Trump calls for Netanyahu's trial to be cancelled
US President Donald Trump offered support to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, saying his trial should be cancelled.
'Such a witch hunt, for a man who has given so much, is unthinkable to me,' Mr Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
'Bibi Netanyahu's trial should be cancelled immediately, or a pardon given to a great hero, who has done so much for the state (of Israel).'
He said he and Mr Netanyahu had been through 'hell together' during the Iran conflict and that the Prime Minister is perhaps the most important 'warrior in the history of Israel".
Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu have long had a close but sometimes fractious relationship. They fell out after Mr Netanyahu called Joe Biden in 2020 to congratulate him on his election win.
Mr Netanyahu, who denies any wrongdoing, is on trial in three corruption cases, which include charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust.
The most serious, Case 4,000, involves accusations that he used his authority to help telecoms tycoon Shaul Elovitch financially in return for positive coverage in a media outlet owned by Mr Elovitch.
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Arabian Post
an hour ago
- Arabian Post
U.S. to Resume Iran Nuclear Talks
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that American and Iranian officials will meet next week to discuss Tehran's nuclear ambitions, following a concerted military campaign that he claims has effectively neutralised key Iranian enrichment facilities. The announcement came at the NATO summit in The Hague. Trump defended the use of bunker-busting bombs against the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan sites, asserting they had been 'obliterated' and describing the bombing campaign as a decisive blow to Iran's nuclear programme. He struck a triumphant tone, crediting the strikes with hastening the end of the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, though he expressed reservations about formalising a diplomatic agreement: 'We may sign an agreement. I don't know, to me, I don't think it's that necessary,' he told reporters. ADVERTISEMENT U.S. intelligence assessments, however, diverge on the scale of success. A preliminary report from the Defence Intelligence Agency concluded the setbacks to Iran's nuclear efforts might be limited to a matter of months, not years. CIA Director John Ratcliffe affirmed that the programme had been 'severely damaged' but stopped short of declaring it destroyed. Israeli officials estimated the setbacks to be multi‑year, while the International Atomic Energy Agency emphasised uncertainties over Iran's stockpile and called for robust inspections. Diplomatic activity has meanwhile resumed. This U.S.–Iran meeting will follow six rounds of indirect talks mediated by Oman and Italy, which collapsed in mid‑June as the military confrontation intensified. Earlier this week, European envoys from the E‑3—France, Germany and the UK—engaged in direct negotiations in Geneva with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Those discussions aimed to bridge differences after stalled U.S. efforts. White House special envoy Steve Witkoff reiterated red‑line U.S. stipulations ahead of next week's meeting: Tehran must renounce nuclear weaponisation and accept restrictions on uranium enrichment. He noted the U.S. is open to crafting a comprehensive peace framework, building on what Trump described as a de‑escalation following 'a victory for everybody'. From Tehran, Iranian officials have not confirmed next week's meeting but emphasised national security. The Iranian parliament accelerated a bill to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, pending guarantees for the safety of nuclear infrastructure targeted in the strikes. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf accused the IAEA of failing to condemn the U.S. attack. Meanwhile, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi urged renewed inspections to clarify the status of enriched uranium moved before the bombings. Regional and global actors are also weighing in. France has called for robust diplomacy to carve a sustained peace path. China has echoed the call for diplomatic restraint. Israel hailed the strikes as a critical setback to Iran's programme; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed Trump's strong posture and emphasised the need to keep pressure on Tehran. ADVERTISEMENT Analysts note the gravity of waging diplomacy in the shadow of military action. One specialist observed that while bombings may degrade enrichment infrastructure, they can complicate trust and cooperation needed for inspections and verification. Moreover, uncertainty lingers over the status of highly enriched uranium caches. Rebuilding diplomatic channels will require assurances, reciprocal transparency, and a mutual understanding of consequences. Trump has warned that if Iran attempts to rebuild its nuclear programme, the U.S. is prepared to act again: 'Sure,' he said when asked about further strikes. Yet the pendulum has swung toward a blend of military deterrence and diplomatic engagement. As next week's talks approach, key questions remain: who will represent each side, where the dialogue will occur, and whether the focus will be solely nuclear constraints or broader regional stability. White House administration officials have yet to disclose details, but the U.S. envoy confirmed Washington's intent is to establish a framework that could replace the 2015 agreement. Trump also signalled openness to exploring a bilateral relationship beyond nuclear confines: 'We'll end up having something of a relationship with Iran,' he said, as long as Tehran adheres to non‑weaponisation terms. As the diplomatic window opens under the spectre of military force, the world watches to see whether this fragile blend of coercion and conciliation can unfold into a sustainable agreement—one that might ensure Iran never pursues nuclear weapons and stabilises a volatile region.
Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Trump teases Iran talks next week, says nuclear programme set back 'decades'
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States would hold nuclear talks with Iran next week, teasing the possibility of a deal even after boasting that recent US strikes had crippled the Islamic republic's atomic programme. Trump credited the unprecedented US attacks with the "total obliteration" of Iran's nuclear capabilities, and said they had set the country's programme back "decades". But leaked US intelligence cast doubt on that assessment, saying the strikes had likely delayed Tehran by just a few months. Before the agreement of a ceasefire on Tuesday, Israel had pounded Iranian nuclear and military sites over the course of 12 days of war, while Iran launched waves of missiles at its regional arch foe in their deadliest-ever confrontation. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. The United States joined the fray in support of its ally, hitting two nuclear facilities with massive bunker-buster bombs over the weekend, while a guided missile from a submarine struck a third. "They're not going to be building bombs for a long time," said Trump, adding the strikes had set back the programme by "decades" and that the ceasefire that he declared was going "very well". He later told reporters that Israel and Iran were "both tired, exhausted", going on to say that talks were planned with Iran "next week". "We may sign an agreement. I don't know," he added. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had said on Tuesday his country was willing to return to negotiations over its nuclear programme, but that it would continue to "assert its legitimate rights" to the peaceful use of atomic energy. 'Still early' Israel's military said Wednesday it was "still early" to assess the damage the war caused to Iran's nuclear programme. "I believe we have delivered a significant hit to the nuclear programme, and I can also say that we have delayed it by several years," said Israeli military spokesman Effie Defrin. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei acknowledged to Al Jazeera that its "nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that's for sure". But US media on Tuesday cited people familiar with a Defense Intelligence Agency report as saying the American strikes did not fully eliminate Iran's centrifuges or enriched uranium stockpiles. The strikes sealed off entrances to some facilities without destroying underground buildings, according to the report. Israel had said its bombing campaign, which began on June 13, was aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, an ambition Tehran has consistently denied. Its commandos had also operated inside Iran during the conflict, Israel's army chief publicly acknowledged for the first time on Wednesday. "The forces operated in secret deep within enemy territory and created operational freedom of action for us," chief of staff Eyal Zamir said in a televised address. 'The same intensity' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an address to the nation after the ceasefire, announced that "we have thwarted Iran's nuclear project". "And if anyone in Iran tries to rebuild it, we will act with the same determination, with the same intensity, to foil any attempt," he said. Iranian lawmakers on Wednesday voted in favour of suspending cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, state television reported. "The International Atomic Energy Agency, which refused to even marginally condemn the attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, put its international credibility up for auction," parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said, according to the broadcaster. The decision to suspend cooperation with the IAEA still requires the approval of the Guardian Council, a body empowered to vet legislation. In an interview with the Al Araby Al Jadeed news outlet, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran remained committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty but that it had failed to "protect us or our nuclear programme", adding without elaborating that Iran's approach towards the regime "will undergo changes". 'Finally, we can sleep' While Iran and Israel have been locked in a shadow war for decades, their 12-day conflict was by far the most destructive confrontation between them. Israeli strikes hit nuclear and military targets -- killing scientists and senior military figures -- as well as residential areas, prompting waves of Iranian missile fire on Israel. Tehran remained relatively quiet on Wednesday, with many shops still shuttered and only some restaurants open, though there was more life on the streets than during the height of the war. "Thank God, the situation has improved, the ceasefire has been reached, and people have returned to work and their lives," said one resident, a 39-year-old salesman who gave his name as Saeed. Others, however, were uncertain whether the peace would hold. "I really don't know... about the ceasefire but honestly, I don't think things will return to normal," said 28-year-old Amir. Some Israelis, meanwhile, welcomed the truce. "Finally, we can sleep peacefully. We feel better, less worried, for the kids, for the family. And I hope it stays that way," said Yossi Bin, a 45-year-old engineer in Tel Aviv. Israeli strikes on Iran killed at least 627 civilians, according to the health ministry. Iran's attacks on Israel killed 28 people, according to Israeli figures.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
War of words rages over Iran nuclear damage reports
Experts believe it is still too early to assess whether Iran's nuclear programme has been set back by months or many years, after reports that the damage was not as substantial as the US claimed. In what could be a significant setback for America's participation in the war, a report by the US Defence Intelligence Agency has indicated that the all-important centrifuges needed for uranium enrichment remain largely 'intact'. Sources at the Pentagon's intelligence arm involved in what is called BDA (battle-damage assessment) also told CNN that the 400kg stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 per cent had not been destroyed. 'So the [Defence Intelligence Agency] assessment is that the US set them back maybe a few months, tops,' the official said. But the agency's report contrasts with other assessments, including from Iran. Its Foreign Ministry said the facilities had been 'badly damaged'. Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told Al Jazeera TV that 'our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that's for sure' after the repeated attacks. And the Institute for Science and International Security said the combined strikes had 'effectively destroyed' Iran's uranium enrichment processors. 'Israel's and US attacks have effectively destroyed Iran's centrifuge enrichment programme,' the institute said. 'It will be a long time before Iran comes anywhere near the capability it had before the attack. "That being said, there are residuals such as stocks of 60 per cent, 20 per cent, and 3-5 per cent enriched uranium and the centrifuges manufactured but not yet installed at Natanz or Fordow. These non-destroyed parts pose a threat as they can be used in the future to produce weapon-grade uranium.' The Washington think tank on nuclear proliferation said the six entry point craters of the GBU-57 bunker-busters were above two weak points, and that bombs would have detonated inside the site, possibly causing immense damage to centrifuges in a confined space. US President Donald Trump's view was that the nuclear sites had been 'completely and totally obliterated' by the 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrators dropped by B-2 stealth bombers. Mr Trump said the news reports of the assessment betrayed the bravery of the pilots and air crew involved in the operation. The sequenced dropping of the 13,600kg GBU-57 bunker busters, which are supposed to penetrate up to 100 metres of reinforced concrete, was their first operational use. While the DIA sources said they did not destroy the Fordow plant, which is buried deep in a mountain near Qoms, other assessments suggest the bomb damage will make it very difficult to advance the uranium enrichment to the 95 per cent needed for a nuclear weapon. Nuclear weapons specialist Hamish de Bretton Gordon, who believes the attacks could have set back Iran's programme by years, said an on-site investigation was need for a full assessment. 'It's still too early to get definitive BDA at the moment as most of the damage is way below ground and they need to have a look,' he told The National. While the White House acknowledged the DIA's report did exist, it claimed that the top-secret assessment was 'flat-out wrong' and had been put out to 'demean' the President. Mr Trump also said more intelligence supporting his claims was coming in. 'The site has been demolished,' he said at the end of the Nato summit in Europe. But he also acknowledged that the early intelligence was 'inconclusive' and hinted that Israel would provide a clearer assessment in the coming days. The International Atomic Energy Agency said Israel's air strikes damaged or destroyed several thousand centrifuges at the Natanz facility after hitting the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant above ground. Russia also contributed to the damage debate by suggesting that neither side yet knew the true extent of the destruction. "The one that carried out the strikes believes significant damage was inflicted,' said Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov. 'And the one who received these strikes believes that everything was prepared in advance and that these objects did not suffer excessive, significant damage.' Israel's initial calculation has been that the damage on Fordow might not have been devastating but was also likely to have set back the programme by at least two years. The Pentagon intelligence report might be flawed but the coming weeks will reveal if Mr Trump needs to send in his bombers in to Iran once again.
