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Nuclear Contamination?
Global Recap
June 16, 2025 • Read in: 9 minutes
Hi Global Recap readers,
Despite the stock market rebounding, thanks to investors “buying the dip” after news broke of Israel striking Iran, the conflict appears to be heating up fast.
Reports are now pouring in about major damage to Israeli infrastructure, civilian casualties, and even rumors of Israeli agents assassinating Iranian officials with handguns.
At the same time, Iranian leaders are rumored to be quietly arranging asylum deals with Russia.
The US is mass-deploying aerial refueling tankers to the region (possibly).
And now, there may be nuclear contamination. 👇️
🌐 WORLD
Fast Scroll News
The 51st G7 Summit is taking place in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, from June 16 to 17.
🇺🇸 Trump Won’t Sign G7 Statement. At the G7 summit in Canada, President Donald Trump is refusing to sign a joint statement on Israel and Iran that European leaders drafted. The document backs Israel’s right to defend itself and warns against Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. Still, Trump is holding off, arguing his presence at the summit was enough to show solidarity and dismissing the need for additional commitments. He also suggested that Russia mediate the Middle East conflict, a stance that Macron immediately rejected.
🇮🇷 Natanz Nuclear Strike Risk. Israel’s airstrikes on Iran’s Natanz nuclear site might have left radiological and chemical contamination inside the facility, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). While radiation levels outside remain normal, the concern is uranium hexafluoride, a volatile gas that can corrode, burn skin, and be deadly if inhaled. Satellite images show multiple buildings wrecked, but Iran’s underground centrifuge facility appears intact for now.
🇷🇺 Russia Condemns Israel's Strikes. The Kremlin isn’t happy with what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said about Iran. After Netanyahu told Fox News that regime change in Tehran “could certainly be the result” of Israel’s airstrikes, Moscow fired back, calling the escalation “dangerous.” Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesperson, said Russia condemns the actions that led to the situation, while Putin himself urged diplomacy over conflict. Israel insists it’s not pushing for regime change.
✍🏻 Context: On January 17, 2025, Russia and Iran signed a 20-year strategic partnership treaty that includes military cooperation. People are mocking the move on the Internet, suggesting Russia just signed itself into a bigger mess, especially if Putin actually tries to follow through on it.
🇫🇷 France Shuts Israeli Stands. France abruptly closed four Israeli arms company stands at the Paris Airshow after they refused to remove “offensive or kinetic weapons” from display. Israel’s defense ministry called it “outrageous and unprecedented,” while exhibition organizers threw up black partition walls overnight, separating Israeli displays from the rest of the show. Meanwhile, French President Macron is planning to “recognize a Palestinian state.”
🇮🇷 IRAN & 🇮🇱 ISRAEL
Update: Israel Strikes
IRIB Live on Air
Recent Iranian Attack
View of the Haifa oil refinery in flames.
Iran fired a fresh round of missiles at Israel early Monday, killing at least eight people.
An oil refinery in Haifa was hit for the second night in a row, killing three workers.
Tel Aviv and Petah Tikva saw explosions, leaving buildings in ruins.
✍🏻 Context: Roughly two-thirds of Israel’s home-refined fuel comes from Haifa, where the Bazan Group operates the refinery. Following the attack, the company announced the facility is now shut down. The disruption could tighten supply, driving up import dependence and costs, and hitting both everyday life and military operations.
Israel’s Response
 Sahar Emami, an Iranian TV anchor fleeing mid-broadcast as Israel struck IRIB live on air. |  Reporter Younes Shadlou, refusing to evacuate, saying, “We’re not afraid, and we’re not leaving.” |
Israel responded by bombing Iran’s state-run television station, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)—right in the middle of a live broadcast.
An explosion shook the studio, cutting the feed as the anchor rushed off camera.
The building was hit by four bombs, with some staff reportedly injured.
Iranian Advisors Seeking Exit
Ali Asghar Hejazi
Ali Asghar Hejazi, deputy chief of staff to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is reportedly in talks with Russian officials about a possible escape plan.
Russia has supposedly guaranteed him and his family a “secure corridor” if things go south.
Other high-ranking Iranian figures are also said to be making similar plans.
This backs up Israeli PM Netanyahu’s recent claim that he has intel suggesting top Iranian officials are “packing their bags.”
Khamenei Mental State
Ali Khamenei
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is reportedly struggling after losing most of his senior allies in Israel’s Operation Rising Lion.
The IDF had a chance to take him out on day one, but held off, reportedly due to Trump vetoing.
Now, Israeli officials won’t confirm if he’s still a target, but Netanyahu insists his death wouldn’t escalate tensions—it would de-escalate them.
🤔 Thoughts: The open discussion around Israel’s decision not to assassinate Khamenei is interesting. It’s easy to imagine the leak was intentional—meant to rattle him, especially with rumors circulating that Israeli agents are taking out high-ranking officials inside Iran with handguns.
Israel-US Joint Strike?
Rumors are swirling that the US might team up with Israel for a strike on Iran. Here’s what’s fueling the rumor:
President Trump’s recent Truth Social post, warning everyone to evacuate Tehran.
The US appears to be in the middle of a mass deployment of aerial refueling tankers from the US to the Middle East. FYI, refueling tankers are crucial for long-range missions (like, say, Israel launching a strike on Iran).
Reza Pahlavi
Here’s a video uploaded by the Crown Prince of Iran (in exile), Reza Pahlavi, imploring Iranians to rise up against the Islamic regime.
