Latest news with #NuclearTalks
SBS Australia
8 hours ago
- Politics
- SBS Australia
Israel warns of 'prolonged' war with Iran as Trump dismisses European peace efforts
Israel has warned that its war with Iran could be lengthy, as United States President Donald Trump dismissed European peace efforts and signalled he "might" support a ceasefire between the two Middle Eastern nations, "depending on the circumstances." The comments were made on Friday, as the conflict entered its second week and Israeli forces targeted Tehran, while Iranian missiles wounded many in the Mediterranean port city of Haifa. Hours after Israeli Foreign Minister Eyal Zamir warned his citizens in a video address to prepare for a "prolonged campaign" with "difficult days ahead", Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told a meeting of European diplomats in Geneva that Iran would not resume talks over its nuclear program while under attack. Trump, meanwhile, dismissed the European diplomatic efforts, saying it was up to the US to find a solution to the current conflict. "Iran doesn't want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this one," Trump said. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi met with European counterparts in Geneva on Friday for talks aimed at establishing a path back to diplomacy over Iran's nuclear program. European foreign ministers urged Iran to engage with Washington in the current negotiations over its nuclear program, but the talks ended with few signs of progress. In a press conference following the meeting, Araghchi told reporters that Iran would be ready to "consider diplomacy once again once the aggression is stopped" and "the aggressor is held accountable for the heinous crimes committed", referring to Israel. The air assault between the two nations began on June 13, after Israel attacked Iran, and has raised alarms in a region that has been on edge since the start of Israel's war in Gaza in October 2023. Trump and the White House say he will decide in the next two weeks whether the US will involve itself further in the conflict. In the meantime, Trump has kept the world guessing about his plans, switching back and forth between proposing a swift diplomatic solution and suggesting Washington might join the fight. When asked on Friday whether he would be willing to send US soldiers into Iran if the conflict escalated, Trump said: "I'm not going to talk about ground forces, because the last thing you want to do is ground forces." Israel is the only country in the Middle East widely believed to have nuclear weapons, and said it struck Iran to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons. Iran, which says its nuclear program is peaceful, has retaliated with its own strikes on Israel. Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Israel is not. Israel's strikes have killed 639 people in Iran, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Israel says Iranian attacks have killed 24 civilians in Israel.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Iran would have ‘no choice but to retaliate' if US joins Israeli attacks, Iranian deputy foreign minister tells CNN
LONDON: Tehran would have 'no choice' but to retaliate if the US decided to join Israel in attacking Iran, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi has told CNN. Ravanchi told CNN's Christiane Amanpour: 'If the Americans decide to get involved militarily, we have no choice but to retaliate. That is clear and simple because we are acting in self-defense.' Ravanchi took part in the interview on the sixth day of conflict between his country and Israel. Iran had been set to participate in a new round of talks on the nuclear issue with the US last Sunday, until Israel launched its attacks on Friday. Ravanchi said that his country's leadership doubted 'the sincerity of the Americans' given the timing of Israel's first attack. He added: 'Two days before the next round (of talks) started, the aggression took place. So, this is a betrayal of diplomacy; this is the betrayal of our trust of Americans. 'We should be the ones who should criticize the way that we were treated by the Americans, not vice versa.' When I asked Deputy Foreign Minister @TakhtRavanchi whether Iran is on the verge of making a nuclear bomb, he repeated what his government has said for decades: 'We do not believe in nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons have no place in our defensive doctrine.' — Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) June 18, 2025 The deputy foreign minister said: 'The Americans have been collaborating with the Israelis. Although they have said that they do not have anything to do with this conflict, it is not true. But if they decide to be engaged militarily, direct military involvement in this massacre, definitely we will do whatever necessary to protect ourselves. 'They (the Israelis) attacked residential areas, they attacked paramedics, they attacked citizens who were just sleeping in their homes. This is a crime against humanity, pure and simple.' Israel's targeting of Iran's nuclear facilities was also a crime, he said, adding: 'Fordow is another protected site based on IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) rules. 'So, that will be another instance of a crime which is being done, unfortunately by Israelis and Americans, which is prohibited under international law.' He said: 'These are safeguarded places. It is a crime in accordance with international law to attack a place which is safeguarded under IAEA rules. Unfortunately, the Americans and some Europeans have shielded the Israeli regime, (and it is) not to be criticized at the IAEA board of governors' meeting and also at the UN Security Council. So it's shame on all those who are protecting this regime.' Ravanchi said that Tehran had not asked the US or Israel to resume nuclear talks since hostilities began, refuting US President Donald Trump's earlier claim that Tehran had reached out to the White House. He said: 'We are not reaching out to anybody. We are defending ourselves. Although we have always promoted diplomacy … we cannot negotiate under threat. We cannot negotiate while our people are under bombardment every day. So we are not begging for anything; we are just defending ourselves.' Watch out for my exclusive interview with Iran Dep. FM @TakhtRavanchi from Tehran - really hard to reach. He tells me Iran will not surrender, will retaliate if the US gets involved... but is also ready to get back to negotiations once this ends. Watch it all: 1pET/6pBST. — Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) June 18, 2025 He claimed that the attacks had mobilized support for the government among Iranians, adding: 'Now there is a very strong cohesion within Iranian society to resist aggression, to resist foreign interference in our domestic affairs. 'Ask the people who are in Tehran. You will understand that the Iranians are behind their government because they are facing a foreign aggression which will be resisted.' Israeli officials have been urging Iranians to rise up against their government, arguing that now is the time for regime change with leaders in Tehran 'weakened' by the attacks. The Israeli strikes came as a result of increased tensions following the release of an IAEA report showing that Tehran had accelerated its uranium enrichment to 60 percent. Ravanchi said: 'IAEA inspectors were present in Iran. Different reports of the IAEA testify to the fact that we have been very straightforward in our nuclear program. 'There is no ban on 60 percent enriched uranium, which is being used in different places for peaceful purposes.' He reiterated that Iran does not have nuclear weapons and does not intend to create them, adding: 'Nuclear weapons have no place in our defensive doctrine. In fact, we believe that the world will be a better place without nuclear weapons. 'But who has the nuclear weapons in the Middle East? The Israeli regime. Who has the weapons, the most sophisticated weapons? The Americans. So, they are the ones who are responsible for all the chaos that is going on in different parts of the world.'
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
China accuses Trump of ‘pouring oil' on Iran-Israel conflict as tensions escalate
BEIJING, June 17 — China today accused President Donald Trump of 'pouring oil' on the mounting conflict between Iran and Israel, after the US leader warned Tehran residents to 'immediately evacuate'. Following decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, Israel launched a surprise aerial campaign last week against targets across Iran, saying it aimed to prevent its arch-foe from acquiring atomic weapons—an ambition Tehran denies. The sudden flare-up in hostilities has sparked fears of a wider conflict, with Trump urging Iran back to the negotiating table after Israel's attacks derailed ongoing nuclear talks. Trump also issued an extraordinary warning on his Truth Social platform: 'Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!' Asked about Trump's remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said: 'Fanning the flames, pouring oil, making threats and mounting pressure will not help to promote the de-escalation of the situation, but will only intensify and widen the conflict. 'The Chinese side calls on all relevant parties, especially countries with special influence on Israel, to shoulder their responsibilities, take immediate measures to de-escalate tensions, and prevent the conflict from expanding and spreading.' China's embassy in Israel on Tuesday also urged its citizens to leave the country 'as soon as possible', after Israel and Iran traded heavy strikes. 'The Chinese mission in Israel reminds Chinese nationals to leave the country as soon as possible via land border crossings, on the precondition that they can guarantee their personal safety,' the embassy said in a statement on WeChat. 'It is recommended to depart in the direction of Jordan,' it added. The embassy warned the conflict was 'continuing to escalate'. 'Much civilian infrastructure has been damaged, civilian casualties are on the rise, and the security situation is becoming more serious,' it said. — AFP
Wall Street Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Live Updates: Israel-Iran Conflict
President Trump signed onto a G-7 statement on Iran calling for peace and stability in the Middle East, after initially resisting. Trump is leaving the G-7 meeting in Canada one day early to deal with the crisis. The White House said the U.S. isn't joining Israel's attacks on Iran. On Monday, Trump called for an immediate evacuation of Tehran and urged Iran to return to talks over its nuclear program to end its conflict with Israel, which is stretching into its fifth day. Iran has signaled through Arab intermediaries that it is seeking an end to the hostilities and a resumption of talks over its nuclear program. Israel's dayslong assault on Iran's nuclear program, senior leadership and infrastructure has left Tehran battered and given Israel air superiority over parts of the country. What else to know: Iran said at least 224 civilians have been killed in Israeli attacks. Israel said its death toll from Iranian strikes had risen to 24 since the beginning of the confrontation. Oil prices rose again Tuesday morning in Asia, as markets weighed the odds of a resolution in the Israel-Iran conflict. Israel struck buildings belonging to an Iranian state-owned media company in Tehran during what appeared to be a live broadcast. Tehran residents reported long lines at gas stations and traffic jams as people rushed to flee the city, anticipating more attacks.
CNA
4 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
China tells citizens in Israel to leave 'as soon as possible'
BEIJING: China's embassy in Israel on Tuesday (Jun 17) urged its citizens to leave the country "as soon as possible", after Israel and Iran traded heavy strikes. "The Chinese mission in Israel reminds Chinese nationals to leave the country as soon as possible via land border crossings, on the precondition that they can guarantee their personal safety," the embassy said in a statement on WeChat. "It is recommended to depart in the direction of Jordan," it added. After decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, Israel launched a surprise aerial campaign last week against targets across Iran, saying they aimed to prevent its arch-foe from acquiring atomic weapons – an ambition Tehran denies. The sudden flare-up in hostilities has sparked fears of a wider conflict, with US President Donald Trump urging Iran back to the negotiating table after Israel's attacks derailed ongoing nuclear talks. Beijing's embassy said on Tuesday the conflict was "continuing to escalate".
