Israel, Iran, US — a fraught, combustible triangle
Trump lost any credibility to negotiate in this instance because he was negotiating with Iran when Israel attacked. Iran already feels betrayed.
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Trump unleashed his bully call to Iran Tuesday:
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Let Netanyahu finish his own war. Maybe Xi Jinping can step in and find a way out. Trump, especially with Pete Hegseth heading the Defense Department, could end up backing us into another protracted war.
Donald J. Bermont
Concord
US has given Iran reasons to be hostile to us
It would seem that Jeff Jacoby, in detailing Iran's crimes against the United States without any examination of the causes of Iranian hostility toward us, would like us to imagine that our history with that nation began in 1979 with the sacking of the US embassy in Tehran. We should look further back to 1953 when the CIA and British intelligence, to protect British oil interests, engineered the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Mohammad Mosaddegh and installed the shah, whose corrupt and repressive regime was supported by the United States over the next 26 years.
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What righteous rage would Americans feel if a Muslim nation overthrew our own elected government and supported a police state for decades?
If we continue to imagine that other nations should passively welcome our interference in their affairs, we will continue to make the world a more dangerous place.
Derek Stolp
Sandwich
Nothing 'brilliant' about a war's unfolding
In his column on Israel's war against Iran, Jeff Jacoby writes, 'Israel's Operation Rising Lion has so far unfolded brilliantly.'
There is nothing now, nor has there ever been anything,
brilliant about the death and destruction of war.
We humans consider ourselves to be so very intelligent. Yet we use this gift far too often to dominate and kill one another. Did we not learn anything from the devastation of the 20th century?
We believe ourselves to be smart, but we are not nearly as smart as we think we are and yet, at the same time, too smart for our own good.
Technology used to be more primitive and its destruction limited. Now we use vast amounts of technology and resources to destroy on a global scale. Until we find a better way to settle our differences globally, we risk the end of our civilization.
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'Brilliant'? War is shameful.
Rick Cutler
West Barnstable
Uh-oh, our hotheaded president is warmongering
Oh, great (
What could go wrong?
Andy Spiegel
Winchester
Media should remember that both Iran and Israel are under attack
The June 17 front-page story, a report from The New York Times headlined 'As Israel attacks, residents flee,' detailed the damage done in Iran by Israel's missile strikes as well as their impact on civilians there. There was little mention of harm done to civilians in Israel.
For example, there is Eldad Tzahor, my friend and downstairs neighbor for the years he was doing biomedical research at Harvard teaching hospitals. He had been continuing his work on heart regeneration and regenerative medicine at the
This is one personal account. In Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, and Herzliya, apartment buildings were destroyed. Civilians were injured and killed. Others were left homeless.
Israel has been under siege by Iran, directly and through its proxies, for years. It would behoove the media to be a little more balanced in its reporting.
Andrew Fischer
Brookline
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Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump delay of Iran bombing decision by two weeks puts U.S. markets into holding pattern
Trump's two-week delay on an Iran bombing decision has generated uncertainty that is holding investors (and businesses) back from making decisions. While the 'fear index' dropped, U.S. markets still slid slightly in premarket trading. Investors didn't exactly breathe a sigh of relief after President Trump postponed a decision on bombing Iran for two weeks. U.S. stock futures dipped about 0.2% across the board after the Juneteenth holiday, reflecting unease not just over a potential war—but over indecision as well. The issue? Investors didn't read the two-week delay as an opening for diplomacy that would avoid the most catastrophic outcome: a bombed Iran blocking critical petroleum shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and sending oil to $130. Instead, they viewed it as kicking the can down the road. The fear isn't escalation per se—it's prolonged uncertainty, with no concrete resolution in sight. 'That means two weeks of uncertainty for financial markets, but investors are still inclined to see the Middle East conflict as a local, not a global, economic issue,' UBS chief economist Paul Donovan said in a morning note seen by Fortune. Indeed, while shares in U.S. markets traded sideways Friday morning (as they have year to date), shares in Europe and parts of Asia rose (as they have year to date). Hong Kong's Hang Seng and India's Nifty 50 both jumped 1.3% on the day, while in midday trading the STOXX Europe 600 and London's FTSE rose 0.6%—and Germany's DAX posted a 1% rise. For the year, the S&P 500 is up 1.7% while the STOXX Europe 600 is up 5.6%. 'The Middle East tensions represent another potential adverse shock to a fairly weak economy,' Nicola Nobile, Oxford Economics' chief Italy economist, wrote in a Friday note about the eurozone economy. 'As we have shown, even the most severe scenario for oil prices would have a manageable impact on economic activity.' The divergence in sentiment comes down to uncertainty. Trump's delay mirrors a broader pattern—on tariffs, TikTok (he signed another 90-day divestment extension Thursday), and now Iran. The so-called TACO trade (Trump Always Chickens Out) may be catchy, but for markets, it signals a lack of clarity that causes executives and investors to stall. On Friday, the VIX—Wall Street's fear gauge—fell 7.9% after Thursday's spike on war talk. Still, it's up 18% on the year. Here's a snapshot of the action across global markets this morning: South Korea's Kospi was up 1.5%. India's Nifty 50 was up 1.3%. U.S. markets were closed yesterday for Juneteenth. S&P 500 futures were down 0.2% in premarket trading today. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 rose 0.6% in midday trading. China's Composite was down 0.1%. Japan's Nikkei 225 was down 0.2%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 1.3%. This story was originally featured on
CNBC
14 minutes ago
- CNBC
How regime change in Iran could affect global oil prices
Senior Israeli officials said this week that their military campaign against Iran could trigger the fall of the regime, an event that would have enormous implications for the global oil market. The oil market has reacted with remarkable restraint as Israel has bombed the third-largest crude producer in OPEC for eight straight days, with no clear sign the conflict will end anytime soon. Oil prices are up about 10% since Israel launched its attack on Iran a week ago, but with oil supplies so far undisturbed, both U.S. crude oil and the global benchmark Brent remain below $80 per barrel. Still, the risk of a supply disruption that triggers a big spike in prices is growing the longer the conflict rages on, according to energy analysts. President Donald Trump has threatened the life of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and is considering helping Israel destroy the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. For its part, Iran's leadership is more likely to target regional oil facilities if it feels its very existence is at stake, the analysts said. Israel's primary aim is to degrade Iran's nuclear program, said Scott Modell, CEO of the consulting firm Rapidan Energy Group. But Jerusalem also appears to have a secondary goal of damaging Iran's security establishment to such an extent that the country's domestic opposition can rise up against the regime, Modell said. "They're not calling it regime change from without, they're calling it regime change from within," said Modell, a former CIA officer and Iran expert who served in the Middle East. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies that regime change is Israel's official goal, telling a public broadcaster on Thursday that domestic governance is an internal Iranian decision. But the prime minister ascknowledged Khamenei's regime could fall as a consequence of the conflict. Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday ordered Israel's military to intensify strikes on Iran with a goal to "destabilize the regime" by attacking the "foundations of its power." Israel reportedly sought to kill Khamenei in the opening days of its campaign, but Trump vetoed the plan. There are no signs that the regime in Iran is on the verge of collapse, Modell said. But further political destabilization in Iran "could lead to significantly higher oil prices sustained over extended periods," said Natasha Kaneva, head of global commodities research at JPMorgan, in a note to clients this week. There have been eight cases of regime change in major oil producing countries since 1979, according to JPMorgan. Oil prices spiked 76% on average at their peak in the wake of these changes, before pulling back to stabilize at a price about 30% higher compared to pre-crisis levels, according to the bank. For example, oil prices nearly tripled from mid-1979 to mid-1980 after the Iranian revolution deposed the Shah and brought the Islamic Republic to power, according to JPMorgan. That triggered a worldwide economic recession. More recently, the revolution in Libya that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi jolted oil prices from $93 per barrel in January 2011 to $130 per barrel by April that year, according to JPMorgan. That price spike coincided with the European debt crisis and nearly caused a global recession, according to the bank. Regime change in Iran would have a much bigger impact on the global oil market than the 2011 revolution in Libya because Iran is far bigger producer, Modell said. "We would need to see some strong indicators that the state is coming to a halt, that regime change is starting to look real before the market would really start pricing in three plus million barrels a day going offline," Modell said. If the regime in Iran believes it is facing an existential crisis, it could use its stockpile of short-range missiles to target energy facilities in the region and oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, said Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets. Tehran could also try to mine the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow body of water between Iran and Oman through which about 20% of the world's oil flows, Croft said. "We're already getting reports that Iran is jamming ship transponders very, very aggressively," Croft told CNBC's "Fast Money" on Wednesday. QatarEnergy and the Greek Shipping Ministry have already warned their vessels to avoid the strait as much as possible, Croft said. "These are not calm waters even though we have not had missiles flying in the straits," she said. Rapidan sees a 70% chance the U.S. will join Israeli airstrikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. Oil prices would probably rally $4 to $6 per barrel if Iran's key uranium enrichment facility at Fordow is hit, Modell said. Iran will likely respond in a limited fashion to ensure the regime's survival, he said. But there is also a 30% risk of Iran disrupting energy supplies by retaliating against infrastructure in the Gulf or vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Rapidan. Oil prices could surge above $100 per barrel if Iran fully mobilizes to disrupt shipping in the strait, according to the firm. "They could disrupt, in our view, shipping through Hormuz by a lot longer than the market thinks," said Bob Bob McNally, Rapidan's founder and former energy advisor to President George W. Bush. Shipping could be interrupted for weeks or months, McNally said, rather than the oil market's view that the United States Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, would resolve the situation in hours or days. "It would not be a cakewalk," he said.
New York Post
15 minutes ago
- New York Post
Jewish New Yorkers rip Gov. Hochul for failing to help evacuate those stranded in Israel amid conflict with Iran
Gov. Hochul has done 'nothing' to evacuate New Yorkers stranded in Israel as missiles from Iran rain down on the country — while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has helped get hundreds of people to safety, angry families told The Post. Frantic calls to Hochul's office this week went unanswered, according to those trying to get their relatives home. 'It wouldn't even occur to Hochul to help constituents stranded in a war zone,' fumed one Long Islander with a teen relative studying in Israel. 'She's doing nothing.' Meanwhile, DeSantis contracted with the nonprofit Grey Bull Rescue to help about 1,500 Americans from multiple states get home. 4 Hochul was accused of 'deafening silence' on the issue of Americans who have been stranded in Israel. Gabriella Bass With Israel's airspace almost completely shut down, about 5,000 Americans have sought help, with the number of requests 'skyrocketing,' according to the rescue group. Desperate, they're taking ships from Israel to Lanarca in Cyprus, or traveling by land to Amman, Jordan and flying to Cyprus in a bid to get to America — all with the help of DeSantis' operation, which arranged for four wide-bodied chartered planes to collect them. So far DeSantis has welcomed two flights. 4 Gov. DeSantis had his state contract with a rescue group to help get Americans home. Getty Images 'She should be doing what DeSantis did — partner with private contractors to get your citizens out,' the frantic relative, who did not want to be named for fear of retaliation, said of Hochul. 'She should have organized this already,' the relative added. 'There's no excuse to sit on her hands as she heads the state with the most Jews in the country.' Erika Reichelscheimer said she felt 'completely abandoned' after calling the governor every day to no avail about her elderly parents, who were on a week's vacation in Israel when the conflict erupted June 13. 4 About 1,500 Americans have fled Israel thanks to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, he said. Erez Uzir, courtesy of Birthright Israel 'We cannot even get a call back,' said Reichelscheimer. 'Disappointed is an understatement.' 'I haven't even seen Hochul say anything,' said Reichelscheimer, 34, Her dad is running out of his heart medication. Meanwhile her brother, in Israel separately, was able to flee because of DeSantis' efforts, she said. Asked what message she would give to Hochul, a distraught Reichelscheimer begged: 'Please use your vast resources and platform as the governor of New York to help your constituents that are literally in a life or death situation abroad. The silence from your office on this has been deafening.' 'DeSantis is doing what he is supposed to do,' said a Long Island couple whose 18-year-old is stranded and who also requested anonymity. 'We wish Hochul was doing the same.' 4 Elise Stefanik slammed Hochul as a 'disgrace' for failing to get New Yorkers home from Israel. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Rep. Elise Stefanik, who is believed to be challenging Hochul in the next election, slammed the governor. 'No answers from the Governor. No action. Not even the dignity of a call back. It's an utter disgrace. Kathy Hochul continues to prove she is the worst governor in America,' said Stefanik. 'Just last week, she proudly handed $50 million in New Yorkers' hard-earned taxpayer money to illegal migrants — and now, when actual New Yorkers are trapped in a war zone, she's doing absolutely nothing.' 'It's an absolute farce what's going on and Hochul should be ashamed of herself,' railed former veteran state assemblyman Dov Hikind, who said he's fielded countless phone calls from those looking for help. Hochul is a 'steadfast ally to Israel and to New York's Jewish community,' her spokesman, Avi Small said, adding the administration is 'in active conversations with Governors from other states with large Jewish populations to determine how to coordinate travel for constituents if commercial flights do not resume.' Roughly 1.4 million Jews live in New York state.
