CNN correspondent reports on the ground in Tehran
Air defense systems had been activated over Tehran overnight, according to a Telegram post from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. CNN's Fred Pleitgen reports on the scene.
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Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Xi Shows No Sign of Rescuing Iran as Trump Ramps Up Pressure
(Bloomberg) -- China was quick to condemn Israel after its assault against Iran. Yet President Xi Jinping has shown no sign of rushing to provide weapons and other support that would help Tehran face its most critical military test in decades. Security Concerns Hit Some of the World's 'Most Livable Cities' JFK AirTrain Cuts Fares 50% This Summer to Lure Riders Off Roads Taser-Maker Axon Triggers a NIMBY Backlash in its Hometown How E-Scooters Conquered (Most of) Europe One Architect's Quest to Save Mumbai's Heritage From Disappearing Beijing has repeatedly issued warnings against escalation, calling again on Thursday for the US and other nations to embrace dialogue and 'prevent the regional situation from sliding into the abyss.' Despite that, China has yet to offer any material support to Iran beyond continuing its normal trading relationship, an approach it also took with Russia. While Xi's government has provided diplomatic support for Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine and shipped dual-use goods to Moscow, China has also been careful not to directly provide weapons in order to avoid US sanctions. Beijing similarly urged de-escalation after its 'ironclad friend' Pakistan and India engaged in their worst military confrontation in half a century. 'China may be offering economic relief and rhetorical support to Iran, but actual military intervention is not anywhere near the table yet,' said Wen-Ti Sung, nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub. 'China does not want to risk getting entrapped by Iran's war with an Israel that has the Trump administration behind it.' While the US has a history of becoming embroiled in protracted wars far from home, China's reluctance to get entangled in foreign conflicts is a hallmark of Xi's foreign policy. That principle of non-interference has allowed Beijing to distinguish itself from Washington in the Global South, where it has pursued ties primarily by offering loans and development, while refraining from calls for political change. Beijing's approach toward Iran, as it faces attacks from Israel and potentially the US, mirrors that of its other major partner, Russia. Like Beijing, Moscow has criticized Israel's attacks but done little to support Tehran. After discussing the Middle East by phone with Putin on Thursday, Xi issued a four-point proposal on the conflict that called for a ceasefire and to 'stop the war.' 'It is up to the international community, especially the major powers that have a special influence on the parties to the conflict, to make efforts to contribute to the cooling of the situation,' he said, in a veiled reference to the US. China has strengthened diplomatic and economic ties with Tehran in recent years, although it has no formal alliance with the Islamic Republic. Xi oversaw Iran's joining of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization security club in 2023, and then its accession to the BRICS bloc — groupings Beijing has bolstered to challenge US power on the world stage. While Beijing signed a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement in 2021 that included a reported $400 billion in Chinese investment pledges, implementation of that deal has been weak. China's economic interests in the wider Gulf region now far outweigh its economic ties to Iran. Trade ties with Iran are heavily skewed in Beijing's favor. China accounts for about a third of Iranian trade, while Iran represents less than 1% for China, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. And while Beijing buys some 90% of Iran's oil exports in defiance of US sanctions, the Islamic Republic is ultimately a replaceable energy partner for the Asian country. 'In the unlikely event that all Iranian exports are lost, they could be replaced by spare capacity from OPEC+ producers,' Fitch Ratings wrote in a Monday note. Already signs of a shift are emerging. As concerns grow over expanding secondary sanctions, Chinese private refiners have reduced purchase in recent weeks. Iranian oil flows into China fell to around one million barrels a day in May hitting a three-month low, according to data tracked by Vortexa. While Beijing brokered a diplomatic detente between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023, it has largely remained on the sidelines as fresh conflicts have unsettled the Middle East. Iran, facing a superior Israeli military, would likely need advanced air defense systems and fighter jets — support that China is unlikely to provide. China has since 2005 officially ceased selling major weapons systems to Tehran, although the US earlier this year sanctioned six Hong Kong and Chinese companies for allegedly helping Iran source drone parts. Another option could be to help mediate. But even if Xi were willing, it's unclear if either side would welcome him. Israel is unlikely to accept China after Beijing has aligned with the Palestinian cause. China also prefers to work through multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, rather than taking a leading role. 'Xi has expressed willingness to help. But what can he or China do?' said Zhiqun Zhu, professor of political science and international relations at Bucknell University. Mediating 'is a tall order that's hard to reach without cooperation of other key players, especially the United States.' Perhaps the biggest risk for Beijing is the conflict spiraling into a regional war that directly involves the US and could threaten China's energy security. The world's No. 2 economy is a net importer of crude oil, and about 45% of those shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Surging commodity prices would also blunt China's ability to stabilize growth, at at time when policymakers are already grappling with rising trade barriers and a yearslong housing crash that's weighing on consumer spending. 'While Beijing will continue to condemn the conflict, it will also seek to balance ties with Israel and the Gulf states and promote stable energy flows,' according to Bloomberg Economics analysts including Alex Kokcharov. A contained conflict that preoccupies Washington could hold one silver lining for Beijing, he added in a note Thursday: Greater US involvement in the Middle East would 'distract Washington from strategic competition with China.' That calculation is reflected in the mixed views from commentators on Chinese social media, where some nationalist voices urged Beijing to help Tehran. Political commentator Li Guangman argued Iran's failure would be a 'geopolitical disaster' for China. The fall of the Iranian regime would undermine Xi's Belt and Road Initiative, compromise the security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and allow the US to regain control of regional oil, prolonging its 'petrodollar hegemony,' he said. Ultimately, Beijing prizes stability in its foreign relations and rarely supports violent regime change abroad, according to Neil Thomas, a fellow for Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis. 'China's strategy in the Middle East is to stay on good terms with everyone to maximize its economic gains and geopolitical influence,' he added. --With assistance from Jing Li, Josh Xiao and Sarah Chen. Ken Griffin on Trump, Harvard and Why Novice Investors Won't Beat the Pros Is Mark Cuban the Loudmouth Billionaire that Democrats Need for 2028? The US Has More Copper Than China But No Way to Refine All of It How a Tiny Middleman Could Access Two-Factor Login Codes From Tech Giants Can 'MAMUWT' Be to Musk What 'TACO' Is to Trump? ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Newsweek
23 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Trump's Nuclear Attack 'Doomsday Plane' Arrives In Washington
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A U.S. Air Force "Doomsday Plane" arrived at Joint Base Andrews Tuesday night, fueling speculation of a potential U.S. role in the escalating Israel-Iran crisis. The E-4B Nightwatch aircraft landed at the military facility in suburban Washington, D.C., as speculation grows over potential U.S. military action in Iran. Newsweek has contacted the Pentagon for comment by email. Members of the U.S. Air Combat Command Security Forces guard the E-4B Nightwatch plane on September 28, 2013 at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Members of the U.S. Air Combat Command Security Forces guard the E-4B Nightwatch plane on September 28, 2013 at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Jacquelyn Martin-Pool/Getty Images Why It Matters The timing of the E-4B's deployment comes amid heightened tensions as President Donald Trump is reported to be inching closer to ordering military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. While the White House hasn't commented on the aircraft's latest movement, social media users are speculating it signals potential military readiness from the United States. What To Know The E-4B "Nightwatch,"dubbed the "Doomsday Plane" is a militarized Boeing 747. It serves as the National Airborne Operations Center and is a key component of the National Military Command System for the president, the secretary of defense and the joint chiefs of staff. In a national emergency or loss of ground command, the aircraft "provides a highly survivable command, control and communications center to direct U.S. forces, execute emergency war orders, and coordinate actions by civil authorities," the U.S. Air Force said. It was used during the September 11, 2001 attacks. The use of an atypical callsign—"ORDER01" instead of the usual "ORDER6"—fueled speculation about the nature of its current mission. It's unclear whether it latest flight from Barksdale Air Force Base near Bossier City, Louisiana, to Joint Base Andrews was a routine operation, or a precautionary move, but Newsweek previously reported that it is most likely no more than a show of force. The E-4B Nightwatch can remain airborne for extended periods, capable of refueling mid-air. Protected against electromagnetic pulse attacks, and capable of surviving a nuclear blast, the plane is equipped with advanced satellite communications, shielding technologies, and can accomodate more than 100 people "In case of national emergency or destruction of ground command and control centers, the aircraft provides a highly survivable command, control and communications center to direct U.S. forces, execute emergency war orders, and coordinate actions by civil authorities," the U.S. Air Force said. The aircraft's arrival coincided with reports that Trump is considering military action against Iran's nuclear facilities. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that the president privately approved operational attack plans while stopping short of authorizing an attack. Multiple sources said Trump remains undecided about launching strikes, amid doubts over whether American Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs could destroy Iran's deeply buried and heavily fortified Fordow nuclear plant near the city of Qom. Meanwhile, Israel and Iran are exchanging air and missile strikes, intensifying already-severe regional tensions. Senior officials told numerous outlets, including CNN, that Trump is less convinced by diplomatic options and increasingly open to military intervention. What People Are Saying President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday: "I'm not looking to fight. But if it's a choice between fighting and [Iran] having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do, and maybe we won't have to fight." Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, said in a public address: "The Americans should know that any U.S. military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage. The U.S. entering in this matter is 100 percent to its own detriment. The damage it will suffer will be far greater than any harm that Iran may encounter." What Happens Next The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Britain have scheduled nuclear talks in Geneva on Friday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, according to Reuters.
Fox News
24 minutes ago
- Fox News
Will President Trump Go To War With Iran?
Ben discusses this weekend's 'No Kings' protests and unpacks the left's resistance to the future and AI. FOX News Correspondent Lucas Tomlinson joins to discuss the latest developments out of the Israel-Iran conflict. Former Speaker of the House and FOX News Contributor Newt Gingrich unpacks President Trump's historic reelection as detailed in his new book, Trump's Triumph: America's Greatest Comeback . Then, Correspondent at The Spectator Kara Kennedy joins Ben and Christine to discuss Meghan Markle's latest PR shake-up and the Real Housewives franchise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
