How tough is Iran? A string of military losses raises questions
The fighting has shown, as never before, just how compromised and weak Iranian forces really are -- and how few ways they have of hitting back.
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The Sun
24 minutes ago
- The Sun
Iran says hypersonic missiles fired at Israel
TEHRAN: Iran claimed early Wednesday to have fired hypersonic missiles at Israel in the latest round of overnight strikes between the archfoes, hours after Donald Trump demanded the Islamic republic's 'unconditional surrender'. The US president insists Washington has played no part in ally Israel's bombing campaign, but also warned Iran his patience is wearing thin as the conflict enters a sixth day. Israeli warplanes targeted the Iranian capital before dawn Wednesday after the military issued a warning on social media for civilians in an area known as District 18 to evacuate. Iranian state media reported explosions ricocheting in the Piroozi, Sabalan and Sayyad areas of Tehran. In retaliation, Iran told residents of Tel Aviv to prepare for an attack, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claiming its hypersonic Fattah-1 missiles were 'repeatedly shaking the shelters' in the commercial hub. 'The 11th wave of the proud Operation Honest Promise 3 using Fattah-1 missiles' was carried out, the Guards said in a statement broadcast on state television. Hypersonic missiles travel at more than five times the speed of sound and can manoeuvre mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept. Iran also sent a 'swarm of drones' towards Israel, where the army said it intercepted two over the Dead Sea area. World powers have scrambled for an offramp, hoping to prevent the conflict from spiralling into a region-engulfing war. In separate phone calls with his Iranian counterpart and US envoy Steve Witkoff on Tuesday night, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty urged a diplomatic solution. Trump fuelled speculation about American intervention when he made a hasty exit from the G7 summit in Canada, where the leaders of the club of wealthy democracies jointly called for a ceasefire. Back in Washington on Tuesday, Trump demanded the Islamic republic's 'unconditional surrender'. He also boasted that the United States could easily assassinate Iran's supreme leader. 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there -- We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. He met with his National Security Council to discuss the conflict, ending after an hour and 20 minutes with no immediate public statement. While he has repeatedly vowed to avoid wading into the 'forever wars' of the Middle East, Trump ordered the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to the region along with a number of US military aircraft. US officials stressed he has not yet made a decision about any intervention. Evacuations Despite international alarm, neither side has backed off from the long-range blitz that began Friday, when Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities. Israel claims its attacks have killed senior Iranian commander Ali Shadmani as well as his predecessor, Gholam Ali Rashid. Residential areas in both countries have suffered deadly strikes since the fighting broke out, and foreign governments have scrambled to evacuate their citizens. More than 700 foreigners living in Iran have crossed into neighbouring Azerbaijan and Armenia since Israel launched its campaign, according to government figures. Among those evacuated were citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, along with others from Germany, Spain, Italy, Serbia, Romania, Portugal, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, China and Vietnam, a government source told AFP. The United States said it was closing its embassy in Jerusalem until Friday amid the growing conflict, but there was no announcement about helping Americans leave the 'crisis area'. Fearing violence, many residents of Tehran have fled. On Tuesday, long queues stretched outside bakeries and petrol stations as people rushed to stock up on fuel and basic supplies. A cyberattack on Tuesday crippled Sepah Bank, one of Iran's main state-owned banks, the Fars news agency reported. With air raid sirens regularly screaming over Tel Aviv, some people relocated to an underground parking lot below a shopping mall. 'We've decided to permanently set camp here until it's all clear, I guess,' Mali Papirany, 30, told AFP. Nuclear facilities After decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, Israel said its surprise air campaign was aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons -- an ambition Tehran denies. Iranian media reported several explosions Tuesday in the central city of Isfahan, home to nuclear facilities. The UN's nuclear watchdog said there appeared to have been 'direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls' at Iran's Natanz facility. Israel has maintained ambiguity regarding its own atomic activities, but the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) says it has 90 nuclear warheads. The conflict derailed a running series of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, with Iran saying after the start of Israel's campaign that it would not negotiate with the United States while under attack. French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump had a critical role to play in restarting diplomacy with Iran, where attempts at regime change would bring 'chaos'. China accused Trump of 'pouring oil' on the conflict, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu of being 'the biggest threat to the security of the region'. Since Friday, at least 24 people have been killed in Israel and hundreds wounded, according to Netanyahu's office. Iran said on Sunday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 224 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. It has not issued an updated toll since then.
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Iran shuts down internet, 'goes for near Blackout' as conflict with Israel deepens
Iran has reportedly went for a near-total Internet Blackout Tuesday (June 17) as conflict with Israel deepened. According to a report by NBC News, the drop appears to be a result of a decision by Iran's government, rather than Israeli strikes on infrastructure. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The report quotes Kentinc and Netblocks, the two companies that track global internet connectivity. According to NBC News, quoting these companies, Iran's internet connectivity plummeted around 5:30 p.m. local time, limiting Iranians' ability to access and share information with the outside world. The internet slowdowns appeared to particularly affect services like virtual private networks (VPNs) used to access foreign sites. Data published by the internet services company Cloudflare found that two major Iranian mobile network providers were effectively disconnected. What Iran said on Internet Blackout Fatemeh Mohajerani, a spokesperson for Iran's government, reportedly said it had restricted internet access in response to Israeli cyberattacks. Iran's government has historically shut down or reduced its internet connectivity with the outside world in times of civil unrest. In 2019, the country implemented a six-day full blackout as protesters took to the streets across the country and the government issued a crackdown on civilians, reportedly leading to the deaths of more than 100 people. Apple, Google app stores and WhatsApp blocked Amir Rashidi, the director of digital rights and security at the Miaan Group, a nonprofit organization that advocates for human rights in Iran, reportedly said that some Western apps for communicating, including WhatsApp and Instagram have been blocked. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He further said that app stores of Google and Apple -- Google Play Store and App Store -- had been blocked in Iran. A WhatsApp spokesperson told NBC News that its parent company, Meta, has been engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with Iran. What is not blocked in Iran The report said that Iran's National Information Network, a nationwide network of government-approved sites that are not connected to the outside world, has largely remained accessible to people in Iran. As internet services are restricted in the country, some people have called for Elon Musk's satellite internet service provider, Starlink, to step in, the way it has in many parts of the world.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Iran's exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi calls for regime change
Reza Pahlavi , the exiled son of Iran's last monarch, has renewed his call for regime change in Tehran, asserting that the Islamic Republic is nearing collapse. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Pahlavi claimed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has 'gone into hiding underground' and no longer maintains control over the country. In 1979, Iran underwent a major political shift. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had been exiled to Turkey for 14 years by Reza's father. Ayotallah forced the Shah out of power in the Islamic Revolution now may face a similar fate with Reza Shah instigating the Iranian's to rise up against the current regime. Describing the moment as 'irreversible,' Pahlavi wrote that 'the end of the Islamic Republic is the end of its 46-year war against the Iranian nation.' He urged Iranians to 'rise' and 'reclaim Iran,' signalling what he views as an opportunity for a political transition. His remarks come amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel and reports of internal instability in Tehran. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mini House for 60 sqm for Seniors with Toilet and Bath (Click Here) Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo Also Read: From friends to foe: How Iran became US and Israel's 'Jaani Dushman' Pahlavi has been an outspoken critic of the Islamic Republic and frequently advocates for a secular, democratic Iran. Earlier this month, he blamed Khamenei for drawing the country into conflict with Israel, describing the regime as 'weak and divided.' Addressing Iran's armed forces, he called on military, police, and security personnel to 'break from the regime' and 'join the people.' Live Events — PahlaviReza (@PahlaviReza) At the Israeli-American Council summit in September 2024, Pahlavi had reiterated similar sentiments, stating that 'Iranians who stand in solidarity with the free world, with the Israelis, are the answer… not this regime.' The son of Mohammad Reza Shah, who was deposed during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Reza Pahlavi has spent most of his life in exile in the United States. While he does not seek to reinstate the monarchy, he plays a symbolic role within the Iranian diaspora and is viewed by some opposition groups as a potential figure for transitional leadership. His comments arrive at a time of growing unrest and uncertainty within Iran, with international observers watching closely for further developments.
