Israel had ‘no choice' but to attack Iran, President Herzog says
In an interview with Sky News' Yalda Hakim, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Iran was 'rushing' to obtain nuclear weapons and that Israel had 'no choice' but to attack. In recent days, attacks between the two countries have intensified after Israel launched a strike targeting Iran's nuclear and military capabilities.
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The National
an hour ago
- The National
You can condemn Israel's crimes without whitewashing Iran's
Let's be clear: Israel is absolutely guilty of war crimes. I've long condemned its bombing of Gaza, the siege, the apartheid system in the West Bank, and the systemic targeting of journalists and aid convoys. But what I won't do is turn a blind eye to Iran's own behaviour just because it happens to be on the other side of this conflict. To claim, as Leah Gunn Barrett does, that 'Iran doesn't deliberately murder civilians' is simply false. Iran's regime doesn't need to drop the bombs themselves – it's spent decades arming and directing groups who do. Hezbollah has shelled Israeli towns with rockets for years. The Houthis – trained and armed by Iran – have launched missiles at Saudi airports and civilian infrastructure. Shia militias in Iraq – again, Iranian-backed – opened fire on unarmed Iraqi protesters in 2019, killing more than 500. And in Syria, Iran directly enabled Assad's massacre of civilians, helping to bomb schools, hospitals and homes. These are not rumours — they are documented, photographed, and reported by the UN, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch. Iran may use others to do its dirty work, but the civilians are still just as dead. Peter Thomson calls Israel's strike on Iran 'unprovoked.' That erases a critical fact: on April 13 2024, Iran launched a wave of more than 300 drones and missiles directly at Israeli cities – not through proxies, but from Iranian territory. It was the first direct attack of its kind. What did you think Israel was going to do? Send flowers? None of this excuses Netanyahu or the crimes committed in Gaza. But context matters. Iran is not a neutral actor caught in the crossfire – it is a state with regional ambitions, a vast military, and a long record of supporting violence beyond its borders. And on the nuclear issue: yes, Israel is a nuclear power and refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That's a valid criticism. But Iran is no honest broker. It has hidden nuclear sites, blocked inspections, and enriched uranium far beyond civilian levels. It was caught sanitising facilities and removing International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring cameras – behaviour consistent with someone preparing not for peace, but for leverage. And if you think nuclear weapons in the hands of a regime that hangs protestors, jails women for dancing, and wants Israel 'erased from the pages of time' is somehow a path to regional stability, I'd urge a rethink. Isobel Lindsay's suggestion of a total boycott of Israel also ignores the obvious: many Israelis oppose their own government. From B'Tselem to former IDF soldiers in Breaking the Silence, there is resistance within the state. Blanket boycotts often silence allies more than they pressure governments. Let me say it plain: Palestine is not Iran. The Palestinian people are under occupation, denied a state, and bombed into rubble. Iran is a regional power, funding militant groups and crushing its own citizens under religious law. Conflating the two is not solidarity – it's erasure. You can condemn Israel's crimes without whitewashing Iran's. You can support Palestine without excusing Tehran's ambitions. You can hold two truths at once – and if we care about real peace, we must. James Murphy Bute I WRITE in reply to Leah Gunn Barrett. She says that Iran and the Houthis don't target civilians. Iran are doing just that now, it is totally indiscriminate. I don't agree with Israel's actions either. Norman Robertson via email I WONDER when the Labour UK Government will start sending armed forces to help Russia defend itself? Surely Starmer and co must be lining up troops, planes and even the navy to help protect Russia from the Ukrainians? This may sound bizarre, but it's not any more ridiculous than sending support to help defend Israel from the retaliation it is receiving from Iran. Israel started the war with Iran – but UK foreign policy seems, at least in Israel's case, to support the aggressor and pretend that they are the victim. The BBC is already on the case with its usual mix of lies and misinformation. Thanks to Starmer and his allies putting up with Israeli atrocities across the Middle East, not least their genocide of the Palestinians (which has now been dropped by all mainstream media), Netanyahu feels he can do whatever he wants to anyone and no-one will stop him. The UK is complicit in Israel's war crimes – we are arming and supporting Israel in its genocide and apparently helping to defend it from Iran's justifiable attacks on the aggressor state of Israel. The UK Government has become a puppet regime of Israel – there to do their bidding and support whatever atrocity they want to carry out. Cllr Kenny MacLaren Paisley
The National
an hour ago
- The National
How the G7 has enabled Israel's new genocide rules to be used in Iran
As strikes between Israel and Iran continue for a fifth-straight day after being sparked by Israel's surprise attack on Friday, Israeli forces opened fire on crowds of Palestinian people heading to get food once again, this time killing 51 and injuring more than 200. Israel's blockade and military campaign have caused widespread hunger and raised the risk of famine in the country. Now, Israel is reportedly set to pursue the military campaign in Iran for "weeks, not days," according to multiple Israeli and US sources. Dr Nicola Perugini, senior lecturer in international relations at the University of Edinburgh, told The National that G7 leaders defending "Israel's right to defend itself" against Iran are the same ones who have "enabled the Gaza genocide". READ MORE: UK Defence Secretary walks into oncoming traffic to escape questions over Israel He said Israel's methods, once considered exceptional, are increasingly being normalised and even endorsed by Western powers, threatening to erode long-standing rules governing the conduct of war. Perugini also suggested that since pressure on Israel was increasing, such as through sanctions from the UK, the aggression on Iran is "a distraction, meant to avoid further scrutiny for what's going on in Gaza" and an attempt to rally Western allies who had become "sceptical" of Benjamin Netanyahu. "The international community has, in a way, normalized its conduct of war without accountability," Perugini explained. "And many experts, politicians, and anti-genocide groups warned that if Israel wasn't stopped in Gaza, its methods would spread. That's what we're witnessing now — and it's a threat to humanity." In a statement agreed at the G7 summit, leaders described Iran as 'the principal source of regional instability and terror," adding they 'affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself'. "No matter what happens, no matter how much evidence exists of violations, that phrase — 'Israel's right to defend itself' — is repeated without question," Perugini said. "It's a kind of blindness. A historical failure to address the asymmetries in the region, which is what's allowed us to get where we are now. "It's a phrase that shields Israel politically from scrutiny. It immunises them from criticism. That refrain is deployed at any cost to prevent accountability." Perugini said the countries defending Israel's aggression towards Iran are the same who have enabled genocide, and so "have lost any real international legal credibility". "They've lost that standing", he added. READ MORE: You can condemn Israel's crimes without whitewashing Iran's 'We're at a point of genocide even beyond the level of destruction we've seen over the past 20 months. We're in a situation now in Gaza where Israel is using humanitarian aid to entrap Palestinians - calling them to come to aid distribution hubs four hours before they start to shoot at them. US military lawyers now see Israel's conduct in Gaza as legitimate under international law. "We're at a turning point where acts that amount to genocide are being reinterpreted as consistent with humanitarian law. The Geneva Conventions are being twisted to justify mass violence — and that's a huge risk. If we don't act now, we're opening the door for future wars to follow these same patterns." He added: "International law has been suspended when it comes to Palestinians. That's where we are. "States are defending that exception at any cost. They're inverting the reality, distorting the true power dynamics and violence involved. "We need to keep educating, and keep speaking out". Israel's genocide October 2023 has killed over 55,300 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The death toll from Israel's attacks on Iran has risen to more than 220, including 70 women and children. More than 20 people have been killed in Iranian attacks on Israel. Israeli officials have claimed the country's initial strikes were an act of self-defence and argued Iran had rejected diplomatic efforts to ease tensions. Israel said the barrage was necessary before Iran got any closer to building a nuclear weapon, although experts and the US government have assessed that Tehran was not actively working on such a weapon.
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Trump warns Tehran as agency says strikes damage Iran's underground nuclear site
The air strikes came as President Donald Trump warned residents of Tehran to evacuate and suggested the US was working on something 'better than a ceasefire'. Mr Trump left the G7 summit in Canada a day early to deal with the conflict between Israel and Iran, telling reporters on Air Force One during the flight back to Washington: 'I'm not looking at a ceasefire. We're looking at better than a ceasefire.' When asked to explain, he said the US wanted to see 'a real end' to the conflict that could involve Iran 'giving up entirely'. He added: 'I'm not too much in the mood to negotiate.' Mr Trump's cryptic messages added to the uncertainty in the region as residents of Tehran fled their homes in droves and the UN nuclear watchdog for the first time said Israeli strikes on Iran's main enrichment facility at Natanz had also damaged its underground section, and not just the surface area. Later, Mr Trump said the US knows where Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding but does not want him killed 'for now'. Mr Trump urged, in a social media posting, Iran's 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER' as the conflict continues to escalate. 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding,' Mr Trump added. 'He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.' President Donald Trump said 'our patience is wearing thin' (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) Israel says its sweeping assault on Iran's top military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment sites and ballistic missile programme is necessary to prevent its adversary from getting any closer to building an atomic weapon. The strikes have killed at least 224 people in Iran. Iran has retaliated by launching more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel. The Israeli military said a new barrage of missiles was launched on Tuesday. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Tuesday it believes that Israel's first aerial attacks on Iran's Natanz enrichment site had 'direct impacts' on the facility's underground centrifuge halls. 'Based on continued analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery collected after Friday's attacks, the IAEA has identified additional elements that indicate direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at Natanz,' the watchdog said. Located 135 miles south-east of Tehran, the Natanz facility was protected by anti-aircraft batteries, fencing and Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Iran: Based on continued analysis of high resolution satellite imagery collected after Friday's attacks, the IAEA has identified additional elements that indicate direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at change to report at Esfahan and Fordow. — IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) June 17, 2025 The underground part of the facility is buried to protect it from air strikes and contains the bulk of the enrichment facilities at Natanz, with 10,000 centrifuges that enrich uranium up to 5%, experts assess. The IAEA had earlier reported that Israeli strikes had destroyed an above-ground enrichment hall at Natanz and knocked out electrical equipment that powered the facility. However, most of Iran's enrichment takes place underground. Although Israel has struck Natanz repeatedly and claims to have inflicted significant damage on its underground facilities, Tuesday's IAEA statement marked the first time the agency has acknowledged impacts at the site. Iran maintains its nuclear programme is peaceful. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Tuesday that Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear sites have set the country's nuclear programme back a 'very, very long time', Israel has not been able to reach Iran's Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is buried deep underground. Echoing an earlier Israeli military call for some 330,000 residents of a neighbourhood in downtown Tehran to evacuate, Mr Trump on Tuesday warned on social media that 'everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!'. Israeli security forces inspect a site hit by a missile launched from Iran (Baz Ratner/AP) Tehran is one of the largest cities in the Middle East, with around 10 million people, roughly equivalent to the entire population of Israel. People have been fleeing since hostilities began. Asked why he had urged for the evacuation of Tehran, Mr Trump said: 'I just want people to be safe.' Downtown Tehran appeared to be emptying out early Tuesday, with many shops closed. The ancient Grand Bazaar was also closed, something that only happened in the past during anti-government demonstrations or at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. On the roads out of Tehran to the west, traffic stood bumper to bumper. Many appeared to be heading to the Caspian Sea, a popular holiday spot where a large number of middle and upper-class Iranians have second homes. Long lines also could be seen at petrol stations in Tehran. Printed placards and billboards calling for a 'severe' response to Israel were visible across the city. Authorities cancelled leave for doctors and nurses, while insisting everything was under control. The Israeli military meanwhile claimed to have killed someone it described as Iran's top general in a strike on Tehran. Iran did not immediately comment on the reported killing of Gen Ali Shadmani, who had just been named as the head of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, part of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Iran has named other generals to replace the top leaders of the guard and the regular armed forces after they were killed in earlier strikes. Firefighters work at a site in central Israel hit by a missile launched from Iran (Baz Ratner/AP) Before leaving the summit in Canada, Mr Trump joined the other leaders in a joint statement saying Iran 'can never have a nuclear weapon' and calling for a 'de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza'. French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters that discussions were under way on a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, but Mr Trump appeared to shoot that down in his comments on social media. Mr Macron 'mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a 'cease fire' between Israel and Iran', Mr Trump wrote. 'Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that.' Mr Trump said he was not ready to give up on diplomatic talks, and could send vice president JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff to meet the Iranians. 'I may,' he said. 'It depends on what happens when I get back.' Israeli military spokesperson Brig Gen Effie Defrin said on Monday his country's forces had 'achieved full aerial superiority over Tehran's skies'. The military said it destroyed more than 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers in central Iran, a third of Iran's total, including multiple launchers just before they launched ballistic missiles towards Israel. It also destroyed two F-14 fighter planes that Iran used to target Israeli aircraft, the military said. Israeli military officials also said fighter jets had struck 10 command centres in Tehran belonging to Iran's Quds Force, an elite arm of its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard that conducts military and intelligence operations outside Iran. Israel's military issued an evacuation warning for a part of central Tehran that houses state TV and police headquarters, as well as three large hospitals, including one owned by the guard. It has issued similar evacuation warnings for parts of the Gaza Strip and Lebanon ahead of strikes.
