Trump calls for Tehran's 'unconditional surrender'
Iran expert Trita Parsi noted that "what Trump has been signalling... does not seem to suggest that he has any plans to actually give diplomacy a real chance."
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Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Bombed live on air, now a hero: state TV anchor becomes a symbol of resistance in Iran
Iranian state TV anchor Sahar Emami was delivering a live broadcast in Tehran this week when she was interrupted by loud booms. Shocked viewers – who have been closely following state media for news of the war between Israel and Iran – saw the room fill with smoke, dust and debris. 'The sound you just heard is the sound of the aggressor attacking our homeland, the sound of the aggressor seeking to stifle rightfulness and truth,' said Emami, wagging her index finger as the cameras kept rolling. 'What you just witnessed ... this smoke-filled studio of the news network,' she went on, before being forced to abandon her seat as a second explosion rocked the building. READ MORE Government figures and state media quickly seized on Emami's determination to keep broadcasting, making her an instant symbol of resistance dubbed the 'Iranian lioness'. [ Israelis under attack from Iran shift to full war mode Opens in new window ] Minutes after the second blast, Emami reappeared live from another studio, even as videos posted online showed fire and smoke rising from the glass headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting group. Within hours, her image was plastered across social media and featured in a large mural in the Iranian capital. President Masoud Pezeshkian called her a 'symbol of resilience, steadfastness and unyielding spirit'. Fatemeh Mohajerani, government spokesperson, likened the 'brave-hearted daughter of Iran' with Gordafarid, a legendary Persian heroine and one of the first female Iranian warriors, as depicted in Shahnameh, a 1,000-year-old epic poem by the Persian writer Ferdowsi. Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said: 'Last night, in the midst of the Zionist regime's savage attack ... a courageous Iranian woman stood before the camera – fearless, steadfast and filled with love for [her] homeland.' According to the IRNA news agency, he added: 'She was the voice of Iran.' Less than 24 hours after the strike, a mural was unveiled in Vali-e Asr square in downtown Tehran, according to state media, depicting Emami on air with her index finger raised, clad in the black chador worn by conservative women in Iran. The mural used a verse from Ferdowsi about 'a maiden in the battlefield', another reference to Gordafarid. The references to pre-Islamic literature, which has often been sidelined by the Islamic republic, were seen as an attempt to inspire nationalistic sentiments. Mohajerani proposed that a courage in journalism award should be named after Emami. Sporting stars joined the rush to praise her, with karate athlete Amir Mehdizadeh and sport shooter Javad Foroughi dedicating their gold medals from international competitions to the broadcaster. Emami (40), who has a degree in agricultural engineering, joined IRIB in 2008 and became known for the current affairs show Pishkhan Khabar. The conservative broadcasting group has faced criticism from reformist politicians and many Iranians for serving as a mouthpiece for the autocratic state, which itself stifles freedom of expression. It is seen as highly selective in its coverage of international and domestic developments, such as protests that followed the death in 2022 of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who had been arrested by Iran's notorious morality police. But even some Iranians critical of the regime said they were inspired by Emami's example. Mansoureh (45), a reform-minded critic of the Islamic republic in Tehran, said: 'When I saw that woman on TV, I felt so ashamed of myself. What am I scared of? I told myself that I will have to remain where I am and defend my city.' Others remained sceptical, however. 'To me, it looked more like a performance. There had been an evacuation order and she seemed mentally prepared,' said Sara (58), a nurse, also in the capital. 'She knew that if she could hold her composure for a few moments on live television, she would be hailed as a heroine ... And the Islamic republic is using that to serve its own propaganda purposes.' Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has called on Iranians to 'stand up for your freedom' against the regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei since Israel launched its large-scale offensive against Iranian targets on Friday, prompting Iran to return missile and drone fire. But there is so far little sign of the war sparking anti-government protests, despite sporadic large-scale demonstrations in recent years. On Tuesday, IRIB released a video showing the damage to the building, including the fourth floor – the location of the newsroom and the live studio where Emami was presenting at the time of the assault. State television showed images of the building on fire again, saying wind had reignited embers from Monday's strike. Israel attacked the building about an hour after issuing an evacuation order for Tehran's district 3, where the IRIB headquarters is located, along with the police headquarters and three hospitals. Three people were confirmed killed in the strike, including Nima Rajabpour, news producer, and Masoumeh Azimi, a member of the office staff. The Committee to Protect Journalists said it was 'appalled' by the attack on state television. Emami told viewers the attack had 'targeted freedom of speech, the truth, and the voices of women, men and children who were martyred in recent days'. - Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2025
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Iran's Khamenei rejects Trump's call for 'unconditional surrender'
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said that his country will not accept US President Donald Trump's call for an unconditional surrender In his first remarks since Friday, Khamenei said peace or war could not be imposed on the Islamic Republic. 'Intelligent people who know Iran, the Iranian nation, and its history will never speak to this nation in threatening language because the Iranian nation will not surrender,' he said in a statement read by a television presenter on Wednesday. He said Americans should know that any US military intervention will undoubtedly be "accompanied by irreparable damage.' Referring to Mr Trump's previous threats, he said those who know Iran's history know that Iranians "do not answer well" to the language of threats. Khamenei also said people will not forget the blood of "martyrs" and the attack on their territory by Israel. A man looks at flames rising from an oil storage facility after it appeared to have been struck by an Israeli strike in Tehran, Iran, early Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Meanwhile, thousands of people continued to flee from the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday after Israeli warplanes bombed the city overnight. According to a Reuters, President Trump is reportedly considering options that include joining Israel in attacking Iranian nuclear sites. Mr Trump initially distanced himself from the Israeli attacks on Iran but has hinted at greater American involvement, saying he wants something 'much bigger' than a ceasefire agreement. The US has also sent more warplanes to the region. Read More Israeli warplanes hammer Iranian capital
The Journal
2 hours ago
- The Journal
Judge orders Trump administration to resume issuing passports for trans Americans
A FEDERAL US judge has ordered the Trump administration to resume issuing passports to transgender Americans with 'X' as their gender designation, a practice suspended since Donald Trump's return to the White House. Following Trump's executive order in January, the State Department said it would only recognise two genders – male and female – ending official policies that recognised a third gender, denoted by an X on US passports. The move prompted Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs to update its advice for transgender people planning to travel to the US. It advised travellers who have an X marker on their passport or whose sex on their passport differs from sex assigned at birth to contact the US Embassy in Dublin 'for further details on specific entry requirements'. In April, US District Judge Julia Kobick in Boston issued a preliminary injunction against that policy, but that ruling applied only to six transgender and non-binary people who had sued the government over the passport policy. The State Department appealed that move Friday. Advertisement On Tuesday, Kobick went further in her ruling by extending it to all transgender and non-binary Americans affected by the policy change and ordered the State Department to resume issuing these passports pending a judgment on the merits of the case or a decision by a higher court. The State Department first issued such a passport in October 2021 under President Joe Biden, with the X gender marker reserved for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming individuals. In his inauguration speech at the US Capitol, Trump said 'as of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.' The US State Department's website states: 'We will only issue passports with an M or F sex marker that match the customer's biological sex at birth.' It states that anyone who submits a passport application requesting an X marker may experience delays in getting their passport or receive a request for more information. 'We will issue you a new passport that matches your biological sex at birth, based on your supporting documents and our records about your previous passports.' In February, US actress Hunter Schafer, who is trans, shared on social media that the gender marker on her new passport was changed to male despite submitting identity documents marked female. With reporting from © AFP 2025 Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
