Iran and Israel: What's next?
G7 leaders are preparing for their second day of meetings in Canada, urging de-escalation of the conflict between Iran and Israel, but US President Donald Trump has already left, having warned that residents of Tehran "should immediately evacuate".
Iran's reaction is one of the key issues on the agenda today.
In this special episode of Beyond the Headlines, Geo-Economics Editor Manus Cranny asks Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor-in-Chief, and Mohamad Ali Harisi, Foreign Editor, for the inside view.
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Al Etihad
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- Al Etihad
Trump says wants 'real end' to Israel-Iran conflict, not ceasefire
17 June 2025 18:49 TEHRAN (AFP)US President Donald Trump said he wants a "real end" to the conflict between Israel and Iran, not just a ceasefire, as the nations traded fire for a fifth day on warplanes targeted dozens of missile launchers in western Iran and killed a senior commander, the military said, drawing retaliatory fire from the Islamic were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem shortly after sirens sounded in many parts of Israel warning of incoming missiles, with the military warning of another barrage in the police reported that debris fell in the central Tel Aviv area and the fire brigade said it was tackling a Israeli military said it killed senior Iranian commander Ali Shadmani in an overnight strike on a "command centre in the heart of Tehran", just four days after his predecessor, Gholam Ali Rashid, was killed in Israel's surprise also said it targeted multiple missile and drone sites in western Iran overnight and again later on Tuesday, with black-and-white footage showing some of them mounting calls to de-escalate, neither side has backed off from the missile blitz that began Friday, when Israel launched an unprecedented aerial campaign targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities.A new wave of Israeli strikes on Tehran -- including a dramatic hit on state television headquarters that the broadcaster said killed three people -- prompted both sides to activate missile defence systems media reported several explosions in the central city of Isfahan, home to a key nuclear areas in both countries have suffered, while foreign government scrambled to evacuate their citizens.A cyberattack on Tuesday crippled Sepah Bank, one of Iran's main state-owned banks, the Fars news agency said on Tuesday that he wanted a "complete give-up" by Iran in return for peace, without elaborating on the outcome he seeks."I'm not looking for a ceasefire, we're looking at better than a ceasefire," he told reporters after cutting short his attendance at a Group of Seven summit in who has said Washington was not involved in Israel's initial strikes, again warned Iran against targeting US troops and assets in the Middle US president had earlier issued an extraordinary warning on his Truth Social platform, saying: "Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!"Fearing the violence, many residents have fled Tehran since chief Pete Hegseth said the United States was deploying "additional capabilities" to the Middle East, with a US aircraft carrier reportedly heading to the the G7 summit, leaders including Trump called Monday for "de-escalation" while stressing Israel had the right to defend itself and that "Iran can never have a nuclear weapon".At least 24 people have been killed in Israel and hundreds wounded, according to Prime Minister Benjamin 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.
The National
27 minutes ago
- The National
UAE waives overstay fines for Iranian citizens due to Israel conflict
The UAE on Tuesday announced it would waive overstay fines for Iranian citizens facing delays leaving the Emirates because of travel restrictions imposed due to the Israel-Iran conflict. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) said the measures would apply to residents and visitors holding any type of entry visa. The decision has been made under the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed in solidarity with those caught up in 'exceptional circumstances' affecting the region. Emirates has suspended flights to the Iranian capital Tehran until June 30 and flydubai has halted services to Iran until the same date. Iran closed its airspace following a barrage of missile attacks launched by Israel on Friday. The two countries have continued to trade fire. 'This measure comes in response to the exceptional circumstances in the region and aims to ease the burden on this group, who have been unable to return to their home country due to airspace closures and flight suspensions,' the ICP said in a statement on Tuesday. Iranian citizens in the UAE are urged to register for the exemption through the smart services platform or visit Customer Happiness Centres across the country. Call for diplomacy The UAE was among a group of 20 countries who have criticised the situation in the Middle East, caused by what they called Israel's aggression against Iran. The group called for diplomacy and dialogue to restore stability. The foreign ministers of Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei, Chad, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya and Mauritania rejected military campaigns as a solution. Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey and Oman also condemned the escalation. 'There's an imperative need to halt Israeli hostilities against Iran, which comes during a time of increasing tension in the Middle East, and to work towards de-escalation, to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire and restoration of calm,' a joint statement said.
The National
27 minutes ago
- The National
Stay or go? Tehran stalked by doubt as war with Israel hits home
The pictures came in one after the other: a statue of Arash the Archer, a mythological character believed to have shot an arrow marking the border of ancient Iran. Next, a picture of Picasso's Guernica, one of the world's most famous paintings opposing war. A resident of Tehran sent the pictures via WhatsApp with a message: Iranians are proud nationalists with a long history, and do not want conflict. 'Our nation knows how to resist and stand firm. In difficult times, everyone stands by Iran, regardless of their religion or belief,' the person, a foreign policy researcher, told The National, asking to remain anonymous. Even Iranians who oppose the country's system of Islamic governance have criticised Israel 's strikes in conversations with The National. The attacks have killed at least 224 people over five days, with more than 1,200 others taken to hospital, said Iran's Health Ministry, including women and children. While deeply rooted in their communities, many Iranians fearing the unknown are deciding to pack up and leave in search of safety. As Israeli strikes continue and the civilian death toll rises, Iranians are faced with a decision: should I stay or should I go? 'People are going where they think is out of the missiles' reach,' another Tehran resident told The National. For years, Iran had kept direct conflict with Israel, and other threats, at bay. It supported Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. It sent military advisers to Syria and Iraq to support Bashar Al Assad and, it said, fend off ISIS, whose presence once extended worryingly close to Iran's own borders. But now, citing imminent threats from Iran, Israel has attacked, ushering in the worst direct conflict that Iran has seen since the 1980-1988 war with Iraq. Iran, which denies it is seeking nuclear arms, has launched missiles and drones back at Israel, claiming at least 24 lives, Israeli authorities have said. 'Every night, people are gathering in safe areas and waiting for either Israel or Iran to strike. It's a really dire situation,' a resident of Isfahan told The National. 'People are coming together, they have lived in war. It's a really tough situation.' People are going where they think is out of the missiles' reach Resident of Tehran As well as striking remote military and nuclear sites, Israel has also struck densely populated areas of cities such as Tehran, including the busy Tajrish district. As it has done in Gaza and Lebanon, the Israeli military on Monday issued an evacuation warning for part of Area 3 in north-eastern Tehran. It said it would carry out 'actions to attack the Iranian regime's military infrastructure'. The area houses the city's international exhibition centre and a sports complex. In a later social media post, US President Donald Trump said 'everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran'. The post was published in English around 3am Iran time. "I just want people to be safe," he later told journalists in explanation for the post. Many Iranians have criticised the sudden evacuation orders for a city of around 10 million people, a population that swells on weekdays. On social media, users posted panicked messages about family members living in the area that Israel said it would attack. Despite the threats, some people are not leaving their homes. 'Tehran is a populous and important city and is not being evacuated at all,' the foreign policy researcher said. 'The situation is special, but we are not a nation state that was just created yesterday. We are defending ourselves and adapting to the new circumstances.' But others, fearing the conflict may escalate further and uncertain of their safety, have either left, or are planning to. Mosques, schools and metro stations are available as shelters, an Iranian government spokeswoman has said, and authorities deny shortages of basic food. But unlike in Israel, Iranian cities do not have networks of official bomb shelters and air defence systems are limited. Images showed long queues of traffic as people tried to leave Tehran, and social media users posted videos and pictures of the front doors of their homes before leaving. "People don't know what they are supposed to do in this situation," the Isfahan resident said. "Out of fear, they think the best thing to do is to leave the cities." The National spoke to one resident of Tehran who had left his home for another city in Iran, and another who was planning his route out. 'It is really scary,' he said. 'I have to find a way to leave the city and probably the country.' Closures of shops, government offices and other businesses make the Iranian capital feel 'closed', another resident said. 'Look, many people left Tehran,' he told The National. 'Because the offices are closed, it's practically as if Tehran is closed. But people in service jobs and the people that have to stay, they all stayed.' Some people are going to the holy city of Qom, normally a two-hour drive south of Tehran, while others are heading to northern regions bordering the Caspian Sea, the man added. Queues are appearing to buy fuel, he said, and sent The National a picture of one petrol station surrounded by cars. 'The petrol stations are operating, they are working, everyone wants petrol," he added. "It's a long queue. People are waiting for one, one and a half hours.' Iranians hope Mr Trump could end the conflict by placing pressure on Israel to end the attacks. The Iranian military has said its counter-attacks will continue as long as Israel keeps striking. But people have mixed feelings about how willing or able the US President is to de-escalate. 'I hope Trump can stop this," another Tehran resident told The National over the phone. 'Because if he doesn't, it will get much worse, it will be completely insane." The overwhelming sense is that Iranians do not want any more conflict. 'If only the war would end, somehow,' the Isfahan resident said.
