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Israel & Iran Trade Airstrikes as Conflict Enters Sixth Day; IDF Says It Struck Key Military Targets in Tehran Region; Will U.S. Get Involved in Iran? Aired 6-6:30a ET

Aired June 18, 2025 - 06:00   ET

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

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ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

[06:00:43]

AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: And we're continuing to follow that breaking news in the widening conflict between Israel and Iran. Good morning, everybody. I'm Audie Cornish in Washington.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm John Berman in New York. Thank you for waking up with us.

"The battle begins." Those words posted just a few hours ago by Iran's supreme leader as we now enter day six of deadly airstrikes between Israel and Iran, airstrikes which have led to hundreds of casualties already.

CORNISH: And now the question looming over everything: Will the U.S. get involved? Sources tell CNN President Trump is now warming up to the idea of using U.S. military assets to strike at the heart of Iran's nuclear program, located beneath a mountain fortress in the Northern part of the country.

As the U.S. weighs its options, more missiles are flying in the skies over Iran. According to local media reports, air defense systems in Tehran have been activated amid another barrage of Israeli strikes.

Israel's military says 50 jets launched attacks on nuclear facilities overnight.

The president is also demanding Iran's unconditional surrender on social media, while declaring the country will never get a nuclear weapon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I told them to do the deal. They should have done the deal. The cities have been blown to pieces, and we've lost a lot of people. They should have done the deal. I told them, do the deal. So, I don't know. I'm not too much in a mood to negotiate.

(END VIDEO CLIP) CORNISH: Now, in a moment, we're going to be hearing from some of our CNN international diplomatic staff, including editor Nic Robertson.

Right now, you're seeing some of those images from overnight as these airstrikes continue into the sixth day.

One of the questions will be the president's potential involvement. What will the U.S. be involved in going forward?

CNN's Nic Robertson is here to give us some more insight.

Nic, can you tell us more about what's been going on overnight?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, I think the -- the perception you get here -- and this is certainly what the IDF is telling us at the moment -- is that Iran's ballistic missile count incoming to Israel is diminishing, down to about 30 different missiles, ballistic missiles that were fired into Israel last night. No casualties. The air defense is working again here in the center of Israel.

But it does seem -- and the IDF is saying -- that this could be as a result of their attacks on the launch sites, their attacks on weapons storage facilities, their attacks on -- on their defensive systems against the ballistic missiles; that Iran is just not able to get off as many ballistic missiles as they were before.

Israel, for its part, said it had 50 fighter jets in the air in operations over Iran last night in -- for about three hours in three different waves.

But also from the Israeli side, those 50 fighter jets, significant number. But it's also down over previous days.

But I think the reality that seems to emerge here at the -- on the military front is that Iran -- Iran's punch into Israel is getting weaker. And Israel says its control -- its control of the airspace in Iran is getting stronger.

But then in the diplomatic space that you're talking about, the possibility of President Trump weighing the consideration of joining Israel in trying to destroy Iran's nuclear production facilities, that is something that everyone here is watching.

And I have been talking to some former intelligence experts, Israeli intelligence experts on Iran. And one thing that gives them a slight pause for concern is the language that President Trump is using, calling on the Iranian leadership for unconditional surrender.

The experts I'm talking to here think that is counterproductive in the way that Iran will respond and reduces the likelihood that it might come to the negotiating table.

CNN's Nic Robertson, thank you -- John.

[06:05:04] BERMAN: Yes. On that point, while President Trump calls for Iran's unconditional surrender, Iranian leaders, they are showing no signs of backing down. Iran's military says it has now deployed hypersonic ballistic missiles on targets across Israel.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also posted on social media, quote, "We will show the Zionists no mercy."

With us now, CNN chief national security correspondent Nick Paton Walsh.

And Nick, you've been crunching the numbers, really looking into what weapons Iran might have left. What are you on -- where are you on that?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I wish I could give you a really precise, definitive number, because ultimately, what's left in Iran's arsenal dictates its appetite or, frankly, its capability for a fight going forwards.

If it's unable to have enough medium-range ballistic missiles that it could hit Israel with, or indeed, potentially, in the extraordinary move of Iran deciding to widen the conflict and hit back or hit U.S. bases, then Iran really is increasingly delivering hollow rhetoric and increasingly a spent military force.

Now, some of the best estimates at the start of this conflict, prior to it -- in fact, maybe even a year plus ago -- suggested Iran probably had, at most, 2,000 medium-range ballistic missiles. You're seeing there. I think surface-to-air missiles, different types of missile being taken out there by the Israelis.

The calculations since that estimate are very interesting, because back in April, 120 were used, according to the Israeli, to try and hit Israel; 200 in October in a second wave of strikes.

And then the current estimate is about 400 have, indeed, been used.

That means about 700, 750 have been taken out of that 2,000 arsenal, which could leave them with about 1,200 or so left.

But some of the lesser estimates suggest Iran maybe only has 1,000 of these medium-range missiles. So, there's a huge scope there for interpretation and assessment.

But ultimately, it means Iran maybe has 200 or 1,200 left. And most experts we speak to say they'd never want to get below 1,000 at all, just to have something in reserve for existential defense.

Israel, too, hitting their missile launchers and, indeed, hitting their weapons supplies. So, that number constantly dynamic.

But it's key, because we're about to hear from Ayatollah Khamenei in his first major speech since initial reaction to it. And in that I'm sure he will lay out exactly what Iran's next steps would be, or provide some kind of rhetorical fuel to continue. But be in no doubt, we've seen Iran significantly militarily weakened, and that's going to dictate its options, not the words it chooses to use -- John.

BERMAN: Yes, certainly taxing the Iranian system right now. CNN chief national security correspondent Nick Paton Walsh, thank you so much.

You know, and Audie, what's really shifted, it seems, over the last 24 hours, or since yesterday afternoon, when the president was in the Situation Room, it really does seem like all signs in the momentum drifting toward military action, maybe it doesn't happen, maybe they pull back.

But closing the embassy in Jerusalem, sending those refueling planes to the region. It seems like the U.S. is doing everything it can right now to be ready to strike.

CORNISH: Very much so. And though we want to note right now, there is going to be, as you said, closed consular offices. U.S. private citizens, it's not clear what support they're going to get, given that the airports are closed and seaports, as well.

We're continuing to monitor the breaking news in the Middle East as the president warns his patience is wearing thin. So, is the U.S. on the verge of getting involved in this conflict?

Plus, Israel hopes the U.S. will deliver on a weapon that could potentially take out Iran's underground nuclear facility. It's called a bunker-buster bomb. We're going to explain to you what that is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In order for Fordow to be taken out by a -- a bomb from the sky, the only country in the world that has that bomb is the United States.

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[06:13:36]

CORNISH: Returning now to our breaking news coverage with President Trump's evolution on the conflict in the Middle East. Because as a candidate, he's often spoke about ending the war quickly.

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TRUMP (via phone): Get it over with, and let's get back to peace and stop killing people. And that's a very simple statement. They just have to get it done. Get it over with, and get it over with fast, because we have to -- you have to get back to normalcy and peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Fast forward to now, when the president is demanding Iran's unconditional surrender as he weighs further U.S. Involvement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Sometimes they have to fight it out, but we're going to see what happens. I think there's a good chance there will be a deal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you asked Israel to pause their airstrikes into Iran?

TRUMP: Well, I don't want to say that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: President Trump authorized a military strike that took out a high-ranking Iranian general in his first term.

His approach to U.S. involvement has typically walked a fine line between unpredictability and calculated force. So, what's behind this shift from talking peace to terms of surrender?

Joining me now is Joel Rubin, former deputy assistant secretary of state; and Kim Dozier, CNN global affairs analyst. I want to come to some of those diplomatic questions in a moment.

But first, I want to get the lay of the land, help people understand how we got here, because you had national security leader Gabby Tulsi [SIC] -- Tulsi Gabbard testifying before Congress about the state of Iran's nuclear program.

[06:15:12]

Kim, can you talk about what she said now, versus what we're seeing now?

KIM DOZIER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, in March, she testified that Iran was months away from breakout: nuclearizing -- weaponizing its nuclear material.

But I spoke to people in the first Trump administration who said that Iran was days from refining its 60 percent refined nuclear material into weapons, fissionable material, and days to weeks from turning that into a weapon, because these are two processes.

CORNISH: Yes. But it's important, because the pretext for this war is Israel saying Iran is a threat, an imminent threat. The U.S. has been brought into Middle East wars in the past, when there's been an imminent threat of weapons of mass destruction.

I think people at home want to get a sense of what the intelligence community knows.

DOZIER: Well, I just want to add: the decision at the time was that the Ayatollah had decided we could, but we won't. And that assessment could change at any time. Maybe President Trump is reacting to that.

The Israelis always disagreed with the slowly, slowly estimate. They said just the fact that they're this close is unacceptable.

CORNISH: Right.

JOEL RUBIN, FORMER DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE: Yes, Audie. Look, I chuckled a bit on how did we get here? Because it's not just the past couple of weeks or months. It's been a decade in the making.

President Trump had a nuclear deal that was working when he was in his first term. It was preventing Iran from getting to the point that it's at right now. And he tore up that deal in 2018. And we have not been able to get back into it.

And the result is what we see now. It was highly predictable. President Obama predicted it.

CORNISH: Predictable in that Iran would continue to enrich --

RUBIN: In that Iran would accelerate and enrich.

CORISH: -- and accelerate.

RUBIN: And now Iran has gone way beyond any acceptable levels. And that's the problem. The International Atomic Energy Agency verified that they are out of compliance, the first time in 20 years they were censured.

CORNISH: And that happened just a few weeks ago.

RUBIN: It's very, very dangerous. And so, I think that was the tripwire.

Plus, of course, the military situation in the region, much more favorable to Israel for conducting strikes without as much concern about being hit by Hezbollah, as an example, which no longer is a threat from the North in any way like it used to be because of Israeli actions.

So, all of that came together. And that's why we're now at this moment where Israel saw a moment to strike. Iran was advancing too far. But this has been a decade in the making.

CORNISH: And now the question is, will the U.S. follow?

I want you guys to stay with me as we talk more about this today.

Next, on CNN THIS MORNING, American troops in the Middle East are on high alert. Are U.S. bases at risk for retaliatory strikes from Iran?

And looking live right now at Tel Aviv, as we continue to monitor this escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Stay with us.

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[06:22:12]

BERMAN: If the United States decides to join Israel's conflict with Iran, the consequences could be considerable.

As of now, the United States has about 47,000 troops stationed at nine facilities in the Middle East. "The New York Times" reports Iran has prepared missiles and other military equipment for strikes on U.S. bases in the Mideast, should the U.S. join Israel's war against the country.

The U.S.S. Nimitz, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is now en route to the Arabian Sea. It is accompanied by a full complement of aircraft, and it is being escorted by five guided missile destroyers.

The Nimitz is joining the U.S.S. Carl Vinson strike group, which is already deployed in the region.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TIM SHEEHY (R-MN): Been trying to sink our Navy ships in the Red Sea through the Houthi rebels. They've been actively attacking U.S. forces, U.S. uniformed forces throughout the region for a year and a half now through the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah.

So, it would be new in one certain paradigm. But the truth is, they've been directly killing American servicemen for years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: With us now, retired Army Brigadier General Steve Anderson.

General, thank you so much for being with us. Talk about why Israel would need the United States to get involved and what the United States would get from that.

BRIG. GEN. STEVE ANDERSON (RET.), U.S. ARMY: Well, thank you, John. Yes, absolutely. We've got -- Israel would need the United States to get involved if they really want to take out the hardened nuclear enrichment facility at Fordow.

The United States could use the bunker busters, the GPU-57s that can penetrate perhaps 200 feet of hardened facilities. Probably would require multiple uses of that munition. It would be delivered by a B-2 bomber based out of Diego Garcia. About five hours of flying time to get on site to Fordow.

The Israelis have been successful in establishing air superiority, so I believe that there would be a low risk using those B-2s.

So, primarily, the United States would be used by Israel to provide this munition.

BERMAN: What's the risk for the United States here if it does get involved? Specifically, what's the risk to U.S. forces in the region?

ANDERSON: Well, as you said earlier, there's about 47,000 troops in the area. They've been getting attacked for quite some time now.

We've got a large presence in Kuwait. We've got a huge presence in Al Udeid Air Base and in Bahrain, where we've got a naval base.

Most of these facilities are defended by sufficient air defense. We've got Patriot in most of these facilities, if not all. We've got C-RAM, which is counter-rocket, artillery and mortar. Very effective systems that I use in Afghanistan. They'll shoot out anything bigger than a soccer ball that tries to come across the FOBS perimeter. So, very effective air defense systems.

[06:25:06]

Of course, the Israelis have been very successful in degrading the capability of the proxies. So, I think that the risk from Hamas, from Hezbollah, especially. Of course, Syria had a regime change now. The Houthis have been hit hard.

The ability of the proxies to help the Iran -- Iranians attack the United States has been seriously degraded.

I think, though, that if Iran were to attack the United States, that's just the excuse that President Trump would be using -- would be needing to get involved and provide active support. So, I think it would be a terrible mistake on their part.

But again, our troops are prepared. They're protected. They've got air defenses. And I believe that they'll be able to withstand the attacks that may very well come out of this.

BERMAN: General, I've got to let you go. But very quickly, do you personally think it's worth it for the U.S. to get involved?

ANDERSON: No, I do not. I do not believe that we should get involved, unless we're directly attacked.

I think the Israelis are doing a great job. They've got air superiority. They've got intelligence superiority. They're doing -- they're taking the hurt to the Iranians. This is going just fine.

There's no reason why we can't let this play out. Let the Iranians -- let the Israelis and the Iranians duke this out. Let the -- Israelis are definitely winning this campaign. They need to continue the attack. The United States needs to stay out.

BERMAN: Retired Army Brigadier General Steve Anderson, thank you so much for sharing that perspective.

And, Audie, it is interesting. I mean, that is the type of argument, at least one argument that, no doubt, President Trump is hearing in the Situation Room as he makes his consideration.

CORNISH: And the question is the conflicting arguments that is also coming in from outside the White House, right? From the very much changing Republican Party.

You know, after the break on CNN THIS MORNING, we're going to be continuing to monitor breaking news out of the Middle East. Is regime change in Iran Israel's final goal? Plus, Israel wants a weapon only the U.S. can provide. But will the

Trump administration deliver?

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