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Skies over Israel and Iran fall quiet as shaky ceasefire holds - but Trump faces scrutiny

Donald Trump's claim that Iranian nuclear sites were "totally destroyed" is in doubt, after a US intelligence report emerged appearing to contradict his assessment. Listen to the latest episode of The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim below as you scroll.

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Iran executes three men accused of spying for Israel

Iran has executed three men after they were convicted of collaborating with Israel.

The men were accused of working with the Mossad spy agency and smuggling equipment used in an assassination, the Mizan news agency reports.

Mizan did not give further details.

Iran has put to death many individuals convicted of having links with the Mossad and facilitating Israel's operations in the country.

What do you need to know this morning?

It's just hit 5.30am and the skies over Israel and Iran have fallen quiet.

It's the second day of the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, which got off to a shaky start yesterday - angering Donald Trump.

He said both countries "don't know what the f*** they're doing", but was particularly upset with Israel's prime minister, who we understand turned planes around on Trump's orders.

The truce has appeared to hold since then, with noises from both sides insisting they will abide by the deal as long as the other does.

Meanwhile, Trump is in the Netherlands for a NATO summit, which will have conflicts in the Middle East high on the agenda.

Analysis: There's a critical question behind the events of the past few days

By Mark Stone, US correspondent

Behind the chest-thumping from Donald Trump, and the bewilderment beyond at his statecraft-by-social-media, doubts have now reached fever pitch about the success of the American bombing of Iran's nuclear sites.

Leaks from the US Defence Department suggest the bunker busting bombs dropped on Iran's three nuclear enrichment sites might only have set the country's nuclear capabilities back by months.

"We were assuming that the damage was going to be much more significant than this assessment is finding," said one of three sources, speaking to NBC News.

Explained: Where are Iran's nuclear facilities?

Donald Trump has been praising US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities - but intelligence suggests the destruction may not have been emphatic as he claims. 

In fact, the attacks may have just set the programme back by months, rather than eliminated it entirely - see our post at 21.16.

As a reminder, this map shows the key nuclear locations - and we'll be going through each one.

For context, we use the term nuclear proliferation a lot below, so here's the definition:

The spread of nuclear weapons, and, more generally, the spread of nuclear technology and knowledge that might be put to military use. Nuclear proliferation is controlled by the Nuclear Non鈥恜roliferation Treaty, which recognises five nuclear states: the US, the UK, Russia, China and France. 

Natanz

One of Iran's principal uranium enrichment complexes lies on a plain adjacent to mountains outside the Shiite Muslim holy city of Qom, south of Tehran.

Natanz houses facilities including two enrichment plants: the vast, underground Fuel Enrichment Plant and the above-ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant.

It was revealed in 2002 that Iran was secretly building the facility, which is said to be three floors underground. 

Fordow

Another enrichment site can be found at Fordow - one that is extremely well protected, given that it's thought to be dug into the side of a mountain.

Isfahan

Iran's second-biggest city is home to a large nuclear technology centre, which includes a Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant and a uranium conversion facility. 

There is equipment at Isfahan to make uranium metal, a process that is particularly proliferation-sensitive since it can be used to create the core of a nuclear bomb.

Khondab

In Khondab lies a partially built heavy-water research reactor.

These pose a nuclear proliferation risk because they can produce plutonium which, like enriched uranium, can be used to make the core of an atom bomb.

Iran has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that it plans to bring the reactor online in 2026, with a previous 2015 deal seeing the reactor's core removed and filled with concrete to make it unusable.

Tehran

Iran's nuclear research facilities in its capital Tehran include a research reactor.

Bushehr 

Iran's only operating nuclear power plant lies in the Bushehr area on the Gulf coast.

The facility uses Russian fuel that Moscow then takes back when it is spent, therefore reducing the proliferation risk.

In pictures: Scenes of damage at Iranian sites struck by US

As Washington wrangles over the true extent of damage US strikes caused at Iranian nuclear sites, new satellite images show their aftermath.

These pictures show the scene at the three sites targeted by the US over the weekend.

Isfahan

Fordow

Natanz

US intel report on Iranian strikes sent to Congress - report

The US intel suggesting damage at Iranian nuclear sites was not what Donald Trump has claimed to be (see our 21.16 post) is likely to remain a talking point in Washington and beyond.

Our US partner network NBC News has found that initial report has been seen by some senators at a secure location, and it has been transmitted to Congress.

Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Armed Services Committee, has reviewed the document.

But he would not discuss the contents because of its classified nature.

"I've reviewed the classified material," he said.

"I'm a little bit disappointed that my colleagues went and looked at it and mainly started talking about it publicly.

"That's not we're supposed to do with a classified report."

The World: Do Israel and Iran know 'what the f***' they're doing now?

In this episode, Richard and Yalda react to Donald Trump's F-bomb earlier today.

As the shaky Israel-Iran ceasefire came into effect, he told reporters the two countries "don't know what the f*** they're doing".

Yalda gives Richard her inside scoop on the call Trump had with Benjamin Netanyahu to stop him from bombing Iran.

They also ask each other what could come next - and look at what regime change would entail in Iran.

This episode contains language some may find offensive.

To get in touch or to share questions, email theworld@AG百家乐在线官网.uk 

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Iran denies reports of drone strikes

Iran's Revolutionary Guards has denied earlier reports of a drone attack in the northwestern city of Tabriz.

Iranian media had said air defences were activated in the area, amid a fragile ceasefire with Israel.

As we reported earlier, Israel's military said it has detected a drone heading towards its airspace (see 21.30).

Our strikes on Iranian nuclear sites worked perfectly, says US defence secretary

We've got a little more to bring you now on the report suggesting US strikes did not destroy Iranian nuclear sites (see our 21.16 post).

Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, has responded to the claims, which are based on initial US intel assessments and contradict Donald Trump's claims.

Here's what he said:

Based on everything we have seen - and I've seen it all - our bombing campaign obliterated Iran's ability to create nuclear weapons.

Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target - and worked perfectly.

The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran; so anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the president and the successful mission.

'Time for diplomacy', UK, France and Germany tell Iran

Sir Keir Starmer has been joined by his French and German counterparts in calling for Iran to "come to the negotiating table".

Now is the "time for diplomacy", Starmer's office said in a statement.

The UK prime minister met with Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz at the NATO summit in The Hague earlier today.

"The leaders reflected on the volatile situation in the Middle East," the statement added.

"Now was the time for diplomacy and for Iran to come to the negotiating table, they agreed."

Iran has argued they were at the negotiating table with the US, before Israel's attacks began.