Israel-Iran air war enters second week as Europe pushes diplomacy

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Irish Examiner

an hour ago

• Irish Examiner

Iran says no nuclear talks while under Israeli fire as Trump considers options

Iran said on Friday it would not discuss the future of its nuclear programme while under attack by Israel, as Europe tried to coax Tehran back into negotiations and the United States considers whether to get involved in the conflict. A week after it began attacking Iran, Israel's military said it had carried out new strikes on dozens of military targets overnight, including missile production sites and a research organisation involved in nuclear weapons development in Tehran. Iran launched at least one new barrage of missiles early on Friday, striking near residential apartments, office buildings and industrial facilities in the southern city of Beersheba. The White House said on Thursday that US president Donald Trump would decide on "whether or not to go" with US involvement in the conflict in the next two weeks, citing the possibility of negotiations involving Iran in the near future. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday there was no room for negotiations with Israel's superpower ally the United States "until Israeli aggression stops". But he was due to meet European foreign ministers in Geneva later on Friday for talks at which Europe hopes to establish a path back to diplomacy over Iran's nuclear programme. Two diplomats said before the meeting involving France, Britain, Germany and the European Union's foreign policy chief that Araqchi would be told the US is still open to direct talks. Expectations for a breakthrough are low, diplomats say. Israel began attacking Iran last Friday, saying its longtime enemy was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Iran, which says its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes, retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel. Israel is widely assumed to possess nuclear weapons. It neither confirms nor denies this. Israeli air attacks have killed 639 people in Iran, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a US-based human rights organisation that tracks Iran. The dead include the military's top echelon and nuclear scientists. Read More Trump sets deadline of two weeks to decide if US will join Israel's war on Iran

The Journal

2 hours ago

• The Journal

Baseball team LA Dodgers refuse federal agents access to stadium amid US immigration raids

THE LOS ANGELES Dodgers have said they barred US federal immigration agents from entering the team's stadium as a fresh wave of raids continued across the city. The baseball team, who have been criticised for their failure to comment publicly on the US government's immigration crackdown in Los Angeles, said in a statement the team denied access to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who 'requested permission to access the parking lots.' 'They were denied entry to the grounds by the organisation,' the statement said, adding that the team's game on Thursday would go ahead as scheduled. Images and video shared on social media showed a line of unmarked trucks and masked agents at one Dodger Stadium entrance while protesters nearby chanted 'ICE out of LA.' The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) later clarified that the agents at the venue were from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), not ICE. 'This had nothing to do with the Dodgers. CBP vehicles were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement,' a DHS statement said. The incident comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Los Angeles, which has become ground zero of Donald Trump's immigration crackdown across the US. The city has seen scattered violence but mostly peaceful protests in recent weeks, ignited by an escalation in federal immigration sweeps that have targeted migrant workers in garment factories, car washes and other workplaces. Advertisement Los Angeles Police Department, protesters and ICE agents were gathered at an entrance to Dodger Stadium as ICE attempted to use the stadium parking lot as a staging area. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Local media reported further raids across the city on Thursday targeting Home Depot stores, a home improvement retailer where day labourers often gather in car parks seeking work. In addition to mobilising ICE agents, Trump has ordered the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines into the city in response to the protests – a move opposed by city leaders and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is a Democrat. The incident at Dodger Stadium on Thursday comes as the reigning World Series champions have faced criticism for their response to the immigration crackdown. The team has a heavily Latino fan base, with some claiming a sense of betrayal over the franchise's failure to speak out against the ongoing raids. As of early Thursday, the Dodgers have made no formal statement in regard to the immigration raids across the city. '100% betrayal' The team's failure to condemn the immigration offensive came under scrutiny last weekend, when Latin American pop singer Nezza defied Dodgers officials and sang the US national anthem in Spanish before the team's home game. Speaking outside Dodger Stadium on Thursday after federal agents had left the venue, one 27-year-old fan among a small group of protesters told AFP she felt let down by the team. 'They've been very quiet since these ICE raids started, and I think it's very hypocritical of them not to say anything when the majority of their fan base is the Latino population here in Los Angeles,' Paola, who asked only to be identified by her first name, told AFP. Related Reads US anti-deportation protests continue and spread beyond 'test case' Los Angeles Trump says he won't allow 'mob rule' as protests break out across US California governor accuses Trump of tyranny as mass arrests underway in under-curfew LA 'It 100% feels like betrayal. I was born and raised here, I've supported them my whole life – for them not to come out and support us during these times is messed up.' Protesters demonstrate outside of Dodger Stadium. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Los Angeles Times sports columnist Dylan Hernandez has slammed the team's response to the immigration crackdown. 'The Dodgers boast that more than 40% of their fan base is Latino, but they can't even be bothered to offer the shaken community any words of comfort,' Hernandez wrote. 'How ungrateful. How disrespectful. How cowardly.' While the Dodgers have remained silent, the team's popular outfielder Enrique Hernandez lashed out against the raids in a statement on Instagram. 'I am saddened and infuriated by what's happening in our country and our city,' wrote Hernandez, who is from Puerto Rico. 'This is my second home. And I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart. ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and human rights.' With reporting from © AFP 2025 Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

The Irish Sun

2 hours ago

• The Irish Sun

Where is the Ayatollah? Madcap ‘Supreme Leader' holed up in lair – but still an ‘easy target' for Trump's bunker busters

IRAN'S supreme leader has scurried away to an underground bunker in a Tehran suburb amid threats to his life, according to reports. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is believed to be cowering away in the secret lair as Israeli missile attacks rain down nearby. Advertisement 9 Smoke rises following what Iran says was an Israeli attack on Sharan Oil depot in Tehran Credit: Reuters 9 Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks to a group of people and officials Credit: AP 9 A fire blazes in the oil depots of Shahran, northwest of Tehran Credit: AFP 9 B-2 Spirit drops a GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb Credit: USAF 9 Two informed sources inside the country told Iran International the country's ageing dictator is It is among the areas in Iran to have been rocked by explosions over the past few days. Khamenei's family are also with him, the sources added, including his son Mojtaba - who is seen as a potential heir to the supreme leader. The Ayatollah also reportedly sought refuge in this bunker during Iranian strikes in April 2024 and October 2024. Advertisement read more on iran It comes as the conflict between Both countries having fired missile barrages at each other over the past week. Israel claims its attacks against Iran are necessary to stop it crafting a nuclear bomb - which Israeli officials claim is an imminent risk. However, this view is disputed by some in the US intelligence world, and Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Donald Trump withdrew from a nuclear deal with Iran and several other countries during his first term in 2018. A diplomatic source told Iran International that Israel could have taken out Khamenei on the first night of its operations. Iran's murderous hospital blitz foiled by Israel at last minute, president reveals But Israel reportedly chose to give him a final chance to abandon Tehran's uranium enrichment programme. Trump will decide whether the US will get directly involved in a war with Iran within the next two weeks, the White House has said. Advertisement In a Truth Social Post, Trump said: "We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. "He is an easy target , but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. "But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin." The US is currently the only country to wield 30,000lb "bunker buster" bombs that could take out underground targets beyond the reach of conventional munitions. Advertisement 9 Trump pictured in the Oval Office Credit: The Mega Agency 9 These Trump claims he vetoed an Israeli proposal to assassinate Khamenei, according to US officials. Advertisement But one senior Israeli official has put out a strongly worded threat to the Iranian supreme leader. Defence minister Israel Katz said: "Khamenei openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed – he personally gives the order to fire on hospitals. "He considers the destruction of the state of Israel to be a goal. Such a man can no longer be allowed to exist." Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is ready to "remove" the nuclear threat from Iran. Advertisement Israel is itself widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, although the country maintains ambiguity over this. However, other top Israeli figures have taken a more cautious tone on regime change. President Isaac Herzog told Axel Springer Global Reporters: "We don't have a goal on Khamenei, nor do we have a goal on regime change. "But it could be historically a clear side effect of major historical consequences that will do good to the Iranian people." Advertisement Russia, a close international partner of the Iranian regime, has said it would react "very negatively" if Khamenei is killed. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Sky News that the supreme leader's assassination would "open the Pandora's box". 9 Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks in a televised message Credit: Reuters 9 Fire of Israeli attack on Sharan Oil depot is seen following the Israeli strikes on Iran Credit: Reuters Advertisement