4 h. ago Trump and Netanyahu aim to remake the Middle East with bombs. Iran shows why that will always fail | Sina Toossi

The US has rashly followed Israel into a war that will not end Iran’s nuclear programme or topple its governmentSina Toossi is a senior non-resident fellow at the Center for International PolicyThe joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend – targeting nuclear facilities, infrastructure and symbolic state institutions – reflect the bankruptcy of a decades-long approach to Iran that has hinged on pressure, coercion and destabilisation. This latest gambit appears less a strategic gamechanger than a desperate bid to regime-change Iran and prop up a rickety regional status quo built around unchecked Israeli dominance.The timing of Israel’s initial surprise attack on 13 June was no coincidence. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu – who has long sought to sabotage any prospect of US-Iran detente – appears to have steamrolled Donald Trump into the escalation he has always wanted. The result looks like a trap: Trump, once again, manoeuvred into a destabilising Middle East con...

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6 h. ago Why is Iran’s nuclear programme so essential to its identity?

Why does a country with large oil reserves feel such a need to have home-grown civil nuclear energy?Middle East crisis – live updatesIn October 1978, two leaders of the Iranian opposition to the British-backed shah of Iran met in the Paris suburbs of Neauphle-le-Château to plan for the final stages of the revolution, a revolution that after 46 momentous and often brutal years may now be close to expiring.The two men had little in common but their nationality, age and determination to remove the shah from power. Karim Sanjabi, the leader of the secular liberal National Front, was a former Sorbonne-educated professor of law. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was the leading Shia opponent of the Iranian monarchy since the 1960s. Both were in their 70s at the time. Continue reading...

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9 h. ago Stopping Iran’s nuclear programme ‘a good thing’, says Downing Street

A spokesman added that the Government’s focus is on diplomacy.

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10 h. ago Voices: Donald Trump’s gamble in Iran is bad news for the ‘Axis of Autocracies’

United by little more than a hatred of the US-led world order, Russia, China and North Korea are in no doubt that the attacks on Iran’s nuclear programme pose a threat to their marriage of convenience, says Luke McGee

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11 h. ago Iran makes chilling vow to kill '50,000 US soldiers' as British sites on high alert

US President Donald Trump warned if Iran does not stop its nuclear enrichment programme and strike a deal for peace that regime change could be a distinct possibility

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12 h. ago Former UK Ambassador to Iran says Britain has always wanted 'lasting solution' to Iran's growing Nuclear weapons programme

It comes after US President Donald Trump sensationally called for regime change, suggesting a new leader could 'Make Iran Great Again'.

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27 h. ago US says it inflicted ‘severe damage’ on Iran’s nuclear programme

White House hopes to avert military and political backlash

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30 h. ago Iran strikes back: Foreign minister brands Trump a 'lawless bully' who 'betrayed diplomacy' after US blew up three nuclear bases in overnight strike

In a press conference after the strikes, US President Donald Trump said he had 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear weapons programme, and warned of the possibility of more attacks to come.

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30 h. ago How effective was the US attack on Iran’s nuclear sites? A visual guide

Trump claims the assault ‘totally obliterated’ the key facilities, but what do we know about its impact?Middle East crisis – latest updatesDonald Trump was quick to claim that US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities had “completely and totally obliterated” them. Still, it remains unclear how much physical damage has been done or what the longer-term impact might be on Iran’s nuclear programme. Continue reading...

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31 h. ago Keir Starmer warns of ‘risk of escalation’ after US strikes against Iran

It comes after US planes and submarines attacked Iran's nuclear programme

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32 h. ago Global alarm at US strikes on Iran amid fears conflict could spiral out of control

Politicians express ‘grave concern’ and urge all parties to de-escalate and return to talks on Iran’s nuclear programmeMiddle East crisis – latest updatesNations in the Middle East and beyond responded with alarm after US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday night as the EU and the UN called for immediate diplomacy, amid mounting fears that the war could trigger a wider escalation that could spiral out of control.Qatar, which hosts the biggest US military base in the Middle East, said on Sunday that it feared there could be serious repercussions regionally and internationally. Continue reading...

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3 d. ago Middle East crisis live: Ministers from Europe and Iran to hold talks; UN warns of ‘man

Ministers from UK, France and Germany will meet Abbas Araqchi after White House says Trump will ‘make a decision on whether to attack Iran within two weeks’Trump sets deadline of two weeks to decide if US will join Israel’s war on IranLiving in Iran: how have you been affected by the recent conflict?Living in Israel: how have you been affected by the recent conflict?The French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot has spoken to the US secretary of state Marco Rubio ahead of a meeting in Geneva between foreign ministers from the UK, France and Germany and their Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi.The Geneva meeting is aimed at creating a pathway back to diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear programme. Continue reading...

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4 d. ago Iran's leader 'cannot continue to exist', Israeli minister declares, as Putin and Xi team up to urge Trump to stay out of conflict

US President Donald Trump has reportedly approved plans for an American attack, though he is yet to give the go ahead, urging Iran to consider abandoning its nuclear programme.

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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 Bunker buster bombs: The American weapon which could spell the end of Iran’s nuclear sites

Experts believe only Washington has the weapons capable of halting Iran’s nuclear programme

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5 d. ago Israel’s gamble on force could push Iran to accelerate nuclear plans

Experts say the strikes have delayed Tehran’s bomb-making by months – but may undermine chances of a diplomatic solutionIn just a few days of war, Israel has killed more than a dozen of Iran’s top nuclear scientists, taken out much of its top military hierarchy and attacked key parts of its nuclear programme.It has been a powerful display of Israeli military and intelligence dominance, but has not critically damaged Iran’s widely dispersed and heavily protected nuclear programme, Israeli military commanders and international nuclear proliferation experts agree. Continue reading...

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5 d. ago Israeli strikes have not knocked out Iran’s nuclear programme

Experts say the strikes have delayed Tehran’s bomb-making by months – but may undermine chances of a diplomatic solutionIsrael-Iran conflict: live updatesIn just a few days of war, Israel has killed more than a dozen of Iran’s top nuclear scientists, taken out much of its top military hierarchy and attacked key parts of its nuclear programme.It has been a powerful display of Israeli military and intelligence dominance, but has not critically damaged Iran’s widely dispersed and heavily protected nuclear programme, Israeli military commanders and international nuclear proliferation experts agree. Continue reading...

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6 d. ago Netanyahu speaks of regime change in Iran. But it’s not the same as regime destruction

Israeli president has no interest in Iran’s future beyond weakening and destabilising a regional rival Middle East crisis – live updatesOn Sunday, in an interview with Fox News, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, pontificated on a theme he has become increasingly attached to in recent years: that Israel under his leadership would not simply attempt to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes through military attack, but in the process usher in regime change in Tehran.The government in Tehran, he said, was “very weak”, adding that given the opportunity, “80% of the people would throw these theological thugs out”. Continue reading...

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6 d. ago Netanyahu speaks of regime change in Iran; what he means is regime destruction

Israeli prime minister has no interest in Iran’s future beyond weakening and destabilising a regional rivalMiddle East crisis – live updatesOn Sunday, in an interview with Fox News, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, pontificated on a theme he has become increasingly attached to in recent years: that Israel under his leadership would not simply attempt to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes through military attack, but in the process usher in regime change in Tehran.The government in Tehran, he said, was “very weak”, adding that given the opportunity, “80% of the people would throw these theological thugs out”. Continue reading...

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6 d. ago What is a bunker buster bomb? US weapon could be key to destroying Iran’s nuclear sites

Experts believe only Washington has the weapons capable of halting Iran’s nuclear programme

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