Latest news with #S-200
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Netanyahu will obliterate Iran's nuke empire on his own terms – and could snub Trump in final plan to cement legacy
for months to clear the path for a major strike on Iran An IDF source told The Sun they had worked for months to clear the path for a major strike on Iran ENEMY NUMBER ONE Netanyahu will obliterate Iran's nuke empire on his own terms – and could snub Trump in final plan to cement legacy Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BENJAMIN Netanyahu is plotting to bomb Iran as it is his "main goal for his legacy" to destroy its nuclear scheme, his ex-advisor said. But government insiders in Europe have echoed Donald Trump's warning not to undermine talks with Tehran and strike without US backing. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Iran test fires a long-range S-200 missile in the port city of Bushehr Credit: AP 7 Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured in Jerusalem last week, wants to blitz Iran Credit: AP 7 It comes as the UN's nuclear watchdog revealed that Iran has secretly amassed near weapons-grade levels of uranium and could soon have enough for nine bombs. Israeli PM Netanyahu has been making preparations behind the scenes to swiftly blitz Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities as he deems the country "enemy number one". Trump, however, has firmly insisted Israel take no action that could jeopardise his administration's efforts to thrash out a deal with Iran. It culminated in a heated phone call this week between the leaders as they continue to clash on how to curb Tehran's nuke programme, sources said. The Sun reported in April how Israel was poised to unleash a huge strike on Iran within weeks and do "whatever it takes" to stop the regime's nuclear strength. But Trump called off any potential blitz - vowing to try and solve the pressing matter through diplomatic means before resorting to bombing. Nadav Shtrauchler, a former adviser to Netanyahu, told The Sun how the PM could give the green light to bomb Iran to cement his legacy. The strategic adviser said: "In his eyes, two things are highly important. One of them is Iran. The second is Saudi Arabia and the following of the Abraham Accords. "Number one is Iran before everything else. "He sees that as a threat as an immediate threat to the state and after the last two big strikes from Iran, people understood that next time it could be different material on those weapons. Trump says Iran deal is 'well on its way' - as regime builds ring of steel around deeply buried nuclear fortresses "His main goal is to stop Iran and he needs to put every pressure he can. "Of course, you want to do it with Trump and with the American administration - but I think he would not avoid attacking there. "This is his main number one goal in this war." Shtrauchler said although Netanyahu would want America's help, he will make sure Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's nuclear ambitions are destroyed "at all costs". "He changed the equation from the start," he added. "Iran was choking Israel from both sides from north, south and from other sides and he changed the equation by attacking Hezbollah and putting this threat out. "There is no real threat rocket threat from Gaza today. And we know the situation with Syria has changed rapidly since the start of the war. "We also know that Iran has been folded or been attacked on these anti-aircraft missiles. "So he has a clear way, if he wants to do it. "Of course, he will want to do it with the American administration but nevertheless, this is his main goal. "So if it's just knocking on a door before getting inside, it could be a sign but for sure is getting planned on that. "He wants to do it [strike Iran] and he's working on how to do it. And I think in the end he will try to do it with the Americans. "But if he sees it's not going, he will find a solution to change the equation with Iran and make sure that they don't have any nuclear weapon at all costs." 7 Donald Trump, pictured boarding Air Force One last week, is trying to negotiate with Tehran Credit: Reuters 7 IDF sources, speaking to The Sun in Israel, previously said how Tehran is now 'many, many steps back' as forces have been working for months to clear the path for a major strike on Iran. They told how three air campaigns in Iran have eliminated strategic aerial defences which were 'the main obstacle' protecting the rogue nation's nuke facilities. The insider said the IDF has also worked to significantly downgrade the threat posed by Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthi - effectively leaving Iran isolated. Vitally, this would allow Israeli aircraft to get to Iran's borders with diminished fear of being blasted. The IDF source told The Sun: 'We struck in Yemen three or four times, and we had three air campaigns in Iran, eliminating on the way most of the aerial defence systems in Syria, Iraq, and Iran. 'They were the main obstacle when thinking about a big aerial operation on the way to Iran. Their proxy aerial defence systems.' Netanyahu believes this gaping weakness in Iran's defence makes it the prime time to strike as it will not last. But Trump has argued that negotiation coupled with the back-up threat of bombing is the ideal exploitation of Iran's vulnerability. Iran's secret nuke site 'Rainbow' Exclusive by Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital) CHILLING satellite pictures reveal Iran's sprawling secret nuclear site codenamed "Rainbow". Sources in the country have uncovered how the base is being used to develop nuclear-capable missiles with a 2,000-mile range - able to strike US bases in the Middle East. Tehran's tyrannical regime is using oil and chemical facilities as a cover for nuclear bases, bombshell docs shared with The Sun by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) reveal. Haunting aerial images expose a network of clandestine sites - including "Rainbow" - used by iron-fist leaders to create terrifying nuclear weapons. A powerful nuclear blast from Iran could have disastrous consequences for the Middle East - and beyond - thanks to the capability of the warheads. Now sources inside Iran have revealed the regime's nuclear weaponisation entity, Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research's (SPND) secret project to accelerate nuclear ability. Hidden under the guise of a chemical production facility, the crowning jewel of the operation is a base known internally as the 'Rangin Kaman (Rainbow) Site". It is some distance from Iran's already known nuke bases, and is masked as a chemical production company known as Diba Energy Siba. READ MORE HERE Ex-Israeli foreign affairs minister Gabi Ashkenazi warned military force will be the only alternative if talks hit a wall. The former IDF chief of general staff, speaking at a gathering of officials attended by The Sun is Paris, said: "From the national defence perspective, definitely the most important issue is Iran. "I think definitely we have to solve the issue of Gaza, but Iran is the most challenging issue for a simple reason. "This is the only potential existential threat to the state of Israel. And I think no government is going to accept a nuclear Iran. "Imagine the 7th of October, and the Iranian nuclear umbrella. Can you imagine what would happen then? So we cannot do it. "Hopefully it will be solved through diplomacy, and if not, we will have to use military force, because we don't have any other alternative." Israel has not been involved in talks between Washington and Tehran and continues to push for military action. Government sources in both Israel and Europe, however, have resonated with Trump and cautioned Netanyahu to refrain from striking. Former Israeli ambassador Daniel Shek told The Sun: "I do hope that there will be an agreement because I think diplomacy has more to gain on the Iranian issue than military intervention. "And people forget, historically wars aren't won on the battlefield. Battles are won on the battlefield. 7 Smoke rises following an explosion over Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike on Lebanon in October 2024 Credit: Reuters 7 "Wars are won around the negotiating table for an exit strategy for stable arrangements that avoid the next war etc. "That's how it's done. When did you see in history a war that ended simply because you killed the very last of the opposing soldiers? "It doesn't work that way. "So what should concern Israelis - and especially the Israeli government - is that the US seems to be much more motivated in that direction than them. "Currently you have an American president who just goes above our heads and things are happening and things will be concluded. "It's not done until it's over without including Israel simply because Israel is dragging its feet and doesn't show any enthusiasm." A source close to the French government meanwhile insisted Iran must be bombed "immediately" if they develop the capacity to explode a nuke - but not before. The insider told The Sun in the French capital: "Iran has the capacity to have about three to five bombs. "But that is only about the uranium. What they don't have is the industrial capacity to make a bomb explode. "Something worrying is that Russians or North Korea could give them this capacity. "If Iran develops capacity to explode a nuclear bomb, they must be bombed immediately. "Nobody wants to have a nuclear Iran. "If we discover one day that they could make a nuclear test, the only way would be to bomb Iran. "Israel says that we have to bomb it in advance, before they have the capacity to explode a nuclear bomb."
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Netanyahu will obliterate Iran's nuke empire on his own terms – and could snub Trump in final plan to cement legacy
BENJAMIN Netanyahu is plotting to bomb Iran as it is his "main goal for his legacy" to destroy its nuclear scheme, his ex-advisor said. But government insiders in Advertisement 7 Iran test fires a long-range S-200 missile in the port city of Bushehr Credit: AP 7 Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured in Jerusalem last week, wants to blitz Iran Credit: AP 7 It comes as the UN's nuclear watchdog revealed that Iran has secretly amassed near weapons-grade levels of uranium and could soon have enough for nine bombs. Trump, however, has firmly insisted Israel take no action that could jeopardise his administration's efforts to thrash out a deal with Iran. It culminated in a heated phone call this week between the leaders as they continue to clash on how to curb Advertisement More on Israel The Sun reported in April how But Trump called off any potential blitz - vowing to try and solve the pressing matter through diplomatic means before resorting to bombing. Nadav Shtrauchler, a former adviser to Netanyahu, told The Sun how the PM could give the green light to bomb Iran to cement his legacy. The strategic adviser said: "In his eyes, two things are highly important. One of them is Iran. The second is Saudi Arabia and the following of the Abraham Accords. Advertisement Most read in The Sun "Number one is Iran before everything else. "He sees that as a threat as an immediate threat to the state and after the last two big strikes from Iran, people understood that next time it could be different material on those weapons. Trump says Iran deal is 'well on its way' - as regime builds ring of steel around deeply buried nuclear fortresses "His main goal is to stop Iran and he needs to put every pressure he can. "Of course, you want to do it with Trump and with the American administration - but I think he would not avoid attacking there. Advertisement "This is his main number one goal in this war." Shtrauchler said although Netanyahu would want America's help, he will make sure Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's nuclear ambitions are destroyed "at all costs". "He changed the equation from the start," he added. "Iran was choking Israel from both sides from north, south and from other sides and he changed the equation by attacking Hezbollah and putting this threat out. Advertisement "There is no real threat rocket threat from Gaza today. And we know the situation with Syria has changed rapidly since the start of the war. "We also know that Iran has been folded or been attacked on these anti-aircraft missiles. "So he has a clear way, if he wants to do it. "Of course, he will want to do it with the American administration but nevertheless, this is his main goal. Advertisement "So if it's just knocking on a door before getting inside, it could be a sign but for sure is getting planned on that. "He wants to do it [strike Iran] and he's working on how to do it. And I think in the end he will try to do it with the Americans. "But if he sees it's not going, he will find a solution to change the equation with Iran and make sure that they don't have any nuclear weapon at all costs." 7 Donald Trump, pictured boarding Air Force One last week, is trying to negotiate with Tehran Credit: Reuters Advertisement 7 IDF sources, speaking to The Sun in Israel, previously said how is now 'many, many steps back' as forces have been working for months to clear the path for a major strike on Iran. They told how three air campaigns in Iran have eliminated strategic aerial defences which were 'the main obstacle' protecting the rogue nation's nuke facilities. The insider said the IDF has also worked to significantly downgrade the threat posed by Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthi - effectively leaving Iran isolated. Advertisement Vitally, this would allow Israeli aircraft to get to Iran's borders with diminished fear of being blasted. The IDF source told The Sun: 'We struck in Yemen three or four times, and we had three air campaigns in Iran, eliminating on the way most of the aerial defence systems in Syria, Iraq, and Iran. 'They were the main obstacle when thinking about a big aerial operation on the way to Iran. Their proxy aerial defence systems.' Netanyahu believes this gaping weakness in Iran's defence makes it the prime time to strike as it will not last. Advertisement But Trump has argued that negotiation coupled with the back-up threat of bombing is the ideal exploitation of Iran's vulnerability. Iran's secret nuke site 'Rainbow' Exclusive by Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital) CHILLING satellite pictures reveal Iran's sprawling secret nuclear site codenamed "Rainbow". Sources in the country have uncovered how the base is being used to develop nuclear-capable missiles with a 2,000-mile range - able to strike US bases in the Tehran's tyrannical regime is using oil and chemical facilities as a cover for nuclear bases, bombshell docs shared with The Sun by the Haunting aerial images expose a network of clandestine sites - including "Rainbow" - used by iron-fist leaders to create terrifying nuclear weapons. A powerful nuclear blast from Iran could have disastrous consequences for the Middle East - and beyond - thanks to the capability of the warheads. Now sources inside Iran have revealed the regime's nuclear weaponisation entity, Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research's (SPND) secret project to accelerate nuclear ability. Hidden under the guise of a chemical production facility, the crowning jewel of the operation is a base known internally as the 'Rangin Kaman (Rainbow) Site". It is some distance from Iran's already known nuke bases, and is masked as a chemical production company known as Diba Energy Siba. Ex-Israeli foreign affairs minister Gabi Ashkenazi warned military force will be the only alternative if talks hit a wall. The former IDF chief of general staff, speaking at a gathering of officials attended by The Sun is Paris, said: "From the national defence perspective, definitely the most important issue is Iran. "I think definitely we have to solve the issue of Gaza, but Iran is the most challenging issue for a simple reason. Advertisement "This is the only potential existential threat to the state of Israel. And I think no government is going to accept a nuclear Iran. "Imagine the 7th of October, and the Iranian nuclear umbrella. Can you imagine what would happen then? So we cannot do it. "Hopefully it will be solved through diplomacy, and if not, we will have to use military force, because we don't have any other alternative." Israel has not been involved in talks between Washington and Tehran and continues to push for military action. Advertisement Government sources in both Israel and Europe, however, have resonated with Trump and cautioned Netanyahu to refrain from striking. Former Israeli ambassador Daniel Shek told The Sun: "I do hope that there will be an agreement because I think diplomacy has more to gain on the Iranian issue than military intervention. "And people forget, historically wars aren't won on the battlefield. Battles are won on the battlefield. 7 Smoke rises following an explosion over Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike on Lebanon in October 2024 Credit: Reuters Advertisement 7 "Wars are won around the negotiating table for an exit strategy for stable arrangements that avoid the next war etc. "That's how it's done. When did you see in history a war that ended simply because you killed the very last of the opposing soldiers? "It doesn't work that way. Advertisement "So what should concern Israelis - and especially the Israeli government - is that the US seems to be much more motivated in that direction than them. "Currently you have an American president who just goes above our heads and things are happening and things will be concluded. "It's not done until it's over without including Israel simply because Israel is dragging its feet and doesn't show any enthusiasm." A source close to the French government meanwhile insisted Iran must be bombed "immediately" if they develop the capacity to explode a nuke - but not before. Advertisement The insider told The Sun in the French capital: "Iran has the capacity to have about three to five bombs. "But that is only about the uranium. What they don't have is the industrial capacity to make a bomb explode. "Something worrying is that Russians or North Korea could give them this capacity. "If Iran develops capacity to explode a nuclear bomb, they must be bombed immediately. Advertisement "Nobody wants to have a nuclear Iran. "If we discover one day that they could make a nuclear test, the only way would be to bomb Iran. "Israel says that we have to bomb it in advance, before they have the capacity to explode a nuclear bomb."
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Our Best Look At Ukraine's Reactivated S-200 Long-Range Surface-To-Air Missiles In Action
Ukraine has, apparently for the first time, released a video showing its use of the Soviet-era S-200 (SA-5 Gammon) long-range surface-to-air missile, a weapon that was reinstated to service only after the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. Since then, the S-200 has not been seen in official imagery but has been credited by Kviv with the high-profile destruction of an A-50 radar plane and a Tu-22M3 bomber. Ukraine's GUR just revealed the first footage of its S-200 Gammon SAM unit, restoring and using the massive Cold War-era missiles to hit Russian targets. Ukrainian S-200s have reportedly been used to down multiple high-value Russian aircraft, and hit Russian ground targets. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) May 13, 2025 Source- footage: — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) May 13, 2025 The footage in question was published by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense's Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR). Filmed at an undisclosed location, the video shows the missiles being raised into position before blasting off from their fixed launchers somewhere on the Black Sea coast. It's not clear when the footage dates from, but the foliage suggests it was taken at some point in the fall, winter, or early spring. Very much a product of the Cold War, the S-200 was first introduced to service by the Soviet Union in the late 1960s. At that time, its main mission was to bring down high-flying U.S. bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Typically, each S-200 system was deployed in static batteries that typically comprised six single-rail launchers, supported by a long-range surveillance radar, a target search and acquisition radar, a missile guidance radar, and multiple other support elements. In the GUR video, only the missiles and their launchers are visible. As for those missiles, they are from the 5V28 series and each measures around 35 feet in length, with a diameter of almost 34 inches. The missiles are first powered off their launcher using a cluster of four jettisonable solid-propellant boosters around the body, before a single-stage liquid-fuel motor kicks in. These missiles were refined during their initial service, with later models able to engage targets at a maximum range of around 186 miles. In Soviet service, the 5V28 could be armed with a command-detonated nuclear warhead, although those that remained in Ukrainian stocks were all fitted with a conventional 480-pound warhead, armed with a proximity fuze. Prior to the current conflict with Russia, the S-200 was best known in Ukrainian service for the infamous incident in October 2001, when an errant missile from one of the batteries shot down a Russian airliner over the Black Sea, during a live-fire exercise. By this point, the system was already showing its age, and by 2010, it was reported that Ukraine only had four S-200 batteries still active, with another 12 sites inactive. Further reports suggest the S-200 was removed from service entirely in 2013. Nonetheless, it appears that the demands of Russia's full-scale invasion led to at least some of these sites being reactivated or possibly reinstated at different locations. It's likely that much of the required infrastructure was still in place, or could be quickly returned to operational status, with the launchers fed by stocks of the missile that had been held in reserve. Somewhat surprisingly, the first evidence of Ukraine using the S-200s after February 2022 came from Russian accounts of the missiles being deployed in a surface-to-surface role. Russian reports from the summer of 2023 suggested the missiles were being used to attack land targets in Russian rear areas within Ukraine and in Russia itself. One video from this period appears to show a missile that looks very similar to one fired by an S-200 system diving almost vertically onto a target, supposedly in the Bryansk region of western Russia, which borders Ukraine. Another video, from local surveillance cameras, in the same period, shows what looks to be a 5V28 series missile from an S-200 diving vertically onto a target — reportedly a sawmill — in the settlement of Bytosh, also in the Bryansk region. A video of what appears to be a missile of the Soviet-made S-200 air defense system impacting a sawmill in the settlement of Bytosh in Bryansk Oblast of Russia earlier on the Ukrainians started to covert these missiles for the use against ground targets. — Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) July 9, 2023 Debate unfolding regarding the type of the missile that was used on #Russian territory. Other possibilities include S-200 anti-aircraft missile, redesigned for strikes against ground targets, on a sawmill in the Bryansk #StormShadow has a very different shape — Arthur Morgan (@ArthurM40330824) July 9, 2023 There were also Russian reports in 2023 of the Ukrainian S-200 being used to attack Morozovsk Air Base in the Rostov region. Some accounts suggest the S-200 was also tasked with attacks on the vital Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia to Russian-occupied Crimea. Also in the summer of 2023, Ukrainian media reported an attempted strike on the bridge using the system, while Russian sources claimed that their air defense operators shot down at least one missile just north of the Taman Peninsula, which borders the Azov Sea to the north, the Kerch Strait to the west, and the Black Sea to the south. Wreckage of the intercepted missile is said to have come down in the Azov Sea. Some sources pointed out that today's attack on the Kerch bridge ,Ukraine used modernized missile from the S-200 ADS complex, which was redesigned for strikes along a ballistic trajectory. This range is about 400 km. Some are suggesting this was ATACMS. The range for a Storm… — Koba (@Roberto05246129) July 9, 2023 Despite claims from the Russian Ministry of Defense that a total of three missiles from the S-200 were successfully intercepted, the incident reportedly led to the temporary closure of the Kerch Bridge by Russian authorities. Claims of the S-200 being used to strike such pinpoint targets should be treated with caution, since it would require extreme accuracy, unless the missile was retrofitted with a GPS guidance system, for example. Still, as we noted at the time, the S-200 gives Ukraine a useful, if extemporized, quasi-short-range ballistic missile-like capability. There is also the possibility that the missiles were more extensively modified for the land-attack role, which could provide them with improved accuracy, although there's no evidence of this so far. Either way, there is no doubt that Ukraine desperately needed a ballistic missile at this time — and still does. In its original form, the 5V28 series missile uses an inertial guidance system with updates provided by radio link before switching to semi-active radar homing for the terminal phase. For ground targets, the missile would have to be modified to hit within a certain circular error probable (CEP), or otherwise use GPS to hit a target more precisely. So regarding S-200's apparent land attack capability. S-200 employs semi-active radar guidance so there is at least an onboard guidance computer that an IMU could theoretically be integrated with. — John Ridge (@John_A_Ridge) July 10, 2023 While it's never been clear how many S-200 systems are available to Ukraine, it has reportedly also been used in its original air defense role, with some impressive results, according to Ukrainian authorities. In April of 2024, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the GUR, exclusively disclosed to TWZ that an S-200 had been used to bring down a Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire-C bomber that crashed in the Stavropol territory of southern Russia. The U.K. Ministry of Defense subsequently said it was 'almost certain' that an S-200 was used to bring down the Tu-22M3. One down, the rest to first downed Russian strategic bomber Tu-22m3.@KpsZSU@DI_Ukraine — Ukraine Territorial Defense Forces (@TDF_UA) April 19, 2024 One of the Russian Tu-22 strategic bombers that took part in today's attack on Ukrainian cities won't be flying again. Ukraine says it shot down the plane, Russians say it was a malfunction. One of the four crew members is dead. — Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) April 19, 2024 Budanov told TWZ that the Tu-22M3 was engaged at a distance of 308 kilometers — or around 191 miles — from the S-200 battery. I want to believe. — Chung-Tzu (@ChungTzuW) April 19, 2024 At the same time as the Tu-22M3 claim, the GUR said that Ukraine had used the same means to shoot down a Russian A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control aircraft earlier in the same year. Ukrainian officials had previously claimed the destruction of two A-50s while airborne, but hadn't previously specified what weapons were used to do this. On other occasions, Ukraine has used the Patriot air defense system to down fixed-wing tactical aircraft and helicopters at long range, including when they are flying within Russian airspace. Using the Patriot, Ukraine has reportedly successfully targeted aircraft at a range of around 100 miles, very much at the limits of its engagement envelope. Despite its age, the S-200 can, in theory, engage targets at much greater ranges, although the claimed 191-mile shootdown of the Tu-22M3 would put it just outside the system's known performance parameters. However, a Ukrainian defense official confirmed to TWZ that Ukraine had received 'help from partners' to produce an updated guidance system for the S-200. 'The missile itself has a good maneuvering system, so if provided with proper guidance is quite a modern weapon,' the official added. This may help explain not only how the target acquisition and missile guidance were achieved, but also how it was able to bring down a target at such a great range. Since then, other air defense solutions involving Western sensors or effectors have become more prevalent in Ukrainian service. With that in mind, combining the S-200 into more advanced sensors for initial targeting, for example could be an option. With Ukraine's insatiable demand for air defense systems, it makes sense to reactivate some of its S-200 systems to bolster its legacy surface-to-air missile systems, as well as those provided by Western allies. Clearly, the S-200 is several generations behind modern ground-based air defense systems, but its very long reach ensures that it has utility in particular scenarios, a fact that its apparent combat successes would seem to attest to. Contact the author: thomas@
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukrainian intelligence release footage showing S-200 missile strikes on Russians – photo, video
Units of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence (DIU) is using S-200 long-range anti-aircraft missile systems to strike Russian military personnel. Source: Militarnyi, a Ukrainian military media outlet, with reference to Ukraine's Defence Intelligence Details: The exclusive footage, released for the first time, shows the missiles being prepared for use, specifically how they are being loaded onto the launch pad and refuelled with liquid fuel, as well as the launches themselves. The S-200 anti-aircraft missile system is primarily designed to hit air targets at long ranges. However, judging by the video and statements by the Russians, the Ukrainian defence forces have adapted these systems for strikes against ground targets. The S-200 anti-aircraft missile system Ukraine's Defence Intelligence Last year, footage of the S-200 launcher with a 5V28 missile was published online. After the collapse of the USSR, such systems were in service with Ukraine's air defence. However, in 2013, the Ministry of Defence recognised the systems as obsolete and decided to withdraw them from combat service and subsequently dispose of them. There were earlier speculations that Poland could be the likely donor of the systems. During the Defence24 Days conference in 2024, a representative of the Armed Forces Command of Poland said that the 3rd Warsaw Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade no longer has such systems in its arsenal. Meanwhile, it cannot be ruled out that Ukrainian systems that were previously decommissioned have been restored. For reference: Russia has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine is striking its territory with converted S-200 anti-aircraft missiles. In the modified version for striking ground targets, the 5V28 missiles, which are 10.8 metres long and weigh 7.1 tonnes with a 220 kg fragmentation warhead, can essentially perform as ballistic missiles. Similar statements were made in the summer of 2023. On 19 August, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported a night strike with such a missile on temporarily occupied Crimea. However, there was no confirmation or comment from the Ukrainian forces. Missiles of this type are capable of hitting targets at a distance of over 300 km. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Newsweek
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Iran Lawmaker Urges Nuclear Breakout if US Talks Fail
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. Amid ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, an Iranian lawmaker has called on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to reconsider the country's nuclear weapons ban should talks fail to yield sanctions relief, according to state media. Nadergholi Ebrahimi's remarks, delivered during a parliamentary session on Monday, come as U.S. President Donald Trump embarks on a Middle East tour, focusing on economic partnerships while regional tensions escalate. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. State Department and Iran's foreign ministry for comment. Why It Matters Ebrahimi's statement underscores growing frustration within Iran's political sphere regarding the protracted negotiations with the United States. His call for a potential shift in nuclear policy reflects concerns over the effectiveness of diplomatic efforts and the ongoing economic impact of sanctions. Simultaneously, Trump's visit to Gulf nations, excluding Israel, has raised concerns in Tel Aviv about diminished U.S. support, especially amid escalating conflicts in Gaza and Iran's advancing nuclear capabilities. What to Know Iran's current nuclear doctrine, rooted in a fatwa issued by Khamenei, prohibits the development and use of nuclear weapons, labeling them as "forbidden." However, recent statements from Iranian officials suggest that this stance could change if Iran's nuclear facilities are threatened. Last month, Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to the Khamenei, declared on state television that any military strike by the U.S. or Israel would "justify" Iran's pursuit of nuclear arms. A S-200 surface-to-air missile system on display during an event in Tehran, Iran, on September 26, 2024. A S-200 surface-to-air missile system on display during an event in Tehran, Iran, on September 26, 2024.U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks The fourth round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S. concluded in Muscat, Oman, on Sunday. Both sides acknowledged progress yet remained divided on key issues. Iran insists on its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, while the U.S. demands a complete halt to enrichment activities. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated Tehran's commitment to uranium enrichment, suggesting possible adjustments in enrichment levels but rejecting a full cessation. Trump's Gulf Tour Meanwhile, President Trump is set to depart for the Middle East trip on Monday, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to secure massive investment deals—but notably skipping Israel. That omission has alarmed Israeli officials, especially after Trump halted U.S. strikes on Iran-backed Houthis. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seeking to steer Trump away from backing any Israeli military strike on Iran, wary of a wider conflict that could destabilize the Gulf and derail economic plans, Bloomberg reported. President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman during a bilateral meeting in Riyadh on May 20, 2017. President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman during a bilateral meeting in Riyadh on May 20, 2017. Evan Vucci/AP Photo What People Are Saying Iranian lawmaker Nadergholi Ebrahimi said: "If the negotiations result in lifting sanctions, they should continue. Otherwise, we demand the talks be stopped and request the Supreme Leader reconsider Iran's nuclear weapons doctrine." Negar Mortazavi, senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and host of The Iran Podcast, told Newsweek: "There's a lot of will from both Iran and the U.S. for the nuclear talks to be successful, and now also from the Arab states that President Trump is set to visit. And by not going Israel during his Middle East tour, Trump is positioning the U.S. for a deal with Iran." What Happens Next The outcome of the U.S.-Iran talks will be pivotal in determining the future of the Iranian nuclear program and Tehran's relations with the international community. Meanwhile, President Trump's engagements in the Gulf may influence regional alliances and economic strategies, potentially impacting the broader geopolitical landscape.
