Latest news with #ShiaIslam
India.com
12 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
She changed her religion, walked into Iran's homes...then vanished without a trace, THIS Mossad's 'deadly' female spy is behind the chaos in Iran
This is not a James Bond movie, it actually happened. A shocking story from Tehran, the capital of Iran, is now making headlines all over the world. According to reports, a female spy from Israel's intelligence agency Mossad secretly entered Iran two years ago. She then converted to Shia Islam and slowly got close to top Iranian officials and their families. Her name is Catherine Pérez Shakdam. Originally from France, she wasn't just highly trained she was also smart, beautiful, and bold. Her charm and clever planning fooled even Iran's strict security agencies. How did she get in and why no one noticed? At first, Catherine claimed she was simply curious about Islam. She converted to Shia Islam and started meeting and talking to the wives of Iranian government officials. Over time, she gained their trust and became a regular guest in their homes. She was so trusted that she even entered private areas in the homes and places where security is normally very tight. While Iranian agencies carefully checked phones and visitors, Catherine was silently taking photos and collecting secret information. She sent all of it directly to Mossad. As tensions between Iran and Israel increased, many top Iranian officials changed their locations for safety. They thought they were now secure. But every time an attack happened, it was so accurate, it felt like someone had handed over a detailed map. When Iran's own intelligence service started investigating, the truth slowly came out. Photos taken with officials helped identify Catherine. But by then, it was too late. Where is she now? No one knows. Catherine has completely disappeared. Iran's intelligence agency has spread her posters and photos across the country. But there's no sign of her, no trace, no voice. Some say she has changed her identity and is now living in another country. Today, Catherine Pérez Shakdam is being called one of the most daring spies in Israeli history. Her mission has left Iran shocked and the world stunned.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Khamenei and Netanyahu are waging a war of symbols too
The gloves are off and the tweets are on in the Israel-Iran conflict that has entered its seventh day. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are leading the digital charge across social media with evocative symbols from their religious traditions to challenge each other. Khamenei declared 'the battle begins' in a warning post on Tuesday, hours after US President Donald Trump called for Iran's 'unconditional surrender.' 'In the name of #Haider, the battle begins. Ali returns to #Khaybar with his Zulfiqar,' the 86-year-old Khamenei posted to his 1.5 million followers on X in Farsi, referring to Shia Islam 's revered figure and the first imam, Ali, who won the Battle of Khaybar with his sword, Zulfiqar. Khamenei's post framed Iran's attacks as part of a broader religious struggle against Israel. On the other hand, Israel has called its military operation against Iran "Rising Lion", taking the name from a biblical verse that promises a victorious future for a powerful Israel, and also obliquely referring to the pre-Islamic Revolution Iran. Live Events In a post dedicated to the people of Iran, Netanyahu said, 'We are in the midst of one of the greatest military operations in history, Operation Rising Lion . The Islamic regime, which has oppressed you for almost 50 years, threatens to destroy our country, the State of Israel." Both Khamenei and Netanyahu have shared several posts on Twitter (now X), but what stands out is their deliberate use of religious references drawn from history. Khamenei's Khaybar citation Khamenei's declaration of battle on Twitter included a reference to Khaybar that was later used by multiple users in their posts as a hashtag. Khaybar, in the north of Medina, was once home to thousands of Jews who were defeated in a decisive 7th-century battle against the army of Prophet Muhammad. The turning point in the battle came when the Prophet, after earlier attempts to break the stronghold, said, 'Tomorrow I will give the banner to a man who loves God and His Messenger, and God and His Messenger love him. He will conquer it.' The next day, the Prophet gave the banner to Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first Shia Imam. Ali then led the assault on the fortress of Qamus, Khaybar's most fortified stronghold. Ali defeated the Jewish commander Marhab using a door as a shield after losing his own. His leadership resulted in the fall of the fort, effectively ending resistance in Khaybar. The victory marked a strategic and symbolic success for the early Muslim community. In Shia Islam, Ali's role at Khaybar is celebrated as a sign of his divine support. Netanyahu's lion reference Khamenei isn't the only one reaching back to religious history. Netanyahu also flipped through holy pages for symbolism, citing phrases – 'Rising Lion' and 'Cyrus the Great' in his posts. In his message to the Iranian people, Netanyahu said that Israel's conflict was with Iran's Islamic regime, not its people, adding that 'the people of Iran and the people of Israel have been friends since the time of Cyrus the Great .' Cyrus the Great, founder of the first Persian Empire, after conquering Babylon and other cities, allowed the exiled jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. Netanyahu also used the phrase 'Rising Lion,' drawn from the biblical line 'the people shall rise up as a lion,' in a note placed into a crack of Jerusalem's Western Wall — a gesture that, in hindsight, appeared to signal the impending strikes on Iran. The phrase comes from Numbers 23:24 in the Bible: 'Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.' This verse is part of the first oracle of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet and diviner, where he foretells the strength and power of Israel, comparing it to a lion that will not rest until it has satisfied its hunger. The Book of Numbers is the fourth book in the Bible. In this part of the story, the diviner named Balaam, who was a kind of prophet or seer known for his ability to bless as well as curse, is being asked by Balak, a king of Moab, to curse the people of Israel, God's chosen people, because Balak sees them as a threat. Instead of cursing them, Balaam ends up blessing them, because God tells him only to speak what He commands. This verse is part of one of those blessings, where Balaam describes the strength and power of Israel in poetic, symbolic language. The verse means that Israel will be strong, fearless, and ready for action, just like a lion rising to hunt. Balaam gives more prophetic speeches, continuing to bless Israel instead of cursing it. He also predicts the downfall of Israel's enemies, including Moab (Balak's people), Edom and others. Most famously, he delivers a prophecy that is often seen as messianic by Jews and Christians: 'A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel…' The phrase "Rising Lion' is also linked to the flag of Iran's pre-Islamic Revolution Shah regime. The flag of the Pahlavi dynasty of the Shah had an emblem of a sword-wielding lion and a sun, both drawn from pre-Islamic past of Iran. The clash on Twitter between Netanyahu and Khamenei makes it plain: this isn't just a military conflict, but an ideological tug-of-war with no end in sight.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Iran supreme leader's big warning after launching hypersonic missile at Israel
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a warning against Israel on Wednesday, which reads, 'battle begins'. The translated version of the post, shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), reads, 'In the name of the renowned Haydar, the battle begins'. 'In the name of the renowned #Haydar, the battle begins Ali, with his Zulfiqar, to #Khaybar returns,' read the full post. The post contains religious symbols of Islamic history and Shia iconology. Haydar is a name often used for Imam Ali, who is considered the first Imam in Shia Islam. Zulfiqar is the name of the famous double-edged sword of Imam Ali. Track live updates of Iran Israel conflict here. Later, Ali Khamenei issued another warning, which read, 'We must act forcefully against the terrorist Zionist entity. We will not show leniency toward the Zionists.' The Iranian Supreme Leader's warning for a full-blown battle with Israel comes as the country's armed forces said that they used hypersonic missiles to attack Israel in overnight strikes as the conflict enters its sixth day. Iran intensified its offensive against Iran even as United States President Donald Trump called for the country's 'unconditional surrender'. Also read: Intense Israeli strikes hit Tehran after Trump demands 'unconditional surrender' Iranian capital Tehran was hit by a series of powerful Israeli airstrikes by Israel on Wednesday, hours after Israel called for evacuation in the area. Explosions were heard in Tehran early morning, sending shockwaves across the area. However, Iranian officials made no formal acknowledgment of the attack. Also read: Khamenei transfers powers to Iranian military amid escalating Israel-Iran conflict: Report Israel also targeted Imam Hossein University, which is linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards in eastern Tehran, according to Iranian news websites. Additionally, Khojir missile production facility near Tehran was also targeted by Israel, Iranian news websites reported according to Reuters. Sirens sounded in several areas of Israel as well as Iran launched a barrage of missiles towards it. According to the Israel Defence Forces, sirens were sounded due to a hostile aircraft infiltration, adding that a suspicious air target that crossed from the east was intercepted by their Air Force and that sirens were sounded in accordance with the protocol.
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
The battle begins: Khamenei responds to Trump's threats amid possible US attack
In his first social media post since US President Donald Trump's threats of unconditional surrender, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a warning to Israel on X, saying, "The battle begins.""Ali returns to Khaybar," the post says, according to a translation by the Iran International news outlet. The statement is a reference to the first imam of Shia Islam and his conquest of the Jewish town of Khaybar in the 7th century, reported The Times of Israel. The post was originally shared in Farsi. advertisementThe post includes an image of a man holding a sword entering a castle-like gate, with fiery streaks in the sky overhead. Minutes later, Khamenei posted another warning to Israel: "We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy." CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRAN ENTERS SIXTH DAYThe conflict between Israel and Iran entered its sixth day as the two nations traded new missile strikes at each other on Wednesday despite a call from US President Donald Trump for Iran's unconditional surrender. The Israeli military said two barrages of Iranian missiles were launched toward Israel in the first two hours of Wednesday morning. Explosions were heard over Tel after leaving the G7 Summit early, Trump met for 90 minutes with his National Security Council on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the conflict, a White House official said. He reportedly spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Axios reported. TRUMP DEMANDS UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDERTrump on Tuesday declared that the United States has full control of Iranian airspace, stating that Iran's defence systems, including advanced tracking equipment, are no match for American-made military technology. He hailed the superiority of US defence capabilities in a post on Truth Truth Social, Trump wrote, "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.' Nobody does it better than the good ol' USA."He also warned that US patience was wearing thin. While he said there was no intention to kill Iran's leader "for now," his comments suggested a more aggressive stance towards Iran as he weighs whether to deepen US involvement."We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding," he wrote on Truth Social, referring to Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now ... Our patience is wearing thin." Three minutes later Trump posted, "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!"The US is deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes, according to news agency Reuters. Trump is reportedly considering all potential options available for dismantling Iran's underground nuclear bombs. Must Watch
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: All about Iran's supreme leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader for the better half of four decades now, claimed that Israel 'won't last long' in front of thousands of supporters gathered in a mosque on Friday (June 13). This follows after Israel recently killed the Iran-backed veteran secretary general of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, and bombed its headquarters in Beirut. This was followed by an airstrike launched against Iran on the same day which ended up destroying a third of their missile launchers. In response, Tehran chose to strike back by launching missiles and drones. But who is the man who pushed the button? ALSO READ| Is Netanyahu planning to assassinate Iran leader? Israeli PM drops shocking hint Born as the son of a humble cleric in the shrine city of Mashhad, Khamenei had a modest upbringing. His religious schooling in Qom helped shape his views regarding Shia Islam under the aegis of then-opposition leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Under his influence, Khamenei started running secret missions for Islamic activism, grew an increasing intolerance against the Westernization of Islamic cultures, and protested against Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi. The Shah was ultimately overthrown and Khomeini was welcomed from his exile in France by a sea of jubilant crowd. Under Khomeini's leadership, Khamenei quickly rose through the ranks by assuming key roles in the Islamic Revolutionary Council, as deputy defense minister, and being targeted as part of an assassination attempt against revolutionary figures at the time. Following this, he won a landslide victory to become the president by securing 95% of votes. Khomeini's subsequent death in 1989 made Khamenei the supreme leader of the country, a position he originally considered himself unqualified to presume due to his humble background in religious matters. Inspired by the anti-colonial works of Leo Tolstoy, Victor Hugo, and Sayyid Qutb, Khamenei's criticism of the West was ingrained long back. Most of the strife between the West and Iran has existed in the form of sanctions imposed against the latter due to its attempts to attain nuclear power. President Trump's violation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action from 2015 created a deep-seated mistrust in how Iran viewed the West. Khamenei completely shut down subsequent attempts by the Biden administration to mend old wounds. Known as a man of simple means and living, he lives in a compound on Palestine Street with his wife and children. Although many doubts have risen time and again about the authenticity of his ascetic lifestyle, there's no doubt that it is a far stretch from the ostentatious wealth of other officials. ALSO READ| Indian-American Congressman to limit Trump from entering the Iran-Israel conflict The Iran-Israel conflict was brought into existence on the very first day of the founding of the Islamic Republic. Khamenei's repeated support to the 'axis of resistance' namely the Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthi movement in Iraq along with revolutionary Islamic uprisings in Iraq and Syria is a direct threat to Israel's claims of independence from Palestine. This conflict remains at the center of the 'unification of areas' concept proposed by Iran which calls for closer ties in the Middle East. Israel's targeted response to crushing groups backed by the Iranian regime has added strain to tensions between the two. Although there is no one declared successor to Khamenei as of yet, it's clear that Iran's next supreme leader is bound to come from a conservative bent of mind as well.
