"America's interference in countries should end": Maharashtra SP chief Abu Azmi
Solapur (Maharashtra) [India], June 22 (ANI): After the Washington bombed Iran's three nuclear sites, Maharashtra Samajwadi Party President Abu Asim Azmi on Sunday said that the US 'interference' in other countries should end.
Speaking to the media, Azmi also called Donald Trump's constant claim for the cessation of India-Pakistan hostilities an 'insult' to our country.
'America's interference in other countries should end. Dr Ram Manohar Lohia had said that India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Srilanka, and Nepal should form a federation to counter the US threats. America says they have stopped the India-Pakistan war. This is our insult. PM Modi has repeatedly said it is not true,' Azmi said.
Azmi further slammed the US for its silence over Israel's military action in Gaza.
'America is not saying anything about the bombed and starving children in Palestine; it is supporting Israel. First, Israel attacked Iran, and then Iran retaliated. That person (Ali Khamenei) is 85 years old, ...The way he replied to Israel, he has done a wonderful job. I appreciate him,' he said.
Azmi's remark came after the US, on early Sunday carried out 'massive precision' strikes on Iran's three nuclear sites -Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow- and warned of further retaliation if peace is not achieved.
Rafael Grossi, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said that an emergency meeting would take place on Monday in light of the developments taking place in West Asia.
Earlier in the day, the IAEA confirmed that there has been no reported increase in off-site radiation levels following the recent strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, including the underground enrichment facility at Fordow.
'Following attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran -- including Fordow -- the IAEA can confirm that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this time. IAEA will provide further assessments on the situation in Iran as more information becomes available,' the agency said in a statement.
Iran condemned the attacks, calling them a violation of international law and vowed to continue its nuclear program.
A statement issued by Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) confirmed that early on Sunday morning, Iran's nuclear sites were 'subjected to savage aggression--an act in violation of international laws, particularly the NPT.'
'This action, which violates international regulations, unfortunately took place under the indifference--and even complicity--of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),' it said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the US military action under the leadership of Trump, stating that Trump's bold decision to target Iranian nuclear facilities will change history.
Meanwhile, India continues its evacuation efforts for Indian nationals in Iran, with multiple flights planned to bring back Indians from the conflict-hit region. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
29 minutes ago
- First Post
US issues 'worldwide caution' for its citizens after joining Israeli campaign on Iran
The US has issued a global security alert, warning its citizens to be extra cautious amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The alert follows recent US airstrikes on Iran and growing threats of retaliation. read more This handout picture released by the Iranian Red Crescent on June 14, 2025, show Iranian Red Crescent volunteers working in a Tehran neighbourhood hit by a reported Israeli strike. AFP The US State Department issued a 'worldwide caution' alert on Sunday, warning Americans that the conflict in the Middle East could increase security risks for those living or travelling abroad. 'The conflict between Israel and Iran has disrupted travel and led to airspace closures across the region. There is also a risk of protests targeting US citizens and interests overseas,' the alert said. It advised all Americans to be extra cautious worldwide. The alert did not mention the US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites the night before, which Iran warned would have 'irreparable consequences.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In response to the strikes, Iran threatened US bases in the region. An advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Akbar Velayati, said any country hosting American forces involved in attacks on Iran would be considered a legitimate target. Meanwhile, the US began evacuation flights from Israel for American citizens and permanent residents. It also ordered staff to leave US embassies in Iraq and Lebanon.
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Kentucky MAGA: Trump advisers launch 'super PAC' to defeat Thomas Massie; Congressman denounced US strikes on Iran nuclear sites
Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie Two key advisers to Donald Trump have launched a "super PAC" (political action committee) to unseat Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who criticized the US President over the strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran, and previously, opposed the MAGA leader's "big, beautiful bill." The organization, named "Kentucky MAGA," will be run by Trump's senior political advisers, Chris LaCivita and Tony Fabrizio. "The PAC would spend 'whatever it takes' to defeat Massie (in the May 2026 primary)," LaCivita told Axios, which was the first to report that the super PAC is being formed. Another Trump aide told the website that plans for taking on Massie were in the works before the Congressman decided to call the attack on Iran "unconstitutional." Trump lashes out at Massie for remarks on ' Operation Midnight Hammer ' Earlier, Trump called his fellow Republican Massie a "loser" and demanded that MAGA "drop" the Kentucky representative after the latter denounced Operation Midnight Hammer - the US air strikes in Iran - as "unconstitutional." "MAGA should drop this pathetic LOSER, Tom Massie, like the plague! The good news is that we will have a wonderful American Patriot running against him in the Republican Primary, and I'll be out in Kentucky campaigning really hard. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo MAGA is not about lazy, grandstanding, nonproductive politicians, of which Thomas Massie is definitely one," the US President wrote on his Truth Social platform. 'Actually, MAGA doesn't want him, doesn't know him, and doesn't respect him. He is a negative force who almost always Votes 'NO,' no matter how good something may be. He's a simple minded 'grandstander' who thinks it's good politics for Iran to have the highest level Nuclear weapon, while at the same time yelling 'DEATH TO AMERICA' at every chance they get," he added.
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump is open to regime change in Iran, after his admin said that wasn't goal
The Trump administration on Sunday sent a series of conflicting messages to Iran - with US officials initially indicating a willingness to resume negotiations after a surprise attack on three of the country's nuclear sites and President Donald Trump talking up the possibility of regime change. "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???" Trump posted on social media. "MIGA!!!" The posting on Truth Social marked something of a reversal from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's Sunday morning news conference that detailed the aerial bombing. "This mission was not and has not been about regime change," Hegseth said. The Trump administration has made a series of intimidating statements even as it has simultaneously called to restart negotiations, making it hard to get a complete read on whether the US president is simply taunting an adversary or using inflammatory words that could further widen the war between Israel and Iran. Live Events Up until the US president's post on Sunday afternoon, the coordinated messaging by Trump's vice president, Pentagon chief, top military adviser and secretary of state suggested a confidence that any fallout would be manageable and that Iran's lack of military capabilities would ultimately force it back to the bargaining table. Hegseth had said that America "does not seek war" with Iran, while Vice President JD Vance said the strikes have given Tehran the possibility of returning to negotiate with Washington. But the unfolding situation is not entirely under Washington's control, as Tehran has a series of levers to respond to the aerial bombings that could intensify the conflict in the Middle East with possible global repercussions. Iran can block oil being shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, attack US bases in the region, engage in cyber attacks or double down on a nuclear programme that might seem like more of a necessity after the US strike. All of that raises the question of whether the strikes will open up a far more brutal phase of fighting or revive negotiations out of an abundance of caution. Inside the US, the attack quickly spilled over into domestic politics with Trump choosing to spend part of his Sunday going after his critics in Congress. Trump, who had addressed the nation from the White House on Saturday night, returned to social media on Sunday to lambaste Rep Thomas Massie, who had objected to the president taking military action without specific congressional approval. "We had a spectacular military success yesterday, taking the bomb right out of their hands (and they would use it if they could!)" Trump said as part of the post on Truth Social. At their joint Pentagon briefing, Hegseth and Air Force Gen Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that "Operation Midnight Hammer" involved decoys and deception, and met with no Iranian resistance. Caine indicated that the goal of the operation - destroying nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan - had been achieved. "Final battle damage will take some time, but initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction," Caine said. Vance said in a television interview that while he would not discuss "sensitive intelligence about what we've seen on the ground," he felt "very confident that we've substantially delayed their development of a nuclear weapon." Pressed further, he told NBC's "Meet the Press" that "I think that we have really pushed their program back by a very long time. I think that it's going to be many many years before the Iranians are able to develop a nuclear weapon." The vice president said the US had "negotiated aggressively' with Iran to try to find a peaceful settlement and that Trump made his decision after assessing the Iranians were not acting "in good faith." "I actually think it provides an opportunity to reset this relationship, reset these negotiations and get us in a place where Iran can decide not to be a threat to its neighbours, not to be a threat to the United States, and if they're willing to do that, the United States is all ears," Vance said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on CBS's "Face the Nation" that "there are no planned military operations right now against Iran, unless, unless they mess around and they attack" US interests. Trump has previously threatened other countries, but often backed down or failed to follow through, given his promises to his coalition of voters not to entangle the United States in an extended war. It was not immediately clear whether Iran saw the avoidance of a wider conflict as in its best interests. Much of the world is absorbing the consequences of the strikes and the risk that they could lead to more fighting across the Middle East after the US inserted itself into the war between Israel and Iran. Israeli airstrikes that began on June 13 local time targeted Iran's nuclear facilities and generals, prompting retaliation from Iran and creating a series of events that contributed to the US attack. While US officials urged caution and stressed that only nuclear sites were targeted by Washington, Iran criticised the actions as a violation of its sovereignty and international law. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Washington was "fully responsible" for whatever actions Tehran may take in response. "They crossed a very big red line by attacking nuclear facilities," he said at a news conference in Turkey. "I don't know how much room is left for diplomacy." China and Russia, where Araghchi was heading for talks with President Vladimir Putin, condemned the US military action. The attacks were "a gross violation of international law," said Russia's Foreign Ministry, which also advocated "returning the situation to a political and diplomatic course." A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement warned about the risk of the conflict spreading to "a global level". British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom was moving military equipment into the area to protect its interests, people and allies. His office said he talked on Sunday with Trump about the need for Tehran to resume negotiations, but Trump would have posted his remarks about regime change after their conversation. The leaders of Italy, Canada, Germany and France agreed on the need for "a rapid resumption of negotiations." France's Emmanuel Macron held talks with the Saudi crown prince and sultan of Oman. Iran could try to stop oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, which could create the same kind of inflationary shocks that the world felt after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Oil prices increased in the financial markets as the war between Israel and Iran had intensified, climbing by 21% over the past month. The Pentagon briefing did not provide any new details about Iran's nuclear capabilities. Hegseth said the timeline for the strikes was the result of a schedule set by Trump for talks with Iran about its nuclear ambitions. "Iran found out" that when Trump "says 60 days that he seeks peace and negotiation, he means 60 days of peace and negotiation," Hegseth said. "Otherwise, that nuclear programme, that new nuclear capability will not exist. He meant it." That statement was complicated as the White House had suggested last Thursday that Trump could take as much as two weeks to determine whether to strike Iran or continue to pursue negotiations. But the US benefited from Iran's weakened air defences and was able to conduct the attacks without resistance from Iran. "Iran's fighters did not fly, and it appears that Iran's surface to air missile systems did not see us throughout the mission," Caine said. Hegseth said that a choice to move a number of B-2 bombers from their base in Missouri earlier Saturday was meant to be a decoy to throw off Iranians. Caine added that the US used other methods of deception as well, deploying fighters to protect the B-2 bombers that dropped a total of 14 bunker-buster bombs on Iran's sites at Fordo and Natanz. The strikes occurred Saturday between 6:40 pm and 7:05 pm in Washington, or roughly 2:10 am on Sunday in Iran.
