6 h. ago Predicting Trump is 'fool's game' as retaliation may bring 'more war', warns expert

EXCLUSIVE: Tensions in the Middle East are steadily rising further, but as Israel and Iran continue to exchange fire, one expert says trying to work out what Trump will do next is impossible

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12 h. ago 'In a bunker' Iran Supreme Leader must avoid 'catastrophic mistake' of escalating war, warns David Lammy

The Foreign Secretary is stressing that that the Middle East, and beyond, is at a ‘moment of peril’

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29 h. ago The Guardian view on Trump bombing Iran: an illegal and reckless act | Editorial

The US president has chosen war at Israel’s behest. He may imagine he has scored an easy win, but the world is likely to pay a steep priceDonald Trump was predictably quick to claim victory following the illegal US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities: “Completely and totally obliterated,” he crowed. Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel and sycophants at home rushed to fawn over his “courageous” and “brilliant” decision. The most senior US military official, Dan Caine, offered a more muted assessment: it was “way too early” to know the full outcome despite severe damage. We cannot yet know whether the blow has ended Iran’s nuclear aspirations – or will spur it to pursue the bomb. It may be weeks or months, too, before Iranian retaliation plays out, with all its potential repercussions.Two nuclear-armed states have gone to war on the unevidenced claim that a third state is on the verge of acquiring its own nuclear arms. In March, the US director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, said I...

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38 h. ago What a difference a week makes: Trump falls into the Netanyahu trap

People were starting to laud the US president for his resistance to the Israeli PM’s pull, but what now?Middle East crisis – live updatesWhen he was elected, Donald Trump suggested he could hammer out a new relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister who was used to getting his way with the White House. But after just over 150 days in office, it appears Trump has fallen into the same trap as his predecessors – and launched the most consequential strike on Iran in generations.From early suggestions that the Trump administration would rein in Netanyahu’s military ambitions, it now appears that the Israeli PM has manoeuvred the US into striking Iranian uranium enrichment sites directly after a series of military attacks that Washington was unable to deter the Israeli PM from. And the US is now bracing for a retaliation that could easily bring it into a full-scale war. Continue reading...

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40 h. ago From shipping, to proxies, to targeting US bases, Iran’s options to strike back are limited

Trump has warned of broader US involvement in Israel’s war if Iran attempts to strike back against US military sites in the regionFull report: Trump says US has attacked three Iranian nuclear sitesLive coverage: Iran strikes Israel after US attackIran had sought to deter Donald Trump from joining Israel’s bombing campaign with dire threats of retaliation, but its options now are limited and fraught with risk.Iranian officials have said specifically that US ships and military bases would be targeted, but much of the capacity it had relied on as a deterrent has been stripped away over the past few days by Israeli strikes. Those strikes however, have focused on long-range ballistic missile launchers. Iran still has a formidable arsenal of shorter-range missiles and drones. Continue reading...

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44 h. ago Top Republican turns on Trump after 'unconstitutional' strikes on Iran as MAGA warns against starting World War III

'This is not Constitutional,' wrote Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who last week made preparations to introduce a resolution under the War Powers Act.

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55 h. ago Donald Trump issues Nobel Peace Prize warning as he makes 'violent war' claim

US President Donald Trump has taken credit for a spate of peace deals in recent weeks, most recently claiming to have ended a 'violent' conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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69 h. ago Trump warns Iran could launch nuclear war in 'weeks' as it's pummelled with Israeli bombs and city is hit by 5.1 earthquake

LIVE UPDATES: The quake, which Iran's Tasnim news agency said measured 5.2, struck at a depth of six miles some 23 miles southwest of the city of Semnan, the US Geological Survey said.

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3 d. ago Trump warns Iran could launch nuclear war in 'weeks' as it's pummelled with Israeli bombs and city is struck by 5.1 earthquake: Live updates 

LIVE UPDATES: The quake, which Iran's Tasnim news agency said measured 5.2, struck at a depth of six miles some 23 miles southwest of the city of Semnan, the US Geological Survey said.

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3 d. ago Israel warns of ‘prolonged war’ with Iran as conflict enters second week

Israeli military chief says ‘difficult days’ ahead as salvo of ballistic missiles trigger air raid sirens across countryIsrael-Iran conflict – live updatesIsrael’s military has warned of a “prolonged war” with Iran as the conflict entered its second week with no sign of stopping, as Israeli forces targeted Tehran and other areas while an Iranian missile attack wounded many people in the Mediterranean port city of Haifa.The Israeli military said its aircraft destroyed Iranian surface-to-air missiles in southern Iran, as well as killing a group of Iranian military commanders responsible for missile launches. According to the IDF, the strikes prevented the launch of missiles scheduled for later that evening. Continue reading...

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3 d. ago Charlie Kirk warns Lindsey Graham and Iran war hawks: ‘Not even the Romans could defeat Persia’

‘Now, I’m not saying they’re comparable to our Marines or to our Air Force, but is that really the battle that we want in front of us?’ Charlie Kirk wondered on Newsmax.

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4 d. ago Ministers urged to publish legal advice on UK involvement in Israel

Calls follow news that attorney general advised government to limit its involvement to defending alliesUK politics live – latest updatesMiddle East crisis – live updatesMinisters are facing calls to publish legal advice given to the government on Israel’s war against Iran after reports emerged that the attorney general had warned that any UK involvement beyond defensive support would be illegal.Richard Hermer, the government’s most senior legal officer, is said to have raised concerns internally about the legality of joining a bombing campaign against Iran. Continue reading...

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4 d. ago UK interest rates expected to remain on hold; rate cuts in Norway, Switzerland and the Philippines – business live

Central bankers warn that trade war worries, and conflict in the Middle East, could hurt growthNewsflash: We have a third interest rate cut this morning!Norway’s central bank has surprised analysts by cutting its policy rate by a quarter of one percentage point, to 4.25%. The rate had been set at 4.5% since December 2023.“Inflation has declined since the monetary policy meeting in March, and the inflation outlook for the coming year indicates lower inflation than previously expected.A cautious normalisation of the policy rate will pave the way for inflation to return to target without restricting the economy more than necessary.”“The uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook is now greater than normal. If the economy takes a different path than currently envisaged, the policy rate path may be adjusted. But our objectives stand firm. We will finish the job and ensure that inflation is brought all the way back to 2 percent.”The Monetary Board also noted indications of a deceleratio...

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4 d. ago Attorney general warns UK joining war on Iran may be illegal

Lord Hermer is said to have cautioned against British engagement unless UK personnel are targeted

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4 d. ago Rachel Reeves is waging 'war on aspiration' and killing off growth with taxes, business leaders warn

Billionaire Sir James Dyson, in a blistering attack on Labour , yesterday accused the Government of being 'out to destroy' and punish wealth and job creators.

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5 d. ago Sneak attack Iran could use on AMERICA: urgent warning as war threatens to spiral out of control

As the conflict in Iran reaches a critical tipping point for the US, analysts have issued an urgent warning that an attack on America is not just possible, it's likely.

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5 d. ago Trump undecided on joining war on Iran as Khamenei warns him not to attack

‘I may do it, I may not do it,’ US president says as Tehran reportedly prepares to strike US bases in responseDonald Trump said he had not decided whether or not to take his country into Israel’s new war, as Iran’s supreme leader said the US would face “irreparable damage” if it deployed its military to attack.Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel had made a “huge mistake” by launching the war, in his first comments since Friday. “The Americans should know that any US military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage,” he said in a statement read out by a presenter on state TV. Continue reading...

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5 d. ago Iran defies warnings to 'surrender’ as US gears up for war again

United States war machine gears up to join Israeli air attacks on Iran's nuclear programme and military sites as region hurtles towards all-out war and Iran defies White House command to 'surrender'

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5 d. ago Israel blitzes Iran suburb where Ayatollah is 'hiding in bunker' but Trump now refuses to say if US will join war after Russia warned him not to

Israel has launched new attacks across Tehran near to where Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding in an underground bunker.

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5 d. ago Iran threatens US with ‘irreparable damage’ if Trump joins war

Ayatollah Khamenei says his country will not surrender, as reports say it is preparing missiles to strike US basesIran’s supreme leader rejected US calls for surrender and warned that joining the war would lead to “irreparable damage”, as Israel ramped up rhetoric about regime change and ordered civilians to evacuate a district in Tehran.Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also said Israel made a “huge mistake” by launching the war, in his first comments since Friday. Continue reading...

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