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Category: Government of India

  • US strikes on Iran leave hopes for nuclear diplomacy in tatters

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran, Israel, United States, Donald Trump, missile strikes, nuclear sites,Iran, Israel, United States, Donald Trump, missile strikes, nuclear sites,In a bid to defuse the conflict over Iran’s nuclear program, foreign ministers from Europe’s top three powers hurried to meet their Iranian counterpart on Friday in Geneva.

    Those hopes collapsed on Saturday when U.S. President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on Iran’s three main nuclear sites, in support of Israel’s military campaign.

    “It’s irrelevant to ask Iran to return to diplomacy,” Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi, visibly angry, told reporters in Istanbul on Sunday, promising a “response” to the U.S. strikes. “It’s not time for diplomacy now.”

    Trump, who said the U.S. airstrikes “obliterated” the sites, warned in a televised speech on Saturday the U.S. could attack other targets in Iran if no peace deal was reached and urged Tehran to return to the negotiating table.

    Reuters spoke to seven Western diplomats and analysts who said the prospect of negotiations was negligible for now, with an unbridgeable gap between Washington’s demand for zero enrichment by Iran and Tehran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear program.

    “I think the prospects of effective diplomacy at this point are slim to none,” said James Acton, co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a think tank headquartered in Washington.

    “I’m much more worried about escalation, both in the short and the long term.”

    According to European diplomats, the three European allies – Britain, France and Germany – were not made aware of Trump’s decision to strike Iran ahead of time. French President Emmanuel Macron had promised on Saturday – just before the U.S. strikes – to accelerate the nuclear talks, following a call with his Iranian counterpart.

    One European diplomat, who asked not to be identified, acknowledged there was now no way of holding a planned second meeting with Iran in the coming week.

    In the wake of the U.S. military action, any European diplomatic role appears likely to be secondary. Trump on Friday dismissed Europe’s efforts towards resolving the crisis, saying Iran only wanted to speak to the United States.

    Three diplomats and analysts said any future talks between Iran and Washington would likely be through regional intermediaries Oman and Qatar, once Tehran decides how to respond to the U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

    The attacks leave Iran with few palatable options on the table. Since Israel began its military campaign against Iran on June 13, some in Tehran have raised the prospect of withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to signal Iran’s determination to accelerate enrichment, but experts say that would represent a considerable escalation and likely draw a forceful response from Washington.

    Acton, of the Carnegie Endowment, said Iran’s most obvious means for retaliation is its short-range ballistic missiles, that could be used to target U.S. forces and assets in the region. But any military response by Iran carried the risk of miscalculation, he said.

    “On the one hand, they want a strong enough response that they feel the U.S. has actually paid a price. On the other hand, they don’t want to encourage further escalation,” he said.

    EUROPEAN EFFORT ENDED IN FAILURE

    Even before the U.S. strikes, Friday’s talks in Geneva showed little sign of progress amid a chasm between the two sides and in the end no detailed proposals were put forward, three diplomats said. Mixed messaging may have also undermined their own efforts, diplomats said.

    European positions on key issues like Iran’s enrichment program have hardened in the past 10 days with the Israeli strikes and the looming threat of U.S. bombing.

    The three European powers, known as the E3, were parties to a 2015 nuclear deal that Trump abandoned three years later during his first term.

    Both the Europeans and Tehran believed they had a better understanding of how to get a realistic deal given the E3 have been dealing with Iran’s nuclear programme since 2003.

    But the Europeans have had a difficult relationship with Iran in recent months as they sought to pressure it over its ballistic missiles programme, support for Russia and detention of European citizens.

    France, which was the keenest to pursue negotiations, has in the last few days suggested Iran should move towards zero enrichment, which until now was not an E3 demand given Iran’s red line on the issue, two European diplomats said.

    Britain has also adopted a tougher stance more in tune with Washington and that was expressed in Geneva, the diplomats said. And Germany’s new government appeared to go in the same direction, although it was more nuanced.

    “Iran has to accept zero enrichment eventually,” said one EU official.

    A senior Iranian official on Saturday showed disappointment at the Europeans’ new stance, saying their demands were “unrealistic”, without providing further details.

    In a brief joint statement on Sunday, which acknowledged the U.S. strikes, the European countries said they would continue their diplomatic efforts.

    “We call upon Iran to engage in negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all concerns associated with its nuclear program,” it said, adding the Europeans stood ready to contribute “in coordination with all parties”.

    David Khalfa, co-founder of the Atlantic Middle East Forum, a Paris-based think tank, said Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s government had taken advantage of the Europeans for years to gain time as it developed its nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities.

    “The European attempt ended in failure,” he said.
    However, the Europeans still have one important card to play. They are the only ones who, as party to the nuclear accord, can launch its so-called “snapback mechanism”, which would reimpose all previous UN sanctions on Iran if it is found to be in violation of the agreement’s terms.

    Diplomats said, prior to the U.S. strikes, the three countries had discussed an end-August deadline to activate it as part of a ‘maximum pressure’ campaign on Tehran.

    “MULTIPLE CHANNELS” FOR U.S. TALKS

    In total, the U.S. launched 75 precision-guided munitions, including more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles, and more than 125 military aircraft in the operation against the three nuclear sites, U.S. officials said.

    US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday warned Iran against retaliation and said both public and private messages had been sent to Iran “in multiple channels, giving them every opportunity to come to the table.”

    Five previous rounds of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran collapsed after a U.S. proposal at the end of May called for Iran to abandon uranium enrichment. It was rejected by Tehran, leading to Israel launching its attack on Iran after Trump’s 60-day deadline for talks had expired.

    Iran has repeatedly said from then on that it would not negotiate while at war.

    Even after Israel struck, Washington reached out to Iran to resume negotiations, including offering a meeting between the Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Istanbul, according to two European diplomats and an Iranian official.

    That was rebuffed by Iran, but Araqchi did continue direct contacts with US Special envoy Steve Witkoff, three diplomats told Reuters.

    One of the challenges in engaging with Iran, experts say, is that no-one can be sure of the extent of the damage to its nuclear program. With the IAEA severely restricted in its access to Iranian sites, it is unclear whether Tehran has hidden enrichment facilities.

    A senior Iranian source told Reuters on Sunday most of the highly enriched uranium at Fordow, the site producing the bulk of Iran’s uranium refined to up to 60%, had been moved to an undisclosed location before the U.S. attack there.

    Acton, of the Carnegie Endowment, said that – putting aside from the damage to its physical installations – Iran had thousands of scientists and technicians involved in the enrichment program, most of whom had survived the U.S. and Israeli attacks.
    “You can’t bomb knowledge,” said Acton.

    (Reuters)

  • Satellite images indicate severe damage to Fordow, but doubts remain

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Commercial satellite imagery indicates the U.S. attack on Iran’s Fordow nuclear plant severely damaged – and possibly destroyed – the deeply-buried site and the uranium-enriching centrifuges it housed, but there was no confirmation, experts said on Sunday.

    “They just punched through with these MOPs,” said David Albright, a former U.N. nuclear inspector who heads the Institute for Science and International Security, referring to the Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-busting bombs that the U.S. said it dropped. “I would expect that the facility is probably toast.”

    But confirmation of the below-ground destruction could not be determined, noted Decker Eveleth, an associate researcher with the CNA Corporation who specializes in satellite imagery. The hall containing hundreds of centrifuges is “too deeply buried for us to evaluate the level of damage based on satellite imagery,” he said.

    To defend against attacks such as the one conducted by U.S. forces early on Sunday, Iran buried much of its nuclear program in fortified sites deep underground, including into the side of a mountain at Fordow.

    Satellite images show six holes where the bunker-busting bombs appear to have penetrated the mountain, and then ground that looks disturbed and covered in dust.

    The United States and Israel have said they intend to halt Tehran’s nuclear program. But a failure to completely destroy its facilities and equipment could mean Iran could more easily restart the weapons program that U.S. intelligence and the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) say it shuttered in 2003.

    ‘UNUSUAL ACTIVITY’

    Several experts also cautioned that Iran likely moved a stockpile of near weapons-grade highly enriched uranium out of Fordow before the strike early Sunday morning and could be hiding it and other nuclear components in locations unknown to Israel, the U.S. and U.N. nuclear inspectors.

    They noted satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showing “unusual activity” at Fordow on Thursday and Friday, with a long line of vehicles waiting outside an entrance of the facility. A senior Iranian source told Reuters on Sunday most of the near weapons-grade 60% highly enriched uranium had been moved to an undisclosed location before the U.S. attack.

    “I don’t think you can with great confidence do anything but set back their nuclear program by maybe a few years,” said Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. “There’s almost certainly facilities that we don’t know about.”

    Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat and member of the Senate intelligence committee who said he had been reviewing intelligence every day, expressed the same concern.

    “My big fear right now is that they take this entire program underground, not physically underground, but under the radar,” he told NBC News. “Where we tried to stop it, there is a possibility that this could accelerate it.”

    Iran long has insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

    But in response to Israel’s attacks, Iran’s parliament is threatening to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the cornerstone of the international system that went into force in 1970 to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, ending cooperation with the IAEA.

    “The world is going to be in the dark about what Iran may be doing,” said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association advocacy group.

    ‘DOUBLE TAP’

    Reuters spoke to four experts who reviewed Maxar Technologies satellite imagery of Fordow showing six neatly spaced holes in two groups in the mountain ridge beneath which the hall containing the centrifuges is believed to be located.

    General Dan Caine, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that seven B-2 bombers dropped 14 GBU-57/B MOPs, 30,000-pound precision-guided bombs designed to drive up to 200 feet into hardened underground facilities like Fordow, according to a 2012 congressional report.

    Caine said initial assessments indicated that the sites suffered extremely severe damage, but declined to speculate about whether any nuclear facilities remained intact.

    Eveleth said the Maxar imagery of Fordow and Caine’s comments indicated that the B-2s dropped an initial load of six MOPs on Fordow, followed by a “double tap” of six more in the exact same spots.

    Operation Midnight Hammer also targeted Tehran’s main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, he said, and struck in Isfahan, the location of the country’s largest nuclear research center. There are other nuclear-related sites near the city.

    Israel had already struck Natanz and the Isfahan Nuclear Research Center in its 10-day war with Iran.

    Albright said in a post on X that Airbus Defence and Space satellite imagery showed that U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles severely damaged a uranium facility at Isfahan and an impact hole above the underground enrichment halls at Natanz reportedly caused by a Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-busting bomb that “likely destroyed the facility.”

    Albright questioned the U.S. use of cruise missiles in Isfahan, saying that those weapons could not penetrate a tunnel complex near the main nuclear research center believed to be even deeper than Fordow. The IAEA said the tunnel entrances “were impacted.”

    He noted that Iran recently informed the IAEA that it planned to install a new uranium enrichment plant in Isfahan.

    “There may be 2,000 to 3,000 more centrifuges that were slated to go into this new enrichment plant,” he said. “Where are they?”

    (Reuters)

  • Amit Shah chairs key anti-Naxal meetings in Chhattisgarh, lays foundation stone for forensic institutes

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday chaired two high-level meetings in Raipur to review and strengthen anti-Naxal strategies in Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Odisha. The meetings included an Inter-State Security Coordination session with top police officials from the seven Naxal-hit states and a review of the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) situation in Chhattisgarh.

    Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma, the Union Home Secretary, Director of the Intelligence Bureau, and other senior officials were present during the discussions.

    Praising the efforts of the state leadership, Shah said the biggest achievement of the Sai government over the past 18 months has been the revival of stalled anti-Naxal operations. He credited both the CM and Deputy CM for injecting new momentum into the campaign, boosting the morale of security forces, and showing committed leadership in the fight against extremism.

    Confidently outlining the Centre’s target, Shah asserted that India will be completely free of Naxalism by March 31, 2026. “This monsoon, Naxals won’t be able to rest as usual—our forces will continue operations with full strength,” he said.

    He also urged youth involved in Naxal activities to surrender and benefit from the state’s rehabilitation policy, calling on them to rejoin mainstream society and become part of Chhattisgarh’s development journey.

    In a push to modernize the criminal justice system, Shah laid the foundation stone for the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) and Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) campus in Raipur and virtually inaugurated the temporary NFSU campus. He called these developments a “historic step” that will serve not just Chhattisgarh but central India in enhancing scientific investigation capabilities.

  • Indian stock market trades lower amid Middle East crisis

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian equity markets opened on a weak note Monday, tracking negative global cues as escalating tensions in the Middle East weighed on investor sentiment. Early trade witnessed selling pressure across key sectors, including IT and auto.

    As of 9:30 am, the BSE Sensex was down by 677.10 points or 0.82%, trading at 81,731.07. The NSE Nifty declined by 204.60 points or 0.81%, settling at 24,907.75.

    The Nifty Bank index also traded lower, shedding 387.75 points or 0.69% to reach 55,865.10. Meanwhile, the Nifty Midcap 100 dropped 219.45 points or 0.38% to 57,776.05, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 slipped 45.25 points or 0.25% to 18,148.95.

    According to market analysts, the worsening geopolitical crisis—triggered by reports of the US bombing three of Iran’s nuclear facilities—is unlikely to have a deep, long-term impact on the markets unless the situation escalates significantly.

    “If Iran targets and damages US defence facilities in the region or seriously harms US military personnel, Washington’s response could be massive and might aggravate the crisis. However, the current market view is that Iran’s ability to retaliate meaningfully against the US and Israel is limited,” said Dr. V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

    He added that the closure of the strategic Hormuz Strait would likely hurt Iran and its ally China more than others, reinforcing a market outlook that still supports a “buy on dips” approach.

    Among the Sensex constituents, major laggards included Infosys, HCL Tech, Hindustan Unilever, TCS, Asian Paints, Power Grid, Reliance, and ITC. On the other hand, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharti Airtel, and Trent were among the top gainers.

    Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continued their buying streak for the fourth consecutive day on June 20, purchasing equities worth ₹7,940.70 crore. In contrast, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) offloaded equities worth ₹3,049.88 crore during the same session.

    “We expect our markets to open lower in reaction to global developments but may attempt to recover from the initial losses. Immediate resistance is seen at 25,222, while support has moved up to 24,800,” said Devarsh Vakil, Head of Prime Research at HDFC Securities.

    Asian markets also reflected the cautious mood, with indices in Bangkok, Japan, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Jakarta trading in the red. Only China bucked the trend by trading in the green.

    On Wall Street, the Dow Jones closed at 42,206.82 on Friday, gaining 35.16 points or 0.08%. The S&P 500 fell by 13.03 points or 0.22% to 5,967.84, while the Nasdaq declined by 98.86 points or 0.51% to end at 19,447.41.

    — IANS

  • Indian stock market trades lower amid Middle East crisis

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian equity markets opened on a weak note Monday, tracking negative global cues as escalating tensions in the Middle East weighed on investor sentiment. Early trade witnessed selling pressure across key sectors, including IT and auto.

    As of 9:30 am, the BSE Sensex was down by 677.10 points or 0.82%, trading at 81,731.07. The NSE Nifty declined by 204.60 points or 0.81%, settling at 24,907.75.

    The Nifty Bank index also traded lower, shedding 387.75 points or 0.69% to reach 55,865.10. Meanwhile, the Nifty Midcap 100 dropped 219.45 points or 0.38% to 57,776.05, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 slipped 45.25 points or 0.25% to 18,148.95.

    According to market analysts, the worsening geopolitical crisis—triggered by reports of the US bombing three of Iran’s nuclear facilities—is unlikely to have a deep, long-term impact on the markets unless the situation escalates significantly.

    “If Iran targets and damages US defence facilities in the region or seriously harms US military personnel, Washington’s response could be massive and might aggravate the crisis. However, the current market view is that Iran’s ability to retaliate meaningfully against the US and Israel is limited,” said Dr. V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

    He added that the closure of the strategic Hormuz Strait would likely hurt Iran and its ally China more than others, reinforcing a market outlook that still supports a “buy on dips” approach.

    Among the Sensex constituents, major laggards included Infosys, HCL Tech, Hindustan Unilever, TCS, Asian Paints, Power Grid, Reliance, and ITC. On the other hand, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharti Airtel, and Trent were among the top gainers.

    Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continued their buying streak for the fourth consecutive day on June 20, purchasing equities worth ₹7,940.70 crore. In contrast, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) offloaded equities worth ₹3,049.88 crore during the same session.

    “We expect our markets to open lower in reaction to global developments but may attempt to recover from the initial losses. Immediate resistance is seen at 25,222, while support has moved up to 24,800,” said Devarsh Vakil, Head of Prime Research at HDFC Securities.

    Asian markets also reflected the cautious mood, with indices in Bangkok, Japan, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Jakarta trading in the red. Only China bucked the trend by trading in the green.

    On Wall Street, the Dow Jones closed at 42,206.82 on Friday, gaining 35.16 points or 0.08%. The S&P 500 fell by 13.03 points or 0.22% to 5,967.84, while the Nasdaq declined by 98.86 points or 0.51% to end at 19,447.41.

    — IANS

  • PM Modi pays tribute to Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee on Martyrdom Day

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tribute to Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee on the occasion of his Martyrdom Day (Balidan Divas), recalling his unparalleled contributions to the unity and integrity of the nation.
     
    In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Heartfelt tributes to Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee on his Balidan Divas. He displayed exceptional courage and determination in preserving the unity of the nation. His invaluable contribution to nation-building will always be remembered with deep respect.”
     
    Union Minister J.P. Nadda also took to X to honour Mukherjee.
     
    “I pay my heartfelt tribute to the blessed son of Mother India, the pioneer of cultural nationalism, revered Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee ji on his martyrdom day, who dedicated his all for the unity, integrity and self-respect of India,” he said.
     
    “Revered Dr. Shyama Prasad Ji struggled ideologically and politically throughout his life to keep Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal an integral part of India. To keep the flame of cultural nationalism alive in the country, he presented a new idea in the form of Jana Sangh,” Nadda added.
     
    Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also paid tribute on X,  saying, “Tributes to the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, revered Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, on his martyrdom day. He sacrificed everything for the unity and integrity of the country by renouncing power. His sacrifice for the nation will always be remembered.”
     
    Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also paid homage to Mukherjee, calling him a “source of inspiration.”
     
    “Tribute to the proclaimer of ‘Nahi chalenge ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Pradhan aur do Nishan’, founder-president of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee ji, on his martyrdom day!” he posted on X.
    “His sacrifice, dedicated to the unity and integrity of the nation, is a source of inspiration for all Indians.”
     
    Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, a prominent nationalist leader and a key figure in post-independence India, is remembered for his fierce opposition to Article 370 and for playing a pivotal role in the movement to integrate Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India.

  • Pakistan condemns Trump’s bombing of Iran – a day after nominating him for Peace Prize

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Pakistan condemned on Sunday the strikes ordered on its neighbour Iran by Donald Trump, a day after Islamabad had said it would nominate the U.S. President for the Nobel Peace Prize.

    Pakistan on Sunday said Trump’s decision to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities violated international law and that diplomacy was the only way to resolve the Iran crisis.

    “The unprecedented escalation of tension and violence, owing to ongoing aggression against Iran is deeply disturbing. Any further escalation of tensions will have severely damaging implications for the region and beyond,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

    Also on Sunday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif telephoned Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and “conveyed Pakistan’s condemnation of the U.S. attacks,” a statement from the Pakistani leader said.

    Pakistan’s information minister and the foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the apparent contradiction in the country’s positions over the weekend.

    In Pakistan’s biggest city, Karachi, thousands marched in protest against the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

    A large American flag with a picture of Trump on it was placed on the road for demonstrators to walk over. The protesters shouted out chants against America, Israel and Pakistan’s regional enemy India.

    Pakistan on Saturday said it was nominating Trump as “a genuine peacemaker” for his role in bringing a four-day conflict with India to an end last month. It said he had “demonstrated great strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship”.

    (Reuters)

  • Iran Parliament Approves Strait of Hormuz Closure Following U.S. Nuclear Strikes as Global Energy Crisis Looms

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran’s parliament has unanimously approved a dramatic proposal to close the Strait of Hormuz—the world’s most critical oil and gas shipping route—in direct retaliation for U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. While the decision signals a potentially catastrophic escalation with global repercussions, final authority to implement the closure lies with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which has not yet issued a formal order.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the move as “economic suicide” and warned it would provoke a strong American and allied military response. He urged China to use its influence with Tehran to prevent the closure, citing Beijing’s heavy dependence on the waterway for oil imports. Oil prices have already begun spiking on global markets, with analysts predicting a surge well above $100 per barrel if the blockade is enforced.

    The Strait of Hormuz handles approximately 20 percent of global oil exports and a significant share of liquefied natural gas shipments, making it one of the most strategically vital maritime chokepoints in the world. Senior Iranian lawmaker and Revolutionary Guards commander Esmaeil Kowsari confirmed that parliament concluded the strait should be closed but reiterated that the Supreme National Security Council holds final decision-making authority.

    Economists warn that a full closure could trigger cascading effects on global inflation and economic stability. Major economies in Asia and Europe—heavily reliant on West Asian energy supplies—face the prospect of severe supply disruptions that could cripple industrial output and consumer markets.

    The Chinese government now faces the delicate task of balancing its strategic partnership with Iran against the potentially devastating impact on its own energy security. While Beijing has not yet issued an official statement, American diplomats are actively engaging with Chinese counterparts to urge intervention before the crisis escalates further.

    In response, U.S. military forces throughout the region have been placed on heightened alert. The Pentagon is reportedly preparing for potential naval confrontations, as any sustained closure of the Strait of Hormuz would pose an existential threat to global energy security.

    The Iranian parliament’s decision marks the most serious threat to global energy supplies since the 1980s Tanker War, when Iran and Iraq targeted commercial shipping. Current tensions in West Asia have already disrupted aviation and shipping patterns, but a Hormuz closure would represent an unprecedented blow to the global economy amid an already volatile energy landscape.

  • Heavy rains lash MP, Chhattisgarh with red alerts in some areas, Gujarat also sees heavy downpours

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Central India continued to face the brunt of active monsoon systems on Sunday, as heavy rainfall lashed large parts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, severely disrupting routine life.  Gujarat continues to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall over the past several days, leading to significant water inflows into river systems and dams, particularly in Saurashtra and south Gujarat.

    More than 22 districts across Madhya Pradesh recorded considerable precipitation, resulting in waterlogging, rising river levels, and widespread emergency response measures. Amid deteriorating weather conditions, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s helicopter was forced to make an unscheduled landing at the Pipariya helipad in Narmadapuram district. He later continued his journey by road to the hill station of Pachmarhi with his family.

    In a separate incident, Ujjain’s Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple witnessed a structural mishap as a portion of the ceiling plaster collapsed in the temple’s tunnel complex, reportedly due to prolonged leakage from above.

    Rainfall intensity varied across districts, with Tikamgarh recording two inches of rain over nine hours, followed by 1.5 inches in Mandla, 1.4 inches in Narmadapuram, 1 inch in Gwalior, and 45 mm across Bhopal-Raisen.

    According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the downpour is being driven by a strong low-pressure system over the region, enhanced by a trough from the west and an active cyclonic circulation.

    These combined systems are expected to continue delivering moderate to heavy rain, particularly in eastern and northern Madhya Pradesh. A red alert has been issued for Agar Malwa, Ujjain, Shajapur, and Rajgarh for June 23. An orange alert is in place for Neemuch and Mandsaur, while several other districts, including Vidisha, Raisen, Damoh, Chhatarpur, Satna, Rewa, and Mauganj, are likely to receive heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms.

    Forecasts for the coming days remain grim. On June 24, very heavy rainfall is anticipated in Shahdol, Sagar, Guna, Ashoknagar, and Shivpuri, with persistent showers expected in Gwalior, Datia, Vidisha, Damoh, and Katni.

    On June 25, Panna is likely to be the focal point of very heavy rain, while Guna, Ashoknagar, Sagar, Damoh, and Chhatarpur remain on the watchlist for sustained precipitation. Chhattisgarh is also under a rain alert, with cities like Bhilai experiencing high humidity and intermittent showers.

    The IMD has urged residents across both states to remain cautious through the week and follow official advisories amid the ongoing monsoon surge. Rain triggers inflows in 206 dams in Gujarat; 8 overflowing, 14 on high alert.

    Gujarat continues to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall over the past several days, leading to significant water inflows into river systems and dams, particularly in Saurashtra and south Gujarat. As per the latest update from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), an average rainfall of 15.04 mm was recorded across 159 talukas in the state in the last 24 hours ending Sunday evening.

    According to the official data released at 5 p.m. on Sunday, new water has entered 206 dams across the state, of which eight dams are currently filled to 100 per cent capacity and 14 are on high alert due to rising water levels.

    In its status report, the IMD noted that the Narmada dam currently stands at 389.96 feet, against a full reservoir level of 454.98 feet. The reservoir data further indicates that eight dams are 100 per cent full, 26 dams have reached 70 to 100 per cent capacity, 22 dams are at 50 to 70 per cent, 57 dams are between 25 to 50 per cent and 99 dams are below 25 per cent capacity.

    In addition to the 14 dams on high alert, nine have been placed on alert, and 11 are under warning status, prompting state authorities to closely monitor the situation.

    The India Meteorological Department has also issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in seven districts: Banaskantha, Rajkot, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Porbandar, Junagadh, Navsari, and Valsad. These areas are expected to face intense showers and possible waterlogging.

    An orange alert is in place for a wider belt of 24 districts, including Kutch, Morbi, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Patan, Sabarkantha, and Surat, signalling heavy rainfall with the potential for disruption.

    Meanwhile, yellow alerts have been issued for Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, and Narmada districts, indicating a possibility of moderate to heavy rain.

    The IMD has forecast continued rainfall activity across Gujarat until June 28, urging citizens to remain cautious, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Authorities are on standby, and disaster response teams have been mobilised in vulnerable districts. (IANS)

  • Iran weighs retaliation against U.S. for strikes on nuclear sites

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran and Israel traded air and missile strikes as the world braced on Monday for Tehran’s response to the U.S. attack on its nuclear sites and U.S. President Donald Trump raised the idea of regime change in the Islamic republic.

    Iran vowed to defend itself on Sunday, a day after the U.S. joined Israel in the biggest Western military action against the country since its 1979 Islamic Revolution, despite calls for restraint and a return to diplomacy from around the world.

    Commercial satellite imagery indicated the U.S. attack on Saturday on Iran’s subterranean Fordow nuclear plant severely damaged or destroyed the deeply buried site and the uranium-enriching centrifuges it housed, but the status of the site remained unconfirmed, experts said.

    In his latest social media comments on the U.S. strikes, Trump said “Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran.”
    “The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

    Trump earlier called on Iran to forgo any retaliation and said the government “must now make peace” or “future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier.”

    The U.S. launched 75 precision-guided munitions including bunker-buster bombs and more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles against three Iranian nuclear sites, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, told reporters.

    The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said no increases in off-site radiation levels had been reported after the U.S. strikes. Rafael Grossi, the agency’s director general, told CNN that it was not yet possible to assess the damage done underground.

    A senior Iranian source told Reuters that most of the highly enriched uranium at Fordow had been moved elsewhere before the attack. Reuters could not immediately corroborate the claim.

    Tehran, which denies its nuclear programme is for anything other than peaceful purposes, sent a volley of missiles at Israel in the aftermath of the U.S. attack, wounding scores of people and destroying buildings in Tel Aviv.

    But it had not acted on its main threats of retaliation, to target U.S. bases or choke off oil shipments that pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

    Attempting to strangle Gulf oil supply by closing the strait could send global oil prices skyrocketing, derail the world economy and invite conflict with the U.S. Navy’s massive Fifth Fleet based in the Gulf.

    Oil prices jumped on Monday to their highest since January. Brent crude futures rose $1.88 or 2.44% at $78.89 a barrel as of 1122 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude advanced $1.87 or 2.53% at $75.71.

    Iran’s parliament has approved a move to close the strait, which Iran shares with Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Iran’s Press TV said closing the strait would require approval from the Supreme National Security Council, a body led by an appointee of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    Caine said the U.S. military had increased protection of troops in the region, including in Iraq and Syria. The U.S. State Department issued a security alert for all U.S. citizens abroad, calling on them to “exercise increased caution.”

    The United States already has a sizeable force in the Middle East, with nearly 40,000 troops and warships that can shoot down enemy missiles.

    The Israeli military reported a missile launch from Iran in the early hours of Monday morning, saying it was intercepted by Israeli defences.

    Air raid sirens blared in Tel Aviv and other parts of central Israel. Iran has repeatedly targeted the Greater Tel Aviv – a metropolitan area of around 4 million people – the business and economic hub of Israel where there are also critical military assets.

    Iranian news agencies reported air defences were activated in central Tehran districts to counter “enemy targets”, and that Israeli air strikes hit Parchin, the location of a military complex southeast of the capital.

    REGIME CHANGE

    In a post to the Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump raised the idea of regime change in Iran.

    “It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!” he wrote.

    Trump’s post came after officials in his administration, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, stressed they were not working to overthrow Iran’s government.

    Israeli officials, who began the hostilities with a surprise attack on Iran on June 13, have increasingly spoken of their ambition to topple the hardline Shi’ite Muslim clerical establishment.

    Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is expected to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. The Kremlin has a strategic partnership with Iran, but also close links with Israel.

    Speaking in Istanbul on Sunday, Araqchi said his country would consider all possible responses and there would be no return to diplomacy until it had retaliated.

    Russia’s foreign ministry condemned the U.S. attacks which it said had undermined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

    “The risk of the conflict spreading in the Middle East, which is already gripped by multiple crises, has increased significantly,” it said.

    The U.N. Security Council met on Sunday to discuss the U.S. strikes as Russia, China and Pakistan proposed the 15-member body adopt a resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East.

    U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council the U.S. bombings in Iran marked a perilous turn in the region and urged a return to negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.

    (Reuters)

  • PM Modi speaks to Iranian President, reiterates call for de-escalation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and reiterated call for immediate de-escalation and diplomatic measures to restore regional peace in the region.

    “Spoke with President of Iran @drpezeshkian. We discussed in detail about the current situation. Expressed deep concern at the recent escalations. Reiterated our call for immediate de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward and for early restoration of regional peace, security and stability,” said PM Modi on X.

    PM Modi’s call for restoring dialogue and diplomacy came on a day when the United States bombed three nuclear facilities of Iran, triggering wave of reactions from global powers. Iran strongly condemned the United States’ strikes on its nuclear facilities, calling it a “brutal military aggression” and gross violation of international law and the UN Charter.

    In the aftermath of coordinated US airstrikes on three nuclear sites, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, Iran also urged the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to take immediate action.

    In its official statement, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran condemns in the strongest terms the brutal US military aggression against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities, which was committed in flagrant and unprecedented violation of the most fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and the rules of international law, and holds the warmongering and law-breaking US government responsible for the extremely dangerous effects and consequences of this great crime.”

    Earlier, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) began a series of strikes targeting military sites in western Iran following a missile attack conducted by Iran earlier that day.

    “The IAF has begun a series of strikes towards military targets in western Iran,” said the IDF on X.

    “Additionally, this morning, the IAF struck missile launchers ready to launch toward Israeli territory, soldiers in the Iranian Armed Forces, and swiftly neutralised the launchers that launched missiles toward Israeli territory a short while ago,” it added.

    Iran launched more than 30 ballistic missiles at Israel on Sunday, the IDF had said earlier in the day.

    Israeli authorities claimed their offensive against Iran was a pre-emptive measure to stop Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons – an ambition Iran has consistently denied.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Pahalgam terror attack: Three attackers were Pakistanis linked to LeT, says NIA

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a significant disclosure, the two locals arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for harbouring Pahalgam terror attack perpetrators have confirmed that the three terrorists responsible for the attack were Pakistani nationals.

    NIA said on Sunday that two locals arrested during the investigation into the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, in which 26 civilians were killed, told investigators that the three terrorists, who carried out the attack, belonged to the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and were Pakistani nationals.

    The investigating agency in a major breakthrough arrested the two men for harbouring the terrorists who had carried out the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

    The two men have been identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote, Pahalgam and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam, said the NIA.

    They have disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack, and have also confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated with LeT.

    Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) at Hill Park before the attack, as per NIA investigations.

    “The two men had provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists, who had, on the fateful afternoon, selectively killed the tourists on the basis of their religious identity, making it one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks ever,” said the NIA.

    The NIA, which has arrested the duo under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, is further investigating the case RC-02/2025/NIA/JMU, registered after the attack that shook the world on April 22. Further investigations in the case are continuing, said the NIA.

    It must be mentioned that on April 22, Pakistan backed LeT terrorists killed 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local pony owner, who had tried to stop the terrorists from spilling innocent blood. Among the 25 tourists was a Nepalese national.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • PM Modi lauds Andhra Pradesh’s role in promoting yoga on IYD 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday commended the people of Andhra Pradesh for their inspiring commitment to integrating Yoga into daily life, further propelling the nationwide movement for health and wellness.

    PM Modi praised the state’s grassroots enthusiasm and the proactive support shown under the Yogandhra initiative during the 11th International Yoga Day event held at Visakhapatnam on Saturday.

    Responding to a post by Guinness World Records on X, PM Modi said, “Yoga brings people together, once again! Compliments to the people of Andhra Pradesh for the manner in which they have strengthened the movement to make Yoga a part of their lives. The #Yogandhra initiative and the programme in Visakhapatnam, which I also took part in, will always motivate several people towards good health and well-being.”

    PM Modi led the Yoga Day celebrations from the scenic beachfront of Visakhapatnam on Saturday, participating in a massive Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) session alongside nearly 5 lakh people.

    The national celebration witnessed Yoga sangam events held at over 3.5 lakh locations across India, marking one of the largest synchronized yoga demonstrations in the world.

    After the Yoga Day event, Guinness World Records said on X, “Today an incredible 300,105 participants took part in the largest yoga lesson ever, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India – organised by Gov. of Andhra Pradesh to celebrate International Day of Yoga.”

    The Guinness World Records also asked the yoga event participants to get a digital certificate at https://gwr.co/YogaLesson.

    This year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” underscored the vital link between human and planetary well-being, echoing the Indian philosophy of “Sarve Santu Niramaya” (May all be free from disease).

    To boost public engagement, special contests such as Yoga with Family and youth-centric initiatives under Yoga Unplugged were launched on MyGov and MyBharat platforms, encouraging mass participation.

    Since the United Nations General Assembly adopted India’s proposal in 2015 to observe June 21 as International Yoga Day, PM Modi has led the celebrations from diverse locations including New Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Mysuru, Srinagar, and even the UN Headquarters in New York, transforming IDY into a global health and wellness movement.

  • Over 1,000 Participate in 11th International Day of Yoga Celebrations in Qatar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The 11th International Day of Yoga was celebrated in Qatar with enthusiastic participation from over 1,000 people, bringing together members of the Indian community and yoga practitioners in a vibrant display of unity and well-being. Organized by the Indian Embassy in collaboration with the Indian Sports Centre, the event took place at Ideal Indian School in Doha. The program featured a rhythmic yoga display by children, a yoga quiz, a challenge session, guided meditation, and a mass yoga practice based on the Common Yoga Protocol. The event highlighted yoga’s growing global appeal and reinforced its role in fostering physical, mental, and cultural harmony.

  • Iran Launches True Promise 3 Wave 20 Missile Strike on Israel, Targeting Ben Gurion Airport and Military Facilities

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran executed its most significant missile barrage of the year against Israel early Sunday morning as part of Operation “True Promise 3,” with Wave 20 targeting Ben Gurion Airport, biological research centers, and command and control facilities. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed the strikes were launched in response to recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory, marking a dangerous escalation in the ongoing West Asian conflict that has now entered its second week.

    At least 23 people were wounded by Iranian missiles in Haifa, with three seriously injured including a teenager, while a woman died of a heart attack in Karmiel. Israeli officials report at least 18 Iranian missiles penetrated Israel’s missile defense system overnight, representing what sources describe as the highest percentage of successful hits this year. The Iranian missile barrage consisted of approximately 30 ballistic missiles, according to Israeli defense sources, with precision-guided solid and liquid fuel missiles alongside Shahed 136 suicide drones targeting central occupied Palestine and Ben Gurion Airport.

    The risk of a full-scale regional war in West Asia is growing rapidly as tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States threaten to spiral out of control.

    The fallout would not be limited to the battlefield. Economic disruption on a global scale is seen as a near certainty if hostilities escalate.

    Iran’s extensive network of allied proxy groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and various militias in Iraq, are expected to intensify attacks on U.S. allies and strategic interests, potentially expanding the conflict into Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and beyond.

    The Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for the world’s oil and natural gas, could be closed or partially blocked, causing oil prices to surge dramatically and triggering inflation across major economies. Global supply chains would also suffer, with shipping routes through the Red Sea and Persian Gulf rendered unsafe. Rerouting via alternative paths, such as around the Cape of Good Hope, would significantly increase freight costs and delivery times, hitting global trade hard. Foreign investment in the region would likely collapse, with capital flight halting key development initiatives and crippling already fragile economies.

  • Indian Navy to commission stealth frigate ‘Tamal’ in Russia on July 1

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian Navy is set to commission its latest stealth multi-role frigate, INS Tamal, on July 1 at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. The commissioning ceremony will be presided over by Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, in the presence of senior Indian and Russian defence officials.

    INS Tamal is the eighth Krivak-class frigate to be inducted from Russia and the second ship of the upgraded Tushil class, following the Talwar and Teg-class series. Built with advanced stealth features and combat capabilities, Tamal marks the end of foreign-built warships for India, aligning with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.

    The frigate features 26% indigenous components, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, and is fitted with a range of modern weapons and systems such as vertically launched surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine rockets, 100 mm improved naval gun, EO/IR systems, and heavyweight torpedoes. It also supports Air Early Warning and Multi-Role helicopters, and boasts high-end Network Centric Warfare capabilities.

    Measuring 125 metres in length and displacing 3,900 tonnes, Tamal can reach speeds of over 30 knots and has undergone extensive sea trials over three months in challenging Russian winter conditions.

    Designed in collaboration with the Severnoye Design Bureau and overseen by Indian specialists in Kaliningrad under the aegis of the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Tamal represents a deep Indo-Russian defence collaboration. Two more frigates under the same class are being built in India by Goa Shipyard Limited, with Russian technology support.

    Symbolically, “Tamal” draws its name from the mythical sword of Indra, the King of the Gods. Its mascot combines India’s Jambavant and Russia’s Eurasian Brown Bear, with the crew proudly identifying themselves as ‘The Great Bears’. The ship’s motto, ‘Sarvada Sarvatra Vijaya’ (Victorious Always, Everytime), reflects its operational readiness and the Navy’s commitment to maritime security.

    Upon commissioning, INS Tamal will join the Western Fleet, also known as the ‘Sword Arm’ of the Indian Navy, further strengthening India’s naval power in the Indian Ocean region.

  • Israel under missile attack, Iran says all options open after US strikes

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israel faced a missile attack on Sunday as Iran said it reserved all options to defend itself after unprecedented U.S. strikes that President Donald Trump said had “obliterated” its key nuclear facilities.

    Hours after Trump dramatically escalated Middle East tensions by sending B-2 bombers to Iran, the Israeli military warned people to seek cover from a barrage that appeared heavier than the Iranian salvoes fired in the past few days.

    “The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas, calling the U.S. strikes a “grave violation” of the U.N. charter, international law and the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

    “Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people,” Araqchi posted on X.

    Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said it would not allow development of its “national industry” to be stopped, and an Iranian state television commentator said every U.S. citizen or military member in the region would be legitimate targets.

    Israel’s ambulance service said at least 16 people were hurt in the morning barrage.

    Air raid sirens sounded across most of the country, sending millions of people to safe rooms and bomb shelters as explosions rang out and missile interceptions were seen above Jerusalem and in other parts of the country.

    It was not immediately clear how many missiles had pierced Israel’s air defence systems, but police confirmed at least three impact sites in residential areas in central and northern Israel.

    Video from Israel’s commercial hub Tel Aviv and the port city of Haifa further north showed rescue teams combing through debris, apartments reduced to rubble, mangled cars along a street filled with debris and medics evacuating injured people from a row of blown out houses.

    Most airlines continued to avoid large parts of the Middle East after the U.S. strikes, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, with traffic already skirting airspace in the region due to recent missile exchanges.

    TRUMP SAYS IRAN FACES ‘PEACE OR TRAGEDY’

    Trump, in a televised address to the U.S. people, flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, called the strikes a “spectacular military success” that had taken out Iran’s three principal nuclear sites: Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow.

    He warned Tehran it would face more devastating attacks if it does not agree to peace.

    After days of deliberation and long before his self-imposed two-week deadline, Trump’s decision to join Israel’s military campaign against its major rival Iran is the biggest foreign policy gamble of his two presidencies and one fraught with risks and unknowns.

    The major escalation of armed conflict in the Middle East risks opening a new era of instability in the Middle East.

    Trump said Iran’s future held “either peace or tragedy,” and there were many other targets that could be hit by the U.S. military. “If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill.”

    The U.S. contacted Iran diplomatically on Saturday to say the strikes are all the U.S. plans and it does not aim for regime change, CBS News reported.

    Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity show that six “bunker-buster” bombs were dropped on the deep-underground Fordow facility, while 30 Tomahawk missiles were fired against other nuclear sites. U.S. B-2 bombers were involved in the strikes, a U.S. official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

    Reuters had reported the movement of the B-2 bombers, which can be equipped to carry the massive bombs that experts say would be needed to strike Fordow, which is buried beneath a mountain south of Tehran. Given its fortification, it will likely be days, if not longer, before the impact of the strikes is known.

    An Iranian official, cited by Tasnim news agency, confirmed part of the Fordow site was attacked by “enemy airstrikes.” However, Mohammad Manan Raisi, a lawmaker for Qom, near Fordow, told the semi-official Fars news agency the facility had not been seriously damaged.

    A reporter from Iranian state media IRNA reporter said he had arrived near the Fordow site at 3 a.m. (2330 GMT on Saturday) and saw smoke that “seems to be related to air defences”. He quoted a nearby witness as reporting “six explosions were heard, but they said it wasn’t very loud.”

    DIPLOMATIC FAILURE

    The U.N. nuclear watchdog said no increases in off-site radiation levels had been reported after the U.S. strikes.

    Hassan Abedini, deputy political head of Iran’s state broadcaster, said Iran had evacuated the three sites some time ago.

    “The enriched uranium reserves had been transferred from the nuclear centres and there are no materials left there that, if targeted, would cause radiation and be harmful to our compatriots,” he told the channel.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on his “bold decision”, saying, “History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime, the world’s most dangerous weapons.”

    Israel and Iran have been engaged in more than a week of aerial combat that has resulted in deaths and injuries in both countries. Israel launched its attacks on June 13, saying Iran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons.

    Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only. Israel is widely assumed to possess nuclear weapons, which it neither confirms nor denies.

    Diplomatic efforts by Western nations to stop the hostilities have so far failed. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the U.S. strikes a “dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.”

    In the U.S., Democratic lawmakers and some from Trump’s Republican Party have argued that he must receive permission from Congress before committing the U.S. military to any combat against Iran.

    At least 430 people have been killed and 3,500 injured in Iran since Israel began its attacks, Iranian state-run Nour News said, citing the health ministry.

    In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed and 1,272 people injured, according to local authorities.

    (Reuters)

  • MoS Defence Sanjay Seth to visit Kenya, Madagascar to strengthen defence ties

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, will lead an Indian delegation on a four-day official visit to Kenya and Madagascar from June 23 to 26, aimed at bolstering bilateral defence and diplomatic relations.

    In the first leg of the visit, MoS Sanjay Seth will travel to Kenya for the joint unveiling of a Commemorative Pillar on June 23 at Taita-Taveta County. The war memorial honours the shared sacrifices of Indian and Kenyan soldiers.

    On June 26, the Minister will attend the 65th Independence Day celebrations of Madagascar and the founding anniversary of the Malagasy Armed Forces in Antananarivo.

    India shares strong historical and maritime ties with both Kenya and Madagascar. The visit underscores India’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation and fostering strategic partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region.

    The visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Cabinet Secretary, Kenyan Defence Ministry and Madagascar Minister of Armed Forces.

  • Russian attacks kill one in eastern Ukraine, one in the north

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russian strikes on Saturday on key towns in Donetsk region on the eastern front of the war in Ukraine killed at least one person while another died in a drone attack in the north near the Russian border, officials said.

    The Russian military said its forces had captured another village in its slow advance westward through Donetsk region. And reports from Kharkiv region in the northeast suggested Russian troops were closing in on the city of Kupiansk.

    Russian forces struck Sloviansk and Kramatorsk – two cities that Moscow will target as its forces press on with their westward drive. Both towns have come under frequent attack since the Russian invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.

    Donetsk region Governor Vadym Filashkin said one person died and three were injured in Sloviansk, with pictures posted online showing buildings reduced to rubble. He said four multi-storey dwellings and 32 private homes had suffered damage.

    In Kramatorsk, pictures posted by the city council showed heavy damage to part of an apartment building. Officials said at least one person was trapped under rubble and a number of other residents were injured.

    A mass drone attack on the town of Nizhyn near the Russian border killed one person and damaged local infrastructure.

    The Russian Defence Ministry said its forces had seized the village of Zaporizhzhia, southwest of Pokrovsk, where Ukrainian forces have been holding back Russian attacks for months.

    Zaporizhzhia village is distinct from the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, the regional centre and large industrial hub located some 160 km (90 miles) to the southeast.

    The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces on Friday listed the village as one of several where Kyiv’s forces had repelled Russian attacks.

    On Friday, the Russian Defence Ministry said it had captured the village of Moskovka, just outside the city of Kupiansk, also the target of repeated Russian attacks in recent months.

    Both Russian and Ukrainian military bloggers have reported an upswing in fighting around Kupiansk this past week. The town was first occupied by Russian forces in the first weeks of the 2022 invasion, but recaptured by Ukrainian troops later in the year in a lightning counter-offensive.

    (Reuters)

  • US B-2 bombers and bunker-busters used in Iran strike

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The U.S. Air Force’s B-2 Spirit stealth bombers were involved in strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites on Saturday.

    Three Iranian nuclear sites were struck in a “very successful attack,” President Donald Trump said on Saturday, adding that the crown jewel of Tehran’s nuclear program, Fordow, is gone.

    The B-2 is one of America’s most advanced strategic weapons platforms, capable of entering sophisticated air defenses and delivering precision strikes against hardened targets such as Iran’s buried network of nuclear research facilities.

    B-2 SPIRIT SPECIFICATIONS:

    The U.S. B-2 costs about $2.1 billion each, making it the most expensive military aircraft ever built. Made by Northrop Grumman (NOC.N), opens new tab, the bomber, with its cutting-edge stealth technology, began its production run in the late 1980s but was curbed by the fall of the Soviet Union. Only 21 were made after the Pentagon’s planned acquisition program was truncated.

    The bomber’s range of over 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 km) without refueling enables global strike capabilities from continental U.S. bases. With aerial refueling, the B-2 can reach virtually any target worldwide, as demonstrated in missions from Missouri to Afghanistan and Libya and now Iran.

    Its payload capacity of more than 40,000 pounds (18,144 kg) allows the aircraft to carry a diverse array of conventional and nuclear weapons. The bomber’s internal weapons bays are specifically designed to maintain stealth characteristics while accommodating large ordnance loads which could include two GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator), a 30,000-pound precision-guided “bunker buster” bomb.

    Reports said six bunker buster bombs were used on Iran’s Fordow research site.

    The B-2’s two-pilot crew configuration reduces personnel requirements while maintaining operational effectiveness through advanced automation systems.

    The B-2’s stealth technology incorporates radar-absorbing materials and angular design features that minimize detection by enemy air defense systems. Its radar cross-section is reportedly comparable to that of a small bird, making it nearly invisible to conventional radar.

    MASSIVE ORDNANCE PENETRATOR (MOP):

    The 30,000-pound MOP represents the largest conventional bomb in the U.S. arsenal, specifically engineered to defeat hardened underground bunkers. Its massive size requires the B-2 to carry only one or two MOPs per mission, but provides unmatched bunker-penetration capability.

    The weapon’s 20.5-foot (6.25-m) length and GPS-guided precision targeting system enable accurate strikes against specific underground facilities. Its penetration capability of over 200 feet through hardened concrete makes it effective against the world’s most protected underground installations.

    CONVENTIONAL PAYLOADS:

    Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) provide the B-2 with precision conventional strike capability against fixed targets. These GPS-guided weapons can be deployed in large numbers, with the bomber capable of simultaneously engaging multiple targets with high accuracy.

    Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW) extend the aircraft’s engagement range while maintaining stealth characteristics during approach. These glide bombs allow the B-2 to strike targets from outside heavily defended airspace perimeters.

    Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) offer long-range precision strike capability with their own stealth features. The extended-range JASSM-ER variant provides strike options against targets over 500 miles (805 km) away.

    NUCLEAR PAYLOAD CAPABILITIES:

    The B-2 Spirit serves as a key component of America’s nuclear triad, capable of delivering strategic nuclear weapons with stealth and precision. The aircraft can carry up to 16 B83 nuclear bombs.

    (Reuters)

  • Strikes on Iran mark Trump’s biggest, and riskiest, foreign policy gamble

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    With his unprecedented decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites, directly joining Israel’s air attack on its regional arch-foe, U.S. President Donald Trump has done something he had long vowed to avoid – intervene militarily in a major foreign war.

    The dramatic U.S. strike, including the targeting of Iran’s most heavily fortified nuclear installation deep underground, marks the biggest foreign policy gamble of Trump’s two presidencies and one fraught with risks and unknowns.

    Trump, who insisted on Saturday that Iran must now make peace or face further attacks, could provoke Tehran into retaliating by closing the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important oil artery, attacking U.S. military bases and allies in the Middle East, stepping up its missile barrage on Israel and activating proxy groups against American and Israeli interests worldwide, analysts said.

    Such moves could escalate into a broader, more protracted conflict than Trump had envisioned, evoking echoes of the “forever wars” that America fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, which he had derided as “stupid” and promised never to be dragged into.

    “The Iranians are seriously weakened and degraded in their military capabilities,” said Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator for Democratic and Republican administrations. “But they have all sorts of asymmetric ways that they can respond… This is not going to end quick.”

    In the lead-up to the bombing that he announced late on Saturday, Trump had vacillated between threats of military action and appeals for renewed negotiation to persuade Iran to reach a deal to dismantle its nuclear program.

    A senior White House official said that once Trump was convinced that Tehran had no interest in reaching a nuclear agreement, he decided the strikes were “the right thing to do.”

    Trump gave the go-ahead once he was assured of a “high probability of success,” the official said – a determination reached after more than a week of Israeli air attacks on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities paved the way for the U.S. to deliver the potentially crowning blow.

    NUCLEAR THREAT REMAINS

    Trump touted the “great success” of the strikes, which he said included the use of massive “bunker-buster bombs” on the main site at Fordow. But some experts suggested that while Iran’s nuclear program may have been set back for many years, the threat may be far from over.

    Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon, saying its program is for purely peaceful purposes.

    “In the long term, military action is likely to push Iran to determine nuclear weapons are necessary for deterrence and that Washington is not interested in diplomacy,” the Arms Control Association, a non-partisan U.S.-based organization that advocates for arms control legislation, said in a statement.

    “Military strikes alone cannot destroy Iran’s extensive nuclear knowledge. The strikes will set Iran’s program back, but at the cost of strengthening Tehran’s resolve to reconstitute its sensitive nuclear activities,” the group said.

    Eric Lob, assistant professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Florida International University, said Iran’s next move remains an open question and suggested that among its forms of retaliation could be to hit “soft targets” of the U.S. and Israel inside and outside the region.

    But he also said there was a possibility that Iran could return to the negotiating table – “though they would be doing so in an even weaker position” – or seek a diplomatic off-ramp.

    In the immediate aftermath of the U.S. strikes, however, Iran showed little appetite for concessions.

    Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said it would not allow development of its “national industry” to be stopped, and an Iranian state television commentator said every U.S. citizen or military member in the region would not be legitimate targets.

    Karim Sadjadpour, an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, posted on X: “Trump indicated this is now the time for peace. It’s unclear and unlikely the Iranians will see it the same way. This is more likely to open a new chapter of the 46-year-old US-Iran war than conclude it.”

    ‘REGIME CHANGE’

    Some analysts suggested that Trump, whose administration has previously disavowed any aim of dislodging the Iranian leadership, could be drawn into seeking “regime change” if Tehran carries out major reprisals or moves to build a nuclear weapon.

    That, in turn, would bring additional risks.

    “Beware mission creep, aiming for regime change and democratization campaigns,” said Laura Blumenfeld, a Middle East analyst at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies in Washington. “You’ll find the bones of many failed U.S. moral missions buried in Middle East sands.”

    Jonathan Panikoff, a former U.S. deputy intelligence officer for the Middle East, said Iran’s leadership would quickly engage in “disproportionate attacks” if it felt its survival was imperiled.

    But Tehran will also have to be mindful of the consequences, he said. While actions such as closing the Strait of Hormuz would pose problems for Trump with the resulting higher oil prices and potential U.S. inflationary impact, it would also hurt China, one of Iran’s few powerful allies.

    At the same time, Trump is already facing strong push-back from congressional Democrats against the Iran attack and will also have to contend with opposition from the anti-interventionist wing of his Republican MAGA base.

    Trump, who faced no major international crisis in his first term, is now embroiled in one just six months into his second.

    Even if he hopes U.S. military involvement can be limited in time and scope, the history of such conflicts often carries unintended consequences for American presidents.

    Trump’s slogan of “peace through strength” will certainly be tested as never before, especially with his opening of a new military front after failing to meet his campaign promises to quickly end wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

    “Trump is back in the war business,” said Richard Gowan, U.N. director at the International Crisis Group. “I am not sure anyone in Moscow, Tehran or Beijing ever believed his spiel that he is a peacemaker. It always looked more like a campaign phrase than a strategy.”

    (Reuters)

  • Airlines keep avoiding Middle East airspace after US attack on Iran

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Airlines continued to avoid large parts of the Middle East on Sunday after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, with traffic already skirting airspace in the region due to recent missile exchanges.

    “Following US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, commercial traffic in the region is operating as it has since new airspace restrictions were put into place last week,” FlightRadar24 said on social media platform X.

    Its website showed airlines were not flying in the airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel. They have chosen other routings such as north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia, even if it results in higher fuel and crew costs and longer flight times.

    Missile and drone barrages in an expanding number of conflict zones globally represent a high risk to airline traffic.

    Safe Airspace, a website run by OPSGROUP, a membership-based organisation that shares flight risk information, said on Sunday that the U.S. attacks on Iran may increase risks to U.S. operators in the region.

    “While there have been no specific threats made against civil aviation, Iran has previously warned it would retaliate by attacking US military interests in the Middle East – either directly or via proxies such as Hezbollah,” Safe Airspace said.

    Since Israel launched strikes on Iran on June 13, carriers have suspended flights to destinations in the affected countries, though there have been some evacuation flights from neighbouring nations and some bringing stranded Israelis home.

    In the days before the U.S. strikes on Iran, American Airlines (AAL.O), suspended flights to Qatar, and United Airlines (UAL.O), did the same with flights to Dubai.

    Safe Airspace said it was possible airspace risks could now extend to countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

    “We continue to advise a high degree of caution at this time,” it said.

    Israel’s largest carriers, El Al Israel Airlines (ELAL.TA), Arkia and Israir (ISRG.TA), said on Sunday they were suspending rescue flights that allowed people to return to Israel until further notice. El Al said it would also extend its cancellation of scheduled flights through June 27.

    Israel’s airports authority said the country’s airspace was closed for all flights, but land crossings with Egypt and Jordan remained open.

    Tens of thousands of Israelis and others who had booked tickets to Israel are stuck abroad.
    At the same time, nearly 40,000 tourists in Israel are looking to leave the country, some of whom are going via Jordan’s borders to Amman and others by boat to Cyprus.

    The tourism ministry is trying to facilitate getting these people out.

    Japan’s foreign ministry said on Sunday it had evacuated 21 people, including 16 Japanese nationals, from Iran overland to Azerbaijan. It said it was the second such evacuation since Thursday and that it would conduct further evacuations if necessary.

    New Zealand’s government said on Sunday it would send a Hercules military transport plane to the Middle East on standby to evacuate New Zealanders from the region.

    It said in a statement that government personnel and a C-130J Hercules aircraft would leave Auckland on Monday. The plane would take some days to reach the region, it said.

    The government was also in talks with commercial airlines to assess how they may be able to assist, it added.

    (Reuters)

  • World leaders react to US attack on Iran

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The reaction of world leaders after U.S. forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday Iran time ranged from Israel lauding President Donald Trump’s decision to the U.N. calling for de-escalation and Iran and some other nations condemning the attacks.

    ISRAEL PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, RECORDED STATEMENT:

    “Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history… History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime the world’s most dangerous weapons.”

    IRAN FOREIGN MINISTER ABBAS ARAQCHI, ON X:

    “The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations. The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior. In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.”

    U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES, STATEMENT

    “I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world. I call on Member States to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law. At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.”

    NEW ZEALAND FOREIGN MINISTER WINSTON PETERS, STATEMENT:

    “We acknowledge developments in the last 24 hours, including President Trump’s announcement of US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran. Ongoing military action in the Middle East is extremely worrying, and it is critical further escalation is avoided. New Zealand strongly supports efforts towards diplomacy. We urge all parties to return to talks. Diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action.”

    AUSTRALIA GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON, STATEMENT:

    “We have been clear that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a threat to international peace and security. We note the US President’s statement that now is the time for peace. The security situation in the region is highly volatile. We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy.”

    MEXICO FOREIGN MINISTRY, ON X:

    “The ministry urgently calls for diplomatic dialogue for peace between the parties involved in the Middle East conflict. In keeping with our constitutional principles of foreign policy and our country’s pacifist conviction, we reiterate our call to de-escalate tensions in the region. The restoration of peaceful coexistence among the states of the region is the highest priority.”

    VENEZUELA FOREIGN MINISTER YVAN GIL, ON TELEGRAM:

    “Venezuela Condemns U.S. Military Aggression Against Iran and Demands an Immediate Cessation of Hostilities. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela firmly and categorically condemns the bombing carried out by the United States military, at the request of the State of Israel, against nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan complexes.”

    CUBA PRESIDENT MIGUEL DIAZ-CANEL, ON X:

    “We strongly condemn the US bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities, which constitutes a dangerous escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. The aggression seriously violates the UN Charter and international law and plunges humanity into a crisis with irreversible consequences.”

    (Reuters)

     

  • Sri Lanka’s Angelo Matthews bids farewell to Test cricket

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Sri Lankan great Angelo Matthews bowed out from the longest format after the first Test between the hosts and Bangladesh at the Galle International Stadium. In 119 Tests, Mathews has amassed 8214 runs at an average of 44.4, while picking 33 wickets. He was given a guard of honour by the Bangladesh side as he made his way back for the final time in whites.

    “Since I announced my retirement, I can’t believe the love that I have received so far. I am certainly overwhelmed. Ever so grateful to all those who supported me right throughout. It wasn’t an easy journey; there were a lot of ups and downs, happiness and sadness. But through it all, I was able to do it because of the support that I have received,” said Matthews post-game.

    Mathews made his Test debut in 2009. He captained Sri Lanka in 34 Tests, including a famous win in Headingley in 2014, and is currently Sri Lanka’s third leading run-getter in the longer format after Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

    “(Emotional?) Well, obviously. Retiring from the best format, the format that I loved playing. It’s time for the younger players to take the baton and drive Sri Lanka through. We certainly have the young talent in the dressing room. I should congratulate Bangladesh, they’ve had a wonderful Test match,” he added.

    Matthews also reflected on what were his favourite memories were during his long Test career, to which he replied, “The win against England in England and whitewashing the Australians in Sri Lanka 3-0, that was a huge highlight and honour achieved by the entire team. I am thankful to all the players who have supported me throughout, the coaches, and all the fans for being there with me. The love that I have received, thank you so much.”

    In the end, the first Test of the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle ended in a tense draw, marked by a dramatic final session.

    Sri Lanka, chasing a target of 296 in 37 overs, chose to play defensively and finished at 72/4, surviving a late spin assault led by Taijul Islam, who took 3-23, including key wickets of Angelo Mathews—playing his final Test—and Dinesh Chandimal.

    (With inputs from IANS)

     

  • Centre, Karnataka government announce relief for mango farmers amid falling prices

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a major relief to mango growers in Karnataka, the Central and State governments have agreed to jointly compensate farmers for losses due to plummeting mango prices, particularly of the Totapuri variety.

    The decision was made during a video conference held on Saturday between Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Karnataka Agriculture Minister N. Chaluvaraya Swamy. Union Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi also participated in the meeting.

    Under the plan, compensation will be provided for up to 2.5 lakh metric tonnes of mangoes, with the Centre and State sharing the cost of the price difference equally. This support comes in response to a proposal submitted earlier by the Karnataka government, highlighting distress caused by falling prices of tomatoes and mangoes.

    However, officials noted that while tomato prices have since stabilised and no action is required at present, mango prices remain significantly below average, warranting immediate intervention.

    Swamy expressed gratitude to the Union Minister for swiftly addressing the concerns of Karnataka’s mango farmers and extending timely support.

  • Guterres warns US bombing of Iran can catastrophically get out of control

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the “dangerous escalation” of the Iran conflict through US bombing of nuclear sites in the country can catastrophically get out of control.

    In a statement minutes before US President Donald Trump’s address to the nation on Saturday night, Guterres said the attack was “a direct threat to international peace and security.”

    He said he was “gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today” and warned that “there is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world.”

    Trump said his “military carried out massive, precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime: Fordo, Natanz, and Esfahan.”

    “Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s No. 1 state sponsor of terror,” he said.

    The US and Israel, Trump said, worked “as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before.”

    He warned, “There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days.”

    There are more targets that the US can hit in Iran, he said.

    “But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes.”

    However, in an earlier Truth Social post, Trump also said, “Now is the time for peace! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

    “There’s no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight. Not even close,” he added.

    Israel had started attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 13, and Iran retaliated with missiles and drones, some of which managed to penetrate Israel’s defence.

    Trump, who had been vacillating between restraint and joining Israel, had said on Thursday that he would decide whether to attack in a two-week frame, but it came two days later.

    The US attack followed an apparently failed last-minute diplomatic effort by foreign ministers of Britain, Germany and France, along with the European Union representative, to de-escalate the situation.

    Two of the three sites that Trump said had been hit had been attacked earlier by Israel.

    They were Fordo and Natanz, which are uranium enrichment facilities where the element is refined to ultimately reach bomb grade.

    The third facility attacked was a storage for the enriched uranium.

    (IANS)

  • Strength before peace: Netanyahu lauds Trump for strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday hailed US President Donald Trump following coordinated airstrikes on Iran’s key nuclear facilities, calling the military action a bold and historic move that could reshape the future of the Middle East.

    In a video address after the strikes, Netanyahu praised Trump’s decision to target Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, including the heavily fortified Fordow site, as well as installations at Natanz and Esfahan. The Israeli leader reiterated the long-standing motto shared by both leaders: “Peace through strength”.

    “First comes strength, then comes peace,” Netanyahu said. “Tonight, President Trump and the United States demonstrated immense strength. This is a decisive and bold action that will be remembered in history.”

    The US military reportedly deployed six bunker-buster bombs on the Fordow nuclear facility and launched 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Natanz and Esfahan, as part of what has been described as a highly successful mission. The operation, reportedly codenamed “Rising Lion”, was aimed at neutralising what the US sees as imminent nuclear threats posed by Iran.

    “President Trump, congratulations. Your courageous leadership and decision to strike Iran’s nuclear sites with the overwhelming power of the United States is a pivotal moment,” Netanyahu said. “This action, in my view, denies the world’s most dangerous regime access to the world’s most dangerous weapons.”

    Netanyahu also highlighted Israel’s role in countering regional threats but acknowledged that the US operation far exceeded anything any nation could have executed. “History will record this as the moment when a line was drawn. President Trump acted not just for American security, but for the safety of the entire world,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Trump posted on his platform, Truth Social, confirming the airstrikes and stating, “A full payload of bombs was dropped on Fordow… All planes are safely on their way home.” He called the mission a success and praised the American military, saying, “There is no other force on Earth that could have accomplished this.”

    In his post, Trump emphasised that “now is the time for peace” and announced he would address the nation at 10 p.m. local time to discuss the operation in detail. Describing the moment as historic for the US, Israel, and the world, Trump called on Iran to “end this war” and reconsider its nuclear ambitions in the wake of the military response.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Violation of international law, says Iran’s Atomic Agency on US bombing

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation has stated that the attacks on its nuclear sites constitute a violation of international law. However, it did not clarify the extent of the damage caused by the strikes that US President Donald Trump announced earlier.

    Trump has said the US military carried out strikes on Iran’s Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz atomic sites. The attack took place early on Sunday.

    Iran has said that it would not allow the development of its “national industry” – an apparent reference to the country’s nuclear development – to be stopped.

    Tehran’s agency said the attacks on its nuclear sites violate international law. “The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran assures the great Iranian nation that despite the evil conspiracies of its enemies, with the efforts of thousands of its revolutionary and motivated scientists and experts, it will not allow the development of this national industry, which is the result of the blood of nuclear martyrs, to be stopped,” it said in its statement.

    Earlier, Trump announced that the US military had carried out strikes on Iran’s Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz atomic sites. “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he said on the social platform ‘Truth Social’.

    He further said that this was a historic moment for America, Israel and the world, and that Iran must agree to end this war.

    Earlier on Friday, Trump told reporters that he has given Iran a maximum of two weeks to return to the negotiation table over its nuclear program.

    On June 13, Israel began airstrikes on Iran, destroying several infrastructures and killing dozens of Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. In response, Iran has carried out missile and drone attacks on various locations in Israel.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Either peace or tragedy: Trump’s warning after US strikes hit Iranian nuclear sites

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    US President Donald Trump declared that America had bombed three nuclear sites in Iran and warned Tehran of further precision strikes unless it ended its confrontation with Israel.

    The targeted locations reportedly include the highly fortified Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear facilities.

    Addressing a media briefing just hours after the strikes on Saturday (US time), Trump stated, “This cannot continue. There will either be peace or tragedy for Iran, far greater than what we have witnessed over the last eight days. There are many targets left.”

    “Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight was the most difficult of them all, by far, and perhaps the most lethal, but if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill,” he added.

    The President asserted that the strikes were aimed at crippling Iran’s “nuclear enrichment capacity and put a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.”

    Despite weeks of diplomatic efforts to renegotiate a nuclear agreement with Tehran — following the US withdrawal from the 2015 accord in 2018 – Trump has now thrown full support behind Israel’s military campaign against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and high-ranking military officials, a campaign launched a little over a week ago.

    In his statement, Trump extended gratitude to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, “I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team, like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel. I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they’ve done.”

    The air conflict between the two nations erupted on June 13 when Israel launched a surprise strike on Iran.

    Israeli authorities claimed the offensive was a preemptive measure to stop Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons – an ambition Iran has consistently denied.

    The conflict has since raised tensions across the region, already on edge following Israel’s prolonged war in Gaza since October 2023.

    The latest exchange has now drawn in the United States in a direct military capacity.

    Earlier in the day, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling the strikes a “historic moment for the United States of America, Israel, and the World… Iran must now agree to end this war. Thank you!”

    In another post, the US President praised American forces, writing, “There is not another military in the World that could have done this. Now is the time for peace! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

    Iranian state media confirmed that parts of the Fordow nuclear facility were hit in what it called “enemy strikes,” though further details on the extent of the damage remain limited.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Either peace or tragedy: Trump’s warning after US strikes hit Iranian nuclear sites

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    US President Donald Trump declared that America had bombed three nuclear sites in Iran and warned Tehran of further precision strikes unless it ended its confrontation with Israel.

    The targeted locations reportedly include the highly fortified Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear facilities.

    Addressing a media briefing just hours after the strikes on Saturday (US time), Trump stated, “This cannot continue. There will either be peace or tragedy for Iran, far greater than what we have witnessed over the last eight days. There are many targets left.”

    “Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight was the most difficult of them all, by far, and perhaps the most lethal, but if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill,” he added.

    The President asserted that the strikes were aimed at crippling Iran’s “nuclear enrichment capacity and put a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.”

    Despite weeks of diplomatic efforts to renegotiate a nuclear agreement with Tehran — following the US withdrawal from the 2015 accord in 2018 – Trump has now thrown full support behind Israel’s military campaign against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and high-ranking military officials, a campaign launched a little over a week ago.

    In his statement, Trump extended gratitude to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, “I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team, like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel. I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they’ve done.”

    The air conflict between the two nations erupted on June 13 when Israel launched a surprise strike on Iran.

    Israeli authorities claimed the offensive was a preemptive measure to stop Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons – an ambition Iran has consistently denied.

    The conflict has since raised tensions across the region, already on edge following Israel’s prolonged war in Gaza since October 2023.

    The latest exchange has now drawn in the United States in a direct military capacity.

    Earlier in the day, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling the strikes a “historic moment for the United States of America, Israel, and the World… Iran must now agree to end this war. Thank you!”

    In another post, the US President praised American forces, writing, “There is not another military in the World that could have done this. Now is the time for peace! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

    Iranian state media confirmed that parts of the Fordow nuclear facility were hit in what it called “enemy strikes,” though further details on the extent of the damage remain limited.

    (With inputs from IANS)