May 22, 2025: Best photos from around the world
Fire blazes with the words in Hebrew, "Enough with the madness", as demonstrators and relatives of hostages block a road demanding the immediate release of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, in Tel Aviv Israel May 21, 2025
REUTERS/Tomer Appelbaum
U.S. President Donald Trump hands over to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa copies of articles that he said showed white South Africans who had been killed, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 21, 2025.
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Vineyards are seen near Imola, Italy, May 17, 2025.
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A person holds a flag that reads "Peace" as Pope Leo XIV arrives for his first general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, May 21, 2025.
REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
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Economic Times
35 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Ripples spread across the world after US strikes Iran's nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan
Trump Calls It a 'Spectacular Success' Live Events Iran Threatens Retaliation, Closes Strait of Hormuz Gulf States on Alert, Europe Calls for Restraint Russia and China Condemn Strikes, Israel Praises Action Global Watch: IAEA, DHS React (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In the Iran-Israel conflict, the United States launched airstrikes on Iran's key nuclear sites at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan in the early hours of Sunday. Using bunker-busting bombs, the US strikes mark a dangerous escalation, raising fears of a wider war in the Middle the airstrikes, US President Donald Trump said: 'Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace' or face more devastating Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth added: 'The president authorised a precision operation to neutralise the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear programme.'Despite the aggressive move, the Pentagon said the US was not seeking full-scale war with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded strongly: 'There would be no return to diplomacy until it had retaliated.'Iran's Parliament has approved a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which 20% of the world's oil passes. The final decision rests with Iran's Supreme National Security Council.'The US showed they have no respect for international law. They only understand the language of threat and force,' Araghchi said in Istanbul, calling for the UN Security Council to condemn the across the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain, raised their security levels. Bahrain warned drivers to avoid main roads, while Kuwait opened emergency shelters. Nuclear safety agencies in the UAE and Saudi Arabia reported no signs of Europe, Britain, France, and Germany jointly said: 'We have consistently been clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and can no longer pose a threat to regional security.'They urged Iran to return to talks, offering to help find a solution.'We stand ready to contribute to that goal in coordination with all parties.'Russia and China issued strong condemnations of the US Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said: 'Trump's decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the US will change history.'Shortly after the US airstrikes, Iran fired more missiles at Israel, injuring many in Tel Aviv and destroying buildings. However, Iran has not yet attacked US military bases or tried to block oil exports completely, signs it may be trying to avoid total International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said no rise in radiation had been detected. Its head, Rafael Mariano Grossi, called an emergency meeting of the board.A US Department of Homeland Security alert warned of a 'heightened threat environment' within the country following the satellite images showed damage above Fordo and nearby entrances, it is unclear how much of the underground site was hit. Iran reportedly moved some enriched uranium out before the from agencies
Hindustan Times
38 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
US strikes Iran: Does Iran have nuclear sites in secret locations? Will Strait of Hormuz be closed? Answering all FAQs
President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that the US conducted strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities - Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan - amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. Officials on Sunday stated that the strikes were not a preamble to regime change, naming the operation 'Midnight Hammer'. Trump said US destroyed Iran's Fordow nuclear site(AFP) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran against following through with past threats of retaliation against the United States and said US forces would defend themselves. "This mission was not and has not been about regime change," Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon. Now, several questions have emerged since the US's strikes on Iran. Below are answers to frequently asked questions about potential secret nuclear sites in Iran and the possibility of Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz. Read More: Every US citizen a 'target': Iran after US strikes on Isfahan, Natanz and Fordow nuclear sites Does Iran Have Nuclear Sites in Secret Locations? The US targeted Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, known as Iran's primary nuclear enrichment and research facilities. Fordow, buried deep in a mountain, is the most fortified, while Natanz hosts large-scale uranium enrichment, and Isfahan contains research and fuel production. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitors these sites and reported no off-site radiation post-strikes, suggesting no undetected radioactive material release. Secret sites possibility: A 2018 Israeli intelligence operation revealed documents suggesting undeclared sites, though no concrete evidence of operational secret facilities has emerged since. The IAEA's Rafael Grossi noted that assessing underground damage is challenging, and Iran's claim of evacuating materials from Fordow hints at preparedness. Read More: Iran 'reserves all options' to defend itself after US strikes, says foreign minister Will Iran Close the Strait of Hormuz? Iran's parliament voted to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil route handling 20% of global petroleum, in retaliation for US strikes. However, the decision requires approval from Iran's Supreme National Security Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, and no closure has been enacted as of now. Shipping companies like Hapag-Lloyd report the strait remains open, with high alert levels. Closing the Strait would spike oil prices, potentially causing a global recession. Iran's economy, reliant on oil exports through the strait, would also suffer. Vice President JD Vance called closure 'suicidal' for Iran, urging diplomacy. Additional FAQs What Was the US Strike's Scope? Codenamed 'Operation Midnight Hammer,' the US used multiple B-2 bombers to drop bunker busters on Fordow and Natanz, and 30 Tomahawk missiles from submarines on Natanz and Isfahan. Was Iran's Nuclear Program Destroyed? President Trump claimed the sites were 'totally obliterated,' but the IAEA and Iranian officials dispute this, noting no radioactive contamination and ongoing nuclear knowledge.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
US-Israel strikes on Iran: Netanyahu says ‘we are very, very close to completing the objectives'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (June 22) said Israel was nearing its strategic goals in Iran following a series of high-profile US-led airstrikes on Tehran's nuclear infrastructure. 'I have no doubt that this is a regime that wants to wipe us out, and that's why we embarked on this operation to eliminate the two concrete threats to our existence: the nuclear threat and the ballistic missile threat,' Netanyahu said, addressing reporters. 'We are moving step by step towards achieving these goals. We are very, very close to completing them.' He stressed that the campaign would end only when those objectives were met. 'We won't pursue our actions beyond what is needed to achieve them, but we also won't finish too soon,' he added. Netanyahu made it clear that Israel would avoid getting bogged down in prolonged conflict. 'We won't be dragged into a war of attrition but also won't end the campaign prematurely,' he said. He also revealed that Israeli intelligence had new insights: 'We have interesting intel on the location of Iran's 60% enriched uranium,' he said, suggesting further strikes could be imminent. Hours after the strikes, Netanyahu visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem to pray for US President Donald Trump, whose administration authorized the bombing of Iranian nuclear sites. In a video released by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, Netanyahu is seen praying with his wife Sara and placing a handwritten note into the wall. 'Bless, protect and help the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who has taken it upon himself to drive out evil and darkness in the world,' he prayed. President Donald Trump, who authorised the strikes as part of Operation Midnight Hammer, defended the decision and warned Iran against retaliation. 'Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace,' Trump declared. He added a stark warning: 'There will either be peace, or there will be tragedy for Iran.' The Pentagon confirmed that B-2 bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on Iran's key nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. While Iran and the IAEA said there was no radiation leak, the Pentagon said the facilities had suffered 'sustained, extremely severe damage and destruction.' Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned, 'The Americans must receive a response to their aggression,' in remarks made to French President Emmanuel Macron. 'The warmongering and lawless administration in Washington is solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and far-reaching implications of its act of aggression,' Araghchi said, adding that he would fly to Moscow to coordinate with Russia. Despite the aggressive strike, the Trump administration signaled openness to diplomacy. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio refrained from specifying whether the US would respond with military force if Iran attempted to close the Strait of Hormuz or if Iranian proxy groups targeted oil infrastructure. "I'm not going to take options away from the president, that's not something we're talking about right now in terms of being immediate." Rubio acknowledged that while such a move would impact the U.S., it would have far greater consequences globally—particularly for China. "That would be a suicidal move on [Iran's] part, because I think the whole world would come against them if they did that," Rubio said.
