Israel extends foreign workers' visas amid ongoing missile strikes and airport shutdown
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Israel's Population and Immigration Authority has announced an automatic extension of visas for all foreigners legally residing in the country as of June 12, 2025. The decision was made in light of the ongoing conflict and suspension of outbound passenger flights.The extension is valid through September 30, 2025.The country's main international airport in Tel Aviv remains closed to passenger traffic after Israel launched a military operation last week. Since Friday, Iran has fired over 400 ballistic missiles at Israel, with a significant number aimed at Tel Aviv. At least 24 people have died in the strikes.The continued closure of Ben Gurion Airport has left approximately 40,000 tourists stranded. No commercial passenger flights are currently departing Israel. El Al, the country's national carrier, has cancelled all scheduled flights until June 23.(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)According to Israeli authorities, the visa extension measure is intended to ease uncertainty for foreign nationals during this period of conflict.Explosions were reported in Tehran early Wednesday as Israeli airstrikes resumed over the Iranian capital, intensifying a conflict that has already claimed hundreds of lives across Iran. According to a human rights organization monitoring the situation, at least 585 people have been killed and 1,326 injured nationwide in Iran.Iran's government, which has not been issuing frequent updates, last reported on Monday that 224 people had died and 1,277 had been wounded. The current figures from independent sources indicate a significant rise in casualties.In response to Israel's continued air campaign, Iran has fired around 400 ballistic missiles and launched hundreds of drones toward Israeli territory. The Israeli government has confirmed 24 deaths from these strikes so far.The fighting, which has disrupted commercial air traffic and strained regional security, shows no sign of easing. Israeli air operations appear to be focused on strategic and military targets in Tehran and surrounding areas.
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First Post
23 minutes ago
- First Post
Iran's exiled prince claims Supreme Leader Khamenei ‘hiding like a rat'. Who is Reza Pahlavi?
Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of Iran's pro-Western monarchy, is the son of the country's last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The monarchy was overthrown in 1979 after a mass revolution brought clerical leaders to power and led to the creation of the Islamic Republic. Amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, Pahlavi has called for a change in leadership in Tehran, describing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a 'frightened rat' who has gone into hiding read more He is the son of Iran's last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Reuters/File Photo Amid growing tensions with Israel and rising unrest in Iran, exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi has called for a change of leadership in Tehran. In a post on X, Pahlavi claimed that Iran's Supreme Leader , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had 'gone into hiding underground' and no longer had control over the country. He called the situation 'irreversible'. He also referred to Khamenei as a 'frightened rat who has gone into hiding'. Read Israel Iran conflict live updates STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is worth noting that freedom of speech in Iran is tightly controlled, and there have been no large-scale public calls within the country to remove the regime following Israel's strikes. But who is Reza Pahlavi? And what do his latest remarks suggest? Let's take a look: Who is exiled prince Reza Pahlavi? Reza Pahlavi was once the crown prince of Iran's pro-Western monarchy, which collapsed in 1979 after a mass revolution led to the rise of the clerical leadership that founded the Islamic Republic. He is the son of Iran's last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. ALSO READ | What is the Fattah-1 missile that Iran has launched at Israel? At 17, Reza left for military school in the United States shortly before his father, suffering from cancer, stepped down on January 16, 1979. His supporters include secularists, constitutional monarchists, and liberal democrats, who see him as the rightful heir to the throne. Reuters/File Photo The Shah's exit created a power vacuum, which was quickly filled by Ruhollah Khomeini. This was the beginning of Iran's shift into a conservative theocracy, largely cut off from the West. Since then, Reza Pahlavi has remained focused on a single mission: bringing about a peaceful revolution to replace the current regime with a secular democracy led by the Iranian people. His political thinking has been shaped by the nonviolent principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. While he holds no official role in Iran, he has built a symbolic presence among parts of the Iranian diaspora and some Iranians hoping for reform. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pahlavi is a vocal supporter of a democratic, secular Iran and has recently stepped up his efforts to gain international support for Iranian protestors and a nonviolent end to the current regime. His supporters include secularists, constitutional monarchists, and liberal democrats, who see him as the rightful heir to the throne. They also regard him as a determined figure who, last year, represented Iranian democratic hopes in meetings at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the Munich Security Conference, and in Israel. Even as Iran and Israel remain bitter rivals, Pahlavi has proposed a vision: a 'Cyrus Accords' between Israel and a future, post-Ayatollah Iran. 'Pahlavi travels the world meeting with heads of state, legislators, policy-makers, interest groups and student groups speaking about the plight of Iranians under the Islamic regime in Iran… He calls for regime change through non-violent civil disobedience, and for a free and open referendum on a new government of Iran,' his website reads. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Who are the Pahlavis? The Pahlavis were Iran's last royal family, rising to power in 1925 when Reza Shah Pahlavi, a former military officer, removed the Qajar dynasty. He launched huge modernisation plans, including new roads, schools, and a centralised military. However, his authoritarian rule and ties with Nazi Germany during World War II led Allied powers to force him out in 1941. His son, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, took the throne and ruled from 1941 until 1979. By the late 1970s, anger had built up over political repression, unequal wealth, and the Shah's close links with the West, especially the United States. These frustrations led to mass protests and unrest. In 1979, after months of demonstrations, the Shah left the country. Ayatollah Khomeini returned from exile soon after and declared the formation of the Islamic Republic. He accused Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of 'dragging Iran into a war' with Israel. Reuters/File Photo 'Break from the regime': What Reza Pahlavi said amid West Asia tensions On Friday, Reza Pahlavi urged Iran's security forces to walk away from the clerical regime, stating that the Islamic Republic could soon fall following Israeli military action. He accused Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of 'dragging Iran into a war' with Israel and said the regime was 'weak and divided.' 'It could fall. As I have told my compatriots: Iran is yours and yours to reclaim. I am with you. Stay strong and we will win,' he said in a statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD My Fellow Countrymen, The Islamic Republic has reached its end and is in the process of collapsing. Khamenei, like a frightened rat, has gone into hiding underground and has lost control of the situation. What has begun is irreversible. The future is bright, and together, we… — Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) June 17, 2025 'I have told the military, police, and security forces: break from the regime. Honour the oath of any honourable serviceman. Join the people.' ALSO READ | Who was Ali Shadmani? Who are Iran's other top military officials killed by Israel? Now living in exile near Washington, Pahlavi says he is not pushing for a return of the monarchy, but wants to use his name to support the push for a secular, democratic Iran. Israel, which views the Islamic Republic as a major threat, had once been an ally of Iran under the Shah. Reza Pahlavi has maintained warm ties with Israel and visited the country two years ago. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He has often described the Islamic Republic as fragile, including during the 2022 protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by Iran's morality police for breaching 'modest' dress rules for women. With inputs from agencies
Hindustan Times
23 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Ayatollah Khamenei warns Donald Trump-led US of 'irreparable consequences'
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Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
'This is not our war' — UFC star Sean Strickland warns Donald Trump to avoid foreign affairs following the President's bold take on Iran
In a blunt and fiery message to President , former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland made his position loud and clear: the United States has no business getting involved in the escalating war between Israel and Iran. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As Trump teased possible military action and shared ominous statements on social media, Strickland used his platform to urge restraint, warning that such a move would go against the will of the American people. Sean Strickland slams Trump's war talk, says focus should be on home Sean Strickland, a vocal supporter of Trump in the past, reacted strongly to a Truth Social post where the president claimed the U.S. military had control of the Iranian sky. "We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran. Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn't compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured 'stuff.' Nobody does it better than the good ol' USA," Trump shared on X, sharing a screenshot of his post on his own social media platform, Truth Social. The 34-year-old fighter didn't hold back, responding directly on X Strickland slammed the President's stance on the matter, "America doesn't want to be involved in Israel's war...... This is not our war. We don't want it. You were elected by the people. Listen to the people who elected you. WE DO NOT WANT THIS!!!!" Strickland's comments arrive amid growing concerns that Trump may be preparing to commit American forces to the Middle East. On Air Force One, Trump told reporters, 'We're looking at better than a cease-fire. We're not looking for a cease-fire. I didn't say that I was looking for a cease-fire" (via Fox News). He also insisted there was no immediate threat to Tehran, yet encouraged its residents to evacuate due to "a lot of bad things happening. ' Strickland, who previously voiced his stance on Trump after his UFC 302 win over Paulo Costa, is now openly questioning the administration's priorities. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Back in February, after reports surfaced about an $8 billion arms deal with Israel, Strickland posted, "Man if Trump keeps this bs up I'm about to start waving a Palestinian flag… American cities are sh**holes and you wanna go spend billions on this dumpster fire. . Did we make a mistake?! This ain't America first." Also Read: As tensions rise between Israel and Iran, Trump is calling for Iran's 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.' Strickland has positioned himself as an unlikely voice of restraint as he prioritizes America over global matters.
