Latest news with #Weapons
Memri
3 days ago
- Politics
- Memri
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's Nonexistent Nuclear Fatwa Reemerges In Iranian Discourse With Trump Administration
On the eve of the fifth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, the fatwa allegedly issued by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei banning Iran's development, possession, and use of nuclear weapons as a guarantee that Iran would not seek to obtain them was brought up by two mouthpieces of the Iranian regime. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed it in a television interview on May 22, 2025, and the Iranian regime mouthpiece Kayhan discussed it in an article published May 21, 2025. Over the years, no such fatwa has ever appeared on either of Khamenei's two fatwa websites, and while the fatwa has been said to have been issued on several different dates and in a range of different versions, no one has ever actually seen it. Although the regime mouthpieces have insisted for two decades that it does exist, the fact is that it does not; its existence was invented for Iranian diplomatic purposes (see Appendix: MEMRI Reports On Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's Nonexistent Fatwa). The following is background on this nonexistent fatwa, the translation of excerpts of Foreign Minister Araghchi's interview discussing it and Kayhan's article about it, and a list of MEMRI reports over the years about it. Background: The Nonexistent Nuclear Fatwa As A Guarantee That Iran Will Not Seek To Obtain Nuclear Weapons For over two decades, Iranian regime mouthpieces and regime officials have presented the nonexistent fatwa allegedly issued by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as a legal and religious guarantee that Iran will not launch, produce, or possess nuclear weapons. The claim about this "nuclear fatwa" has been presented to the West, with which the Iranian regime has been in a dialogue ever since 2002, when Iran's illegal and undeclared nuclear activity was exposed. The fatwa is aimed at achieving legitimacy for Iran's strategic goal of attaining "nuclear threshold state" status, and for conducting on its a full "nuclear fuel cycle," including uranium mining, uranium enrichment, using uranium as fuel, and handling radioactive waste. During the 2002-2006 Iran-EU3 (UK, France, and Germany) nuclear negotiations, Iran presented its position that a fatwa by Khamenei bans nuclear weapons. The EU3 demanded that Iran approve a clause in its state constitution similar to one in the constitutions of the "nuclear threshold states" Germany and Japan vis-à-vis a ban on nuclear weapons. Iran rejected this demand, and, in order to circumvent it, Hassan Rohani, who had headed the Iranian nuclear negotiating team and who would in 2013 become Iran's president, said in a May 2012 interview that it was he who had proposed claiming that Khamenei had published this fatwa in a Friday sermon in November 2004 (see MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 1022, The Official Iranian Version Regarding Khamenei's Alleged Anti-Nuclear Weapons Fatwa Is A Lie, October 3, 2013). Again, this alleged fatwa has never been found on Khamenei's fatwa webpages, not in November 2004 nor at any other time. Rohani's proposal, as he attested, was to present this alleged fatwa to the Europeans as a guarantee that Iran would not strive to produce nuclear weapons. It is worth noting that while the Iranian regime rejected a constitutional ban on nuclear weapons, it has added articles concerning scientific and technological advances to its constitution, as a result of which there has been extensive investment in space, nuclear technology, and industry. Majlis National Security Committee deputy chairman Abbas Moqtadei stated on May 24, 2025 that "based on the aims and the policy set out in the constitution, we are committed to a precise plan to achieve comprehensive advancement of the nation in a range of aspects. In this context, there have been extensive activities and investment in various scientific areas, including aviation, space, nuclear energy, science and medicine, agriculture, industry, and new technologies."[1] When in 2005 the EU3 demanded to see this fatwa, the regime representatives failed to produce it, and the EU3 did not accept the regime's claim. All Iran would provide was a report by an Iranian news agency purportedly about the fatwa (see MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 825, Renewed Iran-West Nuclear Talks – Part II: Tehran Attempts to Deceive U.S. President Obama, Sec'y of State Clinton With Nonexistent Anti-Nuclear Weapons Fatwa By Supreme Leader Khamenei, April 19, 2012). The Obama administration, which took over from the EU3 in conducting the nuclear negotiations with Iran, did accept Iran's position that this fatwa actually existed and that it did indeed serve as an alternative to invasive IAEA oversight. The administration promoted the fatwa as binding, even though it too never saw it.[2] The Obama administration went on to approve the Iranian regime as a legitimate party to the negotiations, erasing Iran's record of NPT violations, and even recognized Iran's right to enrich uranium on its soil with President Obama's signature. (See Inquiry and Analysis 1080, U.S. Secretary Of State Kerry In New And Unprecedented Statement: 'President Obama And I Are Both Extremely Welcoming And Grateful For The Fact That [Iranian] Supreme Leader [Khamenei] Has Issued A [Nonexistent] Fatwa' Banning Nuclear Weapons', March 31, 2014, and Special Dispatch No. 5461, President Obama Endorses The Lie About Khamenei's 'Fatwa' Against Nuclear Arms, September 29, 2013.) Since then, Iran has adamantly rejected the Trump administration's demand for "zero enrichment" – that is, it refuses to give up enriching uranium on its soil and argues that its right to do so is nonnegotiable. According to regime representatives, the right to enrich uranium is an Iranian national achievement bought with blood that elevates Iran's status, gives it honor among the nations, and ensures independence from Western countries, as it is a revolutionary country that refuses to submit to the Western world order when it comes to the acquisition of enriched material.[3] This is despite the fact that Iran has no civilian nuclear plants powered by fuel enriched to the very high level that it possesses, as attested to by Iranian Majlis National Security And Foreign Policy Committee Member Ahmad Bakhshayish Ardestani. He said on May 25, 2025: "The 300 kg of uranium stored in Iran is equal to 10 atom bombs – and if Israel continues its threats, we will be able to increase the enrichment level even more."[4] The fatwa, as a legal and religious guarantee that Iran is not striving to obtain nuclear weapons – despite the repeated announcements by Iranian officials about Iran's capability, and right, to possess them[5] – has recently been brought up again in regime mouthpiece claims vis-à-vis the Trump administration. This is in the hope that the latter will follow in the footsteps of the Obama administration that accepted the fatwa even though it does not exist. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi In May 22, 2025 TV Interview: "The Supreme Leader Issued A Fatwa And We Do Not Need Nuclear Weapons In Our Defense Doctrine" Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in his Iranian television interview on May 22, 2025, on the eve of the fifth round of nuclear talks in Rome: "If America's aim is for Iran not to advance toward nuclear weapons, this is achievable. We have no desire to build nuclear weapons. The Supreme Leader issued a fatwa, and we do not need nuclear weapons in our defense doctrine. They [the Americans] imposed sanctions on us due to the enrichment. We were under sanctions for years, but we didn't turn to [nuclear] weapons. Our scientists were assassinated, but we didn't turn to [nuclear] weapons. We came, we negotiated, and we reached an agreement through negotiations, but they [the U.S.] abandoned [the agreement]. We didn't use [nuclear] weapons. Our policy is based on principles and foundations, and nuclear weapons have no place in our defense doctrine."[6] Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (Source: Tasnim, Iran, May 22, 2025) Regime Mouthpiece Kayhan, May 21, 2025: "This Fatwa Is Not A Political Tactic, But A Legal And Strategic Position Within The Framework Of The Principles Of Islam" In its May 21, 2025 article, Kayhan quoted Supreme Leader Khamenei's announcement that Iran would continue with its uranium enrichment policy and that it needed no approval from any country. The article stated: "The experience of the past few decades has shown that the West's main problem with Iran is not nuclear weapons. The American administration and the European 'troika' (Britain, France, and Germany) have repeatedly stated that they 'are concerned that Iran will acquire nuclear weapons.' These governments know very well that Iran has the technical know-how to acquire nuclear weapons, but that for religious and moral reasons it will never move towards producing nuclear weapons. "Iran has repeatedly declared [this], and, more importantly, the Supreme Leader [Khamenei] has issued a religious fatwa banning the production and use of nuclear weapons. This fatwa is not a political tactic, but a legal and strategic position within the framework of the principles of Islam."[7] Appendix: MEMRI Reports On Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's Nonexistent Fatwa Below are MEMRI reports on the nonexistent fatwa published over the years: Renewed Iran-West Nuclear Talks – Part II: Tehran Attempts to Deceive U.S. President Obama, Sec'y of State Clinton With Nonexistent Anti-Nuclear Weapons Fatwa By Supreme Leader Khamenei, April 19, 2012 Release Of Compilation Of Newest Fatwas By Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei – Without Alleged Fatwa About Nuclear Bomb, August 13, 2013 President Obama Endorses The Lie About Khamenei's 'Fatwa' Against Nuclear Weapons, September 29, 2013 The Official Iranian Version Regarding Khamenei's Alleged Anti-Nuclear Weapons Fatwa Is A Lie, October 3, 2013. Iranian President Hassan Rohani In Article In Saudi Daily: While Avoiding Confrontation And Hostility, We Shall Be Diligent In Pursuing Our Supreme Interests, December 23, 2013 U.S. Secretary Of State Kerry In New And Unprecedented Statement: 'President Obama And I Are Both Extremely Welcoming And Grateful For The Fact That [Iranian] Supreme Leader [Khamenei] Has Issued A [Nonexistent] Fatwa' Banning Nuclear Weapons,' March 31, 2014 Tehran Again Offers Khamenei's Nonexistent Fatwa In Negotiations As A Guarantee That It Is Not Developing Nuclear Weapons – Iranian Regime Continues Its Lies And Fabrications About Supreme Leader Khamenei's Nonexistent Fatwa Banning Nuclear Weapons, April 6, 2015 Insights Following Exposure Of Iran's Military Nuclear Program – Part I: The Leadership Of Iran's Religious Regime Lies About Essential Islamic Matters, Manipulates Religion To Justify Its Grip On Power, Regional Expansion, May 6, 2018 Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif Reiterates Iran's Lie, Promoted By Obama Administration, That Supreme Leader Khamenei Issued Fatwa Banning Nuclear Weapons; No Such Fatwa Ever Existed, May 31, 2019 Iran Uses 'Maximum Pressure' On Biden Administration – Part II: Supreme Leader Khamenei: 'If The Islamic Republic [Of Iran] Decided To Obtain Nuclear Weapons, Neither You [The Zionist Clown] Nor Those Greater Than You [The U.S.] Would Be Able To Stop It' , February 23, 2021 Shift In Iranian Regime Statements On Nuclear Weapons: Regime Spokesmen Talk Openly About Them, Aiming For Western Acquiescence To Iran As A Nuclear Threshold State, August 2, 2022 Khamenei's 'Nuclear Fatwa,' Once Again MEMRI Daily Brief Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei: 'If It Were Not An Islamic Principle, And If We Had The Will To Build Nuclear Weapons, We Would Do So – Even The Enemies Know That They Cannot Stop Us'; MEMRI: The Fatwa Banning Nuclear Weapons That Is Attributed To Khamenei Does Not Exist, June 26, 2023. Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1784 - In Advance Of Revival Of U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks, Iranian Calls For Iran To Possess Nuclear Weapons Are Again Heard, September 5, 2024. Special Dispatch No. 11833 - Iranian Regime Continues To Lie About The Alleged Fatwa Banning Nuclear Weapons, February 11, 2025.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Weapons' Trailer: Josh Brolin Searches for Missing Students in ‘Barbarian' Director's Creepy New Horror
The first trailer for 'Weapons,' the new horror film from 'Barbarian' director Zach Cregger starring Josh Brolin, has been unveiled. Brolin stars alongside Julia Garner and Alden Ehrenreich in Cregger's sophomore feature. The cast also includes Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, Amy Madigan, Cary Christopher and June Diane Raphael. It follows the disappearance of a group of school children in the middle of the night in a small Florida community. More from Variety Tom Cruise Told Glen Powell to 'Film Yourself' Sprinting for 'The Running Man': 'You Don't Look as Cool as You Think You Do' 'Weapons' Trailer Creeps Out CinemaCon as 'Barbarian' Director Zach Cregger Reveals Skin-Crawling Missing Kids Plot Josh Brolin Says Oscars Rejecting Denis Villeneuve Again for Best Director 'Makes No Sense': 'Dune 2' Is 'Even Better Than the First' and 'You Deserve It' Roy Lee and Miri Yun produce the film via Vertigo, alongside Raphael Margules and J.D. Lifshitz via BoulderLight Pictures. New Line handles the film's theatrical release. Cregger's Airbnb horror film 'Barbarian' was a surprise success in 2022, earning the top spot at the box office in its opening weekend. The filmmaker originally started his career in the comedy group Whitest Kids U'Know and told Variety that the switch between genres wasn't quite as drastic as it may seem. 'I don't think horror and comedy are too dissimilar,' Cregger said in 2022. 'The anatomy of a scare is very similar to the anatomy of a laugh. It's all about timing and tone and zigging when the audience expects you to zag. I feel like my time in sketch comedy has equipped me to play in this pool.' Cregger's friend and 'Get Out' director Jordan Peele gave him some guidance. 'He gave me a crash course on how to handle the inevitable challenges, and that was so valuable.' 'Weapons' hits theaters Aug. 8. Watch the trailer below. Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in May 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in May 2025
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Weapons: Makers release creepy 2-hour footage of children running away at night, leave horror fans surprised
The trailer of Weapons, the new horror film directed by Barbarian maker Zach Cregger, dropped earlier this week and caught attention of several fans. The producers of the film Warner Bros seemed to have taken an unlikely route in promoting the film, as it has now released an unlisted video of several children running away from their homes at night without any description. (Also read: Weapons trailer: Insane $38 million script of this movie caused a massive bidding war; Jordan Peele fired staff for it) The two-hour, unlisted video has a series of children running away from their homes late at night, which is seemed to look like a surveillance video where the viewer himself is watching from the point of view of the camera. The video raises questions- Who is watching the video? Who is looping in these moments together? This video was shared with the title, '2025_░_░_06: It must be noted that the video is in line with the premise of the film Weapons, which reads, 'When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.' Reacting to the video, an eagle eye fan commented, 'The large face that acts as a reflection on the screen must be a clue.' A second fan said, 'This is insanely interesting, so excited.' Another said, 'Great to see viral marketing coming back.' A comment read, 'The marketing for this movie is insane. I love it.' 'Soooo damn eerie. This looks interesting to say the least!' said another fan. With more details about the plot being kept under wraps, horror fans and viewers will have to wait till August to find out the answers. Weapons also stars Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan.
Metro
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'Creepiest horror trailer in years' leaves fans struggling to sleep
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The trailer for Weapons, a new horror from Barbarian writer-director Zack Cregger, has been released – and fans have been left unable to sleep after watching the intense preview. Starring Julia Garner and Josh Brolin, the trailer for Weapons introduces the audience to a simple premise that focuses on a teacher, Miss Gandy (Garner), walking into her classroom one morning to find all 17 students have disappeared in the night. A child's creepy narration explains that the plot thickens as the teacher quickly becomes a person of interest in her class's disappearance, and CCTV shows that all of the children ran from their homes at 2.17am. The intense trailer then shows graphic, increasingly horrifying imagery, including a creepy child sitting up from a desk in a darkened classroom, a view of a man being smacked into by a car, hands covering a man's face furiously holding him down, and black oil being poured onto someone's face. The movie then ends with the door of a house opening by itself as a child says quietly: 'This is where the story really starts.' Fans were left shell-shocked after the creepy nature of the film, with many taking to social media to say they were left unable to sleep. 'I don't like scary movies and I watched that WEAPONS trailer late last night and I swear to god it was so scary I couldn't even sleep,' said tiatamiaa on X. 'WEAPONS might be the scariest film of the year. What the f**k is that trailer??? lol,' said JakeRileyHunte. 'Man Weapons just *looks* crazy f****n' good,' said eventualforever. 'I watched the trailer for Weapons last night and thought it was so so scary,' said violetfaced. 'These kids are not alright. #Weapons looks messed up [positive].' added Lulamaybelle. 'I had full body chills the last 30 seconds of that trailer, incredible stuff,' said sillierdeadite. The film has had some fantastically frightening marketing attached, with Warner Bros releasing a two-hour-long video that showed children running with their arms out into the woods. The video appeared to be taken from CCTV footage and was left untitled and unexplained on the YouTube channel of the entertainment company. The creepy footage actually sparked some concern from viewers who stumbled across the video, unaware of what they were seeing, and baffled about what the footage was showing. Fans have also spotted some hidden Easter eggs in the footage, highlighting that an image of a baseball team can be seen around a minute and a half into the video – but only for a split second – which may be a key clue about the events in the film, or could be a red herring. Zach Cregger was the mind behind Barbarian, a horror which was met with huge critical acclaim, which he also wrote and directed. More Trending He was also a producer on the recent popular horror film Companion starring Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher, which was also met with huge accolades. Given his strong track record, fans are dead-set that Weapons is set to be another blinding success, which will traumatise viewers for years to come – but in a good way, of course. Weapons is set to be released in cinemas on August 8. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Freaky Friday sequel star had 'concerns' over Asian stereotypes in 2003 original MORE: Amazon Prime Video's 'twisted' thriller sequel lands surprising Rotten Tomatoes score MORE: Gerard Butler's 'trashiest' action thrillers somehow smash into Amazon Prime charts
Express Tribune
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
'Weapons': Release date, cast, plot and all the latest updates about Zach Cregger's upcoming horror film
Weapons, directed by Zach Cregger and produced by New Line Cinema, is scheduled for release later this year. The film marks Cregger's follow-up to Barbarian and features a psychological horror narrative set in the fictional town of Maybrook. The plot centres around the simultaneous disappearance of 17 children from a single classroom at 2:17 a.m. The town is left to unravel the cause, as questions emerge about the nature of the event and those involved. Julia Garner plays Mrs. Gandy, the teacher of the missing children. Josh Brolin portrays Archer Graff, a parent who begins to investigate the case. The cast also includes Benedict Wong as the school principal, along with Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Amy Madigan, and Cary Christopher. The film's narrative incorporates multiple storylines and tonal shifts, with a structure compared to Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia. A companion promotional website, contains supplemental material referencing Cregger's previous film Barbarian, suggesting a shared universe, though this remains unconfirmed. Weapons was the subject of a high-profile industry bidding war in 2023. Warner Bros. ultimately secured the project for approximately $38 million, surpassing a competing bid from Universal backed by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions. Reports later linked Peele's decision to part ways with two longtime managers to the outcome of the auction, though no formal reason was provided. The film's release was originally scheduled for January 2026. However, following favourable responses in early test screenings, Warner Bros. advanced the release date. Weapons is now set to release in cinemas and IMAX on 8 August 2025.
