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Gulf Insider
30 minutes ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Netanyahu Threatens Assassination Of 'Modern Hitler' - Iran's Ayatollah
After on Thursday more ballistic missiles and drones struck Tel Aviv and various parts of Israel – including Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba – the Israeli Health Ministry reports that 271 people arrived at hospitals, four in serious condition, 16 in moderate condition, and many more with minor injuries – with most of this latter category being people suffering from anxiety attacks. In total, now nearly a week into the air war between Iran and Israel, 106 people are being treated in hospitals, and another 149 are being treated in emergency rooms, Israeli media reports based on the health ministry. The popular X account War Monitor gives voice to what many are likely thinking… Israeli leaders are ramping up their war rhetoric as President Trump is still said be mulling whether he'll order US military entrance into the war in order to penetrate Iran's most deep underground nuclear facilities with 30,000 pound bunker buster bombs. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now openly threatening to assassinate the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: Touring Beersheba's Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba after it was hit by an Iranian missile earlier today, Prime Minister Netanyahu said he would not rule out a strike on Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. 'No one is immune,' says Netanyahu. 'All the options are open.' He adds, 'It's best not to speak about this in the press.' Defense Minister Israel Katz, by contrast, has been publicly threatening Khamenei. Netanyahu says that US involvement in the war 'is a decision for President Trump.' He also called the top Shia cleric and ruler of Iran a 'modern Hitler' while touting 'We're going to see a different Middle East, a reality we haven't seen until now.' The country's defense minister, Israel Katz, has also said that 'eliminating' Khamenei is a goal of the war effort. And addressing whether he thinks Trump will come to Israeli's aid, Netanyahu said, 'He will do what is good for America, and I will do what's good for Israel.' But, the Israeli leader added, 'At the end of this operation, there will be no nuclear threat on Israel, and there won't be a ballistic threat.' Thus he's vowing to wipe out Iran's nuclear program as well as offensive missile capability – the latter being a very tall order given the longtime size of Iran's stockpile of missiles. Netanyahu then said, in comments which have already received severe criticism domestically, 'all of us are paying a personal price' in the war, 'and that hasn't missed my family as well — my son canceled a wedding.' The latest from President Trump on Thursday: Meanwhile, Iran's supreme leader reiterated in a message posted on X that Israel calling on the United States for help is a sign of 'weakness'. 'The very fact that the Zionist regime's American friends have entered the scene and are saying such things is a sign of that regime's weakness and inability,' he said. Iranian missiles accurately targeted the Israeli Defense system in Tel Aviv. You can see the multifold explosion during the fire eruption — Sumon Kais (@sumonkais) June 19, 2025 'I would like to tell our dear nation that if the enemy senses that you fear them, they won't let go of you. Continue the very behavior that you have had up to this day; continue this behavior with strength,' Khamenei added.
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First Post
4 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
Why did Tucker Carlson's clash with Ted Cruz over Iran go viral?
A combative interview between TV host Tucker Carlson and Senator Ted Cruz has highlighted the divide within the Maga coalition. The two sparred over US involvement in Israel's strikes on Iran, basic facts about the country and Trump's foreign policy. The clash revealed sharp divisions on military intervention and America's future role in the region read more (Left) US Senator Ted Cruz speaks during the AmericaFest 2024 conference in Phoenix, Arizona, US, December 22, 2024; (right) Tucker Carlson speaks during a rally at Madison Square Garden, in New York, US, October 27, 2024. File Images/Reuters A viral interview between United States Senator Ted Cruz and conservative broadcaster Tucker Carlson has taken centre stage as it revealed growing internal divisions in Donald Trump's Republican coalition over potential US military involvement in Israel's escalating confrontation with Iran. The widely circulated conversation, now published in full, has since dominated headlines and now social media. The Cruz-Carlson exchange, recorded on Carlson's podcast earlier in the week, is being described by both participants as unusually combative. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Carlson, a prominent figure in the 'America First' wing of the conservative movement, directly challenged Cruz, one of the Republican Party's leading national security hawks, over his advocacy for US support in Israel's bombing campaign on Iranian targets. Carlson grills Cruz over Iran knowledge The confrontation began with Carlson questioning Cruz about his knowledge of Iran — starting with a seemingly simple query: the country's population. When Cruz admitted, 'I don't know the population at all,' Carlson responded sharply: 'You don't know the population you seek to topple?' Carlson then asked about the country's ethnic composition. Cruz replied, 'They are Persians, and predominantly Shia.' Carlson followed up with: 'You don't know anything about Iran!' At one point, Cruz attempted to deflect the line of questioning by saying, 'OK, this is cute… OK, I am not the Tucker Carlson expert on Iran.' Carlson continued pressing the senator, arguing that knowing such basic facts was essential if Cruz was advocating for regime change or US intervention. Cruz dismissed the line of questioning later as a 'silly game,' accusing Carlson of attempting a 'gotcha' moment. Senator Ted Cruz demands regime change in Iran. He's not interested in the details. (0:00) Why Does Cruz Want Regime Change in Iran? (6:28) Is the US Currently Acting in Its Own Best Interest? (7:49) Was Regime Change in Syria Beneficial to the US? (12:31) Was the Iraq War a… — Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) June 18, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a follow-up podcast episode, Cruz said, 'I agree with Tucker on 80 percent of the issues,' but added that 'on foreign policy, Tucker has gone bat-crap crazy. He's gone off the rails.' The tension rose further when Cruz stated during the interview, 'We are carrying out military strikes today.' Carlson interrupted, pointing out that Cruz and other officials had previously stated that Israel was leading the strikes. 'You said Israel was,' Carlson noted. Cruz responded: 'Right, with our help. I said 'we' — Israel is leading them, but we're supporting them.' Carlson then remarked, 'This is high stakes; you're a senator. If you're saying the United States government is at war with Iran right now, people are listening.' Division over Trump's foreign policy vision The Cruz-Carlson exchange is only the most visible episode in a broader internal Republican debate that has intensified as Israel's offensive in Iran accelerates. Israeli forces, in recent days, have struck key nuclear infrastructure sites at Natanz and Isfahan, though the underground Fordo facility remains out of reach without US bunker-busting capabilities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The question now is whether the US will directly join in the campaign. The Trump administration has been sending mixed signals. Trump has posted increasingly provocative statements on his social platform, calling for Iran's 'unconditional surrender' and suggesting the US might assassinate Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, writing, '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.' He also asserted that the US had assumed control over Iranian airspace, writing: 'We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran.' Cruz echoed this sentiment in the Carlson interview, but Carlson seized on the wording of 'we,' pressing whether this implied direct US military action. The disagreement reflects the two ideological wings of the pro-Trump right. One faction, represented by Cruz, US Senator Tom Cotton, and media voices like Mark Levin, supports assertive action against Iran, arguing that the Islamic Republic's alleged assassination plots against Trump and nuclear ambitions pose a direct threat to American security. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The other faction, which includes Carlson, former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, warns that interventionist policies betray the 'America First' mandate Trump ran on in 2016 and again in 2024. Bannon has repeatedly warned that military escalation in the region could derail domestic objectives such as large-scale deportation programs, while Greene said that Carlson 'unapologetically believes the same things I do.' She added, 'Foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction.' Carlson-Trump tensions flare, then cool Carlson's opposition to American involvement has also placed him in direct conflict with Trump himself. On June 13, Carlson posted that the divide was now between 'warmongers and peacemakers,' and named Republicans and donors such as Sean Hannity, Rupert Murdoch, Ike Perlmutter, and Miriam Adelson as individuals 'calling Donald Trump today to demand air strikes.' Trump initially responded dismissively at the recent G7 Summit in Canada, telling reporters, 'Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen.' Later, on Truth Social, Trump escalated his rhetoric, saying: 'Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that IRAN CANNOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, by Wednesday, Trump revealed to reporters in the Oval Office that Carlson had called him and apologised for his tone. 'He called and apologised the other day because he thought he said things that were a little bit too strong, and I appreciated that,' Trump said. He pointed out that Carlson, like himself, did not want Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, adding, 'You may have to fight… maybe it will end very quickly.' Despite the personal thaw, the strategic divide remains. Carlson reiterated his concerns on Steve Bannon's podcast The War Room, stating that further military involvement could lead to 'the end of the American empire.' Trump, by contrast, has deployed refuelling tankers, a second carrier group, and has continued to hint at deeper engagement. Civilian toll of the Israel-Iran conflict till now As political figures clash in Washington, the human cost of the conflict continues to rise. According to a Washington-based human rights group, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in at least 585 deaths in Iran, including 239 civilians. In retaliation, Iranian strikes have killed at least 24 Israelis and left hundreds injured. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cruz has maintained that the regime in Tehran presents a danger to the US, citing previous threats to assassinate Trump, which Carlson disputed during their interview. Cruz later said on social media that Carlson had 'attacked' the US president and the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC during their sit-down. While Trump's leadership remains unchallenged within the GOP, the disagreement over whether to enter another conflict in West Asia is going to be a flashpoint in the future. With inputs from agencies
India Today
8 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
From Barabanki to Tehran: Khomeini's UP roots in spotlight amid Israel-Iran tensions
As tensions between Israel and Iran continue to rise, with airstrikes, political threats, and widespread destruction dominating headlines, a small Indian village has quietly become part of the global located in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, has a deep ancestral connection to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini - the architect of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and founding father of the Islamic Republic of historical link has brought fresh attention to the village, which today finds itself praying for peace as the region its ancestors helped shape face one of its most dangerous military escalations in BEGAN IN 1830 The story dates back to around 1830, when Syed Ahmad Musavi Hindi - a Shia cleric and scholar - was born in Kintoor. Driven by his commitment to religious education, he left India during British colonial rule and travelled through Iraq to settle in Iran. There, he continued his spiritual and theological pursuits and chose to retain his Indian identity by adding "Hindi" to his eventually settled in the Iranian town of Khomeyn, where he raised a family. His son, Mostafa Hindi, also became a cleric, and his grandson, Ruhollah Khomeini, would go on to lead a revolution that forever changed Iran's political and religious FROM SCHOLAR TO SUPREME LEADERBorn in 1902, Ruhollah Khomeini inherited the religious teachings and legacy of his grandfather and father. Influenced by their Shia beliefs and resistance to Western interference, Khomeini rose through the clerical ranks and became a powerful political voice. His opposition to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's pro-Western monarchy gained mass support throughout the 1960s and 70s, culminating in the Islamic Revolution of the Shah deposed, Khomeini became Iran's first Supreme Leader, establishing a theocratic state governed by Islamic law. His leadership defined Iran's anti-Western stance, transformed its internal laws, and created a powerful alternative axis in Middle Eastern LIVING LEGACYBack in Kintoor, the family of Ayatollah Khomeini still lives in a neighbourhood called Mahal Mohalla. Nihal Kazmi, Dr Rehan Kazmi, and Adil Kazmi proudly trace their ancestry to Ahmad Musavi Hindi, calling themselves direct descendants of the man who shaped modern Iran through his lineage. Inside their home, framed photographs of Khomeini still decorate the walls. "He added 'Hindi' to his name to show that his heart beat for India," says Adil Kazmi. "When we visited Iran and told people we were from Kintoor, they welcomed us with great honour. It was clear they remembered where their spiritual leader came from."advertisementThe villagers consider this historical connection a matter of immense pride, and treat it as an intellectual and spiritual legacy rather than a mere genealogical KHAMENEI'S ROOTSWith global speculation swirling around who will succeed Iran's current Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, some confusion has emerged about his links to India. The Kazmi family is quick to set the record straight: "Khamenei has no ancestral link to Kintoor," says Dr Rehan Kazmi. "He is the disciple and political successor of Ayatollah Khomeini, but not from our family or village."A CALL FOR PEACE, NOT WARAs Iran faces renewed airstrikes and political pressure from Israel, Khomeini's descendants in India have expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently declared that 'no one is immune' to attacks, alluding even to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. In response, Iran has fired over 400 ballistic missiles and more than 1,000 drones across Israeli territories since the beginning of Israel's Operation Rising to the violence, Dr Rehan Kazmi said, "The attacks by Israel are inhumane. Iran is responding defensively. We pray this war ends soon, and that peace prevails. No one benefits from bloodshed."Adil Kazmi added, "Yes, we are proud of our ancestor, but we are also saddened that his name is now caught between headlines of war. His identity was also about philosophy, knowledge and justice. We want the world to associate his name with peace, not just power."FROM CONFLICT TO PRAYERFor the villagers of Kintoor, the current events are not just news from a distant land, but a reminder of their historical and spiritual bonds. "This land once gave birth to a bloodline that would change the world," said one resident. "Today, hands rise from this soil in prayers for peace."Dr Rehan Kazmi notes, "Islam teaches justice and peace. This is what Ayatollah Khomeini stood for too. While the world talks about missiles, we in Kintoor remember the values he lived for."A SYMBOLIC CROSSROADKintoor today is more than a geographical dot in Uttar Pradesh. It represents a cultural and emotional bridge between India and Iran - from the modest walls of Mahal Mohalla to the corridors of power in as political narratives shift and global tensions grow, the message from this Indian village remains unchanged, "No more war. Let peace speak louder."(With inputs from Syed Rehan Mustafa Rizvi)
Spectator
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Why Muslim-majority countries have turned against Iran
Swift condemnations have poured in from the Muslim world castigating Israel for bombing Iran. The UAE condemned Israel 'in the strongest terms', Jordan spoke up against Israeli attacks 'threatening regional stability', Saudi Arabia denounced 'blatant Israeli aggressions', Turkey espoused 'an end to Israel's banditry', while various Muslim diplomatic groups, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), demanded 'international action' against the Jewish State. But cloaked underneath this predictably farcical rhetoric of 'Muslim unity' are the evolving interests of many of these states, which today align seamlessly with Israel. Saudi Arabia has described 'evil' Iran as the 'head of the snake' In Israel's immediate neighbourhood, Lebanese officials are blocking the depleted Iranian jihadist proxy Hezbollah from taking action against Israel. Meanwhile, the Ahmed al-Sharaa-led Syria, after toppling the pro-Iran Bashar al-Assad regime, has been negotiating a peace deal to recognise Israel and allow Syrian territory to be used to block Iranian attacks. Jordan, meanwhile, is directly intercepting Iranian missiles. This is similar to its downing of drones last year, as part of a regional military coalition featuring Saudi Arabia and the UAE that provided key intelligence against Iran. Turkey, too, reportedly had prior knowledge of Israeli strikes on Iran. Sunni Gulf states have seen Shia Iran as an imperial threat in the region since clerics took over Tehran following the Iranian revolution in 1979. They accuse Iran of backing Shia uprisings against Sunni rulers in countries like Bahrain, along with pushing militia in Iraq and Yemen to aspire to propel Shia regimes. Of course, these Sunni states, led by Saudi Arabia, have long used jihadist proxies to exploit the same Sunni–Shia fault-lines and thwart Iranian plans in order to maintain their own regional hegemony. Riyadh went a step further by formulating a military alliance of Sunni states, the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, aimed at Iran and its Shia allies. But while the Sunni–Shia sectarian divide within Islam is 14 centuries old, in recent years the antagonism has crossed the weapons-grade threshold following the advent of a very modern threat: the nuclear bomb. When Israel struck Iranian nuclear sites and eliminated scientists along with key generals, it also inadvertently did so on behalf of leading Sunni regimes that have long been petrified by the prospect of Iran building a nuclear weapon. Saudi Arabia, which has described 'evil' Iran as the 'head of the snake', has repeatedly condemned the US nuclear deal with Iran in 2015. It has also regularly urged other Muslim-majority countries to reject 'Iranian terrorism'. Only a couple of weeks ago, Saudi defence minister Prince Khalid bin Salman warned Iranian officials to accept US president Donald Trump's offer of a new nuclear agreement or face the Israeli strikes that followed a little over a fortnight later. A similar message was delivered by the UAE to Iran in March. The Gulf states normalising relations with Israel are doing so as part of their modernising bids. This entails shunning violent Islamic laws and codes, from which their erstwhile antisemitic rhetoric against the Jewish State originates. This move is critical in order to diversify their petro-economies, which require regional stability to attract global investment. While sanctions-hit Iran has even more to gain financially by embracing moderation and peace in the region, it does not have a monarchy that could simply flip the switch on decades of spreading radical Islam and jihadist militancy. Self-identifying as 'resistance' against the West and Israel and flying the 'flag of Islam against infidels' is a matter of survival for the clerics in Tehran, even as the writing is on the wall for Iran's rulers following the fall of their proxies in Syria and Lebanon. If the Iranian regime is to go, it should ideally be toppled by the Iranians, who have lived under its brutalities for almost half a century, with local protests and attacks against the clergy increasing in recent years. While there are fears among the Iranian populace that the war could cause destruction similar to that seen in Gaza, there are millions of Muslims across the region who have suffered at the hands of Iran and its militias, and who would celebrate the demise of Iranian clerical rule – even if it is Israel that is to deal the final blow. And the Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, have already laid the groundwork to pose as the saviours and custodians of these Muslims in the aftermath of Israeli strikes they are officially condemning. Saudi Arabia has conveniently distanced itself from what is, in effect, the execution of its plans against Iran by officially normalising relations with Tehran following a China-brokered deal in 2023, after seven years of severed ties. This has allowed Riyadh to publicly pose as a mediator in Iran's nuclear talks with the US, while it covertly delivers Israeli threats to Tehran and continues to inform Washington of its intention to acquire nuclear arms. Like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Turkey have their own plans to lead the Muslim world once the only non-Sunni claimant for the same – Iran – is effectively sidelined. All of these states, however, need Israel to eliminate the Iranian regime so as not to completely alienate Shia populations. Public hostility towards Israel will continue to grow in these countries as they quietly celebrate the gains of the Jewish state.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Iraqi militia warns of strikes on US bases if Trump joins Iran-Israel war
Iran-backed Shia militia Kataib Hezbollah has threatened to strike US military bases across West Asia if the United States joins the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, CNN reported. "We reaffirm, with even greater clarity, that should the United States enter into this war, the deranged (US President Donald) Trump shall forfeit all the trillions he dreams of seizing from this region," said Abu Ali al-Askari, the group's security leader, in a statement on Thursday. "Undoubtedly, American bases throughout the region will become akin to duck-hunting grounds," he added, as quoted by CNN. Al-Askari further threatened to shut down key maritime routes -- the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-el-Mandeb waterway -- and warned that oil ports along the Red Sea would cease operations. He also hinted at potential attacks on US aircraft, saying there may be "unforeseen surprises" awaiting them in the skies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Neuropatia incomodando à noite? idosos estão usando isso para aliviar os sintomas. A arte do herbalismo Undo According to CNN, the US military currently operates out of at least 27 bases in the Middle East, with 12 in continuous use for over 15 years. The network also reported that in January 2024, Kataib Hezbollah was believed by the US to have carried out a drone strike that killed three US Army soldiers and injured more than 30 at Tower 22, a small American outpost near the Syria-Jordan border. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq -- an umbrella group that includes Kataib Hezbollah -- claimed responsibility for targeting several sites near the Jordan-Syria border, including the Al-Rukban camp, located close to Tower 22, CNN noted. Live Events Amid these rising threats and regional attacks, US President Donald Trump has said he will allow two weeks for diplomatic efforts with Tehran before deciding whether to authorize military action against Iran. Addressing a briefing at the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read out a statement from President Trump, who acknowledged the potential for diplomatic negotiations despite the escalating conflict in the Middle East. "Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks," Leavitt quoted the President as saying. Leavitt also reiterated the administration's stance on Iran's nuclear program. In response to a question about the contours of any possible deal with Iran, Leavitt said, "No enrichment of Uranium and... Iran is absolutely not able to achieve a nuclear weapon. The President has been very clear about that." The remarks come amid heightened tensions following nearly a week of military strikes between Israel and Iran. President Trump, speaking on Wednesday, dismissed suggestions that he had already approved a military plan and reiterated his preference for a diplomatic resolution. "I'm not looking to fight. But if it's a choice between fighting and having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do," Trump said. The White House continues to maintain that while military options remain on the table, diplomatic engagement with Iran is still possible.
