Latest news with #anti-Iranian
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Asim Munir warned against power collapse in Iran during Trump meeting. Here's why?
Pakistan army chief Asim Munir, during a meeting with US President Donald Trump this week, discussed the developing Israel-Iran conflict and advised against "any collapse of authority in Iran." According to Reuters, Munir raised concerns that separatist and jihadist militants on the Pakistan-Iran border could take advantage of any collapse of authority in Iran, as anti-Iranian and anti-Pakistan outfits operate on both sides. His remarks come as Israeli officials have repeatedly indicated that they are seeking to destabilise the Iranian government or see it toppled through their strikes. Following a Wednesday lunch at the White House with Pakistan's army chief, Trump referred to Pakistan's views on the Israel-Iran conflict and said, 'They're not happy about anything." Some of the militant groups on the border have welcomed the upheaval. Jaish al-Adl (JaA), an Iranian jihadist group formed from ethnic Baluch and Sunni Muslim minorities and which operates from Pakistan, said Israel's conflict with Iran was a great opportunity. 'Jaish al-Adl extends the hand of brotherhood and friendship to all the people of Iran and calls on all people, especially the people of Baluchistan, as well as the armed forces, to join the ranks of the Resistance,' the group said in a statement on June 13. Conversely, Pakistan fears that separatist militants from its own Baluch minority, who are based in Iran, will also seek to step up attacks. Pakistan's military said on Thursday that Munir and Trump had discussed Iran,'with both leaders emphasising the importance of resolving the conflict.' Pakistan has condemned Israel's attack on Iran as a violation of international law. 'This is for us a very serious issue, what is happening in our brotherly country of Iran,' Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesman for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday. 'It imperils the entire regional security structure, it impacts us deeply.' Pakistan army chief Asim Munir met this week US President Donald Trump in the White House at the latter's invitation, a meeting that has raised eyebrows in Delhi following the tension that arose between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. (with Reuters inputs)
Mint
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
Pakistan fears jihadist militants may thrive on border if...: What Asim Munir told Donald Trump
In a meeting with US President Donald Trump this week, Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir reportedly raised concerns that separatist and jihadist militants on the Pakistan-Iran border could take advantage of any collapse of authority in Iran. Notably, anti-Iranian and anti-Pakistan outfits operate on both sides of the 560-mile (900km) long border, Reuters reported. Israeli officials have repeatedly indicated that they are seeking to destabilise the Iranian government or see it toppled. As well as worrying about chaos spilling over from Iran, Pakistan is concerned about the precedent set by Israel of attacking the nuclear installations of another country. Nuclear-armed rivals Pakistan and India fought a four-day conflict in May. Following a Wednesday lunch at the White House with Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Trump said: 'They're not happy about anything', referring to Pakistan's views on the Israel-Iran conflict. Pakistan's military said on Thursday that the two had discussed Iran,'with both leaders emphasizing the importance of resolution of the conflict'. Pakistan has condemned Israel's attack on Iran as a violation of international law. 'This is for us a very serious issue what is happening in our brotherly country of Iran,' Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesman for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday. 'It imperils the entire regional security structures, it impacts us deeply.' Some of the militant groups on the border have welcomed the upheaval. Jaish al-Adl (JaA), an Iranian jihadist group formed from ethnic Baluch and Sunni Muslim minorities and which operates from Pakistan, said Israel's conflict with Iran was a great opportunity. 'Jaish al-Adl extends the hand of brotherhood and friendship to all the people of Iran and calls on all people, especially the people of Baluchistan, as well as the armed forces, to join the ranks of the Resistance,' the group said in a statement on June 13. Conversely, Pakistan fears that separatist militants from its own Baluch minority, which are based in Iran, will also seek to step up attacks. "There's a fear of ungoverned spaces, which would be fertile ground for terrorist groups," said Maleeha Lodhi, a former Pakistani ambassador to Washington. Pakistan has unstable borders with Taliban-run Afghanistan and arch-rival India. It does not want to add another volatile frontier on its long border with Iran. The Iran-Pakistan border region is populated with ethnic Baluch, a minority in both countries who have long complained about discrimination and launched separatist movements. On Pakistan's side, the region is a province called Balochistan and in Iran it is Sistan-Baluchistan. Until Israel's bombing of Iran, Tehran was closer to Pakistan's arch-rival India. Pakistan and Iran had even traded air strikes last year, accusing each other of harboring Baluch militants. But the attack on Iran has upended alliances, as India has not condemned Israel's bombing campaign. China has also said that it is deeply concerned about the security situation in Balochistan, with the area being a focus of Beijing's multi-billion dollar infrastructure investment program in Pakistan, centred on the new Chinese-run port of Gwadar. Baluch militant groups in Pakistan have previously targeted Chinese personnel and projects. On Iranian side of the border, Tehran has at different times accused Pakistan, Gulf nations, Israel and the United States of backing the anti-Iran Baluch groups. Simbal Khan, an analyst based in Islamabad, said the different Baluch groups could morph into a 'greater Baluchistan' movement which seeks to carve out a new nation from the Baluch areas of Pakistan and Iran. 'They're all going to fight together if this blows up,' said Khan. (With inputs from Reuters)
News18
17 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Spooked Asim Munir Confides In Trump His Fear Of A Baloch Uprising Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Last Updated: Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir confided in Donald Trump that he fears rebel groups in both Iran and Pakistan could unite amid Iran-Israel war. Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir appeared spooked about prospects of an uprising led by separatist and jihadist militants along the Pakistan-Iran border amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict and has confided in US President Donald Trump of his fears, a report by news agency Reuters said. Munir met US President Donald Trump this week in the White House. The report by Reuters pointed out that anti-Iranian and anti-Pakistan outfits operate on both sides of the 560-mile (900km) long border. As Israel bombs Iran's nuclear program, its officials have repeatedly indicated that they are seeking to destabilize the Iranian government or see it toppled. 'They're not happy about anything," Donald Trump said, referring to Pakistan's views on the Israel-Iran conflict. He made the comments following a Wednesday lunch at the White House with Munir, who on May 27 had met Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. As well as worrying about chaos spilling over from Iran, Pakistan is concerned about the precedent set by Israel of attacking the nuclear installations of another country. India recently targeted Pakistani airbases after Pakistani Army intervened on behalf of terrorists when India struck their hideouts deep inside Pakistan to retaliate against the killing of innocent civilians in April 22 in Pahalgam. Pakistan has condemned Israel's attack on Iran as a violation of international law. 'This is for us a very serious issue what is happening in our brotherly country of Iran. It imperils the entire regional security structures, it impacts us deeply," Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesman for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday. Some of the militant groups on the border have welcomed the upheaval. Jaish al-Adl (JaA), an Iranian jihadist group formed from ethnic Baloch and Sunni Muslim minorities and which operates from Pakistan, said Israel's conflict with Iran was a great opportunity. 'Jaish al-Adl extends the hand of brotherhood and friendship to all the people of Iran and calls on all people, especially the people of Baluchistan, as well as the armed forces, to join the ranks of the Resistance," the group said in a statement on June 13, according to the news agency. Conversely, Pakistan fears that separatist militants from its own Baloch minority, which are based in Iran, will also seek to step up attacks. 'There's a fear of ungoverned spaces, which would be fertile ground for terrorist groups," said Maleeha Lodhi, a former Pakistani ambassador to Washington, was quoted as saying by the news agency. Countries surrounding Pakistan face border issues because of Pakistan's support to an array of terrorist groups which pose a threat to the safety and security of those countries. Pakistan's support for terror groups, who also pose a threat to Islamabad itself, is a cause for concern for India, Iran and Afghanistan. The Iran-Pakistan border region is populated with ethnic Baloch, a minority in both countries who have long complained about discrimination and launched separatist movements. On Pakistan's side, the region is a province called Balochistan and in Iran it is Sistan-Balochistan. Pakistan and Iran had even traded air strikes last year, accusing each other of harboring Baloch militants. China has also said that it is deeply concerned about the security situation in Balochistan, with the area being a focus of Beijing's multi-billion dollar infrastructure investment program in Pakistan, centred on the new Chinese-run port of Gwadar. Baloch militant groups in Pakistan have previously targeted Chinese personnel and projects. On Iranian side of the border, Tehran has at different times accused Pakistan, Gulf nations, Israel and the United States of backing the anti-Iran Baloch groups. Simbal Khan, an analyst based in Islamabad, told the news agency that different Baloch groups could morph into a 'greater Baluchistan" movement which seeks to carve out a new nation from the Baluch areas of Pakistan and Iran. 'They're all going to fight together if this blows up," said Khan. First Published: June 19, 2025, 23:36 IST News world Spooked Asim Munir Confides In Trump His Fear Of A Baloch Uprising Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
NBC News
a day ago
- Business
- NBC News
Pro-Israel hackers attack Iran's largest crypto exchange, destroying $90 million
An anti-Iranian hacking group with possible ties to Israel announced an attack on one of Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchanges on Wednesday, destroying nearly $90 million and threatening to expose the platform's source code. A group known as Gonjeshke Darande, or 'Predatory Sparrow,' claimed the attack, making it the group's second operation in two days. On Tuesday the group claimed to have destroyed data at Iran's state-owned Bank Sepah amid the increasing hostilities and missile attacks between Israel and Iran. Wednesday's attack targeted Nobitex, one of Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchanges. The platform allegedly helps the Iranian government avoid sanctions and finance illicit operations around the world, the hackers claimed in a message posted to its social media channels early Wednesday. Nobitex's website was unavailable Wednesday. Messages sent to the company's support channel on Telegram were not returned. Gonjeshke Darande did not respond to requests for comment. Nobitex said in a post on X that it had pulled its website and app offline as it reviewed 'unauthorized access' to its systems. Gonjeshke Darande is an established hacking group with a history of sophisticated cyberattacks targeting Iran. A 2021 operation claimed by the group caused widespread gas station outages, while a 2022 attack targeting an Iranian steel mill caused a large fire and tangible, offline damage. Israel has never formally acknowledged that it is behind the group, although Israeli media has widely reported Gonjeshke Darande as 'Israel-linked.' Wednesday's attack started in the early hours of the morning when funds were moved to hacker-controlled wallets denouncing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to blockchain analysis firm TRM Labs, which pegged the total theft at about $90 million across multiple types of cryptocurrencies. The way the hacker-controlled wallets were created suggests the hackers would not be able to access the stolen money, meaning that the hackers 'effectively burned the funds in order to send Nobitex a political message,' blockchain analysis firm Elliptic said in a blog post. Elliptic's post shared evidence that Nobitex had sent and received funds to cryptocurrency wallets controlled by groups hostile to Israel, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hamas and Yemen's Houthis. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Angus King had raised concerns about Nobitex's role in enabling Iranian sanctions evasion in a May 2024 letter to top Biden administration officials, citing Reuters reporting from 2022. Andrew Fierman, head of national security intelligence with Chainalysis, confirmed in an email to Reuters that the value of the attack was roughly $90 million and that it was most likely geopolitically motivated, given that the money was burned. Chainalysis has 'previously seen IRGC-affiliated ransomware actors leveraging Nobitex to cash out proceeds, and other IRGC proxy groups leveraging the platform,' Fierman said.
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First Post
a day ago
- Business
- First Post
After hacking govt bank, Israeli cyberattackers steal $90 million from Iran's crypto exchange
An Israeli group of cyberattackers called 'Predatory Sparrow' have taken responsibility for the attack as the country tries to infiltrate internal systems of Iran to further weaken its position amid conflict with Israel read more Representations of cryptocurrency Binance are seen in front of displayed Nobitex logo and Iran flag in this illustration taken November 3, 2022. REUTERS Israeli hackers have reportedly stolen at least $90 million from Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchange, several crypto tracking firms have reported. An Israeli group of cyberattackers called 'Predatory Sparrow' have taken responsibility for the attack as the country tries to infiltrate internal systems of Iran to further weaken its position amid conflict with Israel. Which exchange was affected? In a post on X written in Farsi, the hackers claimed responsibility for targeting the Iranian crypto exchange Nobitex, alleging it was used by Iran to evade international sanctions. In an unusual move, they may have effectively discarded the stolen cryptocurrency by transferring it to digital wallets they cannot access, according to multiple cybersecurity experts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nobitex has acknowledged the attacks, adding a note for investors that it has 'suspended' crypto-related activities as a precaution. Crypto-tracking firms like Elliptic and TRM Labs have confirmed the cyberattacks on Nobitex and said that the stolen currencies were sent to wallets or crypto accounts. Iran's state-owned bank hacked An anti-Iranian government hacking group with potential ties to Israel and a track record of destructive cyberattacks on Iran claimed in social media posts on Tuesday that it had destroyed data at Iran's state-owned Bank Sepah. The same group hacked the bank because they accused it of helping fund Iran's military, according to one of the messages posted online. The hack comes amid increasing hostilities between Israel and Iran, after Israel attacked multiple military and nuclear targets in Iran last week. Both sides have launched multiple missile attacks against each other in the days since. Customers were having problems accessing their accounts, according to Israeli media, opens new tab. 'Disrupting the availability of this bank's funds, or triggering a broader collapse of trust in Iranian banks, could have major impacts there,' Rob Joyce, the former top cybersecurity official at the NSA, said in a post on X. With inputs from Reuters
