Latest news with #McCaul
Newsweek
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Republican Says 'Most' of Iran's Uranium is Still There
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Republican Representative Michael McCaul of Texas told CNN on Friday that "most" of the enriched uranium is still in Iran after U.S. airstrikes hit the country's Fordow and Isfahan nuclear sites. McCaul said to CNN, "There is enriched uranium in the facilities that moves around, but that was not the intent or the mission. "My understanding is most of it's still there." He continued, "So, we need a full accounting. That's why Iran has to come to the table directly with us, so the (International Atomic Energy Agency) can account for every ounce of enriched uranium that's there. I don't think it's going out of the country, I think it's at the facilities." Nuclear experts now believe Iran relocated more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium—enough for 10 nuclear weapons—to a secret location, a move that has left U.S. and international inspectors unable to verify the material's whereabouts. This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
McCaul says Israel strikes are 'perfect opportunity' for Iranians to overthrow Islamic regime
EXCLUSIVE: A senior lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives said the current conflict with Israel and Iran could be a singular opportunity for Iranians to overthrow their authoritarian Islamic government. "Now that their top leadership has been taken out, if there's ever a time for the people to rise up against this theocracy, I would think the conditions are set," Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital on Friday. McCaul was part of a group of lawmakers in the Middle East late last month. Part of that trip was in Israel, where the congressional delegation met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others. "I think this is the perfect opportunity – it would have been better if, I don't know what level of coordination took place, but I mean, when an event like this happens – to have this theocracy that's in power, out of power, and liberate the people of Iran," McCaul said. "The majority do not like the Ayatollah. There's a real opportunity for that to just end." Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Cracks Down On Biden's Student Loan 'Scheme,' Top Republican Says Israel unleashed a barrage of airstrikes in and around Tehran beginning Thursday night Eastern Time. The Israeli government said the strikes were pre-emptive, and that Tehran was approaching nuclear weapon capabilities. Read On The Fox News App "They were very close to a nuclear bomb," McCaul said. Israel said it hit Iranian nuclear sites, and that its strikes killed multiple senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran responded by launching missiles toward Israeli territory on Friday afternoon. McCaul said it was a "major setback" for Iran but that he was sure that officials in Tehran would respond. "When we were in the region, they felt certain that Iran would strike our military sites in Saudi, Jordan and the UAE," he said. "The big talk also at that time was, give CENTCOM time to get prepared in the region to get all of its strategic assets in place for a response. And my understanding is … all of our bases and military sites and embassies are on high alert." The Texas Republican also recalled what he now believes were telling signs that some kind of military operation was imminent. While in Israel last month, McCaul said he asked Netanyahu about reports that Iran was preparing a nuclear strike. "And he said, 'If you don't fight, you die,' He said that several times in the context of striking Iran," McCaul said. "He said that, 'I will strike Iran with or without you.'" "I said, 'Well, sir, we need you to coordinate with us. Whether or not the president decides to do this with you, you need to coordinate with the United States, our allies and partners in the region.'" Indeed, President Donald Trump told Fox News Channel's chief political anchor Bret Baier on Thursday he had prior knowledge that Israel was going to conduct pre-emptive strikes on Iran. "Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see. There are several people in leadership in Iran that will not be coming back," Trump said. Republicans Challenge 'Irrelevant' Budget Office As It Critiques Trump's 'Beautiful Bill' Trump said the strike happened on Day 61 after Iran had a 60-day window to make a deal with the U.S. to contain its nuclear enrichment. He also said he hoped Iran would come back to the negotiating table after the attack. But McCaul was not optimistic Tehran would agree to sufficient standards. "I just, I have little faith in the negotiations, to be honest with you," he said. It's not clear as of now whether those talks will resume. But if they were to fall through again, McCaul said, Iranians would have incentive to push for a new government "once and for all." Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has promised a "legitimate and powerful response" to Israel's article source: McCaul says Israel strikes are 'perfect opportunity' for Iranians to overthrow Islamic regime
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia launches air strikes against Ukraine
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Russia carried out one of its largest aerial attacks against Ukraine Friday, just hours after President Donald Trump said it may be better to let the two countries 'fight for a while.' The U.S. has been trying to broker a peace deal to no avail, largely because Russia will not agree to the ceasefire terms. Members of Congress warn the U.S. should be paying more attention to this style of drone warfare. 'The United States has to be prepared,' said U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas.). Gonzales said the U.S. has a blind spot right now. 'We don't know how many drones are being flown every day,' he said. 'We don't know the intentions. I'm not saying they're all negative intentions, but we just need to know.' Gonzales said Congress can do that through legislation and appropriations to various government agencies. 'Not just telling them or giving them extra work,' he said. 'But giving them extra funds.' Lawmakers also want to play a larger role in ending the war by passing more sanctions against Russia to pressure President Putin. 'Then maybe he'll come to the table,' said U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas.). However, McCaul said after Ukraine's surprise drone attack against Russia Sunday, Putin is now planning what McCaul called a 'brutal response' for Ukraine's capital. 'Which was before kind of hands-off because of the churches there,' McCaul said. 'But I think you're gonna see Kyiv get hit really hard.' President Trump changed his tone Thursday, straying from his usual calls for peace. He said he delivered this comparison to Putin himself during their phone call Wednesday. 'Sometimes you see two young children fighting like crazy,' President Trump said. 'They hate each other, and they're fighting in a park, and you try and pull them apart. They don't want to be pulled. Sometimes you're better off letting them fight for a while.' President Trump has yet to endorse the sanctions legislation against Putin. It would also levy new tariffs against any country that purchases Russian energy, targeting China and India, the top supporters of Russia's war effort. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Boulder attack suspect's family will be deported back to Egypt this week: US Official
DENVER (KDVR) — The family of the suspect in Sunday's attack of Israeli hostage supporters in Boulder will be deported back to Egypt this week, according to a federal official. Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas who serves as chairman emeritus for the House committees on Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs, confirmed to Nexstar Washington Correspondent Vinay Simlot in a Wednesday interview that Mohamed Sabry Soliman's family, including his wife and five children, is being processed for deportation. Boulder Terror Attack: Continuing coverage Soliman, an Egyptian national officials say is illegally in the U.S. due to an expired visa, is accused both federally and in state charges of attacking with Molotov cocktails a group from Run for Their Lives as they were peacefully demonstrating while calling for the release of Israeli hostage in Gaza. Boulder County officials say 15 people were injured in the attack. U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem on Tuesday confirmed federal agencies had taken Soliman's family into custody in a post on X. The department is investigating whether any of them knew of Soliman's plans, Noem said in the post. 'They're being processed right now,' McCaul said Wednesday morning. 'They will be deported back to Egypt.' When Simlot asked whether it would happen this week, McCaul said, 'yeah.' The White house official X account on Tuesday saying, 'Six One-Way Tickets for Mohamed's Wife and Five Kids. Final Boarding Call Coming Soon,' and that his family could have been deported as soon as that night. McCaul said he was briefed by the FBI on Tuesday about the attack, reaffirming Soliman's status of overstaying a tourist visa. What to know as investigation builds in Boulder's Pearl Street Mall attack A senior Department of Homeland Security official had already confirmed to FOX31 that Soliman is in the U.S. illegally because he stayed in the country after his August 2022 B2 visa expired in February 2023. DHS said he filed for asylum in September 2022. 'That raises the whole immigration debate again about people who should be here versus shouldn't be,' McCaul said. 'He shouldn't have been here. He overstayed his visa and shouldn't have been allowed to stay in the country.' U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in a press release on Wednesday morning said Noem is directed a crackdown on others who overstay visas following Soliman's alleged attack. 'There is NO room in the United States for the rest of the world's terrorist sympathizers,' Noem said in the press release. 'Anyone who thinks they can come to America and advocate for antisemitic violence and terrorism – think again. You are not welcome here. We will find you, deport you, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
McCaul touts money in Trump tax bill to pay Texas back for fighting Biden border policies
There's a provision tucked into President Donald Trump's broadly ranging "big, beautiful bill" that could see Texas get billions of dollars in funds that it spent on the state's border security under the Biden administration. The legislation earmarked $12 billion for a grant program allowing states to be reimbursed for costs they incurred trying to stem the flow of illegal immigration during the Democratic administration. The measure was added to the bill hours before the final vote – but Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the former chairman of the House Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs Committees, told Fox News Digital it was a product of months of negotiation. "Early on, [Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green, R-Tenn., and I were discussing reconciliation going through the Homeland Security Committee. And, you know, there was about $70 billion for the border," McCaul said. "Texas bore the brunt of the federal mission the last four years and deserves to be reimbursed. And so he agreed, had a conversation with Governor Abbott, and he agreed." House Gop Targets Another Dem Official Accused Of Blocking Ice Amid Delaney Hall Fallout While the text does not name Texas specifically, Fox News Digital was told that the measure's inclusion was primarily sought by the Lone Star state's congressional delegation. Read On The Fox News App The state of Texas, Fox News Digital was told, had incurred just over $11 billion in costs from Gov. Greg Abbott's efforts to keep the border in his state secure. "The fact of the matter is, when you look at the costs that were borne, Texas had the lion's share of [the burden] carrying out the federal mission when the Biden administration completely failed to deliver on border security," McCaul said. "My state built the border wall and built detention facilities. We bore a lot of costs." Operation Lone Star alone cost Texas $11.1 billion, according to The Texas Tribune. Rather than add it to the initial text of the bill, McCaul said, leaders opted to include it in a "managers amendment" that was added on Wednesday night along with several other issues that lawmakers needed more time to negotiate. "The legislative process, it's something I've gotten to know over my 20 years and how to get things done up here. And I thought, you know, the way we worked it was strategically very smart," McCaul said. "It's going to the Senate now. And Senator Cornyn is going to take it up, be the champion in the Senate." The Texas Republican first met with Abbott and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on the matter in early February, Fox News Digital was told. McCaul said he also worked closely on the push with Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas, who told Fox News Digital that "no state" carried more financial burden from the border crisis than Texas. "Texas spent $11.1 billion on border security, including $5.87 billion on personnel costs and $4.75 billion on border wall and barriers. When the federal government failed to secure our border and protect our communities, Texans stepped up," Pfluger said. Johnson, for his part, thanked McCaul for his efforts in a public written statement. "Thanks to Rep. McCaul, states that stepped up to protect Americans in the face of Biden's border catastrophe will be reimbursed for doing the work the Biden Administration refused to do," the speaker said. "Had those patriotic governors not taken action and used the resources of their state, the devastation from Biden's wide-open border would have been significantly worse." Meet The Trump-picked Lawmakers Giving Speaker Johnson A Full House Gop Conference Green said of the need for the measure, "In the absence of help from the Biden-Harris administration, states were forced to take extraordinary measures to mitigate the crisis and protect their communities by building barrier systems and increasing law enforcement activity." And while McCaul and his colleagues' efforts in the House do not guarantee that Texas will ultimately see those funds, it puts them one step closer to success. The measure is one aspect in a multi-trillion-dollar bill that Republicans are working to pass via the budget reconciliation process. By lowering the Senate's threshold for passage from 60 votes to 51, reconciliation enables the party in power to pass certain fiscal legislation while completely sidelining the minority – in this case, Democrats. Trump directed Republicans to use reconciliation to advance his policies on taxes, immigration, energy, defense, and the national debt. The Senate and House must pass identical versions of the bill before it gets to Trump's desk. McCaul told Fox News Digital that he was confident the measure would stay in the Senate bill after conversations with the Trump administration on the matter. "I anticipate it will go forward," McCaul said. "I'm, just proud that we were able to get this done. I'm very proud of what my state did to stop the flow of illegals and dangerous actors coming into the country." When reached for comment, Abbott told Fox News Digital, "This is a national issue that Texas was proud to address, and we are grateful for the allocation that reduces the financial burden that Texas incurred."Original article source: McCaul touts money in Trump tax bill to pay Texas back for fighting Biden border policies
