France's Macron says Iran responsible for destabilising region
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that Iran bore a heavy responsibility for destabilisation of the Middle East and that it had pushed ahead with an unjustified nuclear programme, but he also urged restraint after Israel struck Iran.
After a day of talks with regional and international leaders following Israeli strikes on Iranian military targets, notably its nuclear sites, Macron said Tehran was close to a 'critical point' in acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Iran has consistently denied seeking one.
'Iran bears a very heavy responsibility for the destabilisation of the region,' Macron said. 'Iran is continuing to enrich uranium without any civilian justification and to levels that are very close to what is needed for a nuclear device.'
While he urged restraint, Macron acknowledged that resuming diplomatic efforts, specifically US negotiations on a nuclear deal with Iran that started two months ago, would be difficult.
'The situation has a risk of uncontrolled escalation,' he said, adding that Iran's activities threatened Europe.
Warning of a possible impact on the global economy, Macron said France would defend Israel if it were attacked by Iran, as it had done in the past, but he ruled out taking part in any operation against Tehran.
France and Israel, traditionally close allies, have had frosty relations in recent months with Macron increasingly critical of Israel's war in Gaza.
Macron said France's support for Israel was not unconditional and that Paris had the right to disagree with some Israeli government decisions because 'they are sometimes against Israel's security interests'.
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IOL News
21 minutes ago
- IOL News
South African expert criticises Israeli missile strikes on Iran as unjustified
Rescue teams work outside a heavily damaged building, targeted by an Israeli strike in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on June 13, 2025. Israel carried out strikes against Iran early on June 13, targeting its nuclear and military sites as well as residential buildings in Tehran, after US President Donald Trump warned of a possible "massive conflict" in the region. Image: AFP The Israeli missile attack on Iran was unprovoked because the latter had not made any moves to initiate the attack, said South Africa's expert on international affairs, Nazreen Shaik. Shaik weighed in following a barrage of attacks on the Iranian territory in the early hours of Friday in Tehran, Iran's capital, killing Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Major-General Hossein Salami and other senior military officials, as well as nuclear scientists. South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation had on Friday condemned the Israeli action. 'These actions raise serious concerns under international law, including the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the protection of civilians enshrined in the UN Charter and international humanitarian law,' read the statement. Iran had already retaliated by firing missiles at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The Israeli strikes targeted Iran's nuclear and military sites. Both the Israeli and the United States of America governments accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons, which might be a threat to their enemy 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 ✕ Ad Loading Iran, through its embassy in Pretoria, rejected the allegation of nuclear weapons, saying its nuclear programme 'is strictly peaceful and operates under full compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), of which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a long-standing and committed member'. Shaik said the Israeli attack was not provoked, and the matter should have been resolved through the rules of engagement, which are governed by international laws. 'Only if it's known that soldiers from country B are on the border and are about to attack, and they have gained that by military or security intelligence, only then would country A attack country B. 'But in the situation, this is what we call in international law a belligerent attack, where a country takes a unilateral state of action by itself, you decide that somebody poses a threat to you, therefore you will now attack that country,' said Shaik. She said such actions were not acceptable in the norms and standards of international warfare. She stated that the attack occurred while the US was holding talks with Iran regarding the issue of the nuclear facility, and 'the sunset clause, which instructs Iran to denuclearise, is due to take effect in 2029'. Both Israel and the US opposed the terms of the clause as they felt that waiting for 2029 was too long. 'Israel seems to be acting on behalf of the US, pushing Iran to do something (denuclearise), which is the international bullying at the very least. 'No country should ever be allowed to attack another country without being prompted to do so,' said Shaik. She said those who were concerned about Iran's nuclear programme should have approached the United Nations and the Security Council to intervene. She said Israel and the US avoided the intervention of the Security Council because of Russia, which was assisted by Iran in the attack on Ukraine, and was a member of the Security Council. 'If the US approached the Security Council to cast the vote (on Iran's nuclear programme), Russia would veto those who are against Iran because Iran stood by it during the attack against Ukraine.' She said even if Iran had reported Israel to the Security Council instead of retaliating, nothing would have been done as the US and Russia would not agree with each other, while the council's decision should be unanimous. She feared that since Iran had already retaliated by firing missiles at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, the conflict might escalate. 'If Iran retaliates, the US is going to back Israel, and the US will send forces to Israel,' said Shaik. She believed that Russia would not make a quick move to back Iran, 'but Russia would be supporting Iran in principle'. Responding to this reporter's questions, an official from the Iranian embassy in Pretoria, who declined to give his name, said his country was committed to cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) obligations. 'All of Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities are under the Agency's verification and supervision, and no deviation toward weapon production has ever been reported. 'Furthermore, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic has issued a binding religious decree (fatwa) that clearly prohibits the development or use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances,' said the official. He said Israeli strikes also deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure and residential areas in Tehran and other cities. 'Iran holds the Zionist regime fully responsible for this aggression, and also places direct responsibility on the United States and its allies, who enabled, coordinated, and politically supported this act. 'Without the approval and logistical backing of the US government, such a reckless attack could not have taken place. 'Iran reserves the full right to defend itself decisively, proportionally, and in accordance with international law,' said the official. Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) chief executive officer, Mark Dubowitz, said in a statement late this week: 'Israel did what had to be done: defend itself, the West, and ultimately the Iranian people from the genocidal ambitions of the mullahs. 'Nuclear talks were heading to collapse under Tehran's defiance, and sanctions alone couldn't stop Iran's race toward multiple nuclear weapons.'
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
'Tehran will burn', Israel warns after wave of missile fire
Israel's military said that its fighter jets were set to resume striking targets in Tehran, after announcing it had hit air defences in the Iranian capital area overnight. Image: Atta Kenare / AFP. Israel's defence minister warned Saturday that "Tehran will burn" and its residents pay dearly if Iran continues its missile strikes against Israeli civilians. "The Iranian dictator is turning the citizens of Iran into hostages and bringing about a reality in which they - especially the residents of Tehran - will pay a heavy price because of the criminal harm to Israeli civilians," said Israel Katz. "If (Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles toward the Israeli home front - Tehran will burn," the minister added. The threat came as Israel and Iran exchanged fire a day after Israel unleashed strikes that Iran said hit its nuclear facilities, "martyred" top commanders and killed dozens of civilians. Iran has hit back with waves of drone and missile strikes, with a barrage of dozens lighting up the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv overnight, killing three people and wounding dozens. Following decades of enmity and conflict by proxy, it is the first time that Israel and Iran have traded fire with such intensity, with fears of a prolonged conflict engulfing the region. Israel launched its surprise attack on Iran early Friday, only days before Iran and the United States had been due to hold a sixth round of talks on the Islamic republic's nuclear programme. The operation - dubbed "Rising Lion" - has since killed Iran's highest-ranking military officer, Mohammad Bagheri, and the head of the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, among other senior generals. On Saturday, the Israeli military said it had Tehran in its sights after strikes on dozens of missile launchers and air defences in the area around the Iranian capital. "The way to Iran has been paved," the military's chief of staff and air force chief were quoted as saying in a statement. The military "is proceeding according to its operational plans, and (Israeli air force) fighters jets are set to resume striking targets in Tehran," it added. 'Smoke, dust' Iran's ambassador to the United Nations said 78 people had been killed and 320 wounded in Israel's first wave of strikes on Friday. Iran called on its citizens to unite in defence of the country as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged them to rise up against their government. Air raid sirens and explosions rang out across Israel through the night, with many residents holed up in bomb shelters until home defence commanders stood down alerts. Israel said dozens of missiles - some intercepted - had been fired in the latest salvos from Iran, with AFP images of the city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv showing blown-out buildings, destroyed vehicles and streets strewn with debris. Israeli rescuers said two people were killed and 19 wounded on Saturday by rocket fire on a residential area in the coastal plain. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had attacked dozens of targets in Israel. Israeli firefighters had worked for hours to free people trapped in a high-rise building in Tel Aviv on Friday. Chen Gabizon, a resident, said he ran to an underground shelter after receiving an alert. "After a few minutes, we just heard a very big explosion, everything was shaking, smoke, dust, everything was all over the place," he said. Rescuers said 34 people were wounded in the Gush Dan area, including a woman who later died of her injuries, according to Israeli media reports.
Eyewitness News
4 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Israel targets Iran's military capabilities
TEHRAN - Israel targeted Iran's air defences and missile launchers on Saturday as it pressed its bid to dismantle its arch-foe's military capabilities, after a night of mutual attacks. Israel's massive strikes on Iran, which it calls an existential threat, have hit nuclear and military facilities, killed top commanders and dozens of civilians, and sought to destroy the country's defence capabilities. Iran has hit back with volleys of missiles that lit up the night sky over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, killing three people and wounding dozens. Following decades of enmity and conflict by proxy, it is the first time that Israel and Iran have traded fire with such intensity, with fears of a prolonged conflict engulfing the region. Israel began striking Iran early Friday in an operation it has dubbed "Rising Lion", and has since killed several top Iranian generals including senior leaders of the Revolutionary Guards' air arm. On Saturday, Israel's military said it was striking dozens of missile launchers in Iran after announcing it had targeted air defences with a wave of strikes in the Tehran area. Two senior Iranian generals have been killed in Israeli strikes, Iranian state television reported Saturday, as Israel kept up its assault. Iran's ambassador to the United Nations said Friday that 78 people had been killed and 320 wounded in the first wave of strikes by Israel. Iran called on its citizens to unite in defence of the country as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged them to rise up against their government. Air raid sirens and explosions rang out across Israel through the night, with many residents holed up in bomb shelters until home defence commanders stood down alerts. 'SMOKE, DUST' Israel said dozens of missiles - some intercepted - had been fired in the latest salvos from Iran, with AFP images of the city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv showing blown-out buildings, destroyed vehicles and streets strewn with debris. Israeli rescuers said two people were killed and 19 wounded on Saturday by rocket fire on a residential area in the coastal plain. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had attacked dozens of targets in Israel. Israeli firefighters had worked for hours to free people trapped in a high-rise building in Tel Aviv on Friday. Resident Chen Gabizon told AFP he ran to an underground shelter after receiving an alert. "After a few minutes, we just heard a very big explosion, everything was shaking, smoke, dust, everything was all over the place," he said. Rescuers said 34 people were wounded in the Gush Dan area, including a woman who later died of her injuries, according to Israeli media reports. Speaking to CNN, Israel's ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said Iran had fired three salvos of ballistic missiles on Friday, some 150 in total. "We expect that the Iranians, who have a considerable volume of ballistic missiles, somewhere in the neighbourhood of 2,000, will continue to fire them," Leiter said. In Tehran, fire and heavy smoke billowed over Mehrabad airport early Saturday, an AFP journalist said, as Iranian media reported an explosion. Blasts were heard across the capital as Iran activated its air defences against the incoming fire. Dozens of Iranians took to the streets to cheer their country's military response, with some waving national flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans. 'TIME TO STOP' The attacks prompted several countries in the region to temporarily ground air traffic, though on Saturday morning, Jordan reopened its airspace. Iran's airspace was closed until further notice, state media reported. As fears mounted of wider conflict, UN chief Antonio Guterres called on both sides to cease fire. "Enough escalation. Time to stop. Peace and diplomacy must prevail," he said on X late Friday. US officials said they were helping Israel defend against the missile attacks, even as Washington insisted it had nothing to do with Israel's strikes on Iran. US President Donald Trump agreed in a call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that "dialogue and diplomacy" were needed to calm the crisis, Starmer's office said. Trump also spoke with the Israeli prime minister, US officials said without elaborating. In a televised address, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to bring Israel "to ruin". The conflict has thrown into doubt plans for a fresh round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran in Oman on Sunday. After the first wave of strikes on Friday, Trump urged Iran to "make a deal", adding that Washington was "hoping to get back to the negotiating table". The United States and other Western governments have repeatedly accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, an ambition it has consistently denied. Iran said on Saturday its participation in the Oman talks remained "unclear". "It is still unclear what decision we will make for Sunday," the official IRNA news agency reported, citing foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei. Baqaei had called the talks "meaningless" in view of the Israeli strikes, which he alleged were carried out with "US permission".
