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Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Trump says ‘it's very hard' to ask Israel to halt strikes on Iran, dismisses Europe's mediation efforts
US President Donald Trump said Friday that it's difficult to persuade Israel to end its assault on Iran. 'It's very hard to make that request right now. If somebody is winning, it's a little bit harder to do than if somebody is losing,' Trump was quoted as saying by The New York Times. 'But we're ready, willing and able, and we've been speaking to Iran, and we'll see what happens,' he added. The US President further said that applying pressure on Israel to stop its drone and missile strikes was unrealistic. 'Israel is doing well in terms of war, and I think you would have to say Iran is doing less well… It's a little hard to get someone to stop.' Trump also dismissed European diplomatic efforts to mediate the conflict. 'Iran didn't want to speak to Europe, they want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this one,' he said. According to Reuters, when asked if he would support a ceasefire while negotiations are ongoing, Trump said: 'I might, depending on the circumstances.' Asked about the possibility of deploying US ground forces, Trump responded: 'Well, I'm not going to talk about ground forces, because the last thing you want to do is ground forces.' Meanwhile, in Geneva, the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany met with Iran's foreign minister for three hours. The European ministers urged Iran to return to the negotiating table over its nuclear programme, but the session ended with little sign of progress. The Israel-Iran aerial exchanges entered their ninth day. Israel launched strikes targeting Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory. According to Iran-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 639 people have been killed in Iran. Israel has reported 24 civilian deaths from Iranian strikes. Trump and the White House have said a decision on possible direct US involvement in the conflict will be made within two weeks. (With inputs from The New York Times, Reuters)
DW
13-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
What's next for Iran after Israel attacks? – DW – 06/13/2025
Tehran has said it considers Israeli strikes on military leaders and nuclear sites as a "declaration of war." A diplomatic de-escalation seems like a distant prospect. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has said Israel will suffer a "bitter and painful" fate, following attacks Friday on Iranian targets. Iran's military has warned there will be "no limits" to its response. Israel's military has said over 100 targets in Iran were struck overnight, which were followed up later in the day by another series of strikes. The targets included at least six leading nuclear scientists and four senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who were killed in attacks on residential buildings in the capital, Tehran. Iranian media have reported that the IRGC commander-in-chief, Hossein Salami, was among those killed, along with top Khamenei aide and diplomat Ali Shamkhani, who also led a committee coordinating nuclear talks. Iran has characterized the Israeli strikes as a "declaration of war." Failed nuclear diplomacy with Iran "The current situation is the result of a lack of effective and functioning diplomacy between Iran and the US in the nuclear negotiations," Mohammad Sadegh Javadi Hesar, a former Iranian parliamentarian and editor in chief of the dissident Tus newspaper, told DW. "This situation has created a space in which Israel is behaving undiplomatically and has drawn both negotiating parties into a military confrontation that neither was desired nor is desired by Iran," he added. Israel struck several targets in Tehran on Friday Image: MEGHDAD MADADI/TASNIM NEWS/AFP/Getty Images The US in recent months had restarted negotiations with Iran over Tehran's nuclear program with the aim of reaching a deal to keep Iran away from developing a nuclear weapon. In 2018, during his first term, US President Donald Trump pulled the US out of a nuclear agreement with Iran that traded sanctions relief for a verifiable Iranian drawdown of uranium enrichment. Israel views the Iranian nuclear program as an existential threat. The Iranian leadership does not recognize the state of Israel and regularly threatens to destroy it. However, Tehran officially emphasizes that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has a different perspective. According to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, Iran is enriching uranium to an extent that exceeds that of all other non-nuclear weapon states. In a resolution on June 12, the UN nuclear watchdog declared for the first time in almost 20 years that Iran had violated its nuclear non-proliferation obligations. This provides an opportunity to refer the case to the UN Security Council. In response to the IAEA's condemnation of the lack of cooperation, the Iranian Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Agency jointly announced their intention to build a third uranium enrichment facility "in a safe place." Javadi Hesar, an Iran-based political critic, told DW that the IAEA ruling has allowed Israel to legitimize its strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. "Israel can now claim that even the IAEA has determined that the Iranian nuclear program is neither predictable nor controllable. Therefore, it is necessary to strike preemptively and destroy Iranian nuclear facilities out of self-protection," Hesar said. "To prevent this escalation from turning into a major war, and to keep the confrontation between Iran and Israel at a low and limited level, the US government — as Iran's negotiating partner — should quickly condemn Israel's actions and make it publicly clear that it was not involved in this attack," he added. IAEA chief Grossi, meanwhile, condemned the attack on Iran's nuclear program. On Friday, he stated that, according to the Iranian authorities, the uranium enrichment plant in Natanz had been hit by the Israeli attacks. Israel claimed the facility had been "significantly" damaged. The IAEA has not seen increased radiation levels at the site. A second facility in Fordo and the nuclear center in Isfahan were not affected as of Friday afternoon. An aerial photograph of the Natanz nuclear facility from January 2025 Image: Maxar Technologies/Handout/REUTERS How could Iran respond to strikes on nuclear program? Iran has spread its nuclear facilities over several locations, some of which are in underground bunkers, which makes it difficult to completely destroy them. If Iran's nuclear facilities are attacked, Iran has little choice but to strike back for internal political reasons, according to Arman Mahmoudian, Iran expert at the University of South Florida. He added Iran is concerned about a development similar to the Syrian war, in which Israel destroyed several nuclear facilities under construction. "Iran feels compelled to send at least a limited but clear countersignal in order to prevent further attacks. Israel, in turn, could expand its operations and target Iran's electricity and oil infrastructure in order to increase the pressure on Tehran on a daily basis," Mahmoudian told DW. Iran's first reaction was to fire more than 100 drones at Israel, all of which were intercepted outside Israeli territory, according to the Israeli military. The Iranian armed forces released a statement saying that Tehran had "no restrictions" in its response to Israel's strikes. Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh has said that "new" weapons had been tested and handed over to the armed forces. Iran has also called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. What is the role of the US? US President Trump on Friday took to his Truth Social social media platform and called on the Iranian leadership to make a "deal" and warned otherwise of "even more brutal" attacks. "There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end," Trump posted. Trump told US broadcaster CNN on Friday that the Israeli strikes were a "very successful attack." Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier on Friday had said the US was not involved in supporting or orchestrating the strikes. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the prime minister will speak with Trump at some point on Friday. "So far, Iran has not wanted to be drawn into a direct military conflict with the US, which would be an extremely risky undertaking," said Iran expert Mahmoudian. "However, there is a difference between the US merely supporting Israel and actively getting involved in a war with Iran," he added. To completely destroy Iran's nuclear facilities, Israel would need more advanced weaponry that only the US would be able to provide. Should such involvement occur, Iranian retaliation would likely also target US facilities in the region, which would further destabilize the already tense situation in the Middle East. Israel attacks Iran amid growing criticism over Gaza To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This article was originally written in German.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists make disturbing discovery in analysis of human bodily fluids: 'Further research is required'
A new study published in Environmental Research identified microplastics in various body fluids among people suffering from respiratory illnesses. An Iran-based research team collected urine, mucus, and lung lavage fluid samples from 30 participants who suffered from respiratory illnesses. They found a total of 490 microplastics in the samples, representing an array of colors, sizes, and plastic types. These tiny plastic particles were most abundant in the mucus; all 30 patients had microplastics in those samples, and 358 total microplastics were found across all mucus samples. Meanwhile, only nine microplastics were detected in urine among eight of the patients. A total of 123 microplastics were identified in the lavage fluid samples, where a higher proportion of larger fibers were also discovered. The authors said their observations suggest that inhaled and ingested microplastics might be fractionated differently through the body. "Further research is required to determine why and how particles larger than theoretical limits are present in these fluids, along with their biopersistence and potential acute and chronic health impacts," they added. Microplastics break off from larger plastics, and they can be found all around us, from the air we breathe to the water we drink and the food we eat. One study found that nearly all tested protein samples, including chicken and tofu, contained microplastics. These tiny plastic particles have also infiltrated our bodies. One study found significant levels of microplastics in the penises of four out of five men undergoing erectile dysfunction–related surgery, while another discovered that a growing number of microplastics are appearing in our brains. Research examining the impacts of microplastic exposure is ongoing, but it has so far been tied to cancer, dementia, and impaired blood flow in the brain, among other health concerns. Removing microplastics from the environment is difficult but not impossible. One group of scientists discovered a way to filter them out of water using egg whites, and another team found a way to remove up to 99.9% of pollutants — including microplastics — from water in just 10 seconds. While microplastic removal science is promising, it's also important to prevent new particles from entering the environment, and that means reducing our reliance on plastic in our everyday lives. Countries such as England and France are trying to address the microplastic problem through bans on plastic cutlery for most fast food and takeout. California banned plastic produce bags from grocery stores, and India outlawed a selection of single-use plastics. Do you worry about having toxic forever chemicals in your home? Majorly Sometimes Not really I don't know enough about them Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Mint
07-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Alleged Iran Money Laundering Network Hit With US Sanctions
The US imposed sanctions on a network of individuals and companies it accuses of laundering billions of dollars from illegal activities for the Iranian government, as the Trump administration continues its 'maximum pressure' campaign against Tehran. The Treasury Department said the penalties target more than 30 individuals, as well as 16 companies based in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. 'Iran's shadow banking system is a critical lifeline for the regime through which it accesses the proceeds from its oil sales, moves money, and funds its destabilizing activities,' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. The Treasury announcement names Iran's Zarringhalam brothers — Mansour, Nasser, and Fazlolah — as facilitators behind the network that gives sanctioned Iranian individuals and organizations access to the international financial system. It allegedly operates as a parallel banking system, where Iran-based exchange houses broker settlements through front companies in Hong Kong and the UAE. 'The United States will continue to deny Iran access to financial networks and the global banking system as long as Iran continues its destabilizing activities,' the State Department said in a separate statement on the sanctions. The Trump administration has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Iran even as negotiations for a nuclear deal continue. Tensions are mounting ahead of a still-unscheduled next round of talks, with President Donald Trump declaring the US won't allow Iran to pursue uranium enrichment, and Tehran slamming a US nuclear deal proposal for being ambiguous. At a briefing on Thursday, a State Department spokesperson encouraged Iran to agree with the proposal. 'It is in their best interest to accept it,' said principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott. 'We've also been clear, again and again and again, that the Iranian regime can never have a nuclear weapon.' This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Epoch Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
US Sanctions Iranian, Chinese Entities Involved in Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles Development
The U.S. Treasury Department on May 14 sanctioned six persons and 12 entities for their involvement in the Iranian regime's missile program, including groups that are needed by Iran to build its own intercontinental ballistic missiles. 'The United States cannot allow Iran to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles,' Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent The May 14 sanctions are pursuant to a February presidential memo that President Donald Trump has said he wants a nuclear deal with Iran that will ensure it cannot develop nuclear weapons. Iran 'must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars, and permanently and verifiably cease pursuit of nuclear weapons,' Trump said at a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting on May 14, during his three-day trip to the Middle East. 'They cannot have a nuclear weapon.' The United States and Iran agreed to additional negotiations after a Carbon Fiber Materials The 18 individuals and groups sanctioned on May 14 support the IRGC's development of carbon fiber materials needed to manufacture intercontinental ballistic missiles. Related Stories 5/13/2025 5/13/2025 According to the Treasury Department, the newly sanctioned Chinese entities have been supplying carbon fiber and precursors to Iranian groups since the beginning of 2024. Intercontinental ballistic missiles are long-range missiles, categorized as more than 3,500 miles, making them capable of targeting any destination in the world. Iran-based Advanced Fiber Development Company and board member Mohammad Rezai were sanctioned for their work supplying carbon fiber to the IRGC. Both have ties to entities that have already been sanctioned for providing support to the IRGC. Iranian company Sarmand Sazeh and China-based Shanghai Tanchain New Material Technology Co., along with three Chinese executives, were sanctioned for shipping carbon fiber to sanctioned Iranian entities. Five Chinese materials companies with ties to Shanghai Tanchain were also sanctioned, including one that exported missile-applicable aramid fibers to Iranian groups. A separate Chinese company, Qingdao Premier Technology Co., was also sanctioned for sending multiple shipments to the IRGC. Iran has seen In addition to sanctions that deal directly with Iran's missile efforts, many target the networks that enable the sale of Iranian oil to China—the world's largest buyer of Iranian oil. The sanctions aim at cutting off funding to Iranian regime-backed terrorist activities.
