63 h. ago Nuclear talks ‘a trap’? North Korea doubts US intentions after Iran bombing

When the US bombed Iran’s nuclear sites last month, Washington may have inadvertently sent Pyongyang the clearest signal yet that relinquishing its nuclear arsenal could expose North Korea to the very attacks it aims to avoid. Political analysts say Washington’s hardline approach to Iran’s uranium enrichment has only cemented the North Korean leadership’s deep-seated conviction that nuclear weapons are the ultimate deterrent. Compounding this, as Pyongyang has forged closer strategic bonds with...

Events

5 d. ago Japanese angered by Trump’s Iran strike comparison to atomic bombings

Japanese leaders and survivors of the atomic bombings have denounced President Donald Trump’s comparison of the US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities to the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, describing his remarks as deeply inappropriate and historically insensitive. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki condemned Trump’s comments, saying the use of nuclear weapons was “unacceptable” no matter the circumstances – a lesson that should be self-evident from the...

Events

6 d. ago US Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities Deliver Stark Message to Beijing

US Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities Deliver Stark Message to Beijing  Vision Times

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7 d. ago Will the US strikes on Iran push China to ramp up its nuclear arms programme?

Instead of crushing Tehran’s nuclear programme, Israeli and US strikes on Iranian facilities in the past week might have dealt a blow to international nuclear non-proliferation efforts. Analysts warned that the attacks might not only encourage Iran to accelerate its nuclear weapon programme, but also prompt countries such as China and North Korea to expand their deterrence efforts. The pre-emptive strikes also risked setting a precedent for US adversaries to justify similar action against any...

Events

7 d. ago China should be alert to risk of US being drawn into war by allies, analyst says

There is more risk of a global military conflict breaking out under Donald Trump’s leadership, with the US more likely to be drawn into wars involving smaller nations or allies, according to Chinese analysts. The assessment came after the United States joined Israel’s war against Iran last weekend, carrying out military strikes on three nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic. US officials have signalled that the operation was a one-off intervention and – hours after Iran launched a missile attack...

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8 d. ago Trump, at Nato summit, defends US strikes on Iran nuclear facilities

US President Donald Trump rejected media reports that US air strikes only partly damaged Iran’s nuclear facilities as “fake news” on Wednesday, maintaining his claim that the targeted sites had been “obliterated”. Speaking to reporters during the Nato summit in The Hague, Trump said that the US had carried out a “massive” precision strike on Saturday against Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities. “It was very, very successful. It was called obliteration. No other military on earth could’ve done...

Politics

8 d. ago Trump defends US strikes on Iran nuclear facilities at Nato summit

US President Donald Trump rejected media reports that US air strikes only partly damaged Iran’s nuclear facilities as “fake news” on Wednesday, maintaining his claim that the targeted sites had been “obliterated”. Speaking to reporters during the Nato summit in The Hague, Trump said that the US had carried out a “massive” precision strike on Saturday against Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities. “It was very, very successful. It was called obliteration. No other military on earth could’ve done...

Politics

9 d. ago Did US strikes wipe out Iran’s nuclear facilities? Chinese experts sceptical

Chinese defence experts expressed scepticism about US President Donald Trump’s claim that air strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s biggest nuclear facilities, following reports that core components of Tehran’s nuclear assets remained intact. CNN reported on Tuesday that an assessment by the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon’s intelligence arm, was at odds with Trump’s claim that Iran’s enrichment sites – Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan – were “completely and totally obliterated”. While the full...

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9 d. ago White House clarifies Trump’s comment on China buying Iranian oil

US President Donald Trump’s declaration on Tuesday that China “can now continue” to buy Iranian oil did not signal a change in Washington’s policy on banning such trade, the White House said. Trump’s earlier comments about China-Iran oil trade were made to highlight the continuation of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz - a critical shipping lane that appeared threatened by the escalation of conflict in the Middle East following the US military’s air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, according...

Politics

1 week ago Should Taiwan worry about the US being bogged down in the Mideast again?

A US war in the Middle East could leave its armed forces stretched too thin to respond swiftly to a Taiwan Strait crisis, analysts on the island warned after the US launched multiple precision strikes on nuclear-related sites in Iran on the weekend. While US President Donald Trump was quick to describe the operation as a “very successful attack”, defence analysts and lawmakers in Taipei suggested that American attention could be diverted from the Taiwan Strait. Their core concern: that the...

Politics

1 week ago Should Taiwan worry about the US being bogged down in the Middle East again?

A US war in the Middle East could leave its armed forces stretched too thin to respond swiftly to a Taiwan Strait crisis, analysts on the island warned after the US launched multiple precision strikes on nuclear-related sites in Iran on the weekend. While US President Donald Trump was quick to describe the operation as a “very successful attack”, defence analysts and lawmakers in Taipei suggested that American attention could be diverted from the Taiwan Strait. Their core concern: that the...

Politics

1 week ago Russia, China warn of broader conflict after US strikes Iran’s nuclear sites

Russia, China warn of broader conflict after US strikes Iran’s nuclear sites  Straight Arrow News

Events

1 week ago Iran attacks US military base in Qatar, after vowing response to strikes on nuclear sites

The Middle East crisis has intensified after Iran struck back against the United States following recent US actions targeting its nuclear programme. This critical development escalates an already volatile situation, building on weeks of rising tensions between arch-rivals Iran and Israel – and now, Israel’s key ally, the United States. Since June 13, Israel and Iran have exchanged wave after wave of devastating and deadly strikes. Israel launched its aerial campaign asserting that Tehran is on...

Events

1 week ago Trump thanks Iran for ‘early notice’ after attacks US military base in Qatar

The Middle East crisis appeared to widen after Iran struck back against the United States by firing missiles at an American military base in Qatar, a development that built on weeks of rising tensions between arch-rivals Iran and Israel – and now, Israel’s key ally, the US. The scale of Iran’s attacks on Monday were limited, and an earlier report of a missile targeting a US base in Iraq on Monday turned out to be false, sending key stock market indices higher and oil prices lower. And, US...

Events

1 week ago Trump claims Israel, Iran agree to ceasefire to be phased in over 24 hours

US President Donald Trump claimed that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire that is meant to take effect in 24 hours, a dramatic change in direction just hours after the Middle East crisis appeared to widen. Earlier on Monday, Iran struck back against the United States by firing missiles at an American military base in Qatar, a development that built on weeks of rising tensions between arch-rivals Iran and Israel – and now, Israel’s key ally, the US. The scale of Iran’s attacks on Monday...

Politics

1 week ago Trump claims Israel, Iran agree to ceasefire amid reports of renewed bombing

US President Donald Trump claimed that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire that is meant to take effect in 24 hours, a dramatic change in direction just hours after the Middle East crisis appeared to widen. Earlier on Monday, Iran struck back against the United States by firing missiles at an American military base in Qatar, a development that built on weeks of rising tensions between arch-rivals Iran and Israel – and now, Israel’s key ally, the US. Shortly after Trump’s ceasefire...

Politics

1 week ago Israel’s defence minister orders attacks on Iran after ceasefire ‘violation’

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday he had ordered the army “to respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire” after incoming Iranian missiles were reported by the military. Hours earlier, Israel and Iran accepted a ceasefire plan proposed by US President Donald Trump. Trump announced on Monday that Israel and Iran have agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” that is meant to take effect in 24 hours, a dramatic change in direction just hours after the Middle East...

Politics

1 week ago Trump’s ceasefire plan in doubt as Israel accuses Iran of ‘violation’

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday he has ordered the army “to respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire” after the military reported incoming Iranian missiles. This came despite an agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump, which Iran, however, denied violating. The dramatic ceasefire plan was announced by Trump on Monday, stating Israel and Iran had agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” set to take effect within 24 hours. This marked a significant...

Politics

1 week ago China ‘unlikely to take decisive role’ as US bombing of Iran tests influence

Even as US air strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities put China’s influence to the test in the strategically important region, most observers expect Beijing to avoid direct intervention of any kind. They said Beijing was likely to instead focus on diplomatic support for Tehran as the US became more entangled in the Israel-Iran conflict. US bombing over the weekend reportedly damaged three of Iran’s nuclear facilities, marking the most significant Western military action against Tehran since the...

Events

1 week ago US and Israel defend military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites at UN

US and Israel defend military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites at UN  Euronews.com

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