Khamenei says US 'gained nothing' from attacks on Iran
In a statement published by state media, Khamenei said the United States "engaged in the war directly, convinced that its refusal to intervene would lead to the complete destruction of the Zionist regime".
"It has gained nothing from this war," Khamenei said of Washington, adding in his first public remarks since a Tuesday ceasefire ended the war that "the Islamic republic won, and in retaliation dealt a severe slap to the face of America".
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Al Etihad
16 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Prospects for stopping the financing of extremist groups in Europe
29 June 2025 18:41 By Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali*Since its ouster from power in several Arab countries, the Muslim Brotherhood has faced a string of crises. Yet, it continues to operate in Europe, hiding under various names and receiving direct or indirect support. This persists despite the consensus on the need to counter the spread of extremist Islamist currents across societies, whether in the Middle East, Europe, or the entire world. In this context, TRENDS Research & Advisory, in cooperation with French Senator Nathalie Goulet, is organising a symposium at the French Senate titled "Stopping the Financing of the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe" to address the challenges involved and the mechanisms required to stop such Muslim Brotherhood has long exploited Europe's open and free environment to spread its ideology and manage extensive financial networks. This tactic is not new; it has been used for decades, starting with the establishment and control of Islamic centres across Europe, followed by deep infiltration into charitable and humanitarian organisations and other forms of civil society institutions. The group operates through multiple organisational structures, effectively diverting attention away from the true nature of these entities, many of which receive European funding without recognising that these organisations follow the Brotherhood's ideological design. These institutions often serve as arms of the Brotherhood, active around the world in promoting extremist ideologies, soliciting donations, and channelling them into activities that threaten national security and deepen radicalisation in situation is made worse by the fact that the Brotherhood, which has been designated as a terrorist group in several Arab countries and its original home of Egypt, still has representative branches in dozens of countries worldwide. Some branches operate openly, while others disguise themselves as charitable, civil society, or even human rights organisations. In recent years, Europe has become a safe haven for the Brotherhood. Its affiliated organisations and institutions continue to pursue their agendas across the continent through a vast and multifaceted network that includes investment portfolios, banking operations, civil society work, the halal trade, and offshore business some European governments have tried to target the group's activities and place restrictions on prominent and well-known members. However, firm, coordinated crackdown measures have not been taken, probably because of the close links that some leaders of the international organisation of the Muslim Brotherhood have in European countries. Nevertheless, a confrontation is inevitable, as the Brotherhood actively works to establish hotbeds of extremism wherever it goes. Strict oversight in Europe is necessary to expose the extent of its activities, as is rigorous monitoring of its funding sources and connections to global terrorist networks. Ultimately, this could pave the way for the Brotherhood to be designated as a terrorist organisation, rather than waiting until it succeeds in expanding ideological infiltration across Europe and triggering social unrest and clashes with state countries have already begun rethinking their position on the Brotherhood. Growing security concerns about the group's influence on European societies, its promotion of hate speech, separatist ideologies, and religious extremism have led to concrete action. Austria, for example, banned the Muslim Brotherhood under anti-terrorism laws, while France has been closely monitoring the group's activities and assessing its infiltration into social, political, and even governmental structures. However, the absence of a unified European stance on designating the Brotherhood as a terrorist group continues to provide it with loopholes, enabling it to shift operations from one country to another and interact, remotely, with communities that have rejected its presence, while using European platforms to propagate a discourse of extremism and the lack of coordinated European action, there is consensus regarding the risks posed by the Muslim Brotherhood's activities in Europe. There is an urgent need to confront ideological projects that aim to undermine the foundations of the modern state, especially given that groups like the Brotherhood exploit the margins of freedom of expression to gradually build influence, infiltrate political and local institutions, reshape societal cultures, and exert pressure on national structures, including the European Union itself. This is often done through a number of transnational European organisations that share the same intensive activity of Brotherhood-affiliated entities in Europe is aimed at influencing national policies. Some of these groups appear to have developed working relationships with figures in finance and politics. They operate through networks that undermine the integration of minority communities, fuel ethnic tensions, promote hatred, and maintain ties to global terrorist groups. Confronting the dangers of such activity requires an intellectual response to extremist ideologies, the promotion of values of tolerance and coexistence, and the strengthening of international cooperation, particularly between Europe and the Middle East. It is equally important to review the sources of financing and both direct and indirect support provided to civil society organisations to ensure that such resources do not fall into the hands of extremist groups like the Brotherhood, which could ultimately turn those resources against our societies in the form of radicalisation and Research & Advisory has played a leading role in combating extremist ideologies and Islamist movements, with a particular focus on the Muslim Brotherhood. The centre's efforts are dedicated to dismantling the narratives of terrorist thought, challenging anarchic doctrines, exposing doctrinal distortions, and countering radical methods of spreading extremism. Through a diverse range of publications, TRENDS explores various aspects of these groups across the Middle East, Europe, and the world and works with governments, decision-makers, and parliamentarians to lay the groundwork for effectively confronting the threat of extremist organisations in order to build societies based on peace, dialogue, and shared values. *The writer is the CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory
Web Release
a day ago
- Web Release
Panel Session Titled: 'Redefining University Leadership for the Future' Held as Part of the Sixth Conference of University Presidents in the Islamic World
Panel Session Titled: 'Redefining University Leadership for the Future' Held as Part of the Sixth Conference of University Presidents in the Islamic World As part of the Sixth Conference of University Presidents, organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat, H.E. Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), chaired a high-level panel session titled: 'Redefining University Leadership for the Future', with the participation of a distinguished group of university presidents from various member states of the Islamic World Organization. The session focused on discussing the fundamental transformations which are reshaping higher education globally, and the evolving role that university leadership must adopt in response to rapid changes related to technology, artificial intelligence, flexible education, and the shifting nature of the labor market. In his opening remarks, H.E. Dr. Mansoor Al Awar emphasized that: 'University leadership is no longer confined to traditional academic management. It has become a forward-looking responsibility that demands innovative thinking, the ability to build partnerships, and the foresight to anticipate change, in order to ensure the sustainability and impact of universities in serving humanity and society.' The session addressed three key themes: 1. The transformation of the university president's role from academic leadership to proactive, system-oriented leadership. 2. Effective partnerships and governance as tools to strengthen trust and community impact. 3. Designing new leadership models built on flexibility, collaboration, and future-oriented outcomes. The session witnessed dynamic engagement from participants, who underscored the need to prepare a new generation of university leaders equipped with innovation tools and change-making abilities, without compromising the core values of education and scientific research. The session concluded with a clear call to develop a new leadership model in Islamic universities—one that balances academic excellence with institutional agility and lays the foundation for a renewed social contract between the university and society.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
US Secretary Marco Rubio condemns calls in Iran for arrest, execution of IAEA chief
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on Iran to uphold its responsibility to protect staff from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), following alarming threats against the agency's leadership. In a statement posted on X, Rubio condemned calls reportedly circulating in Iran for the arrest and execution of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. "Calls in Iran for the arrest and execution of IAEA Director General Grossi are unacceptable and should be condemned," he wrote. Rubio reaffirmed Washington's support of the IAEA's oversight role in Iran's nuclear activities, praising Grossi and the agency for their "dedication and professionalism". "We continue to support the IAEA's vital monitoring mission in Iran and urge Iranian authorities to guarantee the safety of all IAEA personnel," he added. Check out his full statement below: Calls in Iran for the arrest and execution of IAEA Director General Grossi are unacceptable and should be condemned. — Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) June 28, 2025 The remarks came days after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first public statement since the ceasefire, declaring that Iran had "slapped America in the face" with its missile strike on a key US military base in Qatar. The attack was described as a direct response to earlier US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz.
