
Russia says Israel attacks on Iran are illegal, notes Iran's commitement to NPT
People stand on top of the remains of an Iranian missile in the Negev desert near Arad, on October 2, 2024, in the aftermath of an Iranian missile attack on Israel. - Israel vowed to make Iran "pay" for firing a barrage of missiles at its territory, with Tehran warning on October 2 it would launch an even bigger attack it is targeted. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP)
June 17 (Reuters) - Russia's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday denounced continued Israeli attacks on Iran as illegal and said a solution to the conflict over Tehran's nuclear programme could only be found through diplomacy.

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IOL News
43 minutes ago
- IOL News
Israeli embassy's fate now in Cabinet's hands, says Lamola
International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola. Image: GCIS THE Cabinet will only decide by the end of the year on the potential closure of the Israeli embassy in Pretoria- two years after a National Assembly resolution to close down the Israeli embassy. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola disclosed this during a question-and-answer session in the National Council of Provinces on Tuesday. Responding to a question from EFF MP Virgill Gericke about the steps he has taken in honouring and executing the November 2023 resolution of the National Assembly to close down the Israeli embassy, Lamola said consultations have taken place within the relevant government cluster system to prepare a memorandum for submission to the Cabinet. 'In accordance with the constitutional principle of the separation of powers, the authority to decide on the possible closure of the Israeli embassy in South Africa rests solely with the Cabinet. 'Once Cabinet has deliberated and reached a final destination, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation will act in accordance with these directives,' he said. Lamola indicated that the Israeli embassy remained downgraded. 'The downgraded embassy only just facilitates the normal processes of visa and travelling of civilians between the two countries, with no full operation of a full embassy in terms of liaising on political, diplomatic, and also economic relations between the two countries.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ He also said since the matter was processed through the Cabinet process, he was unable to specify the date it will be resolved. 'But I can state that before the end of the year, Cabinet will have processed the matter.' Asked what outside forces were exerting pressure on the Cabinet or the government to relent on its initial resolve to close the Israeli embassy, Lamola said the authority to decide on the possible closure of the Israeli embassy in South Africa rests solely with the Cabinet. 'Cabinet has to undergo its internal processes, which it will be undergoing to deal with this matter, and it is being processed. 'It will be processed objectively, in line with the South African constitution, with no external pressure to be exerted on the South African government by any forces or anyone. The South African government will act within its sovereignty to make decisions informed by facts, policies, the Constitution, the National Development Plan, and national interests,' he said.

TimesLIVE
an hour ago
- TimesLIVE
Taiwan seals Ukraine combat-tested drone software deal to help deter China
Taiwan sealed a partnership deal on Tuesday with US and German-based Auterion for drone software battle-tested in Ukraine to help strengthen the island's defences against growing military threats from giant neighbour China. Auterion, whose software is used in Ukrainian drones operating combat missions against Russia, said the deal could eventually lead to the technology being used in millions of drones for Taiwan. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has ramped up its military pressure over the past five years, including staging half a dozen rounds of war games. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Taiwan has been studying how Ukraine has deployed drones, in the air and at sea, to successfully offset Russia's numerical advantage on the battlefield, given China's forces also outnumber Taiwan's. Auterion said it had agreed to a strategic partnership with Taiwan's defence ministry's research and development arm, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, for uncrewed systems and drone swarming software. 'What we're bringing to the table has been combat-proven in Ukraine to deter aggression and destroy tanks, naval assets and other expensive equipment. By building a large autonomous fleet, Taiwan can deter China,' Auterion CEO Lorenz Meier told Reuters. 'The partnership is super long-term. I think in terms of, if you're trying to put that in number of drones or dollars, we're expecting millions of drones over many years and hundreds of millions of dollars in value that's being created,' he said at a ministry-organised sea drone exhibition at the northeastern Taiwanese port of Suao. Pushed by the US, Taiwan has been working to transform its armed forces to be able to wage 'asymmetric warfare' using mobile and often cheaper weapons which pack a targeted punch, such as drones and truck-mounted missiles. Chung-Shan president Li Shih-chiang thanked the five foreign companies who participated at the Suao exhibition. 'I believe you will soon be sanctioned by the Chinese government, but do not fear because you have chosen the democratic camp,' he said. Ukraine has deployed sea drones not only to attack ships in Russia's Black Sea fleet, but also to shoot down aircraft. The unmanned sea drones on display in Suao included not only those that could be packed with explosives for high-speed suicide missions, but smaller craft that can conduct low-profile reconnaissance.


Daily Maverick
2 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Israel-Iran air war enters sixth day, Trump calls for Iran's ‘unconditional surrender'
US moves additional fighter jets to region Trump says whereabouts of Iranian leader Khamenei are known Aerial attacks by both sides persist Iran reportedly bans officials' use of mobile devices By Steven Scheer, Steve Holland and Parisa Hafezi The Israeli military said two barrages of Iranian missiles were launched toward Israel in the first two hours of Wednesday morning. Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv. Israel told residents in the area of Tehran to evacuate so its air force could strike Iranian military installations. Iranian news websites said explosions were heard in Tehran and the city of Karaj west of the capital. Trump warned on social media on Tuesday that U.S. patience was wearing thin. While he said there was no intention to kill Iran's leader 'for now,' his comments suggested a more aggressive stance toward Iran as he weighs whether to deepen U.S. involvement. 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding,' he wrote on Truth Social, referring to Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 'We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now … Our patience is wearing thin.' Three minutes later Trump posted, 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!' A White House official said Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone on Tuesday. Trump's sometimes contradictory and cryptic messaging about the conflict between close U.S. ally Israel and longtime foe Iran has deepened the uncertainty surrounding the crisis. His public comments have ranged from military threats to diplomatic overtures, not uncommon for a president known for an often erratic approach to foreign policy. Britain's leader Keir Starmer, speaking at the Group of Seven nations summit in Canada that Trump left early, said there was no indication the U.S. was about to enter the conflict. Trump met for 90 minutes with his National Security Council on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the conflict, a White House official said. Details were not immediately available. The U.S. is deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes, three U.S. officials told Reuters. The U.S. has so far only taken defensive actions in the current conflict with Iran, including helping to shoot down missiles fired toward Israel. REGIONAL INFLUENCE WEAKENS Khamenei's main military and security advisers have been killed by Israeli strikes, hollowing out his inner circle and raising the risk of strategic errors, according to five people familiar with his decision-making process. With Iranian leaders suffering their most dangerous security breach since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the country's cybersecurity command banned officials from using communications devices and mobile phones, Fars news agency reported. Israel launched a 'massive cyber war' against Iran's digital infrastructure, Iranian media reported. Ever since Iran-backed Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, and triggered the Gaza war, Khamenei's regional influence has waned as Israel has pounded Iran's proxies – from Hamas in Gaza to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and militias in Iraq. Iran's close ally, Syria's autocratic president Bashar al-Assad, has been ousted. Israel launched its air war, its largest ever on Iran, on Friday after saying it had concluded the Islamic Republic was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and has pointed to its right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as a party to the international Non-Proliferation Treaty. Israel, which is not a party to the NPT, is the only country in the Middle East believed to have nuclear weapons. Israel does not deny or confirm that. Netanyahu has stressed that he will not back down until Iran's nuclear development is disabled, while Trump says the Israeli assault could end if Iran agrees to strict curbs on enrichment. Before Israel's attack began, the 35-nation board of governors of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years. The IAEA said on Tuesday an Israeli strike directly hit the underground enrichment halls at the Natanz facility. Israel says it now has control of Iranian airspace and intends to escalate the campaign in coming days. But Israel will struggle to deal a knock-out blow to deeply buried nuclear sites like Fordow, which is dug beneath a mountain, without the U.S. joining the attack. Iranian officials have reported 224 deaths, mostly civilians, while Israel said 24 civilians had been killed. Residents of both countries have been evacuated or fled. Global oil markets are on high alert following strikes on sites including the world's biggest gas field, South Pars, shared by Iran and Qatar.