English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For June 15/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Matthew 28/16-20: "The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on June 14-15/2025
The Fight Against the Mullahs' Regime: A Defense of the Free World/Elias Bejjani/June 14/2025
The Arab statements condemning the Israeli attack on Mullahs' Iran and terrorism and criminality are bundles of deception and hypocrisy and dissimulation, if not to say cowardice./Elias Bejjani/June 14/2025
The Statements by Joseph Aoun, Nawaf Salam, and Nabih Berri Condemning Israeli Military Operations in Iran Are Nonsense, Foolishness, Detachment from Reality, and Blindness to Middle East Changes/Elias Bejjani/June 13/ 2025
The “Government of the Advisors’ Battalion” at Baabda Palace Complements Hezbollah’s Battalions of Civilians, Media, and Clans/Elias Bejjani/June 11/2025
Video Link Interview with Dr. Charles Chartouni from Youtubr DNA Platform
In the crossfire: Can Lebanon stay out of the Iran-Israel war?
Report: Officials act to spare Lebanon war as ceasefire committee urges arms timetable
Aoun holds security meeting over latest developments
Lebanon reopens its airspace after exchange of fire between Israel and Iran
Local and Regional Air Travel Disrupted Amid Escalation
Health Ministry says seven injured in Israeli airstrike on South Lebanon's Beit Lif
Media Center Director Salem Zahran to LBCI: Israel seeking to escalate attacks on South Lebanon
Cracks in the axis: How the region slid toward direct confrontation
Drought: When the Sky Turns Its Back on the Earth/Christiane Tager/This Is Beirut/June 14/2025

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on June 14-15/2025
Sunday’s US-Iran nuclear talks cancelled, says mediator Oman
Trump, Netanyahu spoke on Friday, White House says
Israel's defense minister warns Iran that 'Tehran will burn' if it continues firing missiles
Iran says still undecided on joining US in nuclear talks
Israel and Iran trade airstrikes and missiles in biggest escalation between two foes
Netanyahu says Israel will strike ‘every site and every target’ of the Iranian regime
Netanyahu says decision to attack Iran was taken after Nasrallah was killed
Israel warns ‘Tehran will burn’ after wave of missile fire
Latest: Israel and Iran strike at each other in new wave of attacks
Netanyahu says Israel will strike ‘every site and every target’ of the Iranian regime
US-Iran nuclear talks won’t take place after Israel strikes, mediator says
Iran says Shahran oil depot targeted in Israeli attack
How Israeli strikes have pushed Iran’s leadership into a corner
Israeli fire and airstrikes kill 35 in Gaza
Iranian media claims Israeli pilots captured, IDF denies
Closure of Strait of Hormuz seriously being reviewed by Iran, lawmaker says
Iran says to limit cooperation with IAEA amid Israeli strikes
Iran's oil ministry says Israeli strikes hit two fuel depots in Tehran
First responders say 14 injured by Iranian missile hit on Israeli home
Israeli attacks on Iran violate international law, Saudi crown prince tells Pezeshkian
UN chief urges ‘maximum restraint’ after Israel strikes Iran
US helps Israel shoot down barrage of Iranian missiles
At UN, Iran accuses US of being complicit in Israeli strikes
Iran says to limit cooperation with IAEA amid Israel strikes
Iran warns US, UK and France against helping stop strikes on Israel
Putin and Trump discussed Middle East tensions, Ukraine talks on phone call, Kremlin says
Tehran-Washington nuclear talks on Sunday cancelled after Israel strikes targets in Iran
Iran moves quickly to replace key commanders
‘We fight or we die’: How days of frantic diplomacy and dire warnings culminated with Israel’s attack on Iran
‘It's the civilians who will pay the price’: Iranians prepare for the worst after Israeli strikes
Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 16 as war rages on after the opening of a new front with Iran
Jordan reopens airspace to civilian aircraft
We will recognize the State of Palestine soon, Macron tells Asharq News
Israel attacks Yemen attempting to assassinate senior Houthi figure: Reports
Egypt delays opening of massive new museum
Trump’s military parade kicks off as protests sweep US
Keir Starmer reiterates need to ‘de-escalate’ Israel-Iran conflict
Palestinians killed in shooting near Gaza aid site, reports say
Why Trump Is the Most Impotent President in Living Memory
Iraq reopens Syria crossing for trade and passenger traffic

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on June 14-15/2025
Iran Saw What Looked Like Weakness - Then Time Ran Out/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/June 14/2025
Israel Goes to War with Iran/Maha Yahya/Diwan/June 14, 2025
Israel vs. Iran: a view from Riyadh/Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/June 14, 2025
The enemy of my enemy could be my enemy as well/Yossi Mekelberg//Arab News/June 14, 2025
Has the Russia-Ukraine conflict taken a back seat?/Luke Coffey/Arab News/June 14, 2025
MENA’s digital transformation must not ignore well-being/Sara Al-Mulla/Arab News/June 14, 2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on June 14-15/2025
Celebrating Fathers Day: A Biblical Perspective on Duty, Honor, and Sacrifice
Elias Bejjani/June 15/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/06/130787/
Today, as we gather to celebrate Fathers' Day, we are reminded of the pivotal role fathers play in our lives. Fathers, both in their presence and sacrifices, mirror the divine fatherhood of God Himself. This day is not merely about showering our fathers with gifts and words of appreciation but also about reflecting on our duties and obligations towards them, as underscored by biblical teachings.
The Bible provides profound insights into the importance of honoring our fathers. Ephesians 6:2-3 commands, "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise—"so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." This directive is clear: honoring our fathers is not just a noble act but a divine injunction that brings blessings.
Furthermore, Proverbs 23:22 instructs us, "Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." These verses highlight that respect and obedience to our fathers are lifelong duties. They underscore the need to appreciate the wisdom and experience that our fathers impart, recognizing their efforts and sacrifices in nurturing us.
Fathers, in many ways, emulate God the Father, who is described in Psalm 103:13: "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." Just as God’s compassion and care are boundless, so too are the efforts of our earthly fathers. They toil and labor, often in silence, to provide for us, ensuring our well-being and success.
In honoring our fathers, we acknowledge the countless sacrifices they have made. From working long hours to provide for the family to making tough decisions for our betterment, fathers constantly put their children's needs before their own. This dedication is aptly captured in the Lebanese saying, "No one is dear to my heart more than my son, but the son of my son." It speaks to the enduring love and legacy that fathers build, emphasizing the generational impact of their devotion.
However, it is disheartening to see that not all children recognize or reciprocate this dedication. Some neglect their fathers, disregarding their wisdom and contributions. To such individuals, the biblical admonition in Proverbs 30:17 serves as a stern reminder: "The eye that mocks a father and scorns a mother will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures." This vivid imagery warns of the severe consequences of disrespect and neglect towards one’s parents.
As we celebrate Fathers' Day, let us remember that honoring our fathers is not limited to a single day of festivities. It is an ongoing commitment to show respect, provide care, and express gratitude for all they do. Let us strive to embody the principles of the Bible, ensuring that our fathers feel valued and appreciated every day of their lives.
In conclusion, Fathers' Day is a powerful reminder of the immense love and sacrifices our fathers have made for us. By honoring them, we not only fulfill our biblical duties but also strengthen the bonds of family and faith. Let us cherish our fathers, acknowledging their vital role in our lives and upholding the respect and honor they rightfully deserve.

The Fight Against the Mullahs' Regime: A Defense of the Free World
Elias Bejjani – June 14, 2025
The dire crisis Lebanon is currently facing in sliding into chaos, decay, and disintegration—stems from the toxic culture, delusions, and blind imitation embraced by segments of its population. These individuals have immersed themselves in a culture of death, war, and hatred. They are blind to reason, intoxicated by violence, and idolize the evil symbols of the Iranian mullahs’ regime, fighting its destructive wars on Lebanese soil.
These terrorist gangs and their sympathizers are entirely alienated from civilization, peace, and universally accepted human values. They remain stuck in the quagmire of illusions imported from the delusional ideology of the Iranian regime. Tragically, they are mentally and morally incapable of recognizing the stark difference between the danger posed by the criminal mullahs’ regime and the nations striving to overthrow it and liberate the world from its menace.
The mullahs’ regime is a grave threat—not only to the Iranian people—but to all humanity, particularly the countries and peoples of the Middle East, with Lebanon at the forefront. Its criminal proxy, Hezbollah—blasphemously labeled a "resistance" movement—has brought to Lebanon nothing but corruption, destruction, chaos, political assassinations, displacement, and poverty. It glorifies a culture of suicide, parades under hypocritical slogans like “resistance,” “liberation,” and “praying in Jerusalem,” while calling for the destruction of the State of Israel and dragging Lebanon into pointless, devastating, and unwinnable wars.
Therefore, it is the duty of the Lebanese people—and the peoples of the Middle East more broadly—to stand with all forces committed to overthrowing the mullahs’ regime and freeing the Iranian people from its tyranny, delusions, and crimes. They must work decisively to dismantle its occupation, expansionist ambitions, and jihadist agendas.
At the forefront of this righteous confrontation is the State of Israel—armed with courage, technology, knowledge, and sacrifice—supported by most Western nations and many Arab countries. Though some Arab regimes may publicly express conflicting sentiments, their true hopes and interests align with Israel’s efforts, restrained only by fear, hesitation, or the practice of taqiyya (dissimulation).
In conclusion, it is a moral obligation for all Middle Eastern peoples—especially the Lebanese and Iranians—to express gratitude to Israel and all nations that support its mission to rid the world of the evils, wickedness, and madness of the Persian mullahs’ regime.

The Arab statements condemning the Israeli attack on Mullahs' Iran and terrorism and criminality are bundles of deception and hypocrisy and dissimulation, if not to say cowardice.
Elias Bejjani/June 14/2025
It is known, and for 40 years, that Iran is a real existential threat to all Arab countries a million times more than it is a threat to Israel. For this, all Arab statements of condemnation for the Israeli attack on it are flawed and shameful and bundles of hypocrisy and dissimulation, if not to say cowardice and chameleon-like behavior."

The Statements by Joseph Aoun, Nawaf Salam, and Nabih Berri Condemning Israeli Military Operations in Iran Are Nonsense, Foolishness, Detachment from Reality, and Blindness to Middle East Changes
Elias Bejjani/June 13/ 2025
To begin with, the statements issued by Joseph Aoun, Nawaf Salam, and Nabih Berri condemning the Israeli military operations in Iran are mere empty rhetoric, parroting, and a complete detachment from reality—an outright blindness to the dramatic changes sweeping across the Middle East. These are childish statements with no value or weight, revealing how this unfortunate trio is submissive, hypocritical, and completely lacking in honesty and leadership.
These statements contradict Lebanon’s supposed sovereign role of neutrality and non-intervention in others' affairs. In fact, they condemn their authors and expose them as mere tools manipulated by the defeated Hezbollah—the illusion and the lie—through its battalions of advisors who hold their tongues and necks in a tight grip.
As for the Israeli Prime Minister and the historic role he is playing—Lebanese, Arab, Iranian, and international—there is no doubt that he has made history. As he promised, he is redrawing the maps of the Middle East and bringing down all the rogue regimes ruled by political Islam in both its Sunni and Shiite forms, which continue to exploit the falsehood of resistance and liberation.
From a Lebanese perspective, every sovereign, independent, and peace-loving citizen must thank Netanyahu. He has achieved what all of Lebanon’s leaders, rulers, so called political party lords, and even many clergymen have failed to do—due to fear, dependency, corruption, servility, and narcissism.
Netanyahu has liberated Lebanon from the Iranian-Hezbollah occupation, contributed to the downfall of the Assad barrel bomb regime, opened up to moderate Arab states, and is now working to rid the Iranian people—and the world—of the satanic, inhuman regime of terror and evil.
Yes, every free and sovereign Lebanese must thank Netanyahu—not foolishly and blindly condemn him as did today’s trio of Aoun, Berri, and Salam. Thanking Netanyahu is a duty for what he has accomplished in confronting the mullah regime through unprecedentedly precise military and intelligence operations, both in execution and outcome.
What remains clear is that the destructive, terrorist, and expansionist role of the mullah regime has been struck hard, and all of its arms—foremost among them Hezbollah—have been dismantled.
Now is the time for visionary leaders to assume power in Lebanon—leaders who believe in peace and who are free from the material, mindset, cowardice, and narcissism of those currently in power.

The “Government of the Advisors’ Battalion” at Baabda Palace Complements Hezbollah’s Battalions of Civilians, Media, and Clans
Elias Bejjani/June 11/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/06/144128/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xut7DmwPhWQ&t=4s
Every Lebanese has the right to ask: Has President Joseph Aoun decided to govern through a “government of advisors” assembled at Baabda Palace, instead of relying on the constitutional cabinet led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam?
The president has turned the palace into a hub for advisors—most of whom are either remnants of the previous regime or politically affiliated with Hezbollah—as if we are reliving the era of Syrian occupation, when puppet cabinets were overshadowed by real centers of power hidden in the shadows.
More troubling is Aoun’s comfort with appointing figures directly tied to Hezbollah. Case in point: former Minister Ali Hamieh, a loyalist of Hezbollah who served in Najib Mikati’s cabinet, now inexplicably named “advisor for reconstruction.”
Has even the file of reconstruction become a Hezbollah domain? Are national matters now run through the so-called “advisors’ battalion” in Baabda, under the command of the Shiite duo?
Reviewing the names of many of these advisors, reveals a lineup either closely tied to former President Michel Aoun, or directly aligned with the so-called “Resistance Axis.” In this context, this is not a presidency; it is a Hezbollah proxy. These “advisors” are not neutral technocrats—they are political operatives embedded to advance the Hezbollah’s agenda.
Are we facing a new shadow government? Has the president surrendered his constitutional responsibilities to a clique of unelected influencers? Has the presidency become merely another Hezbollah tool after it failed to seize full control through the Grand Serail?
Since assuming office, Joseph Aoun has demonstrated a staggering disconnect between the solemn vows of his presidential oath, and the political choices he has made. He pledged to protect the constitution and assert sovereignty, yet has set no timetable for the disarmament of Hezbollah. He has completely ignored UN Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1701, and 1680—all of which mandate the disarmament of all militias and the exclusive control of arms by the state. These resolutions do not speak of dialogue with armed groups. The state does not negotiate over its sovereignty. It imposes it.
By proposing “dialogue” and “a national defense strategy,” Joseph Aoun is merely playing for time. These are evasions—designed to accommodate Hezbollah, not confront it. They strengthen its grip and prolong the occupation of state institutions. This is not leadership. It is appeasement.
Let us be frank: Hezbollah’s battalions are no longer limited to media propagandists, tribal militias, or civilians used as human shields in attacks—such as those on UNIFIL forces in the South. Today, a new battalion has joined the fray: the “advisors’ battalion” at Baabda Palace. Under Joseph Aoun, the presidency has morphed into an outpost for Hezbollah, where decisions are made not in service of the Lebanese constitution, but in loyalty to the occupying power’s interests.
It is deeply disheartening that Joseph Aoun has, thus far, proven to be a disappointment. He has relinquished even the appearance of independence, becoming yet another decorative president in the mold of his post-Taif predecessors: Elias Hrawi, Emile Lahoud, and Michel Aoun. They all wore the presidential sash, but the real power was never theirs—and it certainly isn’t now.
In conclusion: there can be no resurrection of Lebanon, no sovereignty, no independence, and no reconstruction, so long as the country is governed by men who are either incapable or unwilling to exercise their constitutional mandate—presidents who lack the courage to stand up, and the clarity to lead. Those who cannot say “no” to Hezbollah must step aside…. Lebanon will not be saved by advisors, nor by battalions, but by leaders.

Video Link Interview with Dr. Charles Chartouni from Youtubr DNA Platform
An in-depth analysis of the developments, background, and potential consequences of the Israeli-Iranian war
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/06/144240/
A strong condemnation of the actions, positions, and Iranian alignment of Joseph Aoun, Nawaf Salam,Nabih Berri and Rodaleph Haikal, along with a direct call for their resignation
An explanation of the vital role of Lebanese expatriate activism in defending Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, and liberation
Chartouni makes a bold declaration to the ruling regime: The pro-Iranian troika orbiting the occupation will inevitably fall
June 14/2025
Latest Twitters by Dr. Charles Chartouni
**Hezbollah is going to be disarmed and a Peace Treaty with Israel is going to be signed off and nobody cares about your opinion, you have no legitimacy, The Builders
**This man Trump is a man of his word…. It’s about time to finish off with this criminal dystopia
**Iran, the End of the murderous Dystopia and the Downfall of the Islamic Dictatorship
**Shiite Fascism and Terrorism are Over. Kiss goodbye to the era of Islamist terror (al-Qaeda, ISIS, Hezbollah). A New Era of Peace and Development is due to replace it.
**Charles Chartouni: After 53 years of public life, I am not interested in scrutinizing intentions; I read facts and analyze statements. Otherwise, the US administration is already disillusioned and has other businesses to deal with besides the dirty backwaters of a decaying country. These corrupt military and politicians are not that impressive. Read my articles in English and French, to get a full insight into my views. Anyhow, Israel is going to deal with the rest.

In the crossfire: Can Lebanon stay out of the Iran-Israel war?
LBCI/June 14/2025
As drones, rockets, and warplanes traversed Lebanon's skies amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, Lebanese authorities are intensifying political and security efforts to prevent the country from being pulled into the widening regional war. On the ground in South Lebanon, the Lebanese Army has bolstered its deployment at sensitive locations to prevent rocket launches that could provoke further escalation. Measures have also been tightened at checkpoints leading to areas south of the Litani River to prevent any armed group from exploiting the volatile situation.In parallel with military and security efforts across the southern region, Lebanese intelligence services have issued explicit warnings to Palestinian factions, urging them not to involve Lebanon in the conflict under any pretext.  Security sources noted that through formal communication channels, they sensed a clear stance from Hezbollah to avoid engagement in the current conflict and to keep Lebanon out of the hostilities. Despite repeated Israeli airstrikes and the assassination of several Hezbollah members following the ceasefire agreement, the group has refrained from retaliating. Sources indicate that Lebanese security attention is also focused on the country's interior and the Syrian border in northern Bekaa, where concerns remain about the potential for opportunistic infiltration or clashes. An exchange of fire on the border Friday was described as limited in scope, with no reports of Syrian reinforcements entering the area. President Joseph Aoun chaired a high-level security meeting with the ministers of interior, defense, and public works, as well as the heads of Lebanon's security agencies, to assess recent developments. The resulting statement emphasized steps being taken to maintain internal stability, ensure the safety of civil aviation, and preserve operational readiness. Amid the ongoing regional and international developments, Lebanon continues to prioritize the renewal of the U.N. peacekeeping force mandate in the south.  Recent Israeli media claims suggesting the mission might be canceled were denied by U.S. officials. This position was reinforced by a visiting U.S. delegation in Beirut this week, which met with key stakeholders and heard both the UNIFIL and Lebanese perspectives. Lebanese authorities emphasized the critical role of UNIFIL in supporting the Lebanese Army and maintaining stability along the southern border, warning that a withdrawal would isolate the army and risk further destabilizing the region.

Report: Officials act to spare Lebanon war as ceasefire committee urges arms timetable
Naharnet/June 14/2025
The warnings received by Lebanon with the start of the Israel-Iran conflict were not only passed on to Hezbollah but also to the Palestinian factions allied with it, especially Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, informed sources said. “Their leaderships were unequivocally told that any military action from the Lebanese south, whether through rockets or any move of military nature, would be faced by a very firm and unprecedented Lebanese stance that includes taking totally unexpected political and security decisions,” the sources told the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper in remarks published Saturday. The sources revealed that these messages were relayed through several channels, most notably Army chief General Rodolphe Haykal, who “communicated with Hezbollah after the Israeli strike on Iran and told it of the need to keep Lebanon neutral and not be dragged into a new confrontation, ‘because this war is not our war.’”Haykal also called on Hezbollah to “abide by the official stance that stresses that the decisions of war and peace are in the hands of the state.” Nidaa al-Watan added that the five-party ceasefire committee has “advised Lebanon to lay out a timetable for the handover of weapons to avoid the worse, telling it that the international community will not overlook this matter.” “Through taking practical steps requested from it, Lebanon can fend off the specter of war, because Israel is insisting to put an end to every threat targeting it, while one of the international community’s conditions for helping Lebanon is extending state’s authority and collecting all illegal weapons,” the daily quoted the ceasefire committee as saying. Lebanese officials meanwhile told the newspaper that Lebanon has carried out contacts with foreign powers in order to avoid war, specifically with the U.S. and France, and that “an agreement was reached on Lebanon’s neutrality.”Moreover, political authorities gave the Lebanese Army a green light, especially in south Lebanon, and a state of maximum alert was declared as Hezbollah “responded positively” to the request for staying out of the conflict, Lebanese officials told the daily. “These messages came under direct supervision from senior state officials in parallel with international and regional coordination to spare the Lebanese front involvement in the open inferno,” the sources added.

Aoun holds security meeting over latest developments
Naharnet/June 14/2025
President Joseph Aoun on Saturday convened a security meeting to discuss the latest developments in light of the major escalation between Israel and Iran. The Presidency said the meeting was attended by the ministers of defense, interior and transportation and the country’s military and security chiefs.
Aoun had cut short a trip to the Vatican on Friday and returned to Lebanon to follow up on the situations. In a statement that day, Aoun said Israel’s attack on Iran “did not only target the Iranian people, but also all international efforts exerted to maintain stability in the Middle East and neighboring countries and avoid escalation therein.”He called for “the international community to take effective and swift action to prevent Israel from achieving its goals.”

Lebanon reopens its airspace after exchange of fire between Israel and Iran
Associated Press
Lebanon reopened its airspace on Saturday morning, hours after closing it due to the exchange of fire between Israel and Iran. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Works and Transport apologized to passengers whose flights were delayed, saying it had closed the airspace late Friday for the safety of travelers. The airspace was reopened at 10 a.m. (0700 GMT) on Saturday.

Local and Regional Air Travel Disrupted Amid Escalation
This is Beirut/June 14/2025
According to several Lebanese media outlets, Lebanon’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has decided to suspend operations at Beirut’s international airport between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Any exception during this timeframe will require prior approval from the Lebanese aviation authorities. At Rafic Hariri International Airport, the departure and arrival board showed a series of cancellations by foreign airlines throughout the day on Sunday. In Syria, Damascus International Airport announced the cancellation of all scheduled inbound and outbound flights for Sunday, June 15. Meanwhile, Jordan has closed its airspace as of Saturday night, marking the second such measure since the start of the military escalation between Israel and Iran. In an official statement, Jordan’s Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission – in a country that shares a border with Israel – announced the suspension of all takeoffs, landings, and overflights.

Health Ministry says seven injured in Israeli airstrike on South Lebanon's Beit Lif
LBCI/June 14/2025
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported Saturday that the Israeli airstrike on the town of Beit Lif in the Bint Jbeil district in South Lebanon wounded seven civilians.

Media Center Director Salem Zahran to LBCI: Israel seeking to escalate attacks on South Lebanon
LBCI/June 14/2025
Media Center Director Salem Zahran expressed concern that Israel is likely to intensify its attacks on South Lebanon, arguing that it aims to keep Lebanon involved in any broader conflict. In an interview with LBCI, Zahran said, "When Israel announces several losses, multiply it by nine." He described the ongoing war between Iran and Israel as existential and predicted internal shifts within Iranian society as a result. Zahran also noted that with each passing day and the rise in oil prices, Iran is managing to offset its financial losses caused by the war. He added that former U.S. President Donald Trump's team is closer to Israel than previous administrations and emphasized that decision-making in Israel is influenced by more than just the president.

Cracks in the axis: How the region slid toward direct confrontation
LBCI/June 14/2025
At dawn on Friday, June 13, 2025, a series of massive explosions shook Iran. Israel launched an unprecedented attack deep into Iranian territory, targeting nuclear sites and assassinating high-ranking military officials.
The escalation marked a dramatic turning point in a conflict that has been building for years. The path to this moment can be traced back to January 2020, when the United States assassinated Qasem Soleimani, the powerful commander of Iran's Quds Force. Soleimani was widely regarded as the second most powerful man in Iran and the architect of its regional influence.
Many expected a forceful Iranian retaliation.  Instead, Tehran's response was largely symbolic—limited missile strikes on the U.S. Ain El-Asad base in Iraq, which resulted in no casualties. That moment marked the first significant crack in Iran's deterrence posture. Subsequent years saw a series of significant blows to Iran. In late 2020, top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated in the heart of Tehran in a sophisticated operation widely attributed to Israel. A string of further assassinations targeting figures in Iran's nuclear program followed. After Hamas launched the Al-Aqsa Flood operation in October 2023, Hezbollah, Iran's most prominent ally, opened a support front for Gaza. In response, Israel struck southern Beirut in early 2024, killing senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri and six others. That strike shattered a deterrence formula Hezbollah had publicly upheld for years.Israel continued its campaign, targeting second and then first-tier leaders in Hezbollah. Among them was senior commander Fouad Shokor, killed in Beirut. Hours later, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in his bedroom in central Tehran. Iran's response, delayed until after the assassination of Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, was described by Tehran as "measured." Throughout, Israel continued its bombardment of Gaza, reducing large parts of the territory to ruins under Tehran's watch. Iran's prolonged silence may have encouraged Israel to believe it could upend the regional rules of engagement. In June 2025, Israel escalated its strategy, launching strikes deep inside Iran in an apparent effort to resolve a decades-long standoff once and for all. Why didn't Iran respond in kind to the scale of the attacks it faced?  One explanation could be that Iran and the groups it supports were not yet prepared—either militarily or politically—for the full consequences of an all-out response. Hezbollah's Nasrallah hinted at this in his first speech following the opening of the Gaza support front, saying, "Our battle has not reached the stage of a knockout victory. We still need time to be realistic. But we are winning on points."That long-awaited "knockout blow" was a goal Tehran appeared to be pursuing through years of military buildup and strategic patience. Absorbing attacks seemed to be a deliberate tactic meant to preserve momentum for a decisive future moment. However, many within Hezbollah reportedly believed that the October 2023 Hamas-led operation may have derailed that plan. While such views were not publicly stated, they existed beneath the surface. Now, the Middle East stands on the brink of a new and unpredictable phase. Has the era of open confrontation finally begun?

Drought: When the Sky Turns Its Back on the Earth
Christiane Tager/This Is Beirut/June 14/2025
Beirut recorded less than 350 mm of rainfall between November and March—well below the annual average of 800 mm—making the winter of 2024-2025 one of the driest in the last 20 years, according to official data. In the Beqaa, a vital agricultural hub, precipitation fell by over 45% compared to the seasonal average. This severe drop disrupted the natural recharge of groundwater, reducing the flow of several springs and rivers, including the Litani, by 30%. As a result, the irrigation season has begun under critical conditions.
Agricultural production is now on high alert. Preliminary estimates from the Ministry of Agriculture and the FAO indicate that apple harvests could decline by 25%, especially in Akkar and northern Beqaa. Banana crops, mostly grown along the coast, face an estimated 30% reduction due to limited irrigation. Avocado yields, heavily impacted by water stress, could decrease by up to 40%. Potato cultivation areas have shrunk by 20%, with yields expected to drop by 35%.
Citrus fruits, such as lemons and oranges, are projected to suffer losses ranging from 15% to 20%, depending on the region. Cherry orchards, highly vulnerable to climatic shifts, report potential losses as high as 60%, while plum production may fall by 35%. “Nearly 40% of farmers in the affected areas risk losing up to half of their income this season,” a local farmer told This is Beirut. He explained that fruits are prematurely dropping due to drought stress and are likely to be smaller because of insufficient water. However, he noted that “older trees, with their deeper roots, tend to better withstand water scarcity.”
Amid this critical situation, Beqaa governor Kamal Abou Jaoudeh has raised the alarm. In a series of letters to key institutions—including the Beqaa Water Authority, the National Litani Authority, the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) and the Ministry of Agriculture—he called for “urgent preventive measures to tackle the alarming decline in groundwater and surface water reserves, warning of a potential disaster for a sector vital to both the region and the national economy.”
He also urged the rational use of water, improved irrigation management and the safeguarding of farmers’ access to this essential resource, while protecting public health.
Lebanon’s Agricultural Economy on the Edge. Lebanon’s agricultural sector accounts for just 5% of the national GDP but provides nearly 20% of rural employment, making it a crucial economic and social pillar. Facing a drought of this magnitude, the consequences are severe and wide-ranging. The expert highlights “declining agricultural exports, rising prices of local produce, growing dependence on imports, increased financial strain on already indebted farmers and the risk of seasonal shortages of certain fruits and vegetables during summer.”Drought is not inevitable, but without smart and coordinated water management, Lebanon risks losing a vital part of its agricultural wealth. “Urgent measures are needed to invest in modern irrigation systems, efficiently capture and store rainwater, protect aquifers and train farmers in sustainable water management,” stresses the farmer. If rain doesn’t fall in Lebanon, hardships fall the hardest on farmers—and before long, on consumers too.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on June 14-15/2025
Sunday’s US-Iran nuclear talks cancelled, says mediator Oman
AFP/14 June ,2025
A sixth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States planned for this weekend has been cancelled, mediator Oman said Saturday, as Iran and Israel exchange massive strikes in their fiercest confrontation yet. The talks on Iran’s nuclear program began in April, with US President Donald Trump threatening military action if diplomacy failed. “The Iran US-talks scheduled to be held in Muscat this Sunday will not now take place,” Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X. “Diplomacy and dialogue remain the only pathway to lasting peace,” he added. A key sticking point in the talks in the lead-up to Sunday’s now cancelled meeting had been Iran’s enrichment of uranium. The United States, Israel and other Western countries have long accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, an accusation it has categorically denied. The huge wave of Israeli attacks on Iran’s military and nuclear facilities on Friday has cast the future of the talks into severe doubt. A US administration official said told AFP on condition of anonymity that “while there will be no meeting Sunday, we remain committed to talks and hope the Iranians will come to the table soon.” The Iranian foreign ministry earlier said it would be “meaningless to participate in dialogue” with the United States at this point, citing Washington’s support for “the aggressor” Israel.

Trump, Netanyahu spoke on Friday, White House says
Agence France Presse/June 14/2025
U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, the White House said, after Israel struck Iran's military leadership and nuclear facilities and Tehran retaliated. The call was confirmed by a White House official to AFP on condition of anonymity. Trump had earlier said that he had been made aware of the Israeli strikes before they happened on Thursday.

Israel's defense minister warns Iran that 'Tehran will burn' if it continues firing missiles
Associated Press/June 14/2025
Israel's defense minister warned Iran on Saturday that "Tehran will burn" if it continues firing missiles. Speaking after an assessment meeting with the army's chief of staff, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Iran will pay a heavy price for harming Israeli citizens. His comments come after Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel overnight Saturday following Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear program Friday morning.

Iran says still undecided on joining US in nuclear talks
Agence France Presse/June 14/2025
Iran has yet to decide whether to join a sixth round of nuclear talks with the United States on Sunday, state media reported, as Israel and Iran traded fire for a second day. "It is still unclear what decision we will make for Sunday," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said of the talks in Oman, quoted by the official IRNA news agency on Saturday.

Israel and Iran trade airstrikes and missiles in biggest escalation between two foes
Agence France Presse/June 14/2025
Israel targeted Iran's air defenses and missile launchers on Saturday as it pressed its bid to dismantle its arch-foe's military capabilities, after a night of mutual attacks. Israel's massive strikes on Iran, which it calls an existential threat, have hit nuclear and military facilities, killed top commanders and dozens of civilians, and sought to destroy the country's defense capabilities. Iran has hit back with volleys of missiles that lit up the night sky over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, killing three people and wounding dozens. Following decades of enmity and conflict by proxy, it is the first time that Israel and Iran have traded fire with such intensity, with fears of a prolonged conflict engulfing the region. Israel began striking Iran early Friday in an operation it has dubbed "Rising Lion", and has since killed several top Iranian generals including senior leaders of the Revolutionary Guards' air arm. On Saturday, Israel's military said it was striking dozens of missile launchers in Iran after announcing it had targeted air defenses with a wave of strikes in the Tehran area. Two senior Iranian generals have been killed in Israeli strikes, Iranian state television reported Saturday, as Israel kept up its assault. Iran's ambassador to the United Nations said Friday that 78 people had been killed and 320 wounded in the first wave of strikes by Israel. Iran called on its citizens to unite in defense of the country as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged them to rise up against their government.
Air raid sirens and explosions rang out across Israel through the night, with many residents holed up in bomb shelters until home defense commanders stood down alerts.
'Smoke, dust'
Israel said dozens of missiles -- some intercepted -- had been fired in the latest salvos from Iran, with AFP images of the city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv showing blown-out buildings, destroyed vehicles and streets strewn with debris. Israeli rescuers said two people were killed and 19 wounded on Saturday by rocket fire on a residential area in the coastal plain. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had attacked dozens of targets in Israel. Israeli firefighters had worked for hours to free people trapped in a high-rise building in Tel Aviv on Friday. Resident Chen Gabizon told AFP he ran to an underground shelter after receiving an alert. "After a few minutes, we just heard a very big explosion, everything was shaking, smoke, dust, everything was all over the place," he said. Rescuers said 34 people were wounded in the Gush Dan area, including a woman who later died of her injuries, according to Israeli media reports. Speaking to CNN, Israel's ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said Iran had fired three salvos of ballistic missiles on Friday, some 150 in total. "We expect that the Iranians, who have a considerable volume of ballistic missiles, somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000, will continue to fire them," Leiter said. In Tehran, fire and heavy smoke billowed over Mehrabad airport early Saturday, an AFP journalist said, as Iranian media reported an explosion. Blasts were heard across the capital as Iran activated its air defenses against the incoming fire. Dozens of Iranians took to the streets to cheer their country's military response, with some waving national flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans.
'Time to stop'
The attacks prompted several countries in the region to temporarily ground air traffic, though on Saturday morning, Jordan reopened its airspace. Iran's airspace was closed until further notice, state media reported. As fears mounted of wider conflict, UN chief Antonio Guterres called on both sides to cease fire. "Enough escalation. Time to stop. Peace and diplomacy must prevail," he said on X late Friday. U.S. officials said they were helping Israel defend against the missile attacks, even as Washington insisted it had nothing to do with Israel's strikes on Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump agreed in a call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that "dialogue and diplomacy" were needed to calm the crisis, Starmer's office said. Trump also spoke with the Israeli prime minister, U.S. officials said without elaborating. In a televised address, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to bring Israel "to ruin". The conflict has thrown into doubt plans for a fresh round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran in Oman on Sunday. After the first wave of strikes on Friday, Trump urged Iran to "make a deal", adding that Washington was "hoping to get back to the negotiating table". The United States and other Western governments have repeatedly accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, an ambition it has consistently denied. Iran said on Saturday its participation in the Oman talks remained "unclear". "It is still unclear what decision we will make for Sunday," the official IRNA news agency reported, citing foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei. Baqaei had called the talks "meaningless" in view of the Israeli strikes, which he alleged were carried out with "U.S. permission".

Netanyahu says Israel will strike ‘every site and every target’ of the Iranian regime
Netanyahu says decision to attack Iran was taken after Nasrallah was killed
Associated Press/June 14/2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered an attack plan against Iran in November 2024, shortly after the elimination of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah — one of Iran’s strongest proxies. That’s when Israel forecasted Iran would start rapidly advancing its nuclear program.. In a video statement circulated to journalists Friday evening, Netanyahu said the attack was supposed to happen in April but was postponed.

Israel warns ‘Tehran will burn’ after wave of missile fire
AFP, Tehran/14 June ,2025
Israel’s defense minister warned Saturday that “Tehran will burn” and its residents pay dearly if Iran continues its missile strikes against Israeli civilians.“The Iranian dictator is turning the citizens of Iran into hostages and bringing about a reality in which they -- especially the residents of Tehran -- will pay a heavy price because of the criminal harm to Israeli civilians,” said Israel Katz. “If (Iran’s supreme leader Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles toward the Israeli home front -- Tehran will burn,” the minister added. The threat came as Israel and Iran exchanged fire a day after Israel unleashed strikes that Iran said hit its nuclear facilities, “martyred” top commanders and killed dozens of civilians. Iran has hit back with waves of drone and missile strikes, with a barrage of dozens lighting up the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv overnight, killing three people and wounding dozens. Following decades of enmity and conflict by proxy, it is the first time that Israel and Iran have traded fire with such intensity, with fears of a prolonged conflict engulfing the region. Israel launched its surprise attack on Iran early Friday, only days before Iran and the United States had been due to hold a sixth round of talks on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. The operation -- dubbed “Rising Lion” -- has since killed Iran’s highest-ranking military officer, Mohammad Bagheri, and the head of the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, among other senior generals. On Saturday, the Israeli military said it had Tehran in its sights after strikes on dozens of missile launchers and air defenses in the area around the Iranian capital. “The way to Iran has been paved,” the military’s chief of staff and air force chief were quoted as saying in a statement. The military “is proceeding according to its operational plans, and (Israeli air force) fighter jets are set to resume striking targets in Tehran,” it added.
‘Smoke, dust’
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations said 78 people had been killed and 320 wounded in Israel’s first wave of strikes on Friday. Iran called on its citizens to unite in defense of the country as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged them to rise up against their government. Air raid sirens and explosions rang out across Israel through the night, with many residents holed up in bomb shelters until home defense commanders stood down alerts. Israel said dozens of missiles -- some intercepted -- had been fired in the latest salvos from Iran, with AFP images of the city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv showing blown-out buildings, destroyed vehicles and streets strewn with debris. Israeli rescuers said two people were killed and 19 wounded on Saturday by rocket fire on a residential area in the coastal plain. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said they had attacked dozens of targets in Israel. Israeli firefighters had worked for hours to free people trapped in a high-rise building in Tel Aviv on Friday. Chen Gabizon, a resident, said he ran to an underground shelter after receiving an alert. “After a few minutes, we just heard a very big explosion, everything was shaking, smoke, dust, everything was all over the place,” he said. Rescuers said 34 people were wounded in the Gush Dan area, including a woman who later died of her injuries, according to Israeli media reports. Speaking to CNN, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said Iran had fired three salvos of ballistic missiles on Friday, some 150 in total. “We expect that the Iranians, who have a considerable volume of ballistic missiles, somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000, will continue to fire them,” Leiter said. In Tehran, fire and heavy smoke billowed over Mehrabad airport on Saturday, an AFP journalist said, as Iranian media reported an explosion. Blasts were heard across the capital as Iran activated its air defenses against the incoming fire. Dozens of Iranians took to the streets to cheer their country’s military response, with some waving national flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans.
‘Time to stop’
The attacks prompted several countries in the region to temporarily ground air traffic, though on Saturday morning, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria reopened their airspace. Iran’s airspace was closed until further notice, state media reported. As fears mounted of wider conflict, UN chief Antonio Guterres called on both sides to cease fire. “Enough escalation. Time to stop. Peace and diplomacy must prevail,” he said on X late Friday. Pope Leo XIV appealed for Israel and Iran to show “responsibility and reason.”Asked how long the war would last, Israel’s ambassador to Paris, Joshua Zarka, said: “A small number of weeks.”Prime Minister Netanyahu had said on Friday the strikes would “continue as many days as it takes.”The conflict has thrown into doubt Sunday’s planned Iran-US nuclear talks in the Gulf sultanate of Oman. After Friday’s first strikes, US President Donald Trump urged Iran to “make a deal,” adding the United States was “hoping to get back to the negotiating table.”Western governments have repeatedly accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, an allegation it denies. Iran said on Saturday its participation in the Oman talks remained “unclear.”“It is still unclear what decision we will make for Sunday,” state media reported, citing foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei. Baqaei had called the talks “meaningless” in view of the Israeli strikes, which he alleged were carried out with “US permission.”

Latest: Israel and Iran strike at each other in new wave of attacks
AFP/June 14, 2025
TEL AVIV/DUBAI: Israel and Iran launched fresh attacks on each other overnight into Sunday, stoking fears of a wider conflict after Israel expanded its surprise campaign against its main rival with a strike on the world’s biggest gas field. Tehran called off nuclear talks that Washington had said were the only way to halt Israel’s bombing, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks were nothing compared with what Iran would see in the coming days. Israel’s military said more missiles were launched from Iran toward Israel overnight, with direct strikes targeting its energy industry and Defense Ministry headquarters, while Tehran unleashed a fresh barrage of missiles blamed for the deaths of four people. The simultaneous strikes represented the latest salvo since a surprise attack by Israel two days earlier aimed at decimating Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program. Early Sunday morning, air raid sirens blared across Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Several missiles were seen streaking through the sky over Tel Aviv, while interceptor rockets were launched from the ground. Explosions echoed in both cities. Israel’s ambulance service said three women were killed and 10 other people injured in an earlier missile strike near a house in northern Israel. Emergency responders with flashlights were seen searching the rubble of the partially collapsed home in Tamra, a predominantly Palestinian city. Around 2:30 a.m. local time, the Israeli military warned of another barrage launched from Iran and urged the public to seek shelter. By 3:30 a.m., at least four people had been killed and 36 were reported injured in multiple overnight missile attacks. Israeli media published an image of a 10-story residential building, reportedly in central Israel, showing extensive damage after a strike. Iran said the Shahran oil depot in western Tehran was targeted in an Israeli attack. A video posted online by the semi-official Iran Students' News Agency, or ISNA, showed a massive fire raging at the depot, but officials later said the situation was under control. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel’s energy infrastructure and facilities for fighter jet fuel production. The elite force warned Tehran’s attacks will be “heavier and more extensive” if Israel continues its hostilities. US President Donald Trump had warned Iran of worse to come, but said it was not too late to halt the Israeli campaign if Tehran accepted a sharp downgrading of its nuclear program. A round of US-Iran nuclear talks that was due to be held in Oman on Sunday was canceled, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi saying the discussions could not take place while Iran was being subjected to Israel’s “barbarous” attacks. In the first apparent attack to hit Iran’s energy infrastructure, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said Iran partially suspended production at the world’s biggest gas field after an Israeli strike caused a fire there on Saturday. The South Pars field, offshore in Iran’s southern Bushehr province, is the source of most of the gas produced in Iran. Fears about potential disruption to the region’s oil exports had already driven up oil prices 9 percent on Friday even though Israel spared Iran’s oil and gas on the first day of its attacks. An Iranian general, Esmail Kosari, said on Saturday that Tehran was reviewing whether to close the Strait of Hormuz controlling access to the Gulf for tankers.
Iran says scores killed
Iran said 78 people were killed on the first day of Israel’s campaign, and scores more on the second, including 60 when a missile brought down a 14-story apartment block in Tehran, where 29 of the dead were children.Iran had launched its own retaliatory missile volley on Friday night, killing at least three people in Israel. With Israel saying its operation could last weeks, and Netanyahu urging Iran’s people to rise up against their Islamic clerical rulers, fears have grown of a regional conflagration dragging in outside powers. B’Tselem, a leading Israeli human rights organization, said on Saturday that instead of exhausting all possibilities for a diplomatic resolution, Israel’s government had chosen to start a war that puts the entire region in danger. Tehran has warned Israel’s allies that their military bases in the region would come under fire too if they helped shoot down Iranian missiles. However, 20 months of war in Gaza and a conflict in Lebanon last year have decimated Tehran’s strongest regional proxies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, reducing its options for retaliation. Israel sees Iran’s nuclear program as a threat to its existence, and said the bombardment was designed to avert the last steps to production of a nuclear weapon. Tehran insists the program is entirely civilian and that it does not seek an atomic bomb. However the UN nuclear watchdog reported it this week as violating obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty.
‘We will hit every site’
Israel said three people were killed and 76 wounded by Iran’s retaliatory drone and missile barrage overnight, which lit up the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Netanyahu vowed to keep up Israel’s campaign. “We will hit every site, every target of the ayatollah regime,” he said in a video statement, threatening greater action “in the coming days.”He added that the Israeli campaign had dealt a “real blow” to Iran’s nuclear program and maintained it had the “clear support” of US President Donald Trump. Netanyahu’s defense minister, Israel Katz, warned “Tehran will burn” if it kept targeting Israeli civilians. Israel’s fire service reported residential buildings were hit following the latest launches. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian fired back that “the continuation of the Zionist aggression will be met with a more severe and powerful response from the Iranian armed forces.”According to a statement from his office, Pezeshkian also condemned Washington’s “dishonesty” for supporting Israel while engaged in nuclear talks with Iran — which mediator Oman said would no longer take place on Sunday. Western governments have repeatedly accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, which it denies. Amid the continued conflict, planned negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program were canceled, throwing into question when and how an end to the fighting could come. “Tehran is burning,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on social media. Both Israel’s military and Iran state television announced the latest round of Iranian missiles as explosions were heard near midnight, while the Israeli security cabinet met. Israel’s ongoing strikes across Iran have left the country’s surviving leadership with the difficult decision of whether to plunge deeper into conflict with Israel’s more powerful forces or seek a diplomatic route.
Urgent calls to deescalate
World leaders made urgent calls to deescalate and avoid all-out war. The attack on nuclear sites set a “dangerous precedent,” China’s foreign minister said. The region is already on edge as Israel makes a new push to eliminate the Iranian-backed militant group Hamas in Gaza after 20 months of fighting.
After decades of enmity and conflict by proxy, it is the first time the arch-enemies have traded fire with such intensity, triggering fears of a prolonged conflict that could engulf the Middle East. Highlighting the unease, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against a “devastating war” with regional consequences in a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ankara said. Israel — widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East — said its hundreds of strikes on Iran over the past two days have killed a number of top generals, nine senior scientists and experts involved in Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s UN ambassador has said 78 people were killed and more than 320 wounded. US intelligence agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency have repeatedly said Iran was not pursuing a nuclear weapon before Israel unleashed its campaign of airstrikes targeting Iran beginning Friday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has made the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program his top priority, said Israel’s strikes so far are “nothing compared to what they will feel under the sway of our forces in the coming days.” In what could be another escalation if confirmed, semiofficial Iranian news agencies reported an Israeli drone struck and caused a “strong explosion” at an Iranian natural-gas processing plant. It would be the first Israeli attack on Iran’s oil and natural gas industry. Israel’s military did not immediately comment. The extent of damage at the South Pars natural gas field was not immediately clear. Such sites have air defense systems around them, which Israel has been targeting.
Iran calls nuclear talks ‘unjustifiable’
The sixth round of US-Iran indirect talks on Sunday over Iran ‘s nuclear program will not take place, mediator Oman said. “We remain committed to talks and hope the Iranians will come to the table soon,” said a senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss diplomacy. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, and US intelligence agencies have assessed that Tehran was not actively pursuing the bomb. But its uranium enrichment has reached near weapons-grade levels, and on Thursday, the UN’s atomic watchdog censured Iran for not complying with obligations meant to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran’s top diplomat said Saturday the nuclear talks were “unjustifiable” after Israel’s strikes. Abbas Araghchi’s comments came during a call with Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat. The Israeli airstrikes were the “result of the direct support by Washington,” Araghchi said in a statement carried by the state-run IRNA news agency. The US has said it isn’t part of the strikes. On Friday, US President Donald Trump urged Iran to reach a deal with the US on its nuclear program, adding that “Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left.”
‘More than a few weeks’ to repair nuclear facilities
Israel attacked Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz. Satellite photos analyzed by AP show extensive damage there. The images shot Saturday by Planet Labs PBC show multiple buildings damaged or destroyed. The structures hit include buildings identified by experts as supplying power to the facility.
UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council that the above-ground section of the Natanz facility was destroyed. The main centrifuge facility underground did not appear to have been hit, but the loss of power could have damaged infrastructure there, he said. Israel said it also struck a nuclear research facility in Isfahan, including “infrastructure for enriched uranium conversion,” and said it destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran. Iran confirmed the strike at Isfahan. The International Atomic Energy Agency said four “critical buildings” at the Isfahan site were damaged, including its uranium conversion facility. “As in Natanz, no increase in off-site radiation expected,” it added. An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with official procedures, said that according to the army’s initial assessment “it will take much more than a few weeks” for Iran to repair the damage to the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites. The official said the army had “concrete intelligence that production in Isfahan was for military purposes.”Israel denied it had struck the nuclear enrichment facility in Fordo, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Tehran.
Among those killed were three of Iran’s top military leaders: one who oversaw the entire armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri; one who led the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami; and the head of the Guard’s aerospace division, which oversees its arsenal of ballistic missile program, Gen. Amir Ali Hajjizadeh. On Saturday, Khamenei named a new leader for the Revolutionary Guard’s aerospace division: Gen. Majid Mousavi.
Turkiye denies sharing information with Israel
At the United Nations, the Turkish mission dismissed as "black propaganda" reports that “information was shared with Israel from the radar base in Kürecik.” In a statement, the mission said the Kürecik Radar Station, a NATO installation, was established in line with Türkiye's national security and interests and is intended to ensure the protection of the NATO allies. "The data obtained from the Kürecik radar base is exclusively shared with NATO allies within a specific framework, in accordance with NATO procedures," said the statement. "Sharing radar base data with non-NATO allies, such as Israel, is absolutely out of the question."It maintained that "Türkiye stands against Israel's operations to destabilize the Middle East and will never support Israel's actions in this regard."Reports of alleged data transmission came a day after Israel, without any provocation, bombarded Iran's capital on Friday.  Israeli strikes have hit Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment plant and killed its highest-ranking military officer, Mohammad Bagheri, as well as the head of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami.
The Israeli military said its strikes had killed more than 20 Iranian commanders. Iranian media reported five Guards killed Saturday in Israeli strikes, while authorities in one northwestern province said 30 military personnel had been killed there since Friday. Iran’s Red Crescent said an ambulance was hit Saturday in Urmia city, killing two. Iran rallies citizens to unite, ‘rise up’ says Netanyahu
Iran called on its citizens to unite in the country’s defense, while Netanyahu urged them to rise up against against the government. Iran’s Mehr news agency said Tehran had warned Britain, France and the United States it could retaliate if they came to Israel’s defense. AFP images from the city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv showed blown-out buildings, destroyed vehicles and streets strewn with debris after Iran’s first wave of attacks. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had struck dozens of targets in Israel. One Iranian missile wounded seven Israeli soldiers, the military said.
Firefighters had worked for hours to free people trapped in a Tel Aviv high-rise building on Friday. Chen Gabizon, a resident, said he ran to an underground shelter after receiving an alert. “We just heard a very big explosion, everything was shaking, smoke, dust, everything was all over the place,” he said.
In Tehran, fire and heavy smoke billowed over Mehrabad airport on Saturday, an AFP journalist said. The Israeli army said it had struck an underground military facility Saturday in western Iran’s Khorramabad that contained surface-to-surface and cruise missiles. Iranian media also reported a “massive explosion” following an Israeli drone strike on an oil refinery in the southern city of Kangan. The attacks prompted several countries to temporarily ground air traffic, though on Saturday Jordan, Lebanon and Syria reopened their airspace.
Iran’s airspace was closed until further notice, state media reported, as was Israel’s, according to authorities.

Netanyahu says Israel will strike ‘every site and every target’ of the Iranian regime
Al Arabiya English/14 June ,2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened on Saturday to strike “every target of the [Iranian] regime”, adding that Israeli strikes had dealt a “real blow” to Tehran’s nuclear program. “We will hit every site, every target of the [Iranian] regime,” Netanyahu said in a video statement on the second day of Israel’s air campaign targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites.“We have dealt a real blow to their nuclear program” since Friday, he added. “We have opened a path to Tehran. Very soon, you will see Israeli aircraft -- our air force, our pilots -- in the skies over Tehran,” Netanyahu said, shortly after Israel’s military reported it had struck 40 targets in the Iranian capital overnight, including missiles and advanced air defense systems. Israel on Friday launched an unprecedented attack on Iran, hitting more than 200 military and nuclear sites, military spokesman Effie Defrin said, killing top army commanders, nuclear scientists and other senior officials. “What they have felt so far is nothing compared to what they will feel under the force of our arm in the coming days,” Netanyahu said Saturday. “We are acting with full force to eliminate this dual threat to the State of Israel,” he added, referring to Iran’s nuclear program and its ballistic missile capabilities. Iran said 78 people had been killed and 320 wounded in the first Israeli wave of strikes. Iran in return launched barrages of drones and missiles at Israel, killing three people, injuring more than 70 others and causing damage in several cities.With AFP

US-Iran nuclear talks won’t take place after Israel strikes, mediator says
AP/June 14, 2025
Oman’s foreign minister said that talks on Sunday “will not now take place,” but he added that “diplomacy and dialogue remain the only pathway to lasting peace”
SUMMARY
The US and Iran were scheduled to be in Oman on Sunday for their sixth round of indirect talks over Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s top diplomat said Saturday the talks were “unjustifiable” after Israeli strikes. The two days of intense attacks have left Iran’s surviving leadership with the difficult decision of plunging deeper into conflict with Israel’s more powerful forces or seeking a diplomatic route. Israel and Iran have signaled more attacks are coming, despite urgent calls from world leaders to deescalate to avoid all-out war.
DUBAI: The latest US-Iran talks on Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program will not take place Sunday, mediator Oman said Saturday, as Israel and Iran traded blows a day after Israel’s blistering attack on Iranian nuclear and military sites. An Israeli drone struck and caused a “strong explosion” at an Iranian natural-gas processing plant, semiofficial Iranian news agencies reported — the first Israeli attack on Iran’s oil and natural gas industry, if confirmed. Israel did not immediately comment. The plant located in Iran’s South Pars natural gas field produces liquified natural gas and other products, and the extent of the damage was not immediately clear. The two days of intense attacks have left Iran’s surviving leadership with the difficult decision of plunging deeper into conflict with Israel’s more powerful forces or seeking a diplomatic route. Israel’s ongoing strikes have halted — for now — diplomacy between the US and Iran. Oman’s foreign minister, Badr Al-Busaidi, said on social media that talks on Sunday “will not now take place,” but he added that “diplomacy and dialogue remain the only pathway to lasting peace.” Israel and Iran have signaled more attacks are coming, despite urgent calls from world leaders to deescalate to avoid all-out war. The region is already on edge as Israel makes a new push to eliminate the Iranian-backed militant group Hamas in Gaza after 20 months of fighting. Israel — which is widely believed to have a nuclear weapons program — said its hundreds of strikes on Iran over the past two days also killed nine senior scientists and experts involved in Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s UN ambassador said 78 people were killed and more than 320 wounded. Iran retaliated by launching waves of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel, where explosions lit the night skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and shook buildings. The Israeli military urged civilians, already rattled by the war in Gaza sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, to head to shelter for hours. Health officials said three people were killed and dozens wounded. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Iran will pay a heavy price for harming Israeli citizens. “If (Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front — Tehran will burn,” Katz said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that his objective was to eliminate any Iranian threat to Israel, but he also urged Iranians to rise up against their leaders.
Strikes derail nuclear talks
The US and Iran were scheduled to be in Oman on Sunday for their sixth round of indirect talks over Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s top diplomat said Saturday the talks were “unjustifiable” after the Israeli strikes. The comments by Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s minister of foreign affairs, came during a call with Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat. The Israeli airstrikes were the “result of the direct support by Washington,” Araghchi said in a statement carried by the state-run IRNA news agency. The US has said it isn’t part of the strikes. There was no immediate word from the White House after Araghchi’s comments. On Friday, US President Donald Trump urged Iran to reach a deal with the US on its nuclear program. He warned on social media that Israel’s attacks “will only get worse,” adding that “Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left.”
Iranian missiles strike Israel
Khamenei signaled in a recorded message Friday that Iran was prepared to keep up its retaliatory attacks on Israel: “We will not allow them to escape safely from this great crime they committed.”Iran launched waves of missiles at Israel late Friday and early Saturday, and Iranians awoke to state television airing repeated clips of strikes on Israel, as well as videos of people cheering and handing out sweets. The Iranian attacks killed at least three people and wounded 76, mostly in and around Tel Aviv, according to two local hospitals. One missile severely damaged at least four homes in the nearby city of Rishon Lezion, according to first responders. The Israeli military said seven soldiers were lightly wounded when a missile hit central Israel, without specifying where. It was the first report of Israeli military casualties since the initial Israeli strikes. US ground-based air defense systems in the region were helping to shoot down Iranian missiles, said a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the measures. In Ramat Gan, east of Tel Aviv, an Associated Press journalist saw burned-out cars and at least three damaged houses, including one whose front was nearly entirely torn away. Residents of a central Israeli city that was hit Friday night told the AP the explosion was so powerful it shook their shelter door open. “We thought, that’s it, the house is gone, and in fact half of the house was gone,” said Moshe Shani. Israeli police said debris from the interception of drones and missiles fell in dozens of locations in northern Israel, causing damage and fires but no injuries. Israel’s main international airport said Saturday it will remain closed until further notice.
Indications of a new Israeli attack
Iranian state television reported online that air defenses were firing in the cities of Khorramabad, Kermanshah and Tabriz. Footage from Tabriz showed black smoke rising from the city. An Israeli military official said Saturday that the military was poised to carry out more strikes in Iran, saying, “This is not over.” He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with official procedures. Israel’s army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, said Israel had attacked more than 400 targets across Iran, including 40 in Tehran, where dozens of fighter jets were “operating freely.” He said it was the deepest point Israel’s air force had operated. Defrin said fighter jets struck over 40 “missile-related targets and advanced air defense array systems” across Iran. Overnight, the sound of explosions and Iranian air defense systems firing at targets echoed across central Tehran. Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported a fire at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport. Countries in the region condemned Israel’s attack, while leaders around the globe called for immediate deescalation from both sides. ‘More than a few weeks’ to repair nuclear facilities. Among the key sites Israel attacked was Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz. Satellite photos analyzed by AP show extensive damage there. The images shot Saturday by Planet Labs PBC show multiple buildings damaged or destroyed. The structures hit include buildings identified by experts as supplying power to the facility. UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council that the above-ground section of the Natanz facility was destroyed. The main centrifuge facility underground did not appear to have been hit, but the loss of power could have damaged the infrastructure there, he said. Israel said it also struck a nuclear research facility in Isfahan, including “infrastructure for enriched uranium conversion,” and said it destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran. Iran confirmed the strike at Isfahan. The Israeli military official said that according to the army’s initial assessment “it will take much more than a few weeks” for Iran to repair the damage to the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites. The official said the army had “concrete intelligence that production in Isfahan was for military purposes.” Israel denied it had struck the nuclear enrichment facility in Fordo, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Tehran, after an Iranian news outlet close to the government reported the sound of explosions nearby, Netanyahu said the attack had been months in the making and was planned for April before being postponed. Among those killed were three of Iran’s top military leaders: one who oversaw the entire armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri; one who led the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami; and the head of the Guard’s aerospace division, which oversees its arsenal of ballistic missile program, Gen. Amir Ali Hajjizadeh. Two of Bagheri’s deputies were also killed, Iran confirmed Saturday. On Saturday, Khamenei named a new leader for the Revolutionary Guard’s aerospace division: Gen. Majid Mousavi.

Iran says Shahran oil depot targeted in Israeli attack
Reuters/15 June ,2025
Iran said the Shahran oil depot in Tehran was targeted in an Israeli attack on Saturday but that the “situation was under control.”“The fuel volume in the targeted tank was not high, and the situation is fully under control,” Iran’s oil ministry’s SHANA news agency reported.

How Israeli strikes have pushed Iran’s leadership into a corner
Reuters/June 14, 2025
DUBAI: Israel has gutted Iran’s nuclear and military leadership with airstrikes that leave a weakened Tehran with few options to retaliate, including an all-out war that it is neither equipped for nor likely to win, according to four regional officials. The overnight strikes by Israel – repeated for second night on Friday – have ratcheted up the confrontation between the arch foes to an unprecedented level after years of war in the shadows, which burst into the open when Iran’s ally Hamas attacked Israel in 2023. Regional security sources said it was unlikely that Tehran could respond with similarly effective strikes because its missile capabilities and military network in the region have been severely degraded by Israel since the Hamas attacks that triggered the Gaza war. State news agency IRNA said that Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel on Friday in retaliation. But the Israeli military said the missiles numbered fewer than 100 and most were intercepted or fell short. No casualties were immediately reported. The regional security sources said Iran’s leaders, humiliated and increasingly preoccupied with their own survival, cannot afford to appear weak in the face of Israeli military pressure, raising the prospect of further escalation – including covert attacks on Israel or even the perilous option of seeking to build a nuclear bomb rapidly. “They can’t survive if they surrender,” said Mohanad Hage Ali at the Carnegie Middle East Center, a think tank in Beirut. “They need to strike hard against Israel but their options are limited. I think their next option is withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.”Withdrawing from the NPT would be a serious escalation as it would signal Iran is accelerating its enrichment program to produce weapons-grade uranium for a nuclear bomb, experts said. Iran’s leadership has not confirmed whether it would attend a sixth round of deadlocked talks with the US over its nuclear program scheduled for Sunday in Oman. Tehran’s regional sway has been weakened by Israel’s attacks on its proxies – from Hamas in Gaza to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and militias in Iraq – as well as by the ousting of Iran’s close ally, Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. Western sanctions have also hit Iran’s crucial oil exports and the economy is reeling from a string of crises including a collapsing currency and rampant inflation, as well as energy and water shortages. “They can’t retaliate through anyone. The Israelis are dismantling the Iranian empire piece by piece, bit by bit … and now they’ve started sowing internal doubt about (the invincibility of) the regime,” said Sarkis Naoum, a regional expert. “This is massive hit.” Israel strikes targeting key facilities in Tehran and other cities continued into the night on Friday. The Iranian foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was defiant on Friday, saying Israel had initiated a war and would suffer “a bitter fate.” Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, director of the Gulf Research Center think tank, said Iran has been backed into a corner with limited options. One possibility would be to offer assurances – in private – that it will abandon uranium enrichment and dismantle its nuclear capabilities, since any public declaration of such a capitulation would likely provoke a fierce domestic backlash.
Sites of strikes and explosions following the attack of June 13.
He said another option could involve a return to clandestine warfare, reminiscent of the 1980s bombings targeting US and Israeli embassies and military installations. A third, and far more perilous option, would be to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and accelerate its uranium enrichment program. Such a move, Sager warned, would be tantamount to a declaration of war and would almost certainly provoke a strong international response – not only from Israel, but also from the US and other Western powers. Trump has threatened military action to ensure Iran does not obtain an atomic weapon. He reiterated his position on Thursday, saying: “Iran must completely give up hopes of obtaining a nuclear weapon.” Iran is currently enriching uranium up to 60 percent purity, close to the roughly 90 percent it would need for nuclear weapons. It has enough material at that level, if processed further, for nine nuclear bombs, according to a UN nuclear watchdog yardstick. Israel’s strikes overnight on Thursday targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, military commanders and nuclear scientists. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was the start of a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon. At least 20 senior commanders were killed, two regional sources said. The armed forces chief of staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guards Chief Hossein Salami, and the head of the Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, were among them.
“It’s a big attack: big names, big leaders, big damage to the Iranian military leadership and its ballistic missiles. It’s unprecedented,” said Carnegie's Hage Ali. Sima Shine, a former chief Mossad analyst and now a researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), said Israel would probably not be able to take out Iran’s nuclear project completely without US help. “Therefore, if the US will not be part of the war, I assume that some parts of (Iran’s) nuclear project will remain,” she said on Friday. Friday’s strikes have not only inflicted strategic damage but have also shaken Iran’s leadership to the core, according to a senior regional official close to the Iranian establishment. Defiance has transformed into concern and uncertainty within the ruling elite and, behind closed doors, anxiety is mounting, not just over the external threats but also their eroding grip on power at home, the official said.
“Panic has surged among the leadership,” the senior regional official said. “Beyond the threat of further attacks, a deeper fear looms large: domestic unrest.” A moderate former Iranian official said the killing in 2020 of General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the overseas arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, on the orders of President Donald Trump, started the rot. Since then, the Islamic Republic has struggled to reassert its influence across the region and has never fully recovered. “This attack might be the beginning of the end,” he said. If protests erupt, and the leadership responds with repression, it will only backfire, the former official said, noting that public anger has been simmering for years, fueled by sanctions, inflation and an unrelenting crackdown on dissent. In his video address shortly after the attacks started, Netanyahu suggested he would like to see regime change in Iran and sent a message to Iranians. “Our fight is not with you. Our fight is with the brutal dictatorship that has oppressed you for 46 years. I believe the day of your liberation is near,” he said. The hope for regime change could explain why Israel went after so many senior military figures, throwing the Iranian security establishment into a state of confusion and chaos. “These people were very vital, very knowledgeable, many years in their jobs, and they were a very important component of the stability of the regime, specifically the security stability of the regime,” said Shine. Iranian state media reported that at least two nuclear scientists, Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, were killed in Israeli strikes in Tehran. Iran’s most powerful proxy in the region, Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, is also in a weak position to respond. In the days leading up to the strikes on Iran, security sources close to Hezbollah told Reuters the group would not join any retaliatory action by Iran out of fear such a response could unleash a new Israeli blitz on Lebanon. Israel’s war last year against Hezbollah left the group badly weakened, with its leadership decimated, thousands of its fighters killed, and swathes of its strongholds in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s suburbs destroyed.
Analysts said Trump could leverage the fallout from the Israeli strikes to bring Iran back to the nuclear negotiating table – but this time more isolated, and more likely to offer deeper concessions. “One thing is clear: the Iranian empire is in decline,” said regional expert Naoum. “Can they still set the terms of their decline? Not through military terms. There’s only one way to do that: through negotiations.”

Israeli fire and airstrikes kill 35 in Gaza
Reuters/June 14, 2025
GAZA: Israeli fire and airstrikes killed at least 35 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, most of them near an aid distribution site operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, local health authorities said. Medics at Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa hospitals in central Gaza areas, where most of the casualties were moved to, said at least 15 people were killed as they tried to approach the GHF aid distribution site near the Netzarim corridor. The rest were killed in separate attacks across the enclave, they added.
BACKGROUND
The Gaza Health Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that at least 274 people have so far been killed, and more than 2,000 wounded, near aid distribution sites since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began operations. There has been no immediate comment by the Israeli military or the GHF on Saturday’s incidents. The GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May, overseeing a new model of aid distribution which the UN says is neither impartial nor neutral. The Gaza Health Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that at least 274 people have so far been killed, and more than 2,000 wounded, near aid distribution sites since the GHF began operations in Gaza. Hamas, which denies Israeli charges that it steals aid, accused Israel of “employing hunger as a weapon of war and turning aid distribution sites into traps of mass deaths of innocent civilians.”Later on Saturday, health officials at Shifa Hospital in Gaza said Israeli fire killed at least 12 Palestinians, who gathered to wait for aid trucks along the coastal road north of the strip, taking Saturday’s death toll to at least 35. The Israeli military ordered residents of Khan Younis and the nearby towns of Abassan and Bani Suhaila in the southern Gaza Strip to leave their homes and head west toward the so-called humanitarian zone, saying it would forcefully work against “terror organizations” in the area. The war in Gaza erupted 20 months ago after militants raided Israel and took 251 hostages and killed 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel’s single deadliest day.
Israel’s military campaign has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to health authorities in Gaza, and flattened much of the densely populated strip, which is home to more than 2 million people. Most of the population is displaced, and malnutrition is widespread. Despite efforts by the US, Egypt, and Qatar to restore a ceasefire in Gaza, neither Israel nor Hamas has shown willingness to back down on core demands, with each side blaming the other for the failure to reach a deal.

Iranian media claims Israeli pilots captured, IDF denies
Arab News/June 14, 2025
DUBAI: The Iranian army has claimed they have downed a third Israeli F-35 fighter jet since Israel’s attacks began on Friday. State Iranian media, Tehran Times, reported that one pilot is believed to have been liquidated and another captured by Iranian forces. However, the Israeli Defense Forces denied the claims dubbing the news “fake”. “This news being spread by Iranian media is completely baseless” the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday the launch of “Operation Rising Lion” against Iran in an effort to deter the Iranian threat of nuclear weapons to Israel. Netanyahu confirmed the operation will continue until the mission is accomplished.

Closure of Strait of Hormuz seriously being reviewed by Iran, lawmaker says
Reuters/June 14, 2025
DUBAI: The closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz was being seriously reviewed by Iran, IRINN reported, citing statements by a member of the parliament’s security commission. Iranian general and parliament member Esmail Kosari said the country was seriously reviewing whether to close the Strait of Hormuz, the outlet for oil shipped from the Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Oman and Iran, is the world’s most important gateway for oil shipping.

Iran says to limit cooperation with IAEA amid Israeli strikes
AFP/June 14/2025
Iran said Saturday it would limit its cooperation with the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, while criticizing it for its silence over Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. "It makes no sense that these peaceful sites come under attack and that the agency remains silent," Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said.
"Iran will no longer cooperate with the agency... as it once did," he added.

Iran's oil ministry says Israeli strikes hit two fuel depots in Tehran
AFP/June 14/2025
Israeli strikes hit two fuel depots in Tehran, the Iranian oil ministry said Sunday, shortly after Iran announced the launch of a new wave of strikes against Israel. According to the oil ministry, the oil depots at Shahran northwest of Tehran and another reservoir south of the city were hit. An AFP journalist saw the depot at Shahran on fire.

First responders say 14 injured by Iranian missile hit on Israeli home
AFP/June 14/2025
Israel's emergency services said Saturday that an Iranian missile hit on a home in the country's Haifa region left 14 people injured, including one in a critical condition. "Teams have reported 14 casualties at a two-story home in the Western Galilee, including one in critical condition and the rest with varying levels of injury," Israel's Magen David Adom agency said in a statement.

Israeli attacks on Iran violate international law, Saudi crown prince tells Pezeshkian
Arab News/June 14, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed the Kingdom’s condemnation of Israeli attacks on Iran in a phone call with President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday. The attacks undermine the sovereignty and security of Iran and constitute a violation of international laws and norms, Saudi Press Agency reported the crown prince as saying. The crown prince said the Israeli attacks have disrupted ongoing dialogue to resolve the crisis surrounding Iran’s nuclear program and hindered efforts to de-escalate and reach diplomatic solutions. He emphasized the Kingdom’s rejection of the use of force to resolve disputes and the need to adopt dialogue as the basis for resolving differences. Israel on Friday launched an unprecedented attack on Iran, killing top army commanders, nuclear scientists and other senior officials, in a missile barrage that Tehran said claimed 78 lives. The two countries traded blows on Saturday. The crown prince expressed his condolences and sympathy to Pezeshkian, the Iranian people, and the families of those who died in the attacks. He prayed that the injured would recover swiftly. Pezeshkian expressed his thanks and appreciation to King Salman for attending to the needs of Iranian pilgrims and facilitating services for them until their return home. Earlier, Prince Mohammed discussed the repercussions of Israel’s military operations against Iran with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a phone call. Prince Mohammed and Starmer discussed the latest developments in the region and the importance of exerting all efforts to de-escalate and resolve disputes through diplomatic means, Saudi Press Agency reported. Prince Mohammed also spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two leaders reviewed developments in the region following Israeli strikes on Iran, SPA said.

UN chief urges ‘maximum restraint’ after Israel strikes Iran
AFP/June 14, 2025
UNITED NATIONS, United States: UN chief Antonio Guterres urged Israel and Iran to “show maximum restraint” after Israel’s wave of air strikes, the secretary-general’s spokesman said in a statement late Thursday. While broadly condemning “any military escalation in the Middle East,” the statement by Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq noted Guterres was “particularly concerned” by Israel’s strikes on nuclear installations amid the ongoing US-Iran negotiations. “The Secretary-General asks both sides to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford,” it added.

US helps Israel shoot down barrage of Iranian missiles
AP/June 14, 2025
WASHINGTON: American air defense systems and Navy assets in the Middle East helped Israel shoot down incoming ballistic missiles Friday that Tehran launched in response to Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and top military leaders, US officials said. The US has both ground-based Patriot missile defense systems and Terminal High Altitude Air Defense systems in the region capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, which Iran fired in multiple barrages in retaliation for Israel’s initial attack. Naval assets also were involved in assisting Israel as Iran fired missiles at Tel Aviv, one official said. It was not immediately clear if ships fired interceptors or if their advanced missile tracking systems helped Israel identify incoming targets. The United States also is shifting military resources, including ships, in the Middle East in response to the strikes. The Navy has directed the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, which is capable of defending against ballistic missiles, to begin sailing from the western Mediterranean Sea toward the eastern Mediterranean and has directed a second destroyer to begin moving forward so it can be available if requested by the White House, US officials said. American fighter jets also are patrolling the sky in the Middle East to protect personnel and installations, and air bases in the region are taking additional security precautions, the officials said. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public or to discuss ongoing operations.
President Donald Trump met with his National Security Council principals Friday to discuss options. The forces in the region have been taking precautionary measures for days, including having military dependents voluntarily depart regional bases, in anticipation of the strikes and to protect personnel in case of a large-scale response from Tehran. Typically around 30,000 troops are based in the Middle East, and about 40,000 troops are in the region now, according to a US official. That number surged as high as 43,000 last October amid the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran as well as continuous attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. The Navy has additional assets that it could surge to the Middle East if needed, particularly its aircraft carriers and the warships that sail with them. The USS Carl Vinson is in the Arabian Sea — the only aircraft carrier in the region. The carrier USS Nimitz is in the Indo-Pacific and could be directed toward the Middle East if needed, and the USS George Washington just left its port in Japan and could also be directed to the region if so ordered, one of the officials said. Then-President Joe Biden initially surged ships to protect Israel following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas that launched the war in Gaza. It was seen as a deterrent against Hezbollah and Iran at the time. On Oct. 1, 2024, US Navy destroyers fired about a dozen interceptors in defense of Israel as the country came under attack by more than 200 missiles fired by Iran.

At UN, Iran accuses US of being complicit in Israeli strikes
Reuters/June 14, 2025
UNITED NATIONS: Iran accused the United States of being complicit in Israel’s attacks on the Islamic Republic, which Washington denied, telling Tehran at the United Nations Security Council that it would “be wise” to negotiate over its nuclear program.Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel late on Friday after Israel attacked Iran earlier in the day. Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon said Iran had been “preparing for war” and Israel’s strikes were “an act of national preservation.”His Iranian counterpart, Amir Saeid Iravani, accused Israel of seeking “to kill diplomacy, to sabotage negotiations, and to drag the region into wider conflict,” and he said Washington’s complicity was “beyond doubt”.“Those who support this regime, with the United States at the forefront, must understand that they are complicit,” Iravani told the Security Council. “By aiding and enabling these crimes, they share full responsibility for the consequences.”
HIGHLIGHTS
• UN Security Council met over Israel's strikes on Iran
• US says Iran would 'be wise' to negotiate on nuclear program
• Iran accuses US of being complicit in Israel's strikes
US President Donald Trump said Friday that he had given Tehran a 60-day ultimatum, which expired on Thursday, to make a deal over its escalating uranium enrichment program.
A sixth round of US-Iran talks had been scheduled to take place in Oman on Sunday, but it was unclear whether it would go ahead. Danon said Israel had been patient despite mounting risks. “We waited for diplomacy to work ... We watched negotiations stretch on, as Iran made false concessions or refused the most fundamental conditions,” Danon told the Security Council. He said intelligence had confirmed Iran could have produced enough fissile material for multiple bombs within days. Senior US official McCoy Pitt said the United States will continue to seek a diplomatic resolution that ensures Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon or pose a threat to stability in the Middle East. “Iran’s leadership would be wise to negotiate at this time,” Pitt told the council. While Washington was informed of Israel’s initial strikes ahead of time it was not militarily involved, he said. UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council the above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Iran’s Natanz nuclear site had been destroyed, and that Iran has reported that nuclear sites at Fordow and Isfahan were also attacked.

Iran says to limit cooperation with IAEA amid Israel strikes
AFP/15 June ,2025
Iran said Saturday it would limit its cooperation with the UN’s nuclear watchdog, while criticizing it for its silence over Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. “It makes no sense that these peaceful sites come under attack and that the agency remains silent,” Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said.
“Iran will no longer cooperate with the agency... as it once did,” he added.

Iran warns US, UK and France against helping stop strikes on Israel
Agencies/June 14, 2025
SUMMARY
Tehran has warned the US, UK and France that their bases and ships in the region will be targeted if they help stop Iranian strikes on Israel. Around 60 people, including 20 children, were killed in an Israeli attack on a housing complex in Iranian capital Tehran. Israel’s defense chief warns that ‘Tehran will burn’ if it keeps firing missiles at Israeli civilians. Iran’s civil aviation authority has declared the country’s airspace closed “until further notice.”Iran says Israel killed three more nuclear scientists, total now nine.
CAIRO: Iran has warned the United States, United Kingdom and France that their bases and ships in the region will be targeted if they help stop Tehran’s strikes on Israel, Iran state media reported on Saturday. Iran’s state TV also reported that around 60 people, including 20 children, were killed in an Israeli attack on a housing complex in Iranian capital Tehran. Two people were also killed in an Israeli attack on a missile site in Assadabad in western Iran. Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported an Israeli strike near the northwestern Tabriz refinery, saying smoke was rising from the facility. Three Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed in Israeli attacks, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday. The scientists were identified as Ali Bakaei Karimi, Mansour Asgari, and Saeid Borji, Tasnim said. Iran’s strikes against Israel will continue, with targets set to expand to include US bases in the region in the coming days, Iran’s Fars news agency reported on Saturday, citing senior Iranian military officials. “This confrontation will not end with last night’s limited actions and Iran’s strikes will continue, and this action will be very painful and regrettable for the aggressors,” Fars reported, citing senior military officials. They were quoted saying that the war would “spread in the coming days to all areas occupied by this (Israeli) regime and American bases in the region”.Iran’s Esfahan and Natanz nuclear sites significantly damaged. Iran’s Esfahan and Natanz nuclear sites were significantly damaged due to Israeli strikes on the two facilities, an Israeli military official said on Saturday. The official said that it would take more than a few weeks for Iran to repair damage at the two sites, adding that the strikes also killed nine senior nuclear Iranian scientists. Israel attacked over 150 targets in Iran with hundreds of munitions, the official said, adding that the aerial road to the Iranian capital Tehran was effectively open. He said that Iran fired hundreds of drones and missiles toward Israel, most of which were intercepted.
‘Tehran will burn’
Defense Minister Israel Katz on Saturday warned that “Tehran will burn” if Iran fired more missiles at Israel, as the arch foes traded fire for a second day. “The Iranian dictator is turning the citizens of Iran into hostages and bringing about a reality in which they – especially the residents of Tehran – will pay a heavy price because of the criminal harm to Israeli civilians,” Katz was quoted as saying in a statement. “If (Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles toward the Israeli home front – Tehran will burn.”The threat of a wider war comes as Iran and Israel continue targeting each other on Saturday after Israel launched its biggest-ever air offensive against its longtime foe in a bid to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran airspace closed ‘until further notice’Iran’s civil aviation authority has declared the country’s airspace closed “until further notice,” state media reported Saturday, as Israel and Iran continued to trade fire for a second day. “No flights will be operated at any airports in the country in order to protect the safety of passengers... until further notice,” the official IRNA news agency said.

Putin and Trump discussed Middle East tensions, Ukraine talks on phone call, Kremlin says/
The Associated Press/June 14, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump held a 50-minute phone call Saturday to discuss the escalating situation in the Middle East and Ukraine peace talks, Putin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said. During the conversation, Putin briefed Trump on his recent talks with the leaders of Iran and Israel and reiterated Russia’s proposal to seek mutually acceptable solutions on the Iranian nuclear issue. “The dangerous escalation of the situation in the Middle East was naturally at the center of the exchange of opinions,” Ushakov told journalists following the conversation between Putin and Trump. “Vladimir Putin, having condemned the military operation against Iran, expressed serious concern about the possible escalation of the conflict,” he said, warning of “unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East.” Putin also emphasized Russia’s readiness to carry out possible mediation efforts, and noted that Russia had proposed steps “aimed at finding mutually acceptable agreements” during U.S.-Iran negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program. “Russia’s principled approach and interest in the settlement remain unchanged,” Ushakov said. Trump described the regional situation as “very alarming,” Ushakov said, but acknowledged the “effectiveness” of Israel’s strikes on targets in Iran. The leaders did not rule out a possible return to negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program, according to Ushakov. According to Ushakov, Putin told Trump about the implementation of the agreements during peace talks in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, including the exchange of prisoners of war. “Our president noted that an exchange of prisoners of war is taking place, including seriously wounded and prisoners of war under 25 years of age,” Ushakov said, along with expressing readiness to continue negotiations with the Ukrainians. Trump, he said, “noted his interest in a speedy end to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.” Putin also congratulated Trump on his 79th birthday.

Tehran-Washington nuclear talks on Sunday cancelled after Israel strikes targets in Iran
RFI/June 14, 2025
A sixth round of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington planned for this weekend has been cancelled, mediator Oman said Saturday, following waves of Israeli attacks on Iran. "The Iran US-talks scheduled to be held in Muscat this Sunday will not now take place," Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X, adding that "diplomacy and dialogue remain the only pathway to lasting peace". Earlier on, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had confirmed to Qatari-owned television station Al Jazeera that the negotiations were cancelled. Asked on Saturday, “Can we have a clear confirmation that Sunday’s talks are cancelled?”, Araghchi responded, “Yes”.Tehran called discussions about its nuclear programme with the Washington as “meaningless” after Israel launched its biggest-ever military strike against Iran, which Tehran accuses the US of supporting. (With newsagencies)

Iran moves quickly to replace key commanders
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN/Face Book/June 14/2025
Iran moved quickly on June 13 and June 14 to replace the commanders of its armed forces after Israel’s strikes eliminated many key commanders. Israel eliminated Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) and Major General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the surprise attack on June 13. Other killed included Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, the commander of the Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters and Major General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the IRGC's Air Defence arm.
Iran apparently didn’t want any appearance of a power vacuum and moved immediately to appoint temporary commanders in the place of the fallen commanders. For instance, Habibollah Sayyari was named temporary commander of the Iranian Armed Forces, and Ahmad Vahidi was named temporary commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Friday morning. It doesn’t appear either man would stay in his position very long and both appear to have been replaced within hours by permanent appointments. It is likely they will appear in other leadership roles. Sayyari was a former naval officer while Vahidi was a former head of the Quds Force and former Defense Minister. Sayyari has critiqued the IRGC in the past and supported investing in Iran’s “deterrence” power. By June 14 Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had named Major General Mohammad Pakpour as the new commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). Born in 1961 in Arak he studied geography and then became a member of the IRGC Quds Force. He was involved in suppression of Kurds and was sanctioned by European countries. Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi was named the new chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, state media IRNA reported Friday. Mousavi is replacing Bagheri. Mousavi had been the commander of Iran’s army. He left that post to take up his new role. He was quickly replaced as well by Major General Amir Hatami who was appointed the new Chief Commander of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran by Ali Khamenei. Hatami was Defense Minister from 2013-2021. Meanwhile, Major General Ali Shademani was appointed the new commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, succeeding Commander Gholam Ali Rashid, who had been killed on June 13. To replace Hajizadeh, Iran has tapped Brig. Gen. Majid Mousavi. Mousavi has been a deputy head of the IRGC in the past and is an expert in Iran’s missile program. He has served in Iran’s missile force since the 1980s. As such he is well placed to take over the reins of Hajizadeh’s key role. While Iran moved to replace many key officers, it is not clear who will replace some of the others who were reported killed in Israel’s strikes. For instance Ali Shamkhani was a close aide to Khamanei and it is not clear who will take up his role. In addition IRGC Quds Force head Esmail Qaani was also reported killed. He had replaced Qasem Soleimani who was killed in a US drone strike in 2020. He ran the Quds Force for five years. Iran will also need to replace Major General Reza Mehrabi, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence Affairs, and Major General Mahdi Rabbani, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, who were killed.

‘We fight or we die’: How days of frantic diplomacy and dire warnings culminated with Israel’s attack on Iran
Betsy Klein, Sarah Ferris, Katie Bo Lillis, Kylie Atwood and Alayna Treene, CNN/ June 14, 2025
President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum this spring to Iran’s Supreme Leader: Strike a nuclear deal in 60 days, by mid-June, or face consequences. He urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off on attacking Iran to give the negotiations space to progress. But even as Trump administration figures were publicly projecting determination to pursue a diplomatic solution, Israel was privately warning the US that it had already decided to attack. Late last month, a small group of House lawmakers visited Netanyahu in Jerusalem, where he stated firmly that Israel was going to strike Iran – and they were not seeking permission from the US to do so, according to a person who attended the meeting and another person briefed on it. “We fight or we die,” Netanyahu told the lawmakers, according to the people. In response, two of the lawmakers in attendance May 26, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas and Rep. Michael Lawler of New York, urged Israel to coordinate with the US and stressed that the country must let Trump’s 60-day ultimatum for Iran run its course. On Friday, day 61, Israel launched unprecedented strikes on Iran, targeting its nuclear program and military leaders.
“This didn’t just happen overnight,” the attendee told CNN, adding that Trump’s 60-day deadline “was not a bluff.” Trump made a similar point to CNN Friday. “Iran should have listened to me when I said — you know, I gave them, I don’t know if you know but I gave them a 60-day warning and today is day 61,” he said. The attack was much longer in the making – the result of years of meticulous planning by Israel and days of high-stakes talks between Tel Aviv and Washington, according to officials CNN spoke to in both countries. It has long been a priority for Israel to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability, which Netanyahu described Friday as a “threat to Israel’s very survival.”The Trump administration knew in advance it was coming and that Netanyahu was unlikely to be dissuaded, with the US rallying international pressure on Iran even as diplomats sought to keep negotiations alive to the last minute.
Trump has long fashioned himself a dealmaker and, after pulling the US out of the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal in 2018, made clear at the beginning of his second term that he would like to find a new diplomatic solution with Iran. But in the intervening years, Iran had made significant strides toward obtaining a nuclear weapon. The president and top officials had asserted Iran could not obtain a nuclear weapon – but it was unclear whether they would allow Iran to enrich uranium, which hawks in the US and Israel strongly opposed, or how any deal would be different from the Obama agreement.
Israel, meanwhile, was watching Iran’s enrichment efforts with heightened concern and making meticulous plans for an attack. The Israeli intelligence agency Mossad put spies on the ground inside Iran and smuggled weapons into the country, according to Israeli security officials, and would use the weapons to target Iran’s defense from within. The officials said Israel also established a base for launching explosive drones inside Iran. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday said the strikes’ timing was aimed at both thwarting Iran’s capabilities and removing the threat of destruction from Israel.
“We are at a key point where, if we miss it, we will have no way to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons that will threaten our existence,” he said. “We have dealt with Iran’s proxies over the past year and a half, but now we are dealing with the head of the snake itself.”Trump had long warned of potential military strikes if a new nuclear deal wasn’t reached, and Tehran, in turn, said that any attack on it would drag the US into a broader Middle Eastern conflict.
Negotiations on a new deal, led by special presidential envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and moderated by Oman, began in April. The group last met for talks on May 23 in Rome – three days before Netanyahu told US lawmakers he planned to strike – with a sixth round initially scheduled for Sunday in Muscat. On Thursday, hours before the Israeli strikes began, the International Atomic Energy Agency board, a United Nations nuclear watchdog, met and adopted a resolution declaring Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations. The resolution ultimately passed with 19 nations voting in favor, three against, and 11 abstentions, according to Reuters. Governors take a lunch break during the IAEA's Board of Governors meeting at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna, Austria on June 13. IAEA's head Rafael Grossi briefed board members following Israeli strikes on Iran, including on the Natanz uranium enrichment facility.  Two days earlier, the US sent a demarche to eight countries that it viewed as potentially persuadable, urging them to either vote with the US on the IAEA vote or not vote at all, according to a US official. The move marked a major engagement from the US on the issue, which Israel pointed to as one of its rationales for its strikes. Still, White House officials continue to argue after the strikes that the president is committed to salvaging the ongoing nuclear talks. Witkoff is “ready” to meet Iranian officials when they are, whether it be in Oman on Sunday as previously scheduled or at some date thereafter, according to a source familiar with discussions. Trump suggested Friday that Iranian officials had been in touch with him as he continued to express optimism about a deal. “They may have another opportunity. We’ll see,” Trump said. “They’re calling me to speak,” Trump said in an interview with NBC News.Asked who was calling, he said, “The same people we worked with the last time … Many of them are dead now.”
Israel plans
The US had a relatively clear picture of the scope of the Israeli operation as early as last week, when some intelligence officials were already receiving multiple updates daily and were planning for different contingencies depending on how Iran responded, according to one source with direct knowledge of that planning. Although Israel minimized what it shared with the Trump administration, that source said the US understood the targets and order of operations – even if the extent of the damage to Iran, including losses to its leadership, and the question of how Iran would respond remained unknown. On Sunday evening and Monday, Trump and top advisers, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, huddled at Camp David for previously scheduled meetings on a number of foreign policy issues. Among the topics of discussion at the retreat: how to get an Iran nuclear deal done without an escalation. And the clock was ticking. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump speak to reporters at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, on June 8, while travelling to Camp David. - Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump speak to reporters at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, on June 8, while travelling to Camp David. -
That same weekend Witkoff engaged in direct messaging with his Iranian counterpart in the talks, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Early in the week Witkoff also reached out to the Omani intermediaries with a new idea for a possible deal framework, according to a source familiar with the matter. The initial proposal from the US tabled during the 5th round of talks in Rome – which Iran was privately opposed to – was changing. It was unclear what prompted the proposal of a new concept, but by Friday, some people involved in the talks began to think that it was a stalling tactic by Witkoff. But a senior administration official said no stalling tactics were used, with Witkoff working “from the outset to reach a deal under the timeline set by President Trump.”Before he departed Camp David, the president and Netanyahu spoke by phone to discuss Iran. During their call, Trump asked Netanyahu to stop talking about an attack on Iran, a source familiar with the conversation said, and halt the leaks and reports about plans. After the call, the president cast some doubt on prospects nuclear talks would bear fruit. “We’re trying to make a deal so that there’s no destruction and death. And we’ve told him (Netanyahu) that, and I’ve told him that. I hope that’s the way it works out, but it might not work out that way. We’ll soon find out,” Trump told reporters. In a podcast taped the same day, Trump acknowledged to the New York Post he was getting “less confident” about the possibility of a deal. Trump’s rhetoric was becoming less optimistic at the same time US officials were beginning to believe that Iran was not going to accept a deal with the US terms.
A brewing attack
Public signs that something was afoot began to emerge on Wednesday afternoon, US time, when the US State Department prepared to order the departure of non-essential personnel from the US embassy in Iraq and US consulate in Erbil, as well as nonessential personnel and family members at the US embassies in Bahrain and Kuwait, due to what sources described as increased security risks in the region. The president was aware of the decision, a White House official said at the time. Trump began to nod publicly at the possible attack, warning during an East Room event about the potential for a “massive conflict” in the Middle East that could take place “soon.” “We have a lot of American people in this area, and I said, look, we gotta tell them to get out cause something could happen – soon. And I don’t want to be the one that didn’t give any warning and missiles are flying into their buildings,” he said. Top Trump officials were instructed to call their counterparts in the region on Thursday with a message that was heavy on the need for diplomacy and emphasized that the US was not involved. They were not always successful in getting through; Tulsi Gabbard, for example, was unable to reach her Israeli counterpart.
By late Thursday, it was clear to the Trump administration that Israel could not be dissuaded from launching the attacks, according to two other US officials who spoke to CNN at the time. One of the officials said the US thought it might be able to delay the operation by a matter of hours to put in place protections for its own forces in the region, but no more. Trump spoke with Netanyahu multiple times on Thursday. Trump convened a Cabinet-level meeting Thursday as the strikes took place. A carefully balanced message soon went out.
“We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said in a terse statement. “Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”
‘Full-spectrum blitz’
Top Republicans and Democrats in Congress were not surprised that Israel took the step, though some were privately taken aback by the scope. House Speaker Mike Johnson was briefed ahead of the strikes on Thursday, one person said, though there was no Gang of Eight briefing in Congress, per two congressional sources. Top lawmakers, including committee leaders, were scrambling for briefings from the administration on Thursday night and Friday. And even though US diplomats had worried about the increasing likelihood of an Israeli strike on Iran, they were still surprised when it happened Thursday night. “Maybe Donald Trump knew but I don’t think the rest of us did,” one senior US diplomat told CNN. Going into the attacks, intelligence officials believed Iran would have to take stock of what they had left before retaliating, a US official said.
The regime would have to assess whether it has enough left to be a credible deterrent to ensure its survival – or whether they are already on a path to being deposed. If the latter, officials expected Iran could respond with strategic strikes using what was left of their most sophisticated weapons and terror attacks using their various proxy groups in the region. Initial battle damage assessments indicate that the Israeli strikes on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility were extremely effective and went far beyond superficial damage to exterior structures, knocking out the electricity on the lower levels where the centrifuges used to enrich uranium are stored, two US officials told CNN. “This was a full-spectrum blitz,” said another source familiar with early damage assessments. By Friday night, Iran had carried out attacks on “dozens of targets, military centers and air bases,” belonging to Israel, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement. It was not clear how much more would be coming. The US is also closely monitoring events in Iraq, where there is a particular concern about the safety of US troops – not only because of the proximity to the Iranian border but also because there are a number of deeply ideological proxy militia groups loyal to Iran operating there. And although US intelligence officials believe Iran will respond to Israel directly first, they also believe it’s possible that Iran may eventually launch cyber attacks against domestic US critical infrastructure in retaliation. “The situation is pretty fluid,” a US official said Friday as Iran’s response began. “I think it’s gonna be a long night.”

‘It's the civilians who will pay the price’: Iranians prepare for the worst after Israeli strikes
Bahar MAKOOI/France 24/June 14, 2025
The inhabitants of Tehran have been wavering between fear, resignation and anger after unprecedented Israeli strikes on Iranian soil overnight Thursday into Friday and the ensuing hostilities that followed. The strikes targeted nuclear sites, top commanders of the Iranian regime and residential neighborhoods, killing at least 78 people. “I noticed that my internet connection was very weak [Thursday] when I was going to bed, but I never would have imagined waking up to this, even if news was going around about an eventual attack by Israel. We’ve been hearing it for so long that we got used to living our lives as if nothing were about to happen,” said Ahmad*, a resident of the Shariati neighborhood in Tehran, his voice hoarse after little sleep. “I was woken up very early by my mother who wanted to know if we were safe. She lives in the east of Tehran. She was awoken by nearby explosions.”
The 40-year-old engineer and father said he feared what was to come, even though he said he was used to the emotional ups and downs of living in a country where international tensions often threaten to devolve into a full-blown war with Israel and the United States. Although Israeli strikes have already targeted Iran three times in the past – in April, July, and October 2024 – a new line has been crossed. “The Israeli attack was unprecedented because of its scale, and it will without a doubt influence the future of the region in upcoming months,” said Jonathan Piron, a historian specialised in Iran at the Etopia research centre in Brussels in an interview with FRANCE 24.
*Names have been changed to safeguard privacy

Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 16 as war rages on after the opening of a new front with Iran
Wafaa Shurafa And Samy Magdy/The Associated Press/June 14, 2025
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip— At least 16 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip overnight and into Saturday, according to local health officials. The 20-month war with Hamas has raged on even as Israel has opened a new front with heavy strikes on Iran that sparked retaliatory drone and missile attacks. Another 11 Palestinians were killed overnight near food distribution points run by an Israeli- and U.S.-supported humanitarian group in the latest of almost daily shootings near the sites since they opened last month. Palestinian witnesses say Israeli forces have fired on the crowds, while the military says it has only fired warning shots near people it describes as suspects who approached its forces. The military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest shootings. The sites are located in military zones that are off limits to independent media. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private contractor that operates the sites, said they were closed Saturday. But witnesses said thousands had gathered near the sites anyway, desperate for food as Israel's blockade and military campaign have driven the territory to the brink of famine. The al-Awda Hospital said it received eight bodies and at least 125 wounded people from a shooting near a GHF site in central Gaza. Mohamed Abu Hussein, a resident of the built-up Bureij refugee camp nearby, said Israeli forces opened fire toward the crowd about a kilometer (half-mile) from the food distribution point. He said he saw several people fall to the ground as thousands ran away. In the southern city of Khan Younis, the Nasser Hospital said it received 16 dead, including five women, from multiple Israeli strikes late Friday and early Saturday. It said another three men were killed near two GHF aid sites in the southernmost city of Rafah, now a mostly uninhabited military zone. Israel and the United States say the new system is intended to replace a U.N.-run network that has distributed aid across Gaza through 20 months of war. They accuse Hamas of siphoning off the aid and reselling it to fund its militant activities.
U.N. officials deny Hamas has diverted significant amounts of aid and say the new system is unable to meet mounting needs. They say the new system has militarized aid by allowing Israel to decide who has access and by forcing Palestinians to travel long distances or relocate again after waves of displacement.
They say the U.N. has meanwhile struggled to deliver aid even after Israel eased its blockade last month because of military restrictions and rising lawlessness.
Hamas, which is allied with Iran, sparked the war when its fighters led a rampage into southrn Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. They still hold 53 hostages, less than half of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed over 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up more than half of the dead but does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in count.
The offensive has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced 90% of the population of some 2 million Palestinians, leaving them almost entirely reliant on international aid. The war has drawn in Iran and its other allies across the region, igniting a chain of events that led to Israel's major strikes on Iran's nuclear and military facilities on Friday.

Jordan reopens airspace to civilian aircraft
Arab News/June 14, 2025
DUBAI: Jordan has reopened its airspace to civilian aircraft on Saturday, signaling belief there was no longer an immediate danger of further attacks after crossfire between Israel and Iran disrupted East-West travel through the Middle East. But the country “is continuing to assess risks to civil aviation and monitor developments after Jordan’s airspace was reopened this morning,” a statement from the civil aviation authority said, and reported by state-run Petra news. The Kingdom on Friday closed its airspace to all flights due to the barrage of missiles and rockets from Iran. The statement also said airlines would be provided with the “necessary” information to notify passengers and stakeholders of the latest data on air traffic. Lebanon’s government also temporarily reopened its airspace on Saturday. Lebanon reopened its airspace on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. (0700 GMT). The airspace will be shut again starting from 10:30 p.m. (1930 GMT) until 6:00 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Sunday, NNA reported, citing the Lebanese civil aviation authority.

We will recognize the State of Palestine soon, Macron tells Asharq News
Asharq News/June 14, 2025
PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron pledged, in statements to Asharq News on the sidelines of a meeting with journalists and representatives of Palestinian and Israeli civil society institutions, that his country will recognize the State of Palestine at an upcoming conference that France will organize with Saudi Arabia in New York. In response to a question about whether there are conditions for recognizing the Palestinian state, Macron said: “There are no conditions. Recognition will take place through a process that includes stopping the war on Gaza, restoring humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, releasing Israeli hostages, and disarming Hamas.”
He stressed: “This is one package.”
Macron indicated that France and Saudi Arabia have agreed to postpone the UN conference they are co-organizing, which was originally scheduled to take place in New York next week. He noted that current developments have prevented Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from traveling to New York.
Macron explained that he had spoken several times with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday and Palestinian President Abbas, and it was agreed to “postpone the meeting to a date in the near future.”He also claimed that the president of Indonesia, which currently does not officially recognize Israel, had pledged to do so if France recognizes the State of Palestine. Macron emphasized “the need for maintaining this dynamic.”The International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine, scheduled to be held in New York from June 17-20 and co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, outlined in its paper a commitment to the “two-state solution” as the foundational reference. The paper defines a timeline for implementation, outlines the practical obligations of all parties involved, and calls for the establishment of international mechanisms to ensure the continuity of the process. Asharq News obtained a copy of the paper, which asserts that the implementation of the two-state solution must proceed regardless of local or regional developments. It ensures the full recognition of a Palestinian state as part of a political solution that upholds people’s rights and responds to their aspirations for peace and security. The paper highlights that the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and the war on Gaza have led to an unprecedented escalation in violence and casualties, resulting in the most severe humanitarian crisis to date, widespread destruction, and immense suffering for civilians on both sides, including detainees, their families, and residents of Gaza. It further confirms that settlement activities pose a threat to the two-state solution, which it states is the only path to achieving a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the region. The paper notes that the settlement activities undermine regional and international peace, security, and prosperity. According to the paper, the conference aims to alter the current course by building on national, regional, and international initiatives and adopting concrete measures to uphold international law. The conference will also focus on advancing a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace that ensures security for all the people of the region and fosters regional integration. The conference reaffirms the international community’s unwavering commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian cause and the two-state solution, highlighting the urgent need to act in pursuit of these objectives.

Israel attacks Yemen attempting to assassinate senior Houthi figure: Reports
Reuters/15 June ,2025
The Israeli media said on Saturday that the Israeli military recently attacked Yemen, attempting to assassinate senior Houthi figure. The Iran-backed Houthis, who control parts of Yemen, have carried out more than 100 attacks on ships plying the Red Sea since November 2023, in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

Egypt delays opening of massive new museum
AFP/June 14, 2025
CAIRO: Egyptian authorities announced on Saturday that the long-awaited inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum, known as GEM, would once again be delayed as a result of escalating regional tensions. “In view of the ongoing regional developments, it was decided to postpone the official inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which was scheduled for July 3,” the Tourism and Antiquities Ministry said in a statement. Spanning 50 hectares, the GEM is twice the size of both Paris’ Louvre and New York’s Metropolitan, and two-and-a-half times that of the British Museum, according to its director. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told a press conference on Saturday that the grand opening would be delayed until the last quarter of this year. In view of current events, “we believed it would be appropriate to delay this big event so that it can maintain the appropriate global momentum,” he added. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has previously described the GEM as “the largest archeological museum in the world dedicated to one civilization.”The opening of the massive, ultra-modern museum situated near the Giza Pyramids has been repeatedly delayed over the years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons.

Trump’s military parade kicks off as protests sweep US
AFP, Washington/15 June ,2025
US President Donald Trump kicked off his long dreamt-of military parade in Washington on his 79th birthday Saturday, as tens of thousands of protesters rallied across the country to call him a dictator. Trump saluted after walking onto a huge stage in front of the White House, with two huge tanks parked nearby, while a 21-gun salute rang out and the national anthem played. The parade, officially marking the 250th anniversary of the US Army but also coinciding with Trump’s birthday, was set to feature tanks, a flyover and nearly 7,000 troops marching past. But the deep political divisions in the United States were underscored as “No Kings” demonstrators earlier took to the streets in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Washington, Houston and Atlanta. The killing of a Democratic lawmaker and her husband in Minnesota also cast a pall over the parade. Trump was quick to condemn the attacks outside Minneapolis in which former state speaker Melissa Hortman died along with her husband, while another state lawmaker and his wife were hospitalized with gunshot wounds. The “No Kings” demonstrators were protesting what they call Trump’s dictatorial overreach, and in particular what they call the strongman symbolism of the biggest parade in Washington for decades. “I think it’s disgusting,” protester Sarah Hargrave, 42, told AFP at a protest in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, describing Trump’s parade as a “display of authoritarianism.”Republican Trump, who has begun his second term by pushing presidential powers to unprecedented levels, boasted earlier on his Truth Social network that it was a “big day for America!!!”He added that Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, for whom he has repeatedly expressed admiration, had “very nicely” called him to wish him a happy birthday. The two leaders also agreed on the need for an end to the Iran-Israel conflict -- a war in which US forces are aiding Israel to shoot down Tehran’s missiles.
Political violence
The “No Kings” protest organizers expected millions of people to take part in 1,500 cities in the rest of the country. Some protesters targeted Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida -- while a small group even gathered in Paris. Thousands turned out in Los Angeles to protest Trump’s deployment of troops in the country’s second-largest city following clashes sparked by immigration raids. The White House dismissed the rallies. “The so-called No Kings protests have been a complete and utter failure with minuscule attendance,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a post on X, despite photos of large crowds in a number of cities. Trump had promised to use “very big force” if protesters attempt to disrupt the army parade in Washington. But disruption could also come from thunderstorms forecast to hit Washington as the parade continues. Trump put on a brave face, saying on Truth Social: “Our great military parade is on, rain or shine. Remember, a rainy day parade brings good luck. I’ll see you all in DC.”

Keir Starmer reiterates need to ‘de-escalate’ Israel-Iran conflict
Caitlin Doherty, Deputy Political Editor/PA Media: UK News/June 14, 2025
Iran retaliates after Israeli strikes target nuclear programme and militaryScroll back up to restore default view. Sir Keir Starmer has reiterated the need to “de-escalate” the conflict between Israel and Iran as the diplomatic push to calm tensions continues. The Prime Minister spoke to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, on Saturday afternoon, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy was expected to spend the day in talks with counterparts across the Middle East and elsewhere. It comes after Iran launched retaliatory attacks against Israel overnight. A Downing Street spokesperson said Sir Keir and the Crown Prince spoke on Saturday afternoon. According to a read-out of the conversation issued by Number 10, “they discussed the gravely concerning situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to de-escalate”. “The Prime Minister updated on his conversations with partners so far, and reiterated that the UK is poised to work closely with its allies in the coming days to support a diplomatic resolution.”The Foreign Secretary was due to be briefed by officials on Saturday on the developments overnight, and was expected to speak to figures in the Middle East and elsewhere through the day.
It comes after Mr Lammy had conversations with representatives from Iran, Jordan and Saudi Arabia as well as European foreign ministers on Friday. Iranian state media said Tehran has warned the US, the UK and France not to help Israel stop Iran’s strikes, according to reports on Saturday.
Iran launched missile and drone strikes on Israel overnight after a series of Israeli attacks on the heart of Tehran’s nuclear programme and armed forces. Tehran’s UN ambassador said 78 people had been killed and more than 320 wounded in Israel’s attacks, while Tehran’s response was said to have killed at least three and wounded dozens. Speaking to broadcasters on Friday evening, Mr Lammy said: “I spoke to my Iranian counterpart today to urge restraint at this time and calm. I recognise that this is a moment of grave peril in the Middle East.”Sir Keir and US President Donald Trump called for “diplomacy and dialogue” in a call on Friday, amid a diplomatic flurry from western nations to try to calm the conflict. A Cobra meeting of high-level ministers was convened on Friday afternoon to discuss the situation. The same is not expected on Saturday but Whitehall officials were expected to be meeting. The conflict was ignited by early morning Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear bases on Friday. Israel said the barrage was necessary before Iran got any closer to building a nuclear weapon, although experts and the US government have assessed that Tehran was not actively working on such a weapon. Iran retaliated with waves of drones and ballistic missiles, with explosions lighting up the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Sir Keir is set for discussions with other world leaders at the G7 summit in Canada next week. Tensions between Israel, the US and Iran have escalated in recent weeks, amid negotiations over the Iranian nuclear deal, which is aimed at preventing the country from developing nuclear weapons.

Palestinians killed in shooting near Gaza aid site, reports say
Sebastian Usher - BBC News/June 14, 2025
Palestinians are reported to have been killed and wounded in another shooting as they gathered near an aid distribution site in central Gaza. According to Palestinian journalists, those killed were fired on by Israeli troops. Information on Saturday's incident is scarce as the internet has been down in Gaza for more than two days. There has been no comment from the IDF as yet. In previous incidents, the Israeli military said troops opened fire when suspects approached them in what they deemed a threatening manner. Many of those waiting to pick up aid may not know that the distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation - backed by Israel and the US - are closed until Sunday. The organisation posts updates on its Facebook page, which only those with e-sim cards on their phones are able to access, because of the internet blackout. This has only added to the confusion that has increasingly surrounded the delivery of aid in Gaza, with each day seeing incidents in which people are shot at by Israeli troops or local gunmen. Aid supplies and the internet are vital for people in Gaza - the current lack of both lifelines is rendering their plight even more desperate. Large numbers of Palestinians appear to be staying near the aid distribution sites - one in the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza and three others further south - so that they will be ready to get hold of food parcels when and if they are opened. There is also increasing concern being expressed by aid groups and medics that Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza may lose its ability to provide essential treatment for those with injuries from shootings near distribution points in Rafah. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that Nasser Hospital is struggling to function. An ICRC source initially suggested most of Nasser Hospital's healthcare workers had left - following the expansion of evacuation orders from the IDF - but later clarified that the hospital had lost around 10% of its staff. One of the doctors who has recently been working at Nasser Hospital, Dr Feroze Sidwa, has called for international support to keep it going. "If international law has any remaining relevance, Nasser must be protected and resupplied, and its staff must be protected immediately," Dr Sidwa said. Dr Victoria Rose, who was working at Nasser hospital in May, issued an even more urgent warning: "This is the only hospital in the south of Gaza. Nowhere else has ITU beds, a CT scanner, oxygen generating capability, haemodialysis or a blood bank. "Hundreds of patients will instantly die and all surgery will now have to take place in tents."It has been 20 months since Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led cross-border attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. At least 55,207 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

Why Trump Is the Most Impotent President in Living Memory
Jack Revell/The Daily Beast/June 14, 2025
President Donald Trump is rapidly becoming even more of a punchline on the world stage, according to foreign policy expert David Rothkopf, who appeared on Friday’s episode of The Daily Beast Podcast to deliver a scathing assessment of Trump’s global irrelevance. “I would argue he may be the most impotent president of the United States that we’ve seen in our lifetimes,” Rothkopf told host Joanna Coles. “He’s alienated our allies, undermined our economy, attacked the international system—and he hasn’t made a single deal.”The former Clinton administration official and regular Daily Beast contributor painted a picture of a leader increasingly out of his depth. The latest example of Trump’s ineptitude? His seemingly impulsive decision to claim credit for Friday’s Israeli air strikes on Iran—even after his own Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied prior knowledge and said Israel had acted “unilaterally.” Both Trump and the Israelis then scrambled to make the attack look like a joint effort. “Trump wants to be the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral,” Rothkopf quipped, mocking the president’s need to put himself at the center of every news story. It’s far from the only instance. Rothkopf criticized the president’s self-proclaimed deal-making prowess, which has yet to yield any actual deals. “It’s just not the same as cutting a real estate deal in New York City with your cronies,” Rothkopf said. Rothkopf also ripped into Trump’s gutted National Security Council, his refusal to sit for intelligence briefings, and his obsession with optics over outcomes. “Tulsi Gabbard is trying to make intelligence briefings look like a Fox News show because that’s the only thing Trump will watch,” he said. International leaders aren’t buying the act either, according to Rothkopf. “People are making fun of Trump publicly on stage,” he said. “They just don’t think he’s a serious character.”While the international order appears increasingly fragmented, Trump is sending in both the National Guard and the military against protests described by the administration as an “insurrection.” There could not be a worse time to have someone as incompetent as Trump in charge of the country, Rothkopf argues. “People around the world look at it and they say the U.S. is collapsing.”

Iraq reopens Syria crossing for trade and passenger traffic
Reuters/June 14, 2025
ANBAR -Iraq has officially reopened the Qaim border crossing with Syria for trade and passenger traffic, a spokesman for the Iraqi border authority said on Saturday, marking a key step in efforts to normalise relations and revive economic ties between the two countries. “The Qaim crossing is now fully operational for both cargo trucks and civilian movement,” the spokesman told Reuters, adding that the reopening followed joint security assessments by Iraqi and Syrian officials.The move comes three months after Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani visited Baghdad and urged Iraq to resume cross-border trade. The crossing had been shut in the wake of the revolt that toppled President Bashar al-Assad. A statement from the Iraqi border crossings authority said the first Syrian truck entered the crossing on Saturday after inspection, marking a significant step in strengthening economic cooperation between Iraq and Syria. "Passenger movement has also resumed in order to ease the burden on Iraqi citizens when traveling in and out of the country", the statement said. The reopening is also seen as a sign of warming ties between Baghdad and Syria’s new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has sought to re-establish diplomatic and economic relations with regional neighbours. Iraqi officials say the two governments have intensified coordination on border security and trade facilitation since al-Sharaa took office last year.“This crossing will serve as a strategic corridor for commodity trade between Iraq and Syria,” said Turki al-Mahallawi, mayor of the town of al-Qaim, where the border post is located.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on June 14-15/2025
Iran Saw What Looked Like Weakness - Then Time Ran Out
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/June 14/2025
These empty threats [to Hamas in January and Iran in March], more than anything, seem to have reinforced Iran's belief that it could stall, maneuver, and harden its position while the U.S. scrambled, desperate for a leverage it appeared to have dropped.
The U.S. appeared afraid of escalation. The U.S. seemed to want a deal more than Iran did.
Iran's negotiators dragged their feet, demanded more concessions, and eventually made it unmistakably clear that they would not halt uranium enrichment. Khamenei, in a rare address, explicitly stated that uranium enrichment was Iran's "sovereign right" and "not subject to foreign dictates."
Instead of walking away, Trump did something that most likely stunned even Iran's most skeptical officials -- he reached out to Russia. He asked Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran's closest global ally, to help mediate a deal. After drawing red lines and watching them crumble, after declaring enrichment a non-negotiable issue, the U.S. turned to Russia -- the same Russia that Iran is arming in the Ukraine conflict -- for help. For Iran, this was not just weakness. It was a full display of incompetence.
In Tehran's calculus, this moment confirmed everything it had suspected: that the U.S. was willing to crawl, plead and negotiate on its knees to get Iran to... sign a piece of paper! They saw Trump's pivot to Putin as a validation of their strategy -- stall, resist, and wait for Washington to blink.
Meanwhile, Israel had been sounding the alarm for years. Its intelligence services repeatedly uncovered secret Iranian sites, hidden stockpiles and covert operations.... Time had run out.
The Islamic Republic of Iran was no longer hiding its ambitions or disguising its defiance. It was openly confronting the United States, discarding every red line and ultimatum Washington drew in the sand.
At the center of the regime's defiance lay one uncompromising reality: Iran would not stop enriching uranium. U.S. President Donald J. Trump made it clear: if Iran wanted a deal, enrichment had to stop. Period. Iran repeatedly came back with "no." Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his top nuclear negotiators declared again and again that enrichment was off the table. In fact, they escalated it. Iran's leaders mistook Trump's preference not to use crushing military force for a lack of resolve to stop them.
Iran, mistaking hesitation for weakness in Washington, grew more aggressive. The regime seemed to believe it had the upper hand, that the United States was desperate for a deal and would be willing to negotiate indefinitely at any cost. To Iran's regime, American ultimatums seemed to have been just big, empty talk. What the regime saw was that earlier in the year, on March 7, Trump gave Iran a two-month deadline: agree to end enrichment and return to a clean nuclear slate -- or face serious consequences. Iran stood pat. May 7 came and went -- nothing happened. No sanctions snapback. No diplomatic rupture. No military escalation. In Tehran's eyes, this must have appeared not a bluff being called -- but a bluff being folded.
Earlier in the year, in January, Trump had issued a similar warning to Hamas: retuned all the hostages or "all hell would break out," Washington had talked tough but failed to act. These empty threats, more than anything, seem to have reinforced Iran's belief that it could stall, maneuver, and harden its position while the U.S. scrambled, desperate for a leverage it appeared to have dropped.
The U.S. appeared afraid of escalation. The U.S. seemed to want a deal more than Iran did. Iran's negotiators dragged their feet, demanded more concessions, and eventually made it unmistakably clear that they would not halt uranium enrichment. Khamenei, in a rare address, explicitly stated that uranium enrichment was Iran's "sovereign right" and "not subject to foreign dictates." Iran's parliament echoed his sentiment with unanimous declarations supporting continued enrichment. At that moment, talks could have ended. The red line was crossed. The deal was dead.
Instead of walking away, Trump did something that most likely stunned even Iran's most skeptical officials -- he reached out to Russia. He asked Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran's closest global ally, to help mediate a deal. After drawing red lines and watching them crumble, after declaring enrichment a non-negotiable issue, the U.S. turned to Russia -- the same Russia that Iran is arming in the Ukraine conflict -- for help. For Iran, this was not just weakness. It was a full display of incompetence.
In Tehran's calculus, this moment confirmed everything it had suspected: that the U.S. was willing to crawl, plead and negotiate on its knees to get Iran to... sign a piece of paper! They saw Trump's pivot to Putin as a validation of their strategy -- stall, resist, and wait for Washington to blink. Iran has been here before. During the original JCPOA negotiations under President Barack Obama, Tehran mastered the art of delay and misdirection, while the West -- eager to claim a diplomatic victory -- handed them billions of dollars and unlimited legitimacy. Now, once again, Iran saw an opportunity to drag the U.S. back to the table, this time, on Iran's terms.
Iran had tested the boundaries and found that there were none. It had called the Trump administration's bluff, and Team Trump was holding a pair of deuces. From the regime's perspective, what had begun as a campaign of "maximum pressure" had turned into a theater of "maximum posturing." The regime not only rejected America's demands but accelerated its program. Iran straightforwardly said it would not do what Libya's Muammar Qaddafi did: it would not roll back its program and would not voluntarily disarm. The lesson of Libya was clear to Iran's hardliners: disarmament leads to regime collapse. Enrichment was the regime's insurance policy. That was why every effort to "negotiate" away Iran's nuclear capability was not just futile for the West -- it was dangerous.
Emboldened by Washington's hesitation, every day that passed without action was a day Iran gained ground. Meanwhile, Israel had been sounding the alarm for years. Its intelligence services repeatedly uncovered secret Iranian sites, hidden stockpiles and covert operations. The window to act was closing. The time for half-measures had passed. Time had run out. **Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, is a political scientist, Harvard-educated analyst, and board member of Harvard International Review. He has authored several books on the US foreign policy. He can be reached at dr.rafizadeh@post.harvard.edu
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https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21684/iran-weakness

Israel Goes to War with Iran
Maha Yahya/Diwan/June 14, 2025
After decades of threats and years of planning, Israel has launched a widescale military assault on Iran. In doing so, it has pried open a Pandora’s box of possibly catastrophic consequences. Despite its assertion that this was a preemptive strike, Israel is clearly the instigator. The campaign marks yet another step in the erosion of international law and diplomatic norms most evident in the Gaza war. While the exchange of fire between the two countries is not new, the extent of Israel’s offensive is unprecedented and seems to have two goals: dismantling Iran’s nuclear program and destabilizing the Iranian regime by destroying its military capacity. The attack has caused significant damage to Iran’s military capacities as well as nuclear facilities, including the Natanz nuclear site. In addition to nearly 80 civilians, the attacks have killed at least six nuclear scientists (out of some 25 who appear to have been targeted), as well as several members of the military leadership, many of whom were sleeping in their beds. The list includes Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces; Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC); Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC’s air force; Esmail Qaani, commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force; and Ali Shamkhani, a close aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the country’s chief representative in talks with Saudi Arabia as well as nuclear talks with the United States. Iran’s retaliation has killed three Israeli civilians but proven largely ineffective, with nearly all the drones and missiles it has launched against Israel thus far intercepted before they reached their targets.
Why Is It Important?
The strikes replicated Israel’s strategy of decapitating the leadership of Lebanon’s Hezbollah while simultaneously crippling the group’s military capacities. They place the region on an escalatory conflict trajectory and have scuttled the nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, the next round of which was scheduled to take place on Sunday in Oman. We are clearly at a critical juncture. Will the attacks push Iran to double down on its nuclear program? Even if it does not do so, force alone will not eradicate the country’s military nuclear capacities, meaning that a return to the negotiating table will be necessary. But in this instance, Iran would be returning with a weaker hand. Indeed, militarily, Iran is in its most vulnerable position in decades. The country’s missile production facilities and air defenses were significantly damaged by Israel’s October 2024 attack. Its economy has been weakened by decades of extensive sanctions, and its forward defense strategy, namely its reliance on powerful regional partners and proxies such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and Ansar Allah, has been decimated over the past year and a half of the Gaza war. Additionally, the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria disrupted Iran-Hezbollah weapons supply routes. Unlike October 2023, when Hezbollah launched direct attacks on Israel once the Gaza conflict began, this time the party has signaled that its support for Iran will not translate into direct military engagement with the Jewish state. More critically, the extent of Israel’s penetration of Iranian security services, which included the smuggling of drones to secret facilities in Iran, from which some of the attacks took place, cannot but humiliate Tehran. Unable to defend the homeland, the Iranian regime looks weak to its own people.
What Are the Implications for the Future?
What will unfold over the coming days remains unclear. Much will depend on Iran’s response to these unprecedented attacks and whether the United States, which has signaled support for Israel’s actions, will allow itself to be dragged more directly into the conflict. President Trump has indicated in a tweet that the United States may provide the munitions needed to penetrate Iran’s underground nuclear facilities. Beyond attacking Israel directly, Iran’s response options present an acute dilemma. Striking Saudi oil facilities, the Gulf region’s critical infrastructure, and U.S. interests or personnel would risk alienating states that could facilitate de-escalation. Disruption of maritime shipping in the Red Sea or the Strait of Hormuz by Ansar Allah could seriously affect the global economy and lead to a further increase in oil prices. And while many in the Gulf countries, as well as Lebanese, Yemenis, Syrians and others who have borne the brunt of Iran’s regional activities, are not sad to see Iran’s military capacities weakened, they are extremely worried about the trajectory the region is on.
It will also take time to assess the impact of these attacks on the regime. In the short term, Iranians are likely to rally around the flag. But in the long term, the humiliating blow dealt to Iran’s military leadership may undermine the political regime’s stranglehold and could blow open the country’s internal fissures. Meanwhile, for Tehran’s regional partners and proxies, the challenge is even more potent. The weakening of Iran further enfeebles these groups—including Hezbollah, once the crown jewel of Iran’s axis of resistance. It underscores Hezbollah’s existential challenge, which is how to reshape its identity beyond the resistance narrative. While the party’s predicament may strengthen the Lebanese president and prime minister in their quest to consolidate all arms in the hands of the state, Hezbollah will seek even more forcefully to extract political gains in exchange for giving up its weapons.
Ultimately, this military offensive, which may continue for some time, has placed the region on an escalatory path. Where it leads cannot yet be determined. Much as we failed to imagine the full regional impact unleashed by Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, it is difficult if not impossible for us to predict the fallout of the latter’s attack on Iran. What we can say for certain is that the region is now in the throes of a profound transformation that will take years if not decades to fully manifest itself.
https://carnegieendowment.org/middle-east/diwan/2025/06/israel-goes-to-war-with-iran?lang=en&center=middle-east

Israel vs. Iran: a view from Riyadh
Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/June 14, 2025
As regional tensions rise following Israeli military strikes on Iran, Saudi Arabia remains committed to its longstanding principles: de-escalation, diplomatic solutions, and international cooperation. The Kingdom has firmly condemned Israel’s actions, calling them violations of international law, and warning that continued escalation will only complicate efforts to achieve long-term stability.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy has consistently prioritized peaceful resolutions, advocating for diplomacy over military confrontation. Riyadh urges all involved parties to exercise restraint and seek constructive dialogue instead of further aggression. The Kingdom has also called on the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to take decisive steps in preventing further destabilization.
In response to the crisis, Saudi leadership has actively engaged with regional and global allies to discuss possible solutions and ensure coordinated efforts toward de-escalation. Riyadh remains committed to fostering discussions that prevent further violence and promote lasting peace.
Saudi Arabia has made its position on sovereignty clear. It will not allow its airspace to be used for any military operations, regardless of their origin or target. This policy underscores the Kingdom’s dedication to safeguarding its national security, while maintaining its stance against direct involvement in military conflicts.
Saudi Arabia envisions a broader transformation for the Middle East — one that prioritizes regional integration over conflict.
To ensure consistency in messaging, Saudi Arabia has strategically emphasized its official statements through media channels. News networks have been instructed to broadcast the Kingdom’s position at regular intervals, reinforcing its commitment to diplomatic solutions. Additionally, Saudi analysts appearing on television have been carefully selected to align with the Kingdom’s stance, ensuring a unified message that promotes stability.
Beyond the immediate crisis, Saudi Arabia envisions a broader transformation for the Middle East — one that prioritizes security, economic cooperation, and regional integration over conflict. The Kingdom’s leadership aims to shift focus away from confrontation toward prosperity, ensuring that nations collaborate to improve living standards and build a more stable future.
As tensions continue, Saudi Arabia remains a stabilizing force, advocating for diplomacy, urging international cooperation, and reinforcing its commitment to regional peace. The Kingdom stands ready to work with its global partners to reduce tensions and guide the region toward lasting security and prosperity.
As such, global partners are strongly advised to work closely with Riyadh to avert the consequences of a wide-ranging and uncontainable war that will inevitably threaten populations on both sides, damage civilian infrastructure, and increase the cost of commodities, including oil, which veteran Independent Arabia business analyst Ghaleb Darwish predicts could rise above $100.
This approach highlights Saudi Arabia’s role as a responsible leader, ensuring that Middle East conflicts are addressed through peaceful means and that stability remains the priority. Riyadh’s continued emphasis on diplomacy and cooperation serves as a crucial foundation for shaping the future of the region.
**Faisal J. Abbas is the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News. X: @FaisalJAbbas

The enemy of my enemy could be my enemy as well
Yossi Mekelberg//Arab News/June 14, 2025
Not every proverb that sounds plausible is necessarily universally true, and “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” which is thought to originate from an Indian Sanskrit treatise, the Arthasastra, dating back to around the 4th century B.C., is no exception. On more than one occasion in history, the enemy of one’s enemy has proved, in fact, to be one’s enemy as well. I was reminded of this proverb when I learned that Israeli authorities have been arming a Palestinian militia in Gaza — as if there was not already enough weaponry there to cause horrific bloodshed — as part of their efforts to “eliminate” Hamas.
For more than a year we have repeatedly heard from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel was “a step away from victory” in this effort. This has proved to be more a case of wishful thinking than reality.
Netanyahu has now publicly acknowledged that Israel is arming what it calls a “clan” that operates in the Rafah area and is led by Yasser Abu Shabab who, according to the European Council on Foreign Affairs, is a gang leader who is widely accused of looting aid trucks, has been jailed by Hamas for drug smuggling, and “has alleged ties” with Daesh. Not your ordinary guy who you would want to mix with, then. His group consists of anything from 100 to 250 armed men, and is somewhere between a militia and a criminal gang — most probably both.
To find an ally in times of conflict is to gain an asset, and to divide and rule is another war tactic known since the dawn of history. But if allies are not selected carefully, the long-term unintended consequences can be worse than the immediate supposed benefits. The Soviet Union was hardly a friend of the West after the Second World War, but the US decision to arm the mujahideen when the Russians invaded Afghanistan came back to haunt Washington, for example.
Similarly, Israel’s support of Hamas in its early days, as a counter to Fatah, and continuing to do so until the disastrous consequences of this manifested themselves on Oct. 7, 2023, was an act of sheer self-harm. Why they would now repeat that mistake with a similar folly is incomprehensible.
Netanyahu did not hide his true intentions when asked about arming Abu Shabab’s group. He said: “We have mobilized clans in Gaza that oppose Hamas. What’s wrong with that?” The answer to his question is: Where do we start?
Netanyahu’s interpretation of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” reveals ignorance and an extreme lack of judgment, possibly signs of desperation, and the air of a colonialist approach. He is confusing the concept of a clan with what is simply a band of criminals, wrongly equating the latter with legitimate local leaders who represent the best interests of their people — alliances that have been a method of maintaining control that occupying forces have employed for centuries.
But forging an alliance with legitimate local leaders is very different from being in cahoots with those who for months have been accused by Palestinians and international humanitarian organizations of looting aid lorries and profiting from the misery of their own people.
In their inability to achieve the unrealistic goal of eliminating Hamas, Israeli authorities are instead coming up with ideas that are detached from reality. In this case they are looking for allies that appear uninterested in helping to fulfill the national aspirations of the Palestinian people and instead are more interested in enriching themselves, and possibly gaining political power.
Netanyahu has now publicly acknowledged that Israel is arming Yasser Abu Shabab, a gang leader who is widely accused of looting aid trucks.
It is obvious why Israel opposes Hamas remaining in control of Gaza. But the organization has said — though the claim has yet to be tested — it is prepared to hand over governance of the territory to any Palestinian organization that is agreed upon nationally and regionally. However, it insists it will not disband, and so a formula is required to ensure the organization does not pose a threat to Israeli security or Palestinian unity. Netanyahu also rejects postwar Palestinian Authority governance of Gaza, having declared this year that “the day after the war in Gaza, neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority will be there.”
This approach raises the suspicion that by supporting armed militias, Israel is deliberately becoming an agent of chaos whose goal is not necessarily to defeat Hamas but to prolong the war indefinitely, thus helping to ensure Netanyahu’s government remains in power, at least until next year’s general election.
In recent weeks, we have seen demonstrations of spontaneous popular opposition to Hamas, despite a brutal crackdown on such dissent by the organization, with hundreds of demonstrators calling for it to be ousted and the war to end.
Considering the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza — recently described during an interview with the BBC by International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric as “worse than hell on Earth” — it is only to be expected that ordinary Gazans, who for nearly two years have been enduring such a hellish situation, would vent their anger against both Israel and Hamas. But the engagement by Israel with clans and militias, and even gangs, has nothing to do with trying to alleviate the suffering of the 2.3 million people of Gaza; it is all about creating a force to counter Hamas, and to undermine the Palestinian Authority and also the Palestine Liberation Organization’s position as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
While some clans in Gaza were approached last year with the aim of creating an opposition to Hamas, the Abu Shabab gang is not regarded as a clan but calls itself, according to media reports, an “antiterror service,” with no clear aims or indication of who it serves. If this is truly the case, Israel is creating a monster that will take a long time to contain once it is let loose, as we have seen with similar situations in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. And it will pose a threat, first and foremost, to Israel itself.
When countries embark on risky experiments of this kind with nonstate actors, they toy with the idea that they will always be able to control and even disarm them when they have outlived their usefulness.
History shows us that in many cases, such groups develop their own sets of interests and revenue streams, not to mention coalitions with like-minded armed groups, sometimes even those they were initially supposed to contain. Meanwhile the country that initially sponsored them tends to lose control of them.
Worse still for Israel, since Abu Shabab is depicted on social media in Gaza as “the Israeli agent” — in other words a traitor, which in the middle of a bitter war is as good as putting a bounty on his head — he has an incentive either to eventually join forces with Hamas, or simply turn on Israel using the weapons it put in his hands. This might be the right time for the Netanyahu government to recognize that there are better ways to undermine extremism and fundamentalism than encouraging civil war. In this case, they begin with ending the killing of innocent civilians, allowing humanitarian aid to reach those that so desperately need it, and then recognizing the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. It would be well worth checking this alternative path in place of the one Israel is on.
• Yossi Mekelberg is a professor of international relations and an associate fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House.
X: @YMekelberg

Has the Russia-Ukraine conflict taken a back seat?
Luke Coffey/Arab News/June 14, 2025
Nearly 150 days after returning to the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump is no closer to brokering a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia than he was on Day 1. This was a signature issue of his campaign. He regularly criticized President Joe Biden’s handling of the conflict and claimed that had he been in office, the war would never have started. Although foreign policy did not dominate the 2024 election, Trump consistently argued that only he could bring the two sides to the negotiating table and deliver results where others had failed.
Upon taking office, however, he quickly discovered that the reality was more complicated. After initially promising he could achieve peace in 24 hours, almost five months later any reference to a timeline has quietly disappeared.
The problem of finding a path to peace stems from several overlapping challenges. Firstly, the Trump administration is trying to address too many major foreign policy issues at once. This scattershot approach has diluted focus and prevented a sustained effort on any single objective.
In addition to the pursuit of peace in Ukraine, Trump is also renegotiating major trade agreements. The deteriorating US-China relationship, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, consumes a significant share of attention. Meanwhile, the revived nuclear talks with Iran and the Israeli attack on Iran have emerged as another top-tier priority, often bumping other diplomatic efforts — such as Ukraine — down the list.
Another major hurdle is the lack of internal coordination within the US government. Disjointed messaging and inconsistent policy execution have plagued the administration’s approach.
The Department of Defense and intelligence agencies have paused or scaled back various forms of assistance to Ukraine at different points over the past few months. Congressional pressure, especially from those Republicans who remain committed to aiding Ukraine, has helped keep support flowing but uncertainty looms. Most estimates suggest existing funding will run out by late summer. Yet the administration has offered no clear plan for what happens next. Moscow knows this and is stalling to buy time.
More troubling is the apparent reluctance to exert serious pressure on Russia. In recent months, most of the diplomatic pressure has been directed at Ukraine, which has complied with nearly every US request since Trump returned to office. This lopsided approach is unsustainable. If the administration is truly committed to peace, then some of the burden must also be placed on Moscow. Perhaps the most damaging dynamic at play is the internal division within the president’s own party. The Republican coalition is fractured when it comes to America’s role in the world, and those divisions are spilling into the administration’s foreign policy. The Republican coalition is fractured when it comes to America’s role in the world.
One faction, small but principled, consists of Reagan-style conservatives who believe in strong American leadership abroad. They argue that support for Ukraine advances US national security by weakening one of America’s top adversaries. But they are increasingly isolated within a broader conservative movement that is shifting toward skepticism, and in some cases outright hostility, toward international engagement.
A second, and more vocal, faction is the isolationist wing. These conservatives view America’s involvement in Ukraine as a costly distraction and argue that US interests are not at stake. They want a reduced global footprint and see aid to Ukraine as a waste of taxpayer money.
Then there are the so-called “prioritizers,” who argue that all US resources — strategic, diplomatic and military — should be redirected toward confronting China. They believe that maintaining global commitments in Europe or the Middle East undermines America’s ability to face its greatest long-term challenge, in Asia. Finally, there is a fringe, but increasingly vocal, group within the party who believe that Russia should be considered a potential US partner. They argue that Washington should seek detente with Moscow as a way of counterbalancing China. Not only is this dangerously naive, it also ignores Russia’s record of aggression and subversion against the West.
This internal infighting is not only undermining US policy toward Ukraine, it is also creating uncertainty among other traditional American allies. These partners, who have long relied on steady and predictable US leadership, are increasingly unsure of Washington’s commitment. The lack of consensus within the White House is weakening America’s global credibility and making it more difficult to rally coalitions in defense of shared interests.
So what can Trump do? There is no question that he wants to end the war. Beyond the humanitarian interest, he sees a successful peace deal as a way to define his legacy as the leader who brought peace to Europe when others could not. But good intentions are not enough; if he is serious, he must take concrete steps.Firstly, the White House must work with Congress to pass a strong package of sanctions that could be enacted if Russia refuses to negotiate in good faith. Secondly, there must be a contingency plan to ensure continued military and financial support to Ukraine if current funding expires. To reassure those concerned about the cost, the recently signed critical minerals agreement between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could help finance continued US aid.
Trump must also intensify his diplomatic outreach. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, both of which have played meaningful roles in prior negotiations, could serve as conveners for future talks. The White House should actively coordinate with these actors, and others who can help bring both sides to the table. While the path to peace remains uncertain, the right strategy — one that combines pressure, incentives, and diplomacy — could get peace talks back on track. If Trump can get this right, he will not only bolster his own legacy, he could end a brutal war, bring a just and fair peace to Ukraine, reaffirm American leadership, and help bring lasting peace to the transatlantic region.
• Luke Coffey is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.
X: @LukeDCoffey

MENA’s digital transformation must not ignore well-being
Sara Al-Mulla/Arab News/June 14, 2025
To the casual observer, the digital transformation sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa region appears dazzling, changing the way people learn, work and connect. With some of the highest internet and smartphone penetration rates globally, the region’s transformation is powered by ambitious national visions, youthful populations and robust telecommunications infrastructures. But amid this momentum, the notion of digital well-being is becoming vital to ensure progress does not come at the expense of quality of life. The National University of Singapore has crystallized the concept of “digital well-being” as the cultivation of a healthy, balanced and meaningful relationship with technology. This means being aware of both the benefits and the risks of online activities, understanding how digital engagement affects mental, emotional and social health, and learning how to manage the factors — such as screen time, online engagement and content exposure — that influence our overall digital experience. Used wisely and responsibly, digital tools can help societies advance in many realms, such as expanding access to knowledge, boosting workplace productivity, promoting creative self-expression and engaging with communities of interest.As governments and policymakers grapple with the implications of a hyperconnected world, initiatives like the Global Digital Wellbeing Index — launched by the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture — offer vital insights into how digital technologies affect people’s well-being worldwide.
This index, the first global benchmark of its kind, draws on 35,000 interviews across 35 countries and 12 pillars, including social cohesion, physical and mental health, the ability to disconnect, information quality, entertainment and culture, and access to services and goods. It aims to capture how equipped countries are to reap digital opportunities while shielding their citizens from risks.
While digital technologies have brought undeniable convenience, connectivity and productivity to modern life, their impacts on physical and mental well-being are hard to ignore. Last year, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development published a report titled “The Impact of Digital Technologies on Well-Being,” in which it highlighted the growing links between digital tools and well-being. For instance, the report emphasized the growing mental health risks associated with frequent digital technology use, such as anxiety, depression, loneliness and stress. Physically, the extended use of digital technologies has been linked to obesity, poor posture, poor sleep quality, neck and eye strain, and other musculoskeletal issues — primarily due to sedentary behavior and excessive screen time.
It is imperative to counter the ever-growing risks of harmful content and misinformation that circulate on digital platforms.
And yet, digital transformation could be a game-changer for the MENA region, unlocking enormous economic and social gains. According to a report published by the World Bank, if digital transformation is leveraged in a competitive manner, the region has the potential to increase gross domestic product per capita by more than 40 percent. Employment in manufacturing could also rise by 7 percent, while tourist arrivals may see a 70 percent jump. Even more promising, digitalization could alleviate long-term unemployment, bringing it to near-zero, while doubling women’s participation in the workforce to more than 40 percent. Many countries are already leading the way. Launched in 2021, the UAE’s National Policy for Digital Wellbeing was introduced with the aim of fostering safe, purposeful and positive digital communities. Another example is Saudi Arabia’s signature Sync initiative, which was launched as part of the country’s growing focus on digital well-being. This awareness and preventive program focuses on encouraging healthier tech habits in order to curb the rising toll of screen overuse on society.
France offers a compelling case study, as it issued a law in 2017 enshrining the “right to disconnect,” meaning employees are not obliged to answer work-related calls or emails outside their working hours. Meanwhile, Singapore and the UK have embedded digital mental health frameworks into school curricula. And Australia made global headlines last year by becoming the first country to pass a law banning children under 16 from accessing social media platforms.
To enhance digital well-being in the MENA region, several potential policy and legislative interventions warrant greater attention. Governments should develop evidence-based digital well-being frameworks based on key components that collectively contribute to well-being. Engaging academia would be advantageous in order to examine the impacts of digital technologies on mental and physical health in the region, paving the way for tailored policies, legislation and health services.
Education is a logical starting point and schools can embed well-being principles into curricula to empower students to upskill and use digital technologies mindfully, thereby minimizing the detrimental effects on their physical and mental health. For instance, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health tackles this issue on its official website, offering screen time recommendations for children up to 18 years old, in line with guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Governments could also support workshops, community programs and mental health counseling to counter rising incidents of cyberbullying, anxiety, depression and social isolation. At the same time, parents and teachers must be empowered through awareness programs, such as utilizing parental control tools on popular apps. Creating safe digital spaces, particularly for vulnerable groups, calls for strong data protection measures and bold anti-cyberbullying policies. Age-appropriate regulations that protect children online are key and considering capping the time they spend on social media could be worthwhile. Additionally, it is imperative to counter the ever-growing risks of harmful content and misinformation that circulate on digital platforms, such as misleading health information.
Connectivity and universal access should remain a priority, particularly with digital economic empowerment being a high priority for MENA governments. This entails investing in strong telecommunications infrastructures and deploying upskilling programs to pave the way for workforces to adopt future-ready jobs. In the workplace, digital nomad visas and flexible work policies should be promoted, with legal protections supporting the right to disconnect from work.
The MENA region has the opportunity to carve out a path toward a healthier, more mindful digital society.
• Sara Al-Mulla is an Emirati civil servant with an interest in human development policy and children’s literature. She can be contacted at www.amorelicious.com.