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New Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Israel-Iran conflict: Israeli attacks on nuke sites ‘grave war crimes', says Iran at UN; fresh strikes hit Israel
Israel and Iran continued to trade airstrikes on Friday as the conflict between the West Asian rivals entered its second week, deepening fears of all-out war and a wider regional conflict. The conflict was triggered by Israel's unprovoked attack on Tehran on June 13, which killed several top military officials, senior scientists, and at least 60 civilians, including 20 children. Since then, Israel has continued to target the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities. Tehran hit back in retaliation, launching ballistic missiles across Israel, with both countries engaging in tit-for-tat strikes targeting military and civilian infrastructure over the past seven days. Israel, the sole but undeclared nuclear power in the Middle East, has said the attacks are aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. It has also continued to publicly advocate for regime change in Tehran, including reported plans to assassinate Iran's supreme leader.
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First Post
2 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
Who is JP Singh, India's envoy to Israel, MEA's ‘go-to' diplomat in times of crisis?
Jitendra Pal (JP) Singh took over the post of India's Ambassador to Israel in January during a ceasefire between the Jewish country and Hamas in Gaza. Just months down the line, he is overseeing New Delhi's efforts to evacuate its citizens from Israel as tensions mount between the West Asian country and Iran. Recently, Singh came to the limelight after Netflix's movie, The Diplomat, portrayed the high-profile rescue mission of Uzma Ahmed in Pakistan. The case was handled by Singh read more JP Singh is India's Ambassador to Israel as New Delhi begins evacuation of its nationals from the West Asian country. X/@IsraelinIndia India's Ambassador to Israel is in the spotlight again. As military tensions escalate between Israel and Iran, New Delhi has launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate its nationals from the two warring countries in West Asia. As India rescues its citizens from Israel, India's envoy in Tel Aviv – Jitendra Pal (JP) Singh – is at the centre of it all. Under him, India is navigating the Iran-Israel conflict, which has caused turmoil in West Asia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Singh was recently the subject of Netflix's The Diplomat starring John Abraham. The movie is based on the high-profile Uzma Ahmed rescue case in Pakistan, which was handled by him. Who is the Indian diplomat? We take a look. Who is JP Singh? JP Singh, a 2002 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, is currently serving as India's Ambassador to Israel. His appointment came in January this year at a crucial time, during Israel and Hamas' ceasefire in Gaza. Singh replaced Sanjeev Singla, who is the Indian Ambassador to Paris. His tenure as Indian Ambassador in Tel Aviv is significant for bilateral defence and trade ties between the two countries. Singh was sent to Israel at a time when Indian workers are increasingly going to work in Israel. The West Asian country is home to more than 32,000 Indian nationals. As Iran and Israel's conflict intensifies, Singh is again India's point-person for managing a crisis on foreign soil. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD MEA's top pick for Iran, Afghanistan JP Singh has held several big posts at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He has served in Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey. The diplomat was the joint secretary in the key Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran (PAI) division of the MEA. Last year, Singh was responsible for maintaining a balance between India's relationship with Iran and its regional rival, Israel, as they traded missiles. He also steered high-level engagements between India and Iran when Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian died, reported The Hindu. Singh was posted in Kabul as the first secretary between 2008 and 2012. During his tenure, he dealt with the aftermath of two suicide attacks by the Taliban on the Indian Embassy in 2008 and 2009. After the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, Singh went to Kabul to meet Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, leader of the Haqqani network behind the attacks on the Indian Embassy and consulates in Afghanistan. Last November, he held talks with the Taliban's Acting Defence Minister, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, to expand ties between India and Afghanistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Administrator of National Defense Ministry met with a Delegation from India. The defense ministry's administrator, Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob 'Mujahid' at his office today, met with an Indian delegation, headed by... — د ملي دفاع وزارت - وزارت دفاع ملی (@MoDAfghanistan2) November 6, 2024 His meeting is seen to have cleared the path for Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's talks with the Taliban regime's Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai in January. JP Singh's hard talk with Pakistan Singh was India's deputy high commissioner to Pakistan between 2014 and 2019. He managed tensions between the two countries for a decade, including seeing a brief thaw in October 2024 when Jaishankar travelled to Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Heads of Government meeting. After India launched Operation Sindoor in May to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Singh told Pakistan to hand over the dreaded terrorists operating from its soil. In an interview with Israel's i24NEWS last month, Singh said that the 'new normal' is India's offensive strategy against terrorism. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The ceasefire is still holding on but we have made it very clear that Operation Sindoor is paused. It's not yet over,' the Indian Ambassador to Israel said, adding that the fight against terrorism will continue. He pointed out that India has taken a new stance. 'We have set a new normal and the new normal is that we will follow an offensive strategy. Wherever terrorists are we have to kill those terrorists and we have to destroy their terrorist infrastructure.' Singh said that 'ceasefire is intact' for now. He also called on Pakistan to hand over high-profile terrorists, including Hafiz Saeed, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, and Sajid Mir. Singh talks from experience as he has overseen the fallout of the Pathankot and Uri terror attacks. When he was the Joint Secretary (IPA), India and Pakistan clashed over the 2019 Pulwama attacks. They suspended trade ties and recalled High Commissioners after the abrogation of Article 370. Singh also supervised discussions to build the Kartarpur corridor for Sikh pilgrims, as per The Hindu. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In Pakistan, Singh led the diplomatic rescue mission of Indian national Uzma Ahmed in 2017 after she was forced into a marriage at gunpoint. Netflix's movie The Diplomat revolves around the case, capturing Singh's skills while taking on a high-stakes mission. With inputs from agencies
NDTV
6 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Will He? Won't He? Should He? What To Make Of Trump's Plans For Iran
In the ongoing war between two arch-rivals, Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the death and destruction and the utter defiance of international law by both sides under the garb of 'self-defence' have pushed the entire West Asian region and the world to the edge. Their conception of one another as an existential threat had played out mostly clandestinely in the past. However, in the last year and a half, their confrontation has been more direct, with the latest showdown shaping up to be a fight to the finish. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already declared that he intends to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat through direct attacks on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. It has also proven its aerial and intelligence superiority in killing most of the military leadership in Iran and its top-level nuclear scientists. Iran, in turn, has retaliated by causing severe damage to Israeli military and civilian infrastructure, though not in equal measure. It's not over yet, though. While the world is deeply concerned with this escalation, which could envelop the whole region, what US President Trump does now will be decisive. Netanyahu is keen on effecting a regime change in Iran and even eliminating its supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei - something Trump has not greenlit, as per reports. A brute, no-holds-barred approach is now shaping up this emaciated and dysfunctional global order. Trump In A Sticky Spot Trump has an aversion to conventional or 'forever' wars - at least, so it had seemed, and he had maintained, throughout his presidential campaign last year. But now, at the formal request of Israel, the US under Trump is supporting the Israeli campaign against Iran through its naval and air power. It's important to remember here how Trump had given 60 days to Iran to conclude the nuclear deal negotiations, the last round of which was supposed to take place in Oman on Sunday, June 15. Both sides, however, kept shifting their goalposts, especially with regard to Iran's nuclear enrichment potential and threshold. The US insisted on Iran conceding that it would not pursue any uranium enrichment, but this was not acceptable to Tehran as it would tantamount to abject surrender. To be sure, nuclear enrichment is permitted under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) for civil nuclear energy purposes. Divisions Within Of course, Iran possessing a nuclear weapon is out of question, and the biggest red line. In 2015, a hesitant Iran did try to cut a deal with the Western world, promising to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. But even that was a red line for Israel, which has insisted that Iran is on the verge of making a weapon and has material for up to nine bombs. Indications by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - whose intent and modus operandi Iran suspects - that Iran was not in compliance with the prescribed standards, added to the suspicion. Many observers in the US, including Senators and congressmen, believe that Israel wants to drag the US into its Middle East war on one pretext or the other, providing a fait accompli. The US has also taken some extreme steps on its part. Two days ago, the Trump administration officially removed Colonel Nathan McCormack from his post as the Joint Chiefs of Staff, allegedly because he called Israel a 'death cult' and said that America was acting as Israel's proxy. The MAGA Quandary As per various surveys, as many as 64% of Republicans are not in favour of the US getting directly involved in Israel's war against Iran. It may also not be seen favourably by his MAGA ('Make America Great Again') base, though at the moment, Trump doesn't seem too concerned about this, claiming that he was the one to popularise 'MAGA' in the first place. He has even decried the testimony of his own colleague, the National Intelligence Authority (NIA) head, Tulsi Gabbard, which had stated that Iran was nowhere near fully developing a nuclear weapon. Gabbard is not alone in echoing this sentiment. IAEA Director General Grossi also said recently in an interview that his agency 'did not have any proof of a systematic effort to move into a nuclear weapon'. Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt had a bolder take. 'The reality is that Netanyahu attacked Iran not primarily to prevent a nuclear weapon but to prevent a nuclear agreement between the US and Iran. He was key in driving Trump to leave the original US-Iran JCPOA deal, and now wanted to prevent a new one,' Bildt said on X on June 18. Trump's decision at this stage is extremely critical and can change the course of this war, the region and the world. Unpredictable as he is, Trump might still consider giving Iranians and diplomacy a chance through a fast-track nuclear deal, even as Khamenei has retorted that Iranians are not the ones to surrender. The Arabs On the other hand, in unusual unity and camaraderie, the Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries, including Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Pakistan, have all condemned Israeli aggression and attacks on Iranian sovereignty. Most of them have even told the US that they would not allow their airspaces to be used in strikes against Tehran for fear of reprisals and becoming collateral damage. The distrust that they might be treated in the same way should they fall on the wrong side of the US-Israel combine, has also deepened. Tehran has also threatened to attack over two dozen US bases in the Middle East should the US join Israel in its war. This is the worry plaguing most Arabs today: they do not want to become a theatre of war. Pakistan, though, has once again tried to become relevant, being the land of 'mercenaries' and the rentier state that it is. First, it threatened Israel in support of Iran, but just a few days later, its Field Marshal General Asim Munir was in the US for a rare lunch with the US President. If America decides to use Islamabad as a minion yet again, it'd be no surprise. Russia , China and North Korea Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has already spoken to Trump, offering to mediate between Tehran and Tel Aviv. That's not an invalid proposition after all. While Moscow can handle Tehran, its strategic and security partner, the US can try to prevail upon Netanyahu, who has asked for American help. Moscow has also advised and warned the US to intervene militarily. These, however, are just diplomatic hopes that may never actually come to fruition. China on the other hand, which has significant geo-economic interests in the region, not only continues to criticise Israeli attacks but has also been reportedly providing assistance to the Iranian establishment. Its Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, was clear when he stated, 'Israel's actions violate international law. We cannot sit back and watch the regional situation slide into an unknown abyss.' Even North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has accused Israel of 'state-sponsored terrorism', calling it a 'cancer-like entity'. All these are indications that if the US does enter the war, these powers may intervene on behalf of Iran, and not only at the UNSC. The Iranian Game Plan The 86-year-old Khamenei, who has been ruling Iran conservatively for over 36 years, has remained intransigent so far, though in the face of Israel's regime change threats and direct risk to his life, he has passed on his powers to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the military. He is said to be in some safe location, which Israelis and Americans claim they know about. By now, it's quite clear that Tehran failed to grasp the extent of the deep Israeli intelligence penetration in its country. It's also certain that even though many in Iran are thoroughly disgruntled by their regime's oppressive policies, that discontent is unlikely to work in Israel's favour, for, in such times of external aggression, most countries and people unite against the aggressors. Iranians have shown an intent to return to the table, and their Foreign Affairs Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has spoken to the EU, France, Germany and the UK, who have all favoured a non-nuclear Iran and a negotiated solution to end the war. The French are also against a regime change. In any case, an unstable Iran could be perilous for the whole region as well as the world. Along with Houthis, Iran has been mulling closing the strategic choke points of the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab, which will directly impact oil supplies from the region, which, by the way, accounts for over 20% of global crude trade. All regional actors, especially oil majors, are actively engaging in shuttle diplomacy to avoid the kind of outcomes Libya and Iraq had seen, which had fuelled regional headaches, uncertainty and the rise of extremism and terrorism. Let's hope Iran does not become another Iraq or Libya, where half-baked information or manufactured evidence led to a terrible disaster, whose reverberations continue to haunt the international community and US credibility to this day. Trump will have to be very, very careful about what he does next.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Iran-Israel conflict: India halts tea exports to Tehran amid escalating tensions with Tel Aviv
India has suspended tea exports to Iran due to the escalating conflict with Israel, disrupting communication and business operations. This halt impacts premium orthodox tea shipments worth Rs 100-150 crore, with concerns rising over access to the Strait of Hormuz affecting overall West Asian tea trade. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads India has halted tea exports to Iran amid an escalating conflict between the latter and exporters say erratic telecom connectivity and widespread business disruptions due to the conflict are making it difficult to reach out to their Iranian clients. This has impacted Rs 100-150 crore worth of premium orthodox tea shipments, for which contracts have already been signed.'It has been one week since the war began. The shipments for the past week are on hold as we are not able to establish contact with our buyers,' said Mohit Agarwal, director, Asian Tea Company. 'This is the time for Iran to buy premium second flush teas. We have no other choice but to wait and watch.'"Offices are closed in Iran, and therefore, the exporters are not able to contact the Iranian buyers. Connectivity has become a major issue in Iran due to the war situation,' Agarwal overall West Asian market, including Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE, consumes around 90 million kg of Indian tea, comprising about 35% of total tea price of Assam orthodox tea hit a record high of Rs 314 per kg at auctions this year, buoyed by strong demand from Gulf countries. Prices were Rs 15-20 per kg lower last tea prices have fallen by 5-10% in the past week due to suspension of shipments to Iran while other Middle East countries did not place fresh orders due to geopolitical tensions caused by the Iran-Israel Bhansali, partner of Bhansali & Company, a tea exporting firm, said, 'Exports to Iran have come to a standstill and prices may fall further. Moreover, uncertainty looms over exports to Iraq, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar as these shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz , which Iran is controlling."As Israel and Iran continue to launch missile and drone attacks on each other, there is growing concern that Iran could restrict or block access to the Strait of Hormuz—something it has threatened in the past. Even the fear of this happening can send shockwaves through oil markets and disrupt global India Tea Exporters Association chairman Dipak Shah said exporters are taking a cautious stance since freight costs and insurance expenses for shipments are likely to increase if the Iran-Israel conflict prolongs for a long predominantly buys orthodox tea from north India, though it also buys limited quantities from south India. "There is apprehension among exporters about how the situation will pan out in the next few days. Nobody wants to venture into a country engaged in a military conflict,' Shah conflict comes at a time when the premium second flush teas have started arriving in the market. The second flush tea is the largest foreign exchange earner for the Indian tea exported about 255 million kg of tea worth Rs 7,111 crore in 2024, when it moved up to the third position from the fourth on tea exports, replacing Sri Lanka. Exports from Assam and West Bengal totalled 154.81 million kg, valued at Rs 4,833 crore. South India's share was 99.86 million kg worth Rs 2,278 crore.
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First Post
13 hours ago
- Business
- First Post
FirstUp: Air India to cut wide-body international flights, Iran foreign minister in Geneva... Top news today
Air India will reduce its international services on wide-body aircraft by 15 per cent starting today and will continue until at least mid-July amid concerns over safety and operational challenges after the Ahmedabad plane crash. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet his European counterparts in Geneva today as the conflict with Israel escalates read more Air India has announced a temporary reduction in its international services, cutting wide-body aircraft operations by 15 per cent starting today, a move that will remain in effect until at least mid-July. File image/ PTI Friday, June 20, is going to be a busy end to the week, with several important events lined up for the day. First, Air India will reduce its international services on wide-body aircraft by 15 per cent starting today and will continue thereafter until at least mid-July. The decision comes just days after the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, amid escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, Tehran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Geneva to meet his European counterparts in Geneva. The United Nations' Security Council (UNSC) will also hold their emergency session on the West Asian conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD PM Narendra Modi will also visit Odisha and participate in a state-level event scheduled at Janata Maidan. Here is all that is set to take place today. Air India to cut wide-body international flights Air India has announced a temporary reduction in its international services, cutting wide-body aircraft operations by 15 per cent starting today, a move that will remain in effect until at least mid-July. The airline, which typically operates around 70 international flights daily using its twin-aisle fleet, is scaling back amid a series of operational challenges. Air India has announced a temporary reduction in its international services, cutting wide-body aircraft operations by 15 per cent starting June 20. File image A combination of factors has led to this decision. Airspace closures across several countries have increased flight durations to and from Western destinations. Additionally, following last Thursday's crash of flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad, enhanced inspections of Boeing 787 aircraft have further limited the availability of wide-body planes. In recent days, a number of Air India flights have experienced delays and cancellations, prompting growing concerns among passengers. Iran's Foreign Minister to meet European counterparts in Geneva Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to meet with his European counterparts in Geneva today, as an Israeli airstrike campaign continues to target his country. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to meet with top European diplomats in Geneva today. File Image/Reuters According to Iran's state news agency IRNA, Araghchi will hold talks with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. Araghchi noted that the meeting is taking place at the request of the European foreign ministers. As per a Times of Israel report citing a German source, the aim of the talks between Iran and the Europeans, taking place in coordination with the United States, is to persuade the Iranian side to firmly guarantee that it will use its nuclear program solely for civilian purposes. The talks are said to be followed by a structured dialogue at the expert level. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD UNSC to hold emergency session on Israel-Iran conflict The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting for Friday to address the rapidly escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. This marks the second session requested by Iran in recent days, with support from Russia, China, and Pakistan, following Israel's recent military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. As part of its request, Iran has asked for briefings from the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, as well as the UN political affairs chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, to once again address the council. PM Modi to visit Odisha Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Odisha on Friday to mark the one-year anniversary of the BJP-led government in the state. After arriving at Biju Patnaik International Airport, the prime minister will lead a roadshow and participate in a 'Tiranga Yatra' on his way to Janata Maidan, where the main anniversary event will be held. PM Modi will travel to Mumbai and is scheduled to inaugurate the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (Waves). PTI/File Photo Modi is expected to address a public gathering during the celebration, where he will highlight the government's achievements and outline future plans for the state. As part of the event, the Odisha government will also unveil its 'Vision Document for 2036,' laying out long-term development goals and priorities. In anticipation of large crowds and to ensure smooth arrangements, the state government has declared a school holiday in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack on Thursday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India-England test series The much-awaited Test series between India and England is all set to kick off a fresh cycle of the ICC World Test Championship (2025–27), bringing two red-ball powerhouses head-to-head once again. The first of the five-Test series begins on Friday, June 20, at Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds, promising a thrilling contest between two sides. India Squad Shubman Gill (Captain), Rishabh Pant (Vice-Captain & Wicketkeeper), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav England Squad Ben Stokes (Captain), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes With input from agencies
