Moment Iran helicopter faces off with US warship in the Gulf in pathetic show of force after Trump threatens new strikes
The USS Fitzgerald was sailing through the Gulf of Oman this morning when the attack helicopter buzzed the guided missile destroyer.
Advertisement
11
The USS Fitzgerald is seen from an Iranian helicopter today
Credit: Tasnim News Agency
11
Iran claimed it forced the destroyer to retreat
Credit: Tasnim News Agency
11
Iran has vowed to push on with its nuclear enrichment programme
11
Iranian state media claims the pilot issued a "stern warning" to vacate the waters.
Footage shows the pilot attempting to order the destroyer to "change course" without success.
The destroyer issued threats of its own, Iran said, but "the Iranian pilot... reiterated the warning to stay away from Iranian waters", forcing the US vessel to "give in" and alter its course.
Iranian forces have a history of confronting US forces in waters off the country's southern coast.
Advertisement
Read more about Iran here
In 2023, the rogue state said it forced a US submarine to surface while crossing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which Washington denied.
The flashpoint comes at a tense moment between the two nations a month after Donald Trump struck three nuclear sites during Iran's frenzied 12-day war with Israel.
Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian has warned Iran will not halt its nuclear programme despite Trump unleashing the devastating blitz on the trio of facilities.
The leader, who was wounded in the leg during the war and forced to flee a high-profile emergency meeting, said it is as "illusion" for Trump to suggest their nuclear programme has been obliterated.
Advertisement
Most read in The US Sun
Latest
Breaking
He said: "Our nuclear capabilities are in the minds of our scientists and not in the facilities."
The comments echo previous remarks by Tehran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi who said Iran would never abandon its uranium enrichment programme.
Iran vows to press on with nuke enrichment despite Trump's threats and 'serious damage' done by stealth bombings
Pezeshkian added that Iran remains on guard for any future Israeli attack and doesn't believe the ceasefire will hold.
He said: "We are fully prepared for any new Israeli military move, and our armed forces are ready to strike deep inside Israel again."
Advertisement
Reflecting the simmering tensions that remain in the region despite the ceasefire, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said yesterday there is a possibility of renewed attacks against Iran.
His statements came during a situation assessment with several top Israeli military officials, including the chief of staff.
He stressed the need for an effective plan to ensure that Iran does not restore its nuclear program.
Earlier this week, Araghchi told Fox News: "We
Advertisement
"And now, more than that, it is a question of national
pride
."
The Foreign Minister also said: "Enrichment is so dear to us."
11
Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian has warned Iran will not halt its nuclear programme
Credit: Alamy
11
A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex after the US bombings on June 21
Advertisement
11
Firefighters extinguish a blaze after an Israeli missile strike
Credit: AP
11
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would keep pushing forward with the programme
Aragchi confirmed that the damage done by Donald Trump's Operation Midnight Hammer on Iran's nuclear sites had been "serious".
But he stopped short of commenting on whether any enriched uranium survived the
Advertisement
"Our facilities have been damaged – seriously damaged," Araghchi said.
"The extent of which is now under evaluation by our atomic
energy
organisation."
He did confirm, however, that all enrichment capabilities in
Iran
had been ceased as a result of the facilities being "seriously damaged".
Iran is due to meet with representatives from Britain, France and Germany on Friday to discuss its nuclear programme.
Advertisement
The European trio have warned that if no progress is reached by the end of August, they will invoke a "snapback" mechanism.
This would reimpose UN sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under a 2015 deal in return for restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme
The three European countries, along with China and Russia, are the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal - from which the United States withdrew in 2018.
11
Israeli Iron Dome air defence system intercepts missiles over Tel Aviv
Advertisement
11
President Donald Trump and his national security team meeting in the Situation Room in June
11
Tehran denies seeking a nuclear weapon and says its nuclear programme is solely meant for civilian purposes.
This was despite enrichment levels reaching 60% prior to the US bombardment.
Advertisement
The
The Israelis also orchestrated Operation Red Wedding - which saw 30 top Iranian military chiefs killed in a near-simultaneous blitz as Tel Aviv sought to root out the
Less than a fortnight later, Trump joined the Israeli bombing campaign against Iran with
The
US military
's flagship
Advertisement
The
The Don celebrated his sophisticated blitz on the Iranian regime - and said that the US bombs went through enemy nuclear sites "
Iran, which vowed to hit
US military
bases across the Middle East, sought its revenge by
But Tehran seemingly
Advertisement
Trump dubbed the expected response "weak" before announcing that a ceasefire deal had been reached between the Israelis and Iranians.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
a minute ago
- Irish Times
EU and US reach deal on 15% tariffs, averting potential trade war
The European Union and US have agreed a deal that will lock in tariffs of 15 per cent on most EU imports to the US, but prevent the prospect of an economically devastating trade war. The final terms of the deal were worked out during a meeting between European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and US president Donald Trump at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland on Sunday. The EU hopes the deal will draw a line under months of uncertainty, shifting deadlines, and threats of sweeping tariffs from Mr Trump, which had cast a shadow over the European economy. The commission, the EU's executive body, which is responsible for trade policy, had been scrambling to secure an agreement before an August 1st deadline. Mr Trump had threatened to triple import levies on nearly all trade coming from the EU if a deal was not done by then. READ MORE The accord effectively sees the EU accepting import taxes of 15 per cent on most of its huge volume of trade with the US. Speaking after the negotiations ended, Ms von der Leyen said the US had agreed to cap any future tariffs on pharmaceutical products at that rate. EU negotiators had pushed for limits to tariffs on pharma products to shield the sector from huge trade levies Mr Trump had threatened to put on the industry. The rate would also apply to cars, representing a cut on the current 25 per cent tariffs the European automobile sector has faced for months when selling cars to the US. The two sides agreed that no tariffs would be charged on imports of aircraft, certain chemicals and some agri-food goods, though the finer details of what agricultural products will benefit from these exemptions is still to be worked out. [ EU pushing to cap future tariffs on pharma in US deal Opens in new window ] Blanket tariffs of 15 per cent represent a serious economic blow to Ireland given its large volume of trade with the US. Finance officials will begin studying the likely impact on the State's economic projections and plans for October's budget. The Government is expected to seek firm assurances that the EU-US agreement will spare the pharma sector from tariffs of more than than 15 per cent. Mr Trump's plans to use tariffs to pressure pharmaceutical firms to move manufacturing capacity to the US has been a point of concern given that the industry accounts for much of the Republic's exports to the US. He previously said he was planning tariffs of 'up to 200 per cent' on the sector under a separate process. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the agreement would bring 'clarity and predictability' to the transatlantic relationship. 'We will now study the detail of what has been agreed, including its implications for businesses exporting from Ireland to the US, and for different sectors operating here,' he said. Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris said that 'while Ireland regrets that the baseline tariff of 15 per cent is included in the agreement, it is important that we now have more certainty on the foundations of the EU-US trade relationship'. Negotiations between the US and EU camps had intensified in recent weeks. European Commission officials were confident they were on the cusp of a deal pending Mr Trump's approval. However, several sources in Dublin and Brussels said much had still hung on Sunday's face-to-face talks between Mr Trump and Ms von der Leyen. The deal includes EU commitments to purchase set amounts of US oil, nuclear power and liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually. Nearly all EU trade to the US has been charged tariffs of 10 per cent since early April, with imports of cars and steel facing higher levies.
Irish Times
25 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Spending on infrastructure makes sense, cutting VAT on hospitality is quite mad
Looking at the performance of the economy over the last 18 months, things look pretty good, as long as you aren't looking for somewhere to live. On to an already buoyant economy, last year's election budget ploughed in more money, equivalent to more than 1 per cent of national income. With full employment, this served to further drive up domestic demand, and also house prices. It hasn't made us much better off, even if it proved popular and garnered a few votes. As election budgets go, it could have been worse. The election budget of 1977 was the biggest culprit in the economic misery of the 1980s, and the election budget of 2007 pushed the economy and house prices to new heights, leaving it even further to fall in the ensuing financial crisis. By these standards last year's election splurge, while ill-conceived, was much less damaging. This year, with no election in sight, it should be time for wiser counsels to prevail in government. While we are seeing continuing growth in the economy, the Department of Finance provides a much more sombre assessment of what is to come due to US president Donald Trump 's wrecking ball. READ MORE Tariffs and a possible trade war would directly affect Ireland, with possibly more serious consequences stemming from the damage done to the wider European Union economy. While this downbeat assessment calls for fiscal caution, instead of heeding their own advice, the Government plans to increase expenditure next year by more than 7 per cent, while national income may rise by 5 per cent. This might be acceptable if they also planned a big increase in taxes , to avoid stimulating an already fully employed economy. However, without tax increases it will add to inflationary pressures. [ What did the summer economic statement really tell us about Budget 2026? Opens in new window ] The Government also, correctly, has highlighted the huge deficit in infrastructure in Ireland stemming from the economic success of the last decade. In countries such as Germany, Italy and Greece, more older people die each year, vacating their homes, than new young households are formed. As a result, these countries don't need a big increase in housing or in related infrastructure. In contrast, with our rapidly growing population, we need to invest in more housing, water and energy, as being provided now in the updated National Development Plan (NDP). [ We need to confront the reality that the housing shortage can't be solved Opens in new window ] While the Government has the money to spend on building more infrastructure, this will work only if a range of other complementary policies are implemented. Firstly, while spending money on infrastructure makes sense, in a fully employed economy we need to redirect resources from other sectors to building and construction. For example, the plan to cut VAT on catering and accommodation is quite mad. The latest data shows that that sector is booming. Instead we need to free up resources for new building by spending less in other economic sectors. In sectors that are already thriving, it could make more sense to raise taxes than to lower them, to encourage redirection of labour to our most urgent problem, housing . David McWilliams on how 'big incentives' to build could save Dublin city Listen | 36:51 The NDP sensibly provides funding to build new wires to link homes and businesses with electricity generation. There is also funding for a long overdue metro for Dublin , and to bring water from the Shannon to Dublin to tackle the knife-edge water supply in the capital. However, these projects will get under way only if the planning and regulatory systems are dramatically reformed. It has already taken five years for planners to consider a verdict on the metro. Countries such as Spain would have built the metro in that time, instead of merely scrutinising the plans. The North-South electricity interconnector was announced 20 years ago, while planning delays on both sides of the Border mean it will be 2032 before it finally happens. Once started, the actual construction will just take months to complete, not the decades spent in planning. The need to pipe water from the Shannon to Dublin was established over a decade ago, yet it could be many more years before it is delivered under the present planning system. In the 19th century, specific legislation was enacted to build our railway system. As Michael McDowell has suggested, a similar legislative approach should be taken today to developing key infrastructure. [ There is a way to unblock Ireland's infrastructural logjam Opens in new window ] We need to enact a specific legal mandate, in the overriding national interest, to drive forward critical projects and avoid the endless round of planning applications, appeals and judicial reviews. Had we done that for the metro, it would have been finished a decade ago. But unless the planning system is reformed, I'm unlikely during my lifetime to ride the metro or drink Shannon water from my tap.
Irish Independent
33 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Donal O'Donovan: Trade deal is big win for Donald Trump, bad loss for Europeans and a disaster for the EU
Ursula von der Leyen's cowed description of the deal struck with Donald Trump as 'a rebalancing' marks the scale of her capitulation – explicitly buying the US line that there was something off about pre-Trump trade between the US and EU.
