Officials concede they don't know the fate of Iran's uranium stockpile
A day after United States President Donald Trump declared that Iran's nuclear programme had been 'completely and totally obliterated' by American bunker-busting bombs and a barrage of missiles, the actual state of the programme seemed far more murky.
Senior officials conceded they did not know the fate of Iran's
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Scoop
6 hours ago
- Scoop
How Would An Escalation In Conflict In The Middle East Impact New Zealand
Article – RNZ Explainer – America jumped into the war between Israel and Iran over the weekend, as US President Donald Trump announced air strikes on Iran's three principal nuclear sites. The intervention of the US in the conflict has raised concerns worldwide about what's next, including how it might affect New Zealand, from citizens overseas to the price of petrol. Here's a look at what you need to know so far. What's NZ's role in the conflict? Are we going to war? New Zealand has maintained a cautious stance politically as the conflict between Iran and Israel has ramped up in recent weeks. That remains the case today, with the prime minister urging that diplomatic talks resume. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who is overseas for a NATO summit, told RNZ's Morning Report that New Zealand wanted to see a peaceful stable and secure Middle East. 'The way to get there is a political solution rather than military action, it's actually through dialogue and diplomacy.' As a small country that is thousands of miles away from the conflict, all New Zealand could do was to advocate for what it thought should happen, he said. 'What we don't need is more military action, we need a political solution to all of these issues in the Middle East.' On Sunday, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said ongoing military action in the Middle East was 'extremely worrying'. Peters previously said before the weekend escalation that the provocative behaviour by both Israel and Iran was to be criticised, and New Zealand would not take sides in a conflict of this nature. 'There are no innocent parties in this conflict,' he said. Will this latest Middle East conflict affect the price of petrol – and everything else? The escalation poses a major threat to New Zealand's economy, RNZ's Susan Edmunds reports. Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen said if there were attacks on US shipping, or attempts to limit access through the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices could spike. Iran's parliament reportedly voted on Monday morning (NZ time) to close the Strait of Hormuz, which around 20 percent of the world's oil travels through. 'If [Iran] do ratchet up the tension further, if this starts to broaden out into shipping attacks, I think market expectations and worries about oil supply will increase substantially. The question is, just to what degree do you price this and how do markets look at that?' Koura KiwiSaver founder Rupert Carlyon said the biggest risk was to inflation. 'If it does turn into a broader Middle East war and potentially shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, then we are likely to see higher oil prices, which will flow through to everything and shipping delays making it harder and more expensive to import things here in New Zealand.' What about Kiwis who are in Iran or Israel? Nearly 250 New Zealanders are now registered as being in Iran and Israel as a Defence Force Hercules makes its way to the region to help. New figures provided to RNZ and recorded on SafeTravel show 119 New Zealanders in Iran and 117 in Israel. RNZ understands some of those people may have managed to flee somewhere safer, but have not yet updated their status with SafeTravel. The Defence Force announced on Sunday it is sending a plane to the Middle East to assist any New Zealanders stranded in Iran or Israel. The plane is not part of any military combat operations. The C-130J Hercules, along with government personnel, left Auckland on Monday morning. It will take several days for it to arrive. Peters said New Zealanders should do everything they can to leave now, if they can find a safe route. 'We know it will not be safe for everyone to leave Iran or Israel, and many people may not have access to transport or fuel supplies,' he said. 'If you are in this situation, you should shelter in place, follow appropriate advice from local authorities and stay in touch with family and friends where possible.' Peters earlier said the number of New Zealanders registered in Iran had jumped since the escalation of the crisis. 'We thought, at a certain time, we had them all counted out at 46,' he said. 'It's far more closer to 80 now, because they're coming out of the woodwork, despite the fact that, for months, we said, 'look, this is a danger zone', and for a number of days we've said, 'get out if you possibly can'.' There were 101 New Zealanders registered in Israel. Again, Peters said the figure had risen recently. New Zealanders in Iran and Israel needing urgent consular assistance should call the Ministry's Emergency Consular Call Centre on +64 99 20 20 20. How are New Zealanders with ties to the region coping? Elham Salari, an Iranian in New Zealand told RNZ on Sunday she was deeply worried for her family members back home. 'I'm so scared. I'm so stressed… all I'm thinking is 'What's going to happen next?' Trump said he wants peace… but Iran's regime will not let it go easily. There will be a bigger war. It's going to destroy our country and our people are going to die.' Salari said she had woken up to messages from her family on Sunday who confirmed they were safe, but she had not been able to get back in contact with them since. Meanwhile, New Zealand Jewish Council spokesperson Ben Kepes said people should not conflate the actions of the Israeli government and the Israeli military with Jews worldwide. Iran has said multiple times that it does not believe Israel has a right to exist, he said. 'Most New Zealanders when they understand the issues would say that regardless of whether they support the actions of the Israeli government, that Israel has a right to exist as a sovereign nation.' Kepes said he was a Jew in New Zealand and did not hold an Israeli passport, nor vote for the government in Israel. 'I have zero control over Israel, so holding me responsible of the actions of the government is not only absurd, but it's a stereotype that is really dangerous.'
Scoop
7 hours ago
- Scoop
How Would An Escalation In Conflict In The Middle East Impact New Zealand
Explainer – As the US joins the conflict between Israel and Iran, how will New Zealand be affected? Here's what you need to know so far as the situation continues to unfold. RNZ Online Explainer – America jumped into the war between Israel and Iran over the weekend, as US President Donald Trump announced air strikes on Iran's three principal nuclear sites. The intervention of the US in the conflict has raised concerns worldwide about what's next, including how it might affect New Zealand, from citizens overseas to the price of petrol. Here's a look at what you need to know so far. What's NZ's role in the conflict? Are we going to war? New Zealand has maintained a cautious stance politically as the conflict between Iran and Israel has ramped up in recent weeks. That remains the case today, with the prime minister urging that diplomatic talks resume. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who is overseas for a NATO summit, told RNZ's Morning Report that New Zealand wanted to see a peaceful stable and secure Middle East. 'The way to get there is a political solution rather than military action, it's actually through dialogue and diplomacy.' As a small country that is thousands of miles away from the conflict, all New Zealand could do was to advocate for what it thought should happen, he said. 'What we don't need is more military action, we need a political solution to all of these issues in the Middle East.' On Sunday, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said ongoing military action in the Middle East was 'extremely worrying'. Peters previously said before the weekend escalation that the provocative behaviour by both Israel and Iran was to be criticised, and New Zealand would not take sides in a conflict of this nature. 'There are no innocent parties in this conflict,' he said. Will this latest Middle East conflict affect the price of petrol – and everything else? The escalation poses a major threat to New Zealand's economy, RNZ's Susan Edmunds reports. Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen said if there were attacks on US shipping, or attempts to limit access through the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices could spike. Iran's parliament reportedly voted on Monday morning (NZ time) to close the Strait of Hormuz, which around 20 percent of the world's oil travels through. 'If [Iran] do ratchet up the tension further, if this starts to broaden out into shipping attacks, I think market expectations and worries about oil supply will increase substantially. The question is, just to what degree do you price this and how do markets look at that?' Koura KiwiSaver founder Rupert Carlyon said the biggest risk was to inflation. 'If it does turn into a broader Middle East war and potentially shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, then we are likely to see higher oil prices, which will flow through to everything and shipping delays making it harder and more expensive to import things here in New Zealand.' What about Kiwis who are in Iran or Israel? Nearly 250 New Zealanders are now registered as being in Iran and Israel as a Defence Force Hercules makes its way to the region to help. New figures provided to RNZ and recorded on SafeTravel show 119 New Zealanders in Iran and 117 in Israel. RNZ understands some of those people may have managed to flee somewhere safer, but have not yet updated their status with SafeTravel. The Defence Force announced on Sunday it is sending a plane to the Middle East to assist any New Zealanders stranded in Iran or Israel. The plane is not part of any military combat operations. The C-130J Hercules, along with government personnel, left Auckland on Monday morning. It will take several days for it to arrive. Peters said New Zealanders should do everything they can to leave now, if they can find a safe route. 'We know it will not be safe for everyone to leave Iran or Israel, and many people may not have access to transport or fuel supplies,' he said. 'If you are in this situation, you should shelter in place, follow appropriate advice from local authorities and stay in touch with family and friends where possible.' Peters earlier said the number of New Zealanders registered in Iran had jumped since the escalation of the crisis. 'We thought, at a certain time, we had them all counted out at 46,' he said. 'It's far more closer to 80 now, because they're coming out of the woodwork, despite the fact that, for months, we said, 'look, this is a danger zone', and for a number of days we've said, 'get out if you possibly can'.' There were 101 New Zealanders registered in Israel. Again, Peters said the figure had risen recently. New Zealanders in Iran and Israel needing urgent consular assistance should call the Ministry's Emergency Consular Call Centre on +64 99 20 20 20. How are New Zealanders with ties to the region coping? Elham Salari, an Iranian in New Zealand told RNZ on Sunday she was deeply worried for her family members back home. 'I'm so scared. I'm so stressed… all I'm thinking is 'What's going to happen next?' Trump said he wants peace… but Iran's regime will not let it go easily. There will be a bigger war. It's going to destroy our country and our people are going to die.' Salari said she had woken up to messages from her family on Sunday who confirmed they were safe, but she had not been able to get back in contact with them since. Meanwhile, New Zealand Jewish Council spokesperson Ben Kepes said people should not conflate the actions of the Israeli government and the Israeli military with Jews worldwide. Iran has said multiple times that it does not believe Israel has a right to exist, he said. 'Most New Zealanders when they understand the issues would say that regardless of whether they support the actions of the Israeli government, that Israel has a right to exist as a sovereign nation.' Kepes said he was a Jew in New Zealand and did not hold an Israeli passport, nor vote for the government in Israel. 'I have zero control over Israel, so holding me responsible of the actions of the government is not only absurd, but it's a stereotype that is really dangerous.' According to the 2023 Census, about 2700 people living in New Zealand are of Israeli or Jewish background, while about 5600 identify with the Iranian ethnic group.
1News
7 hours ago
- 1News
How the world reacted to US strikes on Iran
Several close US allies urged a return to the negotiating table following American strikes on Iran that fueled fears of a wider conflict, while noting the threat posed by Tehran's nuclear programme. Some countries and groups in the region, including those that support Iran, condemned the move while also urging de-escalation. US President Donald Trump described the damage as "monumental" after the US hit three Iranian nuclear sites, although the US assessment was unfinished. Initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage from the US strikes. (Source: 1News) Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US had "crossed a very big red line," the time for diplomacy was over and Iran had the right to defend itself. Here is a look at the global reaction: ADVERTISEMENT United Nations UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was "gravely alarmed" by the use of force by the United States. "There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control — with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world," he said in a statement on the social media platform X. "I call on Member States to de-escalate." "There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy." United Kingdom British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned of escalation beyond the Middle East as he called for all sides to negotiate a diplomatic end to the crisis, saying stability was the priority in the volatile region. The UK, along with the European Union, France and Germany, tried unsuccessfully to broker a diplomatic solution in Geneva last week with Iran. ADVERTISEMENT Starmer said Iran's nuclear program posed a grave threat to global security. 'Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat,' Starmer said. Russia Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as deputy head of President Vladimir Putin's Security Council, said several countries were prepared to supply Tehran with nuclear weapons. He didn't specify which countries, but said the US attack caused minimal damage and would not stop Tehran from pursuing nuclear weapons. Russia's Foreign Ministry said it 'strongly condemned' the airstrikes and called them a 'a gross violation of international law, the UN Charter, and UN Security Council resolutions'. Iraq ADVERTISEMENT The Iraqi government condemned the US strikes, saying the military escalation created a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East. It said it poses serious risks to regional stability and called for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis. 'The continuation of such attacks risks dangerous escalation with consequences that extend beyond the borders of any single state, threatening the security of the entire region and the world,' government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said in the statement. Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi warned of 'grave repercussions' for expanding the Middle East conflict and urged a return to negotiations. Satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies show images of the Isfahan and Natanz sites before and after they were attacked by the US. (Source: Supplied) Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, which previously condemned Israel's strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and military leaders, expressed 'deep concern' about the US airstrikes, but stopped short of condemning them. ADVERTISEMENT 'The Kingdom underscores the need to exert all possible efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and avoid further escalation,' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Watch: US defence bosses reveal devastating details of 'precision strike' on Iran on TVNZ+ Qatar Qatar, which is home to the largest US military base in the Middle East, said it 'regrets' escalating tensions in the Israel-Iran war. Its Foreign Ministry in a statement urged all parties to show restraint and 'avoid escalation, which the peoples of the region, burdened by conflicts and their tragic humanitarian repercussions, cannot tolerate'. Qatar has served as a key mediator in the Israel-Hamas war. Hamas and the Houthis ADVERTISEMENT Both the Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hamas condemned the US strikes. The Houthi political bureau in a statement called on Muslim nations to join 'the Jihad and resistance option as one front against the Zionist-American arrogance'. Hamas and the Houthis are part of Iran's so-called Axis of Resistance, a collection of pro-Iranian proxies stretching from Yemen to Lebanon that for years gave the Islamic Republic considerable power across the region. Lebanon Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the US bombing could lead to a regional conflict that no country could bear and called for negotiations. 'Lebanon, its leadership, parties, and people, are aware today, more than ever before, that it has paid a heavy price for the wars that erupted on its land and in the region,' Aoun said in a statement on X. 'It is unwilling to pay more.' Pakistan ADVERTISEMENT Pakistan blasted the US strikes as a 'deeply disturbing' escalation just days after it nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomatic intervention with the India-Pakistan crisis. 'These attacks violate all norms of international law,' the government said in a statement. 'Iran has the legitimate right to defend itself under the UN Charter.' China China condemned US strikes on Iran, calling them a serious violation of international law that further inflamed tensions in the Middle East. In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged all parties — especially Israel — to implement a cease-fire and begin dialogue. 'China is willing to work with the international community to pool efforts together and uphold justice, and contribute to the work for restoring peace and stability in the Middle East,' the ministry said. European Union ADVERTISEMENT The European Union's top diplomat said Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, but she urged those involved in the conflict to show restraint. 'I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation,' EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a post on social media. Italy Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Iran's nuclear facilities 'represented a danger for the entire area' but hoped the action could lead to de-escalation in the conflict and negotiations. Ireland Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris called the US airstrikes 'an extraordinarily dangerous escalation of a conflict that already best be described as a tinderbox'. Ireland, which has been especially critical of Israel's war in Gaza, echoed other European calls for negotiations that would prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. ADVERTISEMENT 'We're now entering a moment of particular danger,' Harris said. 'The chances now of a spiral of escalation are more likely than ever before, and there is a real prospect now of the international community losing all control of this very, very volatile conflict.' Australia Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia's government endorsed the US strikes. 'We support action to prevent Iran getting a nuclear weapon and that is what this is,' she said. Her remarks to Channel Nine news Monday were firmer than an official statement supplied Sunday by her government immediately after the strikes that stopped short of backing them. 'Ultimately we want to see de-escalation and diplomacy,' Wong said. She would not say whether Australian satellite communications or signals intelligence were employed by the United States. Both countries are members of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing partnership. But Wong said the US had been clear that 'this was a unilateral strike.' NZ Defence Force is on the way to the region, hoping for a chance to evacuate those who want to leave. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT Latin America Left-wing Latin American governments expressed fierce opposition to the US strikes. Iran-allied Venezuela called the attacks 'illegal, unjustifiable and extremely dangerous'. Colombian President Gustavo Petro said they were an insult to the Middle East. Chile's President Gabriel Boric said they violated 'rules we have established as humanity'. Mexico's Foreign Ministry made 'an urgent call for peace'. In contrast, Argentina's libertarian President Javier Milei, a loyal ally of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, praised the attacks on social media. 'Terrorism, never again,' his spokesperson said. Japan, Thailand and Vietnam Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters it was crucial to calm the situation as soon as possible, adding that Iranian nuclear weapons development also must be prevented. He declined to comment on whether he supported the US attacks on Iran. Vietnam called on parties to continue negotiation efforts and respect humanitarian law and International Atomic Energy Agency regulations. 'Vietnam is deeply concerned about the escalating and complex conflict in the Middle East, which poses a serious threat to the lives and safety of civilians, as well as to regional and global peace and stability,' Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said in the statement. ADVERTISEMENT Thailand called on all parties to immediately stop all acts of violence and seek a peaceful resolution. 'Thailand expresses its grave concern over the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, particularly in light of the recently intensified attacks and expansion of conflict by other parties, which pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability and risk further escalation, all of which is dangerous and affecting countless civilians," the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement. The Vatican Pope Leo XIV made a strong appeal for peace during his Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter's square, calling for international diplomacy to 'silence the weapons'. After an open reference to the 'alarming' situation in Iran, the first American pontiff stressed that 'today more than ever, humanity cries out and invokes peace and it is a cry that demands reason and must not be stifled'. Pope Leo urged every member of the international community to take up their moral responsibility to 'stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss'.
