Trump aims to destroy Iranian nuclear sites

US President Donald Trump's threat to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities is a clear red line and will have severe consequences, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported on Friday.

"If US seeks a diplomatic solution, it must abandon the language of threats and sanctions," an unnamed Iranian official said, adding that such threats "are open hostility against Iran's national interests."

Trump has told reporters on Wednesday at the White House, “I want it (nuclear agreement) very strong where we can go in with inspectors, we can take whatever we want, we can blow up whatever we want, but nobody getting killed. We can blow up a lab, but nobody is gonna be in a lab, as opposed to everybody being in the lab and blowing it up.”

Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails to resolve a decades-long dispute over Tehran's nuclear program.

Trump said on Friday that an Iran deal was possible in the "not-too-distant future."

 

 

 

 

 

Yemen strikes Ben Gurion Airport once again

The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on Friday the execution of a military operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and have warned they will continue enforcing an air and maritime blockade unless the siege on Gaza is lifted. The attack was conducted using a hypersonic ballistic missile, reports the Tehran Times.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, confirmed that the operation successfully achieved its objectives.

He said it forced “millions of occupying Zionists to flee into shelters and brought air traffic at the airport to a halt.”

Saree emphasized that the operation reaffirms the Yemeni Armed Forces’ ongoing religious, moral, and humanitarian duty toward the Palestinian people.

He stated that Yemen will persist in enforcing a blockade on Israeli air navigation to and from Ben Gurion Airport and will respond to any Israeli aggression against Yemen with further military support operations in solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people.

Israeli media had reported detecting a ballistic missile launched from Yemen, which led to the suspension of air traffic at Ben Gurion Airport. This coincided with air raid sirens sounding across wide areas.

Israeli police also reported receiving alerts about fragments from a missile falling in southern Jerusalem (occupied al-Quds) and a nearby settlement.

The government in Sanaa has vowed that the Israeli aggression will not deter Yemen from its ongoing military operations in support of Gaza.

The leader of the Ansarallah movement, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, also declared that “Israeli aggression on Sanaa International Airport will not stop Yemeni operations in support of the Palestinian people.”

He added that the Yemeni Armed Forces are preparing to escalate their operations in the coming phase to increase their effectiveness and impact on the Israeli enemy.

On Wednesday, Israeli warplanes launched several airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport, only about ten days after it had resumed operations following a previous Israeli attack.

This latest attack by the Yemeni Armed Forces is part of a series of military actions aimed at imposing an aerial blockade on the Israeli occupation regime. The repeated missile attacks have specifically targeted Ben Gurion Airport.

In recent weeks, these operations have led to repeated disruptions in air traffic and prompted several international airlines to suspend flights to and from Tel Aviv.

Yemen maintains that these attacks are being carried out in support of the Palestinians in Gaza and has pledged to continue launching strikes until the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza ends and the blockade on the coastal strip is lifted.

 

PSX benchmark index up 0.49%WoW

Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) remained range-bound throughout the week, weighed down by uncertainty regarding potential revenue measures in the upcoming Federal Budget FY26, trading within the thin range. Benchmark index gained 588 points or 0.49%WoW to close at 119,691 points on Friday, May 30, 2025.

Market participation improved, with average daily traded volumes rising by 34.6%WoW to 662 million shares, up from 492 million shares a week ago.

The IMF concluded its staff mission last week on the Federal Budget FY26, stating that discussions on the upcoming budget proposals were constructive, while further deliberations will continue.

GoP raised PKR720 billion from T-Bills auction, with cutoff yields for 6-month falling to 11.18%, which was at a 38-month low.

China has assured Pakistan of US$3.7 billion in refinancing in June 2025, which will facilitate Pakistan to meet IMF's foreign exchange reserves target of US$14 billion by the FY25 end.

The government is reportedly close to finalizing a financing agreement aimed at retiring circular debt in the power sector.

PKR depreciated marginally by 0.02%WoW to close at 282.02/US$.

Foreign exchange reserves held by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) increased by US$70 million to a 19-week high of US$11.5 billion.

Other major news flow during the week included: 1) Weekly inflation recorded a decline of 0.81%, 2) FBR to levy 18% sales tax in FATA/PATA region, 3) GoP considering exempting import of equipment and machinery for up-gradation of refineries under Brownfield Refinery Policy, 4) GoP considering reduction of GST on packaged milk, and 5) SBP raised PKR187 billion through floating rate PIBs.

Jute, Textile Weaving, and Paper & Board were amongst the top performing sectors, while Automobile Assembler, Transport, and Food & Personal Care were the laggards.

Major selling was recorded by Foreigners with a net sell of US$5.6 million. On the other hand, Brokers and individuals absorbed most of the selling with a net buy of US$6.4 million.

Top performing scrips of the week were: KTML, PKGP, KEL, PTC, and APL, while laggards included TPLRF, RMPL, GADT, SAZEW, and AGL.

According to AKD Securities, market is expected to remain positive in the coming weeks, with developments around the upcoming federal budget likely to drive short-term sentiment, along with room for rate cut in the upcoming MPC meeting as forecast for FY26 inflation at 7.0%.

The benchmark index is anticipated to sustain its upward trajectory, primarily driven by strong earnings in Fertilizers, sustained ROEs in Banks, and improving cash flows of E&Ps and OMCs, benefiting from falling interest rates and economic stability.

Top picks of the brokerage house include, OGDC, PPL, PSO, FFC, ENGROH, MEBL, MCB, HBL, LUCK, FCCL, INDU, and SYS.

 

Israel announces major expansion of settlements in occupied West Bank

Israeli ministers announced 22 new Jewish settlements have been approved in the occupied West Bank — the biggest expansion in decades. Several already exist as outposts, built without government authorization, but will now be made legal under Israeli law. Others are completely new, according to Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, reports BBC.

Settlements — which are widely seen as illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this — are one of the most contentious issues between Israel and the Palestinians.

Katz said the move "prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel", while the Palestinian presidency called it a "dangerous escalation".

The Israeli anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now called it "the most extensive move of its kind" in more than 30 years and warned that it would "dramatically reshape the West Bank and entrench the occupation even further".

Israel has built about 160 settlements housing some 700,000 Jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem — land Palestinians want, along with Gaza, for their hoped-for future state — in the 1967 Middle East war.

Successive Israeli governments have allowed settlements to grow. However, expansion has risen sharply since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022 at the head of a right-wing, pro-settler coalition, as well as the start of the Gaza war, triggered on 07 October 07, 2023.

On Thursday, Israel Katz and Bezalel Smotrich — an ultranationalist leader and settler who has control over planning in the West Bank — officially confirmed a decision that is believed to have been taken by the government two weeks ago.

A statement said ministers had approved 22 new settlements, the "renewal of settlement in northern Samaria, northern West Bank, and reinforcement of the eastern axis of the State of Israel".

It highlighted what the ministers described as the "historic return" to Homesh and Sa-Nur, two settlements deep in the northern West Bank which were evacuated at the same time as Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005.

Two years ago, a group of settlers established a Jewish religious school and an unauthorized outpost at Homesh, which reports say would be among nine made legal under Israeli law.

Another settlement will reportedly be built not far to the south on Mount Ebal, near Nablus.

Katz said the decision was a "strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel, and serves as a buffer against our enemies."

"This is a Zionist, security, and national response — and a clear decision on the future of the country," he added.

Smotrich called it a "once-in-a-generation decision" and declared, "Next step sovereignty".

A spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas — who governs parts of the West Bank not under full Israeli control — called it a "dangerous escalation" and accused Israel of continuing to drag the region into a "cycle of violence and instability".

"This extremist Israeli government is trying by all means to prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state," Nabil Abu Rudeineh told Reuters news agency.

Lior Amihai, director of Peace Now said, "The Israeli government no longer pretends otherwise, the annexation of the occupied territories and expansion of settlements is its central goal."

This step is a blow to renewed efforts to revive momentum on a two-state solution to the decades-old Israel-Palestinian conflict — the internationally approved formula for peace that would see the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel — with a French-Saudi summit planned at the UN's headquarters in New York next month.

Last year, the UN's top court issued an advisory opinion saung, "Israel's continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful". The International Court of Justice (ICJ) also said Israeli settlements "have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law", and that Israel should "evacuate all settlers".

Israel's prime minister said at the time that the court had made a "decision of lies" and insisted that "the Jewish people are not occupiers in their own land".

Iran executes Mossad spy Pedram Madani

The Iranian Judiciary has announced the execution of Pedram Madani, convicted of espionage for the Israeli regime's Mossad intelligence service and large-scale financial corruption. The sentence was carried out after all legal appeals and procedures were completed.

According to a statement released by the Iranian Judiciary's Media Center, Madani was initially apprehended in Tehran in 2020.

He faced serious charges including "espionage on behalf of the criminal Zionist regime’s intelligence service (Mossad)" and "acquisition of property through illegitimate means, involving the receipt of foreign cash currency (Euros) in Europe and digital currency (Bitcoin)."

The Judiciary statement outlined Madani's extensive activities on behalf of the hostile foreign service. Before his arrest, Madani frequently traveled outside Iran, particularly to Germany.

"Utilizing training courses provided by Mossad," the statement detailed, "he sought to recruit individuals and collect classified information, transmitting it securely to his Mossad handler."

Evidence presented during his trial proved damning. Judicial documents confirmed Madani's efforts to transmit sensitive classified data, "including locations and buildings housing critical infrastructure equipment," via secure communication channels to his Mossad officer.

Furthermore, the Judiciary revealed that "during one of several meetings with his service officer in various countries, Pedram Madani met his direct Mossad handler at the Zionist regime’s embassy in Brussels."

Digital forensics played a crucial role in the case. "Information recovered from Pedram Madani's electronic devices," the Judiciary stated, "showed exchanges of messages between the accused and his Mossad officer."

Crucially, evidence included an order from the officer instructing Madani to "categorize the information and transfer it to the specialized section of the service." Madani's travels to the occupied territories during his period of collaboration with Mossad were also documented by investigators.

Iranian security services successfully monitored and terminated Madani's espionage network. "With intelligence oversight, his information networks were dismantled, his connection with the service was severed, and he was arrested," the Judiciary Media Center reported.

After undergoing the full process of criminal proceedings, Madani was found guilty of espionage for Mossad. The court convicted him of "Moharebeh" (waging war against God) and "Efsade Fil Arz" (corruption on earth), sentencing him to death.

"The sentences issued by the court were carried out after completing all legal formalities, and the convict was hanged," the Judiciary Media Center concluded, confirming the execution of the sentence against Pedram Madani.

Iran has long been a target of espionage and destabilization efforts by the Israeli regime. The Islamic Republic maintains a vigilant and robust security apparatus that has consistently identified, apprehended, and brought to justice individuals engaged in espionage and terrorist activities on behalf of hostile foreign entities, particularly Mossad.

Recent high-profile cases, such as the apprehension of Mohsen Langaraneshin – a key Mossad agent linked to terrorist operations within Iran – further demonstrate Iran's unwavering commitment to protecting its national security, sovereignty, and citizens from foreign interference and threats.

 

 

Persian Gulf: Iran and its international rivals

In recent months, tensions in the Persian Gulf have reentered the global spotlight—not through official declarations, but via a silent escalation playing out beneath the waves and between the straits. 

A string of maritime incidents, including ship seizures, sabotage operations, and contested maneuvers near the Strait of Hormuz, signal a renewed phase in the long-standing shadow war between Iran and its regional and international rivals.

The Persian Gulf is more than a strategic waterway; it is a living barometer of regional power shifts. The reconfiguration of alliances post-Abraham Accords, coupled with the fluctuating presence of US naval forces and growing Chinese and Russian maritime interests, has intensified the complexity of the Persian Gulf’s security architecture.

Iran, amid this shifting terrain, has reasserted its deterrence policy by emphasizing control over its maritime borders and responding assertively to any provocations.

What distinguishes the recent maritime confrontations is Iran's evolving use of asymmetric tactics. Swarm boat strategies, drone surveillance, and strategic use of legal justifications—such as violations of maritime law or territorial infringements—have created a layered deterrent.

This blend of legal framing and tactical innovation complicates traditional Western responses, especially in light of the US Navy’s overstretched commitments and decreasing regional political will.

The revival of maritime tensions arrives as global energy routes remain vulnerable. While the Ukraine war has redirected European focus to the Black Sea, any disruption in the Persian Gulf—through escalation or miscalculation—would immediately reverberate across global oil markets.

Recent warnings by the International Maritime Organization and insurance spikes on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz reflect this latent anxiety.

Western narratives often frame Iran’s maritime moves as purely aggressive or destabilizing. What they fail to capture is Tehran’s perception of maritime sovereignty and the deep-seated belief that the Strait of Hormuz is not merely a conduit for oil, but a frontline in a decades-long confrontation.

The lack of a regional maritime security framework, driven by Persian Gulf rivalries and external interference, leaves the space dangerously under-regulated.

If maritime escalation is to be averted, regional actors and global powers must pivot from symbolic gestures to structured engagement.

Multilateral frameworks, including regional naval de-escalation pacts and recognition of mutual security concerns, must take precedence over sanctions and unilateral maneuvers.

Only then can the Persian Gulf evolve from a perpetual flashpoint into a stable corridor of energy, commerce, and cooperation.

 

 

Ahram New Editor The Middle East Journal

The Middle East Institute (MEI) has announced the appointment of Dr. Ariel I. Ahram as the new Editor of The Middle East Journal (MEJ), MEI’s flagship print publication and the oldest scholarly journal in North America dedicated to the study of the modern Middle East.

Dr. Ahram, a professor at Virginia Tech’s School of Public and International Affairs, brings a distinguished record of scholarship and public engagement to the role. He is the author of several acclaimed books on regional conflict, governance, and security, and he has served as the principal investigator for the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s Ending Proxy Wars in the Middle East initiative. His appointment signals a new era for the Journal as it renews its focus on contemporary policy issues while maintaining its commitment to academic excellence.

Dr. Ahram’s hiring reflects an important inflection point in MEJ’s history. He will oversee a broad set of changes to the Journal. While retaining its standards for rigorous, insightful research and analysis, MEJ will increasingly emphasize the current affairs of the Middle East, the history that underlies its contemporary dynamics, and the policies of regional states as well as key external powers such as the United States. It will focus far more on the underlying causes and potential courses of action to address the problems and opportunities of the modern Middle East.

“We are honored to welcome Dr. Ahram to MEI as Editor of The Middle East Journal,” said Stuart E. Jones, President of MEI. “He possesses exactly the right mix of expertise, creativity, and policy acumen required to transform the Journal into a vital resource, broadening its impact, deepening its relevance, and elevating its role in today’s policy and academic conversations.”

“A new Middle East requires a new Middle East Journal,” said Dr. Kenneth Pollack, Vice President for Policy at MEI. “With Ariel at the helm, and with this new editorial direction, the Journal will continue to meet the highest standards of quality while offering vital insights for policymakers, analysts, and engaged readers alike. We are deeply grateful to our longtime subscribers and readers for their support, and we hope they will continue to follow the Journal as it evolves to meet the urgent policy challenges of today.”