Latest news with #pro-Iranian
Japan Forward
2 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Forward
Make Ceasefire Permanent, Ask Iran to End Nuclear Program
このページを 日本語 で読む United States President Donald Trump announced that the warring nations of Israel and Iran have agreed to a "complete and total ceasefire." According to US media reports, Qatar had mediated the ceasefire plan. It officially took effect at 7:00 AM local time on Tuesday, June 24. Trump said he thought the ceasefire would "last permanently," although uncertainty remains. We urge both Israel and Iran to exercise maximum restraint, adhere to the ceasefire, and bring the war to an end. Black smoke rises from the Iranian state broadcasting headquarters following an attack by Israeli forces in Tehran on the 16th (©Kyodo) Israeli aircraft began attacking Iranian nuclear facilities and other military targets on June 13. Their stated intention was to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran retaliated with ballistic missiles fired at Israel. Although Israel maintained the upper hand, it could not seriously damage Iran's nuclear facilities. Then, on June 21, the US dropped bunker buster bombs on three of Iran's nuclear facilities. In the background, Iran had quickly and significantly increased its store of uranium fuel enriched to 60%, "a short technical step away" from weapons-grade levels, reported the Associated Press, quoting from a May 31 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report. There was concern that Tehran would be able to enrich this stock of uranium to 90% quickly to produce nuclear weapons. Moreover, Iran has explicitly stated it does not recognize Israel's right to exist as a state. There were fears that if Iran acquired nuclear weapons, it could use them to attack Israel, either directly or by using pro-Iranian militant proxies. That in turn could set off a nuclear war. Trump delivered a short speech immediately after the B-2 bombers dropped the bunker busters. In it, he urged Iran to make peace quickly, framing it as a choice between "peace or tragedy." The Trump administration has not hesitated to use force. Fairly speaking, it has pushed the Iranian leadership into a corner ー if the ceasefire holds. People gather near a damaged site, hauling a destroyed vehicle away, after what Syrian and Iranian media described as an Israeli air strike on Iran's consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus April 1, 2024. (©REUTERS/Firas Makdesi However, we must be cautious about Iran's actions going forward. There are likely forces within the Iranian military and the Revolutionary Guard who undoubtedly harbor a desire for retaliation. They would not likely take kindly to such a one-sided thrashing. The same holds true for pro-Iranian militant groups. Military and terrorist attacks would not be surprising. Concerns also remain that Iranian hardliners could block the Strait of Hormuz. That narrow neck of water is a major artery for global shipments of crude oil, including those bound for Japan. Alternatively, they could attack US naval vessels or tankers belonging to Western nations. Japan and Europe must urge Iran to exercise restraint. The most important thing is to eliminate the root cause of the war. We would like to see Iran declare that it will not become a nuclear weapons power. It must cooperate with IAEA inspections and agree to the destruction of its uranium-enrichment facilities. The Iranians must also turn over to the IAEA any highly enriched uranium they might be concealing. Withdrawing from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as some in the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Iranian Parliament) are calling for, or other such actions, must not happen. Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
As the US struck Iran, the prospect for retaliation was high in Iraq, but didn't happen
When United States forces struck three Iranian nuclear facilities last Sunday, concern rippled through the population of neighbouring Iraq, where pro-Iranian militias wield much influence and the majority of the people, like in Iran, are Shia Muslims. The prospect for retaliation in Iraq against the United States briefly loomed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Homeland Security Issues One of Its Strongest Terrorism Warnings Yet for U.S.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued one of its most serious public warnings to date, alerting Americans to a "heightened threat environment" following recent U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The bulletin, released Sunday morning and now publicly available, does not cite specific planned attacks but outlines several emerging concerns. Among them: potential cyberattacks by pro-Iranian groups, possible retaliatory violence, and a spike in antisemitic hate crimes. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized the importance of transparency during this volatile moment. "It is our duty to keep the nation safe and informed, especially during times of conflict," she said in a statement. This marks the latest escalation in a growing conflict that began when Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on June 13. Days later, the United States joined the offensive, targeting three nuclear facilities in what is described as a mission to eliminate "the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror." Iran responded with a barrage of missiles and drones, causing hundreds of casualties. In turn, U.S. officials are warning that the conflict could now inspire independent actors within the homeland. The bulletin notes that U.S. law enforcement has disrupted multiple Iranian-backed plots since 2020—and that the current crisis may motivate more. Perhaps most concerning, the document highlights the potential for Iran's leadership to issue a religious ruling calling for violence against the United States, a move that would "almost certainly" raise the risk of domestic attacks. Federal agencies are ramping up security nationwide. The NYPD confirmed increased deployments around religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites across New York City. Meanwhile, the State Department issued a global travel advisory Monday, urging Americans abroad to exercise caution amid growing anti-U.S. sentiment. Though the advisory notes that there are currently no active plots, the government is treating the risk as urgent and evolving. In a world where threats can emerge with little notice, the warning is clear: vigilance matters now more than Security Issues One of Its Strongest Terrorism Warnings Yet for U.S. first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 23, 2025
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Another warning for the US on Iran and Israel ceasefire collapse: Hackers may go back to work on ....
Hackers aligned with Iran have reportedly launched cyberattacks on U.S. banks, defense contractors, and oil companies in response to American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, but these efforts have not yet caused significant disruptions to critical infrastructure or the economy. According to a report by news agency AP, hackers backing Tehran have targeted U.S. banks, defense contractors and oil industry companies following American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities — but so far have not caused widespread disruptions to critical infrastructure or the economy. However, experts warn that a collapse of the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, or actions by independent pro-Iranian hacking groups, could escalate the digital conflict. "If the ceasefire breaks down, we could see more aggressive cyberattacks," said Arnie Bellini, a tech entrepreneur and CEO of Bellini Capital, as quoted by AP. Bellini emphasized that cyberattacks are far less costly than traditional warfare, highlighting America's vulnerability due to its reliance on digital systems. "We're militarily dominant, but digitally, we're like Swiss cheese," he told the news agency. According to the report, two pro-Palestinian hacking groups claimed responsibility for targeting over a dozen U.S. aviation, banking, and oil firms with denial-of-service attacks following the strikes. The group Mysterious Team announced on Telegram, "We increase attacks from today," urging other hackers to join, per researchers at SITE Intelligence Group. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ductless Air Conditioners Are Selling Like Crazy [See Why] Keep Cool Click Here Undo The Department of Homeland Security issued a warning on June 22 about heightened Iranian cyber threats, while the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) urged critical infrastructure operators to remain vigilant, AP reports. Though Iran's cyber capabilities lag behind those of China or Russia, it has a history of using cyberattacks for espionage and disruption, often acting as a "chaos agent," according to Ziv Mador of Trustwave's SpiderLabs. Independent hacker groups, some loosely tied to Iranian agencies, pose a persistent threat. The report notes that Trustwave has identified over 60 such groups, capable of causing economic and psychological damage, as seen in past attacks like the 2023 hack of an Israeli emergency alert app falsely warning of a nuclear missile. Iran may also intensify efforts to spy on U.S. leaders, claims the AP report, citing last year's charges against three Iranian operatives for attempting to hack Donald Trump's campaign. "They're likely focusing on intelligence collection to predict U.S. or Israeli moves," Jake Williams, a former NSA expert, said as quoted by the report. Experts stress the need for stronger cyber defenses. Bellini, who donated $40 million to a new cybersecurity center at the University of South Florida, described the situation as a "new arms race" to AP, comparing it to "Wile E. Coyote vs. the Road Runner—a back-and-forth that never ends."
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Iran's Missile Strike Leaves Housing Society In Israel's Be'er Sheva In Ruins
Curated By : Shankhyaneel Sarkar Last Updated: June 24, 2025, 16:07 IST Emergency personnel work at an impacted residential site, following a missile attack from Iran on Israel, amid the Israel-Iran conflict, in Be'er Sheva, Israel. (IMAGE: REUTERS) At least four people were killed and more than 22 injured after an Iranian missile struck a residential building in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba early Tuesday morning, hours before a planned ceasefire was set to take effect. Footage circulating on social media showed extensive damage to the upper floors of the apartment block in Beersheba, with parts of the structure visibly collapsed and debris strewn across the street below. The aerial video, shared most likely by pro-Iranian accounts, was captioned as showing 'great destruction" in the 'occupied city of Beersheba." Israeli rescue teams were seen sifting through rubble as emergency crews worked to clear the site. The attack was part of a coordinated pre-dawn barrage in which Iran fired six missile salvos targeting central, northern and southern Israel. The first wave began shortly after 5 am, with sirens sending millions into bomb shelters across the country. In Beersheba, two missiles were launched at 5:40 a.m. One was intercepted, while the other struck the sixth floor of a relatively new apartment complex. The missile impact caused part of the structure to collapse and damaged multiple floors. According to a preliminary assessment by Israel's Home Front Command, the missile penetrated two reinforced bomb shelters—rooms specifically built to withstand such attacks. Both rooms were occupied and one of them was completely destroyed, leading to fatalities inside. Swipe Left For Next Video View all The strike came just before the 7am ceasefire was due to begin, following announcements from both Iran and Israel that they had agreed to the truce. However, missile launches resumed shortly before 10:30 am, prompting Israeli officials to warn of a strong military response. Be'er Sheba, often considered the capital of southern Israel, lies roughly 75 km southwest of Jerusalem and about 1,600 km from Tehran. It has a population of around 210,000 and is one of the country's fastest-growing cities. While it is a major administrative and commercial hub for Israel's Negev region, Palestinians and pro-Palestinian voices often refer to it as part of historic Palestine. Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More News world Iran's Missile Strike Leaves Housing Society In Israel's Be'er Sheva In Ruins | Watch
