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Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Iran's supreme leader defies Trump with ‘never surrender' vow
Iran's supreme leader vowed he would not surrender despite a wave of fresh Israeli air strikes on Wednesday. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei struck a defiant tone in a low-resolution video message aired on Iranian state TV, after missiles destroyed his regime's national security headquarters. The supreme leader said: 'Wise individuals who know Iran, its people, and its history never speak to this nation with the language of threats, because the Iranian nation is not one to surrender,' the Supreme Leader said. 'Americans should know that any military involvement by the US will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage to them.' The national address, his second since the war began last Friday, followed threats by Donald Trump that the US might join the war, unless there was 'total surrender' from Tehran. On Wednesday, the US president remained evasive, telling reporters at the White House: ' Nobody knows what I'm going to do. ' 'Next week will be decisive regarding Iran, and it may happen before the end of the week,' Mr Trump added. After Wednesday's strikes, Israel Katz, the Israeli defence minister, said: 'Air Force jets have just destroyed the internal security headquarters of the Iranian regime – the main arm of repression of the Iranian dictator.' Mr Katz did not name the security organisation in his statement, but may have been referring to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence Organisation, IRGC-IO, the main internal security agency established in 2009. He added that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would continue to 'strike symbols of governance and hit the Ayatollah regime wherever it may be'. Fars, the semi-official Iranian news agency, reported that Israeli jets targeted Payam International Airport on Wednesday. Emergency rescue teams were working at the scene, in north-west Tehran, it added. Iranian officials have admitted the loss of an important radar system that supports Iran's air defence network. Fars and Isna, another Iranian news agency, reported that the Soubashi radar facility in Hamedan province had to be fitted with a replacement system. Earlier on Wednesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Israel had struck two centrifuge production sites in Tehran and in the north-western city of Karaj. Iran's centrifuges are key to its nuclear programme as they are used to enrich uranium, but many of them are understood to be deep underground and difficult to reach with air strikes. According to the IAEA, Israel struck 'centrifuge production facilities' at the Tesa Karaj workshop and the Tehran Research Centre. 'Both sites were previously under IAEA monitoring and verification as part of the JCPOA,' it said, referring to the now-defunct Iran nuclear deal which eased sanctions on Tehran in return for curbs on its nuclear programme. A building used to develop and test advanced rotors for centrifuges was hit at the site in Tehran, while in Karaj two buildings used to store centrifuge components were destroyed, it said. Iranian state television later aired footage that appeared to show the remnants of an Israeli Hermes drone that crashed near the central city of Isfahan. Israeli officials confirmed that one of its drones 'fell' in Iran, but said there were no injuries involved and 'no risk of an information breach'. As some Iranians flee Tehran, relatives of those languishing in the regime's prisons fear for their safety. According to the Iran Press News Agency, an Israeli strike on a missile depot in the central city of Kermanshah caused damage to a nearby prison, Dizelabad. The explosion caused panic and a riot as prisoners tried to escape from their cells, the agency said. A source in Iran told the Telegraph: 'We are only hoping that this madness will finish as soon as possible and we can return to a normal life, even though normalcy has long lost its meaning in this country.' Hundreds of Pakistanis living in Tehran sought to leave the country via the Taftan crossing, situated on a 560-mile land border controlled by smugglers and armed groups. 'We left everything behind and carried just one bag containing some necessities and food items,' Mr Ijaz said. 'We are five family members, but we carried just one bag. We just left, and left everything else there.' Pakistan has closed some of its border crossings with Iran, but those at Taftan and Gabd-Rimdan in south-west Balochistan were still open as of Wednesday for citizens fleeing back into Pakistan. On Wednesday evening, several Iranian government planes flew from Iran to Muscat, in Oman, according to online aircraft tracking data. Iranian officials denied that the planes were carrying negotiators and it was not clear who was on board. Iran appeared to be trying to cut off internet access in large swathes of the country on Wednesday night. The country was 'in the midst of a near-total national internet blackout', the UK-based internet tracking website NetlBlocks said in a post on X.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Iran's supreme leader Khamenei warns Israel ‘the battle begins' hours after Trump called for ‘unconditional surrender'
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared 'the battle begins' in an ominous post Tuesday, hours after President Trump called for Iran's 'unconditional surrender.' 'In the name of #Haider, the battle begins. Ali returns to #Khaybar with his Zulfiqar.' Khamenei wrote on X in Farsi, referring to Islam's first imam, Ali, who won the Battle of Khaybar with the sword Zulfiqar. Khamenei's sinister message comes hours after the Islamic Republic's state media also warned of a 'surprise' on Tuesday night into Wednesday that the 'world will remember for centuries.' Advertisement 7 Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks at an assembly in Tehran, Iran, on June 11, 2025. The Israeli Defense Force reported multiple air raid sirens in northern Israel early Wednesday morning due to a 'hostile aircraft infiltration.' Sirens were heard in the Golan Heights before the IDF announced it shot down three Iranian drones, the Times of Israel reported. Advertisement Iran launched two barrages of missiles at Israel as explosions were heard over Tel Aviv. Fifty Israeli fighter jets were flown to Iran, which dropped missiles on a centrifuge production site and multiple weapon manufacturing facilities around the Iranian capital, the IDF wrote on X. 'These strikes directly degrade Iran's ability to threaten Israel and the region,' the defense force account said. 7 Smoke rises after an Israeli strike near Tehran, Iran, on June 18, 2025. via REUTERS Advertisement 7 Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ominous warning posted to X on June 17, 2025. @Khamenei_fa/X Israeli officials issued evacuation warnings for Iranian residents living in southwestern Tehran in anticipation of another strike. Iran's state news website claimed Israel had attacked several targets including a university in east of Iran that is linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and the Khojir ballistic missile facility near Tehran. Advertisement Israel said it struck key elements of Iran's nuclear weapons and missile programs during an overnight attack on Tehran Wednesday. Khamenei's X account has been publishing propaganda posters featuring Iranian missiles being launched at Israel and fireballs raining down on the Jewish state. The Middle Eastern conflict, entering its sixth day, began when Israel launched Operation 'Rising Lion,' where it attacked Iran's nuclear plants and uranium enrichment facilities. Israeli forces have wiped out Iran's anti-air defenses, giving them air space superiority over Tehran. Trump announced that a majority of Iran's air defense system had been eliminated in recent attacks, without giving more details. 'We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran. Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn't compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured 'stuff,'' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'Nobody does it better than the good ol' USA.' 7 An Israeli Air Force fighter jet is prepared to take off in an attack on Iran. IDF 7 President Donald Trump speaks to reporters onboard Air Force One after leaving Canada on June 17, 2025. REUTERS Advertisement The US commander in chief called for the 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER' from Iran Tuesday afternoon as he revealed the US knows Khamenei's location. 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!' he wrote. Israel's attacks have killed several high-ranking Iranian military officials and top nuclear scientists. Iran has lost a majority of its arsenal during Israel's attacks on its missile silos and weapon plants, experts determined. Advertisement 7 An Iranian missile is intercepted over Ashkelon, Israel, on June 18, 2025. REUTERS 7 People evacuated from Israel arrive in Sofia, Bulgaria. AP Tehran had launched over 200 missiles during its original six waves but has limited its missiles to only three dozen missiles in each of its last two attacks, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank tracking the fighting. With Post wires
NHK
3 days ago
- Politics
- NHK
Israel hints at more strikes against Iran's nuclear sites
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz suggested on Tuesday that strikes against Iranian nuclear sites will continue. He told local media that the Fordow facility in central Iran "will certainly be addressed." Israeli forces have already targeted other sites, including one in Natanz. The one in Fordow is considered significant, but it is located deep underground. Israel does not possess the so-called bunker-buster bombs that it would need to carry out a successful attack. It has reportedly asked the US to supply them. Israeli commanders have targeted top Iranian military figures, facilities and nuclear sites. Local media reported that they believe they can complete the mission in one or two weeks. Iran has hit back with its own barrage of missiles, which reportedly wounded five people in central Israel. Iranian Army commander-in-chief Abdolrahim Mousavi said Tehran is not yet finished with the attacks: "The operations carried out so far have merely been warnings for deterrence. Punitive operations will be executed soon." Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported that a new round of attacks has already begun.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel launches strikes against Iran as nuclear program talks falter
Israel launched a military operation against Iran targeting Tehran's nuclear program on the evening of June 12, according to the Israeli government. Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, described the move as a "preemptive strike" and warned that Israel anticipates "a missile and drone attack" in response. The Israeli Defense Force said the strikes were conducted by "dozens" of aircraft. According to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the IDF struck Iran's uranium enrichment facility at Natanz and hit additional targets "at the heart" of the Islamic Republic's programs for nuclear weaponization and enrichment, as well as its ballistic missile program. Netanyahu added that "Iran's leading nuclear scientists" were also targets, and that the IDF's attacks will continue for "as many days as it takes." Iran's state-run news agency reported "sounds of explosions . . . heard in and near" the country's capital of Tehran. State media also confirmed that the strikes targeted the Revolutionary Guards Corps complex there, killing IRGC chief Hossein Salami, according to Reuters. Iranian state television reported that the head of Iran's armed forces, Mohammad Bagheri, was also killed, Reuters said. Senior regime official Ali Shamkhani, a Republican Guard Navy rear admiral and former defense minister who has played a prominent role in nuclear negotiations, was critically injured, Reuters reported, citing Iran's state-run Nour News. In a statement, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei decried Israel's "wicked and bloody hand," declaring that Iran's foe "has prepared a bitter fate for itself," according to Reuters. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the attack in a statement, stressing that American forces "are not involved in strikes against Iran." "Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners," Rubio added, warning that "Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel." Netanyahu, in his statement, thanked President Donald Trump for "his leadership in confronting Iran's nuclear weapons program." "Long live Israel, and long live America," said Netanyahu. "Our action will make the world a much safer place." But Sen. Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized the move as "a reckless escalation that risks igniting regional violence." Reed in his statement pushed Trump to press for "diplomatic de-escalation before this crisis spirals further out of control." The U.S. Embassy in Israel has directed all U.S. government employees and their family members to shelter in place until further notice. The operation could land a blow to the Trump's administration's efforts to strike a deal with Iran to limit its nuclear program. Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was scheduled to meet with Israeli officials before participating in a sixth round of nuclear talks with the Iranians in Oman over this weekend. Israel has been warning for more than a decade it would attack Iran's nuclear program and energy facilities if they reached a stage where they could be weaponized. The two countries are longtime foes. Iran claims its nuclear program is for civilian energy purposes only, a claim that is regarded skeptically in the international community. 'Constructive' and 'positive': What to know about the rare US-Iran nuclear talks Ahead of the operation, the U.S. appeared to anticipate that Iran could retaliate on certain American military sites in neighboring Iraq. The State Department issued a travel advisory on June 11 that ordered non-emergency government officials to exit Iraq due to "heightened regional tensions." "There's a chance of massive conflict. We have a lot of American people in this area, and I said, 'We got to tell them to get out,' because something could happen. Soon," Trump said on June 12 at a White House event. "And I don't want to be the one that didn't give any warning, and missiles are flying into their buildings. It's possible. So I had to do it." Trump told reporters at the event that he did not want Israel to strike Iran while a nuclear deal was still on the table. "As long as I think there is an agreement, I don't want them going in, because I think that would blow it. Might help it, actually. But it also could blow it," he said. "Whether or not we get there, I can't tell you, but it will happen soon." Trump latest: U.S. president warns of 'massive conflict' between Israel and Iran over nuclear program Trump was hosting lawmakers at the White House for a picnic as word of the strike spread. The White House released the statement from Rubio, who is serving in dual role as national security adviser and secretary of state, and did not respond to additional questions. The president's publicly schedule on June 13 shows him holding a National Security Council meeting in the White House Situation Room and nothing else. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, said the United States' immediate priority in the region should be to defend American troops and civilians serving overseas. "Iran should heavily consider the consequences before considering any action against Americans in the region," Thune warned. Former President Barack Obama struck a deal with Iran and world powers in 2015 that limited the scope of Iran's uranium enrichment program. Netanyahu objected to that accord, claiming Iran couldn't be trusted to abide by its terms, though the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, said it was working. Trump exited the agreement during his first term. Netanyahu has for years argued against a nuclear pact with Iran. Israel and Iran have been sworn enemies since Tehran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Israel and Iran targeted each other with missiles and drones in October 2024 in connection with the killings of the leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas − Iranian-backed armed groups. International watchdogs say Iran has continued to enrich uranium to near-weapons level. UN nuclear watchdog: Iran in breach of non-proliferation obligations In a late May report, the IAEA estimated Iran had enriched uranium up to 60% purity. That is very close to the 90% enrichment level required to build a nuclear weapon, according to the IAEA and other nuclear watchdogs. The IAEA declared June 12 Iran was not complying with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations and passed a resolution against the country for the first time in 20 years. Contributing: Joseph Garrison and Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY Davis Winkie's role covering nuclear threats and national security at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Outrider Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel strikes Iran as nuclear program talks falter
Saudi Gazette
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Israel's defense minister vows to prevent aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg reaching Gaza
JERUSALEM — Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that Israel wouldn't allow anyone to break its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, which he said was aimed at preventing Hamas from importing arms. In a post on X Katz announced that he has instructed the Israeli Defense Force "to act to prevent the Madleen hate flotilla" from reaching the strip's coast: "You should turn back -- because you will not reach Gaza." Thunberg is among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The vessel departed Sicily last Sunday on a mission that aims to break the sea blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, while raising awareness over the growing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave. The activists had said they planned to reach Gaza's territorial waters as early as Sunday. Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, is among the others onboard. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. Also on board is "Game of Thrones" star Liam Cunningham. After a three-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless the blockade and the war end. An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship. Israel denied the allegations. — Euronews
