Iraqi FM stresses urgent need to halt Israeli attacks on Iran

Baghdad: Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein underscored the urgent need to halt the Israeli aggression against Iran and to protect civilians from the consequences of military escalation.
Hussein made the remarks during a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported quoting a statement by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.
The two sides reviewed the latest regional and international developments, with a particular focus on the ongoing Israeli aggression against Iran, it said.
The ministers discussed the repercussions of this escalation and its impact on the security and stability of the region, including humanitarian consequences and the risks of the expansion of the conflict, read the statement.
Hussein called for an immediate return to the negotiation table and political dialogue, which is the only viable path to resolving conflicts and avoiding further disasters in the region, the statement said.
They also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Iraq and Iran, emphasising the importance of continued consultation and coordination on issues of mutual concern, within a framework of mutual understanding and respect for national sovereignty, it added.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Time of India

32 minutes ago

• Time of India

Iran-Israel war: Iran's Fordo nuclear site hit again in Israeli strike; Israel says attack aimed to block access routes to enrichment facility

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Fordo enrichment facility in Iran before US strike. (AP) Iran's underground nuclear enrichment site at Fordo was struck again on Monday, Iranian state television reported, a day after the United States bombed the facility using heavy bunker-buster bombs in a major escalation of the ongoing conflict. Israel confirms Monday strike, says aim was to block access The Israeli military confirmed on Monday that it launched air raids to 'obstruct access routes' to the Fordo facility, stating that the strike was intended to cut off movement around the enrichment site. 'Israeli forces struck in order to obstruct access routes to the Fordo enrichment site,' the military said. US President Donald Trump had earlier said the Fordo site had been 'totally obliterated' in Sunday's US strike. IAEA: 'Very significant damage' likely at Fordo In Vienna, Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said Sunday's attack likely caused heavy destruction at the sensitive facility. 'Given the explosive payload utilized and the extreme vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges, very significant damage is expected to have occurred,' Grossi noted. He added that the IAEA has yet to fully assess the underground impact. US describes strike as one-off; Iran warns of retaliation The US described its Sunday strike on Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan as a one-time operation to damage Iran's nuclear infrastructure. However, President Trump warned that more strikes could follow if Iran retaliates. Iran condemned the attack as a violation of its sovereignty and likened it to an invasion. Iran fires back with Operation 'True Promise 3' On Monday, Iran responded by launching missiles and drones toward Israel, targeting cities such as Haifa and Tel Aviv. Explosions were also heard in Jerusalem. Iranian state television said the barrage was part of a new wave under 'Operation True Promise 3.' Israel activated its defence systems and advised residents in northern and central areas to take shelter. Iranian general warns US of consequences Iranian General Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of the joint staff, warned that the US airstrikes had given Iranian forces a 'free hand' to act against American interests and forces in the region. Tens of thousands of US troops are stationed across the Middle East, many within range of Iran's short-range missiles. Global leaders urge de-escalation Amid rising tensions, global calls for restraint have grown. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged a return to diplomacy and warned that Iran's potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route, would be 'extremely dangerous.' The EU said Iran must be ready to return to direct talks with the US to help resolve the crisis. Iran's nuclear program in focus after 2015 deal collapse The conflict comes against the backdrop of the collapse of the 2015 nuclear agreement. After the US withdrew from the deal during Trump's first term, Iran began enriching uranium up to 60% purity and restricted access to international inspectors. On Monday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key Iranian ally.

Business Standard

32 minutes ago

• Business Standard

Iran's Fordow nuclear site hit again on Monday, says Iranian media

Iran's underground enrichment site at Fordo was hit again Monday while Iran fired a salvo of missiles and drones at Israel and warned the United States that its military now has a free hand to attack American targets in the wake of the Trump administration's massive strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The Fordo facility was one of those hit in Sunday's attack, and it was struck again on Monday, Iranian state television reported. There was no immediate word on damage nor who launched the attack, though Israel said earlier it was conducting airstrikes on Iran. In Vienna, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said he expected there to be heavy damage at the Fordo facility already following the Sunday's US airstrike there with sophisticated bunker-buster bombs. Given the explosive payload utilized ... very significant damage ... is expected to have occurred, said Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. With the strikes on Sunday on Iranian nuclear sites, the United States inserted itself into Israel's war, prompting fears of a wider regional conflict. Iran said the US had crossed a very big red line with its risky gambit to strike the three sites with missiles and 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs. Israel said its defence systems were operating to intercept the latest Iranian threat, which apparently targeted the north and central areas of the country, and told people to head to shelters. Iran described the attack a new wave of its Operation True Promise 3, saying it was targeting the Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv, according to Iranian state television. Explosions were also heard in Jerusalem. There were no immediate reports of damage. In Iran, witnesses reported Israeli airstrikes hit areas around Iran's capital, Tehran, midday. It wasn't immediately clear what had been targeted. In Vienna, Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that given the "explosive payload utilized and the extreme vibration sensitive nature of centrifuges, very significant damage is expected to have occurred. He added that at this time, no one, including the IAEA, is in a position to have fully assessed the underground damage at Fordo. Also Monday, Iranian Gen Abdolrahim Mousavi, the chief of joint staff of armed forces, warned Washington its strikes had given Iranian forces a free hand to "act against US interests and its army. Tens of thousands of American troops are based in the Middle East, many in locations within range of short-range Iranian missiles. The U.S. described its Sunday attack on the Fordo and Natanz enrichment facilities, as well as the Isfahan nuclear sit, as a one-off to take out Iran's nuclear programme, but President Donald Trump has warned of additional strikes if Tehran retaliates. Mousavi described the American attack as violating Iran's sovereignty and being tantamount to invading the country, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. In the wake of the American attacks on Iran, calls came from across the globe for de-escalation and the return to diplomacy to try and resolve the conflict. On Monday, the European Union's top diplomat said the bloc remained very much focused on the diplomatic solution. The concerns of retaliation and this war escalating are huge, Kaja Kallas said at the start of a foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels where Iran has jumped to the top of the agenda. Especially closing of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran is something that would be extremely dangerous and not good for anybody, Kallas said, referring to a maritime route crucial for oil transport. After Sunday's attacks, Iranian officials repeated their longtime threats of possibly closing the key shipping lane. Iran, which insists its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only, previously agreed to limit its uranium enrichment and allow international inspectors access to its nuclear sites under a 2015 deal with the US, France, China, Russia, Britain and Germany in exchange for sanctions relief. But after Trump pulled the US unilaterally out of the deal during his first term, Iran began enriching uranium up to 60% a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90% and restricting access to its nuclear facilities. As he arrived in Brussels on Monday for a meeting with his EU counterparts, German Foreign Minister renewed calls for Iran to agree again to direct talks with the United States but says Europe still has a role to play. We already made it very clear to the Iranian side that a real precondition for a settlement to the conflict is that Iran be ready to negotiate directly with the US, he said, while adding that the European group known as the E3 will contribute what we can. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was meeting on Monday in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, one of Iran's key allies.

First Post

33 minutes ago

• First Post

'Unprovoked aggression has no justification': Putin meets Araqchi in Moscow, denounces US attack on Iran

'The absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis and no justification,' Putin told Araqchi in televised comments read more Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi attend a meeting in Moscow, Russia on Monday, in this still image taken from video. Reuters Two days after US President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on three of Iran's main nuclear facilities, Russian President Vladimir Putin met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Moscow on Monday. During the meeting, Putin condemned the strikes as 'unjustified' and said Moscow was working to support the Iranian people amid rising regional tensions. 'The absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis and no justification,' Reuters quoted Putin as telling Araqchi in televised comments. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'For our part, we are making efforts to assist the Iranian people,' he added. Putin said he was glad to see Araqchi in Moscow and expressed hope that this opportunity would help discuss all the pressing issues. 'I am very glad that you are in Moscow today, this will give us the opportunity to discuss all these pressing issues and think together about how we could get out of today's situation,' he said. Thanking Russia for condemning the US actions, Araqchi told Putin that Iran was conducting legitimate self-defence and also conveyed best wishes to Putin from Iran's supreme leader and president. 'Russia is today on the right side of history and international law,' said Araqchi. According to a Reuters report, it remains unclear what concrete steps Russia might take to support Iran, a key regional ally with whom President Putin signed a strategic cooperation agreement in January. Notably, the pact stopped short of including a mutual defence provision. Ahead of Saturday's US airstrikes, Moscow had warned that any American military intervention risked destabilising the region and pushing it toward what it described as an 'abyss.' Asked what Russia was ready to do to help Tehran, Reuters quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying, 'It all depends on what Iran needs'. He said the fact that Moscow had offered to mediate in the crisis was itself a form of support. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Peskov condemned the US attacks. 'An increase in the number of participants in this conflict is happening - or rather, has happened. A new spiral of escalation of tension in the region,' Peskov told reporters. 'And, of course, we condemn this and express regret in this regard, deep regret. In addition, of course, it remains to be seen what happened to (Iran's) nuclear facilities, whether there is a radiation hazard.' Peskov said Trump had not told Putin in detail about the planned strikes in advance. 'There was no detailed information. The topic of Iran itself was repeatedly discussed by the presidents during their most recent conversations, certain proposals were voiced by Russia, but there was no direct detailed information about this,' he said. With inputs from agencies