Latest news with #Khamenei-led
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Nuclear sites hit, oil depot targeted: Israel-Iran trade heavy blows; key details
A day after the Khamenei-led Islamic Republic struck the IDF's military base in Tel Aviv, Israel launched a major counteroffensive on Sunday, directly targeting Tehran's defence and energy infrastructure in a sharp escalation of hostilities between the two arch-rivals. IDF also hit Iranian Shahran oil facility in its latest series of attacks. In response, Iran fired a fresh wave of missiles into Israeli territory, killing four people and injuring several others in the northern Galilee region. The strikes come just days after Israel's surprise launch of "Operation Rising Lion," targeting Iran's nuclear facility at Natanz. Sunday's attacks marked the most major Israeli action yet, with targets including Iran's ministry of defence headquarters and the SPND -- an agency Israel claims is central to Iran's nuclear weapons development. Extensive series of strikes: IDF The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed the strikes, stating: 'The IDF completed an extensive series of strikes on targets in Tehran related to the Iranian regime's nuclear weapons project… including the Iranian Ministry of Defence, SPND nuclear project headquarters, and additional sites where the regime hid its nuclear archive.' Iran warns Israel Loud explosions were reported across eastern and western Tehran late Sunday, with visuals showing heavy smoke billowing over the city skyline. Iranian state media confirmed several areas were hit, but did not release casualty figures immediately. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said the missiles were aimed at facilities involved in the production of fuel for Israeli fighter jets. "If Israeli aggression continues, Iran will respond with further missile strikes," the Guard said in a statement. The latest developments come just hours after Iran's Friday night retaliation for the Natanz strike, when it targeted Israel's heavily fortified Kirya compound in Tel Aviv -- the nerve centre of Israel's military command and home to its ministry of defence and intelligence units. Homes hit, fires rage: Israel confirms Israel's Fire and Rescue Services confirmed that multiple residential buildings in the coastal and northern regions were struck during the attacks, sparking fires in open areas. "Several incidents have been reported to our command centres in the Coastal and Northern Districts, including direct hits on homes and a blaze in an open area," said spokesperson Tal Volbovitz. Global concerns Adding to global concern, indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States -- scheduled to resume on Sunday -- were abruptly cancelled. Mediator Oman confirmed the cancellation, with a senior US official saying, 'We remain committed to talks and hope the Iranians will return to the table soon.' World leaders called for urgent de-escalation. China's foreign minister warned that strikes on nuclear facilities set a "dangerous precedent," while diplomats across Europe expressed concern over a wider regional conflict. Israel claims its two-day offensive has eliminated nine top Iranian nuclear scientists and a number of senior generals. Iran's ambassador to the United Nations has said 78 people were killed and more than 320 injured in the Israeli attacks. 'Tehran is burning' Israeli defence minister Israel Katz posted a stark message on social media: 'Tehran is burning,' underscoring the gravity of the current escalation. As both countries weigh the costs of further military engagement, the region teeters on the edge of a broader conflict, with diplomatic avenues rapidly closing.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Significant damage': Iran breaches Iron Dome, strikes Israel's 'Pentagon' in Tel Aviv
Iran launched a powerful retaliatory strike late Friday night, targeting one of Israel's most heavily guarded military sites, the Kirya compound in Tel Aviv, following Israel's Operation Rising Lion, which targeted Iran's nuclear facility at Natanz. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Kirya, often referred to as Israel's version of the Pentagon, houses the Israel Defence Forces' (IDF) general staff, the ministry of defence, and critical military command and intelligence units. It also includes Camp Rabin, named after former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and is considered vital for Israel's national security operations. According to reports, Iran fired a barrage of missiles at the Tel Aviv-based military complex, striking deep into Israel's defence infrastructure. Israel's well-known Iron Dome air defence system failed to stop the targeted attack launched by the Khamenei-led Islamic Republic. The New York Times verified alarming social media footage showing a missile slamming into the area, causing what was described as "significant damage." "This is Israel's version of the Pentagon, the Kiryat, and the building on this compound was just hit," Fox News reported. "There is significant damage." The dramatic videos showed Israel's air defence systems firing interceptors into the night sky moments before a large explosion lit up central Tel Aviv. One of the warheads appears to have penetrated Israel's defences and struck a sensitive command site. Fox News correspondent on the ground described the incoming attack as a "massive amount" of Iranian ballistic missiles, forcing them to take cover during the live report. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "These ballistic missiles make the rockets that were being fired from Gaza look like toys," the correspondent said, adding that Iran used around 150 ballistic missiles to hit residential areas and military facilities in and around Tel Aviv. The IDF has not officially confirmed that its headquarters were struck but released footage showing Iran firing waves of ballistic missiles into Israeli territory. "The IDF cannot, and will not, allow Iran to attack our civilians," the military said in a post on X. Iran's targeting of the Kirya marks a major escalation in the ongoing conflict, as the site is one of the most sensitive and strategically important in the country, coordinating military planning, intelligence, and operational command.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Explainer: How Iran's nuclear progress triggered Israeli strike - and why it matters
Iran's nuclear facility (AP photo) Israel on early Friday launched its "greatest military operations in history" against Iran, targeting nuclear sites and military camps. The 'preemptive strikes' by Israel resulted in killing of top military commanders and scientists in Khamenei-led Islamic Republic. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu called it a strike at "the heart of Iran's nuclear weaponisation program." The move sparked global concern, especially as the United States and its intelligence community maintain that Iran's nuclear program is not currently designed to build weapons, according to CNN. However, that didn't stop Israel from acting on what it claims are growing signs of a serious threat in the Middle East region. Iran has repeatedly insisted that its nuclear efforts are only for peaceful purposes specifically for generating energy and powering its economy. Yet, the fact that Iran is enriching uranium to high levels and limiting international inspections has deepened global suspicion. Critics say Iran may be positioning itself to be just a step away from building a bomb if it decides to. The roots of Iran's nuclear program Iran's nuclear journey actually began with help from the United States in 1957, when the two countries were allies and the Shah ruled Iran. Back then, the focus was peaceful energy use. But everything changed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which replaced the monarchy with a theocratic regime. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรดทองCFDsกับโบรกเกอร์ที่เชื่อถือได้| เปิดบัญชีวันนี้ IC Markets สมัคร Undo Uncle Sam withdrew its support, and tensions around Iran's nuclear ambitions have grown ever since. Iran is a signatory of the UN's Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), under which it has pledged not to develop nuclear weapons. Still, concerns have persisted for decades. The key issue is uranium enrichment—something Iran says it needs for energy but which also brings it much closer to weapons capability. What is uranium enrichment and why does it matter? Uranium enrichment is a process that increases the concentration of uranium-235, the part of uranium that can be used for nuclear energy or weapons. Naturally, uranium is mostly made up of uranium-238, which isn't useful for either. Only a small fraction—about 0.7%—is uranium-235, and that needs to be increased to be usable. To enrich uranium, it's first converted into gas and then spun at high speeds in machines called centrifuges. Iran has thousands of these centrifuges, including highly advanced models. The more sophisticated the centrifuge, the faster the uranium can be enriched. For civilian use in nuclear power plants, uranium is typically enriched to around 3-5%. For a nuclear bomb, it needs to reach about 90%. Iran has already enriched uranium to 60% purity. That's not yet bomb-grade, but it's alarmingly close. The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), recently reported that Iran has stockpiled over 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to that level. According to nuclear experts, that's enough to make up to nine bombs if further enriched. From diplomacy to deadlock Iran's uranium enrichment has long been the center of global negotiations. In 2015, Iran reached a deal with six major world powers—including the US—to limit its nuclear program. In return, it received relief from international sanctions. Under the deal, Iran agreed to cap enrichment at 3.67%, reduce its stockpile, and limit the number of centrifuges it used. But in 2018, US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the deal and reimposed sanctions, saying the agreement was flawed. Iran responded by breaking the deal's limits—enriching more uranium, increasing purity levels, and using more advanced centrifuges. It also removed IAEA surveillance cameras from key facilities. Efforts by the Biden administration to revive the deal failed in 2022. In 2023, inspectors found particles enriched up to 83.7% purity at an Iranian facility—dangerously close to the 90% threshold for weapons. And in recent months, US intelligence has assessed that Iran's "breakout time"—the time needed to produce enough weapons-grade material for a bomb—has shrunk to just one or two weeks. Where Israel's strike stands in the broader conflict? Israel's operation targeted what it believes are critical parts of Iran's nuclear program. One of the most significant strikes was on the Natanz facility, a central site for uranium enrichment. N atanz is located about 250 kilometers south of Tehran and is believed to be the hub for developing and assembling centrifuges. Videos and satellite images showed fire and destruction in the area after the Israeli strike. The IAEA said three other key nuclear sites—Fordow, Isfahan, and Bushehr—were not affected. However, Iranian media reported that six nuclear scientists were killed, which would mark a major blow to the human capital behind Iran's nuclear progress. Iran has long prepared for the possibility of military strikes on its nuclear sites. Many facilities are buried deep underground or fortified in ways that make them hard to destroy completely. Military analysts say that while Israel may have disrupted Iran's progress, it likely hasn't ended the nuclear threat altogether. Violation of non-proliferation obligation The IAEA has now taken a stronger stance than in previous years. For the first time in nearly two decades, it passed a resolution declaring that Iran is in violation of its non-proliferation obligations. Iran, in turn, has promised to escalate its nuclear activity in response. In a public statement shared on social media, the Israeli military released a declassified assessment claiming Iran is dangerously close to building a bomb. It said Iran has decentralized its enrichment activities, hidden its centrifuges in underground sites, and continues to produce enriched uranium at a fast pace. First Video Of Iran's Natanz Nuclear Site After Israeli Strike; Facility In Flames | Tehran Thunders According to the Israeli Defence Forces, the world has tried diplomacy, but Israel now believes it has no choice but to act in self-defence.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Talks with US meaningless': Iran rules out nuclear talks; blames US for backing Israel
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (L), and US president Donal Trump (R) (AP photos) I ran has said that talks with the United States on its nuclear programme are now 'meaningless' after what it described as Israel's largest military strike against its territory. Tehran accused Washington of backing the Israeli attack. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told Iran's Tasnim news agency, 'The other side (the US) acted in a way that makes dialogue meaningless. You cannot claim to negotiate and at the same time divide work by allowing the Zionist regime (Israel) to target Iran's territory." He also said that Israel had "succeeded in influencing" the diplomatic process and suggested that the attack would not have happened without US approval. Earlier, Iran had accused the United States of being involved in the Israeli strikes. Washington denied the accusation and, speaking at the United Nations Security Council, urged Tehran to return to negotiations, saying it would be "wise" to resume talks on its nuclear programme. In a dramatic twist, however, US President Donald Trump claimed credit for setting the stage, citing a 60-day ultimatum he says he gave Iran, even as his own officials denied direct American involvement in the operation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Trump took to Truth Social on Friday to suggest the strikes followed a countdown he had initiated." Two months ago I gave Iran a 60-day ultimatum to 'make a deal,'" Trump wrote. The sixth round of US-Iran nuclear talks was scheduled for Sunday in Muscat. However, after the Israeli strikes, it remains uncertain whether the talks will take place as planned. Iran launched back-to-back missile and drone strikes on Israel overnight, responding to what it called Israel's largest-ever military operation. The second wave of attacks from the Khamenei-led government came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation, warning that more Israeli operations were continuing. Iran maintains that its uranium enrichment programme is solely for civilian use, rejecting Israel's allegations that it is secretly developing nuclear weapons.
