Latest news with #Mullahs
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP, RJD spar over Tejashwi's waqf remarks
Patna: A fresh political confrontation erupted on Monday over leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav's controversial remark that he would throw the new waqf law "into the dustbin" if elected to power in Bihar. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The strongly criticised the statement, accusing the RJD-Congress-Left alliance of attempting to stir Muslim sentiments. In response, Tejashwi and his allies vowed to intensify their opposition to what they described as the BJP's "communal agenda". BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused Tejashwi of promoting anti-constitutional views and supporting the imposition of Sharia law. In his counter, Tejashwi defended his comments and drew a parallel with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's withdrawal of the farm laws. "Jo gair-samvaidhanik hai usko ekdam nahi lagoo hone denge. Kya Modi ji hin kuredan mein dal sakte hain?" he said while speaking to reporters in Jamui, reiterating that unconstitutional laws would not be allowed to take effect. Trivedi alleged that RJD and Congress leaders were more concerned with appeasing religious leaders than addressing minority welfare. "By bowing down before the Mullahs and Maulavis, they want to convert 'Samajwad' into 'Namazwad'. Pakke Namazwadi hain — RJD ho ya Congress — kitni tadap hain kathmulla voto ki pyaas mein. There are two choices before Bihar: an alliance that would push Sharia through the back door, and our government, which upholds Baba Saheb's Constitution," he said. Union minister Giriraj Singh also attacked the RJD leader and said, "The law passed by Parliament can only be opposed by people like these. Lalu Prasad, Tejashwi's father, drowned in corruption while promoting dynasty politics. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Bihar will never accept the imposition of Sharia laws." However, Tejashwi countered that the BJP's politics of religion and caste would not succeed. "We are descendants of Lord Krishna. If a person from the Yadav or backward community becomes the narrator of the Bhagavad Gita, BJP leaders want his head shaved. That is their true character," he claimed. He also questioned the BJP's legacy in the freedom struggle. "These people were slaves of the British," he alleged.
Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Iran's chances of building a nuke laid bare as horror alternative emerges
In recent weeks the rhetoric around Iran's nuclear weapons programme has grown in intensity, as the Iranians announced they had reached the 60% enrichment mark, which means there is only a small jump to weapons grade material. President Trump threatened to destroy it unless Tehran returned to the negotiation table – they didn't, and he did! In sum the 'hot' air stopped, the Mullahs did not negotiate, Trump unleashed the almighty power of the US military and 'obliterated', his words, the Iranian nuclear weapons programme. As the dust begins to settle around Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites, there is much hyperbole and 'guff' in my opinion being talked about the state of Tehran's nuclear weapons programme. Most of this is by some experts and commentators who do not appear to understand the physics around nuclear fusion and the dynamics required to create a nuclear explosion. Number one requirement is Uranium enriched to 90-95%, which they do not have – period. They may well have saved some of the 60% enriched material, some are reporting, but will require centrifuges, mostly destroyed, nuclear scientists, mostly killed and ballistic missiles, mostly used up, to create a viable nuclear weapon. Even the most optimistic Iranian supporters should concede this is now highly unlikely for a very long time. So, what could they do? They could try and make an 'Improvised nuclear device' using the uranium they have, something called a 'gun gadget device' to initiate a chain reaction and some sort of delivery means. ISIS and Al Qaeda tried this for years and got nowhere near to success, except alert the CIA and MI6 to their intensions and the subsequent apprehension of those involved. Finally, they could create a 'dirty bomb' from the remaining fissile material and blow it up to create radiological contamination, though I am unaware of a successful 'dirty bomb' ever having been used. If even ISIS and Al Qaeda did not try and use it as a means of mass terror, that is a pretty good indication that it would be a very damp squib. The inadequacies of the Iranian military have been so comprehensively exposed by the Israeli and now US attacks that it is little wonder that the Supreme Leader believed only nuclear weapons would give him a voice on the world stage. But Iran was the centre of the axis of evil and its proxies, Hezbollah, HAMAS and the Houthis have destabilised the Middle East for far too long, and a nuclear capable Iran would no doubt have blown us all to 'kingdom come'. So, maybe this time, at least, President Trump has got it right and if the Ayatollah has any concern for himself or his people, he will gallop towards Trump's negotiation table? Equally, hopefully Putin, having just witnessed the power of the US military and the non-existent Russian air defence on show in Iran, may trot towards a Ukrainian ceasefire and peace deal?
New York Post
23-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Dramatic footage shows Israel striking Iran's most notorious prison, blowing doors off its hinges
Israel struck Iran's most notorious prison in its latest airstrikes Monday, as dramatic footage showed a missile slamming into its entrance. The strike on Tehran's infamous Evin prison came as Israel also hit the headquarters of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards, the country's elite military force. A number of prisoners were able to escape the heavily fortified prison in Iran's capital where thousands of political prisoners, journalists, academics and human rights activists have been locked up since the Islamic Revolution in 1970, according to Iran International, an outlet that opposes Tehran's leadership. A shot of the prison before an Israeli air strike hit it. Storyful Moments after an Israeli strike hit the notorious prison in Tehran. Storyful Shocking security footage shows the strike blows the prison doors clean off their hinges, triggering a huge cloud of black smoke. The heavily fortified center in Iran's capital is where the Mullahs have kept thousands of political prisoners, journalists, academics and human rights activists locked up since the Islamic Revolution in 1970. Further Israeli strikes on Tehran have hit the headquarters of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards, the country's elite military force, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman said. Another strike hit a clock in Palestine Square in Tehran, which symbolically counted down to the 'destruction of Israel' and was installed by the regime in 2017, Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said.
Daily Record
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Iran's chilling warning to kill '50,000 US soldiers' as British military bases on high alert
Donald Trump ordered attacks on three Iranian nuclear bases at the weekend. Iran has said it will kill as many as 50,000 US soldiers as the British military remains on high alert for an attack in retaliation to the devastating strikes at Iranian bases. Mullahs in Tehran have asserted they are still a threat to the US and its allies in the Middle East and elsewhere, after Donald Trump bombed three nuclear sites last weekend, following strikes on the country by Israel. State television showed a map of American bases across the Middle East which could potentially be targeted by Iranian missiles due to being in close range, including those in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq, the Mirror reports. Its anchor Mehdi Khanalizadeh said: "It is now clearer than ever, not just for the Iranian nation but for the whole peoples of the region, that all US citizens and military personnel are legitimate targets. "We were negotiating and progressing through a diplomatic path, but you chose to spill the blood of your soldiers. The US president in the Oval Office chose to take delivery of the coffins of up to 50,000 US soldiers in Washington." The editor of the country's Keyhan newspaper also shared his own warning as part of the regime, writing: "It is now our turn to immediately rain missiles down on the US naval force in Bahrain as a first measure." However, US officials have also been defiant, announcing the attacks successfully wounded Iran's nuclear programme. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his praise to Trump for launching the assault he said would "change history" in preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. British officials have expressed caution, warning its military bases had been placed on high alert. Defence Secretary John Healey wrote in a column for The Telegraph: "The safety of UK personnel and bases is my top priority. Force protection is at its highest level, and we deployed additional jets this week." Senior defence officials have concerns Iran could launch devastating drone attacks on bases, following Ukraine's success in targeting Russian military sites, affecting 40 aircraft, some nuclear-capable. Sir Keir Starmer previously confirmed extra RAF fighter jets would be sent to the Middle East in an effort to enhance security at UK bases.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This week in Trumponomics: Waiting for the bomb
President Trump has a binary decision to make: Whether to join Israel's attacks on Iran or abstain. But the consequences, either way, will likely be unpredictable, messy, and possibly momentous. Markets have been blasé about the widening Middle East war that erupted on June 13 when Israel attacked Iranian nuclear weapon facilities and other targets. Stocks have barely flinched. Oil prices have drifted up, but at $75 per barrel, they're nowhere near crisis levels. The calm may be deceptive. 'The potential for major downside market surprise is more elevated than many would have it,' Terry Haines, founder of Pangaea Policy, wrote in a June 19 analysis. "Market volatility almost certainly will be larger and longer in duration than the usual geopolitical event that is contained quickly.' Trump started out talking tough about Iran's predicament, posting on social media on June 17 that he expected 'unconditional surrender' from the ruling mullahs. But Trump is clearly riven. His whole 'America first' governing theme is based on avoiding foreign entanglements, not embracing them. He calls himself a 'man of peace' and prides himself on negotiating savvy, not swordsmanship. The standoff has led to an increasingly familiar Trump tactic: delay. Trump now says he'll decide by July 4 or so whether to aid Israel in its quest to destroy Iran's nuclear program and prevent it from getting atomic weapons. During its first week of bombing, Israel was able to knock out much of Iran's air defense network, destroy many missile launchers, damage some nuclear facilities, and assassinate a number of Iranian military leaders. It's a humiliation for a nation with nine times the population of Israel and a fanatical regime that says the destruction of Israel is a foundational Israel apparently can't do, however, is destroy the Fordow nuclear complex, which is buried at least 250 feet beneath a mountain 60 miles south of Tehran. The only conventional weapon with a good shot of reaching that deep is the US GBU-57 'massive ordnance penetrator' bomb, which is so big that only American bomber jets can carry it. So Trump has to decide whether to unleash a wave of B-2 bombers over Iran with the mission to demolish the Fordow complex. Armchair generals might see this as a simple one-and-done job. It's anything but. Iran would likely retaliate, threatening some 40,000 American service members stationed in the Middle East and possibly seeking to close the Hormuz Strait, a way station for 20% of the world's petroleum. Trump needs a couple of weeks to think it over. But he's also seeking a way to get Iran to agree to limit its nuclear program through negotiations, which would fulfill his 'man of peace' declaration and avert a US war with Iran that could leave Americans dead and badly mar Trump's presidency. This explains some of Trump's manic-sounding social media posts regarding Iran. Bellicose Trump threatened to assassinate Iranian leader Ali Khameini, saying, 'We know exactly where the so-called 'supreme leader' is hiding. He is an easy target.' He also said 'everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran,' as if American weapons were about to obliterate a megacity as densely populated as New York. Yet, Reasonable Trump has been urging Iran to accept a deal he's been working on since he took office in January. A Trump deal is only necessary because Trump scuttled the last deal with Iran, which former President Barack Obama finalized in 2015. Under that deal, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear weapons development in exchange for relief from punishing economic sanctions. Trump withdrew the United States from that deal, saying it was too soft on Iran. But he never got a better deal. The Obama deal was imperfect, to be sure. But all of Iran's recent progress on nuclear weapons came after Trump pulled out in 2018, and Iran may now be within weeks or months of building a nuke it could launch at Israel. Trump may now think Iran is in a can't-win position. Israel represents not just the threat of force, but actual force that degrades Iranian capabilities each day. That lets Trump play the good cop, whose supposed nuclear deal offers a way for Iran to escape Israeli pummeling. And with the massive ordnance penetrator in his back pocket, Trump can threaten even worse punishment than Israel is delivering. But Iran still might not cave. It could relocate much of its nuclear material and gird for the destruction of Fordow. Some analysts estimate Iran could reconstitute its nuclear program within a year or two, especially if it forswears any cooperation with weapons monitors or nonproliferation regimes. Iran could also try to snooker Trump into a sweetheart deal, hoping he'll grasp at anything he can claim as a victory. If nothing much changes by the end of Trump's two-week decision window, will dropping the big bomb be Trump's default position? Not necessarily. Trump could simply delay a decision by another two weeks or find some other formulation for basically doing nothing. Delay, in fact, is becoming Trump's go-to tactic. Trump has thrice delayed the date by which social media platform TikTok must sell itself to a non-Chinese buyer or go dark in the United States. Congress passed a law requiring that last year, but it did give the president the leeway of postponing enforcement, and Trump has taken advantage of it. The new deadline is Sept. 17. Trump also delayed the 'reciprocal' tariffs on dozens of nations reaching, in some cases, into the high double digits. Trump postponed those until July 9, saying that he expected to negotiate dozens of trade deals by then that would obviate the need for tariffs. As the deadline draws near, however, there have been hardly any announced deals. A buoyant stock markets suggest that investors think Trump will delay those tariffs yet again. But Trump also risks losing credibility with his counterparts if he always delays and never makes good on his threats. If Trump doesn't get the job done with Iran, the Islamic theocracy could hobble along as a wounded but dangerous combatant willing to take bigger risks. Trump will look like a bluffer who brags about a giant bomb he's afraid to use. He might discover that keeping America out of foreign wars doesn't make the nation better off, after all. Rick Newman is a senior columnist for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Bluesky and X: @rickjnewman. Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow's stock prices.
