Latest news with #BarakRavid
Middle East Eye
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israel to send negotiating team to Qatar for Gaza ceasefire talks
Israeli media report that Israel is preparing to dispatch a negotiating team to Qatar, possibly as early as tomorrow, to finalise a ceasefire agreement. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said the cabinet will review Hamas's response to the ceasefire proposal tonight and has not dismissed it, viewing it as a basis for further discussion. Axios global affairs correspondent Barak Ravid tweeted that an Israeli official confirmed Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to send negotiators to Doha, departing either tonight or tomorrow. The team aims to hold 'proximity talks' with Hamas to resolve outstanding issues and agree on the final terms regarding the Gaza hostage situation and ceasefire deal.
Hindustan Times
23-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
US strikes on Iran: What are Tehran's options against Donald Trump-led nation?
The United States' strikes on Iranian nuclear sites have exacerbated the situation in the Middle East, which is already reeling under Israel's wars against Hamas in Gaza and Iran. US President Donald Trump's decision to launch the strikes has forced Iran to weigh its options against Washington. What can Iran do to respond to the US strikes that don't embroil it in an all-out and protracted war? People watch from a bridge as flames from an Israeli attack rise from Sharan Oil depot, following Israeli strikes on Iran, in Tehran.(Reuters file photo) Iran has myriad options – including Iran striking US bases and closing waterways. However, it is likely to choose an option with low risks, especially since its principal nemesis is Israel, which attacked unprovoked, to cripple Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Iran can task its proxies in Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon to attack US military assets. The US has 19 military sites in the Middle East, eight of which are its permanent bases. The US has stationed at least 40,000 troops in the region. CNN political and global affairs analyst, Barak Ravid, told the American channel that the Iranians have said 'several times' that if the US 'joins this war and attacks their nuclear facilities, they will retaliate against US forces in the region, against US interests, and there are a lot of those.' Iran can also activate the Houthi rebels against US targets, who can attack American ships in the Red Sea. The most dreaded option will be to engage the US in a war of attrition, where it tries to exhaust its adversary's will to fight. Iran can disrupt oil supply Ravid told the channel that Iran can influence commercial shipping in the Gulf. Iran is already mulling shutting the Strait of Hormuz, which is a key global oil supply sea route. This strategy can put pressure on the global oil market, which can hit the US and their western allies' commercial and strategic interests. The Strait of Hormuz accounts for millions of barrels reaching the world through the Middle East. Iran expert and editor of the Amwaj news outlet, Mohammad Ali Shabani, told CNN that Iran's geographic advantage gives it the ability to shock the oil markets, wreaking damage to Donald Trump's economic agenda. Nuclear bomb Another option with Iran, according to the CNN report, is to rush to build a nuclear bomb. It can also withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, going back on its pledge not to develop a bomb. It will be a big blow to the United States' foreign policy. It will also be a deterrent for Iran's enemies. Can focus on attacking only Israel Iran can simply keep attacking Israel, the United States' strategic ally. Israel is currently the biggest threat to Iran. It can also give a measured response, firing just missiles at US bases in places like Iraq. Iran may not want a full-scale confrontation with the United States, the world's richest and most powerful nation. Also read: Israel Iran news war LIVE: Imminent threat of Iran strikes on US' Qatar base, says report Cyberattacks Iran can also resort to "asymmetric" warfare, including cyberattacks and terrorism, to attack the United States and Israel. 'I think the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) is probably trying to figure out what capabilities it has left', as its missile stockpile dwindles, said CNN national security analyst David Sanger. 'I think (the IRGC is) going to be a little bit careful, and I suspect that's going to take us to all of the asymmetric things they can do: cyber, terrorism. I think that they're probably going to be looking for things where the US cannot just put up the traditional defences,' he added.
Axios
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Americans largely disapprove of U.S. involvement in Israel and Iran war: Poll
A majority of Americans don't want the U.S. to get involved in the escalating war between Israel and Iran, a poll released this week found. The big picture: President Trump is slated to make a decision"within two weeks" on whether to join Israel in its effort to eliminate the Iranian nuclear program, the White House said Thursday. He's leaving the door open to a diplomatic solution in the coming days that could avert a major escalation in the Middle East, Axios' Barak Ravid reports. Zoom in: 60% of Americans think the U.S. military should not get involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran, according to an Economist/YouGov poll released this week. Only 16% support U.S. military action, and 24% are unsure. That largely holds up across party lines, with 65% of Democrats, 61% of independents and 53% of Republicans opposing U.S. military intervention in Iran. About as many people see Iran's nuclear program as a threat as those who oppose military intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict: 61% of Americans view Iran's nuclear program as either an immediate and serious or a somewhat serious threat to the U.S. Similarly, most Americans think the U.S. should engage in negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program — that's true across 58% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans. Zoom out: In a second poll, released Thursday by the Washington Post, 7 in 10 Americans believe Iran's nuclear program poses "an immediate and serious" or "somewhat serious" threat to the U.S. Republicans are more likely to say it is an immediate and serious threat than Democrats or independents, per the survey. The fine print: The Economist/YouGov poll was conducted among 1,512 U.S. adult citizens June 13–16, and the margin of error for the overall sample is approximately 3%. The Washington Post poll was conducted on June 18 among a random sample of 1,008 U.S. adults and has a margin of sampling error of ±3.6 percentage points.
Newsweek
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Watch: Israeli Airstrike Hits Iran State TV Live on Air
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An Israeli airstrike struck Iran's state-run television broadcaster during a live broadcast Monday, intensifying an already volatile confrontation between the two regional rivals. The attack came amid a series of tit-for-tat strikes that have killed hundreds across both countries since the outbreak of hostilities late last week. The blast interrupted a live program on the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN), operated by the state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), as an anchor was speaking. Israel bombed Iranian state TV — Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) June 16, 2025 Viewers saw the studio fill with dust and debris, and the anchor fled as the screen behind her cut to black before the transmission abruptly switched to prerecorded material. The moment when Iran's state broadcaster is hit by an Israeli airstrike. The moment when Iran's state broadcaster is hit by an Israeli airstrike. X This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
Axios
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Lawmakers urge defense if Iran attacks U.S. targets
Several lawmakers on Sunday stressed that if Iran attacks U.S. targets following Israel's massive strike, the country should defend itself. The big picture: In the hours around Israel's attack, which Iran responded to with major retaliatory strikes, the Trump administration distanced itself from the Israeli operation, with the president confirming he knew the attack was coming but stressing the U.S. military wasn't involved. But Iranian officials have blamed the U.S. for the attack, along with Israel. Despite that, President Trump told Axios' Barak Ravid that he believes Israel's strike improved the chances of reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran. Trump, in a Truth Social post shared just after midnight Sunday, wrote that if "we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before." Driving the news: Lawmakers on Sunday expressed bipartisan consensus over the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran — though they are divided on the level to which the U.S. should be involved in Israel's operation. Israel has asked the Trump administration to join the war and help eliminate Iran's nuclear program, Axios Barak Ravid reported. The U.S. possesses bunker buster bombs and large bomber aircraft that are necessary to destroy Iran's underground Fordow uranium enrichment site. Israel does not. Zoom in: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said on "Fox News Sunday" that the U.S. response will be "triggered" by Iran's actions — and if they target Americans or the U.S. presence in the region, Iran "should be prepared for all of America's might to descend upon them." Yes, but: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday that "it's not the U.S.'s job to be involved in this war." Paul criticized his GOP colleague Sen. Lindsey Graham's (R-S.C.) reaction to Israel's attack ("Game on"), saying, "I don't consider war to be a game" and pointing to "hundreds of thousands of people that potentially will now die on both sides." He said he believes Trump's "instincts" are to not be involved in the conflict, but said there will be "a lot of pressure from Lindsey Graham and others to get involved." Paul added, "I hope that his instincts will prevail." The other side: Graham, appearing on CBS News' "Face the Nation," said "the worst possible outcome" would be the survival of Iran's nuclear program — and urged Trump to make sure there's "nothing left standing ... regarding their nuclear program." "If that means providing bombs, provide bombs," he said, adding, "If it means flying with Israel, fly with Israel." Zoom out: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) agreed that a nuclear-armed Iran is an "unacceptable threat to the world" and said he supports Israel's "right to defend itself." But he emphasized that "Americans have no interest in a forever war," urging mindfulness "about the priority of diplomacy." Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) similarly told NBC's Kristen Welker that he supports Israel's actions to "defend itself" — as well as he backs "the administration's actions in helping Israel defend itself." However, he said he did not support the U.S. engaging in direct hostilities against Iran — though he noted he hasn't been able to get an intelligence briefing on Iran recently. But, if "they should respond by attacking us, then we should respond by defending ourselves," he said, adding that Iran would open "itself up to potential attacks on Fordow or elsewhere" with such action. Between the lines: Some prominent MAGA voices have tried to rally the president's base against the U.S. backing direct attacks on Iran, Axios' Stef W. Kight and Tal Axelrod reported. But the support from Hill leaders following Israel's operation may expose the limits of MAGA isolationists' influence. Former Vice President Mike Pence said on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday that it's "scandalous" to hear outside voices "talking about dumping Israel in this moment." Pence said that "at the end of the day, if Israel needs our help to ensure that the Iranian nuclear program is ... destroyed once and for all, the United States of America needs to be prepared to do it."
