Latest news with #MilitaryStrikes
Reuters
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Russian attacks on Ukraine's Sumy border region injure 14, officials say
July 21 (Reuters) - Russian attacks on Monday in two areas of Ukraine's border Sumy region, where Moscow's troops have gained a foothold in recent months, have injured 14 people. The military administration of Sumy region, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said drone strikes in the town of Putyvl, just inside the border, injured 11 people and damaged civilian infrastructure. To the southeast, the mayor of the city of Sumy, Artem Kobzar, said a guided bomb attack had injured three people and damaged a multi-storey apartment block, smashing windows and balconies. Sumy region was used by Ukrainian forces as a springboard in a large incursion nearly a year ago into Russia's Kursk region. The Kremlin says Ukrainian forces have been ejected from the Russian region, and President Vladimir Putin said Moscow planned to establish a buffer zone in the area. Russia has launched an increasing number of attacks on Sumy region. A missile strike in April on the city of Sumy killed 35 people.
ABC News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
How 13 US presidents have managed the Iran relationship
The United States and Iran, over the past seven decades, have been friends, foes, and sometimes even frenemies. Their history involves threats of regime change, proxy warfare, secret arms deals, underground intelligence sharing, and now direct military strikes. Not to mention how the US played a role in building up Iran's military and nuclear program, which it's now been bombing. And of course, you can't talk about the US and Iran relationship without discussing Israel. "Iran, the US and Israel are caught in a seemingly perpetual, intense toxic relationship," says Benjamin MacQueen, associate professor of politics and international relations at Monash University. For now, the missile strikes have stopped and a ceasefire between Iran and Israel is holding. But Shahram Akbarzadeh, professor of Middle East and central Asian politics at Deakin University, says there's one crucial lesson we should take from the relationship between Iran and the last 13 US presidents. "This is not going to be the end of the animosity between Iran and Israel and the United States," he says. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961) Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Dwight D. Eisenhower drive past cheering crowds in Tehran on their way to the shah's marble palace on December 14, 1959. ( ) Friend, foe or frenemy? This was the beginning of a long friendship between the US and the Shah of Iran, after the CIA helped with a coup. What was going on? As the UK was being pushed out of the Middle East, the US was trying to assert its power in the region to stop the spread of communism after World War II. Power meant allies and oil. The existing democratically elected prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, got in the way of that. He wanted to nationalise the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, which we know today as BP. Mohammad Mosaddegh addresses a crowd of demonstrators outside the Parliament Building, October 1951. ( ) Massive protests broke out in Iran as Mohammad Mosaddegh was overthrown in a coup in Tehran, August 1953. ( ) Under Eisenhower the CIA along with the UK helped plan a coup that would replace Mosaddegh with someone the US preferred. It involved discrediting him and restoring power to Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. The US began supplying military aid to Iran as well as civilian nuclear technology as part of the Atoms for Peace program, a way of strengthening its alliance. What's also worth knowing? The coup ignited distrust of the US amongst the people of Iran. The coup ignited distrust of the US amongst the people of Iran. Israel formed a state in 1948 and in these earlier stages, the US and Israel alliance was not as strong. Israel formed a state in 1948 and in these earlier stages, the US and Israel alliance was not as strong. The shah did not officially recognise Israel but was one of the only leaders of a Muslim-majority country to accept its existence. The shah did not officially recognise Israel but was one of the only leaders of a Muslim-majority country to accept its existence. The first Arab-Israeli war also broke out in 1948. Palestinians know it as The Nakba, meaning "catastrophe" because of the large number of Palestinians that were displaced. What our experts say "Given the context of the Cold War the United States was more concerned with stopping communist and pro-Soviet forces than gaining a political foothold in Iran." — Shahram Akbarzadeh, professor of Middle East and central Asian politics at Deakin University "Given the context of the Cold War the United States was more concerned with stopping communist and pro-Soviet forces than gaining a political foothold in Iran." — Shahram Akbarzadeh, professor of Middle East and central Asian politics at Deakin University "It was their absolute most important relationship. Big country, a lot of oil, strategic location, very compliant and was a kind of key part of the extension of the US's containment policy on the southern or south-western flank of the Soviet Union." — Benjamin MacQueen, associate professor of politics and international relations at Monash University "It was their absolute most important relationship. Big country, a lot of oil, strategic location, very compliant and was a kind of key part of the extension of the US's containment policy on the southern or south-western flank of the Soviet Union." — Benjamin MacQueen, associate professor of politics and international relations at Monash University "Ironically, this is when the United States started supporting Iran's ambition to be a nuclear power and even signed an agreement allowing the enrichment." — Mireille Rebeiz, chair of Middle East studies and associate professor at Dickinson College John F. Kennedy (1961-1963) John F. Kennedy meets with Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in the White House along with US secretary of defense Robert S. McNamara, 13 April, 1962. ( ) Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (third from left) and his wife, Farah Pahlavi, are greeted by Jacqueline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy as they arrive at the White House for a dinner in their honour, 11 April, 1962. ( ) Friend, foe or frenemy? Iran remained a strong ally under JFK. What was happening? As one of the main world players in oil production, Iran formed the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) along with Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. It aimed to give those countries more control over their oil resources and maximise profits as well as give stable supply and prices to foreign companies and countries. But the wealth didn't filter down to many of the Iranian people. Kennedy began a military alliance with Israel but was an opponent of its nuclear program. What our experts say "Anti-American sentiment was on the rise [in Iran] because they saw the United States … supporting a corrupt government that did not fit their lifestyle. — Mireille Rebeiz Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969) Lyndon B. Johnson with Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, 5 June, 1964. ( ) Friend, foe or frenemy? Iran was still a key ally, but the alliance between the US and Israel was also becoming a threat to that. What was happening? LBJ continued to lean into the relationship to maintain control in the Middle East and access to oil. The administration continued selling military equipment to the shah. What else is worth knowing? Iran had a relatively close relationship with Israel. It was a key oil supplier to Israel and they shared intelligence around the time of the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Iran had a relatively close relationship with Israel. It was a key oil supplier to Israel and they shared intelligence around the time of the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. However, Iran is believed to have put pressure on the US to back UN Resolution 242 which demanded Israel retreat from the occupied territories it gained in 1967, including the Gaza Strip. What our experts say "It kind of forced the US to pick … There was this kind of weird competition between Iran and Israel as to who would be the US's key ally. And Iran always kind of won that competition because it was just a bigger, stronger, wealthier country." — Benjamin MacQueen Richard Nixon (1969-1974) Richard Nixon with the shah of Iran at the White House, October 21, 1969. ( ) Friend, foe or frenemy? Nixon is trying to keep two friends who have turned on each other. What was happening? Nixon visited Iran in 1972. He was incredibly concerned about global instability and the economy, amidst a long and drawn-out war in Vietnam. The following year another Arab-Israeli war — the Yom Kippur War — broke out when Egypt and Syria attacked Israel. Palestinians now living as refugees in other countries mobilised and started launching military strikes from Lebanon into Israel. At this time, the Israel and US relationship grew tighter. But that came with consequences. OPEC sanctioned the US and Israel with an oil embargo, causing an oil crisis. Nixon and his national security adviser and secretary of state Henry Kissinger made a plan to strengthen Iran's military to keep its ally and protect oil supply. It sold Iran $15 billion worth of state-of-the-art conventional weapons, including fighter jets. Loading Instagram content Other things worth knowing: Nixon supported Iran's plans to build 23 nuclear reactors for domestic energy purposes Nixon supported Iran's plans to build 23 nuclear reactors for domestic energy purposes The Shah later hinted at wanting to build nuclear weapons What our experts say: "Iran participated in the oil embargo in 1973. The US response wasn't to go in and remove the shah. The US response was to go in and say, 'OK, can you not do that again? Also, here's some tanks'… Iran historically has been treated as an equal … a key global player." — Benjamin MacQueen Gerald Ford (1974-1977) Gerald R. Ford and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi inspect US troops during a welcoming ceremony for the shah on the South Lawn at the White House, May 15, 1975. ( ) Friend, foe or frenemy? Things are tense, both amongst the leaders and the people in Iran. What was happening? The shah was no longer feeling like he was in an equal partnership with the US. Major arms sales continued to Iran but there were failed negotiations around nuclear weapons. On the ground in Iran, hatred of the shah and the US was escalating. Opposition voices were becoming more vocal. Islamic scholar Ruhollah Khomeini, who had been exiled in France, started spreading the word of Islam on cassette tapes that were shared throughout Iran. Gerald Ford and the shah of Iran look at charts from a military operation on May 15, 1975. ( ) What else is worth knowing? US officials were becoming increasingly frustrated at the shah's role in keeping oil prices high as inflation back home drove America toward a recession. US officials were becoming increasingly frustrated at the shah's role in keeping oil prices high as inflation back home drove America toward a recession. The US secretly went behind the shah's back and colluded with Saudi Arabia to force down oil prices. What our experts say "The opposition to the shah is really coalescing, and the thing they're seeing is kind of an unquestioning US support for someone they see as a puppet and the dictator of the US." — Benjamin MacQueen Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) Jimmy Carter toasts Mohammad Reza Pahlavi during a New Year's Eve dinner at Niavaran Palace in Tehran on December 31, 1977. ( ) A banner denouncing Mohammad Reza Pahlavi is put up at the entrance of Tehran University in Tehran, Iran on January 13, 1979. ( ) An Iranian child holds a photo showing Ayatollah Khomeini in front of the entrance of the US embassy during the 1952 hostage crisis. ( ) Ayatollah Khomeini waves to a crowd of enthusiastic supporters on his return to Iran from exile in 1979. ( ) Blindfolded US hostages and their Iranian captors outside the US embassy in Tehran, Iran, 1979. ( ) Police stand guard at a demonstration during the Iran hostage crisis in Washington DC on November 9, 1979. ( ) Jimmy Carter at a press conference in 1980, announcing sanctions on Iran. ( ) Friend, foe or frenemy? There's a break-up. This is a turning point in the relationship and from here, there was no going back. Well, at least openly. What was going on? A revolution. Anger was rising amongst the Iranian population around the regime, the hoarding of wealth, its increasing move away from its culture, and oppression. In 1979, Khomeini overthrew the shah, becoming supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This was an end to the strong US-Iran alliance. Ayatollah Khomeini called the US the "Great Satan", Israel the "Little Satan" and the Soviet Union the "Lesser Satan". The new Iranian regime, now an enemy, is equipped with a nuclear program and a military supplied by the US. What's also worth knowing? In the months following the revolution, Iranian students stormed the US embassy. They took 52 Americans hostage and held them for 444 days. In the months following the revolution, Iranian students stormed the US embassy. They took 52 Americans hostage and held them for 444 days. Carter's failure to secure the hostages' release was seen as the main reason he lost the next election. Carter's failure to secure the hostages' release was seen as the main reason he lost the next election. Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who had seized power in the 60s with the help of US intelligence, invaded Iran, kicking off the Iraq-Iran War. What our experts say "You can always spot a regime that's scared by how repressive it gets. And he was getting very repressive, those normal tools of control weren't working. And so it was deploying the secret service, you know, arbitrary arrests, torture, mass imprisonment." — Benjamin MacQueen Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) Ronald Reagan with senior staff in Oval Office on April 4, 1985. ( ) US hostages departing an aircraft on their return from Iran after being held for 444 days on January 20, 1981. ( ) The Iran-Contra affair made the front page of Time Magazine on November 17, 1986. Friend, foe or frenemy? Reagan and Khomeini started out as enemies but the threat of a bigger foe meant the US began dealing with Iran in secret. What was going on? It's the middle of the Cold War. After initially backing Iraq's invasion of Iran, Reagan administration officials began covertly selling weapons to Iran, as part of what will become known as the Iran-Contra deal. They were worried about Iran reaching out to the Soviet Union for help to fight the war, and also used the deal to negotiate the release of US hostages. The Iraq-Iran War ended after hundreds of thousands of people were killed on both sides. The US Navy shot down an Iranian civilian plane heading from Tehran to Dubai, killing the 290 passengers and crew. The US claimed it had incorrectly identified it as a jet fighter. Reagan did not apologise but paid compensation to the families. What's also worth knowing? Here's where it gets really messy. It's impossible to understand what was happening with the US and Iran at this time without looking at what was happening more broadly in the region. Tensions were building between the US, Israel and Iran. Tensions were building between the US, Israel and Iran. Iran cemented its backing of the Palestinian fight against Israel. Iran cemented its backing of the Palestinian fight against Israel. Israel, the US's closest ally in the region, invaded Lebanon. Israel, the US's closest ally in the region, invaded Lebanon. Reagan at the time is believed to have offended Israel's president by telling him the bombing of West Beirut was creating a ''holocaust". Reagan at the time is believed to have offended Israel's president by telling him the bombing of West Beirut was creating a ''holocaust". Inside Lebanon, Iran is backing Hezbollah, keeping in mind that Iran is receiving weapons from the US. Inside Lebanon, Iran is backing Hezbollah, keeping in mind that Iran is receiving weapons from the US. Hezbollah bombed a US barracks in Lebanon. The US did not retaliate. Hezbollah bombed a US barracks in Lebanon. The US did not retaliate. The US declares Iran a state sponsor of terrorism. The US declares Iran a state sponsor of terrorism. The scandal involving secret US arms deals with Iran made news. What our experts say "So on the one hand, publicly, the United States is saying Iran is the state of terror, the hostage situation, we cannot allow this. But in the background, the United States was actually continuing its support with weapons." — Mireille Rebeiz "So on the one hand, publicly, the United States is saying Iran is the state of terror, the hostage situation, we cannot allow this. But in the background, the United States was actually continuing its support with weapons." — Mireille Rebeiz "One thing that really impacted Iran at this time was the fact that its army was built by the US and now it was openly hostile to the US. It was fighting a war with an army that was carrying US-made stuff … There's open, visceral hostility between the new regime and the US. But Iran needs supplies. And the only supplies that are compatible with the stuff that it's already got is American … Reagan got away with it. No prosecution. Said he didn't know. Plausible deniability … It's utterly mad." — Benjamin MacQueen George HW Bush (1989-1993) George H W Bush answers a question during a news conference at the White House, October 25, 1991. ( ) Friend, foe or frenemy? Hostilities did improve slightly. What was happening? The fall-out of the arms deal scandal spilled into George Bush Snr's presidency. Iran had started to extend its influence regionally, and continued support for Hezbollah. What our experts say: "Iran had emerged from the war with Iraq devastated. And there wasn't a lot of appetite for ongoing open hostility to the US." — Benjamin MacQueen Bill Clinton (1993-2001) Bill Clinton with Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin (left) and Palestinian Liberation Organization chairman Yasser Arafat during the Oslo Accord discussions, September 13, 1993. Clinton was the closest of all US presidents to negotiate a deal between Israel and the Palestinians. ( ) Friend, foe or frenemy? Things are frosty, but thawing out. What was happening? Clinton increased sanctions, stopping exports to Iran and banning US companies from trading with Iran, a "rogue nation". There were failed attempts at starting official diplomatic relations again. However, the US and Iran to a large degree quietly accepted that they needed each other. Later in Clinton's term, his administration would stop using the term ''rogue nations'' and instead used ''states of concern". What else is worth knowing? The US is trying to balance its support for Israel while engaging in dialogue with Iran. The US is trying to balance its support for Israel while engaging in dialogue with Iran. A younger generation of people in Iran are beginning to question the regime's policies around press freedom, interaction between genders and Islamic law, resulting in protests and a brutal crackdown on human rights. What our experts say: "The Iranian regime was signalling that, 'Yeah, I'd really like it if we were on less frosty terms with our old friend because it means a lot to us,' and the US was kind of signalling the same thing, you know, 'You mean a lot to us, we used to be best mates, it's never going to be the same, but it doesn't have to be this bad.'" — Benjamin MacQueen George W Bush (2001-2009) George W. Bush announces Operation Iraqi Freedom in nation address on March 19, 2003. ( ) Friend, foe or frenemy? Things started out OK but became toxic after the "war on terror" era began. What was happening? Much like Donald Trump, George W. Bush initially vowed to focus on domestic policy instead of foreign entanglements. Then the Al-Qaeda terrorist group attacked the US on September 11, 2001. The US invaded Iraq and Afghanistan, beginning long and costly wars that killed hundreds of thousands of people. The Bush administration invaded Iraq under the guise that it had "weapons of mass destruction", however a UN search found none. Bush declared Iran, Iraq and North Korea an "axis of evil" for sponsoring terrorism and "arming to threaten the peace of the world". Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a vocal supporter of his country's right to a peaceful nuclear program, visits the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, 350 km south of Tehran, 8 April, 2008. ( ) What else is worth knowing? Tensions between Iran and Israel deepened. Tensions between Iran and Israel deepened. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said "Israel must be wiped off the map", while Israel asked Bush to back the bombing of nuclear sites in Iran. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said "Israel must be wiped off the map", while Israel asked Bush to back the bombing of nuclear sites in Iran. The Lebanon War began and Israel was again fighting Hezbollah, which was heavily backed by Iran. The Lebanon War began and Israel was again fighting Hezbollah, which was heavily backed by Iran. Bush called for uprisings and regime change in Iran. What our experts say "George Bush announced this idea of regime change, and really put it on notice, so at the time when the US was in Afghanistan, when the US was in Iraq, it looked very much as though the US was poised to go for the Iran regime, and that was a very low point in their relationship. That hardened political thinking in Iran." — Shahram Akbarzadeh "George Bush announced this idea of regime change, and really put it on notice, so at the time when the US was in Afghanistan, when the US was in Iraq, it looked very much as though the US was poised to go for the Iran regime, and that was a very low point in their relationship. That hardened political thinking in Iran." — Shahram Akbarzadeh "[Iran] is one of three countries explicitly named by Bush, which was Iraq, Iran and North Korea. Only one of those countries [North Korea] has a nuclear weapon, and only one of those countries has not been attacked — which Iran no doubt knows and no doubt sees." — Benjamin MacQueen Barack Obama (2009-2017) Barack Obama delivers a statement after a nuclear deal was reached between Iran and six major world powers, beside Joe Biden, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, July 14, 2015. ( ) Barack Obama with members of the P5+1 discussing a nuclear dealing with Iran in 2015. ( ) Many conservative politicians, including then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, spoke out against the deal that Barack Obama negotiated with Iran. This protest was held in September 2015. ( ) Friend, foe or frenemy? After the two countries spent more than 30 years barely speaking, Obama extended a hand. What was happening? Obama pursued diplomacy with Iran, negotiating a nuclear plan to limit its nuclear program in exchange for fewer sanctions. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was agreed upon by the UN Security Council — China, France, Russia, the UK and the US plus Germany (P5+1) — with conditions including robust monitoring and development of only basic nuclear infrastructure and a promise by Iran to never seek or obtain nuclear weapons. The deal put pressure on the US alliance with Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the deal was "very bad" and accused Obama of "giving up" on trying to stop Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons. Netanyahu ramped up his attention on Iran's nuclear program. What else is worth knowing? Netanyahu and Obama had a very strained relationship. Netanyahu and Obama had a very strained relationship. Iran supported the regimes in Syria and continued to support Hezbollah. What our experts say "Obama was hailed as the father of the nuclear deal as the one who stopped a potential World War III, but the one big mistake that the nuclear deal did not include is that it did not dictate Iran stop its support or funding for terrorist organisations in the region." — Mireille Rebeiz Donald Trump (2017-2021) Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after Trump's address at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, May 23, 2017. ( ) People march as they take part in an anti-war protest amid increased tensions between the United States and Iran at Times Square in New York, US, January 4, 2020. ( ) Protesters marking the 40th anniversary of the Iran hostage crisis outside the US embassy in Tehran. ( ) A boy carries a portrait of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US air strike in Iraq, prior to the Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran, Friday January 3, 2020. ( ) Friend, foe or frenemy? The US and Iran are sworn enemies. What is happening? Trump presented himself as a leader who was going to end wars. He withdrew from Obama's JCPOA with Iran, saying it was "defective at its core". This was celebrated by Netanyahu and angered Iran's president, Hassan Rouhani. Iran announced it would resume nuclear research and development, but did not explicitly say it would pursue nuclear weapons. Trump said he was not not looking for war but threatened "obliteration like you've never seen before". Rouhani called the White House "mentally disabled". What else is worth knowing? Trump also expanded sanctions and ordered the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani by drone strike. Trump also expanded sanctions and ordered the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani by drone strike. Iran issued arrest warrants for Trump and other officials on murder and terrorism charges. Iran issued arrest warrants for Trump and other officials on murder and terrorism charges. Israel admits to bombing Iranian targets in Syria. Iranian politicians chant anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans to protest against the US killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, at the start of an open session of parliament in Tehran, Iran, January 5, 2020. ( ) Joe Biden (2021-2025) Joe Biden meets with Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the Israel-Gaza conflict in October 2023. ( ) Friend, foe or frenemy? Not much changes, until October 7, 2023. What was happening? Diplomacy with Iran had deteriorated. Biden did attempt to revive the JCPOA initially agreed upon under Obama, but talks stalled and then Biden furthered sanctions. And then October 7 happened: Palestinian group Hamas launched a terror attack inside Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking dozens of hostages. Almost immediately, Israel invaded Gaza and began a war that has killed tens of thousands of civilians. Biden spent at least $US17.9 billion ($27.3 billion) on additional military aid to Israel. People visit the site of the Nova music festival, where hundreds were killed and abducted by Hamas and taken into Gaza, on the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attack, October 7, 2024. ( ) The father of Alma Al Majayda, 3, killed in Israeli strikes, reacts while carrying her body during her funeral, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 19, 2023. ( ) A UN Special Committee report handed down in November 2024 concluded Israel's warfare tactics in Gaza were "consistent with the characteristics of genocide" and that the government was using starvation as a weapon. In the same month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and two senior officials for alleged Gaza war crimes, as well as three Hamas leaders for extermination, murder and taking hostages. Israel strenuously denied the accusations and labelled the warrant as an "antisemitic" decision. Biden described the war crime allegations as "outrageous" and vowed to stand by Israel against threats to its security. What else is worth knowing? Iran began launching missiles at Israel in response to the killings of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders, which was followed by Israel attacking Iran. Iran began launching missiles at Israel in response to the killings of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders, which was followed by Israel attacking Iran. Israel also bombed Lebanon, where the Iran-backed Hezbollah continue to operate. Donald Trump (2025- ) Donald Trump gestures as Benjamin Netanyahu leaves the West Wing of the White House, April 7, 2025, in Washington. ( ) Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves during the 36th anniversary of the death of the leader of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, at Khomeini's shrine in southern Tehran, Iran June 4, 2025. ( ) A satellite overview shows the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Facility, along with damage from June 23 air strikes, amid the Iran-Israel War, near Qom, Iran, June 24, 2025. ( ) Friend, foe or frenemy? Definitely foe. What's happening? The second Trump presidency is less than six months old, but the US-Iran-Israel relationship has further deteriorated. The recent US bombing of Iran's nuclear sites, as part of a wider Israeli campaign, is unprecedented. Trump has since taken to social media floating the idea of regime change, but has also suggested the US and Iran will engage in a new round of negotiations. And no-one seems to know what will come next. What else is worth knowing? "You know what, we basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the f*** they're doing," Trump told White House reporters about Iran and Israel. "You know what, we basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the f*** they're doing," Trump told White House reporters about Iran and Israel. Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has declared the Islamic republic "delivered a hard slap to America's face" with a retaliatory missile attack on a US military base in Qatar and has warned the US and Israel against attacking it again. What our experts say: Mireille Rebeiz says the escalation — surrounding a nuclear program that was initially started by the US — is another example of American governments failing to look at long-term foreign policy impacts. Mireille Rebeiz says the escalation — surrounding a nuclear program that was initially started by the US — is another example of American governments failing to look at long-term foreign policy impacts. "If you look at the history, it's always inconsistent … it's flip-flopped based on its own interest, based on its access to oil, based on its access to wealth in the region and its support to Israel. "If you look at the history, it's always inconsistent … it's flip-flopped based on its own interest, based on its access to oil, based on its access to wealth in the region and its support to Israel. "The United States is not looking at what's going to happen in 20 years in Iran and Iraq and Lebanon. We are really in the realm of lawlessness and I'm really, really concerned for what's going to happen next." Credits
CBS News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Senate Democrats question "obliteration" of Iran's nuclear sites after classified briefing on strikes
Washington — Some Senate Democrats cast doubt on the Trump administration's characterization of the strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities after top officials briefed senators Thursday. In recent days, President Trump repeatedly declared "total obliteration" after three nuclear sites were bombed in a secret attack by the U.S. Meanwhile, an initial classified assessment found that the strikes set back Tehran's nuclear program by a matter of months, while Mr. Trump said the nuclear program was set back "basically decades." Democrats questioned assertions regarding how much Iran's nuclear program has been hindered. "I walk away from that briefing still under the belief that we have not obliterated the program," Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, told reporters. "The president was deliberately misleading the public when he said the program was obliterated. It is certain that there is still significant capability, significant equipment that remain." "You cannot bomb knowledge out of existence — no matter how many scientists you kill," Murphy added. "There are still people in Iran who how to work centrifuges. And if they still have enriched uranium and they still have the ability to use centrifuges, then you're not setting back the program by years. You're setting back the program by months." Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, suggested that administration jumped to a conclusion too soon. "Listen, I hope that is the final assessment," Warner said. "But if not, does that end up providing a false sense of comfort to the American people?" Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said he did not receive adequate answers about whether the nuclear stockpile was obliterated. "What was clear is that there was no coherent strategy, no end game, no plan, no specific, no detailed plan on how Iran does not attain a nuclear weapon," Schumer said. Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said only a final battle damage assessment confirming the assertions "would enable us to be comfortable or complacent about what has been done." "The point is, we don't know. Anybody who says we know with certainty is making it up because we don't have a final battle damage assessment," he said. "I think 'obliterated' is much too strong of word because it implies that it couldn't be reconstituted or somehow it was completely eliminated." Still, Blumenthal praised the military action as "one that will go down in the annals of military history." "Certainly, this mission was successful insofar as it extensively destroyed and perhaps severely damaged and set back the Iranian nuclear arms program. But how long and how much really remains to be determined by the intelligence community itself," he said. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina stood behind the administration's characterization, but acknowledged that Iran's capabilities could eventually be restored. "The real question is, have we obliterated their desire to have a nuclear weapon," Graham said after the classified briefing. "I don't want people to think that the site wasn't severely damaged or obliterated. It was. But having said that, I don't want people to think the problem is over, because it's not." Graham said he believed the program had been set back by years. Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said he was confident "it's been set way back — a year, at minimum." Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the strikes "effectively destroyed Iran's nuclear program." Cotton added that the initial assessment had several intelligence gaps and "assumed the worst-case scenario with perfect conditions in Iran." Top intelligence officials said Wednesday that new intelligence showed the nuclear program had been "severely damaged" and its facilities "destroyed." It would take the Iranians "years" to rebuild the facilities, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said. Ratcliffe was among those who briefed senators Thursday, along with Secretary of State and national security adviser Marco Rubio and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine. The briefing had been initially scheduled for Tuesday but was delayed two days, upsetting some Democrats who demanded immediate transparency about the strikes after they were initially left in the dark about the military action. and contributed to this report.
Wall Street Journal
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
U.S. Strikes Set Back Iran Nuclear Program by a Few Months, Initial Report Says
A preliminary U.S. intelligence report found that the U.S. military's strikes last week on three Iranian nuclear facilities only set back Tehran's nuclear ambitions by a few months, countering claims made by President Trump and the White House, according to people familiar with the intelligence. The initial findings, written by the Defense Intelligence Agency, relied on military damage assessments following the bombings, the people said, adding that the assessment could change as more intelligence is collected.
Reuters
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Trump asks why there would not be 'regime change' in Iran
WASHINGTON, June 22 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday questioned the possibility of regime change in Iran following U.S. military strikes against key Iran military sites over the weekend. "It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" Trump wrote on his social media platform.
