The President's Daily Brief - July 23rd, 2025: Iran Finally Admits Nuclear Facilities Were 'Destroyed' & Zelensky Under Fire Over Legislative Power Grab

Episode Date: July 23, 2025

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:    First—Iran’s foreign minister admits that his country’s nuclear facilities were “destroyed” by the recent American bombing campaign, but vows to resume uranium enrichment efforts once their sites have been rebuilt. Later in the show—Russia and Ukraine are holding a new round of peace talks in Istanbul today aimed at ending the ongoing war, but the Kremlin is already dashing hopes for a breakthrough. Plus—watchdog groups in Ukraine sound the alarm after their parliament passed a bill that critics say will effectively destroy the independence of Ukraine's two key anti-corruption institutions. In our 'Back of the Brief—tragic news out of Syria, where an American citizen from Oklahoma was executed alongside members of his family during the attacks on the Druze community by Sunni Islamists and government forces. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.   YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief TriTails Premium Beef: Visit https://trybeef.com/pdb & get $10 off 20 Lbs Ground Beef Special Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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We'll start with this. Iran's foreign minister claims that his country's nuclear facilities were, quote, destroyed by the recent American bombing campaign. But he vows that they will resume uranium enrichment efforts once their sites have been rebuilt. Now, here, of course, is the caveat. You may not want to take what the Iranian foreign minister says as the truth. Later in the show, Russia and Ukraine are holding a new round of peace talks in Istanbul today, aimed at ending the ongoing war.

But the Kremlin is already dashing hopes for a breakthrough. Plus, the watchdog groups in Ukraine sound the alarm after their parliament passed a bill the critics say will effectively destroy the independence of Ukraine's two key anti-corruption institutions. And in today's back of the brief, news out of Syria, where an American citizen from Oklahoma was executed alongside members of his family during the attacks on the Druze community by Sunni Islamists and government forces. But first, today's PDB spotlight. After nearly a month of silence regarding the state of their nuclear program, Iranian officials are now stating that their recent U.S. bombing campaign against their enrichment facilities did significant damage.

Iranian foreign minister Abassarachi made the statement during an interview with Fox News's Brett Baer on Monday evening, telling the host that the U.S. military's June 22nd strikes, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, left Iran's three nuclear facilities seriously damaged, effectively halting the Islamic regime's ability to refine nuclear fuel. As a reminder, the strikes marked one of the most ambitious attempts to dismantle the Islamic regime's nuclear infrastructure in over a decade. The coordinated assault hit Tehran's key enrichment facilities at Natanz, Fordo, and Isfahan, deploying 30,000-pound bunker busters and submarine-launched tomahawks in a campaign meant to cripple Iran's weapons potential.

Eranqi initially told Fox News that, quote, our facilities have been damaged, seriously damaged, the extent of which is now under evaluation, before later conceding, quote, the facilities have been destroyed. Still, Arachi struck a defiant tone, telling Bear that leaders in Tehran fully intend to rebuild the sites and resume uranium enrichment activities in the future, albeit for what he claims are, quote, peaceful purposes. He called it a matter of national pride, saying, quote, obviously we cannot give up our enrichment because it is an achievement of our scientists. He insisted that despite the damage dealt by America's stealth bombers and missile strikes,

along with Israel's 12-day war against the regime that eliminated top military leaders and nuclear scientists, Iran still has the resources and scientific expertise to revive their enrichment capabilities. Iraqshe said, quote, the technology is there, the scientists are there, that people who have run these facilities are there, buildings can be rebuilt, facilities can be rebuilt, machines can be replaced, end quote. As for the status of Iran's existing stockpile of enriched uranium, which has been the subject of much speculation since the strikes, the foreign minister claimed he has no detailed information. As we've been tracking on the PDB, while the Trump administration has said the

bombing operation completely obliterated Iran's nuclear capabilities, well, leaked intelligence reports have painted a more complex picture. An Israeli intelligence assessment from earlier this month said some uranium enriched to 60% purity just below the 90% weapons credit threshold survived the strikes and remains intact inside hardened casks at the Isfahan facility. facility. Anonymous Israeli officials warned that the material could be recovered by Iranian engineers and used in a future push toward a nuclear weapon, though there's no evidence yet that Iranian officials have attempted an excavation. Then last week, anonymous sources told NBC News that a U.S. intelligence assessment found that while Operation Midnight Hammer severely damaged Iran's for no nuclear facility,

the other key enrichment sites at Natanz and Isfahan were only partially damaged. They claimed that both sites may still be capable of resuming Iranian enrichment in the near future, possibly within the next several months, though the Trump administration disputed NBC's reporting. As I mentioned, Iran's foreign minister insisted Monday that the regime will return to enrichment before long. He also said Tehran would not agree to any new nuclear deal with the Trump administration that prohibits domestic Iranian enrichment, saying it's a question of, quote, dignity for the Iranian people. Aradhi said, quote, if the goal is to make sure that Iran will never have nuclear weapons,

well, that is achievable. But if the goal is to deprive Iran from its rights, including the right of enrichment, I think we have difficulty, end quote. Furthermore, he stated that the Mullahs will not accept international calls for the regime to reduce their production of ballistic missiles, saying the country will, quote, never disarm ourselves. He also said the regime will not stop funding their network of terror proxies across the Middle East, saying groups like Hamas and the Houthis are, quote, fighting for a just cause,

and we have always supported them, end quote. But President Trump was quick to warn Iran against engaging in further regional belligerence. After Iraqi declared on Monday that their nuclear facilities were, quote, destroyed, Trump took to truth social, saying, quote, of course they are, just like I said, and we will do it again if necessary, end quote. Again, I'm not sure that I would trust anything that the Iranian foreign minister said. The Israeli and U.S. Intel assessments, the damage assessments appear well-sourced and credible, and they claim again that one of the three targeted sites, Fordo, was severely damaged,

while the other two were only somewhat damaged. For what it's worth, I'm going to believe those assessments before I believe the claims of an Iranian official. All right, coming up after the break, Russia and Ukraine hold a new round of peace talks in Istanbul, and Ukraine's parliament passes a bill that critics say effectively destroys the independence of the country's two key anti-corruption institutions. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now, here's an important fact that perhaps you've missed.

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saying he had met with his Security Council chief who confirmed preparations for the negotiations were underway, including another potential large prisoner swap. The timing is, well, no coincidence. Zelensky's renewed push for diplomacy follows what we flagged here on the PDB, President Trump's 50-day ultimatum to Moscow. In Trump's warning, he urged Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire or face, quote, severe economic consequences. So far, Russia has shrugged. Talking to a reporter from the BBC, Trump admitted that he was, quote, disappointed so far, but made clear he was, quote, not done with his Russian counterpart just yet. Moscow, meanwhile, isn't even pretending to be hopeful about what the talks could potentially achieve. Kremlin mouthbeat. Dmitri Peskov told reporters, quote, we do not expect a miraculous breakthrough, while reiterating that Russia remains committed to, quote,

fulfilling the tasks that we set for ourselves from the very beginning. That would be a reference, of course, to its sweeping land grabs across Ukraine. He also acknowledged the obvious. The two sides remain, quote, diametrically opposed on what peace should look like. Well, that could be because Putin thinks that peace should look like Russia owning all of Ukraine.

Now, the choice of venue is familiar. Istanbul hosted two prior rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine delegations back in May and June. Those negotiations failed to produce a ceasefire, but did pave the way for prisoner swaps and the return of soldiers' remains. Turkish media is reporting that the talks could extend into Thursday or Friday if progress is made. That's, of course, a big if. A senior Ukrainian official told AFP that the meaning may also raise the possibility of a face-to-face between Zelensky and Putin, though that idea appears to be dead on arrival. The Russian president continues to reject Zelensky's legitimacy outright, pointing to the expiration of

his term under martial law and framing Ukraine's leadership as constitutionally defunct. The latest attempt at diplomacy is unfolding against a backdrop of escalating violence. Just hours after the new round of talks were announced, Ukraine's foreign ministry reported that 42 Russian drones slammed into civilian areas overnight, injuring at least a dozen people. On the front lines in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow has funneled much of its firepower, Ukrainian forces say they've repelled more than 50 attacks in recent days. As we've previously discussed, the Trump administration has responded to Russia's escalation by greenlighting fresh weapons shipments to bolster Ukraine's military. As the delegations resume their discussions, they're bringing the same hardened demands. Keeve, once every

into its territory back, Moscow wants its wartime annexations recognized. And while nobody is holding their breath for a ceasefire today, the talks mark an early test of whether Trump's ultimatum to Russia can force movement, or whether this latest diplomatic overture will also fail. Okay, sticking with Ukraine, the country's parliament passed a bill that opposition watchdogs warned, could gut the country's top anti-corruption agencies, potentially unraveling a decade of reforms and throwing its EU accession plans into doubt. Lawmakers on Tuesday approved amendments handing the Prosecutor General broad new powers over what's called the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, or, of course, there's an acronym, Nabu, and the specialized anti-corruption

prosecutor's office, ooh, there's another acronym, Sappho. The very agencies once paraded as reformed victories following the 2014 Maydard Revolution. Now, the bill now sits on President Zelensky's desk, awaiting either a signature or a veto. The new law would allow the Prosecutor General, a Zelensky loyalist installed just last month, to issue directives in NABU investigations, reassigned cases at will, strip Sapo of its autonomy, and even shut down inquiries at the request of the defense. Critics argue the change is effectively neuter the very agency's task with policing high-level graft. At a press conference following the vote, Sapo's chief warned, quote, this is effectively the end of the work of two independent institutions, end quote. Dabu's director echoed that alarm, framing the bill as a direct threat to Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The agency itself preemptively blasted the legislation, saying it would, quote, destroy Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure. Just as troubling is the speed at which the bill was rammed through parliament. Listen to this. The draft was introduced, amended. passed and signed by the parliamentary speaker all within a single day.

There was no debate, no public consultation, and barely any time for lawmakers to even digest the fine print. The head of the Ukraine Parliament's Anti-Corruption Committee and the lone dissenter from Zeletsky's servant of the People Party called the process a farce. She warned the Russian vote when, quote, dismantled Nabu and Sapo. And here's where things get murky. Just 24 hours earlier, Ukrainian law enforcement launched coordinated reins on both agencies. The Security Service of Ukraine, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the Prosecutor General's Office, descended on the institutions targeting 15 employees. Authorities accuse the targets of everything from administrative misconduct to pro-Shen leetings and espionage.

One NABU officer is being prosecuted for allegedly spying for Moscow. Another faces drug trafficking charges. None of the cases have gone to trial, and their timing critics say, is anything but random. Between the raids and the legislative power grab, watchdogs are warning of a deliberate rollback of democratic reforms, one designed to shield Ukraine's most powerful figures, possibly including those within Zelensky's own orbit. Dabu has gone further, cautioning the law could obstruct ongoing investigations into the president's inner circle. Observers argue that the agencies may have simply grown too independent, and Zelensky's administration may have become uncomfortable with institutions that can no long. her control. The international backlash came fast. The EU said it was, quote, concerned, oh, well, they're concerned, reiterating that Nambu and Sapo are, quote, crucial to Ukraine's

reform agenda and public trust. The European Commissioner for enlargement was more blunt, calling the vote, quote, a serious step back, warning that it threatens Ukraine's EU membership applications. Now, the spotlight shifts to Zelensky. Whether he signs or vetoes the bill, will send a clear message to Brussels, Washington, and Ukraine's own reformers if Kiev is serious or not about ruining out corruption. Okay, coming up next in the back of the brief, an American citizen from Oklahoma was executed in Syria alongside members of his family during the recent attacks on the Druze community. I'll have those details when we return. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let's take a brief moment to talk about ways to protect your hard-earned savings. Now, I know the old personal finance talk

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Last Wednesday, as the clash is intensified, he and seven other members. members of his family, including his father and brother, were seized by armed men in military fatigues and forced to walk at gunpoint to a deserted street. They were then forced to kneel and were executed, according to a report from CNN. The State Department confirmed the deaths after video footage began circulating online last week, showing Soraya and his family members being murdered by what appears to be Syrian soldiers. In the disturbing footage, soldiers can be seen filming the captives and talking to each other before opening fire. without warning, killing all eight men while shouting, God is great.

Friends and relatives of Hossam Saraya say he and other members of the family were taken from their homes by government forces and militants aligned with the government. They said all the family's male members were killed in the attack, leaving their wives' daughters as the only surviving members of the Soraya family. In an account, a surviving female family member told CNN, quote, Some of them were wearing military fatigues, some of them were dressed like Bedouins. one of them was wearing a general security uniform. They told us, we are the army of Ahmed al-Jalani. Now, that's the former al-Qaeda operative and current ruler in Syria, who now goes by the name of Ahmed al-Shara.

She added, quote, they threatened us, told us not to make a sound or we will kill you. They threatened us with rape. He told me, if you speak, I will come and kill you, end quote. The death of Hulsap Saraya and his family members has, of course, provoked widespread outrage. Senator James Langford of Oklahoma said he was, quote, heartbroken by the news. In a statement, Langford said, quote, we are praying for his family, friends, and the entire community, as they grieve this senseless loss. For their part, a spokesman for Alshara's government said the new Islamist regime, quote, categorically rejects crimes against civilians. The spokesman added that, quote, everyone responsible for these crimes will face justice, regardless of the ethnicity or sect of their victims. such acts are absolutely unacceptable to us, and those who committed it will face justice,

end quote. Now, Hossop Saraya, a graduate of Oklahoma Christian University and also Damascus University, was a proud member of Syria's Dru's religious minority and had founded a virtual school for Syrian children administered in Sweda. One surviving relative remembered him as very ambitious and very kind, saying, quote, he loved to help his community. More than 128,500 people have been displaced since Sunni Islamist Bedouin fighters began attacking the Druze community in southern Syria back on the 13th of July.

According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the subsequent fighting has killed more than 1,300 people, including 533 Druze fighters and 300 civilians from the minority group, 196 of whom were reportedly executed by government-aligned. forces. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily Brief for Wednesday, the 23rd of July. Now, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at PDB at thefirsttv.com. And, of course, to listen to the show ad-free, it's very simple, just become a premium member of the President's Daily Brief by visiting PDB Premium.com. I'm Mike Baker. I'll be back later today with the PDB afternoon bulletin.

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