Category: 2. Middle East

The son of Iran’s late shah appealed Friday to the country’s security forces to abandon the cleric-run state, voicing hope for toppling the Islamic republic after Israel launched military strikes.

Reza Pahlavi blamed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for having “dragged Iran into a war” with Israel and described the government in Tehran as “weak and divided.”

“It could fall. As I have told my compatriots: Iran is yours and yours to reclaim. I am with you. Stay strong and we will win,” he…

Iran’s retaliation to Israel’s attacks on its nuclear and military facilities began on Friday night, as Israeli military said it identified missiles launched towards the country, Anadolu reports.

“The Iranian attack is ongoing. Dozens of additional missiles were launched toward Israel,” the Israeli military said in a statement on X.

“All of Israel is under fire as Iran fires projectiles,” the military said in another post.

The official Iranian Press…

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot reiterated on Friday the country’s determination to recognize the state of Palestine, Anadolu reports.

France would “uphold the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination by recognizing the State of Palestine,” Barrot said during his speech at the civil society event, “Paris Call for the Two-State Solution, Peace and Regional Security,” hosted by the Paris Peace Forum.

“I say it again here: whatever…

Iran on Friday called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to hold Israel accountable for its attack that targeted the Iranian nuclear program and military facilities and killed its top commanders and scientists, Anadolu reports.

The official news agency IRNA said Iran’s permanent mission to the UN sent an urgent letter to the Security Council, condemning Israel’s air strikes.

The letter requested an emergency Security Council meeting to “hold…

Lawyers for detained pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil on Friday demanded his release after the government failed to file an appeal by a Friday deadline, Anadolu reports.

Michael Farbiarz, district judge in New Jersey on Wednesday blocked the deportation of Khalil, ruling that he cannot be detained or removed based solely on Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s determination that his presence compromises US foreign policy interests.

The preliminary injunction…

Iran “may have another opportunity” to strike a nuclear agreement with the US, President Donald Trump said Friday after Israel carried out sweeping attacks against Tehran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs that killed at least 86 people and injured 341 others, Anadolu reports.

“They missed the opportunity to make a deal. Now, they may have another opportunity. We’ll see,” Trump said during a telephone interview with NBC News.

Asked why he…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s nearly 20-year-old threat to strike Iran came true on Friday, as US President Donald Trump warned Tehran of further “brutal” attacks if it refuses to negotiate.

In its largest military action against Iran to date, Israel’s strikes hit about 100 targets including nuclear facilities and military command centres, and killed the armed forces’ chief, top nuclear scientists and other senior figures.

The strikes came as the United States and Iran were due…

Establishment Republicans have backed Israel’s strikes on Iran, but the crisis is forcing President Donald Trump to walk a political tightrope between the hawks in his base and the isolationists who helped sweep him to power.

Trump ran for reelection as a peacemaker who distained the foreign adventures of his predecessors, boasting that he would have little difficulty ending conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Many Trump followers see Israel’s offensive as the sternest test yet of his…