Against a hyper power on the rampage, Tehran does the sensible thing
The commander-in-chief of the Iranian Army Amir Hatami (right) attending a meeting in the War Command Room. For now, Iran needs time to regroup, rethink and reorganise its strategy. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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SINGAPORE – Following an obligatory Iranian missile swarm against the US base in Qatar – the largest American facility in West Asia – a lull in fighting could be at hand.
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AsiaOne
22 minutes ago
- AsiaOne
'Regime change' is only solution in Iran, Shah's son says, Asia News
PARIS — The last heir to the Iranian monarchy urged Western states on Monday (June 23) to accept that the collapse of the current Iranian authorities is necessary to deliver lasting peace and regional stability. The United States, which bombed Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday, has said it wants to prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons, not to open a wider war. Officials in Washington said the goal of the US bombing was not "regime change" but, in a social media post on Sunday, US President Donald Trump raised the possibility of Iran's hardline clerical rulers being toppled. "Now is the moment to stand with the Iranian people. Do not repeat the mistakes of the past. Do not throw this regime a lifeline. The destruction of the regime's nuclear facilities alone will not deliver peace," Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the toppled Shah, told a press conference in Paris. "You are right to be concerned about stopping nuclear weapons and securing regional stability, but only a democratic transition in Iran can ensure these goals are achieved and are lasting." The Iranian authorities did not immediately comment on Pahlavi's remarks. Pahlavi has lived in exile for nearly four decades, since his father, the US-backed shah, was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It is unclear how much support Pahlavi has in Iran. Many Iranians remember the Shah's repressive secret police, Savak, and there have been pro- and anti-monarchy slogans during mass demonstrations in Iran in the past. Without providing evidence, Pahlavi, who is based in Washington, said the ruling system in Iran was collapsing and that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, his family and other senior officials were making preparations to flee the country. [[nid:719414]] "This is our Berlin Wall moment. But like all moments of great change, it comes fraught with danger," he said, referring to the collapse of the wall that divided East and West Berlin in 1989 as the Soviet-led Communist bloc crumbled. Fragmented opposition Iran and Israel have been waging an air war since Israel launched airstrikes on June 13, saying it wanted to prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes. Asked whether he wanted to lead a future transition or be a new Shah, Pahlavi said he was not seeking political power. He said he saw the cornerstone of a transition based on Iran's territorial integrity, individual freedoms and equality of all citizens, as well as separation of religion and state. Opposition to Iran's clerical government is fragmented, with no clear recognised leader and a multitude of ethnic groups. Pahlavi said his teams were working on a future economic plan and that he wanted to convene a national unity gathering that would include activists, dissidents and groups from across the ideological spectrum to agree on the transition principles. It would also bring together business leaders, professionals and experts, he said, without giving a time frame. He said he had also created a platform for Iranian security, police and military officials to join him if they wanted to abandon the government. Asked about hesitations among some Western leaders over the potential consequences of the authorities collapsing, he said: "It's not that they need to advocate for regime change. It is that they simply have to recognise that regime change is the only ultimate solution." [[nid:719421]]
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Trump administration to end protection for 23.5 million hectares of national forests
Untouched landscapes in the US include Alaska's Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rainforest in North America. PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER MILLER/NYTIMES The Trump administration said on June 23 that it would open up some 23.5 million hectares of backcountry in national forests to road construction and development, removing protection that had been in place for a quarter-century. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the plan to repeal the 2001 'roadless rule' that had preserved the wild nature of nearly one-third of the land in national forests in the United States. Ms Rollins said the regulation was outdated. 'Once again, President (Donald) Trump is removing absurd obstacles to common-sense management of our natural resources by rescinding the overly restrictive roadless rule,' Ms Rollins said in a statement. She said the repeal 'opens a new era of consistency and sustainability for our nation's forests'. Environmental groups said the plan could destroy some of America's untouched landscapes, and promised to challenge it in court. The unspoiled land in question includes Alaska's Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rainforest in North America; Reddish Knob in the Shenandoah mountains, one of the highest points in Virginia; and millions of hectares of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho. 'Most Americans value these pristine backcountry areas for their sense of wildness, for the clean water they provide, for the fishing and hunting and wildlife habitat,' said Mr Chris Wood, chief executive of Trout Unlimited, an environmental group. When then President Bill Clinton used executive authority to protect the forests in 2001, it was hailed by conservationists as the most significant step since former president Theodore Roosevelt laid the foundation for the national forest system. It blocked logging, road building, mining and drilling on 23.5 million hectares of the remaining undeveloped national forest lands. Mr Wood, who served as a senior policy adviser to the chief of the US Forest Service when the rule was developed, recalled that it had wide public support. 'I don't think the timber industry wants to get into these areas,' he said. 'They're wildly controversial and they're too expensive to access. I believe when they take this to rule-making, they will realise how wildly unpopular getting rid of that rule is and how little gain there is to be had from it.' The announcement comes as the Trump administration is moving to significantly increase logging in the US. Mr Trump has called on Cabinet secretaries to bypass endangered species laws and other environmental protection measures to boost the domestic supply of timber. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
‘Many people panicking': Singaporean in Doha recounts seeing Iran's missiles as US base was attacked
Mr Hashim Sidek was in Qatar to celebrate his grandson's first birthday when Iran launched air strikes on the Al Udeid Air Base. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF HASHIM SIDEK, REUTERS 'Many people panicking': Singaporean in Doha recounts seeing Iran's missiles as US base was attacked Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - Mr Hashim Sidek was in a shopping mall in Doha with his wife, daughter-in-law and grandson when missiles suddenly appeared in the sky on June 23. The 64-year-old Singaporean was in Qatar to celebrate his grandson's first birthday when Iran launched air strikes on the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military installation in the Middle East. 'Suddenly, some people were running towards the door that leads to the car park,' he told The Straits Times on June 24 . They went outside, where Mr Hashim said he saw 'two missiles in the sky being destroyed by another two missiles'. 'We rushed to our Uber driver's car that we hailed through the app,' he added. 'Many people were outside already, panicking and also looking at the sky to see the missiles.' They managed to get in the car and went straight back to their daughter-in-law's apartment, he said. Mr Hashim, a tennis coach, and his wife arrived in Doha on June 22 . Their son, a pilot with Qatar Airways, is arranging for them to return to Singapore sooner. The couple hopes to fly back on June 25 . 'We are actually cutting our trip here short,' said Mr Hashim. 'It was supposed to be for two weeks but we decided to go back at the earliest opportunity.' Mr Hashim said they were anxious to go home, but are now feeling a bit calmer. On June 23, Iran launched attacks on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, in retaliation against the US strikes on the country's nuclear facilities on June 21. There were no reported injuries and US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the Iran and Israel, who had exchanged air strikes since June 13, shortly after. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
