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Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Iran regime change the only path forward, Iranian-Canadians say
'For the safety of the Jewish and Israeli people and the rest of the world, the only long-term and sustainable solution is regime change." In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency, members of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra perform in a concert under the capital's landmark Azadi Tower (Freedom Tower) on June 25, 2025, following a ceasefire between Israel and the Islamic republic. Photo by MORTEZA ZANGENEH / AFP OTTAWA — Despite enduring institutionally enforced hatred against both Israel and the United States, everyday Iranians aren't directing anger over weeks of airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear ambitions at them. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 'I've never heard anyone say, 'Why is Israel doing this,'' Iranian-Canadian Maral told the Toronto Sun. 'Everyone was saying, 'This is this regime, they are the root cause of this. They put us in this situation.'' Maral, her identity concealed over fears of reprisals to her and her family, offered an unflinching view of life in Iran, and why Iranians believe the best way forward is to overthrow the Ayatollah Khamenei's despotic dictatorship. 'Every day for school, even in elementary school, there are flags of the U.S. and Israel on the floor — (students) have to walk over the flags to start our morning,' she said. That, along with official regime slogans calling for the death of America, Israel and the 'three corruptors' — former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and former Israeli PM Menachem Begin — are seeing quiet but conspicuous resistance. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Students at universities in Tehran are going out of their way to not tread on the flags, a small but sure sign of growing resistance to Iran's brutal theocracy and a growing desire for regime change. Few understand what living in Iran is like better than Iranians, who saw their once-promising beacon of democracy and prosperity transformed into an Islamofascist dystopia. Read More 'Economically, this is a country that, 40 years ago, was one of the fastest-developing countries in the world,' said Kaveh Shahrooz, a lawyer, activist and Macdonald-Laurier Institute Fellow. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Since the revolution, it's become one of the most stagnant economies in the world — thanks to corruption and mismanagement, but also the incredible international isolation as a result of the regime's foolish international policies, sponsorship of terrorism and pursuit of nuclear weapons.' Shahrooz described Iran as an apartheid state for women, one that outlaws homosexuality, labour unions and even dog ownership. 'If you're a young person you have no hopes for the future, because the economy is in shambles and the regime prevents you from doing all the normal things that teenagers do,' he said, describing bans on public displays of affection, drinking alcohol or even listening to music. Iran rules its people with an iron fist, both at home and abroad. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Hundreds of Iranian agents currently live in Canada, carrying out threats, harassments and even assassination against those deemed problematic. Among the more high-profile targets was former cabinet minister Irwin Cotler, whom last year it was revealed to be the target of a foiled Iranian assassination plot. This handout picture released by the Iranian Red Crescent on June 17, 2025 shows members of their rescue teams searching the debris inside a buidling in Tehran, targeted by Israeli strikes. Photo by Iranian Red Crescent / AFP Iranians also know the Ayatollah's regime cares nothing about them, proven by a lack of supports from the recent attacks. 'There were no safe shelters for people to go to, no air raid sirens, Iran's air defences were incredibly weak and knocked out immediately,' Shahrooz said. 'It's a regime that, despite the rhetoric and money that it funnels into defence and acting aggressively internationally, just did not care about the welfare of its citizens.' Maral said overthrowing the Ayatollah is the dream of most Iranians. 'For the long-term situation, for the safety of the Jewish and Israeli people and the rest of the world, the only long-term and sustainable solution is regime change,' she said. 'Iranian civil society needs help from the world to do this — and if we do this, the world is going to be a much safer place, not only Middle East, not only Israel, but the whole globe.' bpassifiume@ X: @bryanpassifiume Toronto Raptors CFL Canada Celebrity Sunshine Girls
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Trump reveals talks with Iran next week, claims win on NATO defence spending
London: US President Donald Trump has revealed plans for talks with Iran next week to try to halt the country's nuclear ambitions after the bombardment of its military sites, as European leaders met his demands for a big lift in defence spending. Trump said he would insist that Iran commit to 'no nuclear' in any negotiation after 12 days of war, as he dismissed a leaked Pentagon analysis that said the attacks had only delayed the nuclear program by a few months. Claiming victory for his agenda at the end of a NATO summit in The Netherlands, the US president welcomed a pledge to lift defence outlays to 5 per cent of economic output – meeting his key demand for the gathering. Trump made no new commitment on the biggest threat to peace in Europe, however, when he ended an hour-long meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky without agreeing to a request for more Patriot systems to shoot down Russian missiles. Iranian state news agency ISNA reported Trump's comments on the talks next week after he disclosed the plans at a press event to end the NATO summit. 'The only thing we'd be asking for is what we were asking for before, about we want no nuclear,' he said. The talks could set up a key test for American policy because of the risk that Iran may continue its nuclear program despite Trump's claim that it was 'obliterated' by the bunker-busting attack. 'We have reasserted the credibility of American deterrence,' he said.
The Age
3 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Trump reveals talks with Iran next week, claims win on NATO defence spending
London: US President Donald Trump has revealed plans for talks with Iran next week to try to halt the country's nuclear ambitions after the bombardment of its military sites, as European leaders met his demands for a big lift in defence spending. Trump said he would insist that Iran commit to 'no nuclear' in any negotiation after 12 days of war, as he dismissed a leaked Pentagon analysis that said the attacks had only delayed the nuclear program by a few months. Claiming victory for his agenda at the end of a NATO summit in The Netherlands, the US president welcomed a pledge to lift defence outlays to 5 per cent of economic output – meeting his key demand for the gathering. Trump made no new commitment on the biggest threat to peace in Europe, however, when he ended an hour-long meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky without agreeing to a request for more Patriot systems to shoot down Russian missiles. Iranian state news agency ISNA reported Trump's comments on the talks next week after he disclosed the plans at a press event to end the NATO summit. 'The only thing we'd be asking for is what we were asking for before, about we want no nuclear,' he said. The talks could set up a key test for American policy because of the risk that Iran may continue its nuclear program despite Trump's claim that it was 'obliterated' by the bunker-busting attack. 'We have reasserted the credibility of American deterrence,' he said.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Trump says Israel and Iran violating ceasefire he announced, demands Israel stop bombing
President Trump voiced frustration with Israel and Iran on Tuesday morning after the Middle East's arch rivals indicated they were complying with a ceasefire agreement he announced just hours earlier, but Israel then accused Iran of launching more missiles and vowed to retaliate. Mr. Trump said both countries had violated the ceasefire, and he demanded that Israel recall warplanes and not "drop those bombs." It was unclear whether Israel had already dispatched any jets to carry out new strikes on Iran, but Mr. Trump spoke after the Israeli defense chief said he had ordered further attacks on Tehran. The U.S. president, after reportedly speaking directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone, then posted a message on his social network declaring that Israel, "is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly 'Plane Wave' to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect! Thank you for your attention to this matter!" President Trump speaks with media before his departure from the White House to attend a NATO Summit in the Netherlands, June 24, 2025, in Washington D.C. Celal Gunes/Anadolu/Getty The ceasefire agreement — which Iranian officials never formally confirmed they had begun honoring — appeared to falter within just a couple hours early Tuesday. "In light of Iran's complete violation of the ceasefire declared by the U.S. President and the launch of missiles towards Israel, and in accordance with the Israeli government's policy as determined to respond forcefully to any violation — I have instructed the IDF, in coordination with the Prime Minister, to continue the intense activity of attacking Tehran to thwart regime targets and terrorist infrastructures," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. The Chief of the General Staff for Israel's military, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, announced earlier that: "In light of the severe violation of the ceasefire carried out by the Iranian regime, we will respond with force." Reuters cited Iran's semi-official ISNA student news agency as saying the Israeli claims of Iranian missile launches after the ceasefire began were false. The ISNA website was not immediately accessible, and there was no confirmation of that claim from Iranian officials publicly, but Iran's state-run Press TV network also said the country "denies launching missiles after the ceasefire took effect." Asked as he prepared to depart for a NATO summit in the Netherlands on Tuesday — and before he said Israel would not bomb Iran — if he believed Iran or Israel had violated the ceasefire, Mr. Trump told reporters that both had, though he said "not intentionally," and he was "not happy" with either nation. "Iran did. Israel did, too. I'm not happy with Israel. Don't go out first hour. Not happy with Iran, either," the president told reporters, adding that the two countries "have been fighting for so long, that they don't know what the f*** they're doing. You understand that?" In a separate message posted on his Truth Social network, Mr. Trump said: "ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!" Israel claims Iranian attacks after ceasefire, Iran denies it Israeli first responders said one Iranian missile hit the southern city of Beersheba on Tuesday morning, killing four people and wounding about 20 others. First Responders look at destruction caused by an Iranian missile strike in Beersheba, southern Israel, June 24, 2025. Ilia Yefimovich/picture alliance via Getty Later, at about 3:30 a.m. Eastern Time, sirens blared in northern Israel and the Israeli military said it had "identified missiles launched from Iran." "Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the IDF said. Mr. Trump had said on Truth Social, just after 1 a.m. ET Tuesday, that a ceasefire he announced earlier between the arch rivals, "IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!" In a statement, the Israeli government said that, "in light of achieving the objectives of the operation, and in full coordination with President Trump, Israel has agreed to the president's proposal for a bilateral ceasefire," adding a warning that Israel would "respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire." At about the same time, Iran's state-run media said the country had also started to abide by the ceasefire, following a "parting shot with multiple rounds of strikes" on Israel. But there was never any formal confirmation by Iranian officials, and Israel's military reported Iranian missile launches within a couple hours of the time the deal should have taken effect. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated earlier that Iran would respect the ceasefire, but only if Israel did the same. "There is NO 'agreement' on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations," Araghchi wrote in a post on X. "However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 a.m. Tehran time [8:30 p.m. Eastern], we have no intention to continue our response afterwards." He said a "final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later." Before Israeli alarms were heard in the north of the country, an IDF spokesperson said the ceasefire had gone into effect, but prior to that, Israel had attacked dozens of Iranian military targets throughout the night. The spokesperson said that before the ceasefire came into effect, about 20 missiles were fired from Iran towards Israel. How the ceasefire deal announced by Trump took shape Mr. Trump said Monday night that Israel and Iran had agreed to a "Complete and Total CEASEFIRE," a move he said would end the 12-day conflict between the two countries. The ceasefire would take hold in stages, the president said. A White House official told CBS News that Iran would halt strikes against Israel from midnight Eastern Time, and Israel was to stop striking Iran 12 hours after that, from noon ET on Tuesday. Another 12 hours after that, or at midnight ET on Wednesday morning, the war would be considered over. In another Truth Social post later Monday night, following the Iranian foreign minister's comments, Mr. Trump wrote, in part, that Israel and Iran "came to me, almost simultaneously, and said, 'PEACE!' I knew the time was NOW." Mr. Trump communicated directly with Netanyahu, while several other administration officials — Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff — communicated with Iran through direct and indirect channels, the White House official said. Qatar helped broker the deal, another White House official said. Mr. Trump had asked the Qatari Emir to get Iran to agree to a ceasefire. Vance coordinated with the Qatari prime minister on details, and Iran agreed to the ceasefire after speaking to the prime minister. The official said the direct talks with Iran occurred after Iran's strike on Al Udeid Air Base. At least 1,000 people killed in 12 days of Israel-Iran strikes The conflict between Israel and Iran began June 13, when Israel launched its first strikes against Iranian nuclear and military targets. The strikes — which killed several top Iranian military officials — prompted Iranian counterattacks on Israel. As of Tuesday, at least 974 people have been killed, including at least 387 civilians and 268 Iranian military personnel, in Israel's strikes on Iran, the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists in Iran said in a statement. The group relies on a network of contacts inside Iran for its information. Iranian authorities have not provided casualty figures since not long after the Israeli strikes began. Iran's missile attacks have killed at least 28 people in Israel since June 13, according to Israeli officials. The U.S. took military action against Iran over the weekend, striking three sites that are believed to be key to Iran's nuclear program. The move sparked fears of a wider war, but Iran's response on Monday was fairly limited. Iran fired more than a dozen missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar, most of which were intercepted, and no injuries were reported, U.S. and Qatari officials said. Iran called its response "devastating and powerful," but Mr. Trump called it "very weak." The president said in another social media post that he wanted "to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost." Drones hit bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops Iraqi army spokesperson Sabah Al-Naaman, in a statement quoted by the AP, said Tuesday that drones had hit military bases in the country, including some where American forces are stationed. Al-Naaman said a "treacherous and cowardly act of aggression" had damaged radar installations at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, and at the Imam Ali Base in Dhi Qar province in southern Iraq, not far from the Iranian border. The AP cited Al-Naaman as saying Iraqi forces intercepted drones fired at other locations. The AP cited a senior U.S. military official, whom it said was not authorized to comment publicly, as saying American forces had intercepted drones targeting the Ain al-Assad base in the western Iraq desert, and a base near Baghdad airport. There were no reports of casualties, and no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks. Iran-backed militias, often referred to as proxy groups, in Iraq had previously threatened to target U.S. bases in the region if the U.S. attacked Iran. In response to news of a ceasefire, IAEA director Rafael Mariano Grossi said on social media that he "welcome(d) the announcements on Iran situation. Resuming cooperation with (the IAEA) is key to a successful agreement. I've written to (Iran's foreign minister) stressing this step can lead to a diplomatic solution to the long-standing controversy over (Iran's) nuclear program and proposed to meet soon." , and contributed to this report.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Iran Casts Cease-Fire as Proof That Its Military Has Prevailed
Fresh from striking an American air base and then agreeing to a cease-fire with Israel, Iran claimed victory on Tuesday morning, saying that its attacks had pressured Israel into accepting a truce. 'Defeat of the Zionist enemy,' ran the chyron on Iran's state TV network as it broadcast news of the agreement Tuesday morning. State news agencies published a statement by the Iranian national security council saying that Tehran was 'imposing a cease-fire' on Israel by striking a U.S. air base in Qatar and other targets. The 12-day war began with a barrage of Israeli airstrikes on Iran that wiped out much of the Iranian military's top brass, and destroyed its air defenses and some of its nuclear and missile facilities. Subsequent Israeli attacks killed hundreds of Iranians, including children. And American airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites damaged, or may have destroyed, key parts of the country's nuclear program. Still, Iranian officials were casting the outcome of the conflict as a resounding triumph for Iran and a decisive loss for Israel — a positive spin on what officials privately said was a face-saving effort to retaliate while avoiding an unwinnable all-out war with the United States. In public, the tone was swaggering, emphasizing Iran's response: first, Iranian missile barrages into Israeli towns that sent Israelis ducking into bomb shelters, destroyed buildings and killed 28 people; then, the missile strike on Monday on the installation in Qatar, Al Udeid Air Base, which left no casualties. A retired Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps naval commander, Gen. Hossein Alaei, told ISNA, a state news agency, that Iran had been able not only to withstand Israeli attacks but also to hit targets in Israel and then launch an attack of its own devastating enough to force the United States to retreat. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
