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Free Malaysia Today
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Khamenei says Iran will ‘never surrender', warns off US
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the US it would face 'irreparable damage' if it intervenes in support of Israel. (EPA Images pic) TEHRAN : Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday the nation would never surrender as demanded by President Donald Trump and warned the US it would face 'irreparable damage' if it intervenes in support of its ally. The speech came six days into the conflict, with Trump demanding Iran's 'unconditional surrender' while boasting the US could kill Khamenei and fuelling speculation about a possible intervention. The long-range blitz began Friday, when Israel launched a massive bombing campaign that prompted Iran to respond with missiles and drones. 'This nation will never surrender,' Khamenei said in a speech read on state television, in which he called Trump's ultimatum 'unacceptable'. 'America should know that any military intervention will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage,' he said. Khamenei, in power since 1989 and the final arbiter of all matters of state in Iran, had earlier vowed the country would show 'no mercy' towards Israel's leaders. The speech followed a night of strikes, with Israeli attacks destroying two buildings making centrifuge components for Iran's nuclear programme near Tehran, according to the UN nuclear watchdog. 'More than 50 Israeli Air Force fighter jets… carried out a series of air strikes in the Tehran area over the past few hours,' the Israeli military said, adding that several weapons manufacturing facilities were hit. 'As part of the broad effort to disrupt Iran's nuclear weapons development programme, a centrifuge production facility in Tehran was targeted.' Centrifuges are vital for uranium enrichment, the sensitive process that can produce fuel for reactors or, in highly extended form, the core of a nuclear warhead. The strikes destroyed two buildings making centrifuge components for Iran's nuclear programme in Karaj, a satellite city of Tehran, the International Atomic Energy Agency said. In another strike on a site in Tehran, 'one building was hit where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested', the agency added in a post on X. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had launched hypersonic Fattah-1 missiles at Tel Aviv. Hypersonic missiles travel at more than five times the speed of sound and can manoeuvre mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept. No missile struck Tel Aviv overnight, though AFP photos showed Israel's air defence systems activated to intercept missiles over the commercial hub. Iran also sent a 'swarm of drones' towards Israel, while the Israeli military said it had intercepted a total of 10 drones launched from Iran. It said one of its own drones had been shot down over Iran. 'Unconditional surrender' Trump fuelled speculation about US intervention when he made a hasty exit from the G7 summit in Canada, where the leaders of the club of wealthy democracies called for de-escalation but backed Israel's 'right to defend itself'. He boasted that the US could easily assassinate Khamenei. '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,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Trump met with his National Security Council to discuss the conflict. There was no immediate public statement after the hour and 20 minute meeting. US officials stressed Trump has not yet made a decision about any intervention. Evacuations Israel's attacks have hit nuclear and military facilities around Iran, as well as residential areas. Residential areas in Israel have also been hit, and foreign governments have scrambled to evacuate their citizens from both countries. Many Israelis spent another night disrupted by air raid warnings, with residents of coastal hub Tel Aviv repeatedly heading for shelters when sirens rang out warning of incoming Iranian missiles. In the West Bank city of Ramallah, perched at 800m above sea level and with a view over Tel Aviv, some residents gathered on rooftops and balconies to watch. An AFP journalist reported cheers and whistles as dozens of missiles flew overhead, with Israeli air defences activating to intercept them, causing mid-air explosions which lit up the sky. Since Friday, at least 24 people have been killed in Israel and hundreds wounded, according to Netanyahu's office. Iran said on Sunday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 224 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. It has not issued an updated toll since then. On Tuesday in Tehran, long queues stretched outside bakeries and petrol stations as people rushed to stock up on fuel and basic supplies. Iran's ISNA and Tasnim news agencies on Wednesday reported that five suspected agents of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency had been detained, on charges of tarnishing the country's image online. Nuclear facilities After a prolonged shadow war, Israel said its surprise air campaign was aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons — an ambition Tehran denies. The UN nuclear watchdog said there appeared to have been 'direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls' at Iran's Natanz facility. Israel has maintained ambiguity regarding its own atomic activities, but the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) says it has 90 nuclear warheads. The conflict derailed a running series of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, with Iran saying after the start of Israel's campaign that it would not negotiate with the US while under attack.
Wall Street Journal
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Iran's Mediocre Supreme Leader
Where does Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stand in religious terms? The last time a front-page 'austere religious scholar' in the world of Iranian influence was eliminated, it was Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019. A Sunni and a comparatively minor figure, Baghdadi wasn't canonically incorrect on the laws of seventh-century Medina, but global fallout from his liquidation was nil. When Mr. Khamenei's predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, landed in Tehran from Paris in February 1979, the shah had already been in exile for 16 days. In March 1980, to mark the Iranian New Year, Radio Tehran broadcast a speech in which he outlined his governing vision. The army, police and gendarmerie should undergo 'fundamental reorganization' until they saw themselves as 'belonging to Islam.' By that he meant Iran's distinctive Shia Islam. With numerous branches, Shiism is the religion of roughly 10% of Muslims worldwide. Azerbaijan, Bahrain and Iraq also have Shiite majorities. The religion of the other 90% is Sunnism, the original Arab version of the faith. Shiism developed after Mohammed's new creed of the seventh century encountered the incomparably deep and sophisticated civilization of Persia, following a lengthy, bloody conquest. Reflecting profoundly contrary cultures, the theological differences between the two faiths are significant.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Exiled crown prince: Islamic Republic ‘collapsing' in Iran
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran and son of the last Persian Shah, urged Iranians on Tuesday to prepare for the impending fall of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Islamic Republic as the country struggles to fight off attacks from Israel. 'The Islamic Republic has reached its end and is in the process of collapsing,' Pahlavi wrote on the social platform X. 'Khamenei, like a frightened rat, has gone into hiding underground and has lost control of the situation.' 'What has begun is irreversible. The future is bright, and together, we will pass through this sharp turn in history,' he added. The military conflict between Iran and Israel stretched into its fifth day Tuesday, with little signs of slowing as Israel hammers its Middle East rival over Tehran's nuclear pursuits. President Trump departed the Group of Seven summit of world leaders in Canada late Monday — a day earlier than expected to return to Washington to monitor the ongoing conflict. He met with top security officials in Situation Room on Tuesday to assess the developments. He has not ruled out the possibility of U.S. military involvement. The Pahlavi dynasty ruled Iran from 1925 to 1979, when it was overthrown in the Islamic Revolution. Pahlavi, penning his social media posts in English and Farsi, directed the message to his 'fellow countrymen' and encouraged an uprising. 'Now is the time to rise; the time to reclaim Iran,' he wrote. 'Let us all come forward … and bring about the end of this regime.' Pahlavi advised that there is a plan to establish a democratic government in Iran within 100 days of the collapse of the Islamic Republic. He also urged 'military, law enforcement, security forces and state employees' to join the effort to topple the government under Khamenei. 'Do not stand against the Iranian people for the sake of a regime whose fall has begun and is inevitable,' Pahlavi wrote. 'Do not sacrifice yourselves for a decaying regime.' 'By standing with the people, you can save your lives. Play a historic role in the transition from the Islamic Republic, and take part in building the future of Iran,' he added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Iran is one of the most civilised countries I ever visited - Israel attacking the nation only helps keep Ayatollah Khamenei in power, PETER HITCHENS tells SARAH VINE in new Mail podcast
Iran is a misunderstood nation that could be 'reeled into the civilised world' if handled differently by Israel and its allies, acclaimed broadcaster Peter Hitchens tells Sarah Vine on the latest episode of the Mail's Alas Vine & Hitchens podcast. Hitchens' perspective stems from his travels to Iran almost two decades ago - a visit that, he reveals, profoundly changed how he sees the nation. The best-selling author argued that large swathes of the Iranian population dislike the ruling Mullahs and suggested that if western nations stopped threatening the Islamic republic, its despotic rulers might be toppled in a coup. Recent weeks have seen escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, with both countries exchanging aerial strikes and missile attacks - a dangerous escalation that has some observers fearing the region could be on the brink of all-out war. 'Iran is one of the most civilised countries I have ever visited,' Hitchens said. 'The resistance by many of its people to the regime's attempts to turn them into obedient slaves is very strong. Recent weeks have seen escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, with both countries exchanging aerial strikes and missile attacks 'There's a great deal of confident, private discussion about the regime – which people refer to with contempt. It's much more like a southern European country than a Middle Eastern country in many ways.' Hitchens went on to state that foreign meddling in Iran's affairs not only led to the rise of the Ayatollah but continues to strengthen his stranglehold on power. He said: 'If we treated Iran more intelligently, it could be easily reeled into the civilised world. 'The Mullahs really like to be threatened; it strengthens their grip on power. If that threat was relaxed, then their power would shrivel away. 'Iran had a legitimate government in 1953, and do you know what happened to it? We overthrew it. 'Britain cooked up a putsch to overthrow Mohammed Mossadegh, the prime minister of Iran, over oil.' Many historians argue that foreign resentment from the 1953 coup contributed to the Shah's overthrow in 1979 and Iran's subsequent transformation into a theocratic republic. With Israel declaring on Thursday that Iran's leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, 'cannot continue to exist,' Hitchens expressed fear over what another potential forced regime change might to do the country. US President Donald Trump was coy over whether America would join Israel in attacking Iran, telling reporters: ' I might do, I might not.' 'When the people overthrew the Shah, no one wanted the Ayatollah', Hitchens began. 'Revolutions, wars, once they start – they get out of control. There is grave danger in knocking this current lot out. 'What will replace them? Will it necessarily be better? Just look at the chaos in Libya. Or in Syria, where we spent years and years destroying a country, only to accept an Al Qaeda operative as the new head of government. 'Iran is not Mordor – full of orcs. It's a real country, full of real people with differing opinions. There's something approaching a civil society there. 'And when left to their own devices, the Iranians have elected people who are genuinely opposed to the Mullahs.'
Fox News
a day ago
- Politics
- Fox News
America's Iran dilemma: How to strike Fordow without losing sight of China threat
Print Close By Robert Maginnis Published June 19, 2025 The simmering conflict between Israel and Iran is more than a geopolitical flashpoint—it reflects a historical rivalry stretching back nearly 2,500 years. When the Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 BCE, it issued a decree allowing Jewish captives to return and rebuild Jerusalem's temple. Though that act was viewed as benevolent, it also placed Persia at the center of the region's civilizational balance. Since then, Persia and Israel have frequently occupied opposing poles of power in the Middle East. Today, that long arc has reached a perilous apex. A direct Israel–Iran confrontation is underway, and President Trump, appears poised to commit U.S. forces. Bomber task forces and carrier groups are moving into position, and speculation is mounting that America will launch a strike against Fordow—Iran's most secure nuclear facility. If such a strike occurs, it must be precise and restrained. While Iran's nuclear threat must be blunted, America's strategic focus must remain fixed on its greatest rival: China. WHY US MUST DESTROY IRAN'S FORDOW NUCLEAR FACILITY NOW Ancient Identity, Modern Stakes Iran's self-perception is steeped in its Persian heritage—a deep cultural identity that sees itself not only as a nation but as a civilizational anchor of the region. Though the Islamic Republic has distanced itself from pre-Islamic monarchy, it still invokes the legacy of Persian greatness. This fuels a deeply rooted view that Iran—not the Arab world or the West—is the rightful power broker of the Middle East. That mindset helps explain Iran's nuclear ambition. The regime believes regional leadership and deterrence demand atomic capability. This view is not merely ideological—it is strategic, historical, and, in Tehran's eyes, just. Fordow: The Nuclear Redoubt The Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant is buried deep—some 80 meters under Mount Alvand, near Qom. It houses IR-6 centrifuges and is shielded against conventional strikes. While Israel has conducted attacks on Natanz and Esfahan, Fordow remains intact—untouched in part because only the United States possesses the GBU-57A/B "Massive Ordnance Penetrator" capable of reaching it. HOW CLOSE WAS IRAN TO A NUCLEAR WEAPON BEFORE ISRAEL'S STRIKE ON TEHRAN? If the U.S. acts, it must be to eliminate Fordow and set back Iran's breakout timeline significantly. But it must do so with clear limits. Iran Will Strike Back No one should assume that Iran will capitulate after a single strike—even a successful one. Ayatollah Khamenei has already warned, "The battle has just begun." Iran retains the means to retaliate: proxy militias, ballistic missiles, cyber warfare capabilities, and naval forces prepared to strike U.S. assets and disrupt oil flows in the Strait of Hormuz. The regime's Revolutionary Guards and domestic intelligence apparatus are loyal and brutal—so hopes of a popular uprising in the wake of a strike are, for now, unrealistic. Thus, a military operation must be seen not as a war-ending blow, but a time-buying maneuver. Strategic Discipline: Follow Israel's Lead Israel's primary goal is not regime change, but to deny Iran nuclear weapons capability. Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter recently stated, "The entire operation… really has to be completed with the elimination of Fordow." That clear, narrow mission should also be the U.S. objective. ISRAEL'S WAR WITH IRAN IS A GLOBAL FLASHPOINT. AMERICA MUST LEAD BEFORE IT SPREADS America should support Israel with logistics, surveillance, munitions, and deterrence—but avoid entangling itself in a broader regional war. Any strike must be followed by verifiable proof—seismic signatures, ISR evidence, and ideally IAEA confirmation—that Fordow is inoperable. Without that, the mission lacks strategic and political clarity. China Remains the Pacing Threat All the while, the United States must remember this: Iran is a regional actor with limited global reach. China is a peer competitor with global ambition. The U.S. National Defense Strategy has repeatedly identified China as the pacing threat to U.S. global primacy—in technology, trade, cyber, and military strength. Xi Jinping is watching closely. A prolonged U.S. entanglement in the Middle East is precisely the kind of strategic distraction China hopes for. The Indo-Pacific remains the theater where America's future will be decided. Allowing a secondary conflict to drain U.S. bandwidth plays directly into Beijing's hand. The Real Mission: Contain, Don't Convert Regime change in Iran is not achievable through airpower alone, and it is not necessary to achieve our strategic aims. Washington must be content to degrade Iran's nuclear capacity, isolate the regime diplomatically, and fortify its regional allies. Deterrence must be reestablished through credible action—not open-ended intervention. Let the U.S. strike, when necessary, but not stay longer than required. Let Fordow fall, but let American strategy remain focused on China. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Consequences of Inaction The alternative—doing nothing—has grave implications. A nuclear Iran would shift the balance of power, embolden its proxies, and trigger proliferation in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey. Tehran would hold Tel Aviv hostage, threaten U.S. bases, and nullify American deterrence. Inaction sends a signal: U.S. red lines are negotiable. That would ripple far beyond the Middle East. Conclusion Iran's nuclear ambition is rooted not just in military calculus, but in a civilizational memory—one that casts Iran as the heir to ancient Persia's regional dominance. Israel, born from exile and forged in conflict, sees its very survival at stake. The United States must support its ally—but on clearly defined terms. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP We can and should eliminate Fordow. We can endure Iran's response. But we must not lose sight of the greater contest. America's future will not be shaped by the mountains of Qom, but by the islands of the South China Sea. Let history remember: we struck hard, struck smart, and remained focused. Fordow may fall—but our eyes must stay on China. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM ROBERT MAGINNIS Print Close URL
