Latest news with #Nasirzadeh
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran threatens to hit US bases in the Middle East: What is the threat level?
Iran on Friday said the U.S., as a "backer" of Israel, "shall be held fully accountable" for the series of strikes Jerusalem levied overnight against Tehran, its nuclear and military facilities, and top officials – deepening retaliatory concerns over U.S. bases near Iran. The U.N. Mission to Iran sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council condemning the attacks that killed four military commanders, one Iranian official allegedly involved in the nuclear talks with the U.S., and two nuclear scientists, and said that Israel's "conduct" in the region "poses a serious threat to international security." But earlier this week, just days ahead of a planned meeting between Washington and Tehran in Oman to discuss nuclear negotiations, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh threatened to hit U.S. bases in the Middle East, should Israel once again directly strike the Persian nation. Inside Israel's Secret War In Iran: Mossad Commandos, Hidden Drones And The Strike That Stunned Tehran "Some officials on the other side threaten conflict if negotiations don't come to fruition," Nasirzadeh said, according to Reuters following early reporting that Jerusalem was considering a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. "If a conflict is imposed on us … all U.S. bases are within our reach, and we will boldly target them in host countries." The Trump administration announced a partial evacuation of the U.S. embassy in Iraq and authorized military dependents to leave locations across the Middle East, but it remains unclear how many Americans are expected to depart from the region. Read On The Fox News App President Donald Trump on Thursday said the decision was made out of an abundance of caution and told reporters "I had to do it." "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, and I don't want to be the one that didn't give any warning and missiles are flying into their buildings," he added in reference to the feared military escalation between Israel and Iran. Defense officials in October 2024 said some 40,000 service members were stationed throughout the Middle East, many of which are in striking range of Iran. Iran Claims Right To Nuclear Prowess Following Israel Strikes, But Remains Silent On Negotiations With Us The U.S. military has at least 19 sites spread across the region, eight of which are considered to be permanent, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. These sites are located in countries that border or are geographically near Iran, including Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. But Iran's lack of immediate defensive response to Israel's Thursday night strike has prompted questions over whether Tehran would be able to pick a fight with the U.S. and create a third front. "Given the fact that in January 2020, Iran launched short-range, precision strike ballistic missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq for killing Qasem Soleimani – the regime's chief terrorist – this is not a theoretical exercise," Iran expert with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Benham Ben Taleblu told Fox News Digital. "The regime has proven an ability to land blows at these bases before. "It is possible, and it's not theoretical, given that the regime has done this in the past and lived to tell the tale," he added. Ben Taleblu said he believes that Iran, at this moment, is looking to make sure the U.S. is not only uninterested in engaging in direct conflict against Tehran, but could even distance itself from Israel. "There is a political element to the regime continuously threatening America, which is to try to take advantage of the desire for de-escalation that exists in America," the expert added. "To try to put as much daylight between America and Israel as possible, and to turn America from an ally or partner of Israel, into just observer of yet another Middle East crisis. "This is how Tehran is politically, trying to put America on the sidelines when militarily, it might struggle – militarily, it would struggle," Ben Taleblu article source: Iran threatens to hit US bases in the Middle East: What is the threat level?
See - Sada Elbalad
12-06-2025
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
Iran Threatens U.S. Bases Amid Nuclear Tensions
Ahmed Emam Iran issued a stark warning on Wednesday, threatening to target U.S. military bases across the Middle East if a conflict breaks out, as both nations prepare for a new round of nuclear negotiations clouded by deep divisions over uranium enrichment. Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh made the remarks in response to recent American threats of military action should diplomacy fail. 'We hope the negotiations reach a conclusion,' Nasirzadeh said, 'but if they don't and we are forced into a conflict, there is no doubt the other side will suffer far greater losses than we will.' Nasirzadeh emphasized Iran's ability to strike U.S. positions across the region. 'We can reach all of the United States' bases, and we will target them without hesitation in their host countries,' he declared. 'In such a scenario, the U.S. will be compelled to withdraw from the region.' The United States maintains several military installations in countries neighboring Iran, including its largest regional base in Qatar, which hosts the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) headquarters. The escalating rhetoric comes ahead of renewed nuclear talks, with Washington and Tehran still at odds over the scope and oversight of Iran's uranium enrichment activities. The high-stakes diplomacy aims to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, which has unraveled since the U.S. withdrawal in 2018. Regional tensions remain high as observers warn that failure at the negotiating table could tip the situation into open conflict, drawing in multiple actors across the volatile Gulf region. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
Shafaq News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iranian UN Mission reaffirms nuclear stance amid tensions
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, Iran's mission to the United Nations reaffirmed that diplomacy instead of military strength is the only viable path forward. In a statement released following news of American regional actions and preparations to evacuate embassies, the Iranian mission reiterated Tehran's position on nuclear weapons, stating, 'Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon,' and warned that 'the US militarism only fuels instability.' The mission also claimed that 'the legacy of US Central Command in enabling Israel's crimes strips it of any credibility on peace or non-proliferation.' Threats of 'overwhelming force' won't change facts:Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon, and U.S. militarism only fuels legacy of fueling regional instability, through arming aggressors and enabling Israeli crimes, strips it of any credibility to speak on… — Mission to UN, NY (@Iran_UN) June 11, 2025 Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that Tehran would target US bases in the region if nuclear talks failed or a conflict erupted with Washington. Nasirzadeh told reporters that Iran still hoped for positive results from talks with the United States, but remained prepared to respond. 'If conflict is imposed on us, the opponent's losses will certainly exceed ours,' he stated. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a notice warning vessels in the region of heightened tensions that could lead to increased military activity impacting seafarers directly. The advisory urged caution in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz. Although it did not name Iran, those waterways have previously been the site of Iranian ship seizures and attacks.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US scales back personnel in Middle East as Israel-Iran tensions mount
The United States is scaling back the number of personnel in the Middle East as the tensions between longtime foes Israel and Iran mount. The U.S. is downsizing its footprint in Iraq, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has greenlighted the departures of military dependents across northeast Africa, the Middle East, and portions of South and Central Asia. 'President Trump is committed to keeping Americans safe, both at home and abroad. In keeping with that commitment, we are constantly assessing the appropriate personnel posture at all our embassies,' a State Department official told The Hill in an emailed statement on Wednesday. 'Based on our latest analysis, we decided to reduce the footprint of our Mission in Iraq.' A defense official told The Hill that 'Hegseth has authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations across the CENTCOM AOR.' 'CENTCOM is working in close coordination with our Department of State counterparts, as well as our Allies and partners in the region to maintain a constant state of readiness to support any number of missions around the world at any time,' the defense official added. The scale-back of the number of U.S. diplomats in the Middle East comes amid indications that the U.S. negotiations with Iran over Tehran's rapidly expanding nuclear program are stalled. The U.S. military has personnel in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and other countries in the region. The administration has not mentioned a direct threat to the U.S. military personnel or diplomats stationed in the Middle East in statements that have emerged from various agencies. Iran's Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned on Wednesday that if Tehran's talks with the U.S. go nowhere and conflict with Washington emerges, Iran would hit the U.S. military bases in the region. 'Some officials on the other side threaten conflict if negotiations don't come to fruition. If a conflict is imposed on us…all U.S. bases are within our reach and we will boldly target them in host countries,' Nasirzadeh said during a news briefing on Wednesday. Since restarting discussions with Iran over the nuclear program, Trump has warned Tehran that military strikes could take place if diplomacy fails and a new deal is not reached. The two sides were discussing holding the sixth round of nuclear talks this week. Iran's foreign ministry said earlier this week that the meeting is planned to take place on Sunday in Muscat, Oman. The sixth round of talks could take place on Friday or Sunday, The Hill previously reported. So far, the 'timing of the talks remains unconfirmed. Nothing has changed on that since yesterday,' a U.S. official told The Hill on Wednesday evening. Trump has said that he wants to pursue a diplomatic solution with Iran and has previously warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from striking Tehran's nuclear sites, worrying it could derail ongoing negotiations. Despite the threat from Nasirzadeh, Iran's defense minister, the country's mission to the United Nations said that Tehran is 'not seeking a nuclear weapon, and U.S. militarism only fuels instability.' 'CENTCOM's legacy of fueling regional instability, through arming aggressors and enabling Israeli crimes, strips it of any credibility to speak on peace or non-proliferation,' the mission wrote in a Wednesday post on social media platform X. 'Diplomacy—not militarism—is the only path forward.' U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) head, Gen. Michael 'Erik' Kurilla, said during a House hearing on Tuesday that he handed Trump and Hegseth a 'wide range' of military options for the administration to take up if nuclear talks with Iran fall apart. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, the British maritime trade agency, issued an advisory earlier on Wednesday, stating that it has been 'made aware of increased tensions within the region which could lead to an escalation of military activity having a direct impact on mariners.' The agency advised the vessel passing through the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Straits of Hormuz to travel with 'caution' and report 'incidents or suspicious activity to UKMTO iaw BMP.' Iran said on Monday that it would send over a counter-proposal, through the Omani mediators, in the coming days, according to Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei. 'We will present our own proposal to the other side via Oman after it is finalised. This proposal is reasonable, logical and balanced,' Baghaei said. The U.S. proposal was formed by Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, the top American negotiator. Iran is led by Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi. The two sides completed five rounds of talks with the most recent meeting being held in Muscat, Oman's capital. Iran and the U.S. still appear far apart, with the main sticking point continuing to be Iran's ability to enrich on its soil, with many Western officials warning that Tehran could soon obtain a nuclear weapon. The president said during a podcast episode, which was released on Wednesday, that he is less confident that Iran would be willing to shut down it's nuclear program. 'I don't know. I did think so, and I'm getting more and more – less confident about it,' Trump said while on the 'Pod Force One' . Reuters first reported on the scaling back of U.S. diplomats. 'The safety and security of our service members and their families remains our highest priority and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is monitoring the developing tension in the Middle East,' the defense official said on Wednesday. This story was updated at 6:21 p.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Shafaq News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iran escalates its rhetoric ahead of talks: US will face heavy losses
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that any failure in nuclear negotiations could lead to war, with the United States facing 'heavier losses'. During a press briefing following a cabinet meeting, Nasirzadeh cautioned that threats from US officials about possible military action would backfire if diplomacy fails. 'We have the capability to target all US bases across the region without hesitation… The presence of American forces would become unsustainable in host countries.' Meanwhile, a new round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington, brokered by Oman, is scheduled for Sunday in capital Muscat. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and denies seeking nuclear weapons, while Western powers demand safeguards to prevent Tehran from acquiring a bomb. Tehran and Washington have held five rounds of indirect talks since April, the highest-level engagement since Trump withdrew from the 2015 agreement and reimposed sanctions. Separately, the US and its European allies have submitted a resolution against Iran to the IAEA's Board of Governors, citing growing concerns over Tehran's nuclear activities.
