A thrill records of “Today with George Stephanopoulos” broadcasting on Sunday, June 15, 2025 on ABC Information is listed below. This duplicate might not remain in its last kind, might be upgraded and might consist of small transcription mistakes. For previous program records, see the “Today” records archive.
MARTHA RADDATZ, ABC “TODAY” CO-ANCHOR: And we are signed up with currently in workshop by the Israeli ambassador to the USA, Yechiel Leiter.
Greetings, Ambassador.
Provide us the current on last evening’s assault. Rockets appear to be surviving. The Iranians declare they have a manoeuvrable projectile that’s more challenging to discover.
YECHIEL LEITER, ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES: The Iranians have a huge toolbox of ballistic rockets. We have some (FAINT) protection systems, anti-missile protection systems, yet they’re not hermetically securing the skies. So, there has to do with 10 to 15 percent of these ballistic rockets that survive.
We received substantial strikes last evening. We have more than 10 casualties and hundreds injured.
RADDATZ: And Head of state Netanyahu stated– what– what they have actually done to Iran thus far is absolutely nothing contrasted to what is coming. Inform us what you can concerning that. And is Iran’s ultimate leader off the target listing?
LEITER: I assume it’s reasonable to state that no one that’s intimidating the devastation of Israel must be off the target listing. Yet we’re not mosting likely to go over particular people, you understand, on-line.
The concept is to reduce the effects of and end the Iranian purpose of damaging Israel with nuclear tools and with ballistic rockets. And any person that obstructs of that, or– or is in fact progressing, that root cause of damaging Israel is certainly someone we’re mosting likely to need to manage.
RADDATZ: That’s a large lift. Undoubtedly, you struck some generals, you struck nuclear researchers.
LEITER: Well, we struck– we struck the first-rate in regards to the generals, the IRGC and the military. They remain in a little turmoil currently. There is a malfunction in the hierarchy, yet we have extra coming.
RADDATZ: And do you think these strikes have dramatically held up the nuclear program? That was the factor you pursued Iran. Has the nuclear program been held up? There are those that are cynical that it has not, consisting of previous Israeli Head of state Ehud Barak. He stated Israel can not postpone Iran’s nuclear program by a considerable period.
LEITER: Well, he was head of state several years ago momentarily. I do not assume he’s privy today to the intel that we have.
Yes, we have actually established them back significantly, yet not nearly enough. Which’s why this collection of strikes is not mosting likely to finish today or tomorrow, yet just at an amount of time, which might take weeks, when we are definitely specific that the nuclear facilities, with the purpose of weaponizing and intimidating Israel, is ended.
RADDATZ: Well, allow’s speak about Fordo. It’s deep in a mountainside. There are those that do not think you can ruin Fordo without united state aid and those bunker-busting bombs. Is it feasible without united state aid?
LEITER: The aid that we have actually asked from the USA is constrained to protective position. We’re really, really glad to Head of state Trump and the management for the THAAD projectile, anti-missile protection system, for the Aegis projectile protection system, yet it’s just in a protective position.
We have a variety of backups, will certainly– which will certainly allow us to manage Fordo. Not every little thing refers, you understand, requiring to the skies and battle from afar.
RADDATZ: Yet you’re specific you can erase Fordo?
LEITER: We’re specific– we’re– we’re specific that we can hold up the nuclear tools system growth within Iran for an extremely, long time.
RADDATZ: Just how do you prevent this battle intensifying? The head of state claiming over night that if Iran strikes the united state properties they will certainly really feel the full blast of the united state armed force. Just how do you include this battle?
LEITER: Martha, the goal is not to consist of the battle. The goal is to win the battle.
Look, 80 years ago we had a little male with a mustache running around Europe that no one thought him when he stated he was mosting likely to ruin the Jewish individuals. We shed 6 million. Currently we have actually obtained a crazy brand-new Hitler running around the Center East claiming he’s mosting likely to ruin us. We need to take him at stated value. That’s his purpose. He states it daily. He’s obtained a concrete strategy to ruin us.
This isn’t a joke. This is really significant for us. It’s existential.
RADDATZ: The united state remained in the center of arrangements. Head of state Trump spoke about that. He did not desire you to do something about it while these arrangements were taking place. He stated over night, we can still quickly obtain a bargain done in between Iran and Israel and finish this bloody dispute. Is that real? Do you desire a bargain?
LEITER: Well, in fact, Friday– Friday early morning the head of state was in fact rather gratulatory over our first strikes, and he did create plainly that he understood about our objectives. So, appearance, if the head of state can–
RADDATZ: Yet– yet what does that mean, due to the fact that he stated he really did not desire you to strike?
LEITER: That– that– that– well– well– well, no, in fact, he was congratulatory concerning our strike.
RADDATZ: After the strike.
LEITER: He desires– he desires the nuclear program in Iran to be stopped in its whole. He stated it really plainly, take down the centrifuges, take down the facilities, and drop in overall the enrichment of uranium. So, if that can be accomplished with settlement, so be it. We’ll be really pleased. Yet it hasn’t been.
And it was in fact on the 61st day, after the head of state offered him 60 days, that we struck.
RADDATZ: If you do not get to a bargain, what is the leave approach right here? What is completion video game? It will not quit up until the nuclear program is totally ruined?
LEITER: The nuclear program and the ballistic projectile program. The rockets that they’re shooting– shooting right into Israel currently are ballistic rockets with a remarkable haul. They develop remarkable damages. And, actually, the Supreme leader of Iran has actually stated consistently that if he terminates countless ballistic rockets right into Israel, we’re a little area and there’s absolutely nothing we can do besides pass away. Well, we’re not mosting likely to pass away. We’re not mosting likely to permit these ballistic rockets to remain to strike Israel. And we’re mosting likely to do what we need to do to protect our nation.
RADDATZ: OK, many thanks for joining us today, Mr. Ambassador. We value your time.
LEITER: Excellent to be with you, Martha. Thanks.
MARTHA RADDATZ, ABC “TODAY” CO-ANCHOR: And allow’s obtain even more currently from previous CENTCOM leader, General Joseph Votel, that looked after united state armed forces preparation in the center East.
It’s excellent to see you today.
General, you’re certainly really knowledgeable about Iran’s abilities. Has any one of this stunned you? And do they have some type of manoeuvrable projectile that is developing these issues?
GEN. JOSEPH VOTEL (RET.), PREVIOUS CENTCOM LEADER: Many Thanks, Martha. It’s excellent to be with you.
I imply, definitely, Iran has actually gotten on a course for a very long time to establish abilities that might hold the area– particularly, to hold Israel in jeopardy. So, I assume we need to take this seriously.
I do not understand the complete measurements of every little thing that they have in their very own ability now, yet I assume we’re rather positive in the reality that they have actually remained to enhance uranium which they have actually established innovative ballistic rockets and the breeding of those 2 points I assume presents a considerable risk to Israel and, certainly, to the rest of the area. It needs to be taken seriously.
RADDATZ: And, General, the ambassador informed me a brief time ago that 15 percent of the rockets are appearing air defenses in Israel and additionally the united state is assisting, as you understand. That feels like an extremely high number and might develop genuine issues.
VOTEL: Yeah, I assume– I assume this is what Iran is relying on, is that they’re– the Iron Dome– Iron Dome system, like it is, is not totally failsafe. Therefore, when you release a great deal of rockets, a great deal of drones, unavoidably, several of those are going to obtain with. And they’re, as we– as we have actually seen, simply in the last 24-hour, they’re mosting likely to strike inhabited locations, they’re mosting likely to create casualties.
And Iran is relying on that and wishing that that will certainly tax the Israeli management to quit doing what they’re doing.
RADDATZ: And in regards to obtaining Iran’s nuclear centers, the ambassador appears rather positive that they can dramatically postpone the nuclear program. Do you concur with that? And specifically Fordow– if they do not get Fordow, where are– where are they?
VOTEL: Yeah. I assume– as I have actually been viewing the targeting initiative over the last pair days, I imply, I assume Israel has an extremely innovative method to this. I assume they have actually– they’re performing, and I assume they have actually obtained a lengthy listing of points that they’re mosting likely to pursue, and they’re going to obtain to every one of them.
They have actually concentrated really purposely on getting rid of the capability for the Iranians to see or to safeguard themselves. They have actually made it really challenging for the Iranians to react efficiently by getting rid of a great deal of their management and pursuing their projectile abilities. And they’re concentrating on the item of the key worry which is the nuclear tools program.
And pursuing something like Fordow, the underground– the significant below ground centers is mosting likely to be challenging. Yet, certainly, a center like Fordow underground hinges on a great deal of facilities. So, there’s a great deal of damages. There are a great deal of points that Iran can pursue that can have a straight and indirect influence on the centrifuges in Fordow and might definitely postpone the program without always need to go in and ruin every little thing underground.
RADDATZ: Yet you state hold-up, so you’re positive they could not ruin it without the aid of the united state?
VOTEL: Well, I do not understand the complete variety of all abilities that the– that the Israelis have, their really innovative, smart armed force. There are great deals of devices that are offered to them. I assume the standard knowledge is that the shelter busters, the passing through artilleries that are required to pursue something such as this are mostly still within the supply of the USA.
So, yeah, I assume– I assume– I assume most likely would have some problem at doing that and once again, the Iranians are showing some degree of willpower right here. And we can not disregard the reality that they will certainly remain to seek this program or perhaps attempt to make a dashboard to take what they have currently and attempt to– attempt to develop some sort of tool.
RADDATZ: And, General, certainly, we have 40,000 soldiers in the area. Head of state Trump overnight stated, generally, keep an eye out, do not strike those soldiers or you remain in huge problem. You’ll really feel the full blast of the united state armed force. Just how worried are you concerning that and what sort of action would certainly you anticipate if they do?
VOTEL: Yeah. I– certainly, I assume everybody needs to be worried concerning that. I take some self-confidence in the reality that we have an extremely proficient leader. General Kurilla has actually remained in area for over 3 years, and he is just one of our finest battle competitors and an extremely knowledgeable leader, understands specifically what he’s doing, has excellent connections and actually comprehends the area.
I assume if united state properties, united state armed forces or consular offices or various other points are assaulted, I would certainly anticipate that there would certainly an extremely quick action to that by the USA as there must be. That– I assume we need to send out an extremely, really clear message. I assume the management’s been doing that. I assume our armed force has actually been doing that.
Yet I would certainly anticipate that if there is any type of after effects that has an influence on united state passion, that will certainly be met an extremely quick and qualified action.
RADDATZ: And just how most likely do you assume it is that this battle spreads, that this comes to be a local battle including the united state?
VOTEL: Yeah. I assume this mostly relies on the instructions that the leaders of both of these nations go. It’s not specifically in Iran’s passion to attempt to spread this, that they do not require to make the temper of others in the area. They inevitably need to– need to live there. So, it does not always make a great deal of feeling for them to expand that.
Yet once again, as this proceeds as op– as the Iranians lack choices, and they do not have a great deal of excellent choices now, honestly. They’re battling a little blind in regards to what they’re doing. They do not have excellent choices.
And as they lack the important things that are offered to them now and they start to connect and seek various other means to have an effect, that’s when I assume the worry for regionalization of the dispute comes to be best.
RADDATZ: Okay. Many thanks a lot for joining us today. General, it’s constantly excellent to see you.
Turning Up–
VOTEL: Excellent to be with you, Martha.
RADDATZ:– America’s armed forces may be on complete display screen along the National Shopping mall last evening as militants articulated their resistance to Head of state Trump throughout the nation. Selina Wang has the tale, following.
