PDB Afternoon Bulletin | November 20th, 2024: Zelensky's Stark Warning To America & Iran Accelerates Pursuit Of Nuclear Weapons
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It's Wednesday, 20 November. Welcome to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. Let's get briefed. First up, President Zelensky has issued a stark warning about Ukraine's fate should the incoming Trump administration cut aid to Kyiv, as President Biden doubles down on military support, greenlighting the use of anti-personnel landmines to slow Russia's advances on the battlefield.

Then, an update on Iran's nuclear program as a confidential report reveals the regime has significantly increased its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium, despite ongoing efforts by the UN's nuclear watchdog to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table.

But first, our afternoon spotlight. President Zelensky is warning that the fate of Ukraine hangs in the balance and hinges on long-term support from the U.S. to sustain their defensive war against Russia.

In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Zelensky said Ukraine will not survive the Putin regime's current onslaught if America does not continue to fund Kiev's military needs at current levels. Now, that is likely a cautionary statement meant for President-elect Donald Trump as he prepares for a second term. The statement comes as the war passes the 1,000-day mark and Moscow escalates their missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Addressing the possibility of military aid drying up in the new year, Zelensky told Fox News, quote, if they will cut, we will, I think we will lose. We have our production, but it is not enough to prevail. And I think it is not enough to survive, end quote. Still, Zelensky said the incoming Trump administration could provide opportunities to

to change the current direction of the conflict, saying he believes Trump is, quote, "...much stronger than Putin and could potentially influence the dictator to end the war." Regarding future negotiations with Moscow, Zelensky said, quote, "...it depends on Putin, but it also depends on the United States of America much more. Putin is weaker than the United States. The president of the U.S. has the strength and authorities and the weapons."

Speaking of weapons, President Biden, or whomever is running the White House, authorized on Tuesday the use of anti-personnel landmines for the Ukrainian military to blunt Russia's advances in the eastern Donetsk region. The approval came just two days after the U.S. greenlit Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to strike deep inside Russian territory, and that's obviously a controversial decision that has raised fears of escalation.

Now, obviously, the use of anti-personnel landmines is also not without controversy More than 160 countries have signed an international treaty banning their use, citing, of course, the extreme risks that they pose to civilians But Russia has been using them liberally since the war began, significantly impacting Ukrainian efforts to retake captured territory in the east

Ukraine has long sought approval to use these mines in order to be on relatively equal footing with the Russian aggressors. Pentagon officials said the decision was prompted by Russia's renewed offensive push on the front lines in Donetsk in recent weeks, saying that the landmines are the best way to slow down Russian forces and ensure more towns and cities don't fall into Moscow's hands. You

U.S. officials also stressed that these landmines are "non-persistent," meaning that they either lose battery charge or self-destruct after several days or weeks, limiting any long-term danger to civilians. Unless, of course, civilians are there in the vicinity when the landmines self-destruct.

An anonymous U.S. source told the Washington Post, quote, Russia is attacking Ukrainian lines in the east with waves of troops, regardless of the casualties that they're suffering. These mines were made specifically to combat exactly this, end quote. Next, an update on Iran's nuclear program, as a confidential report reveals the regime has significantly accelerated its enrichment of near-weapons-grade uranium, despite increasingly desperate attempts by the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog,

to bring Iran into compliance. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here.

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Welcome back to the Afternoon Bulletin. According to a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, Iran continues to defy international demands to limit its nuclear program, significantly increasing its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium.

In a confidential report obtained by the Associated Press on Tuesday, the United Nations nuclear watchdog revealed that as of October 26th, Iran possesses over 400 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% purity. Now, that's a dramatic tenfold increase since the last report in August. Again, that's a tenfold increase in just two months.

For context, uranium becomes weapons-grade at 90% purity. The leap from 60% to 90% is technically straightforward and could take only weeks or even days with advanced centrifuges.

To put this in perspective, 400 pounds of highly enriched uranium is enough for Tehran to produce roughly seven nuclear weapons, each comparable in size to the one dropped on Hiroshima. While Iran maintains its nuclear program is just for peaceful purposes, nothing to see here, folks, it's just for civilian use.

Its actions, well, they do tell a different story. Since September 2023, Tehran has barred several of the IAEA's most experienced inspectors, severely hindering the agency's ability to monitor nuclear activities. IAEA efforts to reinstall monitoring equipment removed in June 2022 remain stalled.

And Iran continues to deny access to critical data from cameras installed at key nuclear sites. It's almost like they're hiding something. What could that be?

Last week, as we reported, Grossi visited Tehran, where he secured a tentative agreement from Iranian officials to halt the expansion of their 60% enriched uranium stockpile. Preparatory measures to implement this pause have begun, supposedly, at the underground Fordow and Natanz facilities, but doubts linger about the Iranian regime's commitment.

Iran has yet to offer new access to monitoring data or inspectors, and progress remains minimal on addressing broader IAEA concerns.

Diplomatic efforts to address this growing crisis are gaining urgency. At this week's IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, the U.S., alongside the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, is pushing for a resolution to censure Iran for its lack of cooperation. Ooh, a censure. Well, that should turn things around.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller emphasized the gravity of the situation on Tuesday, stating, quote, the Iranian regime continues to amass a growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium for which there is no credible civilian purpose, end quote. Well, he's not wrong. He added that the U.S. strongly supports efforts to hold the Iranian regime accountable. However, a senior Western diplomat warned that a censure could prompt Tehran to retaliate by further escalating its nuclear program. This

This concern was echoed by Iran's nuclear chief, Mohammed Eslami, who cautioned that Iran would respond strongly to any rebuke. Previous IAEA resolutions led Iran to expand enrichment activities and limit cooperation even further. Well, yes, as every parent knows, when your toddler is misbehaving, the last thing you'd want to do is discipline it.

The outcome of this week's meetings in Vienna could shape the next phase of this long-running crisis. With the Iranian regime continuing to test the boundaries of international agreements, the window for a diplomatic resolution appears to be closing. Or, if you're really cynical, the window was never open to begin with.

And that, my friends, is the PDB Afternoon Bulletin for Wednesday, 20 November. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdbatthefirsttv.com. Now, as the old saying goes, to listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of the President's Daily Brief by visiting pdbpremium.com. I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back tomorrow. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.