English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For June 19/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he
will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 14/15-20:”‘If you love me,
you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you
another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the
world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him,
because he abides with you, and he will be in you. ‘I will not leave you
orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me,
but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will
know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”
Titles For The
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on June 18-19/2025
Lebanon’s Rulers, Political Class, Majority of the Senior Clergy, and
Political Parties’ Owners Are of No Use/Elias Bejjani/June 18, 2025
The Imminent Fall of the Evil Mullah Regime: Israel Rescues the World from the
Most Dangerous Regime Since Hitler/Elias Bejjani/June 18/2025
What a Gift—Farah Nabih Berri Becomes Lebanon’s New Ambassador to Britain...
Hurry Up and Congratulate!/Elias Bejjani/ June16, 2025
The Aura of the Mullahs’ Regime Is a Lie, and Hezbollah Is a Fraud Incapable of
Even Protecting Itself/Elias Bejjani/June 17/2025
Lebanon Braces for Repercussions of Iran-Israel Conflict
UN official arrives to discuss UNIFIL’s mandate in southern Lebanon
Israeli army drone downed over Iran
UN official arrives to discuss UNIFIL’s mandate in southern Lebanon
President Aoun awards UNIFIL commander Aroldo Lázaro the National Order of the
Cedar
UN peacekeeping chief meets Lebanese leaders, urges effort to keep UNIFIL
Israeli interception missile lands in south Lebanon
Israeli drone drops anti-Hezbollah leaflets on Aitaroun
Irish rapper in court on terror charge over Hezbollah flag
Speaker Berri meets UN Peacekeeping Chief, reaffirms Lebanon’s commitment to
UNIFIL mandate renewal
Rai Says Neutrality Key to Lebanon’s Future
Economy on Hold: Lebanon Trapped in Other People's War/Christiane Tager/his is
Beirut/June 18/2025
FPM calls for 'Lebanon’s neutrality' in Israel-Iran conflict
Rasamny: Qlayaat Airport Rehabilitation Project Gaining Momentum
Lebanon Announces Three Return Options for Citizens Stranded in Antalya
The Christian Rule Saves Lebanon (Part 3 of 3)/Elie Aoun/June 18/2025
Why Hezbollah is unlikely to engage in the Israel-Iran war—for now/David Daoud/MENASource/June
18/2025
Help Us Pass the Iranian Terror Prevention Act of 2025
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on June 18-19/2025
Iran's leader rejects call to surrender, saying US intervention would
cause 'irreparable damage'
Israel says struck Iran's 'internal security headquarters'
Senate Republicans circle wagons as Trump beats war drum on Iran: ‘They’ve all
had their spines removed’
Iran's F-14 Tomcats are the last of their kind. Israel's been blowing some of
them up.
Israel-Iran air war enters sixth day, Trump remains cryptic on US joining attack
Iran’s Khamenei rejects Trump’s call for unconditional surrender
Iran will respond firmly if US becomes directly involved in Israeli strikes,
says UN ambassador
Putin says Russia could help broker a deal between Iran and Israel
Russia warns US not to help Israel militarily against Iran
Bannon says Trump left G7 because he was ‘bored,’ calls NATO allies ‘deadbeats’
How Steve Bannon thinks MAGA will respond if Trump strikes Iran
Bannon: MAGA will ‘get on board’ if Trump decides to join Israel against Iran
Group flee Israel as conflict with Iran escalates
Titles For
The Latest English LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources
on June 18-19/2025
Understanding America’s Calculated Approach Before Engaging in the
Ongoing Iran-Israel War/Colonel Charbel Barakat/June 18/ 2025
Fear stalks Tehran as Israel bombards, shelters fill up and communicating grows
harder/Farnoush Amiri/The Associated Press/June 18, 2025
Israel Acted for All of Us ...Special Thanks to President Donald Trump, Prime
Minister Netanyahu and the Great IDF/Amin Sharifi/Gatestone Institute/June 18,
2025
Trump’s Words — and the Silence of Others — on the Persecution of
Christians/Raymond Ibrahim/The Stream/June 18/2025
The Israeli-Iranian war and the security of the Gulf/Hassan Al-Mustafa/Arab
News/June 18, 2025
GCC takes a stand on the Iran-Israel war/Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg/Arab
News/June 18/2025
The Absent Arab Mind/Tariq Al-Homayed/Asharq Al-Awsat/June18/2025
A Brand Bargain or a Major Conflict/Nadim Koteich/Asharq Al-Awsat/June18/2025
Selected Twitters For June 18/2025
The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on June 18-19/2025
Lebanon’s Rulers, Political Class, Majority of the Senior Clergy, and Political
Parties’ Owners Are of No Use
Elias Bejjani/June 18, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/06/144365/
Unfortunately, Joseph Aoun is nothing more than a decorative vase and a dull
portrait in Baabda Palace—he neither rules nor decides. As for our Bekerki
patriarch, he’s absent-minded, estranged, and detached from his role, reduced to
a mere false witness. Most of the senior clergy worship the Judas of our time.
The bitter truth in the Land of the Cedars is that, to this very moment, Lebanon
is actually totally ruled by Nabih Berri and Hezbollah. As for the miserable
political parties and their corrupt, greedy owners, they are nothing but
submissive Dhimmis—narcissistic, spineless, stripped of will and dignity. Truly,
we are living in a time of collapse, misery, and a Judas-like betrayal era.
The
Imminent Fall of the Evil Mullah Regime: Israel Rescues the World from the Most
Dangerous Regime Since Hitler
Elias Bejjani/June 18/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/06/144345/
After more than four decades of organized terrorism and ruthless brutality,
Iran’s evil Mullahs' regime is now crumbling under the weight of decisive
Israeli strikes and the clear, unwavering stance of U.S. President Donald Trump.
This regime—one that has never known limits to its crimes—is living its final
moments after spreading destruction wherever it reached, hiding behind the
Palestinian cause and the liberation of Jerusalem, and wearing a false sectarian
religious mask that has nothing to do with either Islam or humanity.
Since 1979, the Mullahs of Iran have ignited proxy wars, assassinated leaders,
dismantled governments, destroyed societies, and planted sectarian militias from
Lebanon to Yemen, from Iraq to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. The threat
posed by this regime has never been limited to Israel alone—it has endangered
the Gulf and the entire Arab world.
President Donald Trump made yesterday his position crystal clear: “The Mullahs'
regime must surrender unconditionally.”
We believe strongly that the time for diplomatic games is over. No more European
appeasement. No more pointless negotiations. This is the moment of truth.
The Iranian regime cannot be reformed—it must be dismantled.
Credit for this historic turning point goes first and foremost to Israel, the
only nation that never fell for the Mullahs’ lies. With precision and boldness,
Israel has taken out top commanders, destroyed defense systems, disabled nuclear
reactors, and completely dominated Iranian airspace—striking whatever and
wherever it chooses, while Iran stands powerless, unable to respond. The balance
of power is 100% in Israel’s favor.
Unlike many Arab and European nations, Israel never fell for Iran’s deceptive
slogans of “resistance,” “liberation,” or praying in Jerusalem. Nor did it
believe the genocidal threats of throwing Jews into the sea. From the beginning,
Israel saw the truth: a sectarian, hypocritical, bloodthirsty, expansionist
regime driven by delusional historical fantasies. Israel built its strategy on
confrontation, not compromise. Today, the whole world is reaping the rewards of
that clarity and resilience.
One of the most dangerous legacies of Iran’s regime is the ideology of Wilayat
al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist), which recognizes neither nations nor
borders. It is a dangerous belief system that commands blind loyalty from every
Shiite individual—placing allegiance to the Supreme Leader in Tehran above
loyalty to their own country and community.
This twisted ideology has destroyed the fabric of national Shiite communities,
dragging them into betrayal and subservience. Lebanon is the clearest example,
where Hezbollah became the living embodiment of this satanic deviation—holding
the Lebanese Shiite community hostage, occupying the state, hijacking its
institutions, and dragging the peaceful nation of Lebanon into endless wars and
total submission through so-called “divine resistance” and “religious duty.”
The free world—especially the Arab world—owes a great debt to Israel. It never
compromised, never hesitated, and never got fooled. Instead, Israel planned,
waited, struck, and saved the region from what would have been a nuclear,
sectarian nightmare that could have engulfed the Middle East and terrified the
world.
Israel’s role in destroying this terrorist regime must be recorded in history
not only as an act of self-defense but as a bold initiative on behalf of all
humanity. Without Israel’s courage and clarity, this region would already be
enslaved by a regime armed with nuclear weapons and a doctrine of death.
The End of the Mullahs: A Victory for All Humanity in general and to the
oppressed Iranian people in particular.
What a Gift—Farah Nabih Berri
Becomes Lebanon’s New Ambassador to Britain... Hurry Up and Congratulate!
Elias Bejjani/ June16, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/06/144300/
Rejoice! Celebrate! Host your
congratulatory parties! This is your moment, ladies and gentlemen—don’t miss it.
Let’s all applaud and preen the feathers of the “Master,” and may God multiply
the hats and rabbits of his theatrical circus.
It is worth mentioning that officially it was announced today that the Council
of Ministers has appointed Farah Berri, daughter of “President” Nabih Berri, as
Lebanon’s new Ambassador to Britain, replacing Ambassador Inaam Osseiran.
This appointment is yet another product of the infamous “quota corruption
deals”—the corrupt distribution of diplomatic posts among the ruling mafia. It
clearly confirms that Nawaf Salam’s government, along with the tenure credited
to Joseph Aoun, are nothing but submissive tools in the hands of “Master Nabih
Berri, the very man who once coined the phrase about “pulling her leg out of the
window.”
There is no doubt that Farah Berri’s presence in such a prestigious post will
bolster her father—the “Master”—renowned for his “noble” legacy of corruption,
brokerage, manipulation, and absolute control. He maintains firm dominance over
Lebanon’s ruling class and with Hezbollah hijack the decisions and fate of the
Shiite community—now taken hostage by the mullah regime and its local
mercenaries, led by none other than “Nabih Berri” and “Hezbollah.”
So come on, let’s congratulate, offer blessings, ululate, dance, and cheer:
“Long live the tenure of Joseph Aoun!”—a tenure that has become a crippling
burden on Lebanon and its people, a roadblock standing in the way of restoring
sovereignty and implementing UN international resolutions. And here we are, on a
date that was supposed to witness the disarmament of Palestinian factions in
Beirut’s camps and suburbs. But of course, it passed unnoticed—nothing achieved,
as usual, except for a barrage of flimsy excuses.
Joseph Aoun’s tenure has lost its shine, now lumped in with the failed
presidencies of Emile Lahoud, Michel Aoun, and Elias Hrawi. And if you need
further proof, just examine the names, backgrounds, and allegiances of Joseph
Aoun’s chosen advisors. You’ll quickly realize we are living in an age of ruin
and disgrace. ..So pour, my dear, pour—fill my glass again, and raise your voice
with me saying Cheers!
The Aura of
the Mullahs’ Regime Is a Lie, and Hezbollah Is a Fraud Incapable of Even
Protecting Itself
Elias Bejjani/June 17/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/06/144290/
It is urgently necessary for every deluded person who still believes in the
illusion of the Mullahs’ strength, the capabilities of the terrorist group
Hezbollah, the lie of its so-called resistance, or the fantasy of its possible
integration into the Lebanese state, to either seek psychiatric treatment or
wake up from their coma of madness, ignorance, and stupidity.
Lebanon Braces for
Repercussions of Iran-Israel Conflict
Beirut: Asharq Al Awsat//June 18, 2025
Lebanon remained on high political alert amid escalating tensions between Iran
and Israel, as officials worked to assess and contain the potential
repercussions of the conflict on the country’s fragile stability. Saudi Arabia’s
Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel
Latif Derian emphasized the importance of Lebanon distancing itself from the
conflict. President Joseph Aoun is closely monitoring the unfolding situation
and received briefings on the latest developments and the regional and
international diplomatic efforts underway to defuse it. Aoun is in continuous
contact with security leaders, in line with the outcomes of a national security
meeting held at the Baabda Palace on Saturday, said a statement from the
Lebanese presidency. The president also oversaw efforts to facilitate the return
of Lebanese nationals stranded abroad after airlines canceled flights to
Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport and neighboring countries closed
their airspace due to the rising regional tensions. Saudi Ambassador Bukhari met
with Grand Mufti Derian at Dar al-Fatwa to extend Eid al-Adha greetings and
congratulate him on performing the Hajj upon invitation from the Saudi royal
protocol. The meeting also served as an opportunity to discuss Lebanese and
regional affairs. According to a statement from Dar al-Fatwa’s media office, the
officials stressed the need for Lebanon to disassociate itself from the
Iran-Israel conflict. They underscored the urgent need for intensified Arab and
international diplomatic efforts to curb the language of war and restore
rational dialogue. They warned of the dangerous political, economic, and
environmental consequences the continued fighting could have on the region.
Despite ongoing Israeli attacks in parts of Lebanon and repeated violations of
UN Resolution 1701, the country, they said, must pursue security, peace, and
stability.
UN official arrives to
discuss UNIFIL’s mandate in southern Lebanon
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/June 18, 2025
Aoun says Lebanon is committed to the peacekeeping force and trying to secure
funding
Jean-Pierre Lacroix: The UN supports Lebanon’s demand for the continued work of
UNIFIL BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday informed Jean-Pierre
Lacroix, UN undersecretary-general for peace operations, of “Lebanon’s firm
commitment to maintaining the UNIFIL (mandate) in southern Lebanon for the
implementation of Resolution 1701, in coordination with the Lebanese army, which
will continue its deployment in the south and the full implementation of the
agreement reached in November 2024.”Aoun expressed hope that “the countries
funding international peace missions will be able to provide the necessary
funding for UNIFIL’s operations so that the international forces operating in
southern Lebanon are not adversely affected.” He said further that “Lebanon will
engage in contacts with sisterly and friendly countries in this regard.” Lacroix
arrived in Beirut as part of a round of talks with Lebanese officials, two
months ahead of the traditional UN Security Council session on the renewal of
UNIFIL’s mandate in southern Lebanon, amid a reduction in US contributions to
the peacekeeping budget and ongoing developments in the border area following
Israel’s war on Hezbollah, as well as attacks on UNIFIL by Hezbollah supporters
trying to prevent patrols without Lebanese army escorts. The international
official’s meetings took place against the backdrop of Israeli aerial offences,
with reconnaissance aircraft flying over Beirut and its southern suburbs at low
altitude.During the meeting, according to a statement from the Presidential
Palace media office, Lacroix said that “UNIFIL continues to carry out its duties
despite the difficult conditions facing the region.”He explained that “the
Lebanese government’s request to renew the international force is under
consideration by the UN and the member states of the Security Council. There are
differing viewpoints regarding UNIFIL’s role and mandate, and efforts are
underway to bridge those views in order to reach an agreement before the mandate
expires at the end of August.”A Lebanese source participating in the
international official’s meetings in Beirut, in which he was accompanied by
UNIFIL commander Gen. Aroldo Lazaro, said: “Lacroix spoke about the tendency of
countries, especially the US, to request further amendments of UNIFIL’s missions
in south Lebanon and a reduction in the number of participating forces. The
requests did not involve cutting the services provided by these forces in the
south to help the residents of the area that UNIFIL’s missions cover, which vary
between medical, social and educational assistance.”After his meeting with Aoun,
Lacroix said: “The UN supports Lebanon’s demand for the continued work of UNIFIL,
especially since coordination between UNIFIL and the Lebanese army takes place
regularly."Aoun emphasized that “maintaining stability in the South is a vital
matter, not only to Lebanon but also to all countries in the region, and UNFIL’s
role is essential in maintaining this stability.”Aoun described “the cooperation
between the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL as excellent.” He said: “Lebanon is fully
upholding its commitments regarding Resolution 1701 and its provisions. However,
completing the army’s deployment to the border requires the withdrawal of
Israeli forces from the occupied territories, the return of Lebanese prisoners
held in Israeli prisons and the cessation of hostilities constantly targeting
Lebanese territory.”Israel still to occupies five Lebanese hills, which it
considers strategic, and violates the ceasefire agreement every day by carrying
out land incursions, bulldozing roads, blocking others, and conducting air
strikes to assassinate Hezbollah members and raids beyond the Litani River and
extending to Beirut’s southern suburbs and the Bekaa Valley. Lebanon, meanwhile,
through its Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, emphasized that “the Lebanese army
dismantled more than 500 weapons depots in the south. We have strengthened
security at Beirut Airport and we are working with diplomatic channels to stop
Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and withdraw from the five sites.”Aoun awarded
Lazaro the National Order of the Cedar, and rank of commander, in recognition of
his efforts during his tenure as commander of the international force operating
in southern Lebanon. The ceremony marked the conclusion of Lazaro’s mission and
his imminent departure from the country. Lazaro held a meeting with Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri and is expected to meet with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on
Thursday. The discussion focused on the latest developments in southern Lebanon
and the UNIFIL forces’ work, according to a statement from Berri’s office.
Israeli army drone downed
over Iran
AFP/June 18, 2025 09:30
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said Wednesday that one of its drones had been
downed while operating over Iran, the first such loss it has acknowledged since
the start of hostilities last week. An army statement said the drone had gone
down in Iran after being hit by a surface-to-air missile. “No injuries were
reported and there is no risk of an information breach,” it added. Iranian state
television broadcast pictures of the wreckage of what it said was an armed
Israeli Air Force Hermes drone in the central city of Isfahan. The Israeli air
force has been launching daily raids on Iran since last Friday, with the country
targeting missile sites in particular along with other military and
nuclear-related sites. Military spokesman Effie Defrin insisted that Israel was
“operating freely” over Iran with air strikes that have involved “dozens of
aircraft of various types.” “We will continue to strike anywhere within Iran
that we choose. Yes, there is resistance, but we control the skies and will
continue to maintain that control,” he told a televised press briefing on
Wednesday. The Israeli military said on Monday it had achieved “total air
superiority in the skies over Tehran.”More than 50 Israeli Air Force fighter
jets carried out air strikes in the Tehran area on Wednesday morning, targeting
a production facility for uranium enrichment centrifuges among other locations,
according to an earlier statement from the military.
UN official arrives to discuss UNIFIL’s mandate in southern Lebanon
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/June 18, 2025 18:06
Aoun says Lebanon is committed to the peacekeeping force and trying to secure
funding
Jean-Pierre Lacroix: The UN supports Lebanon’s demand for the continued work of
UNIFIL BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday informed Jean-Pierre
Lacroix, UN undersecretary-general for peace operations, of “Lebanon’s firm
commitment to maintaining the UNIFIL (mandate) in southern Lebanon for the
implementation of Resolution 1701, in coordination with the Lebanese army, which
will continue its deployment in the south and the full implementation of the
agreement reached in November 2024.”Aoun expressed hope that “the countries
funding international peace missions will be able to provide the necessary
funding for UNIFIL’s operations so that the international forces operating in
southern Lebanon are not adversely affected.” He said further that “Lebanon will
engage in contacts with sisterly and friendly countries in this regard.” Lacroix
arrived in Beirut as part of a round of talks with Lebanese officials, two
months ahead of the traditional UN Security Council session on the renewal of
UNIFIL’s mandate in southern Lebanon, amid a reduction in US contributions to
the peacekeeping budget and ongoing developments in the border area following
Israel’s war on Hezbollah, as well as attacks on UNIFIL by Hezbollah supporters
trying to prevent patrols without Lebanese army escorts. The international
official’s meetings took place against the backdrop of Israeli aerial offences,
with reconnaissance aircraft flying over Beirut and its southern suburbs at low
altitude.During the meeting, according to a statement from the Presidential
Palace media office, Lacroix said that “UNIFIL continues to carry out its duties
despite the difficult conditions facing the region.”
He explained that “the Lebanese government’s request to renew the international
force is under consideration by the UN and the member states of the Security
Council. There are differing viewpoints regarding UNIFIL’s role and mandate, and
efforts are underway to bridge those views in order to reach an agreement before
the mandate expires at the end of August.” A Lebanese source participating in
the international official’s meetings in Beirut, in which he was accompanied by
UNIFIL commander Gen. Aroldo Lazaro, said: “Lacroix spoke about the tendency of
countries, especially the US, to request further amendments of UNIFIL’s missions
in south Lebanon and a reduction in the number of participating forces. The
requests did not involve cutting the services provided by these forces in the
south to help the residents of the area that UNIFIL’s missions cover, which vary
between medical, social and educational assistance.”After his meeting with Aoun,
Lacroix said: “The UN supports Lebanon’s demand for the continued work of UNIFIL,
especially since coordination between UNIFIL and the Lebanese army takes place
regularly."
Aoun emphasized that “maintaining stability in the South is a vital matter, not
only to Lebanon but also to all countries in the region, and UNFIL’s role is
essential in maintaining this stability.”Aoun described “the cooperation between
the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL as excellent.” He said: “Lebanon is fully upholding
its commitments regarding Resolution 1701 and its provisions. However,
completing the army’s deployment to the border requires the withdrawal of
Israeli forces from the occupied territories, the return of Lebanese prisoners
held in Israeli prisons and the cessation of hostilities constantly targeting
Lebanese territory.” Israel still to occupies five Lebanese hills, which it
considers strategic, and violates the ceasefire agreement every day by carrying
out land incursions, bulldozing roads, blocking others, and conducting air
strikes to assassinate Hezbollah members and raids beyond the Litani River and
extending to Beirut’s southern suburbs and the Bekaa Valley. Lebanon, meanwhile,
through its Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, emphasized that “the Lebanese army
dismantled more than 500 weapons depots in the south. We have strengthened
security at Beirut Airport and we are working with diplomatic channels to stop
Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and withdraw from the five sites.”Aoun awarded
Lazaro the National Order of the Cedar, and rank of commander, in recognition of
his efforts during his tenure as commander of the international force operating
in southern Lebanon. The ceremony marked the conclusion of Lazaro’s mission and
his imminent departure from the country. Lazaro held a meeting with Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri and is expected to meet with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on
Thursday. The discussion focused on the latest developments in southern Lebanon
and the UNIFIL forces’ work, according to a statement from Berri’s office.
President Aoun awards UNIFIL commander Aroldo Lázaro the
National Order of the Cedar
LBCI/June 18/2025
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun awarded UNIFIL Commander Major General Aroldo
Lázaro the National Order of the Cedar, rank of Commander, in recognition of his
efforts during his tenure leading the international peacekeeping forces in
southern Lebanon. The decoration was presented as a gesture of appreciation for
Lázaro’s contributions to maintaining stability in the south and for his role in
implementing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 in coordination with the
Lebanese Army.
UN peacekeeping chief meets Lebanese leaders, urges effort
to keep UNIFIL
Naharnet/June 18/2025
Under-Secretary-General for U.N. Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix met
Wednesday in Lebanon with President Joseph Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri. Aoun
told the visiting U.N. official that Lebanon is keen on the presence of the
UNIFIL peacekeeping force in south Lebanon to “implement Resolution 1701 in
cooperation with the Lebanese Army,” stressing that “maintaining stability in
the South is a vital matter, not only to Lebanon but also to all countries in
the region.”The president also hoped “the countries financing international
peacekeeping missions will be able to secure the necessary funding to maintain
UNIFIL’s work,” emphasizing that “Lebanon will carry out contacts with the
brotherly and friendly countries in this regard.”Al-Jadeed television meanwhile
reported that Lacroix focused in his talks with Lebanese leaders on the need to
secure the extension of UNIFIL’s term for another year, noting that the matter
faces difficulties amid the explosive regional situations. He also called on the
Lebanese state to submit to the U.N. what supports the extension request, al-Jadeed
added.
Israeli interception missile lands in south Lebanon
Naharnet/June 18/2025
An Israeli interception missile landed Wednesday afternoon in a valley between
the Tyre district towns of Barish and Maaroub, the state-run National News
Agency reported.Israeli drones were meanwhile intensively overflying the Tyre
district, NNA added. Al-Manar television later reported that an Israeli drone
fired two missiles at a house in Barish, causing no casualties. Since Israel
launched a barrage of strikes on Iran last week and Iran retaliated with missile
and drone attacks against Israel, Lebanon and the neighboring countries have
been in the flight path.
Downed missiles and drones have fallen in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, damaging
houses, causing fires and reportedly killing one woman in Syria. In Lebanon,
which is still reeling from last year's war with Israel, videos making the
rounds on social media have shown revelers dancing and drinking on rooftops
while projectiles flash across the sky in the background.
Israeli drone drops anti-Hezbollah leaflets on Aitaroun
Naharnet/June 18/2025
An Israeli drone on Wednesday dropped leaflets resembling fake currency over the
southern town of Aitaroun, the National News Agency said. “Do not miscalculate
things; do not accept yellow (Hezbollah) cash,” says an Arabic-language warning
on some of the fake bills. “Hezbollah is giving you fake money and will
implicate you,” another warning says. Similar leaflets were dropped over south
Lebanon on May 8.
Irish rapper in court on terror charge over Hezbollah flag
Agence France Presse/June 18/2025
Hundreds of people gathered outside a London court Wednesday in a show of
support for the provocative Irish rap group Kneecap as one of the singers
appeared charged with a terror offense for allegedly promoting Lebanon's
Hezbollah. Liam O'Hanna, 27, known by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged in
May after being accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag during a London concert
in November. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday wearing
a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf around his neck, and black sunglasses. Shouts of
"Free Palestine" rang out among the crowd outside, as well as from people who
were inside the court building. The Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah and the
Palestinian militant group Hamas are banned in the UK, and it is an offense to
show support for them. Kneecap, which has recently grabbed headlines for
statements denouncing the war in Gaza and against Israel, has denied the charge.
"We deny this 'offense' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political
policing. This is a carnival of distraction," the Belfast band wrote on X last
month. The raucous punk-rap group has said the video that led to the charge was
taken out of context. O'Hanna told London's Wide Awake Festival in May that the
charge was an attempt to "silence us" after several of their performances were
canceled. A performance in Scotland was pulled over safety concerns, various
shows in Germany were axed, and UK government ministers had suggested the
organizers of the upcoming Glastonbury festival should reconsider their
appearance. Daring provocateurs to their fans, dangerous extremists to their
detractors, the group's members rap in the Irish language as well as English.
Formed in 2017, the group is no stranger to controversy. Their lyrics are filled
with references to drugs, they have repeatedly clashed with the UK's previous
Conservative government and have vocally opposed British rule in Northern
Ireland. Last year, the group was catapulted to international fame by a
semi-fictional film based on them that scooped multiple awards including at the
Sundance festival.
'Unfazed'
O'Hanna, Liam Og O Hannaidh in Gaelic, was charged last month after London's
Metropolitan Police investigated a video from the festival in Kentish Town,
north London, in November 2024. He is accused of displaying a flag "in such a
way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a
supporter of a proscribed organization," police said. One of the supporters
outside the court on Wednesday, who gave her name as Sadia, denounced the charge
as "ridiculous". "Kneecap actually represent every one of us. They speak for us,
you know, because everything they feel, every injustice that they feel, we
feel," she told AFP. The group however apologized this year after a 2023 video
emerged appearing to show one singer calling for the death of British
Conservative MPs. Rich Peppiatt, who directed the award-winning
semi-autobiographical film about Kneecap, told AFP this week that the group was
"unfazed" by the legal charge and controversies. "Even through all the
controversy at the moment, they just shrug their shoulders and get on with it,"
Peppiatt said. "They've always been controversial at a local level, and they've
always bounced back from it," he added. In its statement following the charge,
the group said: "14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food
sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the
British establishment is focused on us." "We are not the story. Genocide is," it
added. Israel has repeatedly denied that it is committing genocide in its
offensive in Gaza, which it says aims to wipe out Hamas. Prominent British
musicians and groups including Paul Weller, Massive Attack, Brian Eno, Pulp and
Primal Scream have defended the group and denounced a "concerted attempt to
censor and de-platform Kneecap".
Speaker Berri meets UN Peacekeeping Chief, reaffirms
Lebanon’s commitment to UNIFIL mandate renewal
LBCI/June 18/2025
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri met on Wednesday with U.N.
Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix at the Second
Presidency in Ain al-Tineh. The meeting was attended by UNIFIL Commander Major
General Aroldo Lázaro and Speaker Berri’s advisor, Ali Hamdan. Discussions
focused on the overall situation in Lebanon, UNIFIL’s mission, and the upcoming
renewal of its mandate. Speaker Berri expressed his gratitude to Major General
Lázaro for his efforts during his tenure as head of the international
peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, particularly in implementing U.N.
Security Council Resolution 1701 and strengthening ties between UNIFIL personnel
and local communities. He wished Lázaro success in his future endeavors. Berri
reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to international legitimacy and the continued
presence of UNIFIL in the south, highlighting the force’s essential role in
Lebanon’s security, stability, and future, as well as in regional peace. He also
emphasized UNIFIL’s involvement in overseeing the maritime border framework
agreement and the latest ceasefire, which he said Israel continues to violate
daily while maintaining its occupation of Lebanese territory in the south. Berri
stressed to Lacroix that Lebanon is firmly in favor of the international
community and the U.N. Security Council extending UNIFIL’s mandate for a new
term.
Rai Says Neutrality Key to
Lebanon’s Future
This is Beirut/June 18/2025
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai stressed the need for Israel to withdraw from
southern Lebanon, as a necessary step for the President to act effectively on
the issue of Hezbollah’s disarmament. Speaking from Bkerke on Wednesday during a
special media forum organized by the Catholic Center for Information, Rai
emphasized that neutrality remains essential for Lebanon’s survival. He recalled
that neutrality was part of President Aoun’s oath of office and urged
international support to help Lebanon achieve this policy. He questioned the
continued Israeli presence in the South and Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm,
warning that both factors obstruct reconstruction efforts. “Without resolving
these issues, there can be no rebuilding,” he said. While insisting that
“Lebanon is not on the verge of collapse,” the patriarch warned of mounting
challenges that threaten the country’s stability. Patriarch Rai noted that
Lebanon’s precarious situation makes neutrality all the more urgent. “Our
complex reality calls for a clear policy of neutrality, supported by the
international community,” he stressed. The patriarch also raised concerns about
the growing wave of emigration, which he said affects both Christian and Muslim
communities alike. “Lebanon no longer provides opportunities for its youth,” he
said. “Our tragedy is that they have to seek success abroad. We hope the state
can recover economically so that they can stay in their homeland.”Addressing
journalists on the occasion of the 59th World Day of Social Communications and
the Jubilee Year, whose central message is “Hope Does Not Disappoint,” the
patriarch urged the media to be bearers of hope rather than fear.
Economy on Hold: Lebanon
Trapped in Other People's War
Christiane Tager/his is Beirut/June 18/2025
With Israel and Iran now in open confrontation, shockwaves ripple across the
entire Middle East. Caught in the crossfire, Lebanon’s already battered economy
slips further into crisis. Devastated by an unprecedented financial crisis since
2019, the country now carries the heavy burden of a conflict it has not
joined—yet whose proximity and geopolitical fallout place it directly in the
economic line of fire. With regional tensions mounting, Lebanon’s economy
teeters between stagnation and potential collapse. Nassib Ghobril, Chief
Economist at Byblos Bank, tells This is Beirut that the conflict’s primary
consequence is widespread instability, discouraging investment, slowing trade,
and deterring tourism. The looming threat of war—particularly along the southern
front between Hezbollah and Israel—has driven businesses and consumers into a
cautious, wait-and-see mode. Already battered by the Lebanese pound’s collapse,
banking restrictions, and sharply reduced purchasing power, the private sector
is now grinding to a halt. Projects have stalled, commitments scaled back, and
import inventories trimmed in anticipation of supply chain disruptions or sudden
price hikes.
Tourism, among the hardest-hit sectors, is rapidly collapsing. What had promised
to be a strong summer season is unraveling as airlines cut or suspend flights,
and cancellations surge in hotels and guesthouses. Industry insiders estimate
visitor numbers may fall by over 50%, with financial losses between $300 and
$500 million. Even if the conflict is brief, the damage to tourism is already
profound. “Many expatriates and tourists have canceled their trips,” Ghobril
says. The fallout will ripple through the broader service economy, impacting
hospitality, restaurants, festivals, and events.
Three Possible Outcomes: From Bad to Catastrophic
Ghobril outlines three possible scenarios as regional tensions escalate. The
first, with a 35% likelihood, sees a short conflict causing limited but
noticeable damage to the tourist season and slowing economic growth to about 3%.
The second, the most probable at 45%, envisions a prolonged conflict
characterized by broad uncertainty, rising inflation, and delayed reforms,
reducing growth below 2%. The third, at 20%, involves Lebanon’s direct
engagement, resulting in a severe economic contraction, the collapse of the
summer tourism season, and a total halt to reforms. The sharp rise in global oil
prices, driven by regional instability, hits Lebanon particularly hard, as the
country is entirely reliant on imported fuel. This surge drives up production,
transportation, and consumer costs. Maritime logistics pose additional risks.
Mohammad Abou Haidar, General Director of the Ministry of Economy, warns that if
the conflict disrupts the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, shipments to Lebanon would need
to be rerouted via the Strait of Gibraltar—adding around 21 days to transit
times. This would elevate freight, insurance, and fuel costs, directly raising
consumer prices. Despite these challenges, Abou Haidar offers cautious
reassurance: “As long as maritime routes remain open, Lebanon faces no immediate
threat to food security.” Current stockpiles are sufficient for three months,
though rising oil prices will inevitably impact domestic markets. Lebanon’s
import-dependent economy remains highly vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.
Temporary closures or heightened tensions in critical maritime
corridors—especially the Red Sea—could delay deliveries and increase the cost of
essential goods.
Ghobril cautions that a prolonged conflict would prompt households to cut
non-essential spending and further push back reform initiatives. Economic growth
would slip below 2%, with budget deficits reappearing. Even if the exchange rate
remains steady, Central Bank (BDL) reserves would stagnate under the first
scenario or decline in the second and third, despite possible gains in gold
prices. The conflict also postpones crucial reforms in the public sector,
economic restructuring, and border demarcation—all vital for unlocking
international aid.
Lebanon had hoped to capitalize on the momentum from recent elections and
government formation to push reforms forward. Yet now, preventing an escalation
of the conflict is crucial to avoid international isolation and the loss of
vital external support. The Israel-Iran conflict lays bare Lebanon’s profound
structural vulnerabilities, and without rapid de-escalation, the country risks
slipping deeper into a chronic economic crisis, worsened by political paralysis
and institutional collapse.
FPM calls for 'Lebanon’s neutrality' in Israel-Iran
conflict
Naharnet/June 18/2025
The Free Patriotic Movement said Wednesday that Lebanon should not take part in
the Israeli-Iranian conflict as the arch foes traded fire for the sixth day.
"The war in the region is concerning and is threatening peace and stability in
the region and in Lebanon," the statement said, describing the Israeli strikes
on Iran as an aggression and condemning it. "The FPM is against any aggression
on the sovereignty of any county."The statement, despite the condemnation,
stressed that Lebanon must stay neutral and should not get involved, in order to
preserve national interests and the security of the Lebanese people. "Lebanon's
national interests require a full commitment to a policy that keeps Lebanon out
of foreign conflicts, fortifies the domestic front, enhances stability, and
prevents Lebanon from becoming an arena for regional clashes," the FPM said, as
it urged international powers to restart nuclear talks and look for peaceful
solutions that "preserve countries' sovereignty and spare people in the region
more destruction and divisions."
Rasamny: Qlayaat Airport Rehabilitation Project Gaining Momentum
This is Beirut/June 18/2025
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny
on Wednesday reviewed progress on the long-anticipated Qlayaat Airport
rehabilitation and reactivation project, in the presence of representatives from
Dar Al-Handasah – Shair and Partners, the consultancy firm behind the master
plan, which was presented as part of a grant to the Lebanese state. Following
the briefing, Minister Rasamny confirmed that the project has entered a critical
phase. “We have officially received both the preliminary feasibility study and a
comprehensive executive plan,” he said. “These were submitted to the Prime
Minister along with all the necessary legal and administrative documentation,
and a detailed implementation timeline.”The project is set to be discussed in
the upcoming Cabinet session on Friday before being referred to Parliament for
approval. Rasamny stressed the importance of process over deadlines: “What
matters is not setting an opening date, but having a clear and reliable
mechanism to reach that goal. We hope to begin the commitment phase by early
next year.”He described the Qlayaat Airport as a “strategic national project”
with potential to boost the economy of Akkar and northern Lebanon. “This airport
is not an alternative to Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport but a
complementary facility,” he said. Funding for the project will come from private
investors through a competitive public bidding process. Rasamny said the
ministry is finalizing a transparent and open tender document, with the bidding
phase expected to launch in early 2026. He noted significant interest from
prominent investors, adding that this momentum calls for swift action on both
the executive and legislative levels. “This project is more than
infrastructure,” Rasamny concluded. “It’s an urgent economic and development
priority for Lebanon, and we are committed to launching it without delay.”
Lebanon Announces Three Return Options for Citizens
Stranded in Antalya
This is Beirut/June 18/2025
In response to the situation of Lebanese citizens stranded in the Turkish city
of Antalya, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport announced three return
options, following instructions from Minister Fayez Rasamny. This initiative
aims to ensure the safety of Lebanese nationals and facilitate their swift
return home.
Option 1: Via Istanbul
Travelers can reach Istanbul from Antalya by land or air, then book a connecting
flight to Beirut. This is the fastest self-organized option for those with
urgent travel needs.
Option 2: Direct Flight Under Coordination
Tour operator Nakhal is actively coordinating with several Turkish airlines to
arrange a direct flight from Antalya to Beirut. The flight is expected to
operate once logistical arrangements are finalized, offering a more direct
alternative for returnees.
Option 3: Maritime Route from Tripoli
A vessel will depart from the Port of Tripoli in Lebanon to Mersin, Turkey, to
pick up Lebanese nationals. The vessel is scheduled to leave Lebanon on
Wednesday, June 18, and return with passengers on Thursday, June 19.
The Ministry emphasized that all efforts are being made to provide safe and
practical return options, and urged affected citizens to stay updated through
official communication channels.
The Christian Rule Saves
Lebanon (Part 3 of 3)
Elie Aoun/June 18/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/06/144361/
The real solution has always eluded the super powers and regional powers. Their
predominant mindset had always been the pursuit of wars and diplomacy based on
“interests.” If that strategy was beneficial in the past, the regional problems
would have been resolved by now and there would be no longer a need for either
wars or diplomacy.
The fact that regional chaos continues is an indication that the
interests-mindset is not efficient and must be replaced with “principles.” The
following seven principles reflect the correct mindset necessary to restore the
Lebanese republic and a prelude to regional peace.
The first Two Principles are based on common law: (1) Do all you have agreed to
do; and (2) Do not encroach on other persons or their property.
The second Two Principals are a guide to foreign relations: (1) Do not encroach
on other nations – politically or militarily; pursue only economic or commercial
relations with them; and (2) Do not allow Lebanese territory to be used as a
base for foreign military presence and for acts contrary to the rights of
Lebanon or its neighbors.
The vast majority of Lebanon’s problems emanate from the violations of the above
four principles. At least since the 1970’s, Lebanon’s rulers (1) failed to do
what it was agreed to do, such as by not prohibiting militant groups from
violating the Armistice Agreement of 1949; (2) failed to fully implement
agreements to disarm militant groups; (3) failed to prohibit militant groups
from encroaching on Lebanese citizens and neighboring countries; and (4) allowed
Lebanese territory to be a base for foreign military presence (PLO, Syria, Iran,
etc.).
One primary mistake is the practice of Lebanese politics without principles. The
politicians who claim that their alliances are “political” and not ideological,
the religious leaders who call for “co-existence” or “partnership” at the
expense of principles, those who call for dialogue with parties that do not
adhere to the above four principles, and the citizens who support and vote for
such parties or leaderships, are (knowingly or unknowingly) their own enemy and
contributing to the demise of the country.
In the same manner that there is one table of multiplication which is applicable
in all forms of accounting from China to the United States, so also there must
be one “Table of Principles” applicable to all Lebanese. Otherwise, political
practice becomes a form of useless depletion of time and resources rather than a
vehicle to elevate the well-being of the population. Anyone who does not wish to
adhere to the above four principles must not be permitted to practice politics
or have any form of political existence on Lebanese soil.
The third Two Principles relate to religion. Before mentioning them, it should
be noted that destructive religious concepts must be confronted with correct
religious teachings – and not political arguments alone.
According to Ayatollah Khomeini, "Islam says: Whatever good there is exists
thanks to the sword and in the shadow of the sword! People cannot be made
obedient except with the sword! The sword is the key to Paradise, which can be
opened only for the Holy Warriors! There are hundreds of other [Qur'anic] psalms
and Hadiths urging Muslims to value war and to fight. Does all this mean that
Islam is a religion that prevents men from waging war? I spit upon those foolish
souls who make such a claim."
Probably the best answer to “political Islamists” and Khomeini’s reasoning can
be found in the teachings of some earlier Christians known as “The Cathars.”
Unlike the common conviction shared by most Jews, Christians, and Muslims about
a “one god,” the Christian Cathars believed in two gods, two creators, or Two
Principles: One is good, holy and a perfect Creator. The other is an evil
creator, the source and cause of all evil.
The Cathars believed that in the books of Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers (of
the Old Testament), it was the evil god (and not the true God) that caused
fighting and the goods of others to be plundered by force. By imitating this
Cathars’ analysis, the same could be said about any Quranic mentions and
commandments to fight, kill, deceive, or persecute. Such unholy deeds cannot be
commands from the true God but from the evil one – since no evil would be
commanded from a true God who is merciful. "He has commanded no man to do
wickedly, and He has given no man license to sin" (the Book of Sirach). “For God
made not death, neither has He pleasure in the destruction of the living."
(Wisdom of Solomon 1:13)
The Cathars’ Two Principles are relevant today because if churches and mosques
clarify them to their followers, many religious persecutions and massacres
committed by radical Muslims against Christians (such as in Africa, Pakistan,
etc.) would cease when the “radical Muslim” realizes that any commandments to
persecute or cause harm to any person is not the command of the true God, but of
the evil god. The true God's commands are about goodness, and not about
wrongdoing.
The Cathars reasoned that a cause is known by its effects. If there is only one
First Principle, the true God himself would be the sole cause of all causes and
nothing at all could be done contrary to His will. If that is the case, then the
true God himself (good, holy, just, wise, and righteous) would be the whole
cause and origin of all evil.
Since the true God has no potency for evil by which He might bring evil things
into existence, and since “a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruits” (Matthew
7:17-18), then no evil can come from a creature of God, itself good, unless
there be a cause of evil: such as the “enemy came by
night and over-sowed cockle among the wheat” (Matthew 13:25). It now follows,
therefore, that there is another principle, one of evil, who is the source and
cause of all pride and wickedness, and of all other evils. The evil god is not a
fallen angel (as commonly preached). The true God, who knows fully and foresees
from eternity the fate of all His creations, would not create angels that become
demons.
The Cathars’ “Book of the Two Principles” was written in the mid-1200’s and
published in 1939 after more than 600 years of suppression. One reason why such
teachings were suppressed is probably because they will cause many people to
stop fighting.
The seventh principle is “know thyself”, as many philosophers had instructed us.
Self-knowledge involves an honest examination of convictions, where we failed,
and what we can learn. By such a pursuit, we acquire more wisdom, become better
individuals, and establish a better republic.
From a Christian perspective, knowing ourselves is to recognize that the Kingdom
of Heaven is within you (Luke 17:21). The Spirit of God dwells in you (1
Corinthians 3:16). Is it not written in your law “I said you are gods”? (John
10:34; Psalm 82:6). Whatever “you are gods” means, at least it reflects that we
are far more influential than what we think. In order to bridge the gap between
what we are and what we truly are, we must take the first step – and then
another step, etc.
Instead of contributing to personal awakening, the religious institutions focus
on obedience, condemnation and fears about the after-life. Instead of correct
teachings, they build statues for people to kneel to them, and a black cube for
people to circle it – as if a true god would exist in a statue or a cube. True
religious teachings are about awareness, not worship.
The result of false religious indoctrination is corruption everywhere –
religious, political, financial, etc. If there was true religious teachings,
none of the corruption would exist because enlightened individuals are not
corrupt.
The “institutions of control” (religious, political, and secret society
institutions, etc.) want followers, not liberated individuals. Their greatest
threat is self-realized, independent, and aware individuals who do not need to
follow their religious institutions or political parties. That is why,
throughout history, they always persecuted freedom of conscience and continue to
do so until today.
It is said: My people perish for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Therefore, seek
knowledge for yourself. The greatest enemy is ignorance, and the greatest form
of ignorance is to be enslaved to religious and political institutions which are
using us for their own money and control. They do not care about our well-being.
If they did, they would not impose on us their falsehoods,
endless wars and negativity that deplete our resources and keep us distracted
from what truly matters.
The foundation for saving Lebanon constitutes of having citizens and leaders
with quality characters, adopting common law, and implementing correct
principles. The religious and political establishments (despite their rhetoric,)
will never implement these. Therefore, we take the initiative ourselves, without
relying on another and without waiting for “the right time.” We make each day
“the right time” to act and utilize the God-given power within us to implement
what is needed. “If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth
will save you” (Book of Thomas).
We restore Lebanon by being honest and courageous, not by being nice.
“Co-existence” and “interests” must be guided by awareness and principles – in
order to protect the security of the republic and the well-being of all
Lebanese. The correct principles that we keep rejecting or keep underestimating,
and the individuals with the correct character, are the basis to “detox” our
country from corruption and chaos.
It is no longer sufficient to “reform” Lebanon. The country requires a revival.
Revive us, and revive Lebanon O Lord!
Why Hezbollah
is unlikely to engage in the Israel-Iran war—for now
David Daoud/MENASource/June 18/2025
Israel’s inevitable strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities has finally occurred.
The Israelis on Friday launched extensive, non-stop airstrikes targeting Iranian
nuclear and military sites, coupled with assassinations of Tehran’s senior-most
officers and nuclear scientists. Iran had built up Hezbollah’s massive arsenal
to deter precisely such an Israeli action and launch the first retaliatory
strikes if it nevertheless occurred. Yet, as wave after wave of Israeli jets
continue to strike Iran, Israel’s northern border remains quiet—underscoring the
significant damage the Lebanese-based group absorbed during its own recent war
with Israel.
This quiet is likely to continue. Tehran is unlikely to order Hezbollah, in its
current battered state, to enter the fray unless Iran feels its regime is in
existential danger.
So far, Hezbollah has sufficed with tame condemnations of the Israeli
strikes—unusual for the typically verbally bellicose group. In one instance, an
anonymous alleged official said Hezbollah “will not initiate its own attack”
against Israel. Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s more passionate official statements
expressed solidarity with Iran, but fell far short of declaring hostilities.
Secretary-General Naim Qassem sounded like he was awaiting Iranian orders. “We
in Hezbollah,” he wrote, “support the Islamic Republic of Iran’s rights and it
stances, and in every step and procedure it takes to defend itself and its
choices.”
Hezbollah is holding its fire—verbally and physically—because it is operating
under unprecedented constraints. The group never possessed conventional parity
with Israel, but the anticipated destructiveness of its massive arsenal could at
least create a deterrent “balance of terror” with its Israeli enemies. However,
during their recent war, Israel wiped out Hezbollah’s senior-most political and
military leadership and a significant portion of its strategic arsenal. This has
considerably degraded Hezbollah’s ability to mount a serious attack, let alone
restart the conflict and prosecute it to a stalemate—the group’s definition of
victory. Hezbollah, which has barely begun to mend these deep Israeli-inflicted
wounds, must also now contend with near-daily Israeli strikes on its remaining
assets and personnel.
Meanwhile, domestic considerations are also impacting Hezbollah’s calculus—and
will also affect Iran’s decision on whether and how to activate its formerly
most powerful proxy. In September of 2024, Arab Barometer found that 70 percent
of Lebanese view Hezbollah negatively. After the war, their calls for the
group’s disarmament forced Hezbollah into a dialogue with President Joseph Aoun
over its arsenal. These domestic conditions are far from ideal for the group.
But Lebanese displeasure remains passive, and Aoun has adopted a conciliatory
and unhurried approach to these talks, even making important concessions to
Hezbollah on the critical post-war reconstruction file. If matters remain
unchanged, they afford the group a good chance of reconstituting its strength
over time. But dragging Lebanon into another destructive war not its own, mere
months out from the end of the last one, could torpedo talks with Aoun and leave
Hezbollah exposed to increased and intensified public anger.
If this anger seeps into Hezbollah’s Lebanese Shiite support base, the group
would be facing an existential crisis. This segment of the Lebanese population
has borne the brunt of all the group’s war, including the one it provoked with
Israel on October 8, 2023. Utilizing propaganda to spin the war as a necessary
preemption of imminent Israeli aggression and post-bellum stop-gap measures—like
housing its displaced supporters in prefabricated homes—Hezbollah has been able
to largely retain pre-war levels of Lebanese Shiite support. At the very least,
the group has delayed a massive Shiite defection until the group can regain its
footing and return to keeping them in its orbit through its traditional
carrot-and-stick approach.
But only a small portion of Hezbollah’s Shiite support base is comprised of
hardened Khomeinist ideologues. The rest back the group for pragmatic reasons,
particularly its promise to improve their lives and collective standing inside
Lebanon while protecting them from foreign threats—namely, Israel. Their
patience with the group’s ideological adventures, which already brought ruin
upon them for the sake of the Palestinians, is therefore not infinite.
Now, Hezbollah is promising to rebuild their homes and villages, directly or
through funding from the Lebanese state. If Hezbollah instead pulls Lebanese
Shiites into an Israeli-Iranian war, then whatever latent anger may be bubbling
beneath their apparent placidity could very well erupt. Hezbollah could then
lose the critical social support, and resulting political influence, that has
long shielded the group from any attempts by the Lebanese state or army to
restrain or disarm it for fear of provoking a civil war.
But Hezbollah is ultimately a self-described extension of the Islamic Republic
of Iran, notwithstanding the group’s presence in Lebanon and the weight of
Lebanese dynamics on its decisions. Tehran’s priorities, then, will determine
the organization’s next moves.
The Iranian regime is a messianist theocracy. It is motivated by an
eschatological end-goal, namely, replacing the international liberal order,
which Tehran and its proxies view as inherently unjust, with the global rule of
the returned Twelfth Shiite Imam, the Mahdi. This objective, more important to
Iran than its preparatory steps of destroying Israel and weakening the United
States, is irrational from a secular or external perspective. But to Iran’s
leaders, it is the logical conclusion of their belief system, and they believe
it depends on the survival of the Khomeinist regime and its revolutionary
exports. Far from being the “mad mullahs” of popular imagination, they are
pursuing this destructive goal with calculated pragmatism.
Therefore, unlike similarly motivated actors like the Islamic State of Iraq and
al-Sham (ISIS), Iran participates in the global system it hates. Rather than war
against that system and risk its own destruction, Tehran instead simultaneously
advances its goals and grows its strength while undermining it from within. Iran
therefore creates durable alliances, builds relationships, and engages in
diplomatic initiatives that would have been anathema to an actor like ISIS. This
contributes to the regime’s longevity and durability , and makes it a
significantly more dangerous Western adversary.
This pragmatic mindset will dictate both Iran’s next steps and its instructions
to its proxies, including Hezbollah. Tehran, then, is unlikely to activate what
remains of its proxies and their capabilities unless it feels Israel’s strikes
are intentionally or incidentally jeopardizing the regime’s survival. Such an
activation would serve as a desperate effort to force the Israelis to desist, or
to inflict as much harm as possible upon their Zionist adversaries before
succumbing.
But, as far as can be told, Israel is not pursuing regime change. Jerusalem’s
stated goal is to degrade Iran’s nuclear weapons program and damage or destroy
its ability to produce ballistic missiles. While this will certainly weaken the
regime, including domestically, it will not bring about its demise absent any
unintended consequences. Rather than unnecessarily risk Hezbollah’s demise
between Israeli retaliation and Lebanese ire, Iran is therefore likely to leave
its recovering primary proxy in reserve: to advance post-war reconstruction
efforts that will placate Lebanese Shiites, retain their support, and provide
the group a pathway to regeneration and the resumption its role as an active
Iranian regional asset.
**David Daoud is senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies,
where he focuses on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs. Follow him on X @DavidADaoud.
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/hezbollah-iran-israel-war/
Help Us Pass the Iranian Terror Prevention Act of 2025
June 18, 2025
Iran-backed militias in Iraq have promised to send hundreds of suicide bombers
at American forces in the Middle East following Israel’s attack on the Iranian
regime. It’s time to designate these Iranian proxies as Foreign Terrorist
Organizations.
Take Action Now! With one click, you can send emails to your Congress members
urging them to pass the Iranian Terror Prevention Act of 2025. Your letters will
ensure that armed Shia militias operating on behalf of Tehran are held
accountable for attacks on U.S. troops and our allies.
Introduced by Rep. Gregory Steube (R-FL), H.R. 2581 - the Iranian Terror
Prevention Act requires the secretary of State to designate at least 29
Iranian-backed militias, including the Badr Organization and Kataib Hezbollah,
as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under the Immigration and Nationality Act. It
also requires the president to consider sanctions under Executive Order 13224 to
block their assets and prohibit transactions, strengthening measures against
these threats. The bill requires regular reports to Congress on new designations
and sanctions.
This legislation is critical to protect American troops and support our ally
Israel by countering Iran’s destabilizing influence through its proxies. These
groups fuel violence and terrorism across the region and are responsible for
injuring and killing U.S. service members. They have escalated threats and
launched attacks on American forces since Israel launched Operation Rising Lion
to eliminate Iranian nuclear facilities.
Your voice matters—act swiftly to protect American lives and support our ally!
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on June 18-19/2025
Iran's leader rejects call to surrender, saying US intervention would cause
'irreparable damage'
Joseph Krauss, Jon Gambrell And
Julia Frankel/The Associated Press/June 18, 2025
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's supreme leader on Wednesday rejected
U.S. calls for surrender in the face of blistering Israeli strikes and warned
that any military involvement by the Americans would cause “irreparable damage”
to them, in an official statement read by a state TV anchor.
The remarks from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has only been seen once since the
strikes began, came after U.S. President Donald Trump demanded “UNCONDITIONAL
SURRENDER” in a social media post and warned Khamenei that the U.S. knows where
he is but has no plans to kill him, “at least not for now.” Trump initially
distanced himself from Israel’s surprise attack on Friday that triggered the
conflict, but in recent days has hinted at greater American involvement, saying
he wants something “much bigger” than a ceasefire. The U.S. has also sent more
warplanes to the region. An Iranian official had earlier warned Wednesday that
U.S. intervention would risk “all-out war.”Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail
Baghaei did not elaborate, but thousands of American troops are based in nearby
countries within range of Iran's weapons. The U.S. has threatened a massive
response to any attack.
Another Iranian official said the country would keep enriching uranium for
peaceful purposes, apparently ruling out Trump's demands that Iran give up its
disputed nuclear program.
Strikes in and around Tehran
The latest Israeli strikes hit a facility used to make uranium centrifuges and
another that made missile components, the Israeli military said. It said it had
intercepted 10 missiles overnight as Iran’s retaliatory barrages diminish. The
U.N. nuclear watchdog said Israel had struck two centrifuge production
facilities in and near Tehran. The Israeli military said it also carried out
strikes in western Iran, hitting missile storage sites and a loaded missile
launcher. Israeli strikes have hit several nuclear and military sites, killing
top generals and nuclear scientists. A Washington-based Iranian human rights
group said at least 585 people, including 239 civilians, have been killed and
more than 1,300 wounded. Iran has fired some 400 missiles and hundreds of drones
in retaliatory strikes that have killed at least 24 people in Israel and wounded
hundreds. Some have hit apartment buildings in central Israel, causing heavy
damage, and air raid sirens have repeatedly forced Israelis to run for shelter.
Iran has fired fewer missiles as the conflict has worn on. It has not explained
the decline, but Israel has targeted launchers and other infrastructure related
to the missiles.
Casualties mount in Iran
The Washington-based group Human Rights Activists said it had identified 239 of
those killed in Israeli strikes as civilians and 126 as security personnel.
The group, which also provided detailed casualty figures during 2022 protests
over the death of Mahsa Amini, crosschecks local reports against a network of
sources it has developed in Iran. Iran has not been publishing regular death
tolls during the conflict and has minimized casualties in the past. Its last
update, issued Monday, put the toll at 224 people killed and 1,277 others
wounded. Shops have been closed across Tehran, including in its famed Grand
Bazaar, as people wait in gas lines and pack roads leading out of the city to
escape the onslaught. A major explosion could be heard around 5 a.m. in Tehran
Wednesday morning, following other explosions earlier in the predawn darkness.
Authorities in Iran offered no acknowledgement of the attacks, which has become
increasingly common as the Israeli airstrikes have intensified. At least one
strike appeared to target Tehran’s eastern neighborhood of Hakimiyeh, where the
paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has an academy.
No signs of backing down
Israel says it launched the strikes to prevent Iran from building a nuclear
weapon, after talks between the United States and Iran over a diplomatic
resolution had made little visible progress over two months but were still
ongoing. Trump has said Israel’s campaign came after a 60-day window he set for
the talks. Iran long has insisted its nuclear program was peaceful, though it is
the only non-nuclear-armed state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short, technical
step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. U.S. intelligence agencies have said
they did not believe Iran was actively pursuing the bomb. Israel is the only
country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons but has never publicly
acknowledged them. Iran's ambassador to Geneva, Ali Bahreini, told reporters
that Iran "will continue to produce the enriched uranium as far as we need for
peaceful purposes.” He rejected any talk of a setback to Iran’s nuclear research
and development from the Israeli strikes, saying, “Our scientists will continue
their work.”He said Trump's remarks were “completely unwarranted” and “very
hostile,” and that Iran could not ignore them. He said Iranian authorities were
“vigilant” about the comments and would decide if the U.S. crossed any lines.
“Once the red line is crossed, the response will come.”
Israel welcomes first repatriation flights
Israelis began returning on flights for the first time since the country’s
international airport shut down at the start of the conflict. Two flights from
Larnaca, Cyprus, landed at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport on
Wednesday morning, said Lisa Dvir, an airport spokesperson. Israel closed its
airspace to commercial flights because of the ballistic missile attacks, leaving
tens of thousands of Israelis stranded abroad. The conflict has disrupted flight
patterns across the region.
Israel says struck Iran's
'internal security headquarters'
Agence France Presse//June
18/2025
Israel's military said it was striking military targets in Tehran on Wednesday,
as AFP journalists reported hearing blasts in the north and east of the Iranian
capital. The Israeli air force "is currently striking military targets belonging
to the Iranian Regime in Tehran," the military said in a statement, on the sixth
day of the war between the arch foes. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz later
said that air force jets had destroyed Iran's "internal security headquarters".
"Air Force jets have just destroyed the internal security headquarters of the
Iranian regime -- the main arm of repression of the Iranian dictator," Katz said
in a statement, vowing to "strike symbols of governance and hit the Ayatollah
regime wherever it may be". Earlier on Wednesday, Israel said it struck a
nuclear site near Tehran , while Iran said it fired hypersonic missiles. After
the Israeli military issued a warning for civilians to leave one district of
Tehran for their safety, Israeli warplanes hit the capital early Wednesday.
"More than 50 Israeli Air Force fighter jets... carried out a series of air
strikes in the Tehran area over the past few hours," the Israeli military said,
adding that several weapons manufacturing facilities were hit. "As part of the
broad effort to disrupt Iran's nuclear weapons development program, a centrifuge
production facility in Tehran was targeted."Centrifuges are vital for uranium
enrichment, the sensitive process that can produce fuel for nuclear reactors or,
in highly extended form, the core of a nuclear reactor. Iran's Revolutionary
Guards said they had launched hypersonic Fattah-1 missiles at Tel Aviv. "The
11th wave of the proud Operation Honest Promise 3 using Fattah-1 missiles" was
carried out, the Guards said in a statement broadcast on state television.
Hypersonic missiles travel at more than five times the speed of sound and can
maneuver mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept.
Senate Republicans circle wagons as Trump beats war drum on Iran: ‘They’ve all
had their spines removed’
Eric Garcia/The Independent/June 18/2025
Senate Republicans are largely standing with President Donald Trump as he
escalates U.S. involvement in Israel’s war with Iran.
On Tuesday, the president demanded that Iran lay down its weapons in an
“UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” and said that he knew exactly where Iran’s Supreme
Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hiding. Trump insisted that Iran was “very
close” to a working nuclear weapon. He also disregarded testimony from his own
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who said in March that Iran was
not working toward building a nuclear weapon. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member
of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters that Trump would have
constitutional authority to bomb Fordow, which is located deep inside a mountain
near the city of Qom. “Under Article II of the Constitution, the president is
the commander in chief, and he has the authority and responsibility to keep
Americans safe and defend American servicemen and women,” Cruz said.
“Congress has the authority to declare war, and war is considered sustained and
longstanding hostilities,” he maintained. “A single bombing run, historically,
has not been understood to require congressional authorization to engage in
sustained hostility, to engage in continued warfare, does require congressional
coming to the floor.”Other Republicans echoed Cruz’s words on Iran. While
Republicans in the House like Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and MAGA hardliner
Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia have criticized the idea of U.S. involvement
in Israel’s war with Iran, the Senate still has plenty of majority members who
have a more traditionally Republican interventionist foreign policy. “I think
he's doing quite well actually,” Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a member of the Armed
Services Committee, told The Independent. “He's been very well measured in
allowing Israel to do what they think they need.”
Ernst said if necessary, Trump would consult Congress. “I think we'll need to
understand the situation and get briefings on it, and then we'll take measure as
necessary,” she said. Republicans in the Senate have historically been uneasy
with Trump’s plans to negotiate with Iran. In March, 51 Republican Senators sent
a letter to the Trump administration regarding its negotiations with Iran.
During Trump’s first administration, he withdrew with the Iran nuclear agreement
brokered by former president Barack Obama. Trump also put in place sanctions.
But in the second administration, he dispatched his envoy to the Middle East
Steve Witkoff to negotiate with Iran in Oman while maintaining hawkish rhetoric
on Iran. But on Thursday, Israel began its strikes on Iran, which led to Iran
responding in kind. Trump called for a deal between Israel and Iran, but has
also signaled support for Israel, which many Republicans in the Senate welcomed.
“Right now, we should defend Israel against any counter attacks, and then I'll
leave it to the administration to mount about a plan that comports with what we
want to do here in Congress,” Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a hawk on
Iran, told The Independent. But support is not unanimous even among Republicans.
Sen. Rand Paul, the sole Republican who did not sign the letter, told The
Independent that he would have more to say about war with Iran. But he did have
concerns. “It’s always been my belief that you don't go to war without the
approval of Congress, and bombing another country is obviously war,” the
libertarian said. Only a handful of Democrats in the Senate, meanwhile, have
voiced their full-fledged opposition to war with Iran. Sen. Tim Kaine of
Virginia introduced a war powers resolution. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent
and socialist from Vermont who caucuses with the minority party, also introduced
a resolution with other Democrats. “We should not stand by why Donald Trump
tries to drag America to another endless war in the Middle East,” Sen. Elizabeth
Warren, a member of the Armed Services Committee, who joined the resolution,
told The Independent.
“There's evidently a serious medical problem with the Senate Republicans,” the
Massachusetts senator said. “They've all had their spines removed,” said Warren.
“None of them seem capable of standing up to Donald Trump, which means they
cannot fulfill their oaths to the Constitution of the United States.” But many
Republicans will likely continue to support Trump’s efforts on Iran. Sen. Kevin
Cramer of North Dakota showed up to the Senate wearing a lapel pin shaped like a
fighter plane with Israel’s flag on it.
Iran's F-14 Tomcats are the
last of their kind. Israel's been blowing some of them up.
Sinéad Baker/INSIDER/June 18, 2025
Why did Israel unleash hundreds of warplanes against Iran?Scroll back up to
restore default view. Iran is the only country that still has the iconic US-made
F-14 Tomcat aircraft in service. Amid its relentless strikes on Iran, Israel
shared footage of it hitting two of them. The jet was famously featured in the
"Top Gun" films and used in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and against Libya. The
F-14 Tomcat, made famous by the "Top Gun" films and its storied history with the
US Navy, is a dying breed. Long since retired by the US military, Iran is the
only remaining operator.
Israel, however, has been blowing some of them up lately as it targets Iran's
military capabilities and nuclear and missile programs. In the 1986 "Top Gun"
film, Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, played by actor Tom Cruise, buzzes the
tower, launches off aircraft carriers, and dogfights hostile MiGs in an F-14.
And in the 2022 sequel, the jet returns for an intense fight against advanced
enemy jets. Hollywood hype for the aircraft aside, the Tomcat, an air
superiority fighter made by US aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman,
is a celebrated combat aircraft within the Navy. First introduced in the 1970s,
it was a highly capable aircraft that saw use in conflicts from Vietnam to the
Middle East.The US Navy retired the last of its F-14s in 2006 following the
introduction of Boeing's carrier-based F/A-18 Super Hornet, a multi-role
aircraft considered easier to maintain. Once allies, the US sold F-14s to Iran
in the mid-1970s, before revolution upended relations and support. Iran has
managed to keep some operational despite US sanctions and attempts to stop Iran
from obtaining parts. These jets are now coming under fire, though. On Monday,
the Israel Defense Forces shared footage of a strike on two F-14s at an airport
in Tehran.
Just how many Iran F-14s Iran has left is unclear, though the fleet is believed
to be fairly limited. The jets hit by Israel appear to have been unflyable, but
their parts may have been key to keeping Iran's remaining ones in the sky.
Canibalization of parts is not uncommon when logistics and supply lines are
strained.
An iconic American jet
Richard Aboulafia, an aviation expert and the managing director of AeroDynamic
Advisory, told Business Insider that when the F-14 was introduced, it was
"incredibly cutting edge and held numerous records for years to come."
Iran's jets, he said, are "kind of a time capsule." Aboulafia characterized them
as "ghosts of the Cold War."The new jet came with an advanced radar, the ability
to track multiple targets, and adjustable wings. The Tomcat was also the only
aircraft at the time that could carry the AIM-54 Phoenix long-range air-to-air
missile, which could hit targets at 100 nautical miles, far beyond visual range.
Being able to make long-range air-to-air kills was critical at a time when the
US needed to protect aircraft carriers from bombers.
The US first deployed the F-14 during Operation Frequent Wind, flying combat air
patrols during the evacuation of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.
The Tomcat scored its first combat kills with the US Navy in 1981 against Libyan
Su-22s. It conducted air defense missions during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
The fighter later saw more combat in Iraq and Afghanistan as well. The jet's
advanced features and use in some of the US's most important campaigns makes
them a key piece of US military aviation history. The "Top Gun" films then
elevated the plane in popular culture.
The US Tomcats that didn't last
The Tomcats were impressive planes, but the F-14s faced problems with expensive
spare parts and high maintenance needs. The Navy also wanted a more versatile
aircraft. The Super Hornet that succeeded the Tomcat was intended to bring
improved features, reduced maintenance load, and the ability to execute
air-to-ground strikes, as well as engage in air-to-air
The US Navy had many of the jets scrapped, but it has some inoperable models on
display at Florida's National Naval Aviation Museum and New York's Intrepid Sea,
Air & Space Museum.
The end of the US F-14 program left Iran as the only nation that had them in
service. The US went out of its way to cripple Iran's F-14 program, destroying
aircraft, implementing sanctions, and choking off the supply of F-14 parts that
it needed to keep the jets flying.
Iran's F-14s
Iran acquired a total of 79 F-14 Tomcats from the US before the 1979 Islamic
Revolution, so Iran had the jets when the Iran-Iraq War started in 1980, with
Iran using them in pursuit of air superiority and for air defense. Iran said its
F-14s shot down more than 100 Iraqi aircraft. When the US cut off support and
spare parts for Iran's F-14s. Iran developed its own maintenance capabilities
and found black market solutions, but Iran's F-14 numbers dwindled as time went
on. Aboulafia said that Iran uses the jets almost as Airborne Warning and
Control System aircraft, which help air forces with surveillance and command and
control, "because of the power of that radar." He called it "the best tool they
had to see aerial threats."Iran does not have a strong air force, with its force
made up of obsolete Western, Soviet, and Chinese aircraft. The Tomcat "was
really the only thing that Iranians could have flown to have threatened some of
the Israeli airstrikes," retired US Army Maj. Gen. Gordon "Skip" Davis, the
former deputy assistant secretary-general for NATO's defense-investment
division, told Business Insider. "Not really the F-35s, but the F-15s," he said.
"And so I think it was a very, to me, brilliant move to focus on them early on."
With limited airpower, Iran is heavily dependent on ground-based air defenses,
which the Israelis are also systematically wiping out. Israel says that it has
achieved air superiority over Iran, meaning that Iran's ability to stop Israel
in its airspace is limited. Israel flies advanced jets like its unique F-35Is.
Iran said earlier this year that it had purchased Russian-made Sukhoi-35 fighter
jets, but when, and if, those could arrive is unclear.
Israel-Iran air war enters
sixth day, Trump remains cryptic on US joining attack
Agencies/June 18, 2025 04:29
JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON/DUBAI: Israel and Iran exchanged fire again on Wednesday,
the sixth day of strikes in their most intense confrontation in history,
fuelling fears of a drawn-out conflict. President Donald Trump said he was
considering whether the United States will join Israeli strikes on Iran and said
that Tehran had reached out to seek negotiations on ending the conflict.
"I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do," Trump
told reporters. "I can tell you this, that Iran's got a lot of trouble, and they
want to negotiate."Trump said Iran had even suggested sending officials to the
White House for talks on Tehran's nuclear program in a bid to end Israel's air
assault, but added that it was "very late". His comments came after Supreme
leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech read on state television that his
nation would "never surrender", while warning the US it would suffer
"irreparable damage" if it intervenes in the conflict. Trump said on Tuesday
that the US knows where Khamenei is located but will not kill him "for now." He
demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender."
A fresh salvo of Iranian missiles were launched at Israel Wednesday evening,
with initial Israeli military assessments saying it was a small attack with no
reports of major urban areas being hit. Iran had earlier issued an evacuation
warning for residents of the Israeli city of Haifa.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said air force jets had destroyed Iran's
"internal security headquarters" during Wednesday's strikes. Explosions were
hear in Tehran and other parts of the country throuhout the day. Iran was in a
"near-total national internet blackout", London-based watchdog NetBlocks wrote
on X. Iran announced last week that it was placing temporary restrictions on the
internet for the duration of the conflict, placing heavier limits on Wednesday.
The communication ministry said the limits were imposed due to Israel's "abuse
of the country's communication network for military purposes."
Numerous sites and apps have been at least partially inaccessible.
State television appealed to Iranians on Tuesday to delete WhatsApp from their
phones, charging that the messaging app gathers users' location and personal
data and "communicates them to the Zionist enemy". Iran's Ambassador and
Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani addresses
delegates during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Friday.
(Reuters)
UN Security Council to meet Friday over Israel-Iran conflict
The United Nations Security Council will convene Friday to discuss the ongoing
war between Israel and Iran. Following a first, urgent meeting after Israel
attacked last Friday, this second session was requested by Iran, with support
from Russia, China and Pakistan. The decision was made after the Iranian mission
to the UN wrote to the security council president calling on the world body to
condemn and reject the 'unlawful use of force' against Iran's sovereignty. The
letter also hit out at the United States, accusing President Trump of
threatening to assassinate Iran's supreme leader, and threatening to launch
strikes on the country. Earlier, the Iranian mission at the UN said: "Iran does
not negotiate under duress and shall not accept peace under duress." ’Nobody
knows’: Trump won’t say whether he will move forward with US strikes on Iran.
President Donald Trump would not say Wednesday whether he has decided to order a
US strike on Iran, a move that Tehran warned anew would be greeted with stiff
retaliation if it happens. “I may do it, I may not do it,” Trump said in an
exchange with reporters at the White House . “I mean, nobody knows what I’m
going to do.”
Trump added that it’s not “too late” for Iran to give up its nuclear program as
he continues to weigh direct US involvement in Israel’s military operations
aimed at crushing Tehran’s nuclear program. “Nothing’s too late,” Trump said. “I
can tell you this. Iran’s got a lot of trouble.”
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed on Wednesday that his country
would show no mercy toward Israel’s rulers, hours after US President Donald
Trump demanded Tehran’s “unconditional surrender.”“We must give a strong
response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy,”
Khamenei posted on X. Israel last week launched an unprecedented bombing
campaign hitting Iranian nuclear and military facilities, as well as residential
areas.
Iran has responded by launching missiles and drones, and early Wednesday said it
had fired hypersonic missiles at Israel. On Tuesday, Trump demanded the Islamic
republic’s “unconditional surrender” and boasted that the United States could
easily assassinate Khamenei.
Jordan intercepted Iranian missiles over Amman overnight
Iran’s former economy minister calls for Iranian control of Strait of Hormuz
Former Iranian Economy Minister Ehsan Khandouzi has said that tankers and LNG
cargoes should only transit the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian permission and
this policy should be carried out from “tomorrow for a hundred days.”
It was not immediately clear whether Khandouzi was echoing a plan under the
Iranian establishment’s consideration or sharing his personal opinion.
Iran arrests five for ‘tarnishing’ country’s image
Tehran: Iran said Wednesday it had detained five suspected agents of Israel’s
Mossad intelligence agency on charges of tarnishing the country’s image online,
Iranian news agencies reported.
“These mercenaries sought to sow fear among the public and tarnish the image of
the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran through their calculated
activities online,” the Tasnim and ISNA news agencies quoted a statement from
the Revolutionary Guards as saying.
They added that the arrests had been made in the western province of Lorestan.
Pope Leo makes call to end all wars
Regional influence weakens
Khamenei’s main military and security advisers have been killed by Israeli
strikes, hollowing out his inner circle and raising the risk of strategic
errors, according to five people familiar with his decision-making process. With
Iranian leaders suffering their most dangerous security breach since the 1979
Islamic Revolution, the country’s cybersecurity command banned officials from
using communications devices and mobile phones, Fars news agency reported.
Israel launched a “massive cyber war” against Iran’s digital infrastructure,
Iranian media reported.
Ever since Iran-backed Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, and triggered
the Gaza war, Khamenei’s regional influence has waned as Israel has pounded
Iran’s proxies — from Hamas in Gaza to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in
Yemen and militias in Iraq. Iran’s close ally, Syria’s autocratic president
Bashar Assad, has been ousted. Israel launched its air war, its largest ever on
Iran, on Friday after saying it had concluded the Islamic Republic was on the
verge of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and
has pointed to its right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including
enrichment, as a party to the international Non-Proliferation Treaty. Israel,
which is not a party to the NPT, is the only country in the Middle East believed
to have nuclear weapons. Israel does not deny or confirm that. Netanyahu has
stressed that he will not back down until Iran’s nuclear development is
disabled, while Trump says the Israeli assault could end if Iran agrees to
strict curbs on enrichment. Before Israel’s attack began, the 35-nation board of
governors of the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency,
declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time
in almost 20 years. The IAEA said on Tuesday an Israeli strike directly hit the
underground enrichment halls at the Natanz facility. Israel says it now has
control of Iranian airspace and intends to escalate the campaign in coming days.
But Israel will struggle to deal a knock-out blow to deeply buried nuclear sites
like Fordow, which is dug beneath a mountain, without the US joining the attack.
Iranian officials have reported 224 deaths, mostly civilians, while Israel said
24 civilians had been killed. Residents of both countries have been evacuated or
fled.
Global oil markets are on high alert following strikes on sites including the
world’s biggest gas field, South Pars, shared by Iran and Qatar.Beijing
evacuates almost 800 Chinese citizens from Iran. Almost 800 Chinese citizens
have been evacuated from Iran since Israel launched military strikes against the
country last week, Beijing said Wednesday. “Currently... 791 Chinese nationals
have been relocated from Iran to safe areas,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo
Jiakun said at a regular news conference. “More than 1,000 other people are in
the process of relocating and withdrawing,” Guo added.
Iran’s Khamenei rejects Trump’s call for unconditional
surrender
Reuters/June 18, 2025 09:38
DUBAI/JERUSALEM: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a
statement read by a television presenter on Wednesday that his country will not
accept US President Donald Trump’s call for an unconditional surrender. In his
first remarks since Friday, when he delivered a speech broadcast on state media
after Israel began bombarding Iran, Khamenei said peace or war could not be
imposed on the Islamic Republic. “Intelligent people who know Iran, the Iranian
nation, and its history will never speak to this nation in threatening language
because the Iranian nation will not surrender,” he said. “The Americans should
know that any US military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by
irreparable damage.”Thousands of people were fleeing Tehran on Wednesday after
Israeli warplanes bombed the city overnight, and a source said Trump was
considering options that include joining Israel in attacking Iranian nuclear
sites. Israel’s military said 50 Israeli jets had struck around 20 targets in
Tehran overnight, including sites producing raw materials, components and
manufacturing systems for missiles. A source familiar with internal discussions
said Trump and his team were considering a number of options, which included
joining Israel in strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. Iran had conveyed to
Washington that it would retaliate against the United States for any direct
participation, its ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini,
said. He said he already saw the US as “complicit in what Israel is doing.”
Iran will respond firmly if US becomes directly involved in Israeli strikes,
says UN ambassador
Reuters/June 18, 2025 09:05
GENEVA: Iran has conveyed to Washington that it will respond firmly to the
United States if it becomes directly involved in Israel’s military campaign, the
Iranian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva said on Wednesday. Ali
Bahreini told reporters that he saw the US as “complicit in what Israel is
doing.” Iran would set a red line, and respond if the United States crosses it,
he said, without specifying what actions would provoke a response. Israel
launched an air war on Friday after saying it had concluded Iran was on the
verge of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. US
President Donald Trump called on Tuesday for Iran’s “unconditional
surrender.”Bahreini called Trump’s remarks “completely unwarranted and very
hostile. We cannot ignore them. We are vigilant about what Trump is saying. We
will put it in our calculations and assessments.”The US has so far taken only
indirect actions, including helping to shoot down missiles fired toward Israel.
It is deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the
deployment of other warplanes, three US officials said. “I am confident that
(Iran’s military) will react strongly, proportionally and appropriately. We are
closely following the level of involvement in the US... We will react whenever
it is needed,” he said. Thousands of people were fleeing Tehran and other major
cities on Wednesday, Iranian media reported, as Iran and Israel launched new
missile strikes at each other.
Putin says Russia could help broker a deal between Iran and
Israel
James Jordan And Harriet Morris/The Associated Press/Wed, June 18, 2025
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Wednesday to
help mediate an end to the conflict between Israel and Iran, suggesting Moscow
could help negotiate a settlement that could allow Tehran to pursue a peaceful
atomic program while assuaging Israeli security concerns.
Speaking to senior news leaders of international news agencies, Putin noted that
“it's a delicate issue,” but added that “in my view, a solution could be
found.”Asked how Russia would react if Israel kills Iran's Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Putin refused to answer, saying that “I don't even want
to discuss such a possibility.”Khamenei has rejected U.S. calls for surrender in
the face of more Israeli strikes and warned that any military involvement by the
Americans would cause “irreparable damage to them.”Putin said he shared Moscow's
proposals with Iran, Israel and the United States. “We are not imposing anything
on anyone; we are simply talking about how we see a possible way out of the
situation. But the decision, of course, is up to the political leadership of all
these countries, primarily Iran and Israel,” he said. Russia has maintained a
delicate balancing act in the Middle East for decades, trying to navigate its
warm relations with Israel even as it developed strong economic and military
ties with Iran, a policy that could allow Moscow to play power broker. Putin's
comments follow a mediation offer that he made in a call with U.S. President
Donald Trump last weekend. Trump said Wednesday that he told Putin to stay
focused on finding an endgame to his own conflict with Ukraine. “I said, ‘Do me
a favor, mediate your own,’” Trump said he told Putin. “I said, ‘Vladimir, let’s
mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later.’”The comments represented
a shift for Trump, who earlier this week said he was “open” to Putin’s offer to
mediate in the Middle East.
Over 200 Russians remain at Iran's nuclear power plant
Putin, meeting with senior news leaders of international news agencies including
The Associated Press on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International
Economic Forum, emphasized that Russia has a trusting relationship with Iran and
helped built its first nuclear power plant in Bushehr on the Persian Gulf south
of Tehran. He said that over 200 Russian workers are involved in building two
more reactors in Bushehr, adding that "we agreed with the Israeli leadership
that their security will be ensured.”Putin emphasized that Tehran hasn’t asked
Moscow for military assistance, noting the “strategic partnership” treaty
between the countries that was signed in January doesn’t envision such aid. In
addition to a few air defense systems that Russia supplied to Iran in the past,
it also offered previously to help create comprehensive air defenses, but Tehran
didn't want it, he said. “Our proposal was to create a system, not isolated
deliveries, but a system,” Putin said. “We used to discuss it in the past, but
the Iranian side showed little interest.”Israel said that it knocked out Iran's
Russia-supplied S-300 air defense missile systems during last year's strikes.
Praise for Trump's push for peace in Ukraine
Putin on Wednesday praised Trump’s push for peace in Ukraine, seconding the
American leader's repeated claims that the 3-year-old conflict wouldn’t have
started if he had been in the White House in 2022. If Trump had been the
president, the conflict indeed might not have erupted,” Putin said. Russia has
intensified its aerial campaign in Ukraine recently and stepped up ground
attacks along the more than 1,000-kilometer (over 600-mile) front line. Putin
has effectively rejected Trump’s offer of an immediate 30-day ceasefire, making
it conditional on a halt on Ukraine’s mobilization effort and a freeze on
Western arms supplies. He said he is open for talks with Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but repeated his claim that he lost his legitimacy after
his term expired last year — allegations rejected by Kyiv and its allies. “We
are ready for substantive talks on the principles of a settlement,” Putin said,
noting the previous round of talks had led to an exchange of prisoners and the
bodies of fallen soldiers. Asked by AP about Russia condemning Israel’s strikes
on Iran even as Ukrainian civilians are killed in attacks by Moscow, Putin
responded that Russia was targeting the country’s arms factories. “The strikes
were carried out against military industries, not residential quarters,” Putin
said. AP reporters have documented damage to residential buildings in Ukraine,
most recently this week. On Wednesday, emergency workers pulled more bodies from
the rubble of a nine-story Kyiv apartment building demolished by a Russian
attack earlier this week, raising the death toll from the strike on the capital
to 28. Putin vowed that Moscow will achieve its goal to “demilitarize” Ukraine.
“We will not allow Ukraine to have armed forces that would threaten the Russian
Federation and its people,” he said. “And if we fail to reach a settlement, we
will achieve our goals by military means.”He strongly warned Germany against
delivering long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, saying that it could draw it
into a direct military conflict with Russia but won't help stem Russian
advances. “Our troops are advancing along the entire line of contact,” he said,
warning Ukraine to accept Russia's terms for a peace deal or face tougher
conditions in the future. “If they fail to agree, the situation could change for
the worse.”He also dismissed Western warnings of Russia's purported plans to
attack NATO countries as “ravings,” noting the alliance's military spending far
exceed Moscow's defense budget. Putin has used the annual forum to highlight
Russia’s economic achievements and seek foreign investment. Western executives,
who attended the event in the past, have avoided it after Putin sent troops into
Ukraine in February 2022, leaving it to business leaders from Asia, Africa and
Latin America. He met earlier with former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff,
who now heads the New Development Bank created by the BRICS alliance of Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa. He is also set to have meetings with
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and He’s also expected to confer with top
officials from China, South Africa and Bahrain and the head of the OPEC group of
oil-producing countries.
Russia warns US not to help Israel militarily against Iran
Reuters/June 18, 2025
MOSCOW -Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned on Wednesday that
direct U.S. military assistance to Israel could radically destabilise the
situation in the Middle East, where an air war between Iran and Israel has raged
for six days. In separate comments, the head of Russia's SVR foreign
intelligence service, Sergei Naryshkin, was quoted as saying that the situation
between Iran and Israel was now critical. Ryabkov warned the U.S. against direct
military assistance to Israel or even considering such "speculative options,"
according to Russia's Interfax news agency.
"This would be a step that would radically destabilise the entire situation," it
cited him as saying. Earlier, a source familiar with U.S. internal discussions
said President Donald Trump and his team were considering a number of options,
including joining Israel in strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.
On Tuesday, Trump openly mused on social media about killing Iran's Supreme
Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but said "We are not going to take him out
(kill!), at least not for now."Israel launched air strikes last Friday against
Iran's nuclear sites, scientists and top military leaders in a surprise attack
that Russia condemned as unprovoked and illegal. Iran has responded with missile
and drone attacks on Israeli cities. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who in
January signed a strategic partnership treaty with Iran, has called for a
cessation of hostilities between the two sides.
Bannon says
Trump left G7 because he was ‘bored,’ calls NATO allies ‘deadbeats’
Alex Gangitano/The Hill/June 18,
2025
Steve Bannon, the former chief strategist to President Trump, quipped that the
president left the Group of Seven (G7) summit early this week because he was
bored talking to allies. “I think one of the reasons President Trump left the
other day, he was bored,” Bannon said. He added, poking at the other leaders in
the G7, “what do they have to say? And they’re always snipping.” The president
left Canada a day early, returning to Washington in the wee hours of Tuesday
morning because of the growing conflict in the Middle East. He is expected to go
to the NATO summit in The Hague next week. Bannon was responding to a question
during a Christian Science Monitor event from a German reporter about why he
thinks Trump is still participating in the such summits and if he thinks allies
of the U.S. are doing enough. “They’re allies? Remember — let’s be blunt about
NATO,” Bannon said. “Did any of those countries really fight with us in World
War II?” “You’re not allies, you’re deadbeats. Please quote me — you’re
deadbeats,” the former top Trump aide said. Bannon called on NATO allies to
prove they want to participate more in military spending, adding, “show me
combat arms, show me military operations.” “All the big talk you’re going to do
in Ukraine,” he said. “They’re going to do Ukraine, all these troops, everything
like that. I said, ‘They’re not going to send a troop because they can’t afford
it, they’re all upside down on their economy.’”The NATO summit is set to take
place next Tuesday and Wednesday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt
announced earlier this month that Trump will attend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar
Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,
rewritten, or redistributed.
How Steve Bannon thinks MAGA will respond if Trump strikes Iran
Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY/June
18, 2025
WASHINGTON – The “vast majority” of President Donald Trump's MAGA movement “will
get on board” with strikes on Iran, if the two-term Republican goes ahead with
military action, his former chief White House strategist Steve Bannon says.
Should he decide there’s no diplomatic solution to be had, Trump will need to
walk the American people and MAGA through his thinking, Bannon told reporters at
a June 18 breakfast hosted by Christian Science Monitor. But Trump is also
likely to win most of his naysaying supporters over. “There will be some, but
the vast majority of the MAGA movement will go, ‘look, we trust your judgement,
you’ve walked us through this, we don’t like it, in fact maybe we hate it, but
we’ll get on board,’” Bannon said. More: 'It's blowing up': The Iran conflict is
sparking a MAGA civil war. Bannon is one of a number of MAGA stars who’s come
out against the U.S. actively aiding Israel in ongoing airstrikes on Iranian
uranium enrichment and military sites. He said that U.S. military involvement
could “blow up the coalition” during a June 16 appearance on Tucker Carlson’s
show. Bannon at the breakfast railed against “old Republican Party” members and
media personalities, who he said are “forever war types” who supported the Iraq
invasion and other conflicts the MAGA movement opposes. US involvement? Israel
wants to demolish Iran's nuclear facilities. Does it need help? Bannon also
chided Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for trying to present strikes
on Iran as consistent with ‘America First’ values during a recent interview with
a United States broadcaster. “I do believe that even as we speak that President
Trump is looking for potential alternatives,” Bannon said, telling reporters
that Trump prefers “optionality” in his decision-making process. Minutes later
at the White House, Trump told reporters that he had not made a decision about
U.S. military strikes on Iran's uranium enrichment sites. “I may do it. I may
not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do," he said. Asked directly
about the schism in MAGA, Trump responded in the Oval Office later in the day:
“My supporters are for me. My supporters are ‘America first’ and ‘Make America
great again.'" This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Steve Bannon
thinks MAGA will respond if Trump bombs Iran
Bannon: MAGA will ‘get on board’ if Trump decides to join Israel against Iran
Alex Gangitano/The Hill/June 18,
2025
Bannon: MAGA will ‘get on board’ if Trump decides to join Israel against Iran
Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to President Trump, predicted that the
“Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement will ultimately support the president
if he decides to join Israel in its strikes against Iran. Bannon, speaking to
reporters at a Christian Science Monitor event on Wednesday, predicted that
Trump would walk through his decision-making and that MAGA supporters would back
him, even though he and Vice President Vance have been known for wanting to keep
the U.S. out of foreign wars. “If President Trump decides there’s not a
diplomatic alternative … because he’s been consistent, no nuclear weapon,”
Bannon said. “If President Trump decides to do that, I know, and particularly
his skills as a communicator, that he will come and walk people through it and
the MAGA movement — look, they’ll be some — but the vast majority of the MAGA
movement will say, ‘look, we trust your judgment, you walked us through this …
maybe we hate it but you know, we’ll get on board.’”The idea of Trump involving
the U.S. in Israel’s strikes against Iran has created clear divisions within the
MAGA movement. Trump on Wednesday morning dodged a question about whether he’s
moving closer to ordering a strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, saying,
“I may do it, I may not do it.” Some Trump allies have expressed skepticism —
and at times outright indignation — at the idea of the U.S. involved in another
conflict in the Middle East, while others have offered wholehearted support. But
Bannon said it won’t cause support to fall for Trump among his most loyal
followers. “If the president as commander-in-chief makes a decision to do this
and comes forward and walks people through it, the MAGA movement — they’ll lose
some — but the MAGA movement, the [Rep.] Marjorie Taylor Greenes, the [former
Rep.] Matt Gaetzes, we will fight it up to the end and make sure you get full
information but if he has more intelligence and makes that case to the American
people, the MAGA movement will support President Trump,” he said. Trump’s choice
on how involved the U.S. should be in the war is largely around a potential
attack on the Fordow nuclear facility. An attack would require the involvement
of the U.S. because B-2 bombers dropping bunker busters are the only way to
destroy the capabilities of a plant hidden deep in an Iranian mountain. Bannon
said Trump likes “optionality” before he decides what to ultimately do in a
situation like Iran. “What you never want to do is give him a recommend a
passive decision that you don’t have options down the road. You have to think it
through, second- and third-tier ramifications. And I think that’s what they’re
doing,” he said. “That’s why I think they’re prepositioning assets in place
right now to give him the alternatives, if he decides to do either a strike on
Fordow or something broader.” Bannon thinks it should be up to Israel to finish
the conflict that began over the weekend. “My mantra right now, the Israelis
have to finish what they started. They started this, they should finish it. They
have air superiority,” he said. Trump on Tuesday met in the Situation Room at
the White House with members of his national security team. And, in recent days,
the president’s rhetoric has gotten more threatening towards Tehran; on Tuesday
he called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and posted on Truth Social that
Iran’s “Supreme Leader” is an “easy target,” but that there are no plans to take
him out — “at least for now.” Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or
redistributed.
Group flee Israel as conflict with Iran escalates
Aisha Iqbal - BBC News, Bradford Political Reporter/BBC/June 18, 2025
A group of about 45 people from Bradford say they have been "abandoned" by the
UK government after being caught amid escalating military action between Israel
and Iran. The group, led by the Muslim Women's Council, travelled to Jerusalem
on 9 June for a spiritual visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque and to promote peace. But as
the conflict in the Middle East has intensified, they say they found themselves
trapped and have received "very little support" from the Foreign, Commonwealth
and Development Office (FCDO). The FCDO said the safety and security of all
British citizens was the government's "top priority" and it was working "around
the clock" to help those in crisis. The group, which includes at least one young
child, managed to leave Israel and cross into neighbouring Jordan, stopping in
the capital city of Amman. Bana Gora, CEO of the Muslim Women's Council, said:
"We crossed borders on our own. We are British citizens, yet we were abandoned
in a war zone. If we were white British, would it have been different?"
Previous advice had told Britons to avoid "all travel to parts of Israel".
This was updated to warn against "all but essential travel" to the country after
a state of emergency was declared on 13 June. On 15 June, Britons were warned
against all travel to Israel amid the escalation in the country's military
activity with Iran. In a longer video posted online, Ms Gora described her
experience as traumatising. "We never expected that we were walking into a war
zone," she said. "We've suffered a great deal of trauma, crossing borders,
trying to get out [and with] very little support from our FCDO. We're so
disappointed. We can't express how disappointed we are."Even after fleeing to
Jordan, she said uncertainty remained with sirens going off and missiles flying
over the country, which she said were being intercepted by Jordanian forces."We
are not sure if we'll even make the flights tomorrow that we've booked that
constantly are being cancelled," Ms Gora said on Tuesday night. The BBC
understands Bradford MPs Naz Shah, Imran Hussain and Judith Cummins have all
made appeals to the Foreign Office for urgent action. When first approached for
comment, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office directed the BBC to
remarks made by Foreign Secretary David Lammy in the House of Commons on Monday.
However on Tuesday night a spokesperson said the safety and security of Britons
in the region was their "top priority". "This is a fast-moving situation that
has the potential to deteriorate further, quickly and without warning. That is
why we are encouraging British nationals to register their presence and pay
close attention to travel advice," a spokesperson said.
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on June 18-19/2025
Understanding America’s Calculated Approach Before
Engaging in the Ongoing Iran-Israel War
Colonel Charbel Barakat/June 18/ 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/06/144370/
There are several factors that require the American president to exercise
deliberation before issuing the inevitable order to participate and strike a
number of targets in Iran to settle the battle, and as we see it, these include
a number of important points.
The Risk of Iranian Retaliation
In the event that the United States joins the military operations, the Iranian
Revolutionary Guard will initiate disproportionate and even suicidal retaliatory
actions; including bombing American bases, attempting to close the Strait of
Hormuz, and even targeting US friendly Gulf countries such as the UAE, Saudi
Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait—not to mention Qatar, which hosts one of the largest
American bases in the Gulf—among others, with the aim of causing as many human
casualties as possible.
Israel’s Sustained Offensive
Meanwhile, Israel's ongoing unilateral strikes demonstrate its readiness and
unmatched experience in managing such threats. Iranian missile and drone
stockpiles are steadily being depleted. Key logistical and storage hubs are
systematically identified and destroyed, reducing the Revolutionary Guard’s
ability to conduct or threaten war. As the campaign continues, Iran’s arsenal
will either be consumed or eradicated, stripping the regime of its coercive
power and eliminating its leverage over the region.
The Imperative to Strike Strategic Sites
Beyond the deeply buried nuclear sites—most notably Fordow—there exist vital
military-industrial facilities that must be permanently destroyed or disabled to
prevent future use. If no internal revolution materializes, or if Iran’s regular
army fails to oust the Revolutionary Guard and install a civilian transitional
government, then high-capacity platforms like the B-52 bombers will be
indispensable in eliminating these strategic sites with precision.
Eroding Sleeper Cell Effectiveness
Globally dispersed sleeper cells represent another looming threat. However, as
time passes without direct orders from a disintegrating command structure, their
effectiveness will wane. Many of these operatives, feeling isolated and
abandoned, will likely be rendered inert—unable or unwilling to act as the
regime crumbles.
Neutralizing Proxies
Proxies such as Hezbollah, the Popular Mobilization Forces, and the Houthis
remain active in the region. Yet any action they take will serve only to justify
overwhelming counterstrikes—clearing the region of their weapons and influence
once and for all. This would be a defining moment of purification in the Middle
East: a swift removal of threats without the need for negotiation or concession
to groups that falsely believe they hold the keys to regional stability.
Trump’s Calculated Strategy
President Trump’s alternating cadence—strong rhetoric followed by strategic
pauses—is not indecision, but part of a calculated plan to implement
pre-approved measures with maximum precision and minimum uncertainty. Every move
is monitored, every pretender to power scrutinized. The time for outdated
ideologies has passed: the failed Palestinian “revolutions,” the apocalyptic
fantasies of the Mullahs, the delusions of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the
paralysis of the old Left clinging to Nasser-era dreams. These forces have only
brought destruction, regression, and contagious backwardness to societies once
poised for progress.
Toward a New Middle East.
President Trump does not hesitate when it comes to building. He is committed to
shaping a new Middle East—one cleared of ideological wreckage and chaos. He
envisions a clean foundation upon which a brighter future can rise. The time has
come for the peoples of the region to reclaim their destiny, embrace
modernization, and take their place in a cooperative, global future.
This new Middle East will serve as a global crossroads for civilizations and
commerce—connecting Central Asia and China, the Indian subcontinent and Africa,
Russia and Europe, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea. The
Iranian bazaar will reopen—not to export hatred and isolation as the Mullahs
once did—but to engage in productive global partnerships.
Gaza, too, will transform into a Mediterranean Riviera—its people thriving in
prosperity rather than trapped in despair, much like the coastlines of Egypt and
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea. High-speed railways will crisscross the region, enabling
the free flow of people and goods, supporting reconstruction, and driving job
creation.
A Global Effort for Peace and Rebuilding
Rebuilding Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran in the aftermath of war will require
strong hands, renewed spirits, and determined minds. The world—from China to
India, East Asia to Europe, the Americas, and even Australia—will come together
to support this monumental task. Together, we will build bridges of cooperation,
innovation, and shared humanity.
Enough of war. Enough of suffering. Let this be the final war. Let the Trump era
be remembered not only as a triumph for America, but as a blessing for the
entire world.
No longer should our people be forced to emigrate in search of dignity—rather,
the diaspora will return home, bringing with them their skills, investments, and
dreams.
Let this be the last war. Let it be remembered. But let it never be repeated.
Fear stalks Tehran as Israel bombards, shelters fill up and
communicating grows harder
Farnoush Amiri/The Associated Press/June 18, 2025
NEW YORK (AP) — The streets of Tehran are empty, businesses closed,
communications patchy at best. With no bona fide bomb shelters open to the
public, panicked masses spend restless nights on the floors of metro stations as
strikes boom overhead. This is Iran’s capital city, just under a week into a
fierce Israeli blitz to destroy the country's nuclear program and its military
capabilities. After knocking out much of Iran's air defense system, Israel says
its warplanes have free rein over the city's skies. U.S. President Donald Trump
on Monday told Tehran's roughly 10 million residents to evacuate “immediately.”Thousands
have fled, spending hours in gridlock as they head toward the suburbs, the
Caspian Sea, or even Armenia or Turkey. But others — those elderly and infirm —
are stuck in high-rise apartment buildings. Their relatives fret: what to do?
Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 585 people and wounded over 1,300,
a human rights group says. State media, also a target of bombardment, have
stopped reporting on the attacks, leaving Iranians in the dark. There are few
visible signs of state authority: Police appear largely undercover, air raid
sirens are unreliable, and there’s scant information on what to do in case of
attack.
Shirin, 49, who lives in the southern part of Tehran, said every call or text to
friends and family in recent days has felt like it could be the last.
“We don’t know if tomorrow we will be alive,” she said.
Many Iranians feel conflicted. Some support Israel's targeting of Iranian
political and military officials they see as repressive. Others staunchly defend
the Islamic Republic and retaliatory strikes on Israel. Then, there are those
who oppose Iran’s rulers — but still don't want to see their country bombed.
To stay, or to go?
The Associated Press interviewed five people in Iran and one Iranian American in
the U.S. over the phone. All spoke either on the condition of anonymity or only
allowed their first names to be used, for fear of retribution from the state
against them or their families. Most of the calls ended abruptly and within
minutes, cutting off conversations as people grew nervous — or because the
connection dropped. Iran’s government has acknowledged disrupting internet
access. It says it's to protect the country, though that has blocked average
Iranians from getting information from the outside world. Iranians in the
diaspora wait anxiously for news from relatives. One, an Iranian American human
rights researcher in the U.S., said he last heard from relatives when some were
trying to flee Tehran earlier in the week. He believes that lack of gas and
traffic prevented them from leaving. The most heartbreaking interaction, he
said, was when his older cousins — with whom he grew up in Iran — told him “we
don’t know where to go. If we die, we die.”
“Their sense was just despair,” he said.
Some families have made the decision to split up.
A 23-year-old Afghan refugee who has lived in Iran for four years said he stayed
behind in Tehran but sent his wife and newborn son out of the city after a
strike Monday hit a nearby pharmacy.
“It was a very bad shock for them,” he said.
Some, like Shirin, said fleeing was not an option. The apartment buildings in
Tehran are towering and dense. Her father has Alzheimer’s and needs an ambulance
to move. Her mother's severe arthritis would make even a short trip extremely
painful.
Still, hoping escape might be possible, she spent the last several days trying
to gather their medications. Her brother waited at a gas station until 3 a.m.,
only to be turned away when the fuel ran out. As of Monday, gas was being
rationed to under 20 liters (5 gallons) per driver at stations across Iran after
an Israeli strike set fire to the world's largest gas field.
Some people, like Arshia, said they are just tired.
“I don’t want to go in traffic for 40 hours, 30 hours, 20 hours, just to get to
somewhere that might get bombed eventually,” he said.
The 22-year-old has been staying in the house with his parents since the initial
Israeli strike. He said his once-lively neighborhood of Saadat Abad in
northwestern Tehran is now a ghost town. Schools are closed. Very few people
even step outside to walk their dogs. Most local stores have run out of drinking
water and cooking oil. Others closed.
Still, Arshia said the prospect of finding a new place is too daunting.
“We don’t have the resources to leave at the moment,” he said.
Residents are on their own
No air raid sirens went off as Israeli strikes began pounding Tehran before dawn
Friday. For many, it was an early sign civilians would have to go it alone.
During the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, Tehran was a low-slung city, many homes
had basements to shelter in, and there were air raid drills and sirens. Now the
capital is packed with close-built high-rise apartments without shelters.
“It's a kind of failing of the past that they didn’t build shelters,” said a
29-year-old Tehran resident who left the city Monday. “Even though we’ve been
under the shadow of a war, as long as I can remember.”
Her friend's boyfriend was killed while going to the store.
“You don’t really expect your boyfriend — or your anyone, really — to leave the
house and never return when they just went out for a routine normal shopping
trip,” she said. Those who choose to relocate do so without help from the
government. The state has said it is opening mosques, schools and metro stations
for use as shelters. Some are closed, others overcrowded.
Hundreds crammed into one Tehran metro station Friday night. Small family groups
lay on the floor. One student, a refugee from another country, said she spent 12
hours in the station with her relatives.
“Everyone there was panicking because of the situation,” she said. “Everyone
doesn’t know what will happen next, if there is war in the future and what they
should do. People think nowhere is safe for them.”
Soon after leaving the station, she saw that Israel had warned a swath of Tehran
to evacuate. “For immigrant communities, this is so hard to live in this kind of
situation,” she said, explaining she feels like she has nowhere to escape to —
especially not her home country, which she asked not be identified.
Fear of Iran mingles with fear of Israel
For Shirin, the hostilities are bittersweet. Despite being against the theocracy
and its treatment of women, the idea that Israel may determine the future does
not sit well with her. “As much as we want the end of this regime, we didn’t
want it to come at the hands of a foreign government,” she said. “We would have
preferred that if there were to be a change, it would be the result of a
people’s movement in Iran.”
Meanwhile, the 29-year-old who left Tehran had an even more basic message for
those outside Iran:
“I just want people to remember that whatever is happening here, it’s not
routine business for us. People’s lives here — people’s livelihoods — feel as
important to them as they feel to anyone in any other place. How would you feel
if your city or your country was under bombardment by another country, and
people were dying left and right?”“We are kind of like, this can’t be happening.
This can’t be my life.”
Israel Acted for All of Us ...Special Thanks to
President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Great IDF
Amin Sharifi/Gatestone Institute/June 18, 2025
Often lost in the media frenzy is the fact that Iran, unprovoked, initiated
hostilities against Israel. The seeming dispute was not about territory, policy
or any disagreement that states normally have. It was about ideology. Since its
establishment nearly five decades ago, the Islamic Republic of Iran and its
proxies have waged a war against Israel and the United States, calling for their
destruction. From their point of view, neither country, as "unbelievers," has a
right to exist. Full stop.
No other issue, domestic or foreign, was as consistent, prioritized or
systematically pursued as Tehran's hostility toward Israel, the country blocking
its way to destroying the United States. To that end, Iran spent decades
preparing "forward bases" across the Middle East and in South America,
especially Venezuela. Then US President Barack Obama's JCPOA "nuclear deal"
failed to address the fundamental nuclear threat from Iran, and focused on
temporary technical limits while ignoring the regime's long-term ambitions.
Obama actually agreed to a "sunset clause" that would have allowed Iran
legitimately to have as many nuclear weapons as could get, starting in October
2025.
The Biden administration unfortunately repeated Obama's errors., perhaps under
the illusion that if it were nice to Iran, Iran would be nice back. Instead,
Iran seized on its good luck to escalate its uranium enrichment to 60% by April
2021 and to 83.7%, near weapons-grade, in 2023.
In his first term, President Donald Trump wisely pulled the U.S. out of Obama's
deal – which, it turned out, had not only been fraudulent but totally
illegitimate.
Does the world really want a terrorist state to have nuclear weapons? If you
look at the damage Iran has been doing without nuclear weapons, imagine the
damage it could do with them. A nuclear-armed, ideology-driven Islamist regime
threatens everyone. Right now, Israel is on the front line doing what others
--whose lives and countries Israel is saving -- criticize it for doing. Israel's
actions are not about starting a war; they are about stopping a war that has
been underway for 46 years, before the theocratic tyranny that initiated it can
enlarge it further.
Netanyahu and Trump's resolve is not only creating the opportunity for a new,
golden age for the Middle East but possibly also providing a deterrent --
remember deterrence? -- to other enemies of the West that have expressed wishes
for its demise.
Trump's Churchillian defense of the Free World will place him at the forefront
of history. Both he and Netanyahu -- as well as the extraordinary Israeli
military -- deserve the Nobel Peace Prize for rescuing the world from one of the
most toxic regimes since the Third Reich and the Soviet Union. Failure by the
Norwegian Nobel Committee to award them the prize would tell us more about them
than about one of the greatest triumphs for freedom of all time.
Often lost in the media frenzy is the fact that Iran, unprovoked, initiated
hostilities against Israel. The seeming dispute was not about territory, policy
or any disagreement that states normally have. It was about ideology. Since its
establishment nearly five decades ago, the Islamic Republic of Iran and its
proxies have waged a war against Israel and the United States, calling for their
destruction. From their point of view, neither country, as "unbelievers," has a
right to exist. Full stop.
For nearly five decades, Iran's theocratic regime, while denying the Holocaust,
has been funding terror groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic
Jihad and the Houthis, and for over 30 years has had a nuclear weapons program.
Iran, which wants Israel annihilated, invested virtually all its national assets
into encircling Israel, roughly the size of New Jersey (22,000 sq.km) with a
"noose of fire," so that since October 7, 2023, Israel has been forced to defend
itself against attacks on seven fronts: Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iran, Iraq,
and its own West Bank.
From the earliest days of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, its goal has been
stated openly and its doctrine deeply embedded in the regime's identity. No
other issue, domestic or foreign, was as consistent, prioritized or
systematically pursued as Tehran's hostility toward Israel, the country blocking
its way to destroying the United States. To that end, Iran spent decades
preparing "forward bases" across the Middle East and in South America,
especially Venezuela.
Attacking Israel has been seen by Iran's regime as the first step toward
defeating the entire West. "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" are chanted
after every Friday prayer, taught in schools, and plastered across the country's
public spaces. Every major street has murals promoting hostility toward Israel
and the U.S. In Tehran, there is even a "countdown clock" in a public square
marking the days until Israel's destruction.
In 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Islamic Republic of Iran's first
Supreme Leader, declared Israel the "Little Satan" (the U.S. is the "Great
Satan") and framed opposition to Israel as a core Islamic duty. During the
Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran kidnapped and held hostage American diplomats
for 444 days, until election of President Ronald Reagan persuaded them to
release the hostages.
Khomeini's successor, today's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called
Israel a "cancerous tumor" that must be removed. In 2005, then President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad called for Israel to be "wiped off the map".
Iran's long record of targeting Jews and Israelis has been well documented. In
1992, Iran bombed the Israeli Embassy in Argentina, killing 29 people, and
wounding 200. Two years later, a truck bomb leveled the AMIA Jewish Community
Center in Buenos Aires, killing 85 people.
In 1993, Iran assisted in bombing the U.S. Marines barracks in Beirut, Lebanon,
in an attack that killed 241 Marines.
A U.S. court found that Iran participated in the attacks of September 11, 2001.
In 2006, during the Second Lebanon War, Iran's proxy Hezbollah fired thousands
of rockets into Israel.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip (long supported by Iran
and Qatar with funds and weapons) launched an unprecedented invasion of Israel,
murdering around 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 hostages back to Gaza.
If a terrorist regime, openly committed to wiping another nation off the map, is
pursuing a nuclear bomb, how could any responsible government trust it?
In 1996, Iran test-launched the Shahab-3 missile, capable of reaching Israel. In
2002, its secret nuclear program was publicly exposed. By 2011, Iran was
enriching uranium to 20% and shifting operations to underground bunker complexes
such as Fordow.
By 2015, Iran had a robust nuclear infrastructure. Then US President Barack
Obama's JCPOA "nuclear deal" failed to address the fundamental nuclear threat
from Iran, and focused on temporary technical limits while ignoring the regime's
long-term ambitions. Obama actually agreed to a "sunset clause" that would have
allowed Iran legitimately to have as many nuclear weapons as could get, starting
in October 2025. In September 2015, Khamenei said that Israel would not survive
the next 25 years.
The Obama administration, while funding Iran to the hilt, also neglected Iran's
missile program and regional proxies. Even after Iran openly tested ballistic
missiles, the Obama administration responded weakly, backing off planned
sanctions after Tehran warned that it might jeopardize secret talks over a
prisoner swap. This encouragement allowed Iran to further develop advanced
uranium-enrichment centrifuges and ballistic missile technology, and increase
investments in nuclear infrastructure.
In April 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu revealed that the Mossad had
obtained Iran's secret nuclear archive — proof that Tehran had researched
nuclear weapons and lied about it. In his first term, President Donald Trump
wisely pulled the U.S. out of Obama's deal – which, it turned out, had not only
been fraudulent but totally illegitimate.
In 2020, Trump brought about the Abraham Accords between Israel and several Arab
states -- a historic achievement, and at least partially induced by the Shiite
Iranian regime's tendency to eye its Sunni Muslim Arab neighbors for their oil
and gas, in addition to hostility for their alleged Sunni "heresy."
The Biden administration unfortunately repeated Obama's errors., perhaps under
the illusion that if it were nice to Iran, Iran would be nice back. Instead,
Iran seized on its good luck to escalate its uranium enrichment to 60% by April
2021 and to 83.7%, near weapons-grade, in 2023.
The October 7, 2023 attack put the brakes on expanding the Abraham Accords,
especially the efforts of bringing Saudi Arabia on board.
Iran itself, in a pattern of consistent aggression and in addition to all the
aggression by its militias and proxies, also fired long-range ballistic missiles
directly at Israel in April and October 2024, during its operation "True
Promise."
Israel has lived under the threat of destruction since Iran began its nuclear
weapons program. No other country has faced such a sustained, existential
threat. Given Israel's tiny size and population density, the last thing it must
want is war. From facilitating Iran-Contra dealings in the 1980s between US and
Iran, to peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, to the Abraham Accords, whenever
possible, Israel has tried to improve relations with Iran and basically any
country that would talk to it.
Israel's airstrikes on Iran this month did not happen in a vacuum. They are the
result of 46 years of Iranian hostility, escalation and deception.
On May 31, 2025, report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
confirmed that Iran has enough enriched uranium to build nine nuclear weapons.
On June 12, 2025, the IAEA formally declared Iran "in breach of
non-proliferation obligations," the first such ruling in nearly 20 years. The
resolution cited Tehran's repeated refusal since 2019 to cooperate with
inspectors over undeclared nuclear material and secret activities.
Iran's nuclear program, according to its own words -- "Death to Israel" -- is an
existential threat to Israel, the U.S. and other Western countries. Israel had
every reason to act.
Under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, countries have the right to
self-defense against armed attacks.
Israel's Operation Rising Lion, which began June 13, 2025, is an act of
self-defense. Israeli forces have hit military targets: nuclear facilities,
military bases, missile depots and air defense systems. At least 10 IRGC senior
commanders were killed, as well as nuclear scientists. Iranian cities saw
explosions, although with remarkably few civilian deaths. Israel has been
warning civilians to evacuate intended target areas -- further evidence of
Israel's careful planning and ethical approach.
Iran responded with ballistic missile and drone attacks primarily, mostly
deliberately launched at civilian residential areas. Most of Iran's missiles and
drones were shot down; a few that slipped through killed 10 Israeli civilians
(at time of writing). What stood out was Iran's deliberate targeting of civilian
areas -- homes in crowded cities -- showing the regime's total disregard for
innocent lives.
Iran, apparently used to having its proxies front for it, was evidently not
equipped for modern warfare. Its military is outdated. The air force relies on
nearly 50-year-old F-14 fighter jets and lacks modern aircraft. Israel had
months earlier damaged Iran's air defenses. Iram's ballistic missiles, such as
the Shahab-3, are not very accurate. Iran's navy is obsolete. Even Iran's threat
to close the Strait of Hormuz appears mostly talk. Doing so would trigger an
international backlash.
Since Trump's reelection, sanctions have gutted Iran's economy. Inflation is
high, with the rial in free fall. Oil and gas exports are limited. For years
before that, nearly half the population has unfortunately been living in
poverty. Khamenei's age, 85, questionable judgement and his uncertain succession
all make the regime more fragile.
Brutal crackdowns have only deepened the divide between rulers and ruled. Mass
protests in 2019 and 2022 showed the public's rage at repression and economic
failure. Recent videos from inside Iran show people celebrating and thanking
Israel for the airstrikes.
Iran has also become increasingly isolated. The Assad regime in Syria was driven
out. Iran's proxies have been degraded by Israeli forces, and reluctant backing
from Russia and China have left the regime exposed. Its Shiite territorial
aggression has alienated all of its Sunni-majority neighbors except Qatar, which
has funded -- and then pretends to negotiate objectively! -- every Islamic
terrorist group, including al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Hamas and Islamic State.
Meanwhile, most Iranians, trapped under their repressive tyrannical government
that does not conduct free or fair elections, reportedly have for years been
calling for regime change. Nearly 80% of Iranians favor the return of Crown
Prince Reza Pahlavi. His daughter's recent marriage to a Jewish American
symbolized pre-Khomeinist Iran's deep historic ties to the West, an alliance the
Islamist regime has tried to extinguish.
Who got us here? Western governments, especially the United States and Europe.
By treating Iran as if it were a benign country, and clinging to failed
illusions such as the disastrous JCPOA, which promised Iran nuclear weapons --
starting this October! -- they encouraged Tehran develop its nuclear and missile
programs unchecked. When Western governments had many chances to stop Iran early
on, they passed them up. Now Israel is paying the price.
Does the world really want a terrorist state to have nuclear weapons? If you
look at the damage Iran has been doing without nuclear weapons, imagine the
damage it could do with them. A nuclear-armed, ideology-driven Islamist regime
threatens everyone. Right now, Israel is on the front line doing what others
--whose lives and countries Israel is saving -- criticize it for doing. Israel's
actions are not about starting a war; they are about stopping a war that has
been underway for 46 years, before the theocratic tyranny that initiated it can
enlarge it further.
Best of all, China, Russia and North Korea are looking on. If they ever had
thoughts about making mischief during Trump's second term, perhaps now they are
having second thoughts. Netanyahu and Trump's resolve is not only creating the
opportunity for a new, golden age for the Middle East but possibly also
providing a deterrent -- remember deterrence? -- to other enemies of the West
that have expressed wishes for its demise.
Critics in the United States, NATO and Europe would do well to abandon their
half-hearted support for a despotism that would most certainly soon be coming
for them, and instead, back Israel for doing whatever it has to do. If and when
Iran's savage tyranny collapses, the great people of Iran can finally take back
their country and restore freedom, regional security and peace.
Trump's Churchillian defense of the Free World will place him at the forefront
of history. Both he and Netanyahu -- as well as the extraordinary Israeli
military -- deserve the Nobel Peace Prize for rescuing the world from one of the
most toxic regimes since the Third Reich and the Soviet Union. Failure by the
Norwegian Nobel Committee to award them the prize would tell us more about them
than about one of the greatest triumphs for freedom of all time.
Amin Sharifi is an expert in international relations and the Middle East. He is
presently based in Sweden.
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21690/israel-acted-for-all-of-us
Trump’s Words — and the Silence of Others — on the
Persecution of Christians
Raymond Ibrahim/The Stream/June 18/2025
On June 1, President Donald Trump issued a statement to commemorate Global
Coptic Day. Among other things, he said:
“Today, I join the Coptic Orthodox Christian community in observing Global
Coptic Day… Tracing its roots to Saint Mark, the apostle of Jesus Christ and the
evangelist who brought the Christian faith to Egypt in the first century, the
Coptic Church has been a beacon of Christendom in Africa for nearly 2,000 years.
The Coptic community has left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions of
Christians — most evidently seen in their timeless contributions to Christian
theology and culture. This Global Coptic Day, we also pause to reflect upon the
vicious and ongoing persecution of Coptic Orthodox Christians in Africa and
across the Middle East. In 2015, 21 Coptic construction workers were brutally
executed by ISIS terrorists in Libya. Like persecuted Christians all around the
world, these heroic martyrs refused to renounce their faith. They exemplified
sacrificial love and steadfast devotion to God, even in the face of certain
death. The Copts’ persistence amid relentless persecution is a living testament
to their unbreakable resolve and fearless dedication to spreading the Gospel of
Jesus Christ.”
Trump’s statement is obviously powerful, but it’s more than that — it is rare.
Unlike his predecessors, Trump has consistently acknowledged the brutal and
ongoing persecution of Christians in the Muslim world, especially in Egypt,
where Copts have long endured systemic violence, discrimination, and neglect.
And that persecution continues till this day. One week after Trump’s statement,
the Virgin Mary Church in Luxor, Egypt, became the latest to go up in flames.
So-called “accidental” church fires have become disturbingly commonplace in
Egypt, with authorities reflexively ruling out arson often before an
investigation even begins.
But Wait … There’s Worse
Even more disturbing are the routine disappearances of Coptic women and girls.
The latest high-profile case is that of Mariam Medhat Ramzy, who vanished on May
25. Abductions like hers are as common as they are rarely investigated
seriously, if at all.
Add to this the frequent collective punishments inflicted on Christian
communities when one of their members is perceived as overstepping their
“place.” Just last week, in Minya, mobs of Muslims rioted, shouting “Allahu
Akbar” while torching dozens of Christian homes. The spark? A Copt had the
temerity to install a mobile booster on his own roof.
In this context, Trump’s words matter. They stand in stark contrast to the
studied silence — or worse, moral equivalence — of his predecessors, Barack
Obama and Joe Biden. Trump is, without question, the only U.S. president in
modern history to directly and repeatedly confront the persecution of Christians
in the Muslim world.
Nor is this a new position for Trump. During his first term, he addressed the
issue bluntly. In 2020, he remarked on the “ongoing challenges facing the
largest Christian group [Copts] in the Middle East,” emphasizing the need to
“acknowledge the importance of religious freedom” and to “reaffirm our
commitment to promoting and defending this core tenet of a free society.”
That year, he also called the treatment of Christians in the region “beyond
disgraceful,” saying Christianity was being “treated horribly and very unfairly
— it’s criminal.”Perhaps most memorably, following the 2017 massacre of 28 Copts
— including 10 children — by Islamic gunmen in Egypt, Trump stated:
“This merciless slaughter of Christians in Egypt tears at our hearts and grieves
our souls… America makes clear to its friends, allies, and partners that the
treasured and historic Christian communities of the Middle East must be defended
and protected. The bloodletting of Christians must end, and all who aid their
killers must be punished.”
Words Matter
Some may argue that Trump’s words are just that — words. But words matter. And
if you doubt that, consider how different the words of his predecessors have
been.
When the Egyptian military ran over and gunned down dozens of peaceful Coptic
protesters during the Maspero Massacre in 2011 — the worst state-sanctioned
attack on Christians in modern Egyptian history —Obama issued what his
administration called a “pointedly even-handed statement,” urging both sides,
Christians and the military, to “show restraint.”
Yes, you read that right. Christians — mown down by tanks and bullets for daring
to protest the burning of their churches — were told to “show restraint.”
This kind of moral equivalence was a hallmark of the Obama administration. In
his ideological framework, Christians are always the “oppressors” and
non-Christians the “oppressed,” regardless of the facts. That’s why, when Muslim
extremists bombed three churches in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday in 2019, killing
nearly 300 Christians, both Obama and Hillary Clinton issued statements
lamenting an attack on “Easter worshippers.” Not Christians — “Easter
worshippers.”
They could not bring themselves to name the victims, because doing so would
disrupt the narrative.
Not only did Obama fail to acknowledge (much less do anything about) the Muslim
persecution of Christians, he aided and abetted it (see numerous old articles
and documented reports I wrote, starting back in 2012, here, here, here, here).
In other words, there’s a reason that Trump has repeatedly said, “President
Obama is the founder of ISIS.”
The Nigerian Problem
But it is perhaps in the context of Nigeria, where a bonafide genocide of
Christians has been taking place since Obama first entered the White House, that
the differences between him and Biden, on the one hand, and Trump on the other
emerge most clearly. Keep in mind that, on average, a Nigerian Christian is
killed for his religion every two hours.
Despite this, the Obama administration refused for years to designate Nigeria as
a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), despite the ongoing slaughter of
Christians there by Boko Haram and other jihadist groups. Hillary Clinton’s
State Department even resisted labeling Boko Haram a terrorist organization —
despite its record of murdering Christians and bombing churches at a scale
exceeding that of ISIS.
Not until Trump came to power in 2020 was Nigeria finally designated a CPC. And
unlike his predecessors, Trump didn’t mince words. During a meeting with
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari — a man many Nigerians say Obama helped
install — Trump asked him directly: “Why are you killing Christians?
Contrast that with the Biden administration. In 2021, under Secretary of State
Antony Blinken, Nigeria was quietly removed from the CPC list. Human rights
observers were appalled. As attorney Sean Nelson said at the time:
“No explanations have been given that could justify this decision. If anything,
the situation in Nigeria has grown worse over the last year. Thousands of
Christians are targeted, killed, and kidnapped, and the government is simply
unwilling to stop these atrocities… Removing CPC status for Nigeria will only
embolden the increasingly authoritarian government there.”
In short, at a time when truth is suffocating under the weight of politics and
propaganda, Trump’s words about persecuted Christians matter. They are a rare
acknowledgment of reality — and a crucial first step toward change.
Video link/Donald Trump Condemns Christian Persecution — Unlike Biden and Obama
Who Facilitated It
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mv7yWEpA_g&t=1s
The Israeli-Iranian war and the
security of the Gulf
Hassan Al-Mustafa/Arab News/June 18, 2025
The positions of the Gulf Cooperation Council states have been made very clear,
as they openly expressed their opposition to Friday’s initial Israeli military
strikes that targeted Iranian nuclear facilities.
On that day, Saudi Arabia issued a clear statement in which it expressed its
“strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli attacks against the
brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security
and constitute a clear violation of international laws and norms.”
For its part, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced its “strong
condemnation and deep denunciation of the Israeli attack targeting the territory
of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”The UAE, in a statement issued by its Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, expressed its “deep concern over the ongoing escalation and
its repercussions on regional security and stability,” stressing the “importance
of exercising the utmost self-restraint and judgment to mitigate risks and
prevent the expansion of the conflict.” The Gulf states have adopted a flexible,
pragmatic approach that prevents them from remaining trapped in the past.
The Gulf Cooperation Council’s Ministerial Council, in its 48th extraordinary
session, unanimously expressed its rejection of “the Israeli attacks on the
Islamic Republic of Iran, which infringe its sovereignty and security and
constitute a flagrant violation of international law and the Charter of the
United Nations.” It emphasized “the necessity of returning to the diplomatic
path” and “an immediate ceasefire,” in order to “maintain the security and
stability of the region.” It also called on the “UN Security Council and the
international community to assume their responsibilities toward the immediate
cessation of this war.”
The council’s statement did not overlook a highly important point related to
energy security, as it stressed “the importance of preserving maritime security
and waterways in the region, and countering activities that threaten the
security and stability of the region and the world, including targeting
commercial ships, threatening maritime navigation and international trade, and
oil facilities in the GCC states.”
The GCC states’ positions were not limited to statements alone. Direct phone
calls took place between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iranian
President Masoud Pezeshkian. Pezeshkian also spoke with both Omani Sultan
Haitham bin Tariq and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. The
foreign ministries of the Gulf states are also in contact with the Iranian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to coordinate and de-escalate and to
arrange logistical matters related to Iranian citizens stranded in these
countries or Gulf citizens stranded in Iran, in addition to the messages being
conveyed by various parties aiming to de-escalate the situation. Added to all
this are the direct communications between the kings and presidents of the Gulf
states and the US, France, the UK, Turkiye and other influential countries,
which aim to create a genuine and practical political path that pushes for the
resumption of US-Iranian negotiations, the halting of military actions and
making diplomacy the sole path toward resolving disputes.
Netanyahu is adopting extremist policies aimed at cementing a fait accompli in
which Tel Aviv controls the Middle East
Some may find these intensive efforts surprising, especially since they are
coming from Arab countries that have political and security disputes with Iran.
They have also experienced incidents where Tehran played a negative role that
harmed Gulf security by supporting cells loyal to the Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps, which engaged in interference and sabotage operations in several
Arab countries.
These previous negative experiences are taken into account by the Gulf Arab
states, but they have adopted a flexible, pragmatic approach that prevents them
from remaining trapped in the past or being held hostage to reactions and
emotional responses. This is especially the case given that a trust-building
process has begun and is progressing step by step between Saudi Arabia and Iran
following the signing of the Beijing Agreement between the two countries in
March 2023, which was based on mutual respect and noninterference in each
other’s internal affairs.
What distinguishes Riyadh and the other Gulf capitals is that they do not base
their foreign policies on emotions. Rather, they build their diplomacy on what
serves their national interests first, regional security second and their
partnerships with neighboring countries — including Iran. They strive to make
honest and serious dialogue the path to resolving ongoing issues. These
pragmatic policies have formed a safety net, especially since Oct. 7, 2023, as
Israel has continued to pursue aggressive policies and wage a bloody war against
the Gaza Strip, while rejecting calls for a ceasefire. It has also been working
to undermine the two-state solution — an issue highlighted in the statement
issued on Tuesday by the co-chairs of the UN High-Level International Conference
on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation
of the Two-State Solution, convened by Saudi Arabia and France.
This statement stressed that “the situation compels us to double our efforts to
call for upholding international law, respecting the sovereignty of states and
advancing peace,” while emphasizing the importance of achieving a “just and
lasting resolution of the Palestinian question through the implementation of the
two-state solution.”The current extremist government in Israel rejects the
two-state solution and it is exultant over what it sees as a crushing victory
against its “enemies” — whether Hamas in Palestine or Hezbollah in Lebanon — and
the resulting shifts in Syria, as well as the halting of attacks against Israel
by Iraqi armed factions. This sense of overwhelming power within Benjamin
Netanyahu’s government is pushing its prime minister to adopt extremist policies
aimed at cementing a fait accompli in which Tel Aviv controls the Middle East,
becoming the dominant force in the region that changes things at will and acts
without consequences. This is something Saudi Arabia and the GCC states reject,
as it violates international norms and laws. Furthermore, the current extremist
Israeli policies are likely to foster an environment conducive to the growth of
extremist ideologies — meaning that conflict will inevitably erupt again in the
future, leading to further instability in the Middle East. The GCC states are
seeking to urge US President Donald Trump to pressure Israel to halt its
military operations in the region and move toward resuming nuclear negotiations
with Iran — concurrently with ending the war on Palestinians in Gaza and the
West Bank. This is because they realize that, without such steps, no one will be
able to rein in Netanyahu’s recklessness, his personal ambitions or the dreams
of the Israeli far right, which listens to nothing but its own racist desires.
**Hassan Al-Mustafa is a Saudi writer and researcher interested in Islamic
movements, the development of religious discourse and the relationship between
the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Iran. X: @Halmustafa
GCC takes a stand on the
Iran-Israel war
Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg/Arab
News/June 18/2025
As the Israel-Iran war entered its fourth day on Monday, with the fighting
intensifying and reaching dangerous levels that could disrupt life beyond the
two warring parties, the Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers met to
coordinate their policy. The six GCC member states, plus the bloc as a whole,
had already put out similar statements calling for a ceasefire and condemning
Israel for starting the war on Friday.
At Monday’s meeting, the six GCC ministers went beyond those initial statements
to address some of the risks involved and suggested ways to handle them other
than war. While the GCC and Iran have at times strongly disagreed on important
issues, the organization and its member states have opted for diplomacy to
settle those disputes. Oman, one of the GCC member states, has actively mediated
between Iran and the US on the nuclear issue. Saudi Arabia and Iran reached an
agreement two years ago, with the help of China, to resume diplomatic relations
after many years of disruption. Other member states have been in regular touch
with Iran on its regional policies, over which the two sides have diverged
greatly. All six foreign ministers met with their Iranian counterpart last
October to work on this diplomatic approach. It is still a work in progress.
A paramount concern for the ministers was how Israel’s unilateral action has
undermined respect for international law, including the UN Charter, in the
region, which was already at a low point after 20 months of Israel’s unlawful
war of extermination against Palestinians in Gaza. The ministers therefore
condemned attacks on Iran as a “clear violation of international law and the
United Nations Charter.” They called for an “immediate ceasefire” and a quick
return to the diplomatic track, to “spare the region and its people the dangers
of war” and to “safeguard regional security and stability.”
The approach was balanced, calling on “all parties to exert joint efforts” to
de-escalate, “exercise maximum restraint” and choose diplomacy to resolve their
conflict. A paramount concern was how Israel’s unilateral action has undermined
respect for international law
Nuclear proliferation has been a major concern for the GCC, especially as the
International Atomic Energy Agency has voiced criticisms of Iran’s nuclear
program, most recently in last week’s Board of Governors decision, which found
Tehran to be in breach of its nonproliferation obligations. That decision, which
was the first of its kind in 20 years, raised the prospect of reporting the
breach to the UN Security Council, especially following Iran’s defiant reaction
at the time.
Israel’s unilateral attack undermined that lawful process and raised the risk of
a dangerous environmental fallout as it attacked nuclear targets with abandon,
in violation of international law and international humanitarian law, which
prohibit the targeting of nuclear facilities and installations, as clearly
stipulated in Article 56 of the First Protocol of the Geneva Conventions.
The IAEA has raised the alarm about likely radioactive contamination as a result
of these attacks, as did the GCC ministers in their statement issued following
Monday’s meeting. They stressed the IAEA’s important role in preventive nuclear
security and safety and warned of the “serious humanitarian and environmental
consequences” of attacks on nuclear facilities, which clearly constitute a
threat to safety and the international IAEA-run comprehensive safeguards system.
By attacking nuclear facilities, Israel has triggered a race to the bottom, if
Iran retaliates in kind, for example. While the resulting contamination so far
appears to be contained, according to IAEA statements, the potential for
widespread radioactive contamination is real. To prepare for nuclear and other
environmental disasters, the GCC in 2012 established an emergency response
center in Kuwait and put together various risk assessments and plans to meet any
contingencies. On Monday, the ministers reviewed ongoing security coordination
between member states under the GCC Joint Military Command and the ministries of
defense, interior and other agencies dealing with these matters.
Norms that many thought were well established in the relations between nations
have been torn asunder
The GCC Ministerial Council also stressed the need to safeguard maritime
security, including the security and safety of waterways in the region. They
called for “confronting activities that threaten the security and stability of
the region and the world, including targeting commercial vessels, threatening
shipping lanes, international trade, and oil facilities.”It is clear that,
unless the war is stopped, it will soon pose a serious threat not only to the
region but it could spread way beyond. This week’s news indicates that the US,
for example, could get more deeply involved. Other powers also appear to be
moving in that direction. The GCC ministers therefore called on the UN Security
Council and world powers to “assume their responsibilities toward bringing an
immediate end to this war and preventing escalation.” In particular, it called
for the resumption of nuclear talks between the US and Iran.
What is quite clear is that there is a serious deficit in the region in
upholding international law and deferring to the UN Charter, which clearly calls
for settling disputes through political means and refraining from the use of
force. Norms that many thought were well established in the relations between
nations have been torn asunder, including the principles of good neighborliness,
respect for the sovereignty and equality of states, their territorial integrity
and noninterference in their internal affairs. This lawlessness has been a mark
of this region in recent years. If the regional order breaks down completely
here, other parts of the world could follow. No matter how worthy the cause,
disregard for international law and the rules-based order, centered on the UN
and anchored in international law, can only lead to chaos and disasters like
those we are witnessing in the Middle East today.
**Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg is the GCC assistant secretary-general for political
affairs and negotiation. The views expressed here are personal and do not
necessarily represent those of the GCC. X: @abuhamad1
The Absent Arab Mind
Tariq Al-Homayed/Asharq Al-Awsat/June18/2025
Yesterday, this newspaper published a piece by Saudi columnist Dr. Abdulghani
Al-Kindi. “Why Did Israel and Iran’s Clash Surprise the Arabs?” is not merely an
important column; it is a text that deserves to be shared, explained, and
amplified.
It’s a remarkable article about the absence of any role for the Arab- or perhaps
sedated- in most of the region’s crises. I will comment based on my own
experiences, as an Arab citizen, journalist, and editor-in-chief, the things I
have seen and continue to see, and what can and cannot be said.
Were it not for my apprehension of the kinds of superficial readings that have
become the norm in a world that seems more and more like the virtual sphere of
social media, I would have republished Al-Kindi’s article in full, at the end of
this very column. Instead, I will quote from it and offer commentary, within the
margin available to me. “The recent Israeli strike did not only expose the
frailty of Iran’s domestic standing, it also exposed a crisis of Arab political
consciousness. For twenty years, regional political analysts have consistently
ruled out Israeli military action against Iran... either because they had bought
into Iran’s propaganda or because they had believed in the conspiracy theory
that the Iranian-Israeli conflict is nothing more than theatrics choreographed
to undermine the Arab world.”
Kindi is pointing to the reiteration of a pattern. We’ve seen this before: the
liberation of Kuwait, 9/11, the rise of al-Qaeda and everything it unleashed,
the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, and in the lead-up to that moment.
The absurd “Abu Adas” story fabricated following the assassination of the martyr
Rafik Hariri is another example of this pattern, and we saw it again with the
emergence of ISIS, as well as the July 2006 war in Lebanon (the so-called
“misadventure”). A prominent example is the myth of an Arab Spring: the turmoil
in Arab countries was rebranded as the “Arab Spring,” while the Syrian
revolution was deliberately demonized.
We saw it in the denial of Bashar al-Assad’s crimes, as well as the appalling
and shameful complicity of his allies. We saw it in every war on Gaza, all the
way to October 7, 2023. We saw it in Lebanon, with the “pager attack,”
assassination of Hezbollah’s leaders and cadre, and later, the killing of Hamas
leaders.
We saw the same reactions to how the Houthis were dealt with, engagement with
the new Syria, and in the relentless effort to obstruct and mislead. We see it
all day, every day, on social media: not only is social media rife with
disinformation, many of the academics and intellectuals on these platforms have
made a casual habit of branding others as traitors, pursuing character
assassination, and have pushed obsolete ideas that only further stifle the Arab
political mind. Kindi goes on: “This strike might herald a more balanced
political consciousness that is grounded in reason rather than sentiment, puts
science above superstition, and values realism before conspiratorial ideas.”He
also calls for an embrace of “objective and methodical reasoning rather than
ideological rhetoric and hollow slogans. We urgently need to make this shift if
we are to restore respect for academic disciplines and methodological standards,
and to move beyond bombastic rhetoric, vague discourse, and senseless
generalizations.”That is exactly what we hope to see as well, particularly in
the Arab media, which has proven to be the crisis behind every crisis. We can do
nothing but remain hopeful and continue to try. Sadly, however, the same hopes
are echoed with every crisis, and every time, things only seem to get worse.
Still, all we can do is hope and keep trying.
A Brand Bargain or a Major Conflict
Nadim Koteich/Asharq Al-Awsat/June18/2025
For at least a year now, Iran and Israel have been fighting a direct conflict,
after having waged a shadow war for decades. This is more than a regional power
struggle; what we are witnessing is an existential war between two regimes as
traditional pillars of deterrence erode, creating trajectories that are
difficult to foresee.
1. Controlled Escalation
The confrontation has yet to escalate into a full-scale war. Israel continues to
target nuclear and military facilities, as well as supply chains. For its part,
Tehran has retaliated with strikes intended to hurt Israeli society to the
greatest extent possible, as it assumes that the Israelis cannot endure
protracted conflict.
Iran is betting that Israel cannot withstand attrition, while Israel is betting
that Iran’s limited missile stockpile (estimates put the number between 2,000
and 5,000 missiles) means that it will face a problem of diminishing returns as
time goes on.
2. Total War
Total war would be the most damaging scenario: strikes on oil facilities,
infrastructure, and cities- a conflict between two rivals, separated by
thousands of miles, that both have a vast arsenal.
This level of escalation would almost certainly draw US intervention, igniting a
regional war with catastrophic consequences for oil markets and the global
economy. While there are no concrete indications that either side is seeking
such a war, "fatal miscalculation" remains a serious and ever-present risk.
3. Diplomatic De-escalation
This scenario remains on the table, but it requires political will and prudent
use of leverage. However, recent developments have made this outcome less
likely. Indeed, the prerequisites for de-escalation have been undermined, and no
potential settlement can be limited to Iran’s nuclear program any longer; its
missile program and regional proxy network would now also have to be addressed.
Pursuing this path would require a triangular consensus, at a minimum, between
Washington, Tehran, and Tel Aviv, with a regional mediator facilitating the
process. The goal, here, would be to lower tensions and lay the groundwork for a
comprehensive political settlement. Nonetheless, this outcome remains
far-fetched. The total lack of trust among the parties and stakeholders, the
collapse of previous nuclear negotiations, and each side’s determination to
exploit what it perceives as its rival’s domestic vulnerabilities have left them
all locked into a high-stakes game of brinkmanship.
The most likely outcome is continued clashes, interrupted by temporary pauses,
that do not lead to a full-scale war.
Israel understands that taking its offensive on Iran’s oil facilities too far
would provoke unprecedented retaliation and the ire of its allies- particularly
the United States- because of the global economic repercussions of such action.
Israeli military officials acknowledge the limits of their country’s munitions,
and they have admitted that they cannot destroy Iran’s nuclear program on their
own. As for inciting regime change instead of destroying Iran’s nuclear program,
that remains a step Israel cannot take unilaterally, at least for now.
It is worth noting that US President Donald Trump refused to greenlight the
assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei- a decision that underscores
Trump’s preference to turn escalation into leverage that pulls Iran back to the
negotiating table.
Israel, meanwhile, has a broad array of tools with which it can gradually
dismantle Iran’s nuclear program: from targeted assassinations to cyberattacks
and precision airstrikes. This sort of warfare is believed to be effective in
achieving its strategic objectives while also allowing Israel to avoid a
conventional war.
Iran, for its part, cannot afford total war under the current circumstances: its
economy is in decline, it has lost much of its senior military and security
leadership, its missile stockpile has been depleted, and its proxy network has
been degraded. Iran is likely to focus on maximizing the social, political, and
economic toll of this war on Israel. It may seek to pace its attacks and avoid
depleting its missile stockpile, or it could use capabilities that have yet to
be revealed.
Given the complexity of the situation, thinking outside of the box is crucial.
The conflict between Iran and Israel is not a conventional war between two
states. This conflict is a struggle rooted in revolutionary ideology. Deterrence
is achieved through fear, and the two sides have fought several proxy wars.
Accordingly, shifting the framework of the conflict should be the priority. The
sides’ existential enmity should be turned into a political rivalry, and the
dynamics between them should be shaped by interests rather than ideology. The
region needs a grand bargain that redefines Iran’s position in the international
order. Such a deal would entail Iran ending its role in the Palestine conflict,
as well as abandoning its pursuit of exporting the revolution, in exchange for
regional and international integration. Iran would be offered gradual sanctions
relief and recognition of its regional power status in return for ending its
military support to Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and the Iraqi militias, as
well as freezing its sensitive nuclear enrichment. Regional powers would
guarantee the implementation of this agreement.
The time has come for Iran to remove the notion of "resistance" from its
political imaginary, endorsing the logic of statehood within a global system
instead.
Iran is unlikely to mirror post–World War II Japan any time soon. But it could
become a regional China if it stops anchoring its domestic and foreign policy in
ideological hostility, embracing strategic realism in its place. This would mean
integrating Iran into the regional architecture and encouraging the technocratic
wing of the regime to pursue a strategy that prioritizes survival through
adaptation rather than escalation.
This is an opportune moment to build a coalition that blends power and
pragmatism. This coalition could include regional powers, India, the Trump
administration, and pragmatic and patriotic factions within Iran’s political
system. The latter are becoming increasingly aware that the revolution is no
longer a vehicle for survival, and that it has become an existential threat to
the state.
Selected
Twitters For June 18/2025
Reza Pahlavi
X Platform/June 18/2025
https://x.com/i/status/1935037345461653974
The Islamic Republic has come to its end and is collapsing. What has begun is
irreversible. The future is bright, and together we will turn the page of
history. Now is the time to stand up; the time to reclaim Iran. May I be with
you soon.
Israel Defense Forces
https://x.com/i/status/1935275381814120719
"We have delivered significant blows to the Iranian regime, and as such, they
have been pushed back into central Iran. They are now focusing their efforts on
conducting missile fire from the area of Isfahan. We are aiming at military
targets, they are attacking civilian homes." Listen to an operational update
from IDF Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin: