Internet Slowly Trickles Back in Iran
Iranians on Saturday began to see some internet access restored, giving people the opportunity to call friends and family for the first time in days.
Those in the diaspora posted on social media about connecting to FaceTime or WhatsApp to call relatives they had been worried about.
Government officials had disconnected phone and web services earlier in the week for the more than 90 million people who live in Iran, citing cybersecurity threats from Israel. That left civilians unaware of when and where Israel would strike next, despite Israeli forces issuing warnings through their Persian-language online channels.
When the missiles landed, lack of internet connection meant not knowing for hours or days if their family or friends are among the victims.
Tasnim News Agency, which is closely affiliated with Iran's government, quoted the information minister as saying that access to 'international' internet should be restored across the country by 8 p.m.
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Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Tehran remains committed to diplomacy, but ‘peace by force is not peace,' Iran's ambassador to Japan tells Arab News Japan
TOKYO: From the only country ever targeted by atomic bombs, a senior Iranian diplomat has called for a return to diplomacy over destruction amid simmering nuclear tensions in the Middle East. Peiman Seadat, Tehran's ambassador to Japan, says his country remains open to dialogue but cautions that 'peace by force is not peace' following recent attacks on its nuclear sites and failed negotiations. In an exclusive interview with Arab News on Saturday, Seadat described genuine diplomacy as requiring 'mutual respect, even on points of disagreement, equal footing, and a willingness to achieve a satisfactory outcome for parties involved.' Iranian authorities are 'now assessing the situation' and weighing options for resuming negotiations, he said. Seadat's remarks come amid simmering tensions following a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, which ended with a ceasefire on June 24. Accusing both the US and Israel of choosing aggression over diplomacy, he said the attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities were carried out two days before planned talks with the US, and thus have deepened a 'legacy of distrust.' 'Rather than condemning the party that disrupted the negotiations, the Americans sided with the aggressor,' he said. 'They, therefore, betrayed the very negotiation to which they were a party. 'Accordingly, the conclusion is that they were complicit in the aggression, a fact they further proved when they launched attacks against our peaceful nuclear sites, thus joining the Israelis in gross violation of every tenet of international law.' In his first public remarks after the truce, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared victory, claiming Iran 'slapped America in the face' by striking the Al-Udeid base in Qatar in retaliation for the US bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities. Warning that any future attacks would prompt further strikes on American targets, he asserted Iran's regional capabilities and rejected calls for concessions. Khamenei also downplayed the impact of the strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, claiming that the US acted mainly to protect Israel after Iranian missiles penetrated Israeli defenses. US President Donald Trump ridiculed Khamenei's victory claims, insisting Iran had been 'decimated' and its nuclear sites 'obliterated' during the conflict. Trump said he had considered but ultimately rejected plans to assassinate Khamenei, claiming he 'saved him from a very ugly and ignominious death' by stopping direct attacks from the US or Israel. He also said he halted plans to lift sanctions on Iran following Khamenei's 'blatant and foolish' statements and warned he would 'absolutely' consider bombing Iran again if Tehran resumed nuclear enrichment at threatening levels. Trump further claimed to have pressured Israel to avoid delivering a 'final knockout' blow, suggesting Israeli strikes could have targeted Tehran directly if not for US intervention. On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned Trump's comments, saying a potential nuclear deal hinges on the US ending its 'disrespectful tone' toward the supreme leader. 'If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran's Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, and stop hurting his millions of heartfelt supporters,' Araghchi posted on the social platform X. Seadat said that Iran remained committed to diplomacy, citing his country's continued adherence to the 2015 nuclear deal and participation in talks until Israeli strikes derailed the process. 'Iran has always been a party to genuine diplomacy, but peace by force is not peace; it is, rather, coercion,' he said. 'What we wanted was a cessation of aggression, and we achieved it at this stage, with resolve. So, while we remain highly vigilant, we will see how the situation unfolds.' As diplomatic strains persist, Israeli officials have signaled a readiness to escalate. On June 26, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told local media that Israel has a 'green light' from Trump to strike Iran again if it appears to be advancing its nuclear program. He added that Israel would not have needed US permission to target Khamenei directly. That same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed victory and framed the conflict as a strategic opportunity to expand diplomatic ties with Arab states. 'We have fought with determination against Iran and achieved a great victory. This victory opens the path to dramatically enlarge the peace accords,' Netanyahu said in a video address, referencing the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab countries in 2020. However, Gulf states have condemned both Iran's missile strike on Qatar and Israel's attacks on Iranian facilities, citing concerns over regional stability and national sovereignty. In a joint statement on June 16, Arab countries rejected and condemned Israel's military aggression against Iran, calling instead for a return to negotiations. Seadat insisted that Iran's nuclear program remains peaceful and said Iran's parliament moved to limit cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) only after repeated, ignored reassurances from Tehran. 'Up to the moment our sites were attacked in contravention of the NPT rules, the IAEA Statute, and two resolutions by its General Conference that prohibit any attack on IAEA-safeguarded peaceful nuclear sites, 130 IAEA inspectors were in place, meaning one-fifth of all inspections conducted by the IAEA in the world,' Seadat said. He added: 'Regardless of disagreements, the IAEA continued its most robust verification regime in the world in Iran.' Even after the attacks, Seadat said, both the IAEA and US intelligence confirmed there were no signs of nuclear weapons activity — despite early claims, which he attributed to a 'very irresponsible' IAEA report. He said the 2015 nuclear agreement created 'a balance: a cap on our peaceful nuclear program in return for full removal of sanctions.' That arrangement, he added, was especially reassuring as it was backed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231. 'This is a model that Japan and some others have. They also enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. I do not know what to say, unless the meaning of reassuring has changed, perhaps because of the aggressions by the Israeli regime and the Americans on Iran,' Seadat said. Tensions had started escalating after a May 31 IAEA report revealed that Iran had increased uranium enrichment to 60 percent — the only non-nuclear weapons state to do so — and expanded its stockpile of near-weapons-grade material by 50 percent in three months. Iran dismissed the report as 'politically motivated' and 'baseless accusations.' On Wednesday, Rafael Grossi, IAEA director general, said his top priority is resuming inspections in Iran to determine the impact of the recent strikes. The extent of any damage remains unclear. While Grossi suggested Iran may have relocated parts of its stockpile ahead of the attacks, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday he had seen no intelligence supporting that claim. Looking ahead, Seadat noted that Japan could play a significant diplomatic role, referencing its unique moral standing as the only country to have experienced atomic bombings. 'The Hibakusha, the first generation of survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, still walk among us in Japan,' he said. 'Because of this, Japan possesses a profound moral authority, having known the depths of suffering like few others.' He added that Japan is well-positioned to support peace through 'inclusive' regional development, particularly efforts that enhance energy security for all. Seadat also said there is growing alignment between Iran and Arab and Islamic states, which he described as a 'positive and constructive path' toward regional peace. However, he cautioned that maintaining momentum would require active, sustained support from all sides. Although East Asia lies far from Iran, Seadat emphasized cultural similarities and the potential for cooperation — especially through Japan's technological expertise and diplomatic engagement. 'We need this new paradigm in our region, and I believe Japan, through the dynamism of its diplomacy, can contribute to it,' he said.
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
At least 1.2 million Afghans forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year — UN
ISLAMABAD: At least 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year, the UN refugee agency said Saturday, warning that repatriations on a massive scale have the potential to destabilize the fragile situation in Afghanistan. Iran and Pakistan in 2023 launched separate campaigns to expel foreigners they said were living in the country illegally. They set deadlines and threatened them with deportation if they didn't leave. The two governments deny targeting Afghans, who have fled their homeland to escape war, poverty or Taliban rule. The UN high commissioner for refugees said that of the 1.2 million returning Afghans, more than half had come from Iran following a March 20 government deadline for them to leave voluntarily or face expulsion. Iran has deported more than 366,000 Afghans this year, including refugees and people in refugee-like situations, according to the agency. Iran's 12-day war with Israel also has driven departures. The highest number of returns was on June 26, when 36,100 Afghans crossed the border in one day. 'Afghan families are being uprooted once again, arriving with scant belongings, exhausted, hungry, scared about what awaits them in a country many of them have never even set foot in,' said Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR representative in the Afghan capital, Kabul. He said women and girls are particularly worried, as they fear the restrictions on freedom of movement and basic rights such as education and employment. More than half Afghanistan relies on humanitarian assistance. But opposition to Taliban policies and widespread funding cuts are worsening the situation, with aid agencies and nongovernmental organizations cutting back on basic services like education and health care. IRAN URGES FOREIGNERS TO LEAVE QUICKLY Iran's attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, said Saturday that foreigners in the country illegally should leave as soon as possible or face prosecution, state media reported. 'Foreign nationals, especially brothers and sisters from Afghanistan whom we have hosted for years, help us [so] that illegal individuals leave Iran in the shortest period,' the official IRNA news agency quoted Azad as saying. Iranian authorities said in April that out of more than 6 million Afghans, up to 2.5 million were in the country illegally. Iran's top diplomat in Kabul, Ali Reza Bikdeli, visited the Dogharoun border crossing with Afghanistan and promised to facilitate the repatriation of Afghans, state TV reported. Iranians have complained about the increasing presence of Afghans in recent months, with some accusing them of spying for Israel since the outbreak of the war. TALIBAN PLEDGE AMNESTY Earlier this month, on the religious festival of Eid Al-Adha, the Taliban prime minister said all Afghans who fled the country after the collapse of the former Western-backed government were free to return, promising they would be safe. 'Afghans who have left the country should return to their homeland,' Mohammad Hassan Akhund said in a message on X. 'Nobody will harm them. Come back to your ancestral land and live in an atmosphere of peace.' On Saturday, a high-ranking ministerial delegation traveled to western Herat province to meet some of the Afghans returning from Iran. The officials pledged 'swift action to address the urgent needs of the returnees and ensure that essential services and support are provided to ease their reintegration,' according to a statement from the Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat on X. People get food, temporary accommodation and access to health care upon their return, said Ahmadullah Muttaqi, the director of information and culture in Herat. Everyone receives 2,000 Afghanis, or $28.50, in cash and is taken free of charge to their home provinces. 'Upon arrival, they are housed in designated camps until permanent housing is arranged, as residential townships are currently under construction in every province for them,' he told The Associated Press. Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities have set a June 30 deadline for some 1.3 million Afghans to leave. Pakistan aims to expel a total of 3 million Afghans this year.
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Partnering for prosperity: UK's industrial strategy and Saudi Vision 2030
The UK and Saudi Arabia stand at a pivotal moment in their bilateral relationship. As we witness the remarkable transformation underway across the Kingdom through Vision 2030, I am pleased to share how the UK's newly launched Modern Industrial Strategy creates an exceptional opportunity to further strengthen the partnership between the two nations. This week, the UK government unveiled its comprehensive, 10-year industrial strategy, establishing a clear roadmap for economic growth focused on eight high-value sectors in which Britain has international competitive advantage. This strategy represents our commitment to making the UK an even more attractive destination for international investment by creating a stable, open, and strategic business environment. What makes this moment particularly exciting is how closely our industrial strategy aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Both national frameworks share remarkably similar objectives: economic diversification, technological innovation, human capability development, and the creation of environments that attract quality foreign investment. This alignment creates natural synergies that can accelerate mutual prosperity. As partners in economic transformation, we recognize that prosperity requires a strategic approach. The global landscape has changed fundamentally in recent years, presenting new challenges, from supply chain disruptions to energy-security concerns. Yet within these challenges lie tremendous opportunities for collaboration on frontier industries in which both nations can excel together. The eight growth-driving sectors of the Industrial Strategy that will power Britain's economic future are: advanced manufacturing, clean energy industries, creative industries, defense, digital and technologies, financial services, life sciences, and professional and business services. In each of these sectors, we see clear alignment with Vision 2030's priorities for economic diversification. The Great Futures campaign, launched last year, has already proven to be an exceptional vehicle for delivering on this shared vision. We brought more than 450 business leaders to the Kingdom in May 2024 — the largest and most senior UK business delegation to visit any country in over a decade — and witnessed the immense appetite for partnership between our business communities. That event catalyzed partnerships worth more than £7.7 billion ($10.6 billion) and delivered more than 50 agreements across priority sectors. Together, we can build a future of shared innovation, sustainable growth, and mutual success. Neil Crompton These are not merely commercial transactions; they represent transformative collaborations that advance the strategic interests of both nations. Take clean energy, for instance. UK firm HYCAP has partnered with leading Saudi companies to invest more than £750 million in hydrogen-powered transport, securing more than 1,000 jobs across both kingdoms. Meanwhile, Carbon Clean's collaboration with Saudi Aramco on modular carbon capture technology is accelerating sustainable development. In infrastructure development, British expertise is contributing significantly to projects that are reshaping the landscape of the Kingdom under Vision 2030. These include airports, aviation, rail transportation, and construction within Saudi giga-projects, with many more in the pipeline. Financial services represent another area of exceptional synergy. London's position as a world-leading financial hub has created natural partnerships with Saudi institutions. The UK is the main location for Saudi companies and investors who want to issue green and Islamic bonds outside the Kingdom, while the London Stock Exchange has 100 percent of Saudi market share across corporate and sovereign banks. Human capability development stands at the heart of both our strategies. The recent Great Futures UK-Saudi Skills Forum brought together our governments to accelerate their partnership on technical and vocational education. Working with Saudi ministries, the UK is identifying sustainable opportunities to develop the skills vital for the economy of tomorrow. As we look ahead, the announcement of the UK-Saudi Sustainable Infrastructure Assembly marks an important next step in our partnership. This initiative will boost collaboration between the UK's financial and professional services sectors and Saudi Arabia's sustainable infrastructure developers, ensuring that British expertise can contribute effectively to Vision 2030 projects. The Industrial Strategy has been international from the start, built on lessons learned from what works in other countries, and designed for the global context. This is evident in our diplomatic engagement approach, which prioritizes mutually beneficial partnerships rather than competition. We seek to deepen economic collaboration with partners such as Saudi Arabia to increase reciprocal investment and trade, foster innovation, and bolster the resilience of supply chains critical to our frontier industries. Later this year, Great Futures will mark a year of successful partnerships with a leadership summit in London. Bringing together senior UK and Saudi ministers, alongside representatives from key industries in both nations, this celebration will showcase the tangible achievements of our campaign while setting the agenda for future collaboration. I hope many Saudi business and government leaders will join us on this important occasion. The relationship between the UK and Saudi Arabia has never been stronger, with bilateral trade exceeding £17 billion annually and more than 1,300 UK firms operating in the Kingdom. But I believe the opportunities before us are even greater. By aligning the ambitions of the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, we can create a model for international economic collaboration that delivers prosperity for both our nations. Together, we can build a future of shared innovation, sustainable growth, and mutual success. The UK stands ready as your committed partner on this journey.
