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New Satellite Images Show Ongoing Activity at Iranian Nuclear Site; Interview with Sen. Mark Kelly: Marathon Senate Voting Session Underway on Trump's Mega Bill; Investigators Identify Shooter in Deadly Firefighter Ambush. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired June 30, 2025 - 15:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[15:30:00]

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: More than a week after President Trump declared Iran's nuclear facilities to be totally obliterated, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog says that Tehran could begin enriching uranium in just a matter of months. That's in line with the preliminary U.S. intel assessment that CNN reported on last week.

And today, there's new evidence of work already happening at one of the locations, the Fordow site that the U.S. bombed. Satellite images are showing new activity there, though it's unclear exactly what is being worked on.

CNN's Natasha Bertrand is following developments for us live from the Pentagon. So Natasha, has U.S. intelligence assessed what may be happening with this work being done at these facilities right now?

NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the short answer, Boris, is that we don't know yet. U.S. intelligence agencies are continuing to look at both the ramifications of the U.S. strikes on these facilities, as well as whether the Iranians are, of course, now trying to access the remnants of those facilities, which were severely damaged, at least on a surface level, by these massive penetrating bombs and tomahawk missiles that the U.S. launched at them earlier this month.

But we do have somewhat of a sense that at least one of the sites, Isfahan, which is one of the sites that was targeted by the U.S. strikes, that experts have been looking at in recent days, the satellite imagery. And one expert actually told us that there were a moderate number of vehicles at the entrance to Isfahan last week. And then by June 27, one of the tunnel entrances to Isfahan facility was cleared of obstructions by mid-morning. That's according to satellite imagery.

And so what that suggests is that the Iranians may be trying to gain access to those tunnels so that they can obtain the highly enriched uranium that is believed to be buried deep underground at Isfahan. And it's worth noting that the U.S. military did hit Isfahan facility, but they didn't use those massive ordnance penetrator bombs because they were deemed to be potentially not effective against the underground structures at Isfahan, just given how deep those tunnels actually are. So it's worth noting, as you alluded to, that at this point, even the

U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, is saying that Iran likely does have the capability to start producing enriched uranium again within a matter of months.

[15:35:00]

According to Rafael Grossi, quote, The capacities they have are there. They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium or less than that. But as I said, frankly speaking, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there.

Likely an allusion to President Trump's repeated claims that all of the facilities, as well as their nuclear program itself, have been completely obliterated. Now, obviously, the White House has pushed back very strongly against any of these suggestions.

And a U.S. official actually told CNN in response to Grossi's comments that, quote, Iran has no air defenses. So the idea that they can just start rebuilding a nuclear weapons program is nonsense. As the president has said, Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon.

So the suggestion there that if Iran were to try to pursue a nuclear weapon, then the U.S., Israel, they could launch additional airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. But as of right now, of course, we're still waiting for the full assessment from the intelligence community about just how far Iran's nuclear program has been set back here -- Boris.

SANCHEZ: Natasha Bertrand, live for us from the Pentagon. Thank you so much -- Brianna.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: And this just in, in Colorado, the Boulder County D.A.'s office says a victim of that anti-Semitic attack earlier this month has died. Karen Diamond died of severe injuries from the incident. She was 82 years old.

The suspect, Mohamed Soliman, now faces two first-degree murder charges, both of which are related to Diamond's death. If convicted, he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for each of the murder charges in his state case. And he's also facing federal hate crime charges related to the attack. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

Still ahead, a marathon voting session underway in the Senate as President Trump pressures Republican leaders to get his huge domestic agenda bill across the finish line. We'll speak with Senator Mark Kelly next.

[15:40:00]

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KEILAR: We are watching Capitol Hill as the Senate inches oh so slowly toward a vote on President Trump's sweeping domestic policy bill here moments ago.

Also, we should note Elon Musk again slamming the one Big, Beautiful Bill act. He said in a tweet, It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record $5 trillion, that we live in a one-party country -- the Porky Pig Party!! time for a new political party that actually cares about the people.

With us now from The Hill is Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona. I don't know, Senator, if you have any comment on what Elon Musk is talking about there. But obviously, he's also, I mean, he's kind of got some, you know, the Porky Pig funny in there.

But he's also talking about spending. And I do wonder on a serious note, if -- who is concerned about spending right now on The Hill?

SEN. MARK KELLY (D-AZ): Well, Brianna, I don't agree with Elon on everything. But on this, Elon's right. They're about to add up to $5 trillion. But for what's in this legislation, $3.3 trillion to the debt to give a big tax cut to the wealthiest Americans. At the same time, the thing that Elon cares about, I care about it as well, is the cuts in solar and wind renewable energy tax credits.

This is basically all the energy that we now add to the grid every year. And my Republican colleagues want to take this away. So on this, we're on Elon's side.

But the thing he didn't mention, which is also my biggest concern here, is they want to kick 17 million people off their health care. And again, just to give a big tax cut to the rich.

KEILAR: Different estimates on how many people will be off health care, but it is millions and millions to be sure. So we saw Thom Tillis votes against advancing the bill. The president threatens to back a primary challenger against him. Tillis ends up announcing he's not running for reelection.

Are you talking to your Republican colleagues? Do they really want this bill, all of them, or are some of them just worried they'll be primaried if they don't vote for it?

KELLY: Yes, I think some of them fall into the same category as Thom Tillis. We don't often see a lot of courage here on Capitol Hill.

I've been in the Senate for four and a half years. You know, I came here to do what's right for the American people. And I'm not going to make a decision based on how it's going to affect my next election. That's one of the big problems with this place. And this legislation is so bad for the American people.

But here's what's interesting about it, Brianna, and folks are starting to talk about this, how this is good for Democrats politically, despite that this could be good in the next election. I can guarantee you, every one of us, every Democrat here in the United States Senate, we want to defeat this legislation, because all it is, is a big wealth transfer from people who can't afford their health care to the richest Americans putting more money in their pockets. KEILAR: I want to listen to something that your Democratic colleague, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, said about the possibility of Democrats forcing a lengthier vote-a-rama for this bill.

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SEN. JOHN FETTERMAN (D-PA): I don't think it's really helpful. I think if you have an argument to make, do that in the next five or seven or eight amendments to make that powerful statement. And that barely, I don't understand, I don't think people are going to really be paying attention if you're doing 20, 30, or more kinds of amendments. I don't really think there's a lot of dignity in it.

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KEILAR: What do you think about that? Does he have a point, or do you disagree with him?

[15:45:00]

KELLY: I disagree with him. There is always dignity in fighting for the American people, especially folks who are just trying to get by.

I've talked to so many people in my state that are fearful of this, who have illnesses, who have adopted children who are on Medicaid. You know, when you adopt a kid through foster care, they're on Medicaid. I met this woman named Kiana Brown, who says that this -- what's going on here, makes her feel like the Republicans are burning down her house and the kids are still inside.

She is fearful that they're going to lose their Medicaid coverage, and one of her kids has special health care needs, and she cannot afford to buy health insurance for this child.

So I mean, if it takes us until 6 in the morning or all day tomorrow, we should stay here. And if we can try to make this bill a little -- like, a lot less bad, but at the same time, we should be here fighting for the American people.

I don't care if it takes a month if we have to stay straight through. So I disagree with my colleague from Pennsylvania.

KEILAR: As you look towards a summer that could benefit your party politically, even though 2026 is looking like a tough Senate map for Democrats, I want to ask you about some of the energy in your party and harnessing it. A Democratic Socialist, of course, Zohran Mamdani, is the likely winner of the Democratic Party in New York City. It's quite a swing from a Democratic mayor who was formerly a police officer.

You're in a purple state. So I wonder how you were looking at the dynamics of that election. Do you think the Democrats can harness the energy of the working class without entertaining or embracing socialist policies?

KELLY: We've got about 18 months to the next election, maybe a little bit less than that. And I think the American people are already realizing that it's Democrats here in the Senate and the House that are fighting for them and their families to try to get them a good deal. This administration and Republicans in Congress have been doing what's in the best interest of the wealthiest Americans.

And legislation and budgeting is all about priorities. I remember Brianna, I remember my mom, when I was a kid, sitting at the kitchen table and trying to figure out what bills to pay. And it was always a struggle.

And what we're doing right now on Capitol Hill is the Republicans are trying to take care of the wealthiest Americans. We're looking out for these people that are just trying to get by. I mean, these are folks that have to make decisions about whether they buy medication or pay rent or buy groceries for the week.

And these are impossible decisions. And we are standing up to them. And I think that is a compelling story that we can tell between now and next November.

KEILAR: Without entertaining socialism. I mean, can you speak to that element? Because I mean, you mentioned groceries.

City owned or run grocery stores was something that was very popular or something that was promoted in his campaign. Do you think that there is a way for Democrats to really harness energy of your voters without entertaining socialist policies?

KELLY: Brianna, I'm a capitalist. I want companies to be successful so their employees can be successful. So we have good paying jobs that you can actually raise a family on and also jobs that don't always require a four year degree.

We've worked on this in my four and a half years here in the Senate. We passed the Chips and Science Act, which allows people to have a great paying job and a career. And maybe they have to go to a community college for two years.

I mean, that's the vision that I have for this country. We are the greatest country on the planet. We are a country of inventors and innovators.

We can grow our economy. We can have a strong business climate and people can have a job where they can actually pay their bills. But we've got to get off this train that has been transferring a lot of this country's wealth to the richest Americans through tax policy.

You know, the wealthy Americans used to pay a little bit more in taxes. But under, you know, starting with President Reagan and then George W. Bush and now President Obama, the taxes that the wealthiest pay are much, much lower.

And that has become a bad deal for working and middle class Americans.

KEILAR: Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, thank you so much for being with us. KELLY: Thank you.

KEILAR: And stay with us. We'll be right back.

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SANCHEZ: We have new details for you on that 20 year old man suspected of a deadly ambush on two Idaho firefighters. The suspect was found dead hours later in the mountains of Coeur d'Alene.

KEILAR: These first responders were allegedly lured to a brush fire and then they were shot to death. A third firefighter was also hit and is now in the hospital.

CNN's Mark Morales is tracking this for us. Mark, what are you learning here?

MARK MORALES, CNN REPORTER: Well, Brianna, we're getting a clearer picture as to who this man was. And as we've said, he's been identified by law enforcement as a Wess Roley, 20 years old from Idaho.

But members of our scene and investigative team spoke to the shooter's grandfather today. And he tells them that Roley wasn't a loner. He says that they had they had weekly phone calls and that he comes from a loving family. And he also, very interesting to note, talked about what his aspirations were.

[15:55:00]

He said that Roley wanted to actually be a firefighter and was interested in getting involved in the tree service industry, which was apparently a family business. A lot of members of his family were arborists.

So this also happens while investigators are still working for a motive. They're still looking into his background. They're still trying to piece everything together.

And we come upon here a day later. And this is kind of the pace that these investigations go. Once the threat is neutralized, now investigators go in and try to figure out what went wrong here.

And a key part of this was when law enforcement used a cell phone to track his location and were able to pinpoint where he was. But just as important was the first 911 call that came out that actually let investigators know that not only two firefighters were hurt, but that they were walking into a trap.

Law enforcement is having a press conference in a short while and hopefully we'll find out some more answers to some of the questions that are still outstanding.

SANCHEZ: Yes, what appears to be a senseless act. We look forward to getting more information. Mark Morales, thank you so much for the reporting.

Thank you so much for sharing part of your afternoon with us. "THE ARENA" with Kasie Hunt starts after a quick break.

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