For too long the West allowed Iran's monstrous regime to act with impunity
SIR – For decades, the West has indulged and appeased the regime in Iran. But appeasement merely defers the inevitable, while the cost of the eventual reckoning escalates in both human and financial terms.
The robust action taken by Israel against Iran's nuclear facilities and senior military figures (telegraph.co.uk, June 13) has humiliated the regime while highlighting the spinelessness of Western leaders.
Alan Tomlinson
Cheadle, Cheshire
SIR – The world talks. Israel acts.
Brian Gedalla
London N3
SIR – Irrespective of the widespread criticism of the almost total destruction of Gaza, Israel was right to strike Iran, which is unlikely ever to abandon its nuclear weapons programme through negotiations.
The British Government should not be calling for de-escalation, because the world would become a far more dangerous place if Israel and Iran both had nuclear weapons.
Rear Admiral Philip Mathias (retd)
Southsea, Hampshire
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The Guardian
17 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Israel intercepts Iranian retaliatory missiles
Israel's interceptions of Iranian missiles were seen from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the West Bank and Jordan as Iran retaliated for its strikes. Israel Defense Forces said it had also intercepted Iranian drones, after sirens sounded in the Dead Sea and West Bank area
BBC News
19 minutes ago
- BBC News
Wetin be di worst-case scenarios on Israel-Iran strikes?
For now di fighting between Israel and Iran dey restricted to di two nations. For United Nations and elsewhere many pipo dey calls for restraint. But what if dem fall on deaf ears? What if di fighting escalate and expand? Dis na just a few possible, worst-case scenarios. What if e drag America inside Upon say US dey deny say dia hand no dey, Iran believe say American forces endorse am and at least tacitly support Israel attacks. Iran fit strike US targets across di Middle East – like dia special forces camps for Iraq, military bases for Gulf, and diplomatic missions for di region. Iran proxy forces - Hamas and Hezbollah – wey many dey feel say no too strong but dia supportive militias for Iraq still dey armed and dey intact. US dey fear say dis kain attacks dey possible and so dem don withdraw some personnel. For dia public message, US warned Iran well-well of di consequences of any attack on American targets. Wetin fit happun if dem kill American citizen, say, for Tel Aviv or elsewhere? Donald Trump fit dey forced to act. Many pipo dey accuse Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu say im wan drag US inside dis mata to help am defeat Iran. Military analysts say na only US get di bombers and bunker-busting bombs wey fit penetrate di deepest of Iranian nuclear facilities, especially for Fordow. Trump bin promise im MAGA constituency say im no go start any so-called "forever wars" for Middle East. But equally many Republicans support both Israel goment and dia view say now na di time to seek regime change for Tehran. But if America come become an active combatant, dat go represent a huge escalation wit a long, potentially devastating consequential tail. What if e drag Gulf nations If Iran fail to damage Israel well-protected military and oda targets, den dem fit always aim dia missiles at softer targets for Gulf, especially kontris wey Iran believe say dey help and assist dia enemies ova di years. Plenty energy and infrastructure targets dey di region. Remember say dem accuse Iran of striking Saudi Arabia oil fields for 2019 and dia Houthi proxies hit targets for UAE for 2022. Since den, Iran don reconcile wit some for di region. But dis kontris dey play host to US airbases. Some also – discreetly – bin help defend Israel from Iranian missile attack last year. If dem attack di Gulf, den dem too fit demand American warplanes to come to dia defence as well as Israel. Israel fail to destroy Iran nuclear capability What if Israeli attack fail? What if Iran nuclear facilities dey too deep, too well protected? What if dia 400kg of 60% enriched uranium – di nuclear fuel dey just a small step away from being fully weapons-grade, wey go enough for ten bombs or so – and dem no dey destroyed? Experts believe say dem hide dem deep for secret mines. Israel fit don kill some nuclear scientists but bombs no fit destroy Iran knowhow and expertise. What if Israel attack convince Iran leadership say di only way of deterring further attacks na to race for nuclear capability as fast as e fit? What if those new military leaders wey dey round di table dey more stubborn more headstrong and less cautious pass dia predecessors wey don die? Di least be say, dis fit force Israel to further attacks, wey go potentially put di region inside continual round of strike and counter-strike. Israelis get one brutal phrase for dis strategy; dem dey call am "mowing di grass". E dey affect global economy Di price of oil already dey go high . What if Iran try to close di Strait of Hormuz, wey go further restrict di movement of oil? What if – on di other side of di Arabian Peninsula - di Houthis for Yemen redouble dia efforts to attack shipping for Red Sea? Dem be Iran last remaining so-called proxy ally dem get a track record of unpredictability and high risk appetite. Many kontris around di world already dey suffer a cost of living crisis. A rising price of oil go add to inflation for a global economic system wey already dey shake under di weight of Trump tariff war. And make we not forget, di one man wey go benefits from high oil prices na President Putin of Russia wey suddenly go see billions more dollars flood into Kremlin coffers to pay for im war against Ukraine. Iran regime fall, go leave vacuum What if Israel succeed for dia long term aim of forcing di collapse of di Islamic revolutionary regime for Iran? Netanyahu claim say im primary aim na to destroy Iran nuclear capability. But im make am clear for im statement yesterday say im big target na regime change. Im tell "di proud pipo of Iran" say im attack na to "clear di path for una to achieve una freedom" from wetin im call dia "evil and oppressive regime". Bringing down Iran goment fit appeal to some for di region, especially some Israelis. But whick kain vacuum e go leave? Wetin go be di unforeseen consequences? Wetin civil conflict for Iran go look like? Many still remember wetin happun to both Iraq and Libya wen dem remove dia strong centralised goment. So, much go depend on how dis war go progress in coming days. How - and how hard - Iran go retaliate? And di kain restraint – if any - wey US fit exert on Israel? Alot go depend on di answer to those two kwesions.
The Independent
40 minutes ago
- The Independent
Anger and worry mix in Iran's capital after retaliatory strikes against Israel
Anger mixed with worry as Iranians in the capital of Tehran woke up Saturday to images of their country's retaliatory attacks on Israel. Iranian state television, long controlled by hard-line supporters of the country's theocracy, repeatedly aired footage of missile strikes on Tel Aviv throughout the morning. The broadcaster also showed people cheering in front of a large screen set up in Tehran to follow the strikes as if they were watching a soccer match. Traffic was lighter than normal on the capital's streets. The change was due in part to the Shiite holiday of Eid al-Ghadir commemorating the Prophet Muhammad picking his successor, Ali, who is beloved as the first Shiite imam and whose assassination set in motion the splintering of Sunni and Shiite Islam. Even before the attacks began, many Iranians had traveled outside the city to enjoy days off in places along the nearby Caspian Sea. The holiday mood made news of the assaults that much more shocking, particularly when the strikes killed many ranking members of Iran's military and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, something unseen since Iran's war with Iraq in the 1980s. It's a new experience for many of Iran's 80 million people who weren't alive for that devastating conflict, which included a period known as the 'War of the Cities,' in which Iraq rained ballistic missiles, artillery fire and airstrikes on Iranian cities. 'Israel killed our commanders and what they expect in return? A kiss?' said Mahmoud Dorri, a 29-year-old taxi driver. 'We will go after them to punish them: an eye for an eye.' In downtown Tehran, 31-year-old teacher and mother of two Pari Pourghazi expressed her joy over Iran's attack, linking it to Israel's devastating war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. 'Someone should stop Israelis. They think they can do anything they want at any time,' she said. "Iran showed Israelis are wrong though they could suppress people of Gaza or Lebanon by heavy bombing.' Auto mechanic Houshang Ebadi, 61, also backed the Iranian strike but said he opposed a full-fledged war between Iran and Israel. 'I support my country. The Israelis made mistake in launching attacks on Iran but I hope this comes to end," Ebadi said. "War will not bear fruit for any side.' Others expressed concerns, verbally or through their actions. At one Tehran gas station, some 300 vehicles waited to fill up, with drivers growing frustrated. 'Sometime there is a queue because people fear that the refineries may be targeted, sometimes there is a line because of a power outage," said Nahid Rostami, a 43-year-old stylist. "When is this emergency situation going to end?' Fruit seller Hamid Hasanlu, 41, said his twins couldn't sleep Friday night with the sounds of explosions and anti-aircraft batteries firing. 'Leaders of both countries should know that people are suffering," he said. Bakeries also drew crowds as people sought to buy supplies including traditional Iranian bread, a staple of meals. 'I buy more bread since I think maybe there is no flour or electricity because of the war," said Molouk Asghari, a 56-year-old homemaker. 'I have children and grandchildren. I cannot see them in a hard situation without food, water and electricity." Across the country, people faced the continued strain of the conflict as Iran's airspace remained closed. 'Who knows what happens tonight?" said Rostami, the stylist.
