
Trump floats regime change as Iran fires dozens of missiles on Israel
The United States dropped massive bunker-buster bombs on Iran's three nuclear sites, igniting one of the most serious military confrontations with Tehran since the Islamic Republic's 1979 founding. The world is watching anxiously after the United States joined Israel to attack Iran, escalating the conflict.The US deployed powerful bunker-buster bombs on the Fordow nuclear facility, located deep inside a mountain. In response, Iran vowed to defend itself, while Israel and Iran exchanged missile strikes. Iran's President, Masoud Pezeshkian, said the US must "receive a response" for a serious act of aggression.advertisementMeanwhile, Donald Trump questioned the possibility of regime change in Iran following military strikes against Iranian military sites. Following the strike, he praised the military's operation. The B-2 stealth bombers involved in the attack safely returned to their Missouri base. On the international front, the United Nations Security Council convened to address the crisis, with Russia, China, and Pakistan urging an immediate ceasefire and renewed diplomatic talks.TOP DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT
The B-2 stealth bombers that dropped massive bunker-buster bombs on Iran's nuclear sites have returned to their home base in Missouri. According to the Associated Press, seven B-2 Spirit aircraft landed on Sunday at Whiteman Air Force Base, located around 73 miles southeast of Kansas City. This base houses the 509th Bomb Wing -- the only US unit equipped to fly B-2 bombers.
advertisementOn a clear but breezy afternoon, the first four aircraft made a loop around the base before approaching the runway from the north. A second group of three bombers followed and landed within the next ten minutes.
The UN Security Council met to discuss US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites as Russia, China and Pakistan proposed the 15-member body adopt a resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East.
"The bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States marks a perilous turn," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council on Sunday. "We must act -- immediately and decisively -- to halt the fighting and return to serious, sustained negotiations on the Iran nuclear programme."
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of New York City against the United States' airstrikes on Iran. Within a day of President Trump's confirmation on attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities, various groups organised a demonstration through Midtown.
advertisementThe march began at Times Square and ended at Columbus Circle, with participants holding flags and signs that read, "Stop the war in Iran," "Hands off Iran," and "No new war in the Middle East."
Protesters condemned the strikes, calling them as acts of aggression rather than diplomatic efforts. They said fears that this could undermine any future chances for a global nuclear non-proliferation agreement.
A day after striking Iran's nuclear facilities, US President Donald Trump questioned whether there could be a change of government in Iran. In a series of social media posts, Trump praised the US military for the successful operation and stated the current Iranian regime may not be capable to make "MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN."
"It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to his slogan "Make Iran Great Again."
advertisementTrump congratulated the US military, saying, "There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter."
The United Nations nuclear watchdog confirmed that underground entrances to tunnels at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site were damaged in the US bombings. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a statement confirming the extent of damage to Iran's major nuclear sites -- Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan (Isfahan). According to IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi, several parts of these facilities were hit during overnight airstrikes carried out by the United States.
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Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Pakistani politicians, activists call on govt to review Trump's nomination for Nobel peace prize
Several Pakistani politicians and notable figures have asked the government to reconsider its decision to recommend President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize after the US bombed Iran's three nuclear sites. Pakistan said it would support US President Donald Trump's nomination for a Nobel peace prize(AP) The government, in a surprise move on Friday, announced that it would nominate Trump for the prestigious award due to his peacemaking efforts during the recent India-Pakistan conflict. A letter of recommendation, signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, has already been sent to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee in Norway. But the decision came under scrutiny after the US bombed Iran's Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites, joining Israel to dent Tehran's nuclear programme. Also Read: Pakistan condemns US strike on Iran day after nominating Trump for Nobel Peace Prize The Dawn newspaper reported that some leading politicians demanded the government review its decision in light of the latest development. Veteran politician Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who heads the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), demanded that the government rescind its decision. 'President Trump's claim of peace has proven to be false; the proposal for the Nobel Prize should be withdrawn,' Fazl told workers at a party meeting in Murree on Sunday. He said that Trump's recent meeting and lunch with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir 'pleased Pakistani rulers so much' that they recommended nominating the US president for the Nobel Prize. "Trump has supported the Israeli attacks on Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Iran. How can this be a sign of peace?' Fazl questioned. 'With the blood of Afghans and Palestinians on America's hands, how can he claim to be a proponent of peace?' Trump had campaigned for office as a 'peacemaker' who would use his negotiating skills to quickly end wars in Ukraine and Gaza, but both conflicts are still raging five months into his presidency. Former senator Mushahid Hussain wrote on X: 'Since Trump is no longer a potential peacemaker, but a leader who has willfully unleashed an illegal war, Pakistan government must now review, rescind and revoke his Nobel nomination!' He said Trump had been 'trapped by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli war lobby, committing the" biggest blunder of his presidency'. 'Trump will now end up presiding over the decline of America!' Trump 'engaged in deception and betrayed his own promise not to start new wars', Mushahid said in another post, strongly condemning the US attacks on Iran. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Ali Muhammad Khan wrote 'reconsider' on his X account, highlighting the 'US attack on Iran and continuous US support of Israeli killings in Gaza'. In a separate post, the Opposition PTI condemned the 'unprovoked' US strikes and voiced 'total support' for Iran's sovereignty. Raoof Hasan, head of PTI's political think-tank, said the government's decision was now a 'cause of unmitigated shame and embarrassment for those who were instrumental in making the choice'. 'That's why it is said that legitimacy can neither be bought nor gifted,' said Hasan, as he took a jibe at the government. He also denounced the US' 'total disregard for international covenants' through attacks on Iran. Former senator Afrasiab Khattak said, 'The sycophancy adopted by the Pakistani ruling elite in nominating President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize is not part of normative conduct in international diplomacy.' 'It was most embarrassing to announce the nomination hours before Trump ordered to bomb Iranian nuclear sites,' the veteran politician noted. Jamaat-i-Islami chief Naeemur Rehman has said the decision 'undermines our national dignity and grace'. Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan's former ambassador to the US, termed the move 'unfortunate' and said it did not reflect the public's views. Senior journalist Mariana Baabar, in a post on X, said that 'today Pakistan does not look too good either', sharing the government's post announcing its intention to nominate Trump for the Nobel. Author and activist Fatima Bhutto asked: 'Will Pakistan withdraw its nomination for him to receive the Nobel Peace Prize?'

Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Putin was asked why is he not helping Iran. His reply
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Indian Express
27 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘Bullseye': Donald Trump claims US strikes inflicted ‘monumental damage' to Iran's nuclear facilities
United States President Donald Trump on Sunday (June 22) claimed that the overnight military strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure delivered a severe blow to Tehran. Taking to his Truth Social handle, Trump asserted that Iran's key nuclear sites suffered 'monumental damage', citing the satellite images. He further affirmed that 'obliteration' was the 'accurate term' for the devastation caused by US airstrikes. 'Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term! The white structure shown is deeply imbedded into the rock, with even its roof well below ground level, and completely shielded from flame. The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!' he wrote in a post. Iran says 'no signs of contamination' at nuclear sites Trump's remarks come as Iran downplayed the US attacks, saying that there were no signs of contamination at its key nuclear sites — Isfahan, Fordow and Natanz. Iranian state media also quoted the country's National Nuclear Safety System Centre, which said that its radiation detectors recorded no radioactive release after the strikes. 'There is no danger to the residents living around the aforementioned sites,' the statement said. It further stated that the residents living in the vicinity of the nuclear sites hit by the US were not in danger. Experts suggest that Iran, anticipating a US strike, might have relocated its stockpile of near weapons-grade highly enriched uranium from Fordow, potentially hiding it in undisclosed locations, especially the ones not known to Israel and the US. 'I don't think you can with great confidence do anything but set back their nuclear program by maybe a few years. There's almost certainly facilities that we don't know about,' Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey told Reuters. The US, on Saturday (June 21), carried out 'Operation Midnight Hammer' against Iran, targeting its three key nuclear sites, Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz. Trump said that the attack's objective was the 'destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror. '