Iran: Hundreds of thousands take to streets for state funeral
Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out in the Iranian capital Tehran for the state funeral of military commanders and nuclear scientists killed during the 12-day war with Israel.
The Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian joined the procession – although there was no sign of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.
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Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Putin unleashes huge onslaught of 500 missiles & drones in night of hell for Ukraine as Nato warplanes scrambled
The Russian forces went on a terrifying rampage as they struck several major cities in Ukraine RAINING HELL Putin unleashes huge onslaught of 500 missiles & drones in night of hell for Ukraine as Nato warplanes scrambled VLADIMIR Putin has unleashed another night of hell over Ukraine with a 500 missile and drone onslaught. Nato was forced to scramble its warplanes after the Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk was hit in an apocalyptic blast which turned the skies a crimson red overnight. Advertisement 2 Explosions in Kremenchuk as missiles and drones strike the city Credit: East2West 2 A huge blast was seen from the oil refinery Credit: East2West The city was attacked by Putin's forces with cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles, and Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones simultaneously. Four Kinzhal and seven Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles were also fired at Ukraine. Putin ordered his Tu-95 strategic bombers and MiG aircraft to carry out the heinous air assaults. It was the most powerful blitz on the city since the start of the war back in 2022. Advertisement Ukraine claimed to have downed 475 out of 537 aerial targets. Poland's operational command quickly announced that Nato fighter jets were scrambled because of the intensity of the Russian onslaught. They said in a statement: "Due to the attack by the Russian Federation carrying out strikes on objects located in the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun operating in our airspace. "The Operational Commander of the [armed forces] has activated all available forces and resources at his disposal. Advertisement "The on-duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and the ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness. "The steps taken are aimed at ensuring security in the areas bordering the threatened areas." Putin also mounted attacks across much of Ukraine in what is reported to be one of the heaviest bombardments of the three year conflict so far. A missile strike on Zaporizhzhia left an industrial facility on fire. Advertisement Mykolaiv and Donetsk region were also both badly hit. The Russians targeted Lviv in western Ukraine as well. Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said Russian forces attempted to strike critical infrastructure, but no civilians or residential buildings were damaged.
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Few thought airstrikes could end Iran's nuke program. Did they?
Iran itself has acknowledged the impact of the U.S. and Israeli attacks. But in the years since Washington's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, experts and analysts have emphasized that airstrikes alone would merely delay Iran's nuclear ambitions rather than permanently derail them. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Illinois, reiterated that long-held understanding in a June 26 interview. "The targets are hard targets, deep targets, mobile targets. So it was never meant to eliminate the program," Quigley told USA TODAY. "It was never meant to do anything but slow the program." The congressman, who is on the House's intelligence committee and has regularly received briefings on Iran, added, "We've always been told . . . the only way to end this (nuclear) program is with a lot of troops on the ground for a long time. A war." The former head of the National Nuclear Security Agency's nonproliferation programs, Corey Hinderstein, struck a similar tone. "The conventional wisdom that you can't destroy the Iranian (nuclear) program through air attack alone has actually held," said Hinderstein, now a vice president at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "While some are saying that the airstrikes were tactically and strategically successful, I think that the jury is still out on that, and we don't actually have the information that we need to believe that this program is gone." Third nuclear site, hidden centrifuges, missing uranium Iran may have another nuclear site that, if equipped with enrichment centrifuges and conversion equipment, could continue the process of preparing uranium for use in a nuclear bomb, if the regime wishes to pursue one. Shortly before Israel began its air campaign against Iran, the regime told the International Atomic Energy Agency that it had a third nuclear enrichment site but did not reveal details. Analysts believe an undisclosed underground facility at Pickaxe Mountain near the Natanz nuclear plant may be even deeper under the surface than the Fordow enrichment plant that was severely damaged in the U.S. strikes. The Pickaxe Mountain facility was first publicly revealed in 2023 by experts who spoke with the Associated Press. And it's unclear how much of Tehran's approximately 880 pounds of highly enriched uranium was destroyed or buried during the strikes -- satellite images show cargo trucks parked outside the Fordow enrichment plant in the days before the U.S. attack. U.S. lawmakers briefed June 26 and June 27 on intelligence assessments of the strikes acknowledged the missing uranium and called for a full accounting of the material, according to CNN. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, told the news agency that the question of the uranium's whereabouts underscores the importance of Iran negotiating "directly with us, so the (IAEA) can account for every ounce of enriched uranium that's there." More: Where is Iran's enriched uranium? Questions loom after Trump claims victory. But whether Iran wants to negotiate is another question. Despite the country's obligations as a member of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, Iran's Guardian Council approved a law June 25 halting the country's cooperation with the IAEA and its inspections of Tehran's nuclear sites "until the safety and security of our nuclear activities can be guaranteed," the country's foreign minister said on social media. Contributing: Tom Vanden Brook and Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY Davis Winkie's role covering nuclear threats and national security at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Outrider Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
When it comes to Iran, failure isn't an option for Trump, US
Iran's long-standing quest for nuclear weapons was at least set back for many months, and probably several years. Many parties had much to gain from the ceasefire: For Israel, a relief from the imminent threat of Iran, and from the punishment of the Iranian missiles. For Iran, an end to Israeli efforts at regime change; for the neighbors in the region, a relief from the fear of a widening conflict. For Russia, the preservation of its strategic partner, Iran. For China, an end to the imminent threat to its fuel and gas transiting the Strait of Hormuz. For President Trump, a validation of his judgment that overwhelming American power could be effective in ending a conflict without embroiling us in a "forever war," an end to the split of his MAGA supporters, and wide acknowledgement of his personal role in creating the ceasefire. Crown prince of Iran: Israel weakened Iran regime. World must help finish the job | Opinion What happens now for Iran and the rest of the world? But now what? Israel has been highly successful in the use of military force over many decades in the region - from the 1948 war of independence, through the 1956 war in Sinai, the 1967 preemptive war against Egypt, Jordan and Syria, the 1973 war, the 1982 invasion of Lebanon, strikes against the PLO in Tunisia in 1985, and later operations in Lebanon and Gaza. U.S. military action in the Gulf War in 1991 and the invasion of Iraq in 2003 were also highly successful. At this time, Israel, with U.S. help, has stripped Iran of its protective shields of Hezbollah and Hamas, and Iran, without effective air defenses, is laid bare. But outstanding military operations are not sufficient - they must be followed by successful work to end the roots of the conflict. Not once has this happened in the Middle East. Hatred, resentment, anger, terrorism and war have become endemic to the region. This is the moment to end the pattern of continuing conflict. But that requires new appreciation among the leaders in the region of the realities underscored by this latest bout of conflict. Iran, you're not going to have a nuclear bomb, no matter what. And if you continue to seek it, your regime will be defeated along with the destruction of your country. Israel, you cannot continue to use force with impunity - even with the best technology, your own people are vulnerable. To others in the region: Israel and the Palestinians are both permanently in the region; and with all due respect to the different religion, sects, and ethnicities at play, and the pain of history, both must be accommodated, accepted, and, ultimately, embraced as part of a thriving and prosperous Middle East. If there was ever a moment for fundamental change within the region, this is it. The world has come face to face with the potential of a spiraling conflict. Many of the Gulf States have achieved unprecedented wealth and are on the path to world-leading economic, social and technical advances. The region is still and will likely remain the center of global energy production, distribution and investment. There is everything to gain from seizing this moment. Gen. Wesley Clark: Trump needs to push Putin hard to end war in Ukraine - now | Opinion This is the moment for American leadership But how to proceed? Based on the model followed by President Clinton in dealing with the Balkans in the 1990's, it is best to start with a set of principles agreed upon objectively, by those outside the conflict but with the influence and will to deal with the respective parties. The principles must be fair and practicable. It required many weeks of shuttle diplomacy for the much simpler issues in the Balkans, and then, ultimately a 78-day air campaign by NATO in parallel with Presidential-level mediation by outside parties. In all, it entailed more than five years of continuous effort by the United States. In this region, the issues are deeper and more complex, but certainly among the principles, Iran must renounce its efforts, overt and covert, to destroy the state of Israel, and Israel must respect the rights of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza to govern and develop their own self-governing state. Terrorism against Israel must be halted. Countries in the region must participate in rebuilding the Palestinian homeland in the West Bank and Gaza. Sanctions against Iran will be lifted, and Iran will be provided the materials it needs for peaceful nuclear energy. Progress must be phased and accompanied by confidence-building measures. Perhaps the Abraham Accords will be fully implemented, and the U.S. will provide a security umbrella for all in the region. International organizations will no doubt remain part of the solution. Perhaps Russia and China, and other interested parties will be invited as observers. Iran today is a wounded tiger. Maybe 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium is still available, maybe some other country will provide nuclear weapons or materials. Revenge will be sought. We cannot permit the next conflict - it could well go "nuclear." So neglect or failure are not options. This is the moment for American leadership. It is the moment for President Trump to exercise his broader vision for strategic realignment of the region, and in so doing, to end the Middle East as a cockpit for continuing conflict. Wesley K. Clark is a retired four-star general who served as commander of U.S. Southern Command and then as commander of U.S. European Command/Supreme Allied Commander, Europe.
