidated by his threats regarding Iran’s role in the war with Israel.
“The US President threatens us. With his absurd rhetoric, he demands that the Iranian people surrender to him. They should make threats against those who are afraid of being threatened. The Iranian nation isn’t frightened by such threats,” Khamenei wrote in a post on X.
He went on to issue a stern warning that Iran would not retreat under pressure and cautioned that any military move by the United States would bring about catastrophic repercussions.

Iran delivered a stark warning to Washington on Wednesday, declaring that any U.S. participation in the escalating conflict with Israel would provoke a full-scale regional war.
“Any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region,” cautioned Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei during an interview with Al Jazeera.
Baghaei did not specify further actions, but Iran has access to numerous U.S. military installations scattered throughout neighboring nations, all within reach of its missiles.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, reinforced the warning, stating that any American offensive would have “serious irreparable consequences.”

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Agudath Israel of America will be presenting, along with Chazaq and MDY, a grand Daf Yomi siyum on Maseches Shevuos Wednesday night, June 18.
The event will feature divrei chizuk from Rav Tzemach Mazuz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Kisseh Rachamim.
The evening will feature powerful divrei chizuk, heartfelt tefillah, and celebration.
Location:
Yeshiva Ohel Simcha
141-41 72nd Avenue
Flushing, NY 11367
The program will begin at 8:30 PM. Men and women are invited to attend.
For those who cannot attend in person, the event will be streamed live at: TorahAnytime.com/Chazaqlive

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz said moments ago that Israeli Air Force fighter jets just “destroyed the headquarters of the Iranian regime’s internal security, the main arm of the Iranian dictator’s oppression,” Emanuel Fabian reports for the Times of Israel.
“As we promised, we will continue to target symbols of [Iran’s] rule and strike the Ayatollah regime wherever it may be,” he added.
{Matzav.com Israel}

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, issued a provocative statement on social media, just hours after President Trump demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”
“In the name of #Haider, the battle begins. Ali returns to #Khaybar with his Zulfiqar,” Khamenei wrote in Farsi on X, referencing Imam Ali and his legendary sword used in the historic Battle of Khaybar.
His post coincided with warnings broadcast by Iranian state outlets, which alluded to a dramatic escalation expected between Tuesday night and Wednesday, calling it an event that “the world will remember for centuries.”
In a televised speech, Khamenei directly addressed Trump’s warnings, emphasizing that Iran would not give in to coercion or military intimidation.

The first rescue flight from Larnaca touched down Wednesday morning at Ben Gurion Airport as part of Israel’s newly launched Operation “Safe Return,” a government initiative aimed at bringing home stranded Israelis following widespread flight cancellations.
The effort is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety, in coordination with the Israel Airports Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority. It was initiated in response to the ongoing aviation crisis that left tens of thousands of Israelis stuck abroad without a way home.

Israeli intelligence agencies have been employing mobile phone surveillance to pinpoint and eliminate targets inside Iran, including nuclear scientists, according to a report released Monday by media sources affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Jerusalem Post reports.
“Israel uses mobile tracking to assassinate individuals in Iran. It previously killed Ismail Haniyeh the same way in Tehran,” the outlet reported, citing claims published by Iran International.
The same report explained that even when individuals power off their phones at certain sites or residences, the devices can still reveal their location. It recommended that high-value individuals switch to encrypted, anti-surveillance mobile technology to avoid detection.