Egypt Voices Deep Concern Over Escalating Tensions in Iran
By Ahmad El-Assasy
Egypt has expressed deep concern over the recent developments in Iran, warning of the dangerous consequences of the escalating tensions on both regional and global stability.
In an official statement, the Egyptian government condemned the rapid escalation and reaffirmed its rejection of any violations of the United Nations Charter and international law. Cairo underscored the importance of upholding the sovereignty of all nations.
The Foreign Ministry cautioned that the Middle East risks sliding further into chaos and instability if the situation continues to deteriorate.
"Egypt reiterates that political solutions and diplomatic negotiations—not military action—are the only viable path to ending the crisis and achieving a lasting settlement," the statement read.
The Egyptian government also renewed its call for immediate de-escalation and the exercise of maximum restraint, emphasizing the urgent need to prioritize dialogue in order to protect civilian lives and preserve regional security.
This latest statement comes amid growing international concern over the implications of rising tensions between Iran and other regional players.
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Al-Ahram Weekly
37 minutes ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
🔴LIVE UPDATES: Paris, Berlin, London urge Iran to refrain from 'action that could destabilise the region' - Region
President Donald Trump said that the US military had carried out strikes Sunday on three Iranian nuclear sites and that Tehran "must now agree to end this war", following days of speculation over whether the United States would join its ally Israel's bombing campaign. 20:00 The leaders of France, Germany and Britain on Sunday called on Iran "not to take any further action that could destabilise the region" in response to US strikes on its nuclear sites. "We call upon Iran to engage in negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all concerns associated with its nuclear program," the leaders added in a joint statement. 19:20 The United States embassy in Lebanon said that the State Department on Sunday ordered the departure of family members and non-emergency US government personnel from Lebanon, after Washington launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. "On June 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of State ordered the departure of family members and non-emergency U.S. government personnel from Lebanon due to the volatile and unpredictable security situation in the region," said a statement on the US embassy website. Washington has a "do not travel" advisory in place for Lebanon. 19:10 Iran's government said there was no immediate danger to the public after the United States struck three of its nuclear sites on Sunday. "There is no danger to the people living on the outskirts of our nuclear areas," spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said on state television. "The people of Natanz, Isfahan and Fordo can continue their lives." 19:00 The US State Department has ordered the departure of family members and non-emergency government personnel from Lebanon, citing the volatile security situation in the region, Reuters reported, quoting a State Department notice emailed to US citizens in the country. A similar order was issued last year during Israel's war in Lebanon, which dealt significant blows to the Hezbollah group, but that directive was later lifted. 18:40 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran against retaliating against US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, saying such an action would be 'the worst mistake they've ever made,' AP reported. 'If the regime wants peace, we're ready for peace. If they want to do something else, they're incredibly vulnerable. They can't even protect their own airspace,' Rubio said on CBS' 'Face the Nation' Sunday. Rubio also warned against Iranian attacks on countries in the region that host American military forces. 'That's exactly why they are there. All those bases are there because those countries are afraid Iran will attack them,' Rubio said. 'Those bases are there because those countries are petrified.' 18:30 An Israeli airstrike has killed three members of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, AP reported, citing semi-official news agencies in the Islamic Republic. The Mehr and Tasnim news agencies said the strike occurred in Zanjan province. A day earlier, on Saturday, the Israeli military said it had killed three senior Iranian commanders overnight, including a key coordinator between Iran and Hamas, in a strike in Qom province. 18:20 The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday after US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, Guyana said, as holder of the council's rotating presidency for June. The session, set for 3 pm (1900 GMT), will be the third since the Israel-Iran conflict began. Earlier, Iran's UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, called for the meeting, accusing the US of carrying out 'deliberate, premeditated and unprovoked' strikes on three nuclear sites in coordination with Israel. In a letter to the UN secretary general and the Security Council president, he urged the body to condemn the attacks and hold the US accountable. 18:00 Barbara Leaf, the US assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs under President Joe Biden, told AP that the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, views the preservation of the Islamic Republic – including its theocratic system of governance – as his top priority. 'If the regime feels that its existence is at stake, it will use any weapons that come to hand, whether the arsenal of ballistic missiles, depleted conventional forces, terrorism, asymmetrical attacks,' she said. 'But it has clearly signalled throughout the nine days of this conflict with Israel that it is trying to avoid a second front, and that is a front with the US. So really, at this moment, I think how the US comports itself will be the decisive factor.' 17:45 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his focus was on curbing the Israel-Iran war and negotiating a solution, as he warned of escalation spreading beyond the Middle East. Starmer did not say whether the UK would be drawn into the war if Iran targets US bases, according to AP, but said it was moving military equipment into the area to protect its interests, people and allies. 'I'm not going to speculate about what may happen, because all my focus is on de-escalation,' he said. The UK has sent additional Typhoon fighter jets and Voyager tankers to Cyprus since the Israel-Iran war started more than a week ago. Iran has threatened to attack US, French and British bases in the region if those countries help Israel. 17:30 A series of unprecedented US strikes against Iran "devastated" its nuclear programme, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday, as he asserted Washington was not seeking regime change in Tehran. The Pentagon chief urged Iran's leaders to find an off-ramp to the conflict after President Donald Trump announced the strikes on a key underground uranium enrichment site at Fordo, along with nuclear facilities in Isfahan and Natanz. "We devastated the Iranian nuclear programme," Hegseth told a Pentagon press briefing, adding that the operation "did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people". Hegseth continued, "Trump seeks peace, and Iran should take that path. "This mission was not and has not been about regime change," he added. 16:30 At least 86 people were injured in Israel on Sunday after Iran launched nearly 30 ballistic missiles in retaliation for US airstrikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities, Israeli officials said. Israeli media reported that emergency services responded to at least 10 impact sites, with damage recorded in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Carmel. In Tel Aviv's Ramat Aviv neighbourhood, residential buildings suffered significant structural damage, and streets were strewn with rubble as rescue teams searched for survivors. In Haifa, a public square and nearby buildings sustained heavy damage. Shopfronts were shattered, air conditioners were torn from facades, and debris littered residential areas. Police units were also deployed to Ness Ziona, south of Tel Aviv. An Israeli air defence interceptor malfunctioned during the barrage and crashed in Haifa, slightly injuring three people. Sirens did not sound in the city. "The possibility of a malfunction with the interceptor is under investigation," an army spokesperson told AFP. Visiting one of the damaged sites in Tel Aviv, Mayor Ron Huldai said: "Houses here were hit very, very badly… The damage is very, very extensive, but in terms of human life, we are okay," according to AFP. Despite Israel's air defences intercepting more than 450 missiles and around 1,000 drones over the past week, officials confirmed at least 50 direct missile impacts. 16:00 Iranian media reported that a "massive explosion was heard" in Bushehr province, home to Iran's only nuclear power plant, hours after the US bombed nuclear sites across the country. Bushehr lies on the Iranian side of the Persian Gulf, opposite Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia on the other side. Bushehr province is home to Iran's only nuclear power plant, which is run with Russian assistance. The Iranian Shargh newspaper reported the blast, while the Fars news agency said Israel attacked two locations in the city. It is not clear who launched an attack or where. The day before, the UN's nuclear watchdog warned that striking the Bushehr plant would trigger "a very high release of radioactivity." 15:30 President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi stressed Sunday in a phone call with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said the importance of restoring US-Iran nuclear talks to shield the region from the devastation of war amid rising Israel-Iran military confrontation. President El-Sisi underscored that Egypt urges halting the ongoing escalation between Israel and Iran and returning to nuclear talks to prevent further bloodshed, warning of the grave consequences of expanding the conflict. During the phone call, the Egyptian president praised Oman's mediation efforts between the US and Iran to resolve the dispute over the Iranian nuclear program peacefully. On 13 June, Israel torpedoed weeks-long US-Iran nuclear talks mediated by Oman by launching military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran retaliated by launching salvos of missiles against various targets in Israel. 14:40 China has issued a strong condemnation of the United States following its airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, warning that the attacks violate international law and risk further escalation in the Middle East. In a statement on Saturday, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry said the strikes targeted facilities under the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) safeguards. The spokesperson described the attacks as a breach of the UN Charter and the "purposes and principles of international law." "The actions of the US seriously violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and have exacerbated tensions in the Middle East," the spokesperson said. Beijing urged all parties involved in the conflict, "Israel in particular", to agree to an immediate ceasefire, ensure the safety of civilians, and pursue dialogue and negotiation. China reiterated its support for a diplomatic resolution and said it was prepared to work with the international community to "pool efforts together and uphold justice" in pursuit of peace and stability in the region. 14:30 Pope Leo XIV reacted to the news of the United States striking nuclear sites in Iran by saying that "humanity is crying out for peace" and calling for an end to wars. "Each member of the international community has the moral responsibility to end the tragedy of war, before it becomes an irrepairable chasm," Leo said during his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican, adding that he was reacting to the "alarming news coming from the Middle East." 14:20 Russia said that it "strongly condemned" the United States's bombings of nuclear sites in Iran, calling the attacks "irresponsible" and a "gross violation of international law." "It is already clear that a dangerous escalation has begun, fraught with further undermining of regional and global security," the Russian foreign ministry added. Moscow said Israel triggered the crisis through "unprovoked aggression against Iran – a sovereign member of the United Nations – in violation of the UN Charter and international law". It dismissed Western claims of non-proliferation concerns as "fictitious" and "a flagrant display of cynicism". The ministry said indirect US–Iran talks were underway in Muscat when the first strikes were launched on 13 June, with Tehran preparing proposals for a new round of negotiations. At the same time, the IAEA Board of Governors was meeting on the nuclear deal. "Israel's actions have deliberately sabotaged these diplomatic efforts," the ministry said. "Was this not precisely the objective pursued by Western Jerusalem?" Russia also accused European leaders of inciting the escalation through "anti-Iran hysteria" ahead of the IAEA session, while now demanding Iran return to talks. It warned that strikes on nuclear sites under IAEA safeguards posed an "unacceptable" risk, raising concern over the safety of the Bushehr plant, where Russian specialists are based. 14:15 The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the buildings targeted at Isfahan contained either no nuclear material or low levels of enriched uranium. Reuters reported comments that any radioactive contamination is limited to the buildings that were damaged or already destroyed. The IAEA said six buildings, including four previously targeted, were hit. One of the buildings attacked was a fuel rod production facility. "The facilities targeted today either contained no nuclear material or small quantities of natural or low-enriched uranium, meaning any radioactive contamination is limited to the buildings that were damaged or destroyed," the IAEA said. 14:00 Turkey warned the US strike on Iran's nuclear facilities risked escalating the Iran-Israel conflict to a global level that could have "catastrophic" consequences. "The ongoing developments could cause the regional conflict to escalate globally. We do not want this catastrophic scenario to come to life," the foreign ministry said. Turkey was "deeply concerned about the possible consequences." 13:50 The United Arab Emirates has told all sides to stop escalating the conflict, or there would be a risk of more instability. The Foreign Ministry said countries should "avoid serious repercussions" in the region. It warned that such actions could lead the region to "new levels of instability." In a statement, the ministry said that a spread of the conflict into a wider global war must not be allowed, calling on all parties to act with responsibility and end attacks immediately. It repeated the sentiment from others that only negotiations could resolve the nuclear dispute between Tehran and Washington. 13:45 The Israeli army said it had "other goals" in Iran and intended to continue its military offensive. "We have other goals and we will continue to act until we attain them," army spokesman Effie Defrin told reporters in a televised press conference 12:45 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu "dragged Trump into war with Iran." In a press conference on the sidelines of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Istanbul, FM Aragchi added: "Netanyahu is the one who controls the White House's decisions." "Trump not only deceived Iran but also his own country." The United States and Israel crossed a major red line in attacking Iran's nuclear facilities, Iran's top diplomat warned, saying he was heading to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin. "They crossed a very big red line by attacking (Iran's) nuclear facilities," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on the sidelines of a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul. "The most dangerous one happened only last night," Araghchi said, vowing that Iran would defend itself "by all means necessary against, not just US military aggression, but also the reckless and unlawful actions of the Israeli regime". "The world must not forget that it was the United States which -- in the midst of a process to forge a diplomatic outcome -- betrayed diplomacy by supporting the genocidal Israeli regime's launch of an illegal war of aggression on the Iranian nation," he said. "So we were in diplomacy, but we were attacked. They gave a green light to Israelis, if not instructed them, to attack Iran's nuclear facilities. They have proved that they are not men of diplomacy, and they only understand the language of threat and force." "We no longer trust the Europeans after what happened recently." "I will visit Moscow today and meet with Putin tomorrow. Russia is a strategic partner and ally of Iran, and we will discuss recent developments with them." "We are consulting and coordinating with Russia and China and we are discussing the recent escalation." "Tehran did nothing wrong, and it is difficult to understand why we were attacked based on a false claim." "The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was unable to protect Iran," he noted. "The extent of the damage from the US attacks is being investigated." "The international community must condemn the US attacks," he stressed. 12:00 The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said Iran has targeted Tel Aviv and Haifa with 40 ballistic missiles after the US attack on its nuclear facilities in the early hours of Sunday. The IRG said it used the Kheibar Shekan missile - a solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missile which carries multiple warheads - for the first time since the start of the Israeli aggression on the country on 13 June. The Israeli air defenses intercepted most of the Iranian missiles, but some rockets struck in Tel Aviv and Haifa, causing serious injuries and wounding 86 Israelis. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said its attacks on Israel will continue, as it said it will respond to the US airstrikes overnight. In comments reported by Reuters, it said US bases in the Middle East are a "point of vulnerability." It said the US had placed itself directly "at the front line of aggression" by attacking nuclear facilities that Iran claims are peaceful. The IRGC said an attack cannot destroy the programme. The statement added the US cannot escape the consequences of its airstrikes, and said Iran would not be intimidated by Israel or the US, terming them "criminal gangs ruling the White House and Tel Aviv". The IRGC said its operations will be targeted against Israeli infrastructure, strategic centres, and interests. Israeli first responders and troops work in front of a building hit during an Iranian strike in the port city of Haifa on 22 June 2025. 11:50 UK Foreign Minister David Lammy says "the UK did not participate in these strikes," referring to the US bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites. "The US has taken action to alleviate the threat that would pose to the global community". He reiterated that Iran "must never have a nuclear weapon" as he urges the country to "show restraint and reach a diplomatic solution to end the crisis". Iranian Ambassador to the UK Seyed Ali Mousavi told the BBC that the US is "squandering" the United Nations Charter with its overnight attacks on Iran. He told Laura Kuenssberg that the US strikes are a "violation of international law" and a violation of Iranian "sovereignty and territorial integrity". Mousavi says Iran and the US are in the middle of nuclear talks before adding, "The Israeli regime attacked us." 11:45 Senior Iranian sources have told Reuters that most of the highly enriched uranium at the Fordow site had been moved away before the US attack. The news agency reported comments that the number of staff at the underground facility at Fordow had also been reduced to a minimum. Fordow, alongside Natanz, was the second enrichment site to be hit by the US. 11:40 The military escalation in the Middle East risks sparking warfare with irreversible consequences, the head of the ICRC said on Sunday, following US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. "The intensification and spread of major military operations in the Middle East risk engulfing the region -- and the world -- in a war with irreversible consequences," Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said in a statement. 11:30 Bahrain, host of a significant US naval base, told most of its government employees to work from home until further notice after American air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. "A remote working system will be activated across ministries and government agencies, with a 70 percent work-from-home capacity," the official Bahrain News Agency said, citing "regional circumstances and current developments". 11:20 Saudi Arabia has expressed "great concern" after US air strikes on nuclear facilities in its neighbour Iran. In a statement, the Kingdom reaffirmed its earlier declaration dated 13 June 2025, in which it condemned and strongly rejected the violation of Iran's sovereignty. Riyadh emphasized the urgent need for all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritize de-escalation efforts. The Kingdom also called on the international community to intensify its efforts amid these highly sensitive circumstances to reach a political solution that would end the crisis and open the door to a new chapter of security and stability in the region. Meanwhile, Oman said the US targeting of Iran threatened to "widen the war" and is a violation of international law, according to state media. Oman had been mediating nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran. Qatar said it "deplores deterioration" and "dangerous tensions" after the US bombing would lead to "catastrophic repercussions" on regional and international levels, its foreign ministry posted on X. Iraq warned that the US attacks on its neighbour Iran's nuclear facilities threaten peace and stability in the Middle East. Iraq "expresses its deep concern and strong condemnation of the targeting of nuclear facilities" in Iran, government spokesperson Basim Alawadi said. "This military escalation constitutes a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East and poses serious risks to regional stability," he added. 11:10 UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the US has taken action to "alleviate" the "grave threat" of Iran's nuclear programme. "Iran's nuclear program is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat," Starmer said in a statement. "The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis," he added. Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers are set to meet on Monday to discuss the US strikes on Iran. The EU's foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, posted on X that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear bomb, and urged calm. Kallas said: "Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, as it would be a threat to international security." "I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table, and prevent further escalation. "EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation tomorrow." Protesters in support of Iran and Palestinians in Gaza hold flags and placards during a demonstration against the actions of Israel and the United States in Sydney on 22 June 2025. (AFP) 10:55 Iran has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to condemn US airstrikes on its nuclear sites. In a letter to UN Secretary General António Guterres and the body's president, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Iran's ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, called for an urgent meeting of the Security Council. He said: "The United States, acting in full coordination with the Israeli regime, which at the time was already bombarding Iranian civilians and vital infrastructure, carried out deliberate, premeditated and unprovoked aerial strikes against three safeguarded Iranian nuclear sites and facilities." Iravani added: "In light of the grave and far-reaching consequences of the United States' savage and criminal actions for international peace and security, the Islamic Republic of Iran urgently requests the security council to convene an emergency meeting without delay to address this blatant and unlawful act of aggression, to condemn it in the strongest possible terms, and to take all necessary measures under its charter-mandated responsibilities that the perpetrator of such heinous crimes is held fully accountable and does not go unpunished." 10:30 Palestinian group Hamas condemned "blatant US aggression" against Iran. "The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) condemns in the strongest terms the blatant US aggression against the territory and sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the group said in a statement. "This brutal aggression is a dangerous escalation," the Hamas statement added, calling the attack "a flagrant violation of international law, and a direct threat to international peace and security". 10:25 Shortly after the US struck three Iranian facilities, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced concern at strikes carried out by the United States on Iranian nuclear sites, calling them a "dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge." UN Secretary-General António Guterres "At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos," Guterres stated. "There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace." 10:00 Israeli emergency services have said about 10 sites were hit by Iran's missiles, including in Tel Aviv, Carmel, and Haifa, after Iran launched two waves of missiles following the US bombing of its nuclear sites. Israeli security forces and first responders gather at the site of an Iranian strike that hit a residential neighbourhood in the Ramat Aviv area in Tel Aviv on 22 June 2025. AFP About 23 people are believed to have been injured, most not seriously, according to Israeli media outlets. Rescuers are continuing to search the impact sites. Haaretz reported that some buildings in Tel Aviv have been destroyed. Israeli security forces and rescue teams work at the scene of an Iranian strike that hit Ness Ziona in central Israel on 22 June 2025. AFP Public broadcaster KAN 11 showed images of a devastated building surrounded by mounds of rubble that it said was in central Israel. 09:50 More personnel from the United States diplomatic mission departed Iraq over the weekend as part of ongoing efforts to reduce embassy staffing amid "regional tensions," a US official said after Washington attacked Iranian nuclear sites. The embassy and the consulate remain operational. "As part of our ongoing effort to streamline operations, additional personnel departed Iraq on 21 and 22 June," the US official told AFP. 09:40 Iranian authorities said "no signs of contamination" after the US attacks on three of its nuclear facilities. "No signs of contamination have been recorded," according to the National Centre for the Nuclear Safety System, which operates under Iran's Atomic Energy Organization. "There is, therefore, no danger for the inhabitants living around the ... sites." The International Atomic Energy Agency also reported that there is currently no increase in off-site radiation levels at the three nuclear sites hit by US strikes. "IAEA will provide further assessments on situation in Iran as more information becomes available," it said. In a related statement, Saudi regulatory authorities confirmed that "no radioactive effects were detected" in the Gulf region after US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. "No radioactive effects were detected on the environment of the Kingdom and the Arab Gulf states as a result of the American military targeting of Iran's nuclear facilities," the Kingdom's Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission wrote in a post on X. 09:40 Iranian officials have disputed Trump's claim that their nuclear facilities were "obliterated". Mohammad Manan Raisi, a Qom lawmaker near Fordow, told the semi-official Fars news agency the facility had not been seriously damaged. Hassan Abedini, deputy political head of Iran's broadcaster, said Iran had evacuated the three sites some time ago. "The enriched uranium reserves had been transferred from the nuclear centres and there are no materials left there that, if targeted, would cause radiation and be harmful to our compatriots," he told the channel. 09:35 A Yemeni Houthi official said that the group's response to the US attack on Iran was "only a matter of time". Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi movement's political bureau, told Al Jazeera that its ceasefire deal with Washington was before the "war" on Iran. The group has been launching attacks on shipping lanes and Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during the Israeli war. It agreed on a ceasefire deal with the United States in May to stop attacking US ships in exchange for an end to Washington's bombings of the group. 09:20 Iran's armed forces said they targeted multiple sites in Israel, including Ben Gurion airport, after US attacks on key nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic. "The twentieth wave of Operation Honest Promise 3 began using a combination of long-range liquid and solid fuel missiles with devastating warhead power," the armed forces said in a statement that Fars news agency quoted. It added that the targets included the airport, a "biological research centre," logistics bases, and various layers of command and control centres. Israel's military said it had detected two waves of missiles fired from Iran, as air raid sirens rang out in Tel Aviv and explosions rocked Jerusalem. "At this time, the (Israeli Air Force) is operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat," the military said in a statement. A similar statement about another wave of missiles was issued 30 minutes later, before the alert was lifted at around 8:10 a.m. (0510 GMT). 09:00 The Israeli military said it launched a fresh series of strikes targeting military targets, including missile launchers, in western Iran after the United States attacked the country's nuclear sites. The air force began "a series of strikes toward military targets in western Iran," a military statement said, adding it had "struck missile launchers ready to launch toward Israeli territory, soldiers in the Iranian Armed Forces, and swiftly neutralised the launchers that launched missiles toward Israeli territory a short while ago." 08:30 Iran's atomic agency said that the country will carry on with its nuclear activities despite the US attacks on key facilities. "The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran assures the great nation of Iran that despite the evil plots of its enemies ... it will not let the path of development of this national industry (nuclear), which is the result of the blood of nuclear martyrs, be stopped," the organisation said in a statement published by state media. 08:20 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US attacks as "lawless and criminal," stressing that his country has the right to defend its sovereignty. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, speaks to journalists ahead of the family photo during the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul. AFP "The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences," he posted on X. "Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people." Tehran said Sunday there were "no signs of contamination" after the US attacks, and Saudi regulators said "no radioactive effects were detected" in the Gulf region. Iranian media confirmed that part of the Fordow plant, as well as the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites, were attacked. 08:05 Israel has closed its airspace until further notice "due to recent developments", the Israel Airports Authority announced on Sunday morning following the US bombing of Iran. Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv The authority stated, "The airspace of the State of Israel is closed to entry and exit due to recent developments," specifying that "land crossing points (with Egypt) and Jordan are operating normally." Israel had initially closed its airspace on 13 June after launching the bombing campaign against Iran, but reopened it on Friday for flights repatriating Israeli citizens stranded abroad. 08:00 Trump said the US military carried out a "very successful attack" on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordow. US President Donald Trump (C) arrives to address the nation, alongside US Vice President JD Vance (L), US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2nd L), and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (C), from the White House in Washington, DC on 21 June 2025. AFP "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran," including Fordo, Natanz, and Esfahan, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. "A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site," Fordow, he said, adding that the planes were safely out of Iranian airspace and on the way home. The president said that after the strikes, Iran "must now agree to end this war," insisting that under no circumstances should Iran possess a nuclear weapon. Iranian media said part of the Fordow uranium enrichment facility, as well as the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites, were attacked. Israel raised its alert level after the strikes, permitting only essential activities until further notice, the Israeli military announced. In a televised address to the nation from the White House, Trump warned that the United States would go after more targets if Iran did not make peace quickly. "Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success," said Trump, adding that they targeted the crucial underground nuclear enrichment plant of Fordo along with facilities at Natanz and Isfahan. "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran the bully of the Middle East must now make peace," said Trump. Trump said that future attacks would be "far greater" unless Iran reached a diplomatic solution. "Remember, there are many targets left," he said. Trump said earlier on his Truth Social site that a "full payload of BOMBS" was dropped on Fordo and noted that "all planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors." The raid on the Iranian nuclear sites was carried out by B-2 stealth bombers that dropped so-called "bunker buster bombs," along with submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles, US media reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on the strikes, saying, "with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history." Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
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- Daily News Egypt
Egypt launches initiative to renovate 80,000 homes in rural villages
Egypt has launched a corporate social responsibility initiative to renovate and upgrade 80,661 homes for vulnerable families in villages targeted by the first phase of the presidential 'Decent Life' initiative. The 'Decent Housing for a Decent Life' programme was launched at an event attended by senior officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar. The initiative aims to unite the efforts of the government, private sector companies, banks, and civil society organisations to improve housing conditions in 1,477 villages across 20 governorates. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the Misr El Kheir Foundation, the Orman Association, and the Hayah Karima Foundation. Manal Awad, the minister of local development, said the government seeks to build a broad partnership to finance the project. 'The government is seeking to build a broad partnership with banks and companies within the framework of their social responsibilities, and with civil society organisations, to upgrade and develop the homes of 80,661 families,' she said. The initiative has already raised EGP 377m in donations from the government, civil society, and the private sector, announced Maya Morsy, the minister of social solidarity, during a fundraising drive at the launch event. Awad described the parent 'Decent Life' initiative, launched by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in 2019, as 'an unprecedented qualitative shift in the history of the Egyptian countryside.' She stated that the first phase of the 'Decent Life' initiative is 90% complete, with 27,334 projects implemented at a cost of EGP 360 billion, serving 18 million citizens. The projects include developing infrastructure such as water, sanitation, electricity, and roads, as well as improving social services like schools and hospitals. The new 'Decent Housing' initiative aims to ensure that families in dilapidated homes can fully benefit from the state's large-scale infrastructure investments. A detailed survey was conducted by the ministries of local development and social solidarity, in partnership with the civil society organisations, to identify the families in need. A steering committee chaired by Mohamed Farid Hegazy, a presidential advisor for the 'Decent Life' initiative, will oversee the programme's implementation. Awad outlined a framework for governance and quality assurance, which includes a joint financial account for the three implementing foundations, oversight from the Ministry of Social Solidarity, and quality control checks by engineering committees. This will ensure transparency and efficiency in the use of funds. The minister detailed a clear division of roles: The private sector and banks: Provide funding through their corporate social responsibility budgets. Provide funding through their corporate social responsibility budgets. Civil society organisations: Design and execute the renovation, rehabilitation, and furnishing of homes, using local contractors and labour to create jobs. Design and execute the renovation, rehabilitation, and furnishing of homes, using local contractors and labour to create jobs. Government ministries and governorates:Facilitate permits, licenses, and utility connections to streamline the process for the implementing organisations.
