Days after recommending Trump for the Nobel Prize, Pakistan condemns the US strike on Iran
Pakistan has condemned the United States' recent strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, a day after Islamabad backed Donald Trump as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
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Business Standard
17 minutes ago
- Business Standard
From Hawaii to Iran: Trump's remark spotlights US history of regime change
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, calling it a 'complete and total ceasefire' after a "12-day war". This comes after he appeared to endorse the idea of regime change in Iran - claiming to 'Make Iran Great Again' - despite his administration's earlier insistence that recent airstrikes were not aimed at toppling the Islamic Republic's leadership. Although US officials had previously asserted that the recent Operation Midnight Hammer airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites were intended solely as a deterrent, Trump's comment reopened discussions about America's long history of regime change around the world. For over a century, the United States has been engaged in the removal of foreign governments - overtly and covertly. Many of these actions have been sold to policymakers at home and globally as part of geopolitical calculations, in response to market forces, or as part of the Cold War struggle with the Soviet Union. While many of these operations were framed as actions to stop communism or restore democracy in a foreign land, the result of many of these operations has only fostered instability and made countries susceptible to dictatorship. Hawaii, 1893: The overthrow of a sovereign monarchy The story of the US meddling in other nations' affairs to bring 'democracy, free market, and civilisation' dates back to over a century. In January 1893, a group of white American settlers, backed by a US diplomat, overthrew Queen Liliʻuokalani of Hawaii. This came just six years after her brother, King Kalakaua, had been forced to sign a new constitution at gunpoint. Hawaii was annexed by the United States in 1898 and became the 50th state in 1959. A century after the coup, in 1993, the US formally apologised for the illegal overthrow and seizure of 1.8 million acres of land from the native Hawaiian people. Cuba, 1933: From military coups to the fear of Red After occupying Cuba in 1898, the US formally recognised Cuban independence in 1902, but retained the right to intervene. That right was exercised repeatedly to protect American sugar and fruit businesses. In 1933, the US supported Fulgencio Batista's coup. But when Fidel Castro ousted Batista in 1959 and declared a communist regime, the US launched the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, an unsuccessful CIA-backed attempt to remove Castro. Iran, 1953: Cold War and oil demand Through a covert operation called Operation Ajax, the CIA was able remove the democratically-elected Prime Minister of Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh, and restore the power of monarch Shah Muhammad Reza Pahlavi. Although US officials cited fears of Soviet influence in Iran, historians argue the motive was much more about protecting American and British oil interests. The coup caused long-lasting consequences, creating a deep anti-American sentiment in Iran and laid the groundwork for the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Guatemala, 1954: Corporate interests The CIA-led Operation PBSuccess ousted Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz after fears arose that his land reforms would affect the US-based United Fruit Company. Many US officials involved had ties to the company, including CIA Director Allen Dulles. The coup replaced Arbenz with a military regime and sparked decades of civil unrest. Congo, 1960–65: The fear of Soviet control After the Congo gained independence from Belgium, its prime minister Patrice Lumumba was deposed and subsequently killed with the tacit support of the United States, over fears of Soviet control. The CIA endorsed a military coup by Mobutu Sese Seko in 1965, who would become the dictator of the Congo until 1997. This era, called the 'Congo Crisis', undermined the stability of Central Africa and furthered priorities of foreign policy in the Cold War period. Dominican Republic, 1961: CIA supplied weapons Rafael Trujillo's violent dictatorship ended when dissidents ambushed and murdered him using weapons supplied by the CIA. Subsequently, the Church Committee found that the CIA did materially assist in funding and supporting the dissidents planning for the assassination, but denied any control or direct involvement. Vietnam, 1963: The coup before JFK's assassination In 1963, South Vietnamese president Ngo Dinh Diem was overthrown and assassinated in a US-backed coup. The Pentagon Papers later confirmed the CIA's involvement. The Kennedy administration believed Diem's repression of Buddhists weakened his position in the war against North Vietnam. Brazil, 1964: Fears of another 'China' in Latin America Concerned that Brazil's left-leaning President Joao Goulart might align with the Soviet bloc, the US supported a military coup that brought General Humberto Castello Branco to power. CIA documents confirm that Washington supplied arms and fuel to coup backers. The military ruled Brazil until 1985. Chile, 1973: Bringing Pinochet in the scene When Chile elected socialist Salvador Allende in 1970, the US immediately began plotting to undermine him. By 1973, General Augusto Pinochet led a military coup. While US involvement in the actual coup remains debated, declassified conversations show that president Nixon and his national security advisor Henry Kissinger were pleased with the outcome. Kissinger remarked: 'We helped them… created the conditions.' Nicaragua, 1980s: Fighting socialism by training right-wing To fight Nicaragua's socialist Sandinista government, the CIA armed and trained right-wing Contras. To fund this, the Reagan administration secretly sold weapons to Iran, violating US law. The Iran-Contra Affair became a national scandal in 1986. By 1990, the US supported Violeta Chamorro's electoral victory over the Sandinistas, ending Daniel Ortega's rule, although he later returned to power. Afghanistan, 2001-2021: Occupation to collapse After the 9/11 attacks, the US invaded Afghanistan, toppling the Taliban and establishing an interim government led by Hamid Karzai. Despite 20 years of effort, the US-backed administration collapsed in 2021 after American withdrawal, returning the Taliban to power. Iraq, 2003: Claims of weapons of mass destruction The US invaded Iraq in 2003 on the false pretext of its supposed possession of weapons of mass destruction, resulting in the ousting of Saddam Hussein. The resulting occupation destabilised the country resulting in civil war, sectarian violence, and the rise of the Islamic State. And while the US withdrew in 2011, destabilisation of Iraq continues. Covert and failed operations: The other side of US interventions While some regime changes succeeded, others either failed or were shrouded in secrecy for years. Syria (1956-57): The CIA's plans for an overthrow of the Syrian government in the form of staged border incidents were exposed as plots that failed. Albania (1949): US-UK plans to foment a revolt against the communist regime were foiled due to Soviet counterintelligence. France and Italy (1940s-50s): The CIA funded centre-right parties in order to prevent electoral victories by communists is another covert intervention that exemplifies election interference. Syria (2010's): The CIA trained anti-Assad rebels under Operation Timber Sycamore, but the CIA was unable to effectuate the removal of the Syrian president and was drawn into complex entanglements. The US has pursued regime change for decades, consistently intervening to oppose communist ideals or protect its economic interests. American interventions have repeatedly resulted in prolonged conflict, civil unrest, or authoritarianism. While some operations were public, others remained secret for decades, only revealed through declassified documents and Senate investigations later. Trump may have announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, motivated by his desire for a Nobel Peace Prize, but his penchant for policy flip-flops casts uncertainty over his future actions.
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Business Standard
17 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Why did Adani Ports shares surge 5% as Iran-Israel announced ceasefire?
Adani Ports share price gained on the NSE today, rising nearly 5 per cent in the intraday trade. The stock of the Adani Group company rose 4.7 per cent to hit a high of ₹1,418.7 per share on the stock exchange. On the BSE, the stock hit a high of ₹1,418.85 per share. At 11:05 AM, Adani Ports shares were trading 3.8 per cent higher on the National Stock Exchange as against a 1 per cent rise in the benchmark Nifty50 index. Why are Adani Ports shares rising today? Adani Ports shares were rising in trade today after Iran and Israel announced a ceasefire to end their '12-day war'. Adani Ports jointly owns a 70 per cent stake in Haifa Ports in Israel. In 2023, Adani Ports and Israel's Gadot Group acquired a 70-per cent stake in Haifa Ports for $1.18 billion. Haifa Port is one of the major seaports in Israel. According to reports, Israel's largest oil refinery, Bazan, had suspended all operations at the Haifa Port last week, following Iranian missile strikes. Meanwhile, in a Social Truth post, US President Donald Trump claimed early this morning that Iran and Israel have reached a "complete and total ceasefire". This came hours after Iran fired limited missiles towards the US military base in Qatar. In another post, at around 10:30 AM IST, Trump said that the ceasefire announced by him was in effect. Nonetheless, reports suggested Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel, this morning, soon after Trump claimed about broking a ceasefire agreement between the two countries. Adani Ports share price target Adani Ports shares have zoomed over 15 per cent so far in calendar year 2025 as against 4 per cent rise in the benchmark indices. The stock hit a 52-week high of ₹1,604.95 on the NSE on August 1, 2024, and a 52-week low of ₹995.65 on November 21, 2024. According to analysts at BOB Capital, the logistics sector had a market size ₹21.6 trillion in FY24, growing at an 11 per cent CAGR. However, the market remains highly fragmented — both across service offerings (rail, road, warehousing) and within each segment, where numerous players operate. Adani Ports, according to the brokerage, has added various logistics services to its portfolio, with its strategy anchored on specific criteria such as a strong B2B presence, port adjacency, and leveraging opportunities in rail and trucking. "The ₹15,000–20,000 crore capex will build logistics assets like rakes, MMLPs, and warehouses, targeting ₹11,000 crore in incremental revenue. Asset turns improve gradually as initial utilization is low, given fragmented networks and empty return loads. As demand decentralizes and logistics penetration deepens, cargo flows diversify, driving utilization and revenue growth," it said. The management aims to accelerate this ramp-up through a focused push-pull strategy across assets, which will result in revenue/Ebitda CAGR of 48 per cent/53 per cent over FY25-29E. "The management remains focused on improving ROCE in the medium term, with accretive potential over the long term, despite the sector's high gestation nature. ADSEZ is well-positioned to drive consolidation in segments like trucking, which remain fragmented and inefficient. We conservatively build in a 22 per cent revenue CAGR in logistics over FY25–27E, factoring DFC implementation timelines (8–12 months away)," BOB Capital said. Reflecting the strengthening logistics ecosystem and visible growth path, the brokerage has revised its one-year forward EV/Ebitda multiple to 16x (from 14x) and arrived at a revised Mar-26 share price target of ₹1,720 (vs ₹1,490 earlier).
News18
18 minutes ago
- News18
Which US Bases In Qatar Did Iran Target With Missiles? Explosions Heard Over Doha
Last Updated: Al Udeid in Qatar and Ain al-Asad in Iraq were named by Iran as targets of its missile strikes, launched in retaliation for US attacks on nuclear sites. Iran on Monday said it had launched a 'devastating and powerful" missile attack on US military bases in Qatar and Iraq, naming Al Udeid Air Base near Doha and Ain al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq as targets. Explosions were heard across the Qatari capital after the strike, which Tehran framed as retaliation for recent American airstrikes on its underground nuclear facilities. Qatar's defence ministry confirmed that its air defence systems had intercepted missiles aimed at Al Udeid, the largest US base in the region. Authorities reported no casualties and said the situation was under control. The strike came days after US bombers dropped bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear sites, and after US President Donald Trump warned of regime change in Tehran. In a statement issued Monday night, the United States confirmed that Al Udeid had been attacked with short- and medium-range ballistic missiles fired from Iran. 'At this time there are no reports of US casualties. We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide more information as it becomes available," the US said. Iranian state media described the missile operation as a direct and 'powerful" response. Qatar condemned the attack and said it reserved the right to respond. In Iraq, the US-operated Ain al-Asad base reportedly activated its air defences amid fears of wider escalation. A senior White House official said the Pentagon and the White House were monitoring threats to US assets in the Gulf. Qatar also briefly closed its airspace as a precaution. Why Al Udeid Matters to the US The cornerstone of this military relationship is the Al Udeid Air Base, established in 1996 and significantly expanded post-9/11. It serves as the forward headquarters of US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations across West Asia, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia. At its height, Al Udeid housed over 10,000 US personnel and played a vital role in operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and against ISIS. Qatar has invested heavily in the base's infrastructure, including a $1 billion expansion to enhance facilities and cement its strategic alliance with Washington. (with inputs from Reuters) First Published: June 23, 2025, 23:21 IST
