Good morning. We’re covering the future of Iran’s nuclear program and European migration policy. Plus: Controversy at Glastonbury.
Iran could be enriching fuel again ‘within months’An attack by the U.S. on Iran’s two uranium enrichment centers caused damage that was “severe” but not “total,” the chief U.N. nuclear inspector said. The state could be enriching uranium in a “matter of months,” Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told CBS News. His comments widened the divide with the Trump administration over how severely the U.S. set back Iran’s nuclear program. President Trump insisted yesterday that Iran had given up its nuclear ambitions because the American attack had “obliterated” its facilities. Grossi’s analysis is consistent with a preliminary assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency that estimated that the strike set back the Iranian nuclear program by only a few months. The C.I.A. director said later in the week that the Iranian program had been severely damaged, and that U.S. intelligence agencies were continuing to assess the strike. Related: Iranian state news media reported yesterday that 71 people were killed when Israel attacked Evin Prison in Tehran on June 23. Dissidents and political prisoners — including opposition politicians, activists, lawyers, journalists and students — are held there. Analysis: After the 12-day conflict with Israel and the U.S., Iran stands on a knife’s edge. What will a shaken country in dire economic straits do with what its president has called “a golden opportunity for change”?
Europe’s tough turn on migrationEuropean leaders across the political spectrum are pushing a tougher line on undocumented migrants, with some leaders looking to replicate Denmark’s “zero” refugee policy. E.U. officials are working on new rules that would help to send asylum seekers to third countries. The number of migrants arriving in the E.U. declined by about 20 percent in the first five months of 2025, after a sharp decline last year, according to preliminary data collected by Frontex, the E.U.’s border agency. At the same time, expulsions have slowly increased. Still, migration along some routes, including from Libya into Greece, remains significant. Background: The shift has steadily built with voter backlash that helped fuel nationalist, far-right and populist parties, after Europe took in more than a million Syrians, Iraqis, Afghans and others seeking asylum a decade ago.
Russia hit Ukraine with its largest air assault yetRussia pounded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and missiles, the Ukrainian authorities said yesterday. Strikes on infrastructure were reported across the country, including in western Ukraine, which Russia hits less frequently. It was unclear if any civilians had been killed, but the Ukrainian air force reported that one pilot fatally crashed while trying to stop the assault. The air force said Russia launched 537 drones and missiles overnight — the highest number recorded in a single night since the war began.
Pride
As a teenager in Malawi, Susan Namangale pooled her pocket money with that of a few friends to buy two chessboards for their school. More than three decades on, her passion for the game endures, and she has introduced it to schools, prisons and city shelters. “Chess is for everyone,” she said.
Controversy at GlastonburyThe Irish-language rap group Kneecap has faced enormous pushback, including a terrorism charge for one member, for its anti-Israel statements, leading to calls for the band to be axed from the Glastonbury music festival. Its performance on Saturday went ahead, and audiences seemed not to agree with the criticism, cheering as one rapper said, “Israel are war criminals.” But the festival did apologize for a separate chant of “Death, death, to the I.D.F.” — a reference to Israel’s military — by another band, which had led to accusations that it was promoting hate. Given the festival’s history of anti-establishment politics, the public statement was surprising, my colleague Alex Marshall, who covers European culture, told me. “But Glastonbury is now Britain’s major music event — it is the establishment,” he said. “That means it’s under vast pressure to not upset anyone.” We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.
Cook: This perfect vinaigrette may transform your relationship with salad. Breathe: Mindfulness can be important for young minds, too. Flex: This is how to do a perfect lunge. Save: Are you considering doing “no buy” July? Here are some pros and cons. Watch: Captain Nemo of Jules Verne’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” gets a makeover in “Nautilus,” a new AMC series. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today’s Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That’s it for today’s briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha |
