European powers call on Iran to return to nuclear talks: French diplomatic source
Top diplomats from Britain, France and Germany have called on Iran to quickly return to the negotiating table over its nuclear programme, a French diplomatic source said on Tuesday as the conflict between Israel and the Islamic republic raged.
The countries' foreign ministers spoke late Monday with the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and "called on Iran to return, as soon as possible and without preconditions, to the negotiating table" over its nuclear programme, the source said on condition of anonymity.
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Two Iran nuclear sites destroyed in Israel strikes
TEHRAN: The UN nuclear watchdog said Israeli strikes on Wednesday destroyed two buildings making centrifuge components for Iran's nuclear programme near Tehran, while Iran said it fired hypersonic missiles as the arch foes traded fire for a sixth day. After the Israeli military issued a warning for civilians to leave one district of Tehran for their safety, Israeli warplanes hit the capital early on Wednesday. "More than 50 Israeli Air Force fighter jets... carried out a series of air strikes in the Tehran area over the past few hours," the Israeli military said, adding that several weapons manufacturing facilities were hit. "As part of the broad effort to disrupt Iran's nuclear weapons development programme, a centrifuge production facility in Tehran was targeted." Centrifuges are vital for uranium enrichment, the sensitive process that can produce fuel for reactors or, in highly extended form, the core of a nuclear warhead. The strikes destroyed two buildings making centrifuge components for Iran's nuclear programme in Karaj, a satellite city of Tehran, the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Wednesday. In another strike on a site in Tehran, "one building was hit where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested", the agency added in a post on X. Iran also sent a "swarm of drones" towards Israel, while the Israeli military said it had intercepted a total of 10 drones launched from Iran. It said one of its own drones had been shot down over Iran. Israel's attacks have hit nuclear and military facilities around Iran, as well as residential areas. Residential areas in Israel have also been hit, and foreign governments have scrambled to evacuate their citizens from both countries. On Tuesday in Tehran, long queues stretched outside bakeries and petrol stations as people rushed to stock up on fuel and basic supplies. Iran's ISNA and Tasnim news agencies on Wednesday reported that five suspected agents of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency had been detained, on charges of tarnishing the country's image online. With air raid sirens regularly blaring in Tel Aviv, some people relocated to an underground parking lot below a shopping mall. "We've decided to permanently set camp here until it's all clear, I guess," Mali Papirany, 30, said. After a prolonged shadow war, Israel said its surprise air campaign was aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons — an ambition Tehran denies. The UN nuclear watchdog said there appeared to have been "direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls" at Iran's Natanz facility. Israel has maintained ambiguity regarding its own atomic activities, but the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) says it has 90 nuclear warheads. The conflict derailed a running series of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, with Iran saying after the start of Israel's campaign that it would not negotiate with the United States while under attack. French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump had a critical role to play in restarting diplomacy with Iran, where any attempts at "regime change" would bring "chaos". — AFP
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
European powers call on Iran to return to nuclear talks: French diplomatic source
Top diplomats from Britain, France and Germany have called on Iran to quickly return to the negotiating table over its nuclear programme, a French diplomatic source said on Tuesday as the conflict between Israel and the Islamic republic raged. The countries' foreign ministers spoke late Monday with the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and "called on Iran to return, as soon as possible and without preconditions, to the negotiating table" over its nuclear programme, the source said on condition of anonymity.
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2 days ago
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The missed message: Arab world at crossroads
Comedian Eddie Griffin once posed a piercing question about faith: "You say you follow the messenger! Did you get the message?" For nearly two millennia, the Arab world, encompassing nearly half a billion people who share a linguistic and cultural heritage from the Sultanate of Oman to Morocco, the Comoros, and the Levant, has aspired to a positive global influence. A pivotal moment arrived with a charismatic social justice messenger whose core mission was universal: To remind humanity of timeless virtues, honesty, trust, modesty, chastity, courage, patience, generosity, hospitality, family bonds and good neighbourliness. This profound moral framework offered immense potential. Yet today, in our hyper-connected world, we seem to have failed in truly internalising and effectively sharing this essential message. I understand a cultural hesitation around the word 'failure', preferring terms like 'struggling'. However, acknowledging shortcomings is crucial for progress. Without this honesty, we risk remaining trapped in unresolved cycles of challenge. The urgency for the Arab world to rediscover its moral voice and collective strength is starkly highlighted by the devastating conflicts and instability plaguing our region. External interventions and complex regional dynamics have fuelled immense suffering, evident by the denial of a decent life, food, and even water to a caged, starving population. This crisis underscores the profound need for a renewed Arab identity grounded in its foundational values. I believe our path forward lies in consciously leveraging these enduring morals to build modern forms of power, drawing on Joseph Nye's concepts: hard, soft and sharp power. True hard power requires effective collective action. The Arab League, headquartered in Cairo, embodies this missed opportunity. Despite representing diverse and culturally rich nations with a combined population of almost 500 million and significant economic resources, they have consistently struggled to shake off the Arab League's timid overall performance, translating potential into decisive, unified, and effective influence on regional crises or global affairs. Its impact remains fragmented, undermining the collective weight the Arab world could wield. Soft power flows from cultural appeal and intellectual contribution. While historical Islamic civilisation was a beacon of learning, contemporary Arab soft power often feels underdeveloped. Where are the globally recognised scientific pioneers, the groundbreaking technological innovations, or the universally resonant artistic movements rooted distinctly in Arab values today? Even established platforms like Al Jazeera Network, initially a significant voice, face criticism for perceived shifts away from independent Arab perspectives towards narratives subservient to the superpowers' regional proxy, diminishing its unique soft power potential. Sharp power involves shaping perceptions through culture and information. Intriguingly, global interest in the intellectual and cultural legacy of Islamic civilisation is rising, particularly among younger generations seeking historical depth beyond modern headlines. Yet, there is a conspicuous lack of coordinated, large-scale Arab initiatives to strategically channel this growing fascination. We are missing a crucial chance to shape narratives and build positive influence for the contemporary Arab world, allowing others to define our story. The message delivered centuries ago was never solely about the past; it was a blueprint for a just and moral society. The core virtues, honesty guiding governance, generosity shaping economies, courage defending rights, and hospitality welcoming diversity, remain profoundly relevant. Their erosion within our societies and our struggle to project them authentically outward weakens us. Reclaiming this moral compass isn't nostalgia; it's a strategic necessity. It demands introspection and commitment to progress. It requires investing in education systems that instill these values, fostering innovation hubs where ethics drive progress, building institutions that embody trust and social justice, and supporting cultural ambassadors who authentically represent the best of the Arab spirit. It is now, more than ever, that the Arab world must remember, embody, and project the timeless message of its core morals. By innovatively weaving these values into the fabric of modern hard, soft, and sharp power, we can move beyond struggle towards genuine renewal and influence. Our legacy and our future stability depend on getting and sharing this essential message once more.
