Qatari foreign minister discusses Iran-Israel strikes in calls with UAE, UK counterparts
LONDON: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Qatar's foreign minister, spoke with his Emirati and British counterparts in separate calls on Sunday to address the escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran.
Sheikh Mohammed and his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, discussed the Israeli attack on Iran, which began on Friday morning.
The Qatari foreign minister reiterated Doha's condemnation of the Israeli attack, which violates Iran's sovereignty and security and is a clear violation of the principles of international law, the Qatar News Agency reported.
Sheikh Mohammed had a separate conversation on Sunday with UK Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lammy. During this call, he said that the ongoing Israeli violations and attacks in the region are undermining peace efforts and could lead to a broader regional conflict, the QNA added.
He emphasized the need for diplomatic efforts, saying that Qatar is collaborating with partners to promote dialogue and enhance security and peace in the region and worldwide.
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Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
G7 leaders gather in Canada for a summit overshadowed by Israel-Iran crisis and trade wars
KANANASKIS, Alberta: Leaders of some of the world's biggest economic are arriving in the Canadian Rockies on Sunday for a Group of Seven summit, overshadowed by an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran and US President Donald Trump's unresolved trade war. Israel's strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation, which appeared to catch many world leaders unawares, is the latest sign of a more volatile world. Trump in recent days vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a US official told The Associated Press, in an indication of how far Israel was prepared to go. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had discussed efforts to de-escalate the crisis with Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as other world leaders and said he expected 'intense discussions' would continue at the summit. Trump is summit's wild card As summit host, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has decided to abandon the annual practice of issuing a joint statement, or communique, at the end of the meeting. With other leaders wanting to talk to Trump in an effort to talk him out of imposing tariffs, the summit risks being a series of bilateral conversations rather than a show of unity. Trump is the summit wild card. Looming over the meeting are his inflammatory threats to make Canada the 51st state and take over Greenland. French President Emmanuel Macron visited Greenland on Sunday for a highly symbolic stop on his way to Canada. Macron warned that Greenland is 'not to be sold' nor 'to be taken.' 'Everybody in France, the European Union thinks that Greenland is not to be sold, not to be taken,' he said during a news conference, applauded by the local crowd. 'The situation in Greenland is clearly a wakeup call for all Europeans. Let me tell you very directly that you're not alone,' Macron added. Trump is scheduled to arrive late Sunday in Kananaskis, Alberta. He will have a bilateral meeting with Carney on Monday morning before the summit program begins. 'He tends to be a bully' Leaders who are not part of the G7 but have been invited to the summit by Carney include the heads of state of India, Ukraine, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Australia, Mexico and the UAE. Avoiding tariffs will continue to be top of mind. 'Leaders, and there are some new ones coming, will want to meet Donald Trump,' said Peter Boehm, Canada's counselor at the 2018 G7 summit in Quebec and a veteran of six G7 summits. 'Trump doesn't like the big round table as much he likes the one-on-one.' Bilateral meetings with the American president can be fraught as Trump has used them to try to intimidate the leaders of Ukraine and South Africa. Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien told a panel this week that if Trump does act out, leaders should ignore him and remain calm like Carney did in his recent Oval Office meeting. 'He tends to be a bully,' Chrétien said. 'If Trump has decided to make a show to be in the news, he will do something crazy. Let him do it and keep talking normally.' Last month Britain and the US announced they had struck a trade deal that will slash American tariffs on UK autos, steel and aluminum. It has yet to take effect, however, though British officials say they are not concerned the Trump administration might go back on its word. Starmer's attempts to woo Trump have left him in an awkward position with Canada, the UK's former colony, close ally and fellow Commonwealth member. Starmer has also drawn criticism — especially from Canadians — for failing to address Trump's stated desire to make Canada the 51st state. Asked if he has told Trump to stop the 51st state threats, Starmer told The Associated Press: 'I'm not going to get into the precise conversations I've had, but let me be absolutely clear: Canada is an independent, sovereign country and a much-valued member of the Commonwealth.' Zelensky expected to meet Trump The war in Ukraine will be on the agenda. President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to attend the summit and is expected to meet with Trump, a reunion coming just months after their bruising Oval Office encounter which laid bare the risks of having a meeting with the US president. Starmer met with Carney in Ottawa before the summit for talks focused on security and trade, in the first visit to Canada by a British prime minister for eight years. German officials were keen to counter the suggestion that the summit would be a 'six against one' event, noting that the G7 countries have plenty of differences of emphasis among themselves on various issues. 'The only the problem you cannot forecast is what the president of the United States will do depending on the mood, the need to be in the news,' said Chrétien.
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Israel and Iran trade strikes for a third day as nuclear talks are called off
DUBAI: The death toll grew Sunday as Israel and Iran exchanged missile attacks for a third consecutive day, with Israel warning that worse is to come. Israel targeted Iran's Defense Ministry headquarters in Tehran and sites it alleged were associated with Iran's nuclear program, while Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defenses and slammed into buildings deep inside Israel. In Israel, at least 10 people were killed in Iranian strikes overnight and into Sunday, according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service, bringing the country's total death toll to 13. The country's main international airport and airspace remained closed for a third day. There was an update to an Iranian death toll released the day before by Iran's UN ambassador, with 128 people killed and more than 900 wounded. The region braced for a drawn-out conflict after Israel's strikes hit nuclear and military facilities, killing several senior generals and top nuclear scientists. President Donald Trump said the US had 'nothing to do with the attack on Iran' and warned Tehran to expect 'the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces' if it retaliates against the US. Trump has expressed full support for Israel's actions while warning Iran that it can only avoid further destruction by agreeing to a new nuclear deal. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that if the Israeli strikes on Iran stop, then 'our responses will also stop.' He said the United States 'is a partner in these attacks and must take responsibility.' Iran accuses Israel of 'deliberate' strike on foreign ministry building Iran on Sunday accused Israel of deliberately targeting a foreign ministry building in Tehran, saying the 'ruthless' strike wounded several civilians. 'The criminal regime of Israel launched a deliberate and ruthless strike on one of the buildings of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs,' deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a post on X alongside a video showing blown-out windows and debris littering the floors. 'Several civilians were injured in the attack.' #WATCH: More footage of missile interceptions above #Lebanon as #Israel and #Iran continued to exchange fire for a third day (Source: Dayan Abou Tine) Follow the latest updates here: — Arab News (@arabnews) June 15, 2025 Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iranian supreme leader: US official US President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a senior US official told AFP. 'We found out that the Israelis had plans to hit Iran's supreme leader. President Trump was against it and we told the Israelis not to,' said the US official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Military says several sites hit in Israel after Iran missile barrage Israel's military said several sites were hit by the latest Iranian missile barrage on Sunday, with firefighters reporting a residential building struck on the country's Mediterranean coast. 'Homefront Command Search and Rescue teams have been dispatched to several hit sites in Israel, following the latest barrage from Iran,' the military said in a statement shortly after telling the public they could leave protected shelters. The fire services, meanwhile, said rescuers were heading to building on the coast that sustained a 'direct hit.' Israel hits aerial refueling plane in Iran in 'longest-range strike' The Israeli military said it struck an aerial refueling aircraft at Mashhad Airport in eastern Iran on Sunday, describing it as its longest-range attack since launching operations against Iran last week. The IAF struck an Iranian refueling aircraft at Mashhad Airport in eastern Iran, approximately 2,300 kilometers from Israel. The IAF is operating to establish aerial superiority over Iranian airspace. This marks the longest-range strike conducted since the beginning of… — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 15, 2025 Iran launches new wave of attacks on Israel: State media Iran on Sunday launched a new wave of attacks on Israel, state television reported, as an intense exchange of fire raged between the two sides for a third day. The official IRNA news agency also announced the beginning of 'a new wave of missiles' launched toward Israel. Israel air force struck 'more than 80' positions in Tehran Israel's military said Sunday that its air force had targeted 'more than 80' positions in Iran's capital Tehran in the third day of the most intense confrontation yet between the two arch-foes. The strikes were conducted 'throughout the night', the military said in a statement, and 'targeted more than 80 objectives, including the headquarters of the Iranian Ministry of Defense, the headquarters of the nuclear project (SPND), and additional targets where the Iranian regime hid the nuclear archive'. El Al cancels flights to and from many cities until June 23 Israel's El Al Airlines has cancelled flights to and from many European cities as well as Tokyo and Moscow until June 23 owing to the conflict between Israel and Iran, it said on Sunday. The Israeli flag carrier said that all flights have been cancelled up to and including June 17, with Israel's airspace still closed. Explosions in Tehran New explosions echoed across Tehran and were reported elsewhere in the country early Sunday, but there was no update to a death toll released the day before by Iran's UN ambassador, who said 78 people had been killed and more than 320 wounded. In Israel, at least 10 people were killed in Iranian strikes overnight and into Sunday, according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service, bringing the country's total death toll to 13. The country's main international airport and airspace remained closed for a third day. Israeli strikes targeted Iran's Defense Ministry early Sunday after hitting air defenses, military bases and sites associated with its nuclear program. The killing of several top generals and nuclear scientists in targeted strikes indicated that Israeli intelligence has penetrated Iran at the highest levels. Death toll mounts in Israel In Israel, at least six people, including a 10-year-old and a 9-year-old, were killed when a missile hit an apartment building in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv. Daniel Hadad, a local police commander, said 180 people were wounded and seven are still missing. An Associated Press reporter saw streets lined with damaged and destroyed buildings, bombed out cars and shards of glass. Responders used a drone at points to look for survivors. Some people could be seen leaving the area with suitcases. Another four people, including a 13-year-old, were killed and 24 wounded when a missile struck a building in the Arab town of Tamra in northern Israel. A strike on the central city of Rehovot wounded 42. The Weizmann Institute of Science, an important center for research in Rehovot, said 'there were a number of hits to buildings on the campus.' It said no one was harmed. Israel has sophisticated multi-tiered air defenses that are able to detect and intercept missiles fired at populated areas or key infrastructure, but officials acknowledge it is imperfect. Israel attacks defense ministry facility in Isfahan Iranian media said Sunday that Israel attacked a facility affiliated with the defense ministry in the central city of Isfahan, on the third consecutive day of Israeli strikes. 'One of the centers affiliated with the Ministry of Defense in Isfahan was attacked, and possible damages are under investigation,' ISNA news agency reported quoting deputy provincial governor Akbar Salehi. Pipelines, transmission lines in Haifa damaged Israel's Oil Refineries said its pipelines and transmission lines in Haifa had been damaged by missile strikes by Iran, according to a regulatory filing to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. It said that no injuries or casualties were reported at the sites, with refining facilities continuing to operate despite a shutdown of some downstream operations. It said it is examining the impact of the damage on its operations and implications on its financial results. Israeli military issues evacuation warning to Iranians Israel on Sunday issued an evacuation warning to Iranians residing near weapons facilities in Iran, an Israeli military spokesperson said in a post on X in Arabic and Farsi. The spokesperson said the evacuation warning includes all weapons factories and supporting facilities. Iran FM says has 'solid proof' US forces supported Israel in attacks Araghchi said Sunday Tehran had evidence to show US forces supported the intense bombardment campaign Israel launched against the Islamis republic this week. 'We have solid proof of the support of the American forces and American bases in the region for the attacks of the Zionist regime military forces,' Araghchi told foreign diplomats in a meeting broadcast on state TV. Araghchi also slammed the United Nations Security Council, accusing it of 'indifference' over Israel's deadly attacks on the Islamic republic. Gas field attack In the first apparent attack to hit Iran's energy infrastructure, Tasnim news agency said Iran partially suspended production at South Pars, the world's biggest gas field, after an Israeli strike caused a fire there on Saturday. The South Pars field, offshore in Iran's southern Bushehr province, is the source of most of the gas produced in Iran. Fears about potential disruption to the region's oil exports had already driven up oil prices 9 percent on Friday even though Israel spared Iran's oil and gas on the first day of its attacks. An Iranian general, Esmail Kosari, said on Saturday that Tehran was reviewing whether to close the Strait of Hormuz controlling access to the Gulf for tankers. With Israel saying its operation could last weeks, and Netanyahu urging Iran's people to rise up against their Islamic clerical rulers, fears have grown of a regional conflagration dragging in outside powers. B'Tselem, a leading Israeli human rights organization, said on Saturday that instead of exhausting all possibilities for a diplomatic resolution, Israel's government had chosen to start a war that puts the entire region in danger. Tehran has warned Israel's allies that their military bases in the region would come under fire too if they helped shoot down Iranian missiles. However, 20 months of war in Gaza and a conflict in Lebanon last year have decimated Tehran's strongest regional proxies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, reducing its options for retaliation. Israel sees Iran's nuclear program as a threat to its existence, and said the bombardment was designed to avert the last steps to production of a nuclear weapon. Tehran insists the program is entirely civilian and that it does not seek an atomic bomb. The UN nuclear watchdog, however, reported Iran this week as violating obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty. Iran says scores killed Iran said 78 people were killed on the first day of Israel's campaign, and scores more on the second, including 60 when a missile brought down a 14-story apartment block in Tehran, where 29 of the dead were children. Iran had launched its own retaliatory missile volley on Friday night, killing at least three people in Israel. With Israel saying its operation could last weeks, and Netanyahu urging Iran's people to rise up against their Islamic clerical rulers, fears have grown of a regional conflagration dragging in outside powers. 'We will hit every site' Israel said three people were killed and 76 wounded by Iran's retaliatory drone and missile barrage overnight, which lit up the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to keep up Israel's campaign. 'We will hit every site, every target of the ayatollah regime,' he said in a video statement, threatening greater action 'in the coming days.' He added that the Israeli campaign had dealt a 'real blow' to Iran's nuclear program and maintained it had the 'clear support' of US President Donald Trump. Netanyahu's defense minister, Israel Katz, warned 'Tehran will burn' if it kept targeting Israeli civilians. Urgent calls to deescalate World leaders made urgent calls to deescalate and avoid all-out war. The attack on nuclear sites set a 'dangerous precedent,' China's foreign minister said. The region is already on edge as Israel makes a new push to eliminate the Iranian-backed militant group Hamas in Gaza after 20 months of fighting. After decades of enmity and conflict by proxy, it is the first time the arch-enemies have traded fire with such intensity, triggering fears of a prolonged conflict that could engulf the Middle East. Highlighting the unease, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against a 'devastating war' with regional consequences in a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ankara said. Jordan reopens airspace Jordan announced the reopening of its airspace Sunday morning after a night of attacks by arch-foes Israel and Iran. The civil aviation authority in Jordan, which borders Israel, said in a statement that the country's airspace had been reopened 'for civilian flights following a careful risk assessment.' Turkiye denies sharing information with Israel At the United Nations, the Turkish mission dismissed as "black propaganda" reports that 'information was shared with Israel from the radar base in Kürecik.' In a statement, the mission said the Kürecik Radar Station, a NATO installation, was established in line with Türkiye's national security and interests and is intended to ensure the protection of the NATO allies. "The data obtained from the Kürecik radar base is exclusively shared with NATO allies within a specific framework, in accordance with NATO procedures," said the statement. "Sharing radar base data with non-NATO allies, such as Israel, is absolutely out of the question." It maintained that "Türkiye stands against Israel's operations to destabilize the Middle East and will never support Israel's actions in this regard." Reports of alleged data transmission came a day after Israel, without any provocation, bombarded Iran's capital on Friday. Iran calls nuclear talks 'unjustifiable' 'We remain committed to talks and hope the Iranians will come to the table soon,' said a senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss diplomacy. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, and US intelligence agencies have assessed that Tehran was not actively pursuing the bomb. But its uranium enrichment has reached near weapons-grade levels, and on Thursday, the UN's atomic watchdog censured Iran for not complying with obligations meant to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran's top diplomat said Saturday the nuclear talks were 'unjustifiable' after Israel's strikes. Abbas Araghchi's comments came during a call with Kaja Kallas, the European Union's top diplomat. The Israeli airstrikes were the 'result of the direct support by Washington,' Araghchi said in a statement carried by the state-run IRNA news agency. The US has said it isn't part of the strikes. On Friday, US President Donald Trump urged Iran to reach a deal with the US on its nuclear program, adding that 'Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left.' 'More than a few weeks' to repair nuclear facilities Israel attacked Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz. Satellite photos analyzed by AP show extensive damage there. The images shot Saturday by Planet Labs PBC show multiple buildings damaged or destroyed. The structures hit include buildings identified by experts as supplying power to the facility. UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council that the above-ground section of the Natanz facility was destroyed. The main centrifuge facility underground did not appear to have been hit, but the loss of power could have damaged infrastructure there, he said. Israel said it also struck a nuclear research facility in Isfahan, including 'infrastructure for enriched uranium conversion,' and said it destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran. Iran confirmed the strike at Isfahan. The International Atomic Energy Agency said four 'critical buildings' at the Isfahan site were damaged, including its uranium conversion facility. 'As in Natanz, no increase in off-site radiation expected,' it added. An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with official procedures, said that according to the army's initial assessment 'it will take much more than a few weeks' for Iran to repair the damage to the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites. The official said the army had 'concrete intelligence that production in Isfahan was for military purposes.' Israel denied it had struck the nuclear enrichment facility in Fordo, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Tehran. Among those killed were three of Iran's top military leaders: one who oversaw the entire armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri; one who led the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami; and the head of the Guard's aerospace division, which oversees its arsenal of ballistic missile program, Gen. Amir Ali Hajjizadeh. On Saturday, Khamenei named a new leader for the Revolutionary Guard's aerospace division: Gen. Majid Mousavi. Iran rallies citizens to unite, 'rise up' says Netanyahu Iran called on its citizens to unite in the country's defense, while Netanyahu urged them to rise up against against the government. Iran's Mehr news agency said Tehran had warned Britain, France and the United States it could retaliate if they came to Israel's defense. AFP images from the city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv showed blown-out buildings, destroyed vehicles and streets strewn with debris after Iran's first wave of attacks. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck dozens of targets in Israel. One Iranian missile wounded seven Israeli soldiers, the military said. Firefighters had worked for hours to free people trapped in a Tel Aviv high-rise building on Friday. Chen Gabizon, a resident, said he ran to an underground shelter after receiving an alert. 'We just heard a very big explosion, everything was shaking, smoke, dust, everything was all over the place,' he said. In Tehran, fire and heavy smoke billowed over Mehrabad airport on Saturday, an AFP journalist said. The Israeli army said it had struck an underground military facility Saturday in western Iran's Khorramabad that contained surface-to-surface and cruise missiles. Iranian media also reported a 'massive explosion' following an Israeli drone strike on an oil refinery in the southern city of Kangan. The attacks prompted several countries to temporarily ground air traffic, though on Saturday Jordan, Lebanon and Syria reopened their airspace. Iran's airspace was closed until further notice, state media reported, as was Israel's, according to authorities.
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
UK appoints Blaise Metreweli first woman head of MI6 spy service
LONDON: The UK government has appointed Blaise Metreweli as the first-ever woman to head its MI6 spy service as the country faces 'threats on an unprecedented scale,' Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday. The MI6 Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) achieved global fame through Ian Fleming's fictional agent James Bond. Metreweli will be the 18th head of the service, Starmer's Downing Street office said in a statement. 'The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital,' Starmer said. 'The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale — be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services,' he added. The MI6 chief is the only publicly named member of the organization and reports directly to the foreign minister. The person in the post is referred to as 'C' — not 'M' as in the James Bond franchise, which already had a woman, played by Judi Dench, in the role. Metreweli will take over from outgoing MI6 head Richard Moore in the autumn. Currently, she is MI6's director general — known as 'Q' — with responsiblity for technology and innovation at the service, the statement said. She is described as a career intelligence officer who joined the service in 1999 having studied anthropology at Cambridge University. Metreweli held senior roles at both MI6 and the MI5 domestic intelligence service and spent most of her career in 'operational roles in the Middle East and Europe,' the statement added, without giving further biographical details. The appointment comes over three decades after MI5 appointed its first female chief. Stella Rimington held the position from 1992-1996, followed by Eliza Manningham-Buller from 2002-2007. The UK intelligence and security organization GCHQ appointed its first woman chief, Anne Keast-Butler, in 2023.
