Russia keen on expanding investment in Egypt energy sector with Egyptian partners: REW Director - Foreign Affairs
Russia is looking forward to discussing expanding energy cooperation with Egyptian partners during the Russian Energy Week this October, according to Vladimir Zatyinaiko, deputy director of the Roscongress Foundation and director of the Russian Energy Week (REW).
Zatyinaiko told Ahram Online that Egyptian partners will join discussions at the forum on investment, logistics, and the development of energy infrastructure, including electricity, liquefied natural gas (LNG), renewable energy, and nuclear power.
His remarks came on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), held from 18 to 21 June and organized by the Roscongress Foundation. This year's SPIEF was held under the theme: Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World.
Russian Energy Week will take place from 15 to 17 October in Moscow.
'Russian Energy Week is among the leading energy forums in the world with a participation of 82 countries,' Zatyinaiko said.
"During the Energy Week, we invite experts from all over the world. We have common projects with Egyptian partners. Closely working with Latin America, ASEAN, BRICS representatives, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. We expect this interview to bring even more attention to the event.'
He added: 'Russian Energy Week is a leading energy forum in the world. It is a key platform for discussing current issues and challenges in the energy sector worldwide. Our main goal is to gather at the same platform the representatives of the government, business, and the sector's experts to form common practices and define the future vision of the energy sector. REW grows annually, the business programme and the exhibition programme are improving each year.'
'In the context of the current world climate, I believe the Russian Energy Week unites people, and we are prepared to invite experts from all over the world during the Energy Week,' he said.
Zatyinaiko said that the forum had become more relevant in the context of sanctions and ongoing geopolitical tensions and attracted growing international interest.
'As our political climate is quite tense, the Russian Energy Week has become increasingly popular. The number of applications for participation is growing. I can say openly that we don't impose any sanctions and restrictions. We are ready to accept delegates and representatives of technologies and equipment in our country.'
He highlighted past activities and said several agreements had been signed in recent years between Russian companies and partners in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
'We have also signed an agreement with the African Energy Chamber. The agreements are concerned with joint projects in the field of generation, infrastructure maintenance, equipment supply and technology transfer. Throughout the years, all the events that are held by the Roscongress Foundation raise questions that are important for the whole world's energy sector.'
He said input from other global energy forums would help shape this year's REW agenda.
'We have several similar world platforms, conclusions of which we will include in the Russian Energy Week agenda. Global dynamics are changing the relationship between countries. We are trying to use interesting formats in the business programme. We are introducing so-called energy talks. These are the limited topic meetings with the representatives of Africa, ASEAN, and BRICS, where specific scenarios of energy cooperation are going to be discussed.'
He added that plans were underway to expand the forum's programming.
'Plans for interesting business sessions, intellectual battles, developing the exhibition for the second year in parallel with the main event.'
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Iran threatens to strike shipments of military aid to Israel as the war enters tenth day - as it happened - Region
Ahram Online provides live coverage of the unfolding military confrontation between Israel and Iran as the two sides waged deadly strikes against one another for the ninth day in a row. Related Governments scramble to evacuate citizens from Israel, Iran UN Security Council meets Friday to discuss Israel-Iran war, as Tel Aviv, Tehran conflict escalates - as it happened 'Iran will not surrender, and any American attack will have irreparable consequences' - Khamenei Israel and Iran exchanged fresh attacks early Saturday, marking the ninth consecutive day of hostilities since Israel launched strikes on 13 June. Around 2.30am local time, Israel's military reported an incoming missile barrage from Iran, triggering air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Explosions were heard over central Israel as air defences responded. An Israeli military official said five ballistic missiles were fired, with no reports of casualties or impacts, according to the Guardian. 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IAEA chief Rafael Grossi reported damage to four buildings at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site and warned a strike on the Bushehr plant could cause a serious radioactive release. Meanwhile, the Pentagon confirmed the Nimitz carrier strike group is being deployed to the region. The USS Carl Vinson remains in the Middle East, while the USS Gerald R. Ford is scheduled to depart for Europe on 24 June. US President Donald Trump publicly rebuked intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard for saying there was no evidence Iran was pursuing a nuclear weapon. Gabbard later said her comments were taken out of context. 23:05 Iran's atomic agency chief Mohammad Eslami said Saturday that the Arak heavy water reactor hit by Israel earlier this week was dedicated to "health and medicine". "The products of the Arak heavy water plant are used in the fields of health and medicine. You (Israel) are targeting a centre active in the field of medical radiopharmaceutical research," said Eslami, according to a government statement. 22:10 Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stressed to US President Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff that Egypt believes there are no military solutions to the conflict between Israel and Iran, emphasizing that peaceful settlement and political dialogue remain the only viable path to lasting peace and stability in the region. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said this was said during a phone call on Saturday, within the framework of ongoing coordination and consultation between Egypt and the United States on rapidly evolving and dangerous regional developments. The Egyptian top diplomat stressed to the US envoy growing regional concerns amid the escalating military confrontation between Israel and Iran, and the serious threat they pose to the security and stability of the Middle East. Minister Abdelatty stressed to Witkoff the urgent need to de-escalate tensions, reach a ceasefire between the two sides, and restart US-Iran nuclear negotiations. For his part, Witkoff briefed the Egyptian minister on Washington's perspective on the unfolding situation and the efforts underway to give diplomacy a chance to contain the crisis. This was the third phone conversation between Abdelatty and Witkoff on the Israel-Iran situation this week. 22:05 Loud blasts were heard Saturday in the Iranian capital, AFP journalists said, as fighting raged between the two foes for the ninth day. It was not immediately clear whether the blasts heard in central and northern Tehran were the result of incoming Israeli strikes or Iranian air defence fire. 21:50 Iran's armed forces threatened on Saturday to strike shipments of military aid to Israel during the ongoing fighting between the two foes. "We warn that sending any military or radar equipment by boat or aircraft from any country to assist the Zionist regime will be considered participation in the aggression against Islamic Iran and will be a legitimate target for the armed forces," a spokesman said in a video statement broadcast on state TV. 21:15 At least five Iranian army personnel were killed and nine others injured in an Israeli airstrike on the town of Sumar in western Iran, Iranian state-affiliated Fars News Agency reported Saturday. The casualties were confirmed by the acting governor of Qasr-e-Shirin, who told local media that the attack targeted military positions in the border area near Iraq. 20:30 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged Iran to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States as the only viable path to resolve both the escalating conflict with Israel and the longstanding dispute over its nuclear programme, Reuters reported Tuesday. During a meeting in Istanbul with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Erdogan expressed Turkey's readiness to facilitate the restarting of stalled talks. Erdogan also criticized Israel's recent attack on Iran, calling it 'an act of sabotage' aimed at derailing potential diplomatic progress with Washington. 19:50 Two US officials told Reuters on Saturday that the United States is relocating B-2 stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to Guam. According to The New York Times, the B-2s — long-range strategic bombers capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads — departed accompanied by refueling tankers. The aircraft are known for their capacity to deliver the 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker buster, a weapon experts say could be used to target Iran's underground Fordo nuclear facility. 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'The enemy seeks to dominate the region and is attacking Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, and Palestine,' Saree said, asserting that the resistance axis remains united against expansionist ambitions. 'If the United States joins the aggression against Iran, we will target its ships and warships in the Red Sea,' Saree declared, adding that 'any US attack in support of Israel means the subjugation of our Ummah and the occupation of our homelands.' File Photo: USS Nimitz aircraft carrier. AFP 18:40 Al Jazeera obtained satellite imagery confirming the deployment of US B-52 strategic bombers at the Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean, which was documented since 19 June. The exclusive images also reveal the presence of several other US fighter aircraft stationed at the base, indicating a heightened state of operational readiness amid escalating regional tensions. The Diego Garcia military base is a remote atoll in the Indian Ocean and home to a major US military facility known as Camp Justice. Strategically located roughly 3,500 km (2,175 miles) southeast of Iran, Diego Garcia plays a pivotal role in US military operations across the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia. A satellite image of diego garcia military base. Photo courtesy of Al-Jazeera X account. 18:20 The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, says Israel struck a centrifuge workshop, which made the machines used to enrich uranium, in Isfahan. 'We know this facility well. There was no nuclear material at this site, and therefore, the attack on it will have no radiological consequences,' Grossi says. This is the third such facility Israel has targeted in Iran since fighting began on 13 June, the agency says. Israel previously struck the Tehran Research Centre and a workshop in the city of Karaj, it says. Grossi told the United Nations Security Council on Friday, 'attacks on nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic of Iran have caused a sharp degradation in nuclear safety and security' in the country. He added: 'Though they have not so far led to a radiological release affecting the public, there is a danger this could occur.' 18:00 Reuters reported that a senior Iranian official said on Saturday that proposals put forward by European powers at talks in Geneva about his country's nuclear programme were 'unrealistic', suggesting that if they stuck to them, it would be difficult to reach an accord. 'The discussions and proposals made by the Europeans in Geneva were unrealistic. Insisting on these positions will not bring Iran and Europe closer to an agreement,' the senior official told Reuters, speaking anonymously. 'In any case, Iran will review the European proposals in Tehran and present its responses in the next meeting,' the official said. 17:20 Iranian media has acknowledged that another nuclear scientist has died in Israeli strikes on the country, raising the official death toll announced to 10, the BBC reported. The death of the scientist named Isar Tabatabei Ghomsheh was first announced by the newsletter of Tehran's Sharif University, where he was an alumnus. The newsletter of the university said that he was killed 'late last week in his home' alongside his wife, Mansoureh Hajisalem. Iran previously confirmed the death of nine other nuclear scientists. Fereydoon Abbasi was the former head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, while Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi served as the president of the Islamic Azad University in Tehran. Abdolhamid Minouchehr, Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari, and Amirhossein Feghhi were all academic staff members at Tehran's Shahid Beheshti University. 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"Fighter jets are currently striking military infrastructure in southwestern Iran," the military said. 15:30 Former US President Bill Clinton called for de-escalation and renewed diplomacy in the conflict between Israel and Iran, warning of mounting civilian casualties and the risk of broader regional instability. Speaking on The Daily Show late Friday, Clinton criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying: 'Mr Netanyahu has long wanted to fight Iran because that way he can stay in office forever and ever. He's been there most of the last 20 years.' He urged the Trump administration and regional leaders to seek a diplomatic path. 'I hope President Trump will do that. I hope anybody there will do that. We've got to stop,' he said. 'We've got to convince our friends in the Middle East that we'll stand with them and try to protect them, but choosing undeclared wars in which the primary victims are civilians... is not a very good solution.' Clinton said efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation should continue. 'Do I think that we have to try to stop Iran from having a nuclear weapon? I do. I tried at that, and we had some success.' But he added: 'We don't have to have all this outright constant killing of civilians who can't defend themselves and they just want a chance to live.' "We don't have to have all this outright, constant killing of civilians who can't defend themselves." Former President @BillClinton asks for peace amidst the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran — The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) June 20, 2025 15:15 The United Nations has warned that the war between Israel and Iran must not be allowed to trigger another refugee crisis in the Middle East, cautioning that displacement once begun can have long-lasting consequences. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said the intensifying attacks between the two countries had already prompted population movements. 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Israeli soldiers and first responders inspect the damage at the site of an Iranian strike in Beit She'an. AFP 15:00 French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that France and its European partners would ramp up talks with Iran following more than a week of hostilities between the Islamic Republic and Israel. "I am convinced that there is a way out of war and to avoid even greater dangers," Macron said on X after phone talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. "To achieve this, we will step up the negotiations initiated by France and its European partners with Iran." He reiterated that Iran 'must never acquire nuclear weapons' and called on Tehran to provide 'full guarantees' of its peaceful intentions. Macron also repeated his demand for the release of French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, held in Iran since May 2022 on espionage charges that their families deny. He described their detention as 'inhumane' and 'unjust.' The announcement came after meetings in Geneva between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and senior diplomats from Britain, France, Germany, and the EU. European officials urged Iran to revive diplomatic efforts with the United States, but Tehran said talks could only resume if Israel halted its bombardment. The Iranian President @drpezeshkian called me. I reiterated my firm demand: Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris must be released. Their inhumane detention is unjust. I expect them to return to France. I also expressed my deep concern about Iran's nuclear program.… — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 21, 2025 14:30 Iranians started to see internet access restored, allowing people to call friends and family for the first time in days, according to AP. Those in the diaspora posted on social media about connecting to FaceTime or WhatsApp to call relatives they had been worried about. Government officials had disconnected phone and web services earlier in the week for the more than 90 million people who live in Iran, citing cybersecurity threats from Israel. Tasnim News Agency, which is closely affiliated with Iran's government, quoted the information minister saying that access to 'international' internet should be restored across the country by 8 p.m. 14:00 Gulf Cooperation Council ambassadors raised concerns with UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi over the safety of nuclear facilities near their countries amid the ongoing Israeli-Iranian crisis, the Guardian reported, citing Qatari state media. According to Reuters, the ambassadors warned of the 'dangerous repercussions' of targeting nuclear sites during a meeting with Grossi in Vienna. Grossi has previously cautioned that strikes on nuclear facilities could cause 'radioactive releases with great consequences within and beyond boundaries' of the targeted state. The risk of an attack on Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, located on the Gulf coast, has long alarmed Gulf states. It remains the country's only operational civilian reactor. 13:00 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused Israel of deliberately attacking Iran to sabotage planned nuclear talks with the United States, saying the move showed Israel had no interest in resolving disputes through diplomacy, Reuters reported. Speaking at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation foreign ministers' meeting in Istanbul, Erdoğan urged countries with influence over Israel not to 'listen to its poison' and to pursue a resolution through dialogue to avoid a broader conflict. He also criticised Western leaders for providing 'unconditional support' to Israel and warned against attempts to redraw Middle East borders 'in blood', AFP reported. 'It is vital for us to show more solidarity to end Israel's banditry—not only in Palestine but also in Syria, in Lebanon and in Iran,' he told representatives of the OIC's 57 member states, calling on Muslim nations to step up efforts to impose punitive measures on Israel in line with international law and UN resolutions. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul. AFP 12:00 Arab foreign ministers strongly condemned recent Israeli airstrikes on Iran during their meeting in Istanbul ahead of the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers, Tehran Times reported. The ministers urged an immediate end to the military escalation and warned of dire consequences for regional stability if hostilities continued. They convened for an emergency session to address escalating tensions, particularly in light of Israel's attacks on Iran that began on 13 June. In a final statement issued Friday, the Arab League called the Israeli strikes 'a blatant violation of the sovereignty of a UN member state and a threat to regional peace and security". Based on the statement, the ministers appealed to the United Nations Security Council to take urgent action, stressing that continued inaction risks further destabilization of the Middle East. 11:30 Israel's first responders said a drone had hit a residential building in northern Israel after the army reported an intrusion in the Beit She'an valley, AFP reported. "A drone strike hit a two-storey residential building in northern Israel", the Magen David Adom said in a statement, adding that its rescue teams found no visible casualties as they arrived. 11:00 A senior United Arab Emirates official urged an immediate end to the Iran-Israel war, warning that a prolonged conflict would have severe consequences for the region, AFP reported. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said the war undermined Gulf efforts to build stability and prosperity. 'The longer a war takes, the more dangerous it becomes,' he told reporters on Friday. 'Any extended confrontation or war between Israel and Iran will only bring a very difficult aftermath.' Gargash stressed the importance of de-escalation and said a return to negotiations was still possible. He also cited the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq as a warning, saying the region was still dealing with its fallout. He noted one major risk: disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a fifth of global oil output. 'This war flies in the face of the regional order the Gulf countries want to build,' he said. 'We feel that this is setting us back—not only the UAE, but the region.' 10:45 Police in Iran's Qom province said 22 people "linked to Israeli spy services" had been arrested since 13 June. "22 people were identified and arrested on charges of being linked to the Zionist regime's spy services, disturbing public opinion and supporting the criminal regime," Fars news agency reported, citing the head of police intelligence in Iran's Qom province. Tasnim reported on Friday that a European national was also arrested for spying, without giving their nationality or the date of the arrest. 10:30 Iran's Revolutionary Guards said five of its members were killed in Israeli attacks on the city of Khorramabad, Iranian media reported, according to Reuters. Earlier, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military had killed a senior commander in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force in a strike on an apartment in Qom. The commander, Saeed Izadi, led the force's Palestine Corps, Katz said in a statement quoted by Reuters. 10:00 Israel's military said its navy struck a Hezbollah-linked site near the southern Lebanese city of Naqoura overnight, a day after Israel's foreign minister warned the group against entering the conflict with Iran. According to the military, the target belonged to Hezbollah's Radwan Force and was described as an infrastructure site used to plan attacks against Israeli civilians. Israel provided no evidence to support the claims. In a separate statement, the military said it had 'struck and eliminated' a Hezbollah member in south Lebanon on Friday, despite a ceasefire between the two sides. Lebanon's health ministry said one person was killed in a drone strike targeting a motorcycle in the same village, according to the state-run National News Agency. A plume of smoke rises above hills after an Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese Jezzine district. AFP The Guardian reported, citing the semi-official Tasnim news agency, that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Istanbul for a meeting with Arab League diplomats to discuss the escalating conflict with Israel at 9:30 a.m. Around 40 diplomats are expected to attend the weekend session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as missile exchanges between Israel and Iran continue, according to AFP. Araghchi's visit follows talks in Geneva on Friday with counterparts from Britain, France, and Germany. 'At this meeting, at the suggestion of Iran, the issue of the Zionist regime's attack on our country will be specifically addressed,' Tasnim quoted him as saying. According to the Turkish state news agency Anadolu, cited by The Guardian, Arab League ministers are expected to issue a statement following the meeting. 9:00 Iran's Fars news agency reported that Israel attacked the Isfahan nuclear site in the early hours of Saturday. Citing a security official, it said multiple Israeli strikes had been carried out, with most explosions linked to air defence activity. There was no "leakage of hazardous materials," the official was quoted as saying. Iranian media also said Israel attacked a building in the city of Qom, with initial reports of a 16-year-old killed and two people injured. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
an hour ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt rejects ongoing Israeli escalation against Iran: Sisi tells Pezeshkian
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi expressed Egypt's complete rejection of the ongoing Israeli escalation against Iran, as it poses a threat to the security and stability of the Middle East at a critical time when the region is experiencing multiple crises. This came during a telephone call held on Saturday between El-Sisi and his Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the first officially announced contact between the two leaders since the outbreak of the war. According to a statement from the presidency, the Egyptian President emphasized the importance Egypt attaches to an immediate ceasefire, allowing for the resumption of negotiations to reach a sustainable, peaceful solution to this crisis. El-Sisi emphasized the importance of working to de-escalate the situation as much as possible and ensuring that the cycle of violence does not expand, noting that there are no military solutions to this crisis. He also emphasized to his Iranian counterpart that the only way to ensure sustainable stability in the Middle East is through the implementation of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with international legitimacy. For his part, the Iranian president was keen to express his appreciation to the President, valuing Egypt's wise positions aimed at restoring stability to the Middle East, thereby sparing the bloodshed on all sides. He also emphasized his country's alignment with Egypt's position on the need to find a just, comprehensive, and final solution to the Palestinian issue. Earlier Saturday, FM Abdelatty discussed the ongoing Israeli aggression on Iran and efforts to de-escalate the conflict between Tel-Aviv and Tehran with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Turkey After the meeting, Abdelatty spoke in a telephone call to the US President Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff stressing that Egypt believes there are no military solutions to the conflict between Israel and Iran, emphasizing that peaceful settlement and political dialogue remain the only viable path to lasting peace and stability in the region. This was the third phone conversation between Abdelatty and Witkoff on the Israel-Iran situation this week. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
🔴LIVE UPDATES: Iran armed forces threatens to strike shipments of military aid to Israel - Region
Ahram Online provides live coverage of the unfolding military confrontation between Israel and Iran as the two sides waged deadly strikes against one another for the ninth day in a row. Related Governments scramble to evacuate citizens from Israel, Iran UN Security Council meets Friday to discuss Israel-Iran war, as Tel Aviv, Tehran conflict escalates - as it happened 'Iran will not surrender, and any American attack will have irreparable consequences' - Khamenei Israel and Iran exchanged fresh attacks early Saturday, marking the ninth consecutive day of hostilities since Israel launched strikes on 13 June. Around 2.30am local time, Israel's military reported an incoming missile barrage from Iran, triggering air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Explosions were heard over central Israel as air defences responded. An Israeli military official said five ballistic missiles were fired, with no reports of casualties or impacts, according to the Guardian. Overnight, Israel said it targeted Iranian missile storage and launch infrastructure. The military claimed 'very significant' results, while Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told German newspaper Bild that the strikes had delayed Iran's nuclear capabilities by two to three years. Iran, which says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes, rejected calls for 'zero enrichment' as long as Israeli attacks persisted. A senior official told Reuters Tehran remained open to talks on enrichment limits if its right to peaceful nuclear development was recognised. Since Israel launched attacks, Israeli bombing has killed at least 639 people and wounded 1,326, according to Iranian media, while Iranian missiles have killed at least 25 people and wounded hundreds in Israel, the Guardian reported. The UN Security Council convened an emergency session Friday at Iran's request. Secretary-General António Guterres warned the world was 'racing toward' a major crisis and urged urgent dialogue. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi reported damage to four buildings at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site and warned a strike on the Bushehr plant could cause a serious radioactive release. Meanwhile, the Pentagon confirmed the Nimitz carrier strike group is being deployed to the region. The USS Carl Vinson remains in the Middle East, while the USS Gerald R. Ford is scheduled to depart for Europe on 24 June. US President Donald Trump publicly rebuked intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard for saying there was no evidence Iran was pursuing a nuclear weapon. Gabbard later said her comments were taken out of context. 22:10 Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stressed to US President Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff that Egypt believes there are no military solutions to the conflict between Israel and Iran, emphasizing that peaceful settlement and political dialogue remain the only viable path to lasting peace and stability in the region. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said this was said during a phone call on Saturday, within the framework of ongoing coordination and consultation between Egypt and the United States on rapidly evolving and dangerous regional developments. The Egyptian top diplomat stressed to the US envoy growing regional concerns amid the escalating military confrontation between Israel and Iran, and the serious threat they pose to the security and stability of the Middle East. Minister Abdelatty stressed to Witkoff the urgent need to de-escalate tensions, reach a ceasefire between the two sides, and restart US-Iran nuclear negotiations. For his part, Witkoff briefed the Egyptian minister on Washington's perspective on the unfolding situation and the efforts underway to give diplomacy a chance to contain the crisis. This was the third phone conversation between Abdelatty and Witkoff on the Israel-Iran situation this week. 22:05 Loud blasts were heard Saturday in the Iranian capital, AFP journalists said, as fighting raged between the two foes for the ninth day. It was not immediately clear whether the blasts heard in central and northern Tehran were the result of incoming Israeli strikes or Iranian air defence fire. 21:50 Iran's armed forces threatened on Saturday to strike shipments of military aid to Israel during the ongoing fighting between the two foes. "We warn that sending any military or radar equipment by boat or aircraft from any country to assist the Zionist regime will be considered participation in the aggression against Islamic Iran and will be a legitimate target for the armed forces," a spokesman said in a video statement broadcast on state TV. 21:15 At least five Iranian army personnel were killed and nine others injured in an Israeli airstrike on the town of Sumar in western Iran, Iranian state-affiliated Fars News Agency reported Saturday. The casualties were confirmed by the acting governor of Qasr-e-Shirin, who told local media that the attack targeted military positions in the border area near Iraq. 20:30 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged Iran to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States as the only viable path to resolve both the escalating conflict with Israel and the longstanding dispute over its nuclear programme, Reuters reported Tuesday. During a meeting in Istanbul with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Erdogan expressed Turkey's readiness to facilitate the restarting of stalled talks. Erdogan also criticized Israel's recent attack on Iran, calling it 'an act of sabotage' aimed at derailing potential diplomatic progress with Washington. 19:50 Two US officials told Reuters on Saturday that the United States is relocating B-2 stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to Guam. According to The New York Times, the B-2s — long-range strategic bombers capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads — departed accompanied by refueling tankers. The aircraft are known for their capacity to deliver the 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker buster, a weapon experts say could be used to target Iran's underground Fordo nuclear facility. While the Pentagon has not officially linked the deployment to the current Middle East crisis, open-source flight trackers and reports from Israeli news outlet Haaretz indicate that between two and four B-2 bombers and six tankers are en route to Guam. One US official confirmed no forward orders beyond Guam had been issued. 18:55 Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree issued a statement, declaring that the confrontation with Israel over its attack on Iran is "a battle for the entire nation." Saree affirmed that the group is closely monitoring "hostile movements" and will "take all necessary measures to defend our people and homeland." He added that the Houthis will not abandon Gaza and will oppose any 'Zionist-American schemes' in the region, vowing support for any Arab or Islamic country facing Israeli aggression. 'The enemy seeks to dominate the region and is attacking Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, and Palestine,' Saree said, asserting that the resistance axis remains united against expansionist ambitions. 'If the United States joins the aggression against Iran, we will target its ships and warships in the Red Sea,' Saree declared, adding that 'any US attack in support of Israel means the subjugation of our Ummah and the occupation of our homelands.' File Photo: USS Nimitz aircraft carrier. AFP 18:40 Al Jazeera obtained satellite imagery confirming the deployment of US B-52 strategic bombers at the Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean, which was documented since 19 June. The exclusive images also reveal the presence of several other US fighter aircraft stationed at the base, indicating a heightened state of operational readiness amid escalating regional tensions. The Diego Garcia military base is a remote atoll in the Indian Ocean and home to a major US military facility known as Camp Justice. Strategically located roughly 3,500 km (2,175 miles) southeast of Iran, Diego Garcia plays a pivotal role in US military operations across the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia. A satellite image of diego garcia military base. Photo courtesy of Al-Jazeera X account. 18:20 The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, says Israel struck a centrifuge workshop, which made the machines used to enrich uranium, in Isfahan. 'We know this facility well. There was no nuclear material at this site, and therefore, the attack on it will have no radiological consequences,' Grossi says. This is the third such facility Israel has targeted in Iran since fighting began on 13 June, the agency says. Israel previously struck the Tehran Research Centre and a workshop in the city of Karaj, it says. Grossi told the United Nations Security Council on Friday, 'attacks on nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic of Iran have caused a sharp degradation in nuclear safety and security' in the country. He added: 'Though they have not so far led to a radiological release affecting the public, there is a danger this could occur.' 18:00 Reuters reported that a senior Iranian official said on Saturday that proposals put forward by European powers at talks in Geneva about his country's nuclear programme were 'unrealistic', suggesting that if they stuck to them, it would be difficult to reach an accord. 'The discussions and proposals made by the Europeans in Geneva were unrealistic. Insisting on these positions will not bring Iran and Europe closer to an agreement,' the senior official told Reuters, speaking anonymously. 'In any case, Iran will review the European proposals in Tehran and present its responses in the next meeting,' the official said. 17:20 Iranian media has acknowledged that another nuclear scientist has died in Israeli strikes on the country, raising the official death toll announced to 10, the BBC reported. The death of the scientist named Isar Tabatabei Ghomsheh was first announced by the newsletter of Tehran's Sharif University, where he was an alumnus. The newsletter of the university said that he was killed 'late last week in his home' alongside his wife, Mansoureh Hajisalem. Iran previously confirmed the death of nine other nuclear scientists. Fereydoon Abbasi was the former head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, while Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi served as the president of the Islamic Azad University in Tehran. Abdolhamid Minouchehr, Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari, and Amirhossein Feghhi were all academic staff members at Tehran's Shahid Beheshti University. Akbar Motallebizadeh, Ali Bakaei Karimi, Mansour Asgari, and Saeed Borji have also been killed. 16:50 Thousands of protesters march towards Whitehall from Russell Square in central London, according to the Guardian. Protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted 'free, free Palestine', 'occupation no more, Israel is a terrorist state,' and 'stop bombing Iran', reports the PA news agency. Many chanted 'shame on you' as they walked past dozens of counter-protesters, organised by pro-Israeli group Stop The Hate, near Waterloo Bridge. Protesters wave Palestinian and Iranian flags and hold placards reading "Stop arming Israel" as they gather in Russell Square to take part in a march through central London. AFP 16:47: Germany has temporarily moved staff from its embassy in Tehran abroad due to the escalating threat environment, a spokesperson from the German Foreign Ministry told Reuters on Saturday. Despite the relocation, the embassy remains operational and offers consular assistance. German nationals in Iran can still reach the embassy by phone, and the mission is providing guidance on potential land routes for those considering leaving the country. 16:35 Internet-access advocacy group reported on Saturday that the limited internet access that had come back up in Iran has once again 'collapsed.' The group said on X that the disconnect came after 'a brief period when residents could exchange messages with the outside world.' A nationwide internet shutdown has been in place for several days, isolating Iranians. Iran cited concerns about Israeli cyberattacks for the shutdown of mobile and web services. 16:20 Israeli strikes on Iran have killed more than 400 people since they began last week, Iran's health ministry said in an updated toll on Saturday, as fighting raged between the two foes. "As of this morning, Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of over 400 defenseless Iranians and left 3,056 others wounded by missiles and drones," health ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said in a post on X. A building damaged by Israeli air strikes in Tehran, Iran. Photo courtesy of Tasnim news agency. 16:05 Several "powerful explosions" were heard Saturday afternoon in southwestern Iran's Ahvaz, the daily Shargh reported, on the ninth day of hostilities between the Islamic Republic and Israel. Ahvaz is the capital of Khuzestan province, which is situated on the Iraqi border and is Iran's central oil-producing region. The Israeli military had previously announced it was striking "military infrastructure" in the southwest. 15:50 Israel's military said Saturday it was conducting strikes on "military infrastructure" in Iran's southwest, on the ninth day of the war sparked by Israel's attack on the Islamic republic. "Fighter jets are currently striking military infrastructure in southwestern Iran," the military said. 15:30 Former US President Bill Clinton called for de-escalation and renewed diplomacy in the conflict between Israel and Iran, warning of mounting civilian casualties and the risk of broader regional instability. Speaking on The Daily Show late Friday, Clinton criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying: 'Mr Netanyahu has long wanted to fight Iran because that way he can stay in office forever and ever. He's been there most of the last 20 years.' He urged the Trump administration and regional leaders to seek a diplomatic path. 'I hope President Trump will do that. I hope anybody there will do that. We've got to stop,' he said. 'We've got to convince our friends in the Middle East that we'll stand with them and try to protect them, but choosing undeclared wars in which the primary victims are civilians... is not a very good solution.' Clinton said efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation should continue. 'Do I think that we have to try to stop Iran from having a nuclear weapon? I do. I tried at that, and we had some success.' But he added: 'We don't have to have all this outright constant killing of civilians who can't defend themselves and they just want a chance to live.' "We don't have to have all this outright, constant killing of civilians who can't defend themselves." Former President @BillClinton asks for peace amidst the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran — The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) June 20, 2025 15:15 The United Nations has warned that the war between Israel and Iran must not be allowed to trigger another refugee crisis in the Middle East, cautioning that displacement once begun can have long-lasting consequences. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said the intensifying attacks between the two countries had already prompted population movements. It reported that people were fleeing parts of Iran, including Tehran, with some crossing into neighbouring countries. In Israel, strikes had caused people to seek shelter elsewhere in the country or abroad. 'This region has already endured more than its share of war, loss, and displacement. We cannot allow another refugee crisis to take root,' said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. 'The time to de-escalate is right now. Once people are forced to flee, there's no quick way back — and all too often, the consequences last for generations.' UNHCR noted that Iran hosts the largest refugee population in the world — some 3.5 million people, mainly from Afghanistan — and warned that continued conflict would increase hardship and uncertainty for these communities. The agency urged a rapid de-escalation of the conflict and called on countries in the region to respect the right to seek safety. Israeli soldiers and first responders inspect the damage at the site of an Iranian strike in Beit She'an. AFP 15:00 French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that France and its European partners would ramp up talks with Iran following more than a week of hostilities between the Islamic Republic and Israel. "I am convinced that there is a way out of war and to avoid even greater dangers," Macron said on X after phone talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. "To achieve this, we will step up the negotiations initiated by France and its European partners with Iran." He reiterated that Iran 'must never acquire nuclear weapons' and called on Tehran to provide 'full guarantees' of its peaceful intentions. Macron also repeated his demand for the release of French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, held in Iran since May 2022 on espionage charges that their families deny. He described their detention as 'inhumane' and 'unjust.' The announcement came after meetings in Geneva between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and senior diplomats from Britain, France, Germany, and the EU. European officials urged Iran to revive diplomatic efforts with the United States, but Tehran said talks could only resume if Israel halted its bombardment. The Iranian President @drpezeshkian called me. I reiterated my firm demand: Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris must be released. Their inhumane detention is unjust. I expect them to return to France. I also expressed my deep concern about Iran's nuclear program.… — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 21, 2025 14:30 Iranians started to see internet access restored, allowing people to call friends and family for the first time in days, according to AP. Those in the diaspora posted on social media about connecting to FaceTime or WhatsApp to call relatives they had been worried about. Government officials had disconnected phone and web services earlier in the week for the more than 90 million people who live in Iran, citing cybersecurity threats from Israel. Tasnim News Agency, which is closely affiliated with Iran's government, quoted the information minister saying that access to 'international' internet should be restored across the country by 8 p.m. 14:00 Gulf Cooperation Council ambassadors raised concerns with UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi over the safety of nuclear facilities near their countries amid the ongoing Israeli-Iranian crisis, the Guardian reported, citing Qatari state media. According to Reuters, the ambassadors warned of the 'dangerous repercussions' of targeting nuclear sites during a meeting with Grossi in Vienna. Grossi has previously cautioned that strikes on nuclear facilities could cause 'radioactive releases with great consequences within and beyond boundaries' of the targeted state. The risk of an attack on Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, located on the Gulf coast, has long alarmed Gulf states. It remains the country's only operational civilian reactor. 13:00 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused Israel of deliberately attacking Iran to sabotage planned nuclear talks with the United States, saying the move showed Israel had no interest in resolving disputes through diplomacy, Reuters reported. Speaking at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation foreign ministers' meeting in Istanbul, Erdoğan urged countries with influence over Israel not to 'listen to its poison' and to pursue a resolution through dialogue to avoid a broader conflict. He also criticised Western leaders for providing 'unconditional support' to Israel and warned against attempts to redraw Middle East borders 'in blood', AFP reported. 'It is vital for us to show more solidarity to end Israel's banditry—not only in Palestine but also in Syria, in Lebanon and in Iran,' he told representatives of the OIC's 57 member states, calling on Muslim nations to step up efforts to impose punitive measures on Israel in line with international law and UN resolutions. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul. AFP 12:00 Arab foreign ministers strongly condemned recent Israeli airstrikes on Iran during their meeting in Istanbul ahead of the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers, Tehran Times reported. The ministers urged an immediate end to the military escalation and warned of dire consequences for regional stability if hostilities continued. They convened for an emergency session to address escalating tensions, particularly in light of Israel's attacks on Iran that began on 13 June. In a final statement issued Friday, the Arab League called the Israeli strikes 'a blatant violation of the sovereignty of a UN member state and a threat to regional peace and security". Based on the statement, the ministers appealed to the United Nations Security Council to take urgent action, stressing that continued inaction risks further destabilization of the Middle East. 11:30 Israel's first responders said a drone had hit a residential building in northern Israel after the army reported an intrusion in the Beit She'an valley, AFP reported. "A drone strike hit a two-storey residential building in northern Israel", the Magen David Adom said in a statement, adding that its rescue teams found no visible casualties as they arrived. 11:00 A senior United Arab Emirates official urged an immediate end to the Iran-Israel war, warning that a prolonged conflict would have severe consequences for the region, AFP reported. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said the war undermined Gulf efforts to build stability and prosperity. 'The longer a war takes, the more dangerous it becomes,' he told reporters on Friday. 'Any extended confrontation or war between Israel and Iran will only bring a very difficult aftermath.' Gargash stressed the importance of de-escalation and said a return to negotiations was still possible. He also cited the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq as a warning, saying the region was still dealing with its fallout. He noted one major risk: disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a fifth of global oil output. 'This war flies in the face of the regional order the Gulf countries want to build,' he said. 'We feel that this is setting us back—not only the UAE, but the region.' 10:45 Police in Iran's Qom province said 22 people "linked to Israeli spy services" had been arrested since 13 June. "22 people were identified and arrested on charges of being linked to the Zionist regime's spy services, disturbing public opinion and supporting the criminal regime," Fars news agency reported, citing the head of police intelligence in Iran's Qom province. Tasnim reported on Friday that a European national was also arrested for spying, without giving their nationality or the date of the arrest. 10:30 Iran's Revolutionary Guards said five of its members were killed in Israeli attacks on the city of Khorramabad, Iranian media reported, according to Reuters. Earlier, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military had killed a senior commander in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force in a strike on an apartment in Qom. The commander, Saeed Izadi, led the force's Palestine Corps, Katz said in a statement quoted by Reuters. 10:00 Israel's military said its navy struck a Hezbollah-linked site near the southern Lebanese city of Naqoura overnight, a day after Israel's foreign minister warned the group against entering the conflict with Iran. According to the military, the target belonged to Hezbollah's Radwan Force and was described as an infrastructure site used to plan attacks against Israeli civilians. Israel provided no evidence to support the claims. In a separate statement, the military said it had 'struck and eliminated' a Hezbollah member in south Lebanon on Friday, despite a ceasefire between the two sides. Lebanon's health ministry said one person was killed in a drone strike targeting a motorcycle in the same village, according to the state-run National News Agency. A plume of smoke rises above hills after an Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese Jezzine district. AFP The Guardian reported, citing the semi-official Tasnim news agency, that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Istanbul for a meeting with Arab League diplomats to discuss the escalating conflict with Israel at 9:30 a.m. Around 40 diplomats are expected to attend the weekend session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as missile exchanges between Israel and Iran continue, according to AFP. Araghchi's visit follows talks in Geneva on Friday with counterparts from Britain, France, and Germany. 'At this meeting, at the suggestion of Iran, the issue of the Zionist regime's attack on our country will be specifically addressed,' Tasnim quoted him as saying. According to the Turkish state news agency Anadolu, cited by The Guardian, Arab League ministers are expected to issue a statement following the meeting. 9:00 Iran's Fars news agency reported that Israel attacked the Isfahan nuclear site in the early hours of Saturday. Citing a security official, it said multiple Israeli strikes had been carried out, with most explosions linked to air defence activity. There was no "leakage of hazardous materials," the official was quoted as saying. Iranian media also said Israel attacked a building in the city of Qom, with initial reports of a 16-year-old killed and two people injured. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
