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The National
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
‘No winners': Iranian Nobel laureate mourns civilian toll of Israel-Iran war
Both Iran and Israel were quick to claim victory after 12 days of war that killed 627 people in Iran and 28 in Israel. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared 'victory over the fallacious Zionist regime' in a message posted on his X account on Thursday. Meanwhile, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed 'a great victory' and praised what he called a valiant fight against Iran. While leaders were eager to issue vitriolic declarations, civilians have been the ones to bear the brunt of the conflict, Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi told The National. 'In war, there are no winners. Both sides, and especially innocent civilians, lose,' Ms Ebadi said in an interview. Ms Ebadi is a vocal human rights activist and a staunch critic of Iran's Shiite clerical establishment. She was one of the country's first female judges but was dismissed following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Israel launched unprecedented air strikes on Iran on June 13, declaring its goal was to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran, which was negotiating with the US on a deal to contain its nuclear programme, responded with missile barrages and drones. The tit-for-tat attacks escalated over nearly two weeks until US President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire this week. Amnesty International denounced the conflict as a 'reckless military action' in which civilians paid a 'cruel' price and said both countries had repeatedly shown disregard for international human rights and humanitarian law. 'I'm very sorry that in this war civilians were killed in both countries, Iran and Israel,' Ms Ebadi said. 'And I am also very upset to see that the bombing has destroyed much of Iran's infrastructure because even if this regime is toppled, the cost of rebuilding the country is going to be on the shoulders of the people.' She expressed fear that the conflict might restart in the absence of long-term solution towards peace. 'Unfortunately, I must say that I believe the situation is fragile, and there is a real possibility the war could resume,' she said. Although the ceasefire has held so far, questions about the path forward remain unanswered. Iran's uranium enrichment programme, which Tehran has expanded significantly while insisting it is for civilian purposes only, continues to be a point of contention. Iran has rejected the US and Israel's demand that it hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, a component in nuclear weapons, and stop its enrichment programme. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had no plans to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States. While both countries managed to save face, with Israel claiming to have set back Iran's nuclear programme by years, and the Iranian regime remaining in power, the core issue remains unresolved. In an opinion article published in the French daily Le Monde during the war, Ms Ebadi and other prominent Iranians called for Iran to immediately stop its enrichment programme, and for a halt to attacks on infrastructure and to the massacre of civilians in both countries. Regime change Some Iranians in opposition groups exiled abroad had hoped Israel's military campaign might weaken Iran enough to trigger mass protests and lead to the regime's overthrow. Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, openly acknowledged on Wednesday that his country sought to target Iran's supreme leader. Ms Ebadi believes that a process leading to the eventual collapse of the Islamic Republic has already begun. But in a region where foreign intervention has often gone wrong, she insists that regime change must come from within Iran – and not through Israeli bombs. 'The fate of the Iranian people must be determined by the Iranian people themselves. Over the years, they organised many protests and stood up to this regime. Unfortunately, they have led to extreme crackdowns by the regime's forces,' she said. The most recent uprising was the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in 2022, during which millions demanded an end to gender-based discrimination. The demonstrations were met with a violent response from the authorities. Ms Ebadi spent months in Tehran's infamous Evin prison in 2000, where many political activists and dissidents are imprisoned. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize three years later and has been living in self-imposed exile in London since 2009. 'Only the people of Iran have the right to determine Iran's future,' she said, and called for a free referendum under UN supervision. 'History has shown that governments challenged by their people eventually fall.'
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
‘He reminds me of Raul': Xabi Alonso lauds young Real Madrid striker after Club World Cup win
Real Madrid beat RB Salzburg 3-0 in Philadelphia to secure top spot in Group H and earn their sport in the knockout rounds of the Club World Cup. Goals by Vinicius Junior, Federico Valverde and Gonzalo Garcia secured a comfortable success and it was Garcia who came in for special praise from manager Xabi Alonso after the game. 'I'm not just happy with his goal and assist,' Alonso revealed after the game. 'But also with how he came back to help in defence and his effort in pressing. 'He had freedom in attack and worked well with Gonzalo. Many players left the pitch feeling good. I'm really happy for him and the whole team, but we know the journey is still long.' 'What he's doing doesn't surprise me at all,' added the coach. 'He's shown it many times with Castilla. He's a classic number nine who waits for the right moment and moves smartly. 'He reminds me of Raul with his movements. I'm very happy for him. But there are no decisions yet about next season.' 21-year-old Garcia, a former Spain U19 international, top scored for Castilla last season with 25 goals and had already hit the target in the Club World Cup, scoring in the 1-1 draw with Al-Hilal last week. Alonso also had praise for Vinicius Jr, who made an assist in addition to his goal, saying: 'He had freedom in attack and worked well with Gonzalo. Many players left the pitch feeling good. I'm really happy for him and the whole team, but we know the journey is still long.' Kylian Mbappe is possible for Tuesday's round of 16 clash with Juventus, Alonso describing his chances of lining up as 'optimistic', while he also reported that Antonio Rudiger had cramp post-match and his condition was nothing more sinister than that. Of his midfield players, the Real manager has been impressed by both Arda Guler and Jude Bellingham and said: 'With Jude between the lines, we can create superiority. Arda plays deeper, controls well, and links nicely with the defenders.' However, Alonso would not be drawn on the return of Brazilian forward Endrick, who is missing the Club World Cup due to a hamstring injury. The manager confirmed he is joining the squad for training while they are in the United States.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Ireland outclassed in Denver as miserable record against United States continues
United States 4 (Patterson 18, Coffey 45+4, Lavelle 53, Thompson 63) Republic of Ireland 0 Sixteen meetings, 16 defeats, the Republic of Ireland 's record against the United States failed to take a turn for the better in Denver in the early hours of Friday morning. Two goals in each half gave the States a comfortable victory, one that would have been by a greater margin but for the goalkeeping of Courtney Brosnan who was made captain on the occasion of her 50th cap. The States took the lead on 18 minutes when a napping Irish defence failed to close down Rose Lavelle after a corner was played short to her, Avery Patterson heading home her cross. Sam Coffey doubled that lead on the stroke of half-time when more slack defending allowed her glide in on the left of the box and place the ball in the bottom right corner. Eight minutes in to the second half, Lavelle, returning to the side after six months out following ankle surgery, made it 3-0 at the end of a neat move down the right, the World Cup winner turning home Ally Sentnor's cross. And the scoring was completed in the 63rd minute, Alyssa Thompson skipping past Jessie Stapleton on the halfway line, charging up the left wing before curling the ball past Brosnan. It was an utterly dominant display by an experimental States side, head coach Emma Hayes giving debuts to two players, goalkeeper Claudia Dickey and defender Lily Reale, and starts to four more players who have less than 10 caps to their names. They did, though, have Chelsea's Naomi Girma, the world's most expensive woman player, at the heart of their defence alongside the 109-capped Emily Sonnett, as well as the experienced Lavelle and Coffey in midfield. READ MORE USA's Rose Lavelle scores her side's third goal of the game past Courtney Brosnan. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho It was the first time in two years that an Irish side featured neither captain Katie McCabe nor midfielder Denise O'Sullivan, the former allowed skip this trip after a gruelling season, the latter suffering from a knee injury she picked up when playing for North Carolina Courage last weekend. Megan Campbell was also unavailable after suffering an ankle injury in training. Ward gave Chloe Mustaki her first start in three years, the Bristol City player posted at left-back, but it was a largely experienced side, Stapleton, Anna Patten and Caitlin Hayes completing the back four. Ruesha Littlejohn, winning her 90th cap, played alongside Megan Connolly in midfield, while Emily Murphy, Kyra Carusa and Lucy Quinn were tasked with providing the ammunition for striker Amber Barrett. In the end, Ireland could only muster two shots on goal on a night that saw them struggle with the heat almost as much as the opposition, sloppy passing hardly helping their cause. Tyler Toland and Abbie Larkin replaced Littlejohn and Quinn at half-time, Saoirse Noonan, Marissa Sheva and debutante Erin Healy introduced later, but a crowd of just over 18,000 witnessed one-way traffic for the bulk of the game. The sides meet again on Sunday in Cincinnati, the game kicking off at the Irish time of 8pm in the evening. The stats hardly augur well for that contest – thus far: played 16, lost 16, scored one, conceded 55. United States : Claudia Dickey; Avery Patterson (Gisele Thompson 59), Emily Sonnett, Naomi Girma (capt, Jordyn Bugg 73), Lilly Reale; Sam Coffey, Claire Hutton, Rose Lavelle (Olivia Moultrie 59); Michelle Cooper (Lynn Biyendolo 73), Ally Sentnor (Yazmeen Ryan 86), Alyssa Thompson (Emma Sears 86). Republic of Ireland : Courtney Brosnan (capt); Jessie Stapleton, Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Mustaki (Izzy Atkinson 90); Megan Connolly, Ruesha Littlejohn (Tyler Toland 46); Emily Murphy (Saoirse Noonan 65), Kyra Carusa (Marissa Sheva 64), Lucy Quinn (Abbie Larkin 46); Amber Barrett (Erin Healy 75). Referee : Vimarest Diaz (Dominican Republic).
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Replay: Truce and threats, what's next in the Israel-Iran conflict?
As all sides claim victory, including the US, a panel of The National's correspondents and editors shares its take on what has happened since the 12-day war began, and weighs in on what could come next. US bureau chief Thomas Watkins, Jerusalem correspondent Thomas Helm, Arab Affairs editor Vanessa Ghanem and Istanbul correspondent Lizzie Porter joined Trending Middle East podcast host Yasmeen Altaji for a live discussion, answering questions from the audience.
LBCI
2 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Netanyahu sees chance to 'enlarge peace accords' after Iran-Israel war
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he saw an opportunity to "enlarge peace accords" after the end of a 12-day war against Iran. "We have fought with determination against Iran and achieved a great victory. This victory opens the path to dramatically enlarge the peace accords," he said in a video address. His comment was an apparent reference to the Abraham Accords, U.S.-sponsored agreements struck by Israel to normalize relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. AFP
