Latest news with #FoundationforDefenseofDemocracies
Kuwait Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
China helpless as Mideast war craters regional leverage
BEIJING: China has been able to do little more than stand back and watch as war between its key partner Iran and Zionist entity harms its hard-fought leverage in the Middle East, analysts say. Beijing has sought to frame itself as a mediator in the region, facilitating a 2023 rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran and portraying itself as a more neutral actor in the Zionist-Palestinian conflict than its rival the United States. And its position as the largest purchaser of Iranian oil has served as a crucial lifeline for Tehran as its economy is battered by crippling international sanctions. But as Zionist entity and Iran engaged in an unprecedented exchange of attacks and the United States struck key targets on Iranian soil in the past week, Beijing has offered little beyond calls for de-escalation. 'Beijing has offered Tehran no real help — just rhetoric that paints China as the principled alternative while it stays safely on the sidelines,' Craig Singleton, senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, told AFP. China, he said, 'sticks to rhetoric — condemnations, UN statements, talk of 'dialogue' — because over-promising and under-delivering would spotlight its power-projection limits'. 'The result is a conspicuously thin response that underscores how little real heft China brings to Iran when the shooting starts.' 'Strategic' friendship China — alongside its 'no limits' partner Russia — has long been a key backer of Iran, deepening ties in the wake of the United States' withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal in 2018. President Xi Jinping described relations as 'strategic' in a 2023 meeting with Iran's then-president Ebrahim Raisi, and backed Tehran in its fight against 'bullying'. Liu Qiang, a retired Chinese Senior Colonel, was even more explicit in an article on the academic website Aisixiang this month. 'Iran's survival is a matter of China's national security,' said the director of the Academic Committee of the Shanghai International Center for Strategic Studies. Beijing, he insisted, must take 'proactive measures' in light of the recent war to ensure that Tehran 'will not be broken by the military conflict' or 'jointly strangled by the US and Zionist entity'. Analysts say Beijing's ties with Tehran are central to its efforts to ensure a regional counterbalance against both the United States and Zionist entity as well as the Gulf States. 'Iran fits into Beijing's broader campaign to counterbalance US-led hegemony and to a lesser extent NATO encroachment,' Tuvia Gering, non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, told AFP. Those efforts have gone into overdrive following blows to other 'Axis of resistance' players since the start of the Gaza war — the collapse of Bashar Al-Assad's rule in Syria and the degradation of Hamas and Hezbollah in fighting with Zionist entity. 'Beijing has sought to prevent a total unravelling of Iran's regional role,' Gering said, pointing to Chinese efforts to resurrect the nuclear deal. China has condemned recent US strikes on Iran and called for parties in the region, 'especially (Zionist entity)', to de-escalate. And it has called for a political solution to help a declared ceasefire hold. Fighting last month between India and Pakistan saw Beijing furnish its long-time allies in Islamabad with state-of-the-art military gear. Analysts don't expect China to extend the same courtesy to its comrades in Tehran, given the risk of direct confrontation with the United States. 'Iran needs more than statements at the UN or missile components,' Andrea Ghiselli, a lecturer at the University of Exeter, told AFP. 'It needs air defenses and fighter jets, which are things that China could provide but would require much time to be put into use—not to mention the likely extremely negative reaction by Zionist entity and, especially now that is directly involved, the US,' he added. The United States has urged China to use its influence on Iran to help deter its leaders from shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil and gas. But Ahmed Aboudouh, an associate fellow with the Chatham House Middle East and North Africa Program, was skeptical that Beijing has the leverage. 'China's position in the Middle East after this conflict' has been badly affected, he told AFP. 'Everybody in the Middle East understands that China has little leverage, if any, to play any role in de-escalation.'— AFP
Daily Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
China helpless as Middle East war craters regional leverage: analysts
AFP | China has been able to do little more than stand back and watch as war between its key partner Iran and Israel harms its hard-fought leverage in the Middle East, analysts say. Beijing has sought to frame itself as a mediator in the region, facilitating a 2023 rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran and portraying itself as a more neutral actor in the Israel-Palestinian conflict than its rival the United States. And its position as the largest purchaser of Iranian oil has served as a crucial lifeline for Tehran as its economy is battered by crippling international sanctions. But as Israel and Iran engaged in an unprecedented exchange of attacks and the United States struck key targets on Iranian soil in the past week, Beijing has offered little beyond calls for de-escalation. "Beijing has offered Tehran no real help -- just rhetoric that paints China as the principled alternative while it stays safely on the sidelines," Craig Singleton, senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, told AFP. China, he said, "sticks to rhetoric -- condemnations, UN statements, talk of 'dialogue' -- because over-promising and under-delivering would spotlight its power-projection limits". "The result is a conspicuously thin response that underscores how little real heft China brings to Iran when the shooting starts." - 'Strategic' friendship - China -- alongside its "no limits" partner Russia -- has long been a key backer of Iran, deepening ties in the wake of the United States' withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal in 2018. President Xi Jinping described relations as "strategic" in a 2023 meeting with Iran's then-president Ebrahim Raisi, and backed Tehran in its fight against "bullying". Liu Qiang, a retired Chinese Senior Colonel, was even more explicit in an article on the academic website Aisixiang this month. "Iran's survival is a matter of China's national security," said the director of the Academic Committee of the Shanghai International Center for Strategic Studies. Beijing, he insisted, must take "proactive measures" in light of the recent war to ensure that Tehran "will not be broken by the military conflict" or "jointly strangled by the US and Israel". Analysts say Beijing's ties with Tehran are central to its efforts to ensure a regional counterbalance against both the United States and Israel as well as the Gulf States. "Iran fits into Beijing's broader campaign to counterbalance US-led hegemony and to a lesser extent NATO encroachment," Tuvia Gering, non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, told AFP. Those efforts have gone into overdrive following blows to other "Axis of resistance" players since the start of the Gaza war -- the collapse of Bashar Al-Assad's rule in Syria and the degradation of Hamas and Hezbollah in fighting with Israel. "Beijing has sought to prevent a total unravelling of Iran's regional role," Gering said, pointing to Chinese efforts to resurrect the nuclear deal. - 'Little leverage' China has condemned recent US strikes on Iran and called for parties in the region, "especially Israel", to de-escalate. And it has called for a political solution to help a declared ceasefire hold. Fighting last month between India and Pakistan saw Beijing furnish its long-time allies in Islamabad with state-of-the-art military gear. Analysts don't expect China to extend the same courtesy to its comrades in Tehran, given the risk of direct confrontation with the United States. "Iran needs more than statements at the UN or missile components," Andrea Ghiselli, a lecturer at the University of Exeter, told AFP. "It needs air defences and fighter jets, which are things that China could provide but would require much time to be put into use -- not to mention the likely extremely negative reaction by Israel and, especially now that is directly involved, the US," he added. The United States has urged China to use its influence on Iran to help deter its leaders from shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil and gas. But Ahmed Aboudouh, an associate fellow with the Chatham House Middle East and North Africa Programme, was sceptical that Beijing has the leverage. "China's position in the Middle East after this conflict" has been badly affected, he told AFP. "Everybody in the Middle East understands that China has little leverage, if any, to play any role in de-escalation."
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
China helpless as Israel-Iran war craters regional leverage, say analysts
Live Events 'Strategic' friendship 'Little leverage' (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel China has been able to do little more than stand back and watch as war between its key partner Iran and Israel harms its hard-fought leverage in the Middle East, analysts has sought to frame itself as a mediator in the region, facilitating a 2023 rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran and portraying itself as a more neutral actor in the Israel-Palestinian conflict than its rival the United its position as the largest purchaser of Iranian oil has served as a crucial lifeline for Tehran as its economy is battered by crippling international as Israel and Iran engaged in an unprecedented exchange of attacks and the United States struck key targets on Iranian soil in the past week, Beijing has offered little beyond calls for de-escalation."Beijing has offered Tehran no real help -- just rhetoric that paints China as the principled alternative while it stays safely on the sidelines," Craig Singleton, senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, told he said, "sticks to rhetoric -- condemnations, UN statements, talk of 'dialogue' -- because over-promising and under-delivering would spotlight its power-projection limits"."The result is a conspicuously thin response that underscores how little real heft China brings to Iran when the shooting starts."China -- alongside its "no limits" partner Russia -- has long been a key backer of Iran, deepening ties in the wake of the United States' withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal in Xi Jinping described relations as "strategic" in a 2023 meeting with Iran's then-president Ebrahim Raisi, and backed Tehran in its fight against "bullying".Liu Qiang, a retired Chinese Senior Colonel, was even more explicit in an article on the academic website Aisixiang this month."Iran's survival is a matter of China's national security," said the director of the Academic Committee of the Shanghai International Center for Strategic he insisted, must take "proactive measures" in light of the recent war to ensure that Tehran "will not be broken by the military conflict" or "jointly strangled by the US and Israel".Analysts say Beijing's ties with Tehran are central to its efforts to ensure a regional counterbalance against both the United States and Israel as well as the Gulf States."Iran fits into Beijing's broader campaign to counterbalance US-led hegemony and to a lesser extent NATO encroachment," Tuvia Gering, non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, told efforts have gone into overdrive following blows to other "Axis of resistance" players since the start of the Gaza war -- the collapse of Bashar Al-Assad's rule in Syria and the degradation of Hamas and Hezbollah in fighting with Israel."Beijing has sought to prevent a total unravelling of Iran's regional role," Gering said, pointing to Chinese efforts to resurrect the nuclear has condemned recent US strikes on Iran and called for parties in the region, "especially Israel", to it has called for a political solution to help a declared ceasefire last month between India and Pakistan saw Beijing furnish its long-time allies in Islamabad with state-of-the-art military don't expect China to extend the same courtesy to its comrades in Tehran, given the risk of direct confrontation with the United States."Iran needs more than statements at the UN or missile components," Andrea Ghiselli, a lecturer at the University of Exeter, told AFP."It needs air defences and fighter jets, which are things that China could provide but would require much time to be put into use -- not to mention the likely extremely negative reaction by Israel and, especially now that is directly involved, the US," he United States has urged China to use its influence on Iran to help deter its leaders from shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil and Ahmed Aboudouh, an associate fellow with the Chatham House Middle East and North Africa Programme, was sceptical that Beijing has the leverage."China's position in the Middle East after this conflict" has been badly affected, he told AFP."Everybody in the Middle East understands that China has little leverage, if any, to play any role in de-escalation."
Express Tribune
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
US B-2 bombers head to Gaum amid Israel-Iran tensions
Listen to article Six US Air Force B-2 stealth bombers have departed from Missouri and appear to be en route to Guam, amid growing speculation over a potential American military role in the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. Guam is a US island territory in Micronesia, in the Western Pacific. The aircraft, tracked via flight data and confirmed through air traffic control communications, took off from Whiteman Air Force Base and refuelled mid-air—suggesting they may be carrying heavy payloads, possibly including bunker-buster bombs. The B-2 Spirit is one of the only aircraft in the world capable of carrying 15-ton GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs. These weapons, which are designed to penetrate fortified underground targets, are considered by defence experts to be key to attacking Iran's heavily reinforced nuclear facilities, particularly the Fordow enrichment site. 'Destroying [Fordow] from the air is a job only the US can do,' said Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, speaking to Fox News Digital. Jonathan Ruhe, Director of Foreign Policy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), added that the bunker-busters are engineered to penetrate deep layers of earth, rock, and concrete before detonating underground. The resulting impact, he said, could either fully destroy a target or cause surrounding structures to collapse. Trump returns for security briefings President Donald Trump is expected to return to the White House on Saturday, where he will receive intelligence briefings with the National Security Council over the weekend. He has said a decision on potential US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict will be made soon. The president has recently clashed with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who testified in March that there was "no evidence" Iran is building a nuclear weapon. Trump publicly stated she was "wrong," while Gabbard later claimed her comments were misrepresented, accusing the media of spreading 'fake news.' In a statement posted on X, Gabbard said: 'America has intelligence that Iran is at the point that it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalize the assembly. President Trump has been clear that can't happen, and I agree.' Speculation over Diego Garcia stop It remains unclear whether the B-2 bombers will continue past Guam toward Diego Garcia—a key US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean, located around 3,500 km (2,175 miles) from Iran. Defence analysts have suggested Diego Garcia could serve as a forward-operating base in the event of military escalation. According to reports, between two and four B-2 bombers, along with six aerial refueling aircraft, departed from Missouri in the early hours of Saturday. US sanctions on Iran While the United States has not directly entered the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, the State Department announced new sanctions on Friday targeting Iran's defense industry. Eight entities and one individual have been blacklisted for allegedly procuring sensitive military machinery from China for Tehran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who initially sought to distance Washington from the conflict, said the measures aim to curtail Iran's ability to escalate military operations. The developments come as regional tensions intensify following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites. Iran has vowed retaliation, while calls for de-escalation have come from countries including Turkey, Russia, and China.
Newsweek
21-06-2025
- Newsweek
Satellite Images Show Underground Military Installations Around the World
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. Iran's Fordow nuclear facility, buried beneath a mountain near the city of Qom, has become a focus of global military attention following the most recent Israeli airstrikes. It is one of the most heavily fortified military sites in the world, and its resilience highlights a broader pattern: nations around the world have built underground bases to shield key military infrastructure from attack. Fordow is dug half a mile underground, lined with reinforced concrete, and surrounded by air defenses. It was built to survive a direct air strike and keep functioning. "Fordow is the be-all and end-all of Iran's nuclear operation," Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told the Financial Times. The site could produce enough weapons-grade uranium for nine nuclear bombs in about three weeks, according to estimates by the Institute for Science and International Security. PlanetScope image of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant captured on June 14, 2025. PlanetScope image of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant captured on June 14, 2025. Planet Labs PBC Iran said the facility was attacked last week, though damage was limited. Most military analysts believe the site could only be heavily damaged or destroyed with an American-made bunker-buster bomb and the B-2 stealth fighter configured to drop it. And even then, it is far from a certainty. Danny Citrinowicz, an analyst at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, told Vijesti, "Without U.S. help, Fordow will be a big challenge. It's heavily fortified and deep in the mountain. I'm not sure how much damage we can do there." Fordow is one of many such facilities. Most major military powers have built underground bunkers—some dating back to the Cold War, others still active. While estimates suggest there could be over 10,000 of these sites worldwide, only a handful are widely known. U.S. Sites In the United States, Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Pennsylvania—also known as the "Underground Pentagon"—connects to Mount Weather in Virginia and Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado. These sites are built to maintain government operations in a crisis. Satellite view of the Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Pennsylvania, known as the "Underground Pentagon." The facility includes multiple tunnel entrances and surface structures supporting one of the United States' primary Continuity of Government sites. Satellite view of the Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Pennsylvania, known as the "Underground Pentagon." The facility includes multiple tunnel entrances and surface structures supporting one of the United States' primary Continuity of Government sites. Google Earth Cheyenne Mountain houses NORAD operations and was built to withstand a 30-megaton nuclear blast. In North Dakota, Minot Air Force Base hosts a network of underground silos for nuclear missiles. Texas's West Fort Hood once stored nuclear weapons in tunnels carved into the hillside. During the Cold War, Project Iceworm in Greenland housed nuclear equipment in ice tunnels at Camp Century. At the entrance to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex headquarters for NORAD two military personnel wait to board a bus May 11, 2004 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At the entrance to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex headquarters for NORAD two military personnel wait to board a bus May 11, 2004 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Getty Images Russia and China Russia's secretive underground transport system Metro-2 system, or D-6, is thought to link key command posts beneath Moscow to facilities such as Vnukovo-2 airport. Meanwhile, the mysterious Mount Yamantau in the southern Urals is believed to conceal a vast nuclear weapons storage or command facility. The Kremlin has never confirmed its purpose. Mount Yamantau, another secretive site in the Urals, is widely believed to be a command hub for nuclear operations. Mount Yamantau, another secretive site in the Urals, is widely believed to be a command hub for nuclear operations. Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Generic China's Longpo Naval Base, located on Hainan Island, includes a sophisticated tunnel system that enables submarines to discreetly enter and exit from the South China Sea. The facility is believed to play a critical role in supporting China's second-strike nuclear capability. It features an underground complex designed to shield nuclear submarines from aerial surveillance and potential attack. The base includes six wharves—each approximately 755 feet long—capable of accommodating up to 12 submarines. Longpo is part of the larger Yulin Naval Base complex, which serves as a strategic hub for the People's Liberation Army Navy's South Sea Fleet. Satellite view of the Longpo Naval Base on China's Yalong Peninsula. Hidden beneath the dense forest, this strategic facility is believed to house underground tunnels connecting directly to the South China Sea, allowing nuclear submarines... Satellite view of the Longpo Naval Base on China's Yalong Peninsula. Hidden beneath the dense forest, this strategic facility is believed to house underground tunnels connecting directly to the South China Sea, allowing nuclear submarines to enter and exit covertly. More Google Earth Project 131 in Hubei was another Cold War-era command site, though it has since been decommissioned. North Korea North Korea has built extensive underground missile bases, including the Kumchang-ri facility discovered in 1989. While Pyongyang claimed it was a food storage site, U.S. intelligence suspected it was used for nuclear work. These bases are carved into mountains and designed to survive strikes. Satellite imagery of the Kumchang-ri underground facility in North Korea. Discovered in the late 1990s, the site was originally claimed to be agricultural, but U.S. intelligence identified it as a suspected nuclear-related complex hidden beneath... Satellite imagery of the Kumchang-ri underground facility in North Korea. Discovered in the late 1990s, the site was originally claimed to be agricultural, but U.S. intelligence identified it as a suspected nuclear-related complex hidden beneath mountainous terrain. Its exact purpose remains classified. More Google Earth Iran's Expansion Fordow is not Iran's only secure site. Tehran is believed to be is building an even more protected facility at Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La—also known as Pickaxe Mountain—south of Natanz. This site is planned to be even deeper underground, with at least four tunnel entrances and larger internal space. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not been allowed to inspect it. Fordow was built in secret and revealed publicly in 2009 when U.S., British and French officials declassified intelligence on its existence. The disclosure led to increased sanctions and was central to the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration and known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. After Trump withdrew from that agreement during his first term in 2018, Iran resumed higher levels of uranium enrichment by restarting operations at Fordow.
