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The President's Daily Brief
August 29th, 2025: Iran's Nuclear Defiance & Putin's Major Escalation In Ukraine
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This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Fiscally responsible financial geniuses, monetary magicians. These are things people say about drivers who switch their car insurance to Progressive and save hundreds. Visit progressive.com to see if you could save Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states or situations. Looking to diversify and protect your hard earned assets? Well, schedule a free consultation with the Birch Gold Group. They're the precious metals specialists. Just text PDB to the number 989898 and you'll receive a free no obligation information kit and you'll learn how to convert an existing IRA or 401k to a gold IRA. Again, it's simple. Just text PDB to the number 989-898. It's Friday the 29th of August. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. Well, look at that. We've, we've made it to almost the end of another month. All right, let's get briefed. First up, Iran is back in the spotlight as Britain, France and Germany announced plans to trigger crippling snapback sanctions on the Islamic regime previously suspended under the essential, now defunct 2015 nuclear deal. The news comes as the UN's nuclear watchdog warns that their inspectors are still being barred access to the mullah's main nuclear enrichment sites. Later in the show, Israeli forces raided a former air defense base near Damascus on Wednesday in their furthest foray into Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, reportedly dismantling devices used by Turkey to spy on Israel. Plus, Russia unleashes their second largest air assault on Ukraine since the war began, killing at least 21 civilians and damaging offices belonging to the European Union and the uk. And in today's back of the brief, President Trump officially hits India with secondary tariffs over their purchases of Russian oil. That's a move that could gut India's exports and cost the nation tens of billions of dollars. Still no indication when or if the White House will do the same to China, which of course is the number one consumer of Russian energy. But first, today's PDP spotlight. Iran's nuclear program is once again back in the crosshairs. On Thursday, Britain, France and Germany notified the UN that the Islamic Republic is in breach of the 2015 nuclear deal and that they will reimpose crippling snapback sanctions on the mullahs, just as the UN's nuclear watchdog warns that their inspectors remain locked out of Iran's enrichment sites. Crucially this sanctions mechanism cannot be vetoed, not even by the Mullus. Allies in Moscow and Beijing now triggered. The sanctions revive everything the 2015 accord shelved, including an arms embargo, asset freezes, visa bans and hard caps on ballistic missile development. The E3 leaders framed the move as leverage, warning that with the deal's expiration looming on 18 October, inaction would grant the regime a free hand to accelerate enrichment. The snapback process now opens a 30 day window for frantic diplomacy before the penalties automatically lock into place. And the timing of the reimposed sanctions is critical. Russia and China had floated a draft UN resolution to postpone any snapback by six months. But with Moscow poised to assume the Security Council presidency in October, Western leaders feared the Kremlin might use procedural tricks to run out the clock. By acting now, the Europeans cut that option off. And in case you missed it, let me just repeat. Russia will be taking over the rotating presidency of the Security Council in October. That's correct. Which is about as stupid as that time when the UN had Iran chair a UN sponsored human rights and women's rights forum. As you can assume, Tehran's reaction to the announcement on the snapback sanctions was sharp and immediate. Foreign Minister Abbas Arakshi was plastered the move as, quote, illegal and unjustified, vowing that Iran would, quote, respond appropriately to defend its rights without providing further details regarding his threat. The regime's Foreign Ministry claims the escalation from Europe undermines its fragile engagement. What engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency or the iaea? Tehran's senior officials went further, warning Iran could quit the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty altogether. A separate pact obligating signatories to renounce nuclear weapons and submit to international inspections. As we've previously discussed, the IAEA sits squarely at the center of the standoff. Inspectors have been denied full access to damaged facilities at Fordham, Isfahan and Natanz ever since June, when U.S. and Israeli airstrikes allegedly set Iran's nuclear program back by as much as two years. At least according to an estimate based on the Pentagon's damage assessment. UN nuclear watchdog Director General Rafael Grossi noted he withdrew IAEA inspectors for their own safety during the 12 day war, and that Tehran soon after passed legislation cutting off cooperation with the agency. Grossi has since pressed for, quote, immediate unrestricted access warning that staged one off visits like the one earlier this week to the small site of Bushehr fall far short. But Islamic regime officials have a grudge against IAEA, accusing Grossi of helping ignite the June conflict by fostering the impression the mullahs were chasing a nuclear bomb. In a bid to salvage diplomacy, the Europeans have dangled an off ramp a six month suspension of snapback sanctions in exchange for three concessions, reopening talks with Washington, restoring full IAEA access and surrendering 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, which is roughly enough for 10 nuclear bombs. But talks in Geneva this week got nowhere with, quote, no tangible deliverables. As one source close to the negotiations described it. Iranian officials have since slammed the door on extending the deadline. As one senior regime official told Reuters, Iran will not concede. Under pressure, Washington, meanwhile, welcomed Europe's step. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared the US quote remains available for direct engagement with Iran in furtherance of a peaceful, enduring resolution to the Iran nuclear issue, end quote. The economic implications for Iran if they continue to resist good faith negotiations are severe. The reimposed snapback sanctions see six UN resolutions restored, including one demanding Iran suspend enrichment. Yeah, that's admittedly a useless, ineffective demand. A ban on the acquisition of nuclear technology, freezes on assets, and embargoes on weapons ranging from tanks to aircraft. For a regime already struggling with high inflation and deteriorating infrastructure, European diplomats warn this could be a knockout blow to an already fractured economy. The move is a dramatic reversal for a deal once hailed as a triumph of diplomacy. Since the American withdrawal back in 2018, efforts by Europe and the then Biden administration to salvage it fell flat while Tehran continued uranium enrichment far beyond agreed limits. Now, with mere weeks before the accord's framework expires, the regime finds itself once again at the center of an international showdown. Alright, coming up after the break, Israeli forces raid a former Syrian air defense base near Damascus. And Russia unleashes their second largest air assault on Ukraine since the war began, killing scores of civilians. I'll be right back. This podcast is brought to you in part by Stash. Now imagine investing without ever picking a single stock. With Stash, the experts handle the hard part for you. Look, Stash isn't just another investing app. It's a registered investment advisor that combines automated investing with expert guidance so you don't have to worry about figuring it out on your own. Choose from personalized investments or let Stash's award winning smart portfolio do the work for you. With Stash, investing doesn't feel like gambling. It's simple. It's smart and stress free so your money can finally start working as hard as you do. Get access to world class financial advice with personalized guidance for just $3 a month. That's right a monthly subscription of only $3. Stash has already helped millions of dol millions of Americans reach their financial goals. 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In what was their deepest push into Syria since former President Assad's ouster, IDF troops on Wednesday raided a countryside base six miles south of Damascus, dismantling surveillance technology whose origin is disputed, with Syria calling it Israeli and Jerusalem blaming Turkey. The raid came just one day after the same area was bombed by Israel. Syrian state media reported that six Syrian army soldiers were killed in IDF airstrikes Tuesday as they attempted to dismantle what they described as Israeli listening devices buried at the site, a base that during Assad's rule, had served as a strategic hub for Iranian militias. By Wednesday night, Israeli warplanes and drones had blocked regime troops from entering the site until Israeli helicopters ferried dozens of IDF soldiers out of the area after spending more than two hours on the ground. I'd like to point out that accounts of the spy equipment's origin do remain sharply at odds. Damascus insists the devices were Israeli and tied to long standing espionage activity. Israeli officials, by contrast, told a Saudi Arabian news outlet that the hardware was dangerous and had been embedd under Turkish direction over a decade ago, warning the new Islamist Syrian regime not to test its patience. One Israeli source added, quote, turkey is trying to get closer to Israel than it should. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on X that the IDF was, quote, operating in all combat zones day and night for the security of Israel, but offered no further explanation for the raid. The Syrian Foreign Ministry denounced the raid as a violation of sovereignty and international law, while neighboring Jordan condemned Jerusalem's move as a, quote, dangerous escalation targeting Syria's stability, sovereignty and security, end quote. The operation unfolded against the backdrop of quiet diplomacy. Earlier this month, delegations from Israel and Syria met in Paris with US Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack to sketch out a tentative security framework. That was followed by a round of talks in Azerbaijan. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu this week acknowledged for the first time that discussions are underway between the two countries, laying out Israel's red lines of a demilitarized zone from the Golan Heights through Shweta, protections for Syria's Druze minority and a humanitarian aid corridor. As PDB listeners will recall. Since Assad's toppling last December, Jerusalem has warned the new government in Damascus, led by former Al Qaeda operative Ahmed Al Shira, not to deploy troops in southern Syria. Israeli officials have previously described Shiraz regime as jihadist and hostile, though Shirah himself insists his new administration seeks peace. The Israeli strikes in Syria had largely paused after President Trump warned Jerusalem to be responsible. That was back in June until sectarian violence erupted in Syria's Druze majority areas. As we previously discussed, Israel bombed Syrian troops and struck Damascus's Defense Ministry at the time, saying it acted to shield the Druze community. But Washington is still attempting to mediate, dangling the prospect of a broader normalization in ties with Damascus and even Syria's eventual entry into the Abraham Accords. Officials in Damascus say they remain open to dialogue, but stress that for now the talks are confined strictly to stabilizing the frontier. Okay, turning now to the war in Ukraine, where the Putin regime just unleashed their second largest aerial attack on Kyiv since launching their full scale invasion of the country back in early 2022. Early Thursday morning, Russia fired off 598 drones and 31 missiles at Kyiv and 12 other locations in Ukraine, leaving a trail of destruction and human carnage in their wake. The munitions tore through residential buildings, government offices, and critical energy facilities throughout Kyiv, killing at least 21 civilians, including four children, and leaving at least 63 people wounded. That's according to a report from Reuters. Buildings belonging to the European Union and the UK's British Council were also damaged during the bombardment, demonstrating the Putin regime's increasingly flippant disregard of international norms. The strikes triggered outrage across Western European capitals, and the European Union, and Britain quickly summoned top Russian envoys to protest the escalation. Oh, well, that should do it. Nothing like a good diplomatic protest to change Putin's behavior. The bombardment also reportedly damaged a Turkish enterprise and the Azerbaijan embassy. EU Commission President Ursula Van de Leon told reporters in Brussels that two missiles had struck near the EU office within 20 seconds of each other. She condemned the attack, saying, quote, this is another grim reminder of what is at stake. It shows that the Kremlin will stop at nothing to terrorize Ukraine, blindly killing civilians and even targeting the European Union, end quote. The White House quickly responded, expressing outrage over the indiscriminate and belligerent attack. Retired US General Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, said the sweeping strikes severely undermined the President's efforts at forging a peace between Russia and Ukraine and excoriated Moscow over their deliberate targeting of civilians. In a post on X, Kellogg said, quote, the targets not soldiers and weapons, but residential areas in Kyiv, blasting civilian trains, the EU and British Mission Council offices, and innocent civilians. We should note that following the deadly assault, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had the gall to say Moscow was still keenly interested in peace talks. Seriously, you can't make that crap up. But Ukrainian President Zelensky quickly hit back, saying the attack showcased what the Kremlin really thinks about Western diplomatic efforts to end the war. Zelensky said the strikes, quote, are a clear response to everyone in the world who for weeks and months have been calling for a ceasefire and for real diplomacy. Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table. It chooses to continue killing instead of ending the war, end quote. Zelensky called out China in the wake of the attack, accusing the Communist regime of paying lip service to ceasefire efforts while helping prop up Putin's wartime economy with large scale purchases of Russian oil. Well, he's not wrong. Zelensky said, quote, we expect a reaction from China to what is going on. China has repeatedly called for not expanding the war and for a ceasefire yet this is not happening because of Russia, end quote. Chinese officials who have long claimed that they're willing to help end the war, issued a vague statement through their foreign ministry saying there should be, quote, no escalation of hostilities and no fanning the flames. And that's a rich statement from a regime that is largely responsible for propping up Putin's war machine. Zelensky also singled out Hungary, which maintains close ties with Moscow. He pointedly said, quote, we expect a response from everyone in the world who has called for peace, but now more often stay silent rather than taking principled positions, end quote. The Ukrainian president urged the US to impose new sanctions against the Putin regime in response to the attack. President Trump had said Tuesday that he's still prepared to tighten the economic noose around Russia. But the long threatened sanctions have yet to materialize as Trump continues to put his faith in diplomacy. Just last week, President Trump established a two week timeline for determining diplomatic progress with Russia. Now, it's one thing to put your faith in diplomacy, but to do so in the face of Putin's continued aggression and disregard for Western efforts to broker a peace, well, that's just misplaced faith. Okay. Coming up next in the back of the brief, India is poised to lose billions of dollars as secondary US Tariffs kick in over New Delhi's large scale purchases of Russian oil. More on that story when we come back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now, you've heard me talk about the great company Jacked Up Fitness and their amazing all in one home gym. It really is a game changer when it comes to home fitness. Well, now, Don and his terrific team at Jacked Up Fitness, they know that many people are short on time and short on money, but they still want to get fit. So you can now start your fitness journey for under $60 and in just six minutes a day. Think about that. 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Trump first threatened India with a secondary tariff at the beginning of August as a way to increase the financial pressure on Russ, end the war. But leaders in New Delhi didn't take kindly to the threat and vowed to continue acting in their own best economic interests. But economists warned that the newly implemented tariffs could soon gut India's economy, as the US Represents their largest export market. According to the New Delhi based Global Trade Research Initiative think tank, the 50% rate on Indian imports to the US could slash their total exports by more than 40% by next spring. That equates to a loss of nearly $37 billion, which of course would erase the revenue gains Russian oil purchases have provided New Delhi since 2022. Such a disastrous outcome could be politically debilitating for Indian Prime Minister Modi, as thousands of jobs across labor intensive sectors such as textiles and gems and jewelry could be wiped out, according to a report from Reuters. India's response over the coming weeks will of course prove critical, determining just how widespread the economic could become. But India has limited options. Russia now accounts for roughly 40% of India's total oil purchases, leaving them little room for a quick pivot. Aside from cheap oil, India also depends on Russia for defense equipment and geopolitical backing on sensitive regional matters. In short, for them, it's an invaluable partnership, and one they're not necessarily eager to damage. But India is also desperate to repair ties with Washington, given their dependence on U.S. consumers. The U.S. meanwhile, sees India as critical to countering China's growing influence in the Indo Pacific. Indian officials have reportedly offered to boost purchases of US Energy products to placate the Trump administration, but they remain highly reluctant to halt their imports of Russian oil. In fact, Russian oil exports to India are set to rise in September, despite the new tariffs. The founder of New Delhi's Council for Strategic and Defense Research told Reuters that when it comes to Russia and the U.S. india simply doesn't have the luxury of choosing one over the other. At least not yet. End quote. While discussions between Washington and New Delhi remain ongoing, a breakthrough does not appear to be on the horizon. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Friday 29th August. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@thefirsttv.com and a quick glance at the calendar will tell you that today is Friday. Look at that. Huzzah. We made it to the end of another week. Now for millions of Americans, Friday. Well, Fridays mean one thing. A brand new episode of the BDB Situation Report. Of course, our extended weekend show. New episodes air every Friday evening at 10pm on the First TV and can also be found on our crowd pleasing YouTube channel, at President's Daily Brief and on podcast platforms all over podcast land. We have great guests this week, as we do every week, Frank Gaffney and David Daoud. We're talking China. An influx of 600,000 Chinese students, counterintelligence operations and China's support for Russia, as well as a detailed look into Lebanon and Hezbollah and the latest from Gaza. Don't miss it. It's informative and somewhat entertaining and it won't leave you with that gassy, bloated feeling like like other news shows. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back later today with the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe. It.