Iran's Angry Warning Makes USA Backtrack After Threat To Khamenei? Trump Aide On Regime…| Israel

0:00 Happy Monday. I'll explain in a moment. I will explain in a moment. Thank you for being here. It's a Monday and I will be a little short today as the president uh is beginning um um some signings at the White House and the Oval Office. We don't want to conflict. So forgive me in that regard, but I do have a few announcements for you here and we'll start. President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio continue to deliver on this administration's vision of peace through strength, resolute diplomacy backed by principled leadership. On June

0:47 27th, Secretary Rubio, Under Secretary Allison Hooker, and Senior Adviser Msad Bulos hosted the ministerial signing of a landmark peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda. The agreement marks a historic milestone for the Great Lakes region, bringing an end to a 30-year war. The United States in coordination with the African Union, Qatar, and Togo will continue supporting full implementation of this comprehensive peace deal to pave the way for mutual prosperity. Tomorrow, Secretary Rubio will welcome his Quad counterparts from Australia, India, and Japan to Washington to reaffirm our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. This ministerial

1:33 reinforces our joint resolve to defend sovereignty, strengthen regional maritime security, and build resilient supply chains. And as you may know, today, President Trump will issue a new executive order lifting US sanctions on Syria, reaffirming his belief that the Syrian people deserve a future of safety and prosperity. This policy reflects the president's conviction that American leadership can unlock new paths to regional stability. Finally, the mi the department's Middle East task force ended its activities on Friday, June 27th. Uh, US embassies and consulates throughout the region are open and providing routine and emergency consularor services. The department also continues to share information and updates with US citizens affected by the

2:20 conflict. As of today, we have sent nearly 100 security alerts since the onset of the crisis. Additionally, a total of 16 flights departed Israel with over 650 US citizens and lawful permanent residents and their accompanying immediate family members. We are grateful to our partners in the region, particularly Greece, Italy, and Cyprus for welcoming US citizens on these assisted departure flights and to our partners in Qatar and around the world. It is a good thing to be able to say that today to you. I now welcome your questions. All right. Yes, not that you have anything ever on your mind. Let's do it. Um, thank you, Tammy. Yes, ma'am. So, a

3:05 couple of questions. A one on um on on Israel. Actually, I was going to ask about Syria, but I'll I'll get to it later. So Herod's newspaper last week reported that Israel's military advocate general has ordered an investigation into possible war crimes over allegations that Israeli forces deliberately fired at Palestinian civilians near Gaza aid distribution sites. These are the ones that GHF does as you know. And then today, Israeli military acknowledged that Palestinian civilians were harmed at these aid distribution centers. So I'm wondering in light of these assessments, is the administration going to rethink allocating that money to GHF? Well, uh I

3:51 think the answer to that certainly is no. What we do expect and the IDF and Israel have announced that they are of course investigating certain incidents. Uh it is a good time for a reminder here uh that Hamas is responsible for the current situation in Gaza. Uh they of course initiated the attacks on October 7th. They continue to refuse to lay down their arms or to free the remaining hostages, including the remains of two Americans, and use violence to interfere with aid deliveries to the people of Gaza who are in dire need of food and aid. So in in the in the meantime, I think that we also have to recognize that of course this remains a war zone effectively. Uh there are four sites working for the GHF. Uh we are coming up to I think about 51 million meals

4:39 distributed. Uh it is certainly not easy. Uh there are efforts and those on the ground who do not want this to be a success. Uh who have made uh the uh lives of the people of Gaza miserable for decades now. Uh and this is a key unlocking a door to a better future. So uh this is what the president has asked for which is a new approach for Gaza. Uh there is a demand understandably for aid to get in. The GHF is doing that. Uh and uh as we also of course uh decry loss of life and the violence that it continues. But that's why we do what we do and we continue to work for a ceasefire as well. Yeah, I understand all that. A quick follow up on that. I completely understand what you're saying, but does the administration have any concern about this? I mean, these are like Israeli um like these are Israeli

5:26 authorities accepting that Palestinians have been harmed. Perhaps is the administration thinking about talking to GHF for like risk mitigation? Yes, I you know well I won't get into the details of the conversations that are had. Obviously you know that our work there doesn't stop. We continue on. We're still working. The president noted uh the other day that there's potential uh for a ceasefire. Um we look forward to that. Clearly it's been maybe a little over a week since uh American power and Donald Trump's leadership uh has changed the Middle East forever. So there's still more to do. We recognize that Israel is doing the appropriate thing with investigating certain allegations. Uh and we certainly like uh everyone else will be watching that. Uh and at

6:12 the same time we also know that there are people on the ground who want to disrupt and disturb the success of this uh because of the nature of this industrial complex uh that has allowed this to go on for decades. So, we are working to get aid in, at the same time, still working for that ceasefire, still hoping to make the difference for Gaza, and of course, I think our action and the issues with Iran speak to our commitment to changing the Middle East so people can live in peace. Uh, Andrea Mitchell, thank you so much. A related followup uh acknowledging that obviously Hamas started this on October 7th and since and broke the ceasefire and are still holding hostages and some of us have not only witnessed the October 7th

6:58 video, the IDF viz video, but the subsequent NOVA video which is profoundly disturbing acknowledging all of that. Yes, ma'am. How does the president's uh aspirations for a ceasefire now that the landscape has been changed appreciably? Uh how does that how is that affected by the Israeli strikes in Gaza City today? How does he view does he view any of that with alarm? or there are conversations with the government. I would caution that with reports from the area uh that we in fact honor the fact that there are investigations and to wait for actual facts uh that I think will be very useful. Uh again at the same time we know the president uh has an excellent relationship um uh with uh BB Netanyahu

7:46 uh that we in fact have made a commitment he has from the beginning of this administration to change that environment. uh and it's uh it's that commitment remains. Certainly we we know the story is that 51 million meals have been distributed through the region through Gaza. Uh we also know the president has called for new ideas. This is part of that and and the regional partners are acting on that as well. We know this can't continue. We Israel is an ally of ours. We of course um uh I'm not going to discuss or presume to know the conversations the president's having. that is is his prerogative. Can I may I just clarif I may have been imprecise. I was not referring to any strikes on the a food delivery. I was referring to separate strikes that have

8:32 been reported in the north in Gaza city that resulted in several casualties of well again this is a war this is a war zone. Uh Hamas has still not put down their weapons. They've we had a ceasefire which they violated and refused to engage in another one. We continue despite all of that to get another ceasefire. But the ceasefire was broken by Hamas. It's a war. Um u if to speak about the specifics of what Israel is doing, I would direct you to the Israeli government. Uh and uh I think it's important to recognize that this is a process that is ongoing. Our role in this is to help uh ease the suffering as much as we can and certainly part of that is going to hopefully get a ceasefire. President is optimistic uh and so we will be as well. Right. Matt

9:19 Matt Lee maybe has a question. Sure. Thank you, sir. Yes, I do. Um, I do want to ask about Syria, but first I just want to very very briefly I might want to go on and on. How do you How do you decide? Well, my question is going to be very very Oh, all right. Yes. How do you decide when it's okay to speak about rev revoking someone's visa? Because for years and years and years, decades in fact, in covering this building, it's always the ma mantra has been visa records are confidential. And yet we have a situation where an entertainer in the UK has had his visa revoked very publicly by the deputy secretary of state and a tweet tweeted by Secretary Rubio and confirmed by other officials.

10:04 So what what's the deal with this law? Does it not really apply and unless you want it to, unless you don't want to talk about it? Well, yeah, I can't speak to the decisions uh at the times of when to discuss something uh of this sort. What we do know is a a very public dynamic with individuals. We have a very public policy and procedure and process now uh that we're discussing regarding national security and how we are handling the visa process. Um uh in this particular case of course what you're referring to uh is uh the uh tweet from uh our deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau that the state department has revoked the US visas for the members of the Bob Villain band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastenbury including leading the crowd in death chants. Foreigners

10:52 who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country. Now, it we've stated that that when it comes to how we vet people, if they are going to be coming here to be helpful, to be nice people, to be great tourists, or if they're coming uh for other reasons, that every sovereign nation has a right to decide who's going to come uh to uh this country. So, we've been public about that standard. And this was a very public event uh that violated uh as you've seen from uh the deputy secretary's tweet that very basic standard about the nature of of uh who we want to let into the country. That's all right. Uh it is important the American people support us uh taking care about who comes here. Uh and um I

11:37 think his tweet and the secretar's uh uh language and his approach on the policy speaks for itself. Okay. So it basically if it's a public kind of facing thing then I didn't say that. I said in this case that that's what has occurred. Uh and I I think that it's uh the policy certainly is clear for um uh individuals but when we're thinking about uh the nature of the policy itself that has been publicly discussed uh they chose to do so this time. And then just also very briefly on Syria there is this as you mentioned the president's going to be signing this executive order correct shortly in the next 10 15 minutes or so. Um can you give us an idea what the state department component of the the impact of what this will do? What what what is state because I know it's treasury and commerce all involved. So

12:24 what is what happens at the state department after this EO is signed. Well it it is sanctions and um aspects like that of course belong to the treasury. A lot of people don't know that that they're the ones who manage that with the application the nature of what what what occurs. Um, I will repeat what my colleague Caroline said just a little bit ago about this event. Uh, the president is going to sign an executive order to terminate the US sanctions program on Syria. And this is in an effort to promote and support the country's path towards stability and peace. The order will remove sanctions on Syria while uh maintaining sanctions on the former president Assad, his associates, human rights abusers, drug drug traffickers, persons linked to chemical weapons activities, ISIS

13:11 members and their affiliates, and Iranian proxies. Again, this is an action that the president uh has promised and uh shocked the world uh within uh Saudi Arabia because when he first announced this plan, he is committed to supporting a Syria that is stable, united, and at peace with itself and its neighbors. So, in this particular application, of course, this is about the Treasury. It's about the White House uh and uh certainly our uh special envoy ambassador Bareric and his uh now uh application and work uh getting that country back on its feet on its feet. All right, Sean. Uh can I go back to the music a bit? Um yes, sir. On Glastonbury, um ju just getting to the decision to revoke the visas. Um, members of this administration,

13:57 particularly the vice president, have been very vocal about free expression, saying that even if things are are hateful, particularly the vice president took to task Germany and to a certain extent the UK, saying that their laws that that prohibit hateful content and insults that those are inappropriate. What's the difference here? I mean, I'm not justifying I'm not I'm not I'm not supporting the Bob as a ban, but why is it that uh that this speech is out of law and while you have there's at the same time a push to um not to outlaw free expression elsewhere when it comes to insults? Right. I I think that again this is not about the nature of a concert I suppose, but it really is about our standards about who we let in the country that we're not telling people what they can sing about or what they can say. That does it's not involved here at all. They obviously felt free to say what they were saying and chanting at Glastonbury and they can

14:43 do that and we can do what we do. So it really is about the issue of national security, about issues of violence, uh the increase certainly of anti-semitism, but of terrorism in general, uh that dynamic, the crime in the United States, uh what happened with the open border, the the transnational gangs that are here, this this kind of wanting dynamic that has ruined American lives, that has created uh cities that are unlivable. Uh and every American deserves better. They deserve to know they have leadership as we do now and that's why they voted for Donald Trump was simple basic law and order respect for your neighbor and if you're coming to this country respect for the people who are here. So I think

15:30 that when we think about who we why you have a visa system which is in part to vet and to stop and to ask questions is to take that seriously. Well, can I just pursue that? Um, in one other case of free expression, uh, Hungary, um, Prime Minister Orban, who of course is a close ally of the president, tried to ban a pride parade this weekend. Uh, tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of people came out. Does the US have a view on that? Do you think that it's it's justified to ban an LGBTQ pride parade? Well, you you know the when the vice president or any of us speak about the nature of policy or I think what's important regarding freedom of expression um uh that's our plan and what we feel is important to convey and then what countries do is their business. Events happen all over the world as we know every day which the

16:17 United States has no comment about. Uh and uh we have nothing to add on this matter. Um but uh again I think it's it's about what other c what countries do the choices they make uh with their nations and and what citizens and do and how they respond to that. With respect I mean the US did criticize the UK over bans on anti-abortion protesters. Is there any contradiction and not again I I'm not going to speak to individual situations or instances or comments that are made. Uh again we have events that happen all the time all over the world uh which which uh might be worth commenting on but we don't comment on all of them I think for for a very good reason. Yes sir. Um on events happening all over the world in Nigeria recently more than 200 people were slaughtered uh

17:04 earlier this month in a series of attacks on Christian villages by Islamic militants. Uh some 6,000 were displaced. What's state doing to address this? Is there anything state can do to address this? Well, I can't speak about what is being discussed now or is in any kind of diplomatic conversations or planning etc. But I'm I'm going to be briefing again on Wednesday. Today is a unique week because we have the quad with the secretary tomorrow which I'll be a part of. So we'll be briefing on Wednesday. Let's take that back and find out where that stands and what our plans are. I'll have that for you. Yes, sir. Thank you. We'll move to Ukraine if I may. Uh Russians are stepping up their their air attacks on Ukraine. uh which happened to be larger than ever before. The president uh on Friday addressed Ukraine issue and he said that Putin quote

17:50 unquote respects our country again. Well, hours after that, Putin unleash the largest ever attack on Ukraine. Do you think Russia respects President President Trump? I'm sorry. Do I think Do you think Russia respects President Trump and President Trump says that they respect me and next hours next thing we see hours after that they they they launch the largest? Well, I again I don't uh I've certainly for obvious reasons refused to characterize the most powerful man in the world who is saving this country and the world at this time, but I can tell you other things that he has said most recently on the 25th. He said, "I consider him Putin a person that's been misguided. I'm very surprised actually. I thought we would have had that settled talking about certain issues." Uh he also said he called the other day. He said, "Can I

18:37 help you with Iran?" I said, "No, no, you can help me with Russia. You need you help me to get a settlement with you, with Russia, and I think we're going to be able to get that done, too." And also on Putin's ambitions regarding Ukraine, he said, you know, I know one thing is that he'd like to settle. He'd like to get out of this thing. It's a mess for him. So, the president in negotiating and dealing with some of the worst conflicts uh certainly uh that we've we've ever had, the carnage that is going on, uh the president is the one person who's been able to bring everyone to the table, who's willing to talk to everyone, who has the power of the United States at his back and the support of the American people. And uh I think that he understands and he has repeated um again within the last few

19:22 days just his his frustration and lack of acceptance at the attacks that have gone on in Ukraine by Russia and that it has to stop. Uh that there are too many people dying. This remains a a key element for his administration. It is a key part for of the work that his administration is always doing is our support for Ukraine and the need for that carnage to stop. for some of us covered president's trip last week and you address from the podium his signature achievement which is 5% of you know GDP spending uh you know among NATO members Lavro today called it catastrophic and he said that uh defense spending decision could lead quote unquote NATO's collapse how did you read that yes I I'm not going to speak to that but what we do know is what

20:07 apparently bothers Russia is the fact that NATO is going to be strongly returning to its original roots of being a deterrent And that is what NATO's job has been. Uh the the advancement of their commitment to uh defense uh is remarkable and uh not only it's we of course support NATO completely and their role is imperative for a safe uh and uh stable uh Europe and that's the point being a deterrent. Uh this kind of defense spending helps them achieve that. Uh and of course it is something that would not have happened without President Trump's encouragement and demand. Uh and so we're excited about that. Am I? Yes, sir. In the back there. Thank you very much. Two quick question. Uh some regional sources said uh this week or

20:52 next week the US representative to Syria will meet Muslim Kubani and Prime Minister Masur Barzani in Can you update us about that? No, I can't speak to any any ongoing meetings or meetings that may or may not be coming up. And second question about Iran. Iran's representative to United Nation has said that the condition are not favorable for negotiation with the United States. What is your respond to this statement and what is your message would you like to send to the Iranian people? Well, to the Iranian people, of course, as we've always been saying is that every country is in the hands of its own people. uh when it comes to what Iran's leadership is saying of what's left of it, uh the president's words and the president's

21:38 position is the one that prevails here. It is his guiding hand. Uh and he has been very transparent about his opinion uh his desire for Iran to move into the normal order with with countries but also his uh awareness that uh as he has stated that he continues to be willing to do whatever is necessary to make sure there's peace in the region. And now this is the unusual point because of the president's schedule. It is uh uh 30 past the hour. I'm going to wrap it up today, but I will see you again on Wednesday. And you know how to reach me here. I think I've got an email. All right. Thank you everyone. Have a great day. I appreciate it. Thank you. Thanks for your patience. Give me anything on the ribs. No.