France and Britain not likely to recognize Palestinian state

According to the sources, France and Britain will abandon plans to recognize a Palestinian state at an upcoming conference in New York to be held between June 17 and 20. France had been lobbying the UK and other European allies to recognize a Palestinian state at the conference.

President Emmanuel Macron had described the move as “a moral duty and political requirement”, suggesting it could come in return for Saudi Arabia recognizing Israel at the conference.

The Guardian has reported that French officials briefed their Israeli counterparts this week that the conference would not be the moment for recognition. Instead, it will now focus on outlining steps towards recognition, contingent on a series of measures and concessions from the Palestinians.

These will include a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli captives, reform of the Palestinian Authority, economic reconstruction and the end of Hamas rule in Gaza.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Friday that recognizing a Palestinian state at the conference would have been a "symbolic" decision and said they had a "particular responsibility" as a permanent member of the UN Security Council not to do so without the support of allies.

Kenneth Roth, former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, expressed concerns that the recognition of a Palestinian state could end up being indefinitely delayed by the announced steps.

"Those steps should not be an endless (nonexistent) 'peace process' but pressure on Israel to stop obstructing a state," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Although 147 countries recognize the state of Palestine, much of Europe has been reluctant and long stated that such a move could only come with Israel's approval and reciprocal moves from Arab states.

Ireland, Spain and Norway recognized a Palestinian state last year, and there has been an increasing consensus that recognition should come unilaterally as a means of pressuring Israel to change tack.

Last week, Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas told Middle East Eye (MEE) that France's push to recognize Palestine was "serious and has the backing of most of the European Union and Saudi Arabia”.

However, both Britain and France have faced pressure from the United States over the plans, while Israel has said it would expand its settlements in the occupied West Bank in response.

Israeli war minister Israel Katz said plans to build a further 22 settlements in the occupied territory were "a strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state".

In July last year, the Israeli parliament voted overwhelmingly to oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state, with only Palestinian lawmakers and a single left-wing Jewish MP voting in support.

Pinkas told MEE that while there was no meaningful domestic support in Israel or the parliament for Palestinian statehood, the international community’s pitch to Israel over ending the war should be that “we are your friends, we want you to succeed, this cannot go on... Netanyahu is driving you to unmitigated and irreparable disaster. Wake up, we are here to help".

 

Netanyahu accuses France, Britain and Canada of 'emboldening' Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the leaders of France, Britain and Canada of wanting to help the Palestinian militant group Hamas after they threatened to take "concrete action" if Israel did not stop its latest offensive in Gaza.

The criticism, echoing similar remarks from Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Thursday, was part of a fightback by the Israeli government against the increasingly heavy international pressure on it over the war in Gaza.

"You're on the wrong side of humanity and you're on the wrong side of history," Netanyahu said.

The Israeli leader, facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Gaza, has regularly criticized European countries as well as global institutions from the United Nations to the International Court of Justice over what he says is their bias against Israel.

But as the flow of images of destruction and hunger in Gaza has continued, fuelling protests in countries around the world, Israel has struggled to turn international opinion, which has increasingly shifted against it

"It's hard to convince at least some people, definitely on the far left in the US and in some countries in Europe, that what Israel is doing is a war of defence," said former Israeli diplomat Yaki Dayan.

"But this is how it is perceived in Israel and bridging this gap is sometimes an impossible mission," he said.

Israeli officials have been particularly concerned about growing calls for other countries in Europe to follow the example of Spain and Ireland in recognizing a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution to resolve decades of conflict in the region.

Netanyahu argues that a Palestinian state would threaten Israel and he has framed the killing of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington on Tuesday by a man who allegedly shouted "Free Palestine" as a clear example of that threat.

He said "exactly the same chant" was heard during the attack on Israel by Hamas on October 07, 2023.

"They don't want a Palestinian state. They want to destroy the Jewish state," he said in a statement on the social media platform X.

"I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others," he said, adding that any moves by Western countries to recognize a Palestinian state would "reward these murderers with the ultimate prize".

Instead of advancing peace, the three leaders were "emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever", he said.

 

Israel might stage a new “Susannah” to implicate Iran

Iran’s Ambassador to Britain, Ali Mousavi, has sounded the alarm over potential "false flag operations" aimed at sabotaging Tehran-London relations. The rift widened after the Britain charged three Iranians under its National Security Act, alleging ties to a "foreign intelligence service".

Ambassador Mousavi’s alert reflects Tehran’s fear that Israel might stage a new "Susannah" to implicate Iran, leveraging the IRGC’s prominence and stalled nuclear talks. The Zionist regime’s history of sabotage makes such scenarios plausible.

Some experts contend that the British actions are rooted in mounting frustration over its declining influence in international diplomacy, prompting British officials to leverage pressure tactics to steer negotiations.

Additionally, other analysts argue that these measures dovetail with pro-Israel initiatives aimed at designating Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization—a classification Tehran vehemently condemns, viewing it as an unjustified escalation that severely damages diplomatic relations and heightens tensions between Iran and the West.

Iranian officials cite the Israeli regime’s track record of false flag operations to bolster their warnings. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei declared: "The Zionist regime has long flouted international law, from Gaza to the Lavon Affair, using sabotage to deceive."

The Lavon Affair

In July 1954, the Israeli regime launched Operation Susannah, later dubbed the Lavon Affair, a botched covert mission in Egypt.

Israeli military intelligence recruited a cell of Egyptian Jews to bomb civilian targets—cinemas, libraries, and U.S.-owned cultural centers in Cairo and Alexandria.

The plot aimed to pin the attacks on the Muslim Brotherhood or Egyptian communists, sowing chaos to convince Britain to keep troops in the Suez Canal zone, a linchpin for Tel Aviv’s regional strategy.

The operatives used crude incendiary devices hidden in books and bags, targeting places like the Cairo train station’s post office and the Rio Cinema.

Egyptian security foiled the scheme, capturing the agents after a bomb prematurely detonated. Public trials followed, with two executed and others imprisoned.

The fallout humiliated the Israeli regime: War Minister Pinhas Lavon resigned amid internal strife, and relations with the U.S. and UK soured.

Israel denied responsibility until 2005, when it honored surviving operatives, quietly admitting its role. 

USS Liberty Incident

On June 08, 1967, amid the Six-Day War, Israeli jets and torpedo boats assaulted the USS Liberty, a US Navy intelligence ship in international waters off Sinai. The two-hour barrage—machine-gun fire, napalm, and torpedoes—killed 34 American sailors and wounded 171, nearly sinking the vessel.

The regime insisted it mistook the Liberty, flying a US flag, for an Egyptian horse carrier, offering apologies and compensation.

Yet survivors and US officials, including Secretary of State Dean Rusk, disputed this, citing evidence of deliberate intent.

Declassified reports reveal Israeli reconnaissance planes circled the ship hours earlier, and radio intercepts suggest orders to ensure no survivors. Critics argue Tel Aviv aimed to silence US monitoring of its Golan Heights offensive.

Israeli Embassy Bombing in London

On July 26, 1994, a car bomb rocked Israel’s embassy in London, injuring 20. Hours later, a second blast hit Balfour House, a Jewish charity, wounding six. British authorities blamed Palestinian militants, convicting Samar Alami and Jawad Botmeh despite their claims of innocence.

Former MI5 officer Annie Machon later alleged Mossad staged the attacks to smear Palestinian activists in Britain, then an alleged hub for West Asian exiles.

Machon claimed the bombs’ sophistication pointed to state actors, not amateurs, and noted MI5’s ignored warnings of Israeli involvement, suggesting a false flag to sway British policy.

 

 

Britain suspends trade talks with Israel

According to Reuters, Britain on Tuesday paused free trade talks with Israel, summoned its ambassador, and announced further sanctions against West Bank settlers as its foreign minister condemned a "monstrous" military escalation in Gaza.

The Israeli military announced the start of a new operation last week and medics in Gaza say Israeli strikes have killed more than 500 people in the past eight days.

Israel has also blocked the entry of medical, food and fuel supplies into Gaza since the start of March, prompting international experts to warn of looming famine, although some trucks were allowed to enter on Monday.

Foreign Minister David Lammy said the offensive was "a dark new phase in this conflict", called for Israel to end the blockade of aid and condemned comments by finance minister Bezalel Smotrich on the possible cleansing and destruction of Gaza and relocation of its residents to third countries.

"It is extremism. It is dangerous. It is repellent. It is monstrous, and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms," a visibly angry Lammy told lawmakers, adding the operation in Gaza was "incompatible with the principles that underpin our bilateral relationship".

"Today, I'm announcing that we have suspended negotiations with this Israeli government on a new free trade agreement."

Israel said Britain had not advanced the trade talks, which started formally in 2022 under a previous Conservative British government, for some time.

"The British Mandate ended exactly 77 years ago," a spokesperson for its foreign ministry said. "External pressure will not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence and security against enemies who seek its destruction."

Lammy said the new offensive would not secure the release of remaining hostages and that January's ceasefire had shown the better path that Israel should follow.

Earlier Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "horrified by the escalation" after issuing a joint statement with France and Canada. Lammy said Britain would take further action if Israel pursued its military offensive.

 

 

 

Yemen issues warning to Britain

Lately, Britain bombarded Yemen, marking the first joint attack with the United States under the Trump administration. In response, the government in Sanaa warned, “British enemy must reckon with the consequences of its entanglement,” condemning the it’s involvement in the US-led campaign against Yemen.

According to an official statement from Sanaa, the attack is part of the ongoing efforts by the American and British enemies to support the Israeli enemy.

The aim, it underlined, is to suppress Yemen’s support for Palestine and allow the Zionist regime to intensify its massacres in Gaza.

The statement declared, “Sanaa would confront the evil trio, the US, Britain, and the Zionist regime, along with their allies, with all its might,” vowing that such attacks would not shake Yemen’s commitment to its core causes, particularly the Palestinians in Gaza.

The British military said it had joined the US Air Force in targeting what it claimed was “a military facility used by the Yemenis to manufacture drones used in attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.”

The recent airstrikes also come against the backdrop of Yemeni missiles targeting the US aircraft carrier Harry Truman. The carrier was forced to make a sharp evasive maneuver, causing an F-18 fighter jet to slip off the deck and sink into the Red Sea.

Yemeni forces ended a blockade on Israeli and Israeli-affiliated vessels transiting the Red Sea. They also stopped hypersonic ballistic missile attacks on “vital Israeli targets” as soon as a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza came into effect. 

Meanwhile, critics in the US have raised concerns about the high cost of the strikes on Yemen and questioned their effectiveness in weakening the country’s military capabilities.

 

Iran proposes meeting with Europeans

Iran has proposed meeting the European parties to a 2015 nuclear deal possibly in Rome this Friday if talks resume with the United States, reports Reuters.

Iran is looking to build on the momentum of nuclear negotiations with the United States that resumed in Oman on Saturday, after talks with Russia and China.

Omani officials have said a new round of US-Iran talks could be held on May 03 in Europe. No formal decision has been taken as yet.

Iran's reach out to Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, suggests Tehran is keeping its options open and also wants to assess where the Europeans stand on the possible re-imposition of UN sanctions before October, when a resolution ratifying the 2015 accord expires.

Iran had communicated after last Saturday's talks with the United States a proposal to meet possibly in Rome on Friday. Should that not be possible, the Iranians also suggested discussions in Tehran before that date.

The second round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran took place in Rome with Iran saying serious differences remained.

The European and Western diplomats said the E3 were assessing whether it was in their interest to meet Iran now or wait to see how talks with Washington developed, but ruled out a meeting in Tehran.

"It is important to remain on the same page with all parties to the 2015 deal. Therefore, meeting the E3 countries this week ahead of the next round of talks with Americans would be useful," said the Iranian official.

 

Iran-US to resume talks in Oman on Saturday

Negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program are set to resume on Saturday in the Omani capital Muscat, where technical experts from both sides will attempt to iron out the details of a potential agreement, reports Euronews.

The discussions aim to curb Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for lifting economic sanctions the US has imposed on the country over nearly half a century.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned he may order airstrikes against Iran's nuclear facilities if a deal is not achieved, while Iranian officials increasingly hint they could pursue nuclear weapons capability with their growing stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium.

Last weekend's talks in Rome provided a neutral ground for Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

However, Rome's period of mourning following the death on Monday of Pope Francis, whose funeral will take place Saturday, and Iranian complaints about media attention in Italy may have influenced the change of venue.

"As you can see, unlike the first round of talks where the presence of journalists was limited...this time in Rome, Italy, that kind of control hasn't been applied," said Iranian state television journalist Hosnieh Sadat Shobeiri.

The talks in Muscat come as Iran shores up support from China and Russia. Araghchi met with officials in Moscow last week and in Beijing earlier this week.

On Thursday, representatives from China, Russia and Iran met with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog.

Although the IAEA did not release details, China's Xinhua news agency reported the three nations believe the IAEA has "the necessary potential and expertise" to contribute to the process, while emphasizing the need for diplomatic solutions.

China reaffirmed Iran's "right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy."

The Trump administration has kept European powers France, Germany and the United Kingdom — co-signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal — out of its direct talks with Iran, mirroring its strategy in negotiations with Russia over the Ukraine conflict.

Meanwhile, Araghchi suggested further discussions with the European nations, writing on X, "The ball is now in the E3's court...How we act at this critical junction is likely to define the foreseeable future."

Two Iranian diplomats, Majid Takht-e Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi, will reportedly lead Tehran's technical team. The American delegation will be headed by Michael Anton, a political strategist and strong Trump supporter, although he lacks direct nuclear policy experience.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated in a recent podcast that Iran must halt uranium enrichment entirely if it wants a civil nuclear program.

"If Iran wants a civil nuclear program, they can have one just like many other countries can have one, and that is they import enriched material," Rubio said.

While Witkoff initially suggested Tehran could enrich uranium to 3.67%, he later aligned with Rubio's position, insisting all enrichment must stop. Iran remains adamant that domestic enrichment is non-negotiable.

Complicating matters further is Israel's stance. Israel, which has targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in the past, has not ruled out future strikes. Israeli forces this week conducted drills preparing for possible Iranian missile attacks, according to broadcaster KAN.

"Our security services are on high alert given past instances of attempted sabotage and assassination operations designed to provoke a legitimate response," Araghchi posted on X on Wednesday.

 

 

Europeans pledge €21 billion military support for Ukraine

Ukraine's key allies from across the globe have announced €21 billion in new military support at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) held in NATO headquarters in Brussels on Friday. The group, once exclusively led by the United States but now led by Germany and Britain, comprises 51 nations and partners, reports Euronews.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said, today's announcement, including Germany's pledge of €11 billion until 2029, is a record boost in military funding for Ukraine.

The €21 billion also includes the Britain's £4.5 billion commitment for this year, which the country’s defense secretary John Healey described as its highest contribution yet.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov warned Russia is "ramping up military production", and said Europe was now "taking the lead in security assistance for which we are thankful to Britain and Europe".

US Secretary of State Pete Hegseth participated online, and Umerov told reporters the US was continuing its military assistance to his country.

The lack of air defense capabilities remains a huge problem for Ukraine, as Russia has sent over 10,000 glide bombs into Ukraine since March, and 100 attack drones every day.

"Air defense is a problem all over the world – we are doing as much as we can as fast as we can," said Pistorius.

Europeans sidelined in US-Iran nuclear talks

Washington's decision not to coordinate with European nations about its negotiations with Iran on Saturday will reduce its leverage and make US and Israeli military action against Tehran ultimately more likely, reports Reuters.

The United States did not tell European countries about the nuclear talks in Oman before President Donald Trump announced them on Tuesday, even though they hold a key card on the possible reimposition of U.N. sanctions on Tehran, three European diplomats said.

"The United States is going to need a coordinated diplomatic strategy with its European allies going into these negotiations with Iran," said Blaise Misztal, vice president for policy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America.

That coordination is "crucial to making sure that there is maximum pressure and any diplomatic option has a chance of success," Misztal said.

Trump, who restored a "maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran in February, on Wednesday repeated threats to use military force against Iran if it didn't halt its nuclear program and said Israel would be "the leader of that."

The West suspects Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons, which it denies. The threat of renewed sanctions is intended to pressure Tehran into concessions, but detailed discussions on strategy have yet to take place with the Americans, the diplomats said.

Because the United States quit a 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, it cannot initiate its mechanism for reimposing sanctions, called snapback, at the United Nations Security Council.

That makes Britain, Germany and France, known as the E3, the only deal participants capable of and interested in pursuing snapback, so it is crucial that Washington align with these allies, analysts said. Israel, Iran's arch-enemy, has already lobbied the E3 to initiate it.

According to the three diplomats, the E3 told Iran they would trigger the snapback mechanism by the end of June. Iran responded that doing so would mean harsh consequences and a review of its nuclear doctrine, the diplomats said.

"The E3 do not trust the United States because it is taking initiatives without them being consulted," said a senior European diplomat.

Trump withdrew the US in 2018 from the nuclear deal with Iran also signed by Russia and China. The accord curbed Iran's nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief. Russia opposes restoring sanctions.

Under the nuclear accord, participants can initiate the 30-day snapback process if they are unable to resolve accusations of Iranian violations through a dispute-resolution mechanism. But that opportunity expires on October 18 when the accord ends.

Since the US exited the deal in 2018, Iran has far surpassed its uranium enrichment limits, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Tehran is producing stocks of fissile purity well above what Western powers say is justifiable for a civilian energy program and close to weapons grade.

The US administration's approach echoes Trump's first term in office, when he also prioritized unilateral talks with Iran, and with his stance on the war in Ukraine, where Washington has begun direct talks with Moscow, sidelining Europeans.

European officials have held some meetings with US counterparts but said they were not sufficiently in-depth.

Even a meeting on Iran with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers meeting a week before Trump's announcement was difficult to arrange, three E3 officials said.

The British, French and German foreign ministries did not respond directly when asked if they had been made aware of the Oman talks ahead of time.

"We remain committed to taking every diplomatic step to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, including through snapback if necessary," a British foreign ministry spokesperson said.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said tersely on Wednesday that the French "take note with interest" the talks.

Having negotiated with Iran as a trio as far back as 2003 on the nuclear issue, the European countries consider their role essential to a solution. In the 2015 deal, a key carrot for Iran was being able to trade with Europe.

The Europeans have helped the United States pressure Iran in recent months, including at the UN atomic watchdog and with new sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile program, detention of foreign citizens and support for Russia in the war against Ukraine.

During the US policy vacuum after Trump won the election but before he took office, the Europeans tried to take the initiative by holding exploratory talks with Iran that began in September and have continued.

The E3 said that was necessary because time was running out before the 2015 deal expires on October 18, 2025. They have tried to sound out whether new restrictions, albeit narrower than those agreed in 2015, could be negotiated before then.

Diplomats said that in those talks, Iranian officials have often quizzed their counterparts on the new US administration.

"Iran believes that talks with the E3 and other parties to the nuclear deal can help defuse tensions over its nuclear program and can be complementary to talks with the US," said an Iranian official.

 

 

 

Iran: Tangled nuclear dispute with the West

Iran and the United States are scheduled to hold talks on Saturday on Iran's nuclear program, with US President Donald Trump having threatened military action if they cannot agree a deal. Iran's nuclear program has been the subject of a long dispute between it and Western countries that fear it wants to build an atomic bomb, which Tehran denies. Here is a timeline of the dispute:

1957 - Iran and United States signed a nuclear cooperation deal and the United States delivers a research reactor to Iran a decade later.

1970 - Iran ratified the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), giving it the right to a civilian nuclear program but barring it from seeking an atomic bomb.

1979 - Iran's Islamic revolution upended its ties to major powers, turning former ally the United States into its main foe.

1995 - Russia agreed to finish construction of Iran's planned nuclear power plant at Bushehr, originally started by Germany and shelved after the revolution.

2003 - The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), alleged Iran has not complied with NPT after the revelation it has secretly built a uranium enrichment plant at Natanz and a heavy water plant for plutonium at Arak.

Both can be used to make fuel for nuclear power but they can also be used in atomic warheads.

Iran accepted European proposals for more transparency in its nuclear program including snap IAEA inspections.

2004 - The IAEA said Iran did not provided the transparency it promised. Iran said it would not suspend uranium enrichment activity.

2005 - Russia offered to supply Iran with fuel for Bushehr to stop it developing its own fuel by making enriched uranium or plutonium.

IAEA said Iran was not in compliance with agreements and EU countries halted negotiations.

2006 - Iran resumed work at Natanz, said in April it had enriched uranium for the first time to about 3.5%, far short of the 90% needed for a warhead.

World powers the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany - later known collectively as the P5+1 offered Iran incentives to halt enrichment.

The United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on Iran over its enrichment.

2009 - Western countries alleged Iran was building another secret uranium enrichment facility under a mountain at Fordow near Qom.

2010 - Iran started making 20% enriched uranium. The UN Security Council expanded sanctions including an embargo on major weapons systems, as the US and EU tighten their own sanctions.

A computer virus - Stuxnet - deployed aimed at paralyzing the Natanz plant, the start of direct operations against Iranian facilities that Tehran blames on Israel.

2011 - Bushehr nuclear plant started operations. Iran said it was using more advanced centrifuges to expand its 20% enrichment program.

2013 - Former nuclear negotiator Hassan Rouhani was elected Iranian president offering new proposals. He and US President Barack Obama hold a first call between leaders of the countries since 1979.

Iran-P5+1 talks in Geneva resulted in a Joint Plan of Action with steps required by both sides including reducing Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, more IAEA access and some sanctions relief.

2014 - Negotiations on a final deal continued through the year, with Iran halting uranium enrichment to 20% and work at Arak and getting access to oil revenue frozen by sanctions.

US allies in the region, Israel and Saudi Arabia, repeatedly cautioned Washington against a deal, saying Iran could not be trusted and citing its growing sway in the region.

2015 - Iran and the P5+1 agreed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal that limits Iran's nuclear work, allowing more inspections and a loosening of sanctions.

2016 - IAEA said Iran had met its commitments under the JCPOA, leading to UN sanctions tied to the nuclear program being lifted.

However, Iran's long-range ballistic missile tests prompt unease despite Tehran saying they could not carry nuclear warheads.

2017 - New US President Donald Trump declared the JCPOA was the "worst deal ever" and unilaterally pulled out. Despite Trump promising a better deal there have been no new talks.

2018 - The US reimposed on Iran.

2019 - With ties between Iran and the West deteriorating, a string of attacks on Gulf oil tankers and other regional energy facilities were blamed by the US on Iran.

2020 - A blast rocks Iran's Natanz plant and a nuclear scientist is assassinated near Tehran with Iran blaming both incidents on Israel.

2021 - With Trump out of the White House, the US and Iran resumed indirect talks but there was little progress.

Iran started enriching uranium to 60% - not too far from 90% needed for a bomb.

There were attacks on Iran's Natanz and a centrifuge factory in Karaj.

2022 - The IAEA accused Iran did not answer questions over uranium traces found at more sites. Iran stopped IAEA inspections and installed more new centrifuges at Natanz.

2025 - Trump returns to the White House and declared Iran must agree to a nuclear deal or there will be bombing.

 

Who is responsible for the killing of Gazans?

The question of who is responsible for the killing of Gazans is complex and deeply tied to the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Responsibility depends on the context, perspective, and the specific events being referred to. In this post an attempt is being made to understand the present situation and propose a plausible solution:

Humanitarian perspective:

The Israeli military is often held responsible for a significant number of civilian casualties in Gaza, especially during major military operations. Israel says it targets Hamas and other militant groups, but these operations have resulted in many civilian deaths due to the densely populated nature of Gaza

Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza are also accused for operating from within civilian areas, use human shields, or launch rockets indiscriminately into Israeli territory, provoking retaliatory strikes and contributing to the cycle of violence.

International perspective:

International organizations, like the United Nations and human rights groups ‑ Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch ‑ accuse both Israel and Palestinian armed groups for the lingering conflict resulting in huge loss of human lives, particularly women and children.

Israel often accused of disproportionate use of force and blockade policies that severely impact civilians.

Palestinian groups are condemned for indiscriminate rocket attacks and operating in ways that endanger Israeli civilians.

Structural and political responsibility:

Long-term occupation, blockade, and lack of a viable peace process can be termed as structural causes of repeated violence.

Israel controls most of Gaza’s borders, airspace, and resources, while Hamas governs internally but with limited capacity.

International actors, including the United States, Egypt, Iran, and others, also play roles through military aid, political backing, or indirect support.

Crux of the Matter:

Direct military actions causing deaths are typically attributed to the Israeli military or Palestinian armed groups, depending on perspective of on lookers. Broader responsibility lies with political leaders, ongoing occupation, militant governance, and an international community that has often failed to resolve the underlying issues.

Way Forward:

Israel, now fully supported by US President Donald Trump wants complete cleansing/ exit of Gazans. During the ongoing conflict nearly 100,000 Gazans, mostly women and children have been killed. However, Gazans resolve has sustained are they are not ready to desert their homeland.

The other and more civilized option is creation of two states, Israel and Palestine. Saudi Arabia and many other Muslim countries support this.

United States also initiated Abraham Accords paving way for the recognition of Israel. However, many supporters of this initiative want Israel to go back to its original borders and let the Palestinians manage their own state.

Gaza 'Riviera of the Middle East'

Now the real stumbling block is US President Trump's plan to make Gaza 'Riviera of the Middle East' which requires all the 2.2 million residents to vacate the strip. This vision involved the United States taking control of Gaza, relocating its approximately two million Palestinian residents to neighboring countries, and redeveloping the area into a luxury resort destination. Trump suggested that Gaza's coastal location could make it "better than Monaco" if redeveloped appropriately.

This proposal received strong support from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, who viewed it as a means to disarm Hamas and alter the region's dynamics. However, it faced significant criticism internationally. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres labeled the plan as "ethnic cleansing," emphasizing that forcibly transferring populations violates international law. Arab nations, including Jordan, also rejected the proposal, with Jordan's King Abdullah II expressing firm opposition to the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.

The plan also sparked debate within the United States, with bipartisan concerns about its feasibility and ethical implications. Critics argued that it misread the interests of Arab partners and could destabilize the region further. Facing mounting opposition, President Trump later stated that he would "recommend" but not enforce the plan, indicating a step back from the initial proposal.

 

 

 

 

Houthis ban US vessels from entering Red Sea

According the Seatrade Maritime News, Houthis have banned the entry of the US vessels from navigation of the southern Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Gulf Aden, and that it will target US Navy ships in response to US airstrikes on Yemen.

US attacks on Yemen on March 15 have claimed 53 lives, according to the Houthis, as US President Trump increased military action to reopen the Red Sea to commercial shipping.

Posting on Truth Social, the US President said, “The Houthis have choked off shipping in one of the most important Waterways of the World, grinding vast swaths of Global Commerce to a halt, and attacking the core principle of Freedom of Navigation upon which International Trade and Commerce depends.”

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the US would continue to target the Houthis until their threats to shipping were withdrawn.

The White House posted an article listing Houthi attacks on international shipping and their impact on world trade, including the drop in Red Sea and Suez Canal transits.

Ships continue to avoid the southern Red Sea due to the risk of escalation at short notice in the region, although no Houthi attacks on merchant ships have been reported this year.

The announcement of the Houthis’ ‘ban’ on US vessels follows a statement issued by the group last week that it was resuming a ‘ban’ on Israeli vessels in the Red and Arabian Seas, Bab al-Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden until Israel allows aid to flow into Gaza.

In January this year, the Houthis lifted its ‘ban’ on international shipping transiting the Red Sea as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas progressed, but warned that aggression against its forces in Yemen by the US or Britain would make the nations’ vessels subject to attack once again.

A further signal of progress was seen in January when the crew of car carrier Galaxy Leader were released after 14 months in Houthis captivity.

The US strikes and Houthi response are in line with expectations when the Israel-Hamas ceasefire was announced - security experts said at the time that the region remained volatile, the ceasefire was fragile, escalation could happen quickly, and Israeli, US and UK ships were particularly at threat.

Since November 2023, there have been 112 incidents recorded in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including six serious incidents, 42 minor incidents, 46 attempted attacks, and four hijackings, according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC).

Four mariners have been killed and two seriously injured in Houthi attacks on merchant ships.

 

Who is the terrorist: United States or Yemen?

According to media reports, the death toll from Saturday night’s joint airstrikes by United Stat and Britain on multiple Yemeni cities has risen to 31, with 101 others injured, mostly women and children.

Anis Al-Asbahi, the ministry’s spokesperson stated, “The massacres committed by the US aggression targeting civilian and residential areas in Sanaa, Saada, Al-Bayda, and Rada’a on Saturday resulted in 132 civilian casualties, including 31 martyrs and 101 wounded, mostly children and women.”

He added that the figures remain preliminary, as search efforts continue to recover victims following a series of US airstrikes targeting civilian sites.

Asbahi condemned the attacks, calling them a “full-fledged war crime” and a “blatant violation of all international laws and conventions.”

On Saturday, Yemen had initially reported that 24 people were killed and 23 others wounded in the strikes.

The Yemen had previously warned Israel on March 07 to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza within four days or face renewed maritime operations against Israeli-linked vessels.

The US launched the latest airstrikes on Yemen as President Donald Trump warned that “hell will rain down” if the group continued attacks on Red Sea shipping.

Since late 2023, Yemen has targeted Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea using missiles and drones, citing solidarity with Gaza.

The attacks were halted when a Gaza ceasefire was declared in January between Israel and Hamas but later threatened to resume operations when Israel blocked all aid into Gaza on March 02.

France, Germany, Italy and Britain back Arab plan for Gaza reconstruction

According to Reuters, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy and Britain said on Saturday they supported an Arab-backed plan for the reconstruction of Gaza that would cost US$53 billion and avoid displacing Palestinians from the enclave.

"The plan shows a realistic path to the reconstruction of Gaza and promises – if implemented – swift and sustainable improvement of the catastrophic living conditions for the Palestinians living in Gaza," the ministers said in a joint statement.

The plan, which was drawn up by Egypt and adopted by Arab leaders on Tuesday, has been rejected by Israel and by US President Donald Trump, who has presented his own vision to turn the Gaza Strip into a "Middle East Riviera".

The Egyptian proposal envisages the creation of an administrative committee of independent, professional Palestinian technocrats entrusted with the governance of Gaza after the end of the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

The committee would be responsible for the oversight of humanitarian aid and managing the Strip's affairs for a temporary period under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority.

The statement issued by the four European countries on Saturday said they were committed to working with the Arab initiative, and they appreciated the important signal the Arab states had sent by developing it.

The statement said Hamas "must neither govern Gaza nor be a threat to Israel any more" and that the four countries "support the central role for the Palestinian Authority and the implementation of its reform agenda.

 

 

US exports 1.91 billion gallons ethanol in 2024

The United States exported 194.42 million gallons ethanol in December, taking export volumes for the full year 2024 to a record 1.91 billion gallons, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on February 05, 2025. Distillers grains exports were at 1.06 million metric tons in December, to a total 12.23 million metric tons for the full year.

The 194.42 million gallons of ethanol exported in December was up from both the 187.6 million gallons exported the previous month and the 155.4 million gallons exported in December 2023.

The US exported ethanol to approximately three dozen countries in December. Canada was the top destination for US ethanol exports at 62.82 million gallons, followed by the Netherlands at 32.07 million gallons and the Britain at 27.06 million gallons. 

The value of US ethanol exports reached US$421.66 million in December, up from both US$398.46 million in November and US$365.93 million in December of the previous year. 

Total US ethanol exports for 2024 reached 1.91 billion gallons at a value of US$4.31 billion, as compared to 1.4 billion gallons exported in 2023 at a value of US$3.81 billion. Canada was the top destination for US ethanol exports last year, at 674.6 million gallons, followed by the Britain at 243.84 million gallons and India at 187.03 million gallons.  

The 1.06 million metric tons of distillers grains exported in December was up from both the 946,804 metric tons exported the previous month and the 1.02 million metric tons exported in December 2023. 

The US exported distillers grains to nearly three dozen countries in December. Mexico was the top destination for US distillers grains exports at 195,409 metric tons, followed by Colombia at 118,765 metric tons and Vietnam at 104,626 metric tons. 

The value of US distillers grains exports was US$282.97 million in December, as compared to US$228.98 million in November and US$288.41 million in December of the previous year. 

Total US distillers grains exports for 2024 reached 12.23 million metric tons at a value of US$3.2 billion, as compared to 10.78 million metric tons exported in 2023 at a value of US$3.29 billion. Mexico was the top destination for US distillers grains exports last year at 2.54 million metric tons, followed by South Korea at 1.49 million metric tons and Vietnam at 1.02 million metric tons. 

 

Iran condemns British-US attacks on Yemen

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has issued a stern condemnation of the recent airstrikes conducted by Britain and the United States on Yemen's northern province of Saada.

In a statement released on Sunday, Spokesperson Esmail Baqaei denounced the attacks as flagrant violations of Yemen's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, pointing out that they contradict the principles of international law.

Baqaei highlighted the recurrent nature of these military violations, involving not only the US and Britain but also the Israeli regime, against Yemen.

"These acts of aggression will lead to increased insecurity and further instability in West Asia," Baqaei warned.

In the early days of the New Year, British and US forces launched multiple airstrikes targeting vital infrastructure in Saada.

These attacks have caused significant damage to power stations, communication networks, and other critical infrastructure.

Analysts believe these repeated airstrikes aim to undermine Yemen's ability to support Gaza and are part of a broader strategy to destabilize the region.

Baqaei also criticized the ongoing support provided by Britain and the US to the Israeli regime, describing it as "direct involvement in committing heinous international crimes against the people of Gaza."

He praised the Yemeni people's solidarity with Palestinians and urged the international community, particularly Islamic countries, to take more decisive action to halt the violence in occupied Palestine.

"The international community must take swift and decisive measures to end the suffering of the Palestinian people and ensure their protection," Baqaei asserted.

 

JCPOA no longer relevant, says IAEA chief

Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has said that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is no longer viable, appearing to place sole responsibility for the 2015 nuclear deal's lame-duck state on Iran.

"The philosophy of the initial JCPOA agreement can be used as a basis, but the agreement itself is no longer necessary," Grossi remarked during his visit to Italy for discussions with the Foreign Ministry. 

The UN nuclear chief pointed out that Iran is now enriching uranium to levels of 60%, a threshold that he said brings the country close to the capability to produce military-grade uranium, which requires enrichment to 90%. "Iran is rapidly approaching the status of a nuclear state," he claimed. 

Grossi omitted any mention of the West's abandonment of the deal, the factor that prompted Iran to curtail some of its JCPOA commitments in the first place. 

The JCPOA was signed in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries (the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China). It aimed to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the termination of sanctions.

Washington unilaterally withdrew from the pact in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions against Iran. European signatories to the deal not only failed to take the sting out of US sanctions but also came up with anti-Iran bans of their own. 

Tehran began to scale back on some of its JCPOA commitments in 2020, under a new law passed by the Iranian parliament. 
 

 

 

British farmers unite against Starmer

Hundreds of British protesters opposing changes to inheritance tax rules for farms gathered outside the Welsh Labour conference as the prime minister defended his government's recent Budget measures, the BBC reported.

Farming unions have said the planned changes will have "disastrous" consequences.

Keir Starmer told the conference in Llandudno, Conwy, he would defend the Budget "all day long" for taking "tough decisions that were necessary to stabilize our economy".

Dozens of tractors and farm vehicles were parked on the prom outside the conference at Venue Cymru.

Signs reading "Enough is enough" and "No Farmers No Food" were held up as conference attendees entered the building.

Conwy County farmer and broadcaster Gareth Wyn Jones said he and others were taking part in the protest to "air their frustrations".

He described the changes to inheritance tax rules as a "massive bombshell" that would affect "thousands" of farming families.

Meanwhile, one of the organizers Gareth Wyn Jones, a Welsh farmer and YouTuber, told Sky News that farmers will deliver Starmer a letter which starts "'don't bite the hand that feeds you".

The UK premier was accused of “running out the backdoor like a rat” to avoid scores of angry farmers outside the conference.

 

Iranian Court commence trail of US Administration

According to the Tehran Times, an Iranian court has commenced the trial of the US administration and its officials for their role in the 1953 coup against the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. 

The first session was held on Sunday, marking the 71st anniversary of the coup, at the 55th branch of the court dealing with international affairs in Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Judicial Complex. 

This lawsuit, brought by some 402,000 Iranians, targets six American individuals and legal entities for their involvement in the ousting of Mosaddegh, which paved the way for the pro-Western monarchy of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi until the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Lawyer Shami Aghdam, representing the plaintiffs, stated that "documents show the US spy agency CIA, with the help of its British counterpart MI6, planned the coup by using internal and external agents against the legitimate government of Iran on August 19, 1953." 

Aghdam further explained that Washington and London designed the military coup through violating international principles and rules, and interfering in the internal affairs of Iran, intending to maintain their influence and power in the government, securing their interests and looting the country’s property.

He added that the coup was carried out by military and political figures affiliated with the US and British governments, as well as "thugs."

Aghdam concluded by stating that In fact, the coup marked the beginning of Washington’s complete domination over Iran to make it more dependent than before and prevent its independence and progress. The domination lasted for more than 25 years and inflicted costs, as well as material and spiritual damage, on the country and the nation.

The 1953 coup in Iran is known as Operation Ajax by the United States and its lesser-involved ally, Britain. The putsch happened after the Brits took umbrage at Mosaddegh’s decision to nationalize the Iranian oil industry, previously controlled by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC). This move angered Britain, which relied heavily on Iranian oil.

After failing to force the Iranian Prime Minister to walk back on his decision through an economic siege, London decided to seek direct help from the US, who Mosaddegh believed could be a relying partner for Iran in the absence of Britain. 

The CIA, under the direction of Kermit Roosevelt Jr., began planning the coup in early 1953. The operation aimed to create unrest and discredit Mossadegh while rallying support for the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The CIA’s main tool to incite public discontent against Mossadegh was propaganda. Americans portrayed the leader as a communist threat, while also funding opposition groups and organizing violent demonstrations.

On August 19, 1953, the coup was executed. Initially, it faced setbacks, but after some strategic adjustments and further riots, military forces loyal to the Shah took control of Tehran. Mossadegh was arrested, and the Shah was reinstated with increased power.

As stated by many historians as well as top Iranian figures and politicians, the coup toppling Mosaddegh in 1953 opened the floodgates to decades of the US meddling in Iran’s internal affairs. The upheaval, though bitter in nature, also became the first lesson that Iranians learnt, the US cannot be trusted when it comes to respecting the sovereignty, integrity, and independence of other countries. 

“There are some people who say that we should somehow compromise with the US because this way, their enmities might decrease. No, [This is not right]. They have not even shown mercy to those who trusted, pinned their hopes on, and referred to the US for assistance,” Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei explained during a gathering in 2017.  “Who for example?

Dr. Mosaddegh. In order to fight and stand up against the English – this is what he wished to do – he turned to the Americans. He met with and negotiated with them and asked for their help. He trusted them. [But] The coup d'état of the 28th of Mordad (1953 coup) was not launched by the English, rather it was launched by the US against Mosaddegh.”

 

Europe planning Abraham Accords II

According to the Tehran Times, France, Germany, and Britain intend to join the 146 countries recognizing Palestine as a state, contingent upon significant concessions from Iran, including its recognition of Israel and a halt to support for resistance groups in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria.

The initiative proposed by France and endorsed by Britain and Germany aims to offer additional protections for Israel but does not establish any conditions to safeguard Palestinians against Israel's apartheid policies in the occupied territories, its massacres in Gaza, the abuse of Palestinian prisoners, or the growing number of illegal settlements in the West Bank.

If the initiative is implemented, the European trio will align with their counterparts in Norway, Ireland, and Spain, who became the latest group of European countries to recognize Palestine as a state earlier this year. While the May decision drew fury from the Israeli regime, it failed to stop the ongoing suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied territories.

According to information gathered by the Tehran Times, White House officials have expressed their support for the European plan as they view it as a continuation of the 2020 Abraham Accords, which led to recognition of Israel's sovereignty over Palestinian territories by some Arab and African nations, including the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.

Saudi Arabia was on the verge of joining the accords before the outbreak of the latest round of Israeli onslaughts in Gaza. 

Some critics in Europe and the US have warned that even if Iran were to acknowledge Israel and distance itself from the resistance, Israel would not be granted the security it desires. Rather, the move would reinforce the regime's unlawful practices and hinder any prospects for a genuine peace process. They highlight that the Abraham Accords did not stop the successful Hamas operation on October 7, when Palestinian fighters seized control of several Israeli settlements for hours and took some Israelis to Gaza.

Sources have told the Tehran Times that voices averse to the initiative believe Western leaders should recognize and respect Palestinians’ rights, instead of turning to regional countries to strengthen Israel’s hand. 

The Tehran Times understands that besides the perceived impracticality and ineffectiveness of the initiative, some in Europe and the United States also believe that Iran is highly unlikely to acquiesce to Europe's demands.

Nevertheless, the leaders of France, Germany, and Britain intend to promote the initiative in the future as a way to vindicate themselves following months of intense criticism regarding their support for Israel’s devastating campaign in Gaza. 

Europe intends to throw the ball in Iran’s court and blame it for the crisis in Gaza after Tehran rejects the initiative, the Tehran Times was informed. Rather than a genuine attempt at peace, Europe’s proposed recognition of Palestine is a calculated move to shift blame onto Iran. 

In the past 10 months, over 40,000 Palestinians have lost their lives as a direct result of Israeli attacks on the besieged enclave. War experts say at least 100,000 more people will end up losing their lives, due to the complete decimation of medical centers in Gaza, as well as an acute shortage of food, clean water, and medicine.