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First Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
‘Be vigilant, avoid unnecessary movements': India advises citizens in Iran after Israel attacks Tehran
The Indian Embassy in Iran shared an advisory for Indian nationals in Tehran urging them to remain 'vigilant' and avoid 'unnecessary movement,' amid ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel read more As the , the Indian embassy in Iran issued a travel advisory for all Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin living in Iran. In the statement published on Friday morning, the Indian consulate in Tehran urged Indians to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary movements. 'In view of the current situation in Iran, all Indian nationals & persons of Indian origin in Iran are requested to remain vigilant, avoid all unnecessary movements, follow the Embassy's Social Media accounts & observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities,' the Indian embassy said in a post on X. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the early hours of Friday, Israel conducted pre-emptive strikes against nuclear and military facilities in Iran. The strikes led to the death of the Chief of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. (IRGC) and the Israeli Army Chief of Staff, Mohammad Bagheri. The Israeli Defence Force later claimed that Iran had launched over 100 drones into its territory, which were intercepted by the Israeli fighter jets. However, the world is still looking closely at how Iran will react to the strikes and whether it will further escalate to a wider conflict in West Asia. Indian Embassy in Iran shares an advisory for nationals MEA reacts to Iran-Israel tensions In a separate statement on the matter, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that it is 'deeply concerned' about the ongoing tussle between Iran and Israel. 'We are deeply concerned about the recent developments between Iran and Israel. We are closely monitoring the evolving situation, including reports related to attacks on nuclear sites,' the ministry said in a statement. 'India urges both sides to avoid any escalatory steps. Existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy should be utilised to work towards a de-escalation of the situation and resolving underlying issues. India enjoys close and friendly relations with both countries and stands ready to extend all possible support.' 'Our Missions in both countries are in contact with the Indian community. All Indian nationals in the region are advised to exercise caution, stay safe and follow local security advisories,' the statement further reads.
Arab News
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Negotiations in Muscat, calculations in Tel Aviv
It is an absurdity of Middle Eastern politics that many politicians and analysts are still betting on the complete elimination of Iran's role in the region. Even more absurd is the expectation that Israel will drag Washington into this 'war of elimination.' True, this is the most right-wing US administration since the end of the Second World War, and no American administration has ever been as closely aligned with Israel as President Donald Trump. It is also true that, since its founding in 1948, Israel has never been governed by a more fanatical, racist, and fascist government than that of Benjamin Netanyahu and his two 'transferist' partners, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. It is just as true that the Iranian leadership never showed the kind of hostility to Arab 'neighbors' that we are now seeing from the regime of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, which boasted about their control over four Arab capitals until very recently. Nevertheless, we Arabs remain reluctant to wrap our heads around the realities underpinning Washington, Tel Aviv, and Tehran's approach to the region's existential political issues, including the question of whether Arabs will retain any presence or say in it in the foreseeable future. On the other hand, those of us with strong memories still clearly recall the first 'secret' rounds of negotiations between the US and Iran under Democratic President Barack Obama — which culminated in the famous 2015 nuclear deal. The region's violated, fragmented, and broken polities have been shaken Eyad Abu Shakra At the time, the talks were held behind closed doors in the Omani capital, Muscat, hidden from the eyes of the Arabs and the world. As for the new round of negotiations that began on Saturday, also in Muscat, these have been public and are being led by the Republican Trump, the same man who suspended the deal in 2018 during his first term. And while the American negotiating team may have changed, the same figures remain in power in Tehran and its negotiating team has not been altered. Indeed, one of the most prominent negotiators, Abbas Araghchi, is now foreign minister. The fact is that in the 10 years between 'yesterday's agreement' and the current attempt to broker a new one, things have changed considerably on the ground. Things have changed in the region's 'theater of operations.' The region's violated, fragmented, and broken polities have been shaken, paving the way for new facts on the ground that facilitate Israel's 'transfer' plan. This plan is sponsored, promoted, and supported by Washington, which has sought to remove the obstacles that stood, or once stood, in the way of achieving it. To begin with, the Palestinian cause has been pushed to the top of the 'taboo' list, as the world waits for investments to begin along the now depopulated shores of the Gaza Strip. The 'transfer' plan is gaining regional momentum. To the north, in Lebanon, the Israeli war machine has clipped the wings of Iran's leverage. In Syria, the Assad regime collapsed after 54 years of double-dealing and double-speak, once it outlived its utility to most of its patrons and handlers. To the east, in Jordan, the leadership has long been pressured to accept the 'alternative homeland' project, and the Trump administration chose not to empathize with Jordan's chronic economic hardship, imposing some of the highest tariffs on the country of any in the Middle East as the US leader announced his broader tariff wars against both adversaries and allies. And to the west, we find the most-populous Arab state, Egypt. It was targeted by Netanyahu's government early on, with pressure and blackmail to facilitate the displacement from Gaza. A peace treaty with Israel, full normalization, and the years Cairo has spent mediating between the parties to the conflict — despite criticism from both domestic and international opponents — did not spare it from such coercion. Trump's threats leave the Iranian leadership in an awkward position Eyad Abu Shakra Even in the Gulf region, where some countries have adapted to normalization, Netanyahu's government has shown no good faith, refusing to engage with any genuine regional peace deal founded on respect for UN resolutions and the proposals of Arab summits. What we are now seeing, as Washington and Tehran hold negotiations over the heads of the region's concerned and suffering nations, is the Israeli right's forward escape, its expansion of targets and mobilization. With its military machine and security apparatus, this right-wing bloc continues to occupy positions in Lebanon and tamper with Syria's fragile domestic stability. It is now escalating its threats against Turkiye. Meanwhile, in Washington, the master of the White House is threatening to destroy and ruin Iran if it insists on moving ahead with the development of nuclear military capabilities. Trump's threats undoubtedly amount to pressure that leaves the Iranian leadership in an awkward position both domestically and vis-a-vis the regional forces and non-state actors that are continuing to bet on it, in Iraq, Yemen, and even Lebanon. Moreover, the US envoys currently managing this pressure campaign against Iran, such as Steve Witkoff and Morgan Ortagus, are considered part of the 'Israeli lobby' in the US. They understand that Washington's objective with Iran, which essentially does not change, is to curb its ambitions, excesses, and blackmail, without necessarily leading to a decisive confrontation. Accordingly, one could say that, thanks to Washington's unconditional support, Netanyahu has, for the time being, achieved his aim. But the lingering question remains: Will the Israeli leader be content with the outcomes of this new round of negotiations with Tehran, or — as is his habit — will he choose to push his politics of blackmail and entrapment further?
Asharq Al-Awsat
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Negotiations in Muscat… Calculations in Tel Aviv
It is an absurdity of Middle Eastern politics that many politicians and analysts are still betting on the complete elimination of Iran's role in the region. Even more absurd is the expectation that Israel will drag Washington into this "war of elimination." True, this is the most right-wing US administration since the end of World War II, and no American administration has ever been as closely aligned with Israel as President Donald Trump. It is also true that, since its founding in 1948, Israel has never been governed by a more fanatical, racist, and fascist government than that of Benjamin Netanyahu and his two 'transferist' partners, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. It is just as true that the Iranian leadership never showed the kind of hostility to Arab "neighbors" that we are now seeing from the regime of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which boasted about their control over four Arab capitals until very recently! Nevertheless, we Arabs remain reluctant to wrap our heads around the realities underpinning Washington, Tel Aviv, and Tehran's approach to the region's existential political issues, including the question of whether Arabs will retain any presence or say in it in the foreseeable future. On the other hand, those of us with strong memories still clearly recall the first 'secret' rounds of negotiations between the US and Iran under Democratic President Barack Obama... that culminated in the famous 2015 nuclear deal. At the time, the talks were held behind closed doors in the Omani capital, Muscat, hidden from the eyes of the Arabs and the world. As for the new round of negotiations that began on Saturday (also in Muscat), they have been public and are being led by Republican President Donald Trump, the same man who suspended the deal in 2018, during his first term. And while the American negotiating team may have changed, the same figures remain in power in Tehran and its negotiating team has not been altered; indeed, one of the most prominent negotiators, Abbas Araghchi, is now foreign minister. The fact is that in the ten years between 'yesterday's agreement' and the current attempt to broker a new one, things have changed considerably on the ground. Things have changed in the region's 'theater of operations.' The region's violated, fragmented, and broken polities have been shaken, paving the way for new facts on the ground that facilitate Israel's 'transfer' plan. This plan is sponsored, promoted, and supported by Washington, which has sought to remove the obstacles that stood (or once stood) in the way of achieving it. To begin with, the Palestinian cause has been pushed to the top of the 'taboo' list, as the world waits for investments to begin along the now depopulated shores of the Gaza Strip. The 'transfer' plan is gaining regional momentum. To the north, in Lebanon, the Israeli war machine has clipped the wings of Iran's leverage. In Syria, the Assad regime collapsed after 54 years of double-dealing and double-speak, once it outlived its utility to most of its patrons and handlers. To the east, in Jordan, the leadership has long been pressured to accept the 'alternative homeland' project, and the Trump administration, chose not to empathize with Jordan's chronic economic hardship, imposing some of the highest tariffs on the country of any in the Middle East as Trump announced his broader tariff wars against both adversaries and allies. And to the west, we find the most populous Arab state, Egypt. It was targeted by Netanyahu's government early on, with pressure and blackmail to facilitate the displacement from Gaza. Neither the peace treaty with Israel, nor full normalization, nor the years Egypt has spent mediating between the parties to the conflict (despite the criticism from both domestic and international opponents) have spared it from such coercion. Even in the Gulf region, where some countries have adapted to normalization, Netanyahu's government has shown no good faith, refusing to engage with any genuine regional peace deal founded on respect for UN resolutions and the proposals of Arab Summits. What we are now seeing, as Washington and Tehran hold negotiations over the heads of the region's concerned and suffering nations, is the Israeli right's forward escape, its expansion of targets and mobilization. With its military machine and security apparatus, this right-wing bloc continues to occupy positions in Lebanon and tamper with Syria's fragile domestic stability. It is now escalating its threats against Türkiye. Meanwhile, in Washington, the master of the White House is threatening to destroy and ruin Iran if it insists on moving forward with developing nuclear military capabilities. Trump's threats undoubtedly amount to pressure that leaves the Iranian leadership in an awkward position both domestically and vis-a-vis the regional forces and non-state actors that are continuing to bet on it, in Iraq, Yemen... and even Lebanon. Moreover, the US envoys currently managing this pressure campaign against Iran, such as Steve Witkoff and Morgan Ortagus, are considered part of the 'Israeli lobby' in the United States. They understand that Washington's objective with Iran, which essentially doesn't change, is to curb its ambitions, excesses, and blackmail, without necessarily leading to a decisive confrontation. Accordingly, one could say that, thanks to Washington's unconditional support, Netanyahu has, for the time being, achieved his aim. But the lingering question remains: Will he be content with the outcomes of this new round of negotiations with Tehran, or (as is his habit) will he choose to push his politics of blackmail and entrapment further?
Axios
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Trump seriously considering Iran's offer of indirect nuclear talks
The White House is seriously considering an Iranian proposal for indirect nuclear talks, while at the same time significantly boosting U.S. forces in the Middle East in case President Trump opts for military strikes, two U.S. officials tell Axios. Why it matters: Trump has repeatedly said he'd prefer a deal, but warned that without one "there will be bombing." His timeline is tight: Trump gave Iran a two-month deadline to reach a deal, but it's not clear if and when that clock started ticking. The White House is still engaged in an internal debate between those who think a deal is achievable and those who see talks as a waste of time and back strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. In the meantime, the Pentagon is engaged in a massive buildup of forces in the Middle East. If Trump decides the time is up, he will have a loaded gun at the ready. Behind the scenes: Over the weekend, Trump received Iran's formal response to the letter he sent Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei three weeks ago, a U.S. official said. While Trump proposed direct nuclear negotiations, the Iranians would agree only to indirect talks mediated by Oman. The U.S. official said the Trump administration thinks direct talks would have a higher chance of success, but isn't ruling out the format the Iranians proposed and doesn't object to the Omanis serving as mediators between the countries, as the Gulf state has in the past. Both U.S. officials said no decision has been made and internal discussions are ongoing. "After the exchange of letters we are now exploring next steps in order to begin conversations and trust building with the Iranians," one said. Driving the news: The rhetoric between Tehran and Washington was already ratcheting up before Trump's threat Sunday to bomb Iran if a deal isn't reached. On Monday, Khamenei fired back and said that while he doesn't believe the U.S. would attack Iran "they will certainly receive a heavy blow in return" if they do so. Iran also lodged a formal diplomatic protest — channeled via the Swiss embassy, as the U.S. and Iran lack diplomatic relations — and warned it would "respond decisively and immediately to any threat." What they're saying:"The U.S. has 10 bases and 50,000 soldiers in the region. ... If you live in a glass house you shouldn't throw stones," the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps told Iranian TV earlier this week. Khamenei adviser and former parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani stressed that if the U.S. bombs Iran's nuclear facilities, Iranian public opinion will press the government to change its policy and develop a nuke. Friction point: Trump abandoned the 2015 nuclear deal and argued that his "maximum pressure" approach would force Iran to sign a better deal. He failed to get a new deal, as did President Biden. In the meantime, Iran has dramatically increased its enrichment of uranium and is now effectively a nuclear threshold state — though Tehran insists it does not seek a nuclear weapon. Iran also says it's unwilling to negotiate on non-nuclear matters, such as its missile program, which Trump and his team have previously said must be on the table. State of play: On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced that it was sending additional troops and air assets to the region, and that two aircraft carriers — Truman and Vinson — would remain in the region. Last week, the Pentagon sent several B-2 stealth bombers to the Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean in a deployment a U.S. official said was "not disconnected" from Trump's two-month deadline to Iran. The B-2 bombers can carry huge bunker buster bombs that would be a key element in any possible military action against Iran's underground nuclear facilities. "Should Iran or its proxies threaten American personnel and interests in the region, the U.S. will take decisive action to defend our people," Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement.
Asharq Al-Awsat
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Rouhani: Khamenei's Stance on US Talks Might Shift
Former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani suggested on Saturday that the Supreme Leader's opposition to negotiations with the United States could change depending on circumstances, describing the situation in Iran as 'dangerous.' 'Leader (Ali Khamenei) is not opposed to negotiations on the nuclear program, his position is influenced by the current circumstances, but after a few months, he may agree to negotiate under different circumstances,' Rouhani said during a meeting with former ministers. 'Did we not negotiate with the US on Iraq, Afghanistan, and the nuclear deal? Even back then, the Supreme leader was a witness and an observer,' the former President added. Iran's Big Losses Rouhani then listed his country's financial losses from the non-implementation of the nuclear deal. He said since the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, 'Iran has lost $100 billion per year.' Rouhani described the situation in the country as 'dangerous,' especially with 'a weakened military deterrence capability, which deepened after internal disputes prevented the purchase of advanced defense systems.' The former president then criticized the disorder of Iran's decision-making system in various fields. He said, 'Anyone who looks from the outside understands what is happening in this country, and sees that we seem to have no plan at all.' Rouhani also said that solving Iran's economic problems is not possible without constructive engagement with the world, according to a video posted on his website. The video featured Mohammad Javad Zarif, who recently resigned from his post as deputy to President Masoud Pezeshkian, due to pressure from the conservative current in the Iranian parliament. Earlier, Zarif said he negotiated with the US side on Iraq in coordination with former Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Qassem Soleimani. On February 7, Khamenei said talks with the US were 'not smart, wise, or honorable,' days after US President Donald Trump said he would 'love to make a deal' with Iran. His remarks were interpreted as orders to ban any direct talks with the US President. Meanwhile, head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Parliament, Ebrahim Azizi, said there was 'no point in holding talks with the US unless Iran's interests are achieved.' 'Tehran does not reject the principle of dialogue and negotiation. But we should avoid any steps that do not serve our interests,' he said. For his part, Ali Larijani, member of the Expediency Discernment Council, said US officials have two options with dealing with Iran. 'Either to respect the shared economic interests, or fall into the trap of thinking that confrontation with Iran will be of low cost,' he said, according to Tasnim, the semi-official news agency associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Russian Mediation In Moscow, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna, said he had discussed Iran's nuclear program with Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). '[I've] met today with IAEA Director General Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi. We discussed a number of issues related to the Iranian nuclear program,' the Russian diplomat wrote on X. Russia's decision to act as an intermediary between the United States and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program reflects a conviction at the Kremlin that new ties with the Trump administration would allow both sides to lay the groundwork for a more comprehensive deal.
