Latest news with #Pezeshkian
CNA
9 hours ago
- Politics
- CNA
Iran holds state funeral for top brass slain in war with Israel
TEHRAN: Iran held a state funeral service on Saturday (Jun 28) for around 60 people, including its military commanders, killed in its war with Israel, after Tehran's top diplomat condemned Donald Trump's comments on supreme leader Ali Khamenei as "unacceptable". The proceedings started at 8am local time (0430 GMT) in the capital Tehran as government offices and many businesses were closed on Saturday for the occasion. "The ceremony to honour the martyrs has officially started," state TV said, showing footage of people donning black clothes, waving Iranian flags and holding pictures of the slain military commanders. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as well as other senior government officials, also attended the event. Images showed coffins draped in Iranian flags and bearing portraits of the deceased commanders in uniform near Enghelab Square in central Tehran. The United States had carried out strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites last weekend, joining its ally Israel's bombardments of Iran's nuclear programme in the 12-day conflict launched on Jun 13. Both Israel and Iran claimed victory in the war that ended with a ceasefire, with Iranian leader Khamenei downplaying the US strikes as having done "nothing significant". In a tirade on his Truth Social platform, Trump blasted Tehran on Friday for claiming to have won the war. He also claimed to have known "EXACTLY where he (Khamenei) was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces... terminate his life". "I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH, and he does not have to say, 'THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!'" the US leader said. Trump added he had been working in recent days on the possible removal of sanctions against Iran, one of Tehran's main demands. "But no, instead I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust, and immediately dropped all work on sanction relief, and more," Trump said. Hitting back at Trump Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the Republican president's comments on Khamenei. "If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran's Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei," Araghchi posted on social media platform X. "The Great and Powerful Iranian People, who showed the world that the Israeli regime had NO CHOICE but to RUN to 'Daddy' to avoid being flattened by our Missiles, do not take kindly to Threats and Insults." The Israeli strikes on Iran killed at least 627 civilians, Tehran's health ministry said. Iran's attacks on Israel killed 28 people, according to Israeli figures. "HISTORIC" STATE FUNERAL The ceremony in Tehran "to honour the martyrs" will be followed by a funeral procession to Azadi Square, about 11km across the sprawling metropolis. Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of Tehran's Islamic Development Coordination Council, vowed it would be a "historic day for Islamic Iran and the revolution". Among the dead is Mohammad Bagheri, a major general in Iran's Revolutionary Guards and the second-in-command of the armed forces after the Iranian leader. He will be buried alongside his wife and daughter, a journalist for a local media outlet, all killed in an Israeli attack. Nuclear scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, also killed in the attacks, will be buried with his wife. Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami, who was killed on the first day of the war, will also be laid to rest after Saturday's ceremony -- which will also honour at least 30 other top commanders. Of the 60 people who are to be laid to rest after the ceremony, four are children. "IMMINENT THREAT" During his first term in office, Trump pulled out in 2018 of a landmark nuclear deal -- negotiated by former US president Barack Obama. The deal that Trump had abandoned aimed to make it practically impossible for Iran to build an atomic bomb, while at the same time allowing it to pursue a civil nuclear programme. Iran, which insists its nuclear programme is only for civilian purposes, stepped up its activities after Trump withdrew from the agreement. After the US strikes, Trump said negotiations for a new deal were set to begin next week. But Tehran denied a resumption, and leader Khamenei said Trump had "exaggerated events in unusual ways", rejecting US claims Iran's nuclear programme had been set back by decades. Israel had claimed it had "thwarted Iran's nuclear project" during the 12-day war. But its foreign minister reiterated on Friday that the world was obliged to stop Tehran from developing an atomic bomb. "The international community now has an obligation to prevent, through any effective means, the world's most extreme regime from obtaining the most dangerous weapon," Gideon Saar wrote on X.
OC Media
a day ago
- Politics
- OC Media
Pezeshkian ‘urges' Aliyev to investigate if Israel used Azerbaijani territory to attack Iran
Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member Azerbaijan, Iran, Israel, Azerbaijan-Iran relations, Azerbaijan-Israel relations Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has 'urged' his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev to investigate if Israel used Azerbaijani territory to launch attacks on Iran. According to an official Iranian statement, Pezeshkian and Aliyev spoke on the phone on Thursday, during which Pezeshkian 'called for the investigation and verification of reports suggesting that [Israeli] drones and micro air vehicles may have utilised Azerbaijan's airspace to carry out attacks in Iran'. Nonetheless, the Iranian readout of the call said that Pezeshkian fell short of outright accusing Azerbaijan, and also added several conciliatory messages towards Baku, including that Pezeshkian had 'thanked the Azerbaijani government and nation for their support and solidarity with Iran during the aggression by [Israel]'. In turn, according to the Iranian statement, Aliyev 'expressed regret over [Israel's] aggression', and 'unequivocally condemned the strikes and reaffirmed that it will not permit its airspace to be exploited against [Iran], adding that Azerbaijan maintains full control and sovereignty over its skies'. Aliyev also 'denied rumors about the Israeli regime's use of Azerbaijan's airspace for attacking Iran, stating that the Azerbaijani government absolutely does not allow its skies to be used against friendly and brotherly neighbour', the Iranian statement continued. The official Azerbaijani statement on the phone call was markedly different in content, with no mention of Pezeshkian's calls for Baku to investigate. Advertisement 'President Ilham Aliyev reiterated Azerbaijan's position regarding the recent confrontation between Iran and Israel and voiced the country's concern over rising tensions in the region', the statement read. 'The Azerbaijani leader congratulated President Pezeshkian on achieving a ceasefire and halting the Iran-Israel confrontation, underlining the importance of peace and stability for the region. President Pezeshkian expressed his gratitude for the condolences', the statement continued, with the rest of it containing pleasantries about the need for ongoing bilateral cooperation. Pezeshkian's calls to investigate were the most explicit comments on the swirling accusations coming from Iran in recent weeks following the unprecedented escalation between Iran and Israel, which saw both sides exchanging missile fire. Given the nature of the Israeli attacks, and the apparent presence of Israeli security forces within Iran before the beginning of the strikes, many have speculated that Azerbaijan may have been involved, particularly given Baku's close relations with Tel Aviv. As the accusations mounted, Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmat Hajiyev took to Twitter, calling them 'entirely unfounded and fabricated'.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Fought Bravely...': Iran President Lauds Iranian Public and Forces After 12-Day War With Israel
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hailed the military for defending the country during the war with Israel. Speaking at a weekly cabinet meeting on June 25, Pezeshkian said, "The efforts of our dear military, security forces, army, IRGC, Basij, and people to defend our nation have, in my opinion, created another chapter of bravery and empathy." Watch this video to know more. Read More
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Truce holds amid reports of limited ‘damage' to Iran's nuclear plans
dpa Tel Aviv/Tehran A fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel appeared to be holding in the 24 hours following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a truce, as media reported that US attacks in Iran have only set back Tehran's nuclear programme by a few months. An initial intelligence evaluation suggests that the weekend's US bombardment failed to destroy Iran's underground nuclear facilities, the New York Times, the Washington Post and CNN reported on Tuesday. The media outlets cited officials familiar with the military intelligence report from the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Trump claimed that the US attacks at the weekend destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Natanz and Fordow and described the strikes as a death blow to Iran's nuclear programme. That attack came after Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iranian targets on June 13, saying it aims to prevent the country from building a nuclear weapon, a charge Tehran has consistently denied. Iran retaliated with waves of missile and drone strikes on Israel. There have been deaths and casualties on both sides. The DIA report said only the entrances to the deeply buried facility in Fordow were destroyed, while the underground structures themselves remained intact, according to US media. The five-page report also suggests that Iran had already moved its stockpile of enriched uranium to other locations before the attacks, the newspapers reported. CNN reported that the attack had set back Iran's nuclear programme 'by only a few months at most.' The New York Times estimated the delay to be less than six months, while the Post said the delay was 'by only a number of months.' White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, in a post on X, criticized the publication of the report, which she said was leaked to CNN by a 'low-level loser in the intelligence community.' Leavitt called the assessment 'flat-out wrong' and said the leak was designed to 'demean President Trump and discredit' the military pilots who 'conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran's nuclear program.' 'Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.' In Tehran, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed a return to normal life for his country, declaring in a televised address on Tuesday evening an end to the 12-day war. Pezeshkian described the conflict as a 'terrorist attack' that came while Iran was seeking diplomatic dialogue with the United States. 'The enemies violated their commitments and launched an attack during negotiations - a betrayal that history will not forget,' he said. In a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Pezeshkian expressed Iran's readiness to resolve differences with the US 'within the framework of international norms,' signalling openness to a resumption of nuclear negotiations, according to the presidential office. He also welcomed the support of regional partners, including Oman, which recently mediated nuclear discussions between Tehran and Washington. Qatar also played a role in brokering the ceasefire, acting at the request of the US. However Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reaffirmed Iran's intention to continue its nuclear programme. Despite Trump's ceasefire announcement, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir stressed that the campaign against arch-rival Iran was not over. 'We have concluded a significant phase, but the campaign against Iran is not over,' Zamir said in a statement on Tuesday, without elaborating on future plans.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
The Islamic Republic's authority is a casualty of its war with Israel
Over a week has passed since the war between Israel and the Islamic Republic began, with hostilities now paused in a fragile ceasefire. Senior regime officials who haven't been killed are nowhere to be seen. There is no trace of the fiery speeches made by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders to crowds of 'millions'. Public statements have been reduced to a few remarks by Abbas Araghchi, a handful of MPs, and Mohsen Rezaei – the perennial presidential candidate who did not even make it onto Israel's assassination list. Since the war started, there have only been two pre-recorded messages from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, delivered from an undisclosed location, both promising continued war and further destruction. Meanwhile, Masoud Pezeshkian, the Islamic Republic's president – who failed to implement even basic safety measures like shelters or warning sirens – dismissed the threat by saying Israel will be 'pitiful'. At the same time, his spokesperson urged citizens to ignore Israel's evacuation and attack warnings. State broadcaster IRIB, the regime's main propaganda tool, even aired footage of Israeli strikes on Iran while falsely presenting it as footage of Iran's missile attacks on Israel. This was after IRIB's headquarters came under attack. This dark comedy truthfully depicts a regime that, after 46 years of threats, repression and killing its own people, has dragged its defenceless hostage citizens into war. The crumbling of the Islamic Republic's edifice is now seen not only by Iranians but by its neighbours and the wider world. And this is truly could be a point of no return. A regime that called itself the 'superpower of the region' and claimed its proxies would set the Middle East ablaze should it come under attack, has left its own west, east, south, north and centre completely unprotected for over a week. At the same time, it launched missiles at Israeli civilian areas, effectively inviting more airstrikes on Iranian soil. These Israeli attacks, regardless of how precisely they target the Islamic Republic's military, security or nuclear assets, inevitably harm ordinary people. Millions of Iranians experienced their second war [after the horrors of the Iran-Iraq war in the 80s]. In a blackout caused by deliberate internet and phone disruptions, they wait, anxious and distressed, hoping for a future of a free and prosperous Iran. Even the youngest generations have not been spared the nightmare of war under this regime. This war brings the end of the Islamic Republic closer than ever. And that ending began when the Iranian people rose up nationwide, rejecting both the reformists and hardliners of the Islamic Republic, as Independent Persian has documented. CBS reports that Western diplomats are privately discussing a post-Islamic Republic future and potential replacements. Some major media outlets, which have been deliberately ignoring figures like Prince Reza Pahlavi for four decades, have begun to shift their stance. Time magazine, which featured Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi on its cover just months before their downfalls, has now chosen a fading image of Ali Khamenei for its latest cover. Saddam was captured by US forces nine months after his Time cover, on December 13, 2003, hiding in a hole underground. But in reality, his regime began to end twelve years earlier when he invaded Kuwait and was met with Operation Desert Storm – a US-led coalition that decimated Iraq's infrastructure. The gap between Gaddafi's Time magazine cover and his death at the hands of protesters was just six months. Although Time never featured Bashar al-Assad on its cover before his downfall, his was a different fate. The Syrian president – a close ally of the Islamic Republic and recipient of billions of dollars taken from the Iranian people – fled to Russia in the dead of night at the last moment, leaving even his closest allies stunned and bewildered. Whether the war between Israel and the Islamic Republic results in the regime's collapse or Tehran officials manage to find a lifeline in the shaky ceasefire, the image of the Islamic Republic – and of the Middle East – will never return to what it was before the early hours of Friday, June 13. The true victors of this war are the people of Iran.
