Volodymyr Zelensky urges G7 leaders to increase pressure on Russia for ceasefire talks
Donald Trump leaves summit early to deal with Middle East tensions
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky meets with EU and North American leaders during the G7 Summit in Canada. Photo: Reuters
The G7 wealthy nations struggled to find unity over the conflict in Ukraine as Mr Trump expressed support for Russian president Vladimir Putin and has imposed tariffs on many of the allies present.
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The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Exiled Iranian prince calls for REVOLUTION to oust Ayatollah holed up in secret bunker with regime on brink of collapse
THE exiled Iranian crown prince has urged citizens to stage a national uprising to oust the Ayatollah as the regime sits on the brink of collapse. Ali Khamenei, 86, and his family are believed to have bolted to a Advertisement 8 The exiled Iranian crown prince has urged citizens to stage a national uprising Credit: X / @PahlaviReza 8 A building in Tehran hit in an Israeli strike on the Iranian capital early in the morning Credit: AFP 8 Smoke rises from a fire, as the Israel-Iran air war continues, in Tehran, Iran Credit: Reuters 8 Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is believed to have bolted to a fortified underground hiding place in a suburb of capital Tehran Credit: Reuters Iran's exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi is the eldest son of the former Shah of Iran - the last leader before the dynasty was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He urged Iranians in a video posted to X on Tuesday: "[The] Islamic Republic has reached its end and is in the process of collapsing." Pahlavi called Khamenei a "frightened rat" who "has gone into hiding underground" and "lost control of the situation". He added: "What has begun is irreversible." Advertisement read more news Pahlavi - who fled Iran as a teen and has been living just outside of Washington DC since 2001 - believes that Iran's " future is bright" despite the spiralling conflict. He also shared how his "heart is with all the defenceless citizens who have been harmed and have fallen victim to Khamenei's warmongering and delusions". Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 585 people across Iran and wounded 1,326 others, a human rights group has said. Iran has not been publishing regular death tolls during the conflict and has a history of minimising casualties. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Exclusive Warning Pahlavi added: "The end of the Islamic Republic is the end of its 46-year war against the Iranian nation. "The regime's apparatus of repression is falling apart." Trump 'considers bombing Iran' as Ayatollah 'prepares for strikes against US bases' & blasts more rockets at Israel He then called for a " nationwide uprising" to "put an end to this nightmare once and for all". Continuing his plea for a revolution, Pahlavi stressed that "now is the time to rise; the time to reclaim Iran," urging Iranian citizens to "all come forward and bring about the end of this regime". Advertisement He assured that if an uprising were to occur, Iranians shouldn't fear "the day after the fall" of Khamenei's rule" and promised the nation wouldn't "descend into civil war or instability". The exiled crown prince said: "We have a plan for Iran's future and its flourishing. "We are prepared for the first hundred days after the fall, for the transitional period, and for the reestablishment of a national and democratic government – by the Iranian people and for the Iranian people." Addressing Iranian security and state officials, Pahlavi urged them not to "stand against the Iranian people," adding that the regime's "fall has begun and is inevitable". Advertisement He said: "Do not sacrifice yourselves for a decaying regime. "By standing with the people, you can save your lives." 8 Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi, activist, advocate, and oldest son of the last Shah of Iran, gives a speech Credit: AFP 8 Israeli air defence systems are activated to intercept Iranian missiles over the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Wednesday Credit: AFP Advertisement 8 Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's waving during a ceremony on the occasion of 36rd death anniversary of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in Tehran Credit: AFP 8 Smoke billows in the distance from an oil refinery following an Israeli strike on the Iranian capital Tehran Credit: AFP Pahlavi concluded: "A free and flourishing Iran lies ahead of us. "May we be together soon." Advertisement Pahlavi has relentlessly spoken out about Iran's regime and pressed for change, urging President Donald Trump to put "maximum pressure" on the regime. Iran fired several missile barrages into Tel Aviv in the early hours of Wednesday. They are now reportedly preparing to launch missiles and other military equipment on US bases in the Middle East should Trump join Israel's war, say American officials who have reviewed intelligence reports. In response, Israel fired back with their own tactical strikes and left much of Tehran up in smoke. Advertisement Iran initially had roughly 2,000 missiles capable of hitting Israel, but a significant number were destroyed after Israel launched its surprise attack early Friday, Israeli intelligence officials said In the past six days of the spiralling conflict, Iran has retaliated against Israeli airstrikes by launching some 400 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel. Terrified Tehran citizens have been fleeing in the thousands since Friday, with Trump later urging everyone to immediately evacuate the city. Trump has already ramped up his threats towards the Iranian regime as he claimed on Wednesday the US and Israel know exactly where Advertisement The US president called him an "easy target " but said he won't order any assassination plot "for now". Khamenei went to ground after swathes of military top brass and nuclear scientists were wiped out in simultaneous surgical strikes at the start of Israel's Operation Rising Lion on Friday. Who was the Shah? By Annabel Bate, Foreign News Reporter THE last Shah of Iran was Mohammad Reza Pahlav i. He ruled from 1941 to 1979, having succeeded his dad Reza Shah. Mohammad Reza had a pro-Western foreign policy and encouraged economic development in the nation. What led to his downfall initially however was 1963 The White Revolution - a series of social, political and economic reforms that Mohammad Reza initiated. This looked to both modernise and westernise Iran. But the reforms were perceived as controversial and led to some resistance from various religious and political factions. On February 11, 1979, Iran's army declared its neutrality, paving the way for the fall of US-backed Shah Mohammad Reza. He died in exile in Egypt in 1980.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Meet the MOP… the 15-ton mega bunker buster bomb Trump will use to blow up Iran's ‘Mount Doom' nuke site if US joins war
A FEARSOME 15-ton mega bomb could soon be dropped to destroy Iran's most secure underground nuke facility as the US prepares to join the war. Donald Trump is 9 B-2 Spirit drops a GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb Credit: USAF 9 The US Air Force airmen look at a GBU-57 at Whiteman Air Base in Missouri Credit: AP 9 His statements yesterday, along with America's military movements, give us the clearest sign that the US is preparing to get involved in the Middle East. Israel said its At the heart of its nuclear program is the Israel's arsenal lacks huge bunker buster bombs needed to destroy the underground enrichment facility. Only America currently has the fearsome GBU-57 bombs capable of blitzing Fordow. It's a Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb that can penetrate deep inside the ground before blowing up. The 15-tonne 20-foot monster bomb then explodes to obliterate enemy targets that are often hidden beneath mountains and massive layers of rocks. Its 30,000lb weight means that its sheer kinetic force enables it to reach deeply buried targets - almost 200ft beneath the surface. Most read in The US Sun It also means only the B-2 strategic bombers currently in the US fleet are capable of dropping them. Multiple strikes would still be needed to reach the fortified underground laboratories of Fordow, packed with centrifuge technology at the heart of Iran's Doomsday programme. DOZENS of US Air Force refuelling jets have swooped into bases across Europe in a major show of force, fuelling fears they could enter the war with Iran Defence Analyst Paul Beaver told The Sun: ' 'It's protected by at least 90 metres of solid rock and has so far escaped serious damage. 'Options are to repeatedly bomb it for weeks until a breakthrough is achieved or a frontline is hit." Israel needs the US help to bomb Fordow, which is protected by troops and banks of Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile batteries. President Trump is understood to have offered the crucial strike option in a conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before Rising Lion was launched. And as Washington prepares to join the war against Iran , a B-2 bomber strike using the GBU-57 is more likely than ever. Bunker buster air strikes have hammered key uranium enrichment and conversion sites in Natanz and Isfahan, atomic energy watchdogs have confirmed. Israeli officials admitted that Will Trump strike Iran? By Sayan Bose, Foreign News Reporter DONALD Trump is all but poised to join Israel's campaign of bombing Iran as they both seek to obliterate Tehran's nuclear program. It comes as Tel Aviv has been carrying out air strikes targeting various nuclear and military facilities in Tehran and other parts of Iran. The goal, as they say, is to thwart the Iranian regime's efforts to produce nuclear weapons. The Trump administration previously said it had no plans to join the conflict. However, winds in Washington began blowing the other way after Trump cut short his G7 visit in Canada and said he needed to focus on the Middle East. And has repeatedly insisted it was not to pursue peace talks with Iran "in any way, shape or form" - a stark shift in his previous policy of striking up a nuclear deal. Don also went on to share a slew of posts on Truth Social suggesting he may be considering strikes against Iran. He wrote: "Our patience is wearing thin," before calling out Tehran for an unconditional surrender. Trump also called for an emergency situation room meeting yesterday with his top Washington aides, though details of those meetings have not yet been revealed. But Trump's statements, coupled with America's military movements, suggest the US forces may soon strike Iran. As Trump rushed back meet his National Security Council, he vowed he was chasing something "better than a ceasefire", which will force Iran into a "complete give up". He refused to specify the endgame, but ominously warned: "You're going to find out over the next two days." A spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry said that a US intervention in the Middle East would be "a recipe for all-out war in the region. 9 Iran's ballistic missiles are seen heading towards Tel Aviv Credit: Getty 9 Iran State Radio and Television (IRIB) building was smoking after a direct Israeli strike Credit: REXNEWS 9 Trump gestures after returning early from the G7 Leaders' Summit in Canada Credit: Reuters Meanwhile, the US military is deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes as the war between Israel and Iran rages. The Pentagon scrambled at least a dozen F-22 and F-35 fighter bombers to reinforce troops in Europe and the Middle East. Experts said the F-22s and F-35s would most likely be used to bolster Israel's air defence amid fears Tel Aviv could run low on its Iron Dome and interceptor missiles - the Arrow and THAAD. At least 30 large air-to-air refuellers swooped across the Atlantic this week followed by at least a dozen F-22 Raptors and F-35 Lightning jets. The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier is also The hulking $4.5billion nuclear-powered supercarrier, nicknamed Old Salt, is the flagship of the deadly Carrier Strike Group 11. The strike group includes Carrier Air Wing Seventeen and Destroyer Squadron Nine - a potent combination of military hardware that will strike fear into Iran. Dozens of USAF KC-135 Stratotanker refuelers and KC-46 Pegagus tankers swooped into bases in Prestwick, Scotland, Ramstein, Germany, Moron in Spain and Chania in Crete. 9 The KC-135s and KC-46s are designed to refuel fighter jets so they can stay airborne for longer and fly further to hit targets. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he had ordered 'the deployment of additional capabilities' to the Middle East amid spiralling fears of World War Three. But he insisted their role was 'defensive'. Trump has also The US President has already warned the "full strength and might" of the military would be used if America was attacked. He has also urged Tehran to evacuate "everyone". Israel's ambassador also hinted at something big on the horizon - promising lethal "surprises" on Thursday that would dwarf its operations to date. Read more on the Irish Sun As Trump rushed back to meet his National Security Council, he vowed he was chasing something "better than a ceasefire", which will force Iran into a "complete give up". He refused to specify the endgame, but ominously warned: "You're going to find out over the next two days." 9 Footage shows one of the four KC-135 Stratotankers landing at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on Monday Credit: YouTube/Daniel Sander 9 The Pegasus jets and Stratotankers are designed to refuel fighter jets in mid-air Credit: Jordan Castelan
Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Trump considers Tehran strike after Israel attacks Gaza food queue
Israeli forces have killed dozens of people queueing at a food hub in Gaza. Witnesses to the attack in the city of Khan Younis described a "massacre" as tanks and drones opened fire on the crowd without warning. As many as 700 people are said to have been wounded, with many seriously hurt. One survivor said: "Tens of thousands of hungry civilians gathered for the aid. Two Israeli shells were dropped in the middle of the crowd. Dozens of civilians, including children, were killed and no one could help." Another said: "It was a massacre." Speaking at the hospital in the aftermath of the attack, Samaher Meqdad said: "Why did they fire at the young people? Why? Aren't we human beings?" It comes as Donald Trump put the world on edge with a series of erratic rants, with which he said America was not going to assassinate Iran's supreme leader "at least for now". For live updates, follow our blog below... Israel continues to fight on two fronts with deadly attacks reported this morning in Gaza. According to reports, a fire has broken out at a section of Baghdad Airport which US forces operate from. It comes as Donald Trump reportedly weighs up whether to join Israel in carrying out strikes on Iran. انباء عن اندلاع حريق لأسباب مجهولة داخل مطار بغداد بالجزء الذي تسيطر عليه القوات الأمريكية . With the country facing an ever-increasing bombardment of Israeli bombs, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has held a meeting at the presidential palace this morning. It comes as Israel ramps up its attacks and the US weighs up whether to involve itself in the ongoing conflict. The state-run Tasnim news agency shared pictures showing several cabinet members, including First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref attending the meeting. A former Israeli diplomat said Iran could force Washington's hand by attacking a US ship or base. Michael Oren said there is a movement in the White House that doesn't want the US to involve itself in another foreign conflict. Trump himself convinced some Americans to vote for him based on repeated pledges to minimise US involvement in wars abroad. Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "[Iran attacking the US first would] increase pressure on Trump within his own White House, and President Trump would pressure Israel. "That's the way the Iranians might think," Oren says. "It's a fear I have." Two planes have touched down in Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, bringing home the first batch of Israelis stranded abroad. Israeli media reports say that tens of thousands of Israelis have been left stranded abroad since the war broke out. The flights, which were flying from Larnaca, Cyprus, landed at the Tel Aviv transport hub on Wednesday morning. Israel chose to close its airspace for commercial flights due to the ballistic missiles being launched from Iran. Most Americans think the US should not get involved in the conflict, according to a YouGov poll. Sixty per cent of those polled oppose the move, while only 16 per cent approve of it. One of Donald Trump's key campaign pledges was not to involve the US in foreign conflicts. Israel is reportedly running out of defensive Arrow interceptors. According to The Wall Street Journal, which reported the development, added that it could affect the country's ability to shoot down Iran's long-range ballistic missiles. An anonymous US official told the Journal the US has been aware of the issue for months. Daily life continues in Tehran as Iranian armed forces target Israeli positions and respond to the regime's acts of Explosions rocked Tehran early this morning as intense Israeli airstrikes rained down on the capital. A human rights group said the strikes had killed at least 585 people across Iran and wounded 1,326 others. Iran has been known to minimise casualties in the past, with its last update on Monday putting the toll at 224 with 1,277 wounded. So far 24 people have been killed in Israel. The Israeli military says it has struck uranium centrifuge production sites and weapons factories in Iran overnight. As the conflict enters its sixth day, "more than 50 aircraft" bombarded "a centrifuge production site" and a number of weapons production sites. Some of the targets were places where the regime produced surface to air missiles, Israel claims. Shai Mozes, whose parents were kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 and have since been released, said: 'Israel's real enemy is not Hamas, but Netanyahu, who is destroying Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.' Some 600 people protested along Israel's border with Gaza. Activist Alon-Lee Green, national co-director of grassroots peace group Standing Together, said: 'Some people are protesting because they see it as a political war.' Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking another 251 hostage. Israel's military campaign since then has killed over 55,300 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Yousef Nofal said he saw many people motionless and bleeding on the ground. He said: 'It was a massacre,' claiming soldiers continued firing as people fled the area. Mohammed Abu Qeshfa said he heard a loud explosion followed by heavy gunfire and tank shelling. He added: 'I survived by a miracle.' Samaher Meqdad was at a hospital looking for her two brothers and a nephew who had been in the crowd. She said: 'Why did they fire at the young people? Why? Aren't we human beings?' The Israeli army said it was investigating the incident, the latest in a series of catastrophes at distribution centres run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. An army spokesman said: 'Earlier today, Gazans were identified gathering next to an aid truck that got stuck in Khan Younis, next to Israeli forces operating in the area. 'We are aware of reports of a number of casualties from IDF fire after the mass neared [troops]. The details are being checked.' Gaza Civil Defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said: 'Israeli drones fired at the citizens. Some minutes later, Israeli tanks fired several shells at the citizens, which led to a large number of martyrs and wounded.' Dr Mohammed Saqer, head of nursing at Nasser hospital, said nearly 700 casualties had been treated in hospital. He added: 'Most of the cases are in serious conditions due to the tanks' missiles and now the situation at Nasser medical complex is out of control. We can't deal with such a high number of cases, so we asked the hospitals around Khan Younis city to support us and send ambulances to transfer cases to those hospitals. 'We are suffering a lot due to lack of medical supplies and instruments in addition to the lack of medical and nursing staff. We are trying to control the situation but now we can't do anything more.' In recent weeks, there have been growing protests from Israelis about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's military policy inside Gaza. Israeli forces killed more than 50 people queueing at a food hub in Gaza. Witnesses to the attack in the city of Khan Younis described a 'massacre' as tanks and drones opened fire on the crowd without warning. As many as 700 people are said to have been wounded, with many seriously hurt. Survivor Saeed Abu Liba, 38, said: 'Tens of thousands of hungry civilians gathered for the aid. Two Israeli shells were dropped in the middle of the crowd. Dozens of civilians, including children, were killed and no one could help.' Israeli strikes have killed at least 585 people across Iran and wounded 1,326 others, a human rights group said Wednesday. The Washington-based group Human Rights Activists said it had identified 239 of the dead as civilians and 126 as security personnel. The group, which also provided detailed casualty figures during the 2022 protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, crosschecks local reports in the Islamic Republic against a network of sources it has developed in the country. Iran has not been publishing regular death tolls during the conflict and has minimised casualties in the past. Its last update, issued Monday, put the death toll at 224 people killed and 1,277 others wounded. Residents in northeastern Tehran awoke to a loud bang this morning, after Israeli jets struck a key target in Iran's nuclear programme. A fire could be seen raging at the heavily sanctioned Imam Hossein University, where nuclear scientists work on producing weapons of mass destruction, under the close administration of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to experts at the Gulf International Forum. The facility has been pointed to as a key centre for Iran's development and production of biological and nuclear weapons by alarmed governments. Imam Hossein University was designated as centre for weapons of mass destruction manufacturing by the US Treasury in 2012 for 'providing, or attempting to provide technological, and or other support for and services in support of the IRGC.' The New York Times reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping has spoken for the first time about the war between Israel and Iran, saying he was "deeply concerned" about Israel's "military action." He noted that his country was willing to mediate an end to the fighting, and said China opposes any infringement on the 'sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of other countries.' Isreal's ambassador to the US Michael Leiter spoke to the circumstances of Ayatollah Khamenei, hours after Trump called him an 'easy target' but said the US was not going to 'take him out' or kill him. On Friday he 'looks over his left shoulder for his nuclear scientists and found none,' he said of Iran's supreme leader. 'Then he looked over his right shoulder for his generals on the IRGC … he didn't see any of them either,' he told CNN hours after President Trump met with his security team. Donald Trump spoke to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, according to a White House official. Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said strikes were taking place around Tehran early on Wednesday after planes had targeted missile launch and storage facilities on Tuesday night. Air raid sirens have been heard in parts of Israel while the US State Department announced it was closing the embassy in Jerusalem for the rest of the week. A bizarre theory connecting the Israel and Iran conflict to a spike in pizza deliveries near the Pentagon has been rubbished. Internet sleuths believed they spotted signs of the initial Israeli bombardment days earlier - by tracking activity at pizzerias near the huge government building. The Pentagon Pizza Report, an online group, noted a surge in orders at District Pizza Palace, a takeaway two miles from the Pentagon, the night before the attack. Around one hour before the bombing began at about 7pm on Thursday (local time), the group, which has 100,000 followers, wrote on X: "All nearby pizza establishments have experienced a HUGE surge in activity." But see below more about how this has been debunked. An Iranian missile or shrapnel appears to have fallen in a parking lot in central Israel, according to reports. Israel's Channel 12 reported that the incident set 20 cars ablaze, and fire crews are trying to put out the fire. Images shared on social media claim to show the vehicles on fire. The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) says Air Force has begun new wave of attacks in Tehran in Iran. The IDF has issued a new evacuation order for District 18 in Tehran due to an upcoming attack, it is understood. Multiple explosions have been heard. Iranian state television on Tuesday afternoon urged the country's public to remove the messaging platform WhatsApp from their smartphones, alleging the app — without offering specific evidence — gathered user information to send to Israel. In a statement, WhatsApp said it was 'concerned these false reports will be an excuse for our services to be blocked at a time when people need them the most.' WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, meaning a service provider in the middle can't read a message. "We do not track your precise location, we don't keep logs of who everyone is messaging and we do not track the personal messages people are sending one another," it added. 'We do not provide bulk information to any government." Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has posted a message on X about the ongoing conflict with Israel, a message which comes after US president Donald Trump said he had no intention of killing the Iranian leader 'for now'. Citing a verse from the Qur'an, Ali Khamenei wrote: "Help from Allah and an imminent conquest' (Holy Quran: 61:13). "The Islamic Republic will triumph over the Zionist regime by the will of God.' Red Alert sirens have been acittivated across Israel as the coutnry continues to exchange fire with Iran. Reports claim explosions could be seen lighting up the skies above Tel Aviv. Israel's Iron Dome rockets shot upwards to intercept missiles fired from Tehran. No immediate casualties or injuries are reported as the Magen David Adom emergency services attend. A post from the ILRedAlert twitter account reads: "Medics are responding to multiple missile impact reports in central Israel after Iran's latest attack. Magen David Adom confirms no immediate injuries reported." Videos from northern Israel show missiles being intercepted during the latest Iranian missile attack. Iran's Revolutionary Guards has said it is attacking Israeli air bases used to strike Iranian territory. According to the Quds News Network, the armed force said: "These strikes will continue in a sequential, complex, multi-layered and gradual manner." Trump is considering joining Israel to strike Iranian nuclear sites, including in Fordow, officials have told CBS. The president is considering a range of options, including a possible strike, following a meeting with his national security team, US media are reporting this evening. An Israeli plane has been reportedly downed in Iran, with a search being launched for its pilot, according to Iran's Mehr news agency. The report said "an Israeli enemy aircraft was targeted in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province in southwestern Iran, and a search is underway for its pilot." Sirens have sounded in several parts of Israel after missile launches were detected from Iran, the country's military has said. The IDF said in a statement: "At this time, the air force is working to intercept and attack wherever necessary to eliminate the threat." Israel and Iran are continuing to exchange fire for a fifth day in a row. This is considered their most intense confrontation in history, fuelling fears of a widespread conflict that could engulf the Middle East. Donald Trump is meeting with his National Security Council, the White House has confirmed.
