logo
Did Donald Trump prevent Israel from plotting to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?

Did Donald Trump prevent Israel from plotting to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?

Mint15-06-2025

Shrey Banerjee
Updated 15 Jun 2025, 10:14 PM IST Israel plans to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Trump vetoes call(via REUTERS)
President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli proposal in recent while to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, two senior US officials told Reuters on Sunday.
'Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we're not even talking about going after the political leadership," said one of the sources, who is a senior U.S. administration official.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Satellite images show excavators at Iran's Fordow nuclear site — expert decodes what it means
Satellite images show excavators at Iran's Fordow nuclear site — expert decodes what it means

First Post

time30 minutes ago

  • First Post

Satellite images show excavators at Iran's Fordow nuclear site — expert decodes what it means

Days after US airstrikes, satellite images have shown that Iran has deployed excavators and personnel at the Fordow nuclear sites. It appears that Iran is doing repairs and damage assessment at the site. read more Days after the US airstrikes, Iran has deployed heavy machinery at the Fordow nuclear site, according to latest satellite images. The United States struck the Fordow nuclear site with 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs . The other two nuclear sites struck with bunker busters and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles were the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites respectively. Latest satellite images show personnel with excavators and cranes at the Fordow nuclear sites that analysts say appear to be engaged in repairs and damage assessment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In satellite images taken on Sunday (June 29), an excavator and several personnel are positioned immediately next to the northern shaft on the ridge above the underground complex, Fox News' Jennifer Griffin quoted image-provider Maxar Technologies as saying. 'The crane appears to be operating at the entrance to the shaft/hole. Several additional vehicles are also seen below the ridge and are parked along the access path that was built to access the site,' Maxar further said. A satellite overview shows the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Facility, amid the Iran-Israel conflict, near Qom, Iran, June 29, 2025. Maxar Technologies/Handout via Reuters Iranians are actively working at the two MOP impact sites penetrating the ventilation shafts of the Fordow Enrichment Plant with heavy earth moving equipment including one excavator at each location. ALSO READ: 'Severe damage but not irreversible': Decoding satellite images of US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites The purpose of the Iranian activity captured in these images may include backfilling the craters as well as conducting engineering damage assessments and likely radiological sampling, according to David Albright, the President of the think tank Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS). 'The craters above the main shafts remain open. Two of the six MOP [Mass Ordnance Penetrator] impact points appear to have been covered by square slabs. In other areas, we have observed that the Iranians have also rapidly repaired the bomb cratering damage on the main entrance road from only a few days prior,' Albright further said in a post on X. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Maxar imagery taken yesterday (June 28) shows that the Iranians are actively working at the two MOP impact sites penetrating the ventilation shafts of the Fordow Enrichment Plant with heavy earth moving equipment including one excavator at each location. The purpose of this… — David Albright (@DAVIDHALBRIGHT1) June 29, 2025 As Firstpost previously reported, US airstrikes at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, caused significant damage, but did not cause irreversible damage from available evidence. There are also signs that while substantial damage was dealt to underground facilities housing centrifuges, near-weapons grade uranium may have been relocated before US strikes.

Dalai Lama turns 90: How will his successor be chosen and who gets to decide?
Dalai Lama turns 90: How will his successor be chosen and who gets to decide?

Indian Express

time38 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Dalai Lama turns 90: How will his successor be chosen and who gets to decide?

As the Dalai Lama approaches his 90th birthday this Sunday, the question of who will succeed the Tibetan spiritual leader has taken centre stage: not just among Buddhists, but also in political circles across China, India, and the United States. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, revered globally for his advocacy of nonviolence and compassion, is also seen as a symbol of resistance against Chinese control of Tibet. With succession potentially reshaping Tibetan religious authority and geopolitical equations, the process is closely watched by world powers. According to Tibetan tradition, the soul of a senior monk is reincarnated after death, and the Dalai Lama is no exception. The current, 14th Dalai Lama — born Lhamo Dhondup in 1935 in northeastern Tibet — was identified at age two after a search party, guided by visions and signs, believed he was the reincarnation of his predecessor. When the child recognised items belonging to the 13th Dalai Lama and declared, 'It's mine, it's mine,' their doubts were settled. He was officially installed at the Potala Palace in Lhasa in 1940. The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, has indicated his successor will be born outside China. In his 2025 book Voice for the Voiceless, he wrote that further details about the succession plan would be made public around his 90th birthday. The Tibetan parliament-in-exile, based in Dharamshala, says a framework is already in place to ensure continuity of leadership. A key role in the process will be played by the Gaden Phodrang Foundation, which the Dalai Lama established in 2015 to support his religious and spiritual responsibilities. Senior aides and officers from the foundation are expected to guide the search and recognition of his reincarnation. Beijing, however, claims that its government has the authority to approve the Dalai Lama's successor, citing laws rooted in Qing dynasty-era traditions. Officials have pointed to the golden urn ritual — a lottery system introduced in 1793 — as the official mechanism to determine reincarnations within China's borders. Chinese authorities argue that any reincarnation must occur within China and follow national laws. But many Tibetans see this as a political maneuver designed to control their spiritual leadership. It is inappropriate for Chinese Communists, who reject religion 'to meddle in the system of reincarnation of lamas' the Dalai Lama has said. He has urged Tibetans to reject any candidate 'chosen for political ends… including those in the People's Republic of China.' India hosts the Dalai Lama and over 100,000 Tibetan Buddhists in exile. His presence in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala gives New Delhi a subtle but strategic advantage in its complex relationship with Beijing, reported Reuters. Many Indians hold him in high regard, and he continues to have access to Indian institutions and media. The United States has frequently voiced support for Tibetan autonomy and rights. In 2024, Joe Biden signed a law urging Beijing to negotiate on Tibet's status and reaffirming Washington's opposition to Chinese interference in the Dalai Lama's succession. US lawmakers have also made clear that any future Dalai Lama chosen under Chinese influence would not be recognised. (With inputs from Reuters)

Iran's nuclear programme wasn't 'obliterated' or 'set back decades', as Trump said
Iran's nuclear programme wasn't 'obliterated' or 'set back decades', as Trump said

First Post

timean hour ago

  • First Post

Iran's nuclear programme wasn't 'obliterated' or 'set back decades', as Trump said

Contrary to Donald Trump's assertions, Iran's nuclear infrastructure was damaged and not destroyed and experts and leaked intelligence assessments indicate the programme could be revived within months read more A satellite image shows airstrike craters over the underground centrifuge halls of the Natanz Enrichment Facility, following US airstrikes amid the Iran-Israel conflict, in Natanz County, Iran. Maxar Technologies/Reuters Despite US President Donald Trump's repeated assertions that Iran's nuclear programme has been 'obliterated' and 'set back decades,' early intelligence assessments suggest otherwise. A preliminary analysis from the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), reported in American media, indicated that American and Israeli airstrikes on June 21 only delayed Iran's nuclear activities by a matter of months, not decades, and certainly not eliminated them. The DIA's report, though classified, was cited by multiple sources familiar with internal assessments. These officials suggested that the damage, while significant, did not dismantle the core industrial and technological infrastructure that underpins Iran's nuclear ambitions. The White House has pushed back hard against this narrative, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt calling the idea that 'unnamed Iranian officials' could know the extent of the damage 'nonsense,' asserting instead that 'their nuclear weapons program is over.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD IAEA director: Damage 'severe but not total' Echoing the cautious tone of US intelligence, Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told CBS News that while the strikes had caused severe damage, the destruction was not total. He emphasised that Iran still retained the ability to resume uranium enrichment within a matter of months, noting that the necessary capacities remained in place. He explained that Iran could operate a few cascades of centrifuges to produce enriched uranium, or even less than that. Grossi also warned against assuming that Iran's nuclear program had been eliminated. He said that, frankly, one could not claim that everything had disappeared and that nothing remained. He stressed that Iran's knowledge base and industrial capabilities were still intact, making it possible for enrichment activities to resume once operational challenges were overcome. Intercepted Iranian communications suggest limited damage The Washington Post reported that intercepted communications between senior Iranian officials seemed to show a consensus that the attacks were less devastating than initially feared. The newspaper cited four individuals with knowledge of the intercepted messages, suggesting that Iranian leadership had assessed the damage to their facilities as relatively contained. However, the credibility of these communications remains a subject of debate within intelligence circles. Another source, quoted by Reuters, confirmed their existence but labelled them 'unreliable indicators' of the real state of Iran's nuclear programme. A disputed narrative from the Trump administration Trump has remained unwavering in his version of events. In an interview with Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures, he described the operation as a 'spectacular military success,' claiming the nuclear programme was 'obliterated like nobody's ever seen before'. His defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, echoed this, insisting the strikes marked the 'end to their nuclear ambitions'. Yet, during a Pentagon press briefing, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine struck a more measured tone. Caine admitted that the full battle damage assessment was still ongoing and said it was 'too early' to determine exactly what capabilities Iran retained. He did, however, note that initial assessments showed 'extremely severe damage and destruction' at the targeted sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Enrichment capacity could rebound quickly Despite the high-impact nature of the strikes, experts, including Grossi believed that Iran could resume uranium enrichment relatively quickly. He said if Iran wished to do so, it would be able to start the process again. He said that Iran was a very sophisticated country in terms of nuclear technology, and that its ability to restart centrifuge operations was based on years of accumulated knowledge that could not simply be undone. Grossi also highlighted the absence of IAEA inspectors on the ground as a critical blind spot. Since the strikes, Iran has denied inspectors access to the targeted facilities, citing security and political concerns. Tehran's UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, insisted inspectors were 'in Iran' but said they could not access specific sites. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Khamenei and mixed Iranian messaging The response from Iran's leadership has been uneven. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly dismissed the airstrikes as ineffective, saying they achieved 'nothing significant'. Yet Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged that the damage was 'excessive and serious'. This inconsistency has fuelled speculation that Iran may be deliberately downplaying the impact while preserving the appearance of resilience. Iran's military leadership, meanwhile, has expressed scepticism over Israel's commitment to the recently declared ceasefire. Armed forces chief Abdolrahim Mousavi said Tehran was prepared to respond 'with all our power' if provoked again. Diplomatic options still on the table Despite the heightened tensions, Grossi reiterated the importance of a diplomatic resolution. He said that the situation, following the military strikes, would ultimately require a long-lasting solution, which could only be a diplomatic one. He also noted that although Iran had consistently asserted its nuclear program was intended for peaceful purposes, the IAEA had been unable to verify those claims because Iran had refused to answer very important questions. Military action, limited impact While the Trump administration has celebrated the June 21 strikes as a decisive blow against Iran's nuclear programme, a growing body of evidence from intelligence assessments and international experts suggests a far more modest result. The damage to Iran's nuclear infrastructure was 'severe' but by no means 'total,' and the core capabilities — technological, industrial, and intellectual — remain intact. Iran could, according to the IAEA, begin spinning centrifuges again within months. As Grossi warned, military strikes alone are unlikely to end Iran's nuclear ambitions. With inspectors still barred and the region on edge, the enduring solution appears to lie not in airpower but in diplomacy.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store