Latest news with #USIsraelConflict
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Donald Trump reacts to claim Iran could use UN to force America to pay for U.S. strike damage
Donald Trump scoffed at the idea that Iran could force the United States to pay for the damage done by Israel and America that culminated in the drone strike against nuclear facilities in Tehran. 'It's pretty ridiculous,' quipped the president during his Fourth of July celebration at the White House. Earlier this week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demanding both the U.S. and Israel be blamed for the recent 12-day Israel-Iran war. 'We officially request hereby that the Security Council recognize the Israeli regime and the United States as the initiators of the act of aggression and acknowledge their subsequent responsibility, including the payment of compensation and reparations,' he wrote. While Trump celebrated what he called the 'complete obliteration' of the nuclear sites in Tehran, Iran was asking for relief elsewhere. 'While the full scale of the losses is under assessment, several hospitals and relief centers were targeted in grave breach of international humanitarian law, a few energy installations were targeted with the aim of disrupting daily lives of civilians,' Araghchi added. Araghchi warned that to do nothing would 'seriously undermine the credibility' of the UN and 'engenders lawlessness in the future of international relations in our region as well as the international community at large.' The United States told the United Nations Security Council in a letter that strikes on Iran were 'to destroy Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and stop the threat that this rogue regime obtains and uses a nuclear weapon.' 'The United States remains committed to pursuing a deal with the Iranian government,' wrote acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea. Israel claims that Iran's nuclear program is close to producing a bomb, whereas Tehran says it is for peaceful purposes. Washington justified the strikes as collective self-defense under article 51 of the founding U.N. Charter, which requires the 15-member Security Council to be immediately informed of any action states take in self-defense against armed attack. Much of the discourse surrounding the bombing is how much it has set back the Iranian nuclear program. The war, which saw Iran retaliate against Israeli and American military and civilian sites, began as US and Iranian diplomats sat down for talks over the Iran's nuclear capabilities. Under a 2015 deal, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium below 3.67 percent purity for fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. Trump abandoned the agreement in 2018 and Iran responded by producing uranium enriched to 60 percent - above levels for civilian usage but still below weapons grade. That material, if further refined, would theoretically be sufficient to produce more than nine nuclear bombs. The Trump administration continues to criticize the media for questioning the success of the mission after U.S. pilots aboard seven B-2 bombers dropped 14 Massive Ordinance Penetrator (MOP) bombs on the nuclear facilities in Fordow and Natanz. CNN exclusively reported leaked details from preliminary intelligence assessments of the strikes by the Defense Intelligence Agency, citing 'seven people' briefed on the report. Trump and his officials, particularly Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth criticized the reports, targeting one of the lead reporters of the story, Natasha Bertrand, of being dishonest. 'Natasha Bertrand should be FIRED from CNN! I watched her for three days doing Fake News. She should be IMMEDIATELY reprimanded, and then thrown out 'like a dog,'' Trump wrote on social media. 'She should not be allowed to work at Fake News CNN. It's people like her who destroyed the reputation of a once great Network,' Trump continued. 'Her slant was so obviously negative, besides, she doesn't have what it takes to be an on camera correspondent, not even close. FIRE NATASHA!' During Thursday's White House press briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt also called out Bertrand, who covers the Pentagon for CNN, by name. 'So this is a reporter who has been unfortunately used by people who dislike Donald Trump in this government to push fake and false narratives,' Leavitt alleged. 'She should be ashamed of herself.' Trump's post about CNN firing Bertrand appeared to be wishful thinking, as CNN issued a statement standing by Bertrand and her reporting. 'We stand 100 percent behind Natasha Bertrand's journalism and specifically her and her colleagues' reporting of the early intelligence assessment of the U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear facilities,' the news outlet said in a statement. CNN denounced the criticism targeted at Bertrand as irrational. 'We do not believe it is reasonable to criticize CNN reporters for accurately reporting on the existence of the assessment and accurately characterizing its findings, which are in the public interest,' they wrote. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held a press conference, complaining about the media reports based on 'biased leaks to biased publications.' 'How about we take a beat, recognize first the success of our warriors, hold them up, tell their stories, celebrate that, wave an American flag, be proud of what we accomplish?' he asked. Trump celebrated the press conference as a success, praising Hegseth and his team for emphasizing the success of the bombing mission.
Russia Today
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Iran warns Ukraine of ‘consequences' over recent comments
Tehran has summoned Ukraine's charge d'affaires and delivered a formal protest over remarks by Ukrainian officials in support of the recent US-Israeli attack on the country. The move was announced by Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday. Earlier this month, Israel attacked Iran, claiming that Tehran was nearing completion of a nuclear bomb. Washington later also joined the bombing campaign. Iran denied the allegations and retaliated. The 12-day war ended in a US-brokered ceasefire last week, which has so far been observed. In a statement on its official website, the ministry denounced what it called 'unjustified comments made by some Ukrainian officials regarding the Zionist regime's and American aggression against Iran.' 'By supporting the military aggression of the Zionist regime, Ukrainian officials have in fact ignored Ukraine's international legal obligations regarding respect for the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter and the four Geneva Conventions,' Shahram Farsai, the head of the First Eurasian Department, told the Ukrainian envoy. The Ukrainian diplomat reportedly assured Iranian officials that the protest would be conveyed to Kiev without delay. Iranian authorities warned of 'consequences' if what they described as repeated 'hostile and provocative actions' continued. The Iranian Foreign Ministry did not name specific Ukrainian officials or statements. However, during the 12-day war, Kiev officially condemned Iran's June 23 missile strike on the US Al-Udeid air base in Qatar. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry claimed that Tehran was closely cooperating with Moscow and that they were jointly 'destabilizing the Middle East and Europe.' In an interview with Sky News last week, Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky also described Kiev's relations with Tehran as 'very complicated' and criticized Iran for supporting Russia. Zelensky expressed support for the US-Israeli strike campaign, calling it 'a powerful and correct move.' Iran and Moscow have repeatedly stressed that their growing cooperation is not aimed against third parties and is intended to ensure peace and stability and to maintain their independence and sovereignty.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Iran nuclear: Foreign minister admits serious damage to sites
Iran's foreign minister has admitted that "excessive and serious" damage was done to the country's nuclear sites in the recent US and Israeli Araghchi told a state broadcaster on Thursday evening, an assessment of the damage is being carried out by the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran. But, just hours earlier, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the strikes did not disrupt the country's nuclear programme. Khamenei was responding to US President Donald Trump's assertion that the bombs had "totally obliterated" three nuclear said the US attacks had failed to "accomplish anything significant". The supreme leader, who has been in hiding since the war with Israel began on 13 June, insisted that Trump had "exaggerated" the impact of the bombs, and declared victory over the US and Araghchi's remarks create a different foreign minister also said there were no plans to resume nuclear talks with the US. Iran cancelled a scheduled sixth round of talks when Israel began its Iran's supreme leader emerges from hiding he will find a very different nation"I would like to state clearly that no agreement, arrangement or conversation has been made to start new negotiations," he said. He added that the government was examining what was in the "interest of the Iranian people", saying its approach to diplomacy will take a "new form". He did not explain what he meant. In an attempt to bring Iran back to the negotiating table, the Trump administration has discussed the possibility of helping Iran access $30bn to build a civilian-energy-producing nuclear programme, easing sanctions and freeing up billions of dollars in restricted Iranian funds, CNN has reported. But developments in Iran might obstruct such a Wednesday, Iran's parliament approved a bill to stop co-operation with the global nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). If it is implemented, it would mean Iran is no longer committed to allowing nuclear inspectors into its has said its offensive against Iran was necessary to thwart what it claims are Iranian plans to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has always insisted its nuclear programme is only intended for civilian US became directly involved in the conflict last weekend, striking facilities in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, before Trump sought to rapidly mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said intelligence gathered by the US and Israel indicated the strikes "significantly damaged the nuclear programme, setting it back by years".A leaked preliminary Pentagon assessment downplayed the significance of the damage and said the US strikes only set Iran's nuclear programme back by a few months. The leak has been dismissed by the administration. Iran's health ministry said 610 people were killed during the 12 days of Israel air strikes, while Israeli authorities said 28 were killed in Israel.
The Independent
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump-Iran latest: US Secretary of Defense rages at coverage of bombing after ayatollah threatens further attacks
Recap: Iran's Supreme leader vows 'victory' over US and Israel Iran will not hesitate to bomb more US air bases in the Middle East, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned. In his first public appearance since the US attacked Iran's three nuclear facilities on Sunday morning, Khamenei claimed the Islamic Republic had access to 'key US centres' and would take action 'when necessary'. He also claimed Iran had won a victory over Israel and the US, delivering a 'slap to the US's face' by attacking its Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. 'Such an action can be repeated in the future too. Should any aggression occur, the enemy will definitely pay a heavy price,' Khamenei said. Alexander Butler26 June 2025 19:30
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Report: Iran could rebuild its nuclear sites within months
Iran could rebuild its nuclear sites within months, a former Iranian diplomat has warned. Seyed Hossein Mousavian, who previously served as a senior member of Iran's nuclear diplomacy team, said recent US strikes only 'partly' destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities and that the country still retains its nuclear 'know-how'. 'There is no doubt... Iranian nuclear facilities have been attacked, have been bombed, have been damaged,' he told the ABC's 7.30 program on Thursday. 'You can imagine buildings, utilities, even perhaps centrifuges have been destroyed, partly, not all. 'Nevertheless, if the objective of the US-Israeli air strikes aim and objective was to destroy (the) Iranian nuclear program, I'm confident they have failed. 'Even if they have another attack, even if they have 100 attacks, they will fail because you can not kill technology and know-how, Iranians, they have know-how.' Mr Mousavian, who claims to no longer be affiliated with the Iranian regime, suggested it might take only months to reconstruct the country's nuclear facilities. 'Iranians have the know-how technology and they can reconstruct everything, whether that would take one month or five months or six months, it doesn't matter.' The US launched an array of strikes on Saturday after Israel and Iran's long-standing feud developed into a direct conflict earlier this month. The strikes involved 125 US military aircraft and targeted three nuclear facilities: Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. Mr Mousavian's comments stand in stark contrast to those of US President Donald Trump who has claimed the bombings devastated the country's nuclear facilities. ' Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. The former Iranian diplomat is not the first to suggest the damage could have been less extensive than Trump had suggested, including by his own intelligence agencies. An initial assessment by the US Defense Intelligence Agency also suggested Iran's path to building a nuclear weapon might have been set back only by months. Trump shrugged off the findings in an appearance at a NATO summit in the Netherlands on Wednesday, claiming they were 'inconclusive'. 'It was very severe. It was obliteration,' he said. CIA director John Ratcliffe has since said the strikes had 'severely damaged' Iran's nuclear facilities but stopped short of stating the nuclear program had been wiped out. Asked by Mr Speers whether he believed Iran would remain in the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Mr Mousavian was non-committal. 'It depends to the US. If the US would be committed to international rules and regulations,' he said. 'If the US would respect Non-Proliferation Treaty, if the US would respect the rights of Iran like other members of Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran would stay. 'Iran, like before, would never go for nuclear bombs, like before, Iran would cooperate at the highest level of transparency and inspections, to ensure its nuclear program is peaceful.' Mr Speers then asked whether, in Mr Mousavian's view, there would be an 'incentive' for Iran to speed up its efforts towards building a nuclear weapon.
