The Latest: Iran's supreme leader refuses to surrender as Trump considers joining Israeli strikes
Explosions were heard in Tehran throughout the day Wednesday as Israel said its warplanes pounded Iran in three waves of strikes. Less than a week into the conflict, Israel now says its aircraft have free rein over the Iranian capital's skies.
Iran launched small barrages of missiles at Israel with no reports of casualties, and Israel has eased some restrictions for its civilians. Meanwhile, fear grips the Iranian capital as the streets are empty, businesses closed and communications patchy at best. Thousands have fled.
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Hamilton Spectator
28 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Iran's Arak heavy water reactor, hit by an Israeli airstrike, was part of Tehran's nuclear deal
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Much of the focus on Iran's nuclear program has been on Tehran's enrichment of uranium, but experts also keep a close watch on the Islamic Republic's Arak heavy water reactor. That's because the facility, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) southwest of Tehran, could produce plutonium, which can be used to make an atomic bomb. Israel pointed to just that concern when it launched airstrikes Thursday on the reactor , following its attacks on other Iranian nuclear sites, including the Nantanz enrichment facility, centrifuge workshops near Tehran, and laboratories in Isfahan. Iran acknowledged the strikes, saying at least two projectiles slammed into the compound, without giving any specifics about damage. Never online, the reactor had no uranium fuel and saw no nuclear release from the strike. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, has warned repeatedly that such sites — whether in Iran or Ukraine — should not be military targets. Arak grew out of Iran's onetime military nuclear program After Iran's devastating 1980s war with Iraq, it began a secret military program to seek a nuclear weapon and approached four nations to purchase a heavy water-moderated reactor. After getting turned down, Iran decided to build its own. Heavy water is water in which hydrogen is replaced by deuterium and is used as a coolant for heavy water reactors. The reactors can be used for scientific purposes, but plutonium is a byproduct of the process. Before the centrifuge technology that enriches uranium to levels high enough for use in weapons became widespread, many states used heavy water reactors to pursue plutonium-fueled bombs. India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed states , have heavy water reactors, as does Israel, which has never acknowledged having atomic weapons but is widely believed to have them. Though Iran ultimately embraced uranium-enriching centrifuges as the main driver of its program, it built the reactor, which never went online. Iran has long maintained its program is for peaceful purposes. However, it also had been enriching uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Iran was the only non-nuclear-weapon state to enrich at that level. Arak was part of Iran's nuclear deal with world powers Iran agreed under its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers to redesign the facility to alleviate proliferation concerns. That included pouring concrete into part of it, though the overall work never was completed. The Arak reactor became a point of contention after U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018. Ali Akbar Salehi, a high-ranking nuclear official in Iran, claimed on Iranian state television in 2019 that Tehran bought extra parts to replace the portion of the reactor into which officials poured concrete. Due to restrictions Iran has imposed on inspectors, the IAEA has said it lost 'continuity of knowledge' about Iran's heavy water production — meaning it could not absolutely verify Tehran's production and stockpile. Israeli strike likely heavily damaged the inert reactor On Thursday morning, Israel carried out an airstrike on the reactor. Black-and-white footage of the strike it released showed a bomb dropping on its dome and sending up a massive plume of fire and smoke. The U.N. nuclear watchdog noted that since it was not in operation and contained no nuclear material, there was no danger to the public after the strike from any 'radiological effects.' The IAEA said it had no information on whether the facility nearby where heavy water is produced had been hit. Israel's military said its fighter jets targeted the Arak facility and its reactor core seal to halt it from being used to produce plutonium. 'The strike targeted the component intended for plutonium production, in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development,' the Israelis said. ___ The Associated Press receives support for nuclear security coverage from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Outrider Foundation . The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Additional AP coverage of the nuclear landscape: Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Daily Mirror
29 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer calls for Iran nuke talks as Trump ponders joining Israel strikes
"We need to de-escalate this," the PM said. "Yes the nuclear issue has to be dealt with, but it's better dealt with through negotiations than by way of conflict" Keir Starmer has called for Iran's nuclear programme to be dealt with through negotiations rather than conflict. Last night Donald Trump continued to weigh up whether to send America's military to help Israel strike Iran's military facilities. It following days of Israeli bombardment of Iran, and Tehran counterattacking with missile strikes on Israeli towns and cities. Speaking to broadcasters this morning, the Prime Minister said: "Obviously all of us, the UK included, are very concerned about the nuclear programme that Iran is developing, long been concerned about that. "We also completely recognise Israel's right to self defence. "But the principle is that we need to de-escalate this. There's a real risk of escalation here that will impact the region, possibly beyond the region, into Gaza and obviously It's already having an impact on the economy." Mr Starmer went on: "I've been absolutely clear about this - yes the nuclear issue has to be dealt with, but it's better dealt with through negotiations than by way of conflict." When he took office in 2018, Donald Trump pulled the US off the nuclear treaty with Iran which had prevented the state working towards a nuclear since 2015 when it was signed. Britain has continued to urge de-escalation, but has deployed two refuelling tankers and 14 Typhoon jets to Cyprus to protect British personnel and interests in the Middle East. The Foreign Office has evacuated family members of British Embassy staff from Israel but not advised UK nationals to leave the country. Asked if Mr Starmer would prefer Mr Trump to go down the route of diplomacy rather than military action, a No 10 spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has been clear that his priority is de-escalation." The spokesman added: "Clearly de-escalation is the priority, and we would not want to see anything that ramps up the situation. "That is our priority. We have been clear on that for a number of days now. De-escalation remains this Government's priority." Asked if the UK would block the US from using the Diego Garcia base to launch a strike against Iran, the spokesman said: "I'm not going to get into hypothetical situations and I'm not going to speculate on future operations, but we continue to liaise with international partners as the Prime Minister has done for a number of days now and will continue to do so." An Iranian missile hit the main hospital in southern Israel early Thursday, wounding people and causing "extensive damage" but no serious injuries, the medical facility said. Israeli media aired footage of blown-out windows and heavy black smoke. Get Donald Trump updates straight to your WhatsApp! As tension between the White House and Europe heats up, the Mirror has launched its very own US Politics WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news from across the pond. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Other missiles hit a high-rise apartment building in Tel Aviv and other sites in central Israel. At least 40 people were wounded, according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service. Israel, meanwhile, carried out strikes on Iran's Arak heavy water reactor, its latest attack on Iran's sprawling nuclear program. Iranian state television said there was "no radiation danger whatsoever" and that the facility had been evacuated before the attack. The seventh day of conflict came a day after Iran's supreme leader rejected U.S. calls for surrender and warned that any military involvement by the Americans would cause "irreparable damage to them."
Business Standard
30 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Adani Ports drops 9.24% in seven days as Israel-Iran tensions escalate
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone India fell 2.50% to Rs 1,338, extending losses for the seventh consecutive trading session. Shares of the Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone lost 9.24% in seven consecutive trading sessions from its recent closing high of Rs 1474.35 on 10 June 2025. On the BSE, 57,330 shares were traded in the counter so far compared with average daily volumes of 1.36 lakh shares in the past two weeks. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 1,604.15 on 01 Aug 2024. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 993.85 on 21 Nov 2024. The stock had underperformed the market over the past month, down 4.89% compared with a 1.14% fall in the Sensex. The counter had underperformed the market in the past year and fell 7.40% as against a 5.29% jump in the Sensex. On the technical front, the stock's daily RSI (relative strength index) stood at 23.593. The RSI oscillates between zero and 100. Traditionally, the RSI is considered overbought when above 70 and oversold when below 30. On the daily chart, the stock was trading below its 50-day and 100-day simple moving average (SMA), placed at 1,407.28 and 1,432.13, respectively. These levels will act as crucial resistance zones in the near term. The stock of Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone has come under pressure due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. The decline is primarily attributed to the companys significant exposure to Haifa Port in Israel. According to reports, Iranian missile strikes have caused significant damage to several important sites in Israel. This includes the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange building, hospitals, state media offices, and other infrastructure. There have been multiple reports of civilian casualties and injuries. Today marks the seventh day of the Israel-Iran war, with ongoing missile attacks aimed at central and northern Israel. Investors are being cautious as they closely monitor developments in the region and their possible effects on Adani Ports international operations. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), a part of the globally diversified Adani Group, has evolved from a port company to an integrated transport utility providing end-to-end solutions from its port gate to customer gate. It is the largest port developer and operator in India, with 7 strategically located ports and terminals on the west coast (Mundra, Tuna Tekra & Berth 13 in Kandla, Dahej, and Hazira in Gujarat, Mormugao in Goa, Dighi in Maharashtra and Vizhinjam in Kerala) and 8 ports and terminals on the east coast (Haldia in West Bengal, Dhamra and Gopalpur in Odisha, Gangavaram and Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Kattupalli and Ennore in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal in Puducherry). The companys consolidated net profit jumped 47.8% to Rs 3,014.22 crore on a 23.1% increase in net sales to Rs 8,488.44 crore in Q4 FY25 over Q4 FY24.
