&w=3840&q=100)
Trump weighs joining Israel-Iran war as nuclear talks hang in the balance
As Donald Trump delays decision on joining Israel's war, US officials prepare for a possible strike on Iran's fortified nuclear sites, including the mountain-buried Fordow enrichment facility
New Delhi
President Trump said he would decide within two weeks whether the United States will join Israel's military campaign against Iran, as rising tensions between the two nations threaten to ignite a broader regional conflict with global consequences.
In a statement delivered by White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on Thursday, Trump said the possibility of renewed nuclear negotiations with Tehran would weigh heavily on his decision. 'There's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future. I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' the statement said.
US officials prepare for possible action in Iran
The announcement followed days of speculation over Washington's potential involvement in ' Operation Rising Lion ', Israel's ongoing air campaign targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure and missile systems. While Trump had previously struck a more aggressive tone, including calling on Tehran residents to evacuate, his latest comments suggested a possible turn towards diplomacy.
Israeli strikes continue, target nuclear assets
Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes continued overnight. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it had hit dozens of targets in Tehran, including missile production centres, command hubs and the heavy water reactor at Arak. The Arak facility, long a source of international concern, could theoretically produce plutonium, providing a second route to nuclear weapons capability beyond enriched uranium.
Iranian state television reported no radiation risk from the Arak strike, saying the site had been evacuated. The IDF said the objective was to ensure the reactor could not be restored for weapons development. Iran had agreed to redesign the reactor under the 2015 nuclear deal, but that work stalled after Trump withdrew the US from the accord in 2018.
⭕This nuclear reactor in Arak was created for one purpose: to build a nuclear bomb. It has now been neutralized. Here is a closer look at the reactor itself: pic.twitter.com/4KBDsgp8IN
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 19, 2025
Netanyahu says regime change is not the goal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking during a visit to Soroka Medical Centre in Beersheba, damaged in a missile strike on Thursday, said Israel's objective was to dismantle Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities. 'We may create the conditions to help change the government, but our goal is not regime change—it's removing the threat,' he told Kan television. When asked whether Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was a target, he replied, 'No one is immune'.
Defence Minister Israel Katz took a more explicit line, calling Khamenei the 'modern Hitler' and saying his removal was 'absolutely necessary' to ensure regional stability.
הדיקטטור חמינאי הוא היטלר המודרני שחרט על דגלו את השמדת מדינת ישראל ומשעבד את כל המשאבים של המדינה שלו לקידום המטרה הנוראית הזאת. הוא לא יכול להמשיך ולהתקיים.
— ישראל כ'ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) June 19, 2025
The conflict has so far claimed at least 657 lives in Iran, including 263 civilians, and injured more than 2,000, according to a US-based Iranian human rights group. Israel has reported 24 deaths and hundreds wounded in Iran's retaliation, which has involved more than 450 missiles and 1,000 drones.
Diplomatic window still open
As tensions escalate, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate have gained urgency. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is due to meet his British, French, German and EU counterparts in Geneva on Friday. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, after holding talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff, said there was now a 'window' to reach a diplomatic solution.
Khamenei on Wednesday ruled out surrender and warned that US military intervention would have 'irreparable consequences'. Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf accused Trump of using military threats to extract concessions at the negotiating table.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
20 minutes ago
- Business Standard
What is a cluster bomb, the weapon behind Iran's missile strike on Israel?
As the Israel-Iran conflict enters its second week, both nations have exchanged heavy barrages of missile and drone strikes on Friday. Israel launched attacks targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure, prompting a strong response from Tehran with confirmed use of cluster munitions. One of Iran's missiles, carrying cluster munitions, hit an Israeli hospital, injuring dozens. This marks the first reported use of such weapons in the ongoing war. In a statement following the hospital attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Iran would pay a 'full price' for the strike. He also claimed Israel's military operation was 'ahead of schedule' and had already exceeded its initial goals. What are cluster bombs? Cluster munitions are weapons that are designed to release a container mid-air, scattering explosive submunitions —or 'bomblets' — over a wide area. Depending on the model, they can disperse anywhere from a few to over 600 bomblets over a large area, and are typically delivered via aircraft or missiles. How do cluster bombs work? * Cluster bombs are delivered via rockets, missiles, or bombs. * Upon deployment, the main bomb opens in the air. * Hundreds of bomblets are released and spread out over the target zone. * The affected area can span several football fields. Why are cluster bombs controversial? * Unlike conventional arms, cluster munitions spread destruction over a wide area. * Not all submunitions detonate on impact, leaving behind unexploded ordnance (UXO). * These unexploded submunitions can remain dangerous for years. * The unexploded ordnance poses a serious threat to civilians. * Clearance operations are costly, slow, and often hazardous. When were cluster munitions first used? Cluster munitions have a long and controversial history. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), they were first deployed during World War II. Their development accelerated during the Cold War era, when they were stockpiled in large numbers. These weapons were primarily designed to neutralise spread-out military targets such as tanks or troops over wide battlefields. What damage did Iran's June 19 attack cause? One of the Iranian cluster munitions landed in the central Israeli town of Azor, damaging a residential building, according to The Times of Israel. While no casualties were immediately reported, authorities issued a safety advisory in the aftermath. The Israeli Home Front Command, via a post on X, warned residents: 'This morning we experienced a missile strike capable of dispersing small munitions over a relatively wide area. It is possible that some of the munitions will remain on the ground and not explode. Do not touch any fallen objects or suspicious objects. Immediately call 100.' How do cluster bombs differ from traditional missiles? Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, which explode in a single concentrated blast, cluster bombs are engineered to disperse destruction across a wide radius. A senior Israeli military official told The Times of Israel that although each bomblet has limited explosive power individually, the collective impact can endanger large areas — especially urban zones. 'This makes them dangerous in populated zones, where the smaller munitions may hit civilians, homes, or infrastructure,' the official said. Are cluster bombs banned under international law? Yes, but with major exceptions. The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions prohibits the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of these weapons. To date, 111 countries and 12 other entities have signed or ratified the treaty. However, key global military powers — including Iran, Israel, the United States, and Russia — have refused to join the agreement. In 2023, the United States sent cluster munitions to Ukraine for use against Russian forces. Kyiv has accused Russia of deploying the same weapons in return. Like Iran and Israel, both countries are not parties to the treaty. (With agency inputs)
NDTV
21 minutes ago
- NDTV
Violence Against Children In Conflict Zones Hit 'Unprecedented Levels': UN
From Gaza to the Democratic Republic of Congo, violence against children in conflict zones reached "unprecedented levels" in 2024, a United Nations annual report said Thursday. "In 2024, violence against children in armed conflict reached unprecedented levels, with a staggering 25 percent surge in the number of grave violations in comparison with 2023," according to the report from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The report verified 41,370 grave violations against children in 2024 -- including 36,221 committed in 2024 and 5,149 committed previously but confirmed in 2024 -- the highest number since the monitoring tool was established nearly 30 years ago. The new high beats 2023, another record year, which itself represented a 21 percent increase over the preceding year. With more than 4,500 killed and 7,000 injured, children continue to bear "the brunt of relentless hostilities and indiscriminate attacks," the report said. There was also a marked increase in the number of child victims of multiple violations to 22,495. "The cries of 22,495 innocent children who should be learning to read or play ball -- but instead have been forced to learn how to survive gunfire and bombings -- should keep all of us awake at night," said Virginia Gamba, special representative of the UN secretary-general for children and armed conflict. "This must serve as a wake-up call. We are at the point of no return." In its annual report, the UN compiles violations of the rights of children, those aged under 18, in some 20 conflict zones around the world. In its appendix, a "list of shame" calls out those responsible for these violations -- a powerful coalition of Haitian gangs was added this year -- which include child killings and mutilations, recruitment to violence, kidnappings, denial of humanitarian aid and sexual violence. The Israeli armed forces, which were named last year along with Palestinian terroist group Hamas, remain on the list. Conflict casualties The Palestinian territories occupy the top spot in the dismal rankings, with more than 8,500 serious violations, the vast majority attributed to Israeli forces, including more than 4,800 in the Gaza Strip. This figure includes confirmation of 1,259 Palestinian children killed in Gaza, and the UN notes it is currently verifying information on an additional 4,470 children killed in 2024 in the war-torn territory. Violence erupted there following Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The report also calls out Israel's military operations in Lebanon, where more than 500 children were killed or injured last year. Following the Palestinian territories, the countries where the UN recorded the most violence against children in 2024 are: the Democratic Republic of the Congo (more than 4,000 grave violations), Somalia (more than 2,500), Nigeria (nearly 2,500), and Haiti (more than 2,200). "List of shame" inductees include Haitian gang coalition "Viv Ansanm," blamed for a 490 percent increase in violations, including child recruitment, murders and gang rapes. Another addition to the list is Colombian drug cartel Clan del Golfo, which is accused of child recruitment. Colombia in general recorded a significant increase in cases of forced recruitment, with 450 children in 2024 compared to 262 the previous year. Remaining on the list are the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which have been fighting in Sudan for more than two years. Also listed again is the Russian army for its actions in Ukraine, where the report records a 105 percent increase in serious violations between 2023 and 2024.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
21 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Sensex rises 1,100 pts, Nifty tops 25,100: What's driving market rally?
Indian bench mark indices gained over 1 per cent in trade, snapping a three-day losing streak, on Friday, June 20, 2025. The BSE Sensex surged 1,133 points or 1.3 per cent and logged an intraday high at 82,494.49. Meanwhile, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty50 topped the 25,000 level and rallied 343 points or 1.3 per cent to the day's high at 25,136.2. However, the 30-scrip gauge ended at 82,408.17, up 1,046.3 points or 1.29 per cent and Nifty50 closed at 25,112.4, up 319.15 points or 1.29 per cent. On BSE, Bharti Airtel, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), Power Grid, Nestle and Reliance Industries were among the top gainers rising up to 3 per cent. On NSE, Trent, Jio Financial Services, M&M, Bharti airtel and Nestle were among the top gainers, rising up to 4 per cent. Why are Nifty and Sensex rising in trade today? US President Donald Trump has reportedly stated that he will decide within the next two weeks whether America will intervene in the Israel-Iran conflict. Overnight, Israel targeted nuclear sites in Iran with airstrikes, while Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel. The week-long conflict has escalated, with no clear resolution in sight from either side. According to G Chokkalingam, Founder, Equinomics Research, Trump's comment is positive for markets as the US is not expected to intervene in the war amid international pressure. "He may not go for direct conflict because of the international pressure which is positive for the Indian market," said G Chokkalingam. Crude oil prices ease As the White House delayed a decision on US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, oil prices corrected over 2 per cent which according to G Chokkalingam also boosted market sentiments. Last checked, Brent crude futures fell $2, or 2.5 per cent, to $76.85 a barrel. China keeps interest rate steady The People's Bank of China (PBoC) decided to keep its benchmark lending rates unchanged today as the trade agreement with the US helped alleviate some concerns about economic growth. The PBoC maintained the 1-year loan prime rate (LPR) at 3 per cent and the 5-year LPR at 3.5 per cent, according to reports. This, according to Kranthi Bathini, director-equity strategy, WealthMills Securities pushed the Chinese markets higher which also had a positive impact on Indian equities. At the last count, mainland China's CSI 300 was up 0.09 per cent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 1.26 per cent. RBI eases norms for new project finance loans A major contributor to the rally in Indian equities was buying in Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Banks. Last checked, Nifty PSU Bank was up 1.59 per cent, where out of 12 stocks, 11 advanced. Among others, Punjab National Bank (PNB), Union Bank, Canara Bank, and Indian Overseas Bank were among the top gainers. The surge came after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued its final guidelines on project finance loans. The central bank has directed lenders to set aside 1 per cent of the value of loans for under-construction infrastructure projects to cover potential losses, easing its earlier draft proposal that envisaged provisioning rising up to 5 per cent, following an appeal by lenders. The requirement will come into effect on October 1. "RBI's decision to reduce provisioning on infrastructure loans is a major reason contributing to the bullish sentiment in the market," said Vishnu Kant Upadhyay, AVP - research & advisory, Master Capital Services. Sensex rebalancing According to Nuvama Institutional Equities, Sensex rejig can push the market upwards. "Historically, Sensex inclusions tend to see intraday upmoves, supported by stronger volumes, and a similar trend could play out this time as well." Tata Group-owned Trent Ltd and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) are expected to be included in the benchmark 30-stock BSE Sensex index which are likely to bring inflow of $708 million. Trent is expected to see an inflow of $330 million, while the aerospace and defence electronics company BEL could see $378 million in inflows, according to Nuvama estimates. Technical view If Nifty is able to sustain the sentimental level of 25,000 level, we can see the momentum to accelerate further, but 25,000 level is the level to watch in the medium to short term," said Bathini. "Nifty is currently trading above all its key moving averages, indicating a positive undertone. The initial bias looks positive with a potential upsurge towards 25,200 which if broken decisively will take such a rally further higher towards 25,500-25,800. On the downside, the 24,600–24,500 zone is expected to act as immediate support. Any decline towards this range may offer a favourable opportunity to initiate fresh long positions," said Kant.
