Latest news with #Zionists
Saba Yemen
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Venezuelan President Affirms Iran's Right to Defend Itself Against Israeli Aggression
Caracas - Saba: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro affirmed Iran's right to defend itself against Israeli aggression, questioning the role of the United Nations, which failed to observe the Israeli massacres in Gaza and saw the Iranian response to Israel. According to Mehr News Agency on Friday, the Venezuelan president said that "the Zionists did not expect the extent of the military capabilities demonstrated by Iran," stressing that Iran has surpassed Israel's capabilities despite the difficult circumstances, a fact the world is well aware of. He pointed to Iran's overwhelming superiority in launching daily strikes, such that "the Zionists have no choice but to carry out terrorist attacks and threaten Ayatollah Ali Khamenei," declaring his rejection of this unacceptable threat. He added that the international media frequently manipulates facts to justify Israeli aggression, asking: Is the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes prohibited? Who prevents it? Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Iran Threatens To Close Strait of Hormuz: What Would Happen?
Iran has warned that it could shut the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, in retaliation for U.S. involvement in its conflict with Israel. "If the United States officially and operationally enters the war in support of the Zionists (Israel), it is the legitimate right of Iran in view of pressuring the U.S. and Western countries to disrupt their oil trade's ease of transit," Ali Yazdikhah, a senior Iranian lawmaker, was quoted as saying by the semi-official Mehr news agency on Thursday. "Iran has numerous options to respond to its enemies," Behnam Saeedi, a member of the parliament's National Security Committee presidium was quoted as saying. "Closing the Strait of Hormuz is one of the potential options." The officials spoke amid heightened tensions as President Donald Trump is reported to be inching closer to ordering military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment by email. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. At its narrowest point, the strait is about 21 miles wide, with two shipping lanes two miles wide in each direction. The strait handles around 26 percent of global oil trade, making it one of the most strategically important maritime passages in the world. The International Energy Agency notes that any disruption to flows through the strait would have significant consequences for world oil markets. Iran has long asserted that it can shut down the Strait of Hormuz. While the strait can't be "closed" in the traditional sense - like shutting a road - Iran could attempt to make the waterway too dangerous for commercial passage, effectively disrupting global shipping. During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, Iran targeted oil tankers and oil loading facilities with mines and missiles, including Chinese-made Silkworm cruise missiles, and used speedboats to harass tankers. These actions did not fully block the strait but caused sharp increases in shipping insurance premiums and delayed maritime traffic. According to a 2012 report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS), Iran could try to obstruct the strait in phases. "Iran might begin with a less violent option and progress over time to more violent ones, or implement a combination of highly violent options from the outset," it said. Possible measures cited in the report included: Declaring the strait closed to shipping without without stating explicitly what the consequences might be for ships that attempt to transit those watersDeclaring more explicitly that ships transiting the strait or other parts of the Persian Gulf are subject to being intercepted and detained, or attackedFiring warning shots at ships transiting the strait or other parts of the GulfDeploying sea mines in the strait and other parts of the GulfUsing submarines, surface ships, shore-based cruise missiles, and aircraft to attack foreign naval ships operating in waters outside the Strait Iran moving to shut the Strait of Hormuz would likely invite a strong international military response. "An outright closure of the Strait of Hormuz... at present, this appears to be a low probability event. Were this to occur, it is not likely to be prolonged," said the CRS. "It would likely trigger a military response from the United States and others, which could reach beyond simply re-establishing strait transit," it added. "Iran would also alienate countries that currently oppose broader oil sanctions. Iran could become more likely to actually pursue this if few or no countries were willing to import its oil." President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday: "I'm not looking to fight. But if it's a choice between fighting and [Iran] having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do, and maybe we won't have to fight." Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, said in a public address: "The Americans should know that any U.S. military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage. The U.S. entering in this matter is 100 percent to its own detriment. The damage it will suffer will be far greater than any harm that Iran may encounter." The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Britain have scheduled nuclear talks in Geneva on Friday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, according to Reuters. Related Articles US Support For Donald Trump Attacking Iran Revealed in PollsIranian Jewish Leader Denounces Israel's 'Savage' Attacks on IranIran Issues New Warning to US- 'All Necessary Options on The Table'Former Spy Chief: 'Good Case' for US To Strike Iranian Nuclear Site 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Memri
a day ago
- Politics
- Memri
Iran's IRGC-Affiliated Tasnim News Agency: Iran Has Adopted A 'New Strategy' To 'Restrain The Rabid Dogs' – i.e. Israel – 'Until They Regret' Their Actions
On the morning of June 19, 2025, after Iran launched dozens of missiles at population centers in Israel, resulting in, inter alia, a direct hit on Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, the Iranian news agency Tasnim, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), announced that Iran had adopted a new strategy to beat and punish "the rabid dog," namely Israel, "until it regrets" its actions. Tasnim explained that this new strategy – the essence of which is firing missiles with especially large warheads at population centers and civilian facilities – is aimed at inflicting severe damage and heavy civilian losses on Israel, "disproportionate" to Israel's attacks on nuclear facilities and missiles, in order to deter it from continuing its attacks on the Iranian regime. The following is a translation of Tasnim's reports. In a report titled "Restraining the Rabid Dogs – The Next Step," Tasnim said: "Since yesterday evening [June 18, 2025], Iran has carried out several effective missile strikes against the Zionists, the last of them this morning [June 19], causing Israel severe shock and significant damage. Image from Tasnim's report, posted following a missile attack on civilian areas and on Soroka Hospital in Israel, captioned: "Following the Zionist crimes, Iran has adopted a different strategy to punish Israel" "The Israelis previously thought that Iran would simply follow them, step for step, and launch a round of missile attacks in [proportionate] response to each of their attacks. But after the great Zionist crime of the last few days, Iran has shown that it has adopted a different strategy, and that it is considering a new process in punishing Israel. This time, Iran has shown that it is advancing without pause, and that, instead of responding ad hoc, it is taking a new approach in 'stopping and hunting the rabid [Israeli] dogs'…"[1] In another report about the same issue, Tasnim explained what the new strategy comprises: "…Iran has chosen, as its specific strategy, 'to continue punishing the rabid dog by beating it until it regrets [its actions].' Iran won't be taken in by 'a temporary hiatus [in its attacks which will enable] the Zionists to recover,' and will continue its blows until the Zionists regret [their actions] and do not dare to continue their attacks [on the Iranian regime] and their barbaric conduct. "Iran has announced that 'this time it will be different.' And for this reason, despite repeatedly showing restraint in the past, this time it carried out unprecedented attacks on the Zionists and will continue to do so 'in an ever-increasing manner.' "Meanwhile, Iran has declared clearly that this time there is no 'proportionate response' on its agenda. In other words, Iran does not intend to wait for Israel to attack one of its facilities and then respond accordingly. Rather, we will be 'one step ahead' of the Zionists in terms of the magnitude [of our attacks], so that the Zionists will know that 'the situation has changed entirely.' "[From now on,] 'sustainable deterrence' will be Iran's first step, and it will not be linked to an existential threat [to Iran]; such a link is a kind of [self-]restraint, which is unwise."[2] [1] Tasnim (Iran), June 19, 2025. [2] Tasnim (Iran), June 19, 2025.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Iran Threatens To Close Strait of Hormuz: What Would Happen?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Iran has warned that it could shut the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, in retaliation for U.S. involvement in its conflict with Israel. "If the United States officially and operationally enters the war in support of the Zionists (Israel), it is the legitimate right of Iran in view of pressuring the U.S. and Western countries to disrupt their oil trade's ease of transit," Ali Yazdikhah, a senior Iranian lawmaker, was quoted as saying by the semi-official Mehr news agency on Thursday. "Iran has numerous options to respond to its enemies," Behnam Saeedi, a member of the parliament's National Security Committee presidium was quoted as saying. "Closing the Strait of Hormuz is one of the potential options." The officials spoke amid heightened tensions as President Donald Trump is reported to be inching closer to ordering military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment by email. Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. At its narrowest point, the strait is about 21 miles wide, with two shipping lanes two miles wide in each direction. The strait handles around 26 percent of global oil trade, making it one of the most strategically important maritime passages in the world. The International Energy Agency notes that any disruption to flows through the strait would have significant consequences for world oil markets. Can Iran Close the Strait? Iran has long asserted that it can shut down the Strait of Hormuz. While the strait can't be "closed" in the traditional sense - like shutting a road - Iran could attempt to make the waterway too dangerous for commercial passage, effectively disrupting global shipping. During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, Iran targeted oil tankers and oil loading facilities with mines and missiles, including Chinese-made Silkworm cruise missiles, and used speedboats to harass tankers. These actions did not fully block the strait but caused sharp increases in shipping insurance premiums and delayed maritime traffic. According to a 2012 report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS), Iran could try to obstruct the strait in phases. "Iran might begin with a less violent option and progress over time to more violent ones, or implement a combination of highly violent options from the outset," it said. Possible measures cited in the report included: Declaring the strait closed to shipping without without stating explicitly what the consequences might be for ships that attempt to transit those waters Declaring more explicitly that ships transiting the strait or other parts of the Persian Gulf are subject to being intercepted and detained, or attacked Firing warning shots at ships transiting the strait or other parts of the Gulf Deploying sea mines in the strait and other parts of the Gulf Using submarines, surface ships, shore-based cruise missiles, and aircraft to attack foreign naval ships operating in waters outside the Strait What Would Happen? Iran moving to shut the Strait of Hormuz would likely invite a strong international military response. "An outright closure of the Strait of Hormuz... at present, this appears to be a low probability event. Were this to occur, it is not likely to be prolonged," said the CRS. "It would likely trigger a military response from the United States and others, which could reach beyond simply re-establishing strait transit," it added. "Iran would also alienate countries that currently oppose broader oil sanctions. Iran could become more likely to actually pursue this if few or no countries were willing to import its oil." What People Are Saying President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday: "I'm not looking to fight. But if it's a choice between fighting and [Iran] having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do, and maybe we won't have to fight." Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, said in a public address: "The Americans should know that any U.S. military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage. The U.S. entering in this matter is 100 percent to its own detriment. The damage it will suffer will be far greater than any harm that Iran may encounter." What Happens Next? The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Britain have scheduled nuclear talks in Geneva on Friday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, according to Reuters.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Iran's options against foreign aggression include closing Strait of Hormuz, lawmaker says
Iran has in the past threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz to traffic in retaliation against Western pressure. PHOTO: REUTERS DUBAI - Iran could shut the Strait of Hormuz as a way of hitting back against its enemies, a senior lawmaker said on June 19 , though a second member of Parliament said this would only happen if Tehran's vital interests were endangered. Iran has in the past threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz to traffic in retaliation against Western pressure, and shipping sources said on June 18 that commercial ships were avoiding Iran's waters around the strait. 'Iran has numerous options to respond to its enemies and uses such options based on what the situation is,' the semi-official Mehr news agency quoted Mr Behnam Saeedi, a member of the Parliament's National Security Committee presidium as saying. 'Closing the Strait of Hormuz is one of the potential options for Iran,' he said. Mehr later quoted another lawmaker, Mr Ali Yazdikhah, as saying Iran would continue to allow free shipping in the Strait and in the Gulf so long as its vital national interests were not at risk. 'If the United States officially and operationally enters the war in support of the Zionists (Israel), it is the legitimate right of Iran in view of pressuring the US and Western countries to disrupt their oil trade's ease of transit,' Mr Yazdikhah said. President Donald Trump is keeping the world guessing about whether the United States will join Israel's bombardment of Iranian nuclear sites. Tehran has so far refrained from closing the Strait because all regional states and many other countries benefit from it, Mr Yazdikhah added. 'It is better than no country supports Israel to confront Iran. Iran's enemies know well that we have tens of ways to make the Strait of Hormuz unsafe and this option is feasible for us,' the parliamentarian said. The Strait of Hormuz lies between Oman and Iran and is the primary export route for Gulf producers such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Kuwait. About 20 per cent of the world's daily oil consumption — around 18 million barrels — passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which is only about 33km wide at its narrowest point. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
