Continuation of Iran-US talks amid Israel’s savagery ‘unjustifiable’: FM
Press TV – June 14, 2025
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the continuation of indirect talks between Iran and the United States amid Israel’s savagery is “unjustifiable.”
Araghchi made the remarks in a phone conversation with the European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Saturday, a day after the Israeli regime launched deadly aggression on various civilian and military areas and residential neighborhoods in the capital, Tehran, and other major cities.
The barbaric onslaught claimed dozens of innocent lives, including a number of the Islamic Republic’s top military officials and commanders.
In a crushing response, code-named Operation True Promise III, hundreds of missiles were fired by Iran on Friday evening and successfully breached the Israeli regime’s much-touted multi-layered air defense system.
Since April, Tehran and Washington have held five rounds of indirect negotiations, mediated by Oman, over Iran’s nuclear program amid repeated shifts in US stances, which have prompted Iranian officials to criticize the “contradictory” statements made by their American counterparts.
Araghchi said on Saturday that messages and statements by the US president proved that Israel’s hostile measures against Iran were the result of Washington’s direct support for the regime.
He strongly condemned Israel’s violation of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, its attacks on nuclear facilities and residential areas, which killed a number of military figures, university professors and Iranian women and children.
He said the international community should show a decisive reaction in condemnation of Israel’s aggression.
He added that the Iranian government and people seriously expect all countries that claim to support peace and the rule of law to denounce Israel’s criminal actions and to exert pressure on the regime to stop its aggression and lawlessness.
The Iranian foreign minister also criticized a resolution adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors, drafted by the US and the European troika, against the Islamic Republic’s peaceful nuclear energy program, describing it as an excuse that prepared the ground for the Israeli regime’s hostile action.
“Based on international law, the attack on peaceful nuclear facilities is completely illegal and prohibited and the international community is obligated to hold the Zionist regime accountable for this dangerous and unprecedented violation of the law,” Araghchi said.
On Thursday, the 35-nation Board of Governors passed a resolution accusing Iran of “non-compliance” with its nuclear obligations.
The resolution, drafted by the United States, Britain, France and Germany, was passed with 19 votes in favor, three against, and 11 abstentions. Russia, China, and Burkina Faso voted against it. Among the countries that abstained were South Africa, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, and Brazil.
Araghchi pointed to Iran’s diplomatic initiatives to draw global attention to the dangers posed by Israel’s destabilizing actions and called on the European Union and the permanent members of the UN Security Council to take a responsible stance in condemning the regime’s acts of aggression and punishing it.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran gave a decisive response to the Zionist regime’s aggression in order to protect its national sovereignty, people, and security, and is determined to exercise its legitimate right to take reciprocal action,” he emphasized.
The EU foreign policy chief, for her part, expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region.
Kallas expressed the EU’s readiness to support diplomatic efforts in the Security Council and other international bodies to help ease tensions and restore peace and security to the region.
Iran calls on UN Security Council to hold Israeli regime accountable for its crimes
Press TV – June 13, 2025
Iran’s Permanent Representative of to the United Nations, Amir Saeed Iravani, addressed an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Saturday
Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeed Iravani, addressed an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Saturday following the Israeli military aggression against the Islamic Republic.
He called on the UN Security Council to “strongly condemn” the “illegal aggression” by the Israeli regime and demanded urgent and concrete measures by the world body to hold the regime accountable and prevent further destabilization of international peace and security.
Israel launched a series of premeditated and coordinated attacks early on Friday, targeting multiple Iranian cities, including nuclear facilities and vital civilian infrastructure.
The envoy described the Natanz nuclear site in central Iran’s Isfahan province – under full International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards – as a primary target.
“These criminal and savage attacks have killed at least 78 people, including senior military officials and innocent civilians, among them women and children, with over 320 wounded,” he told the gathering.
Iravani described the latest strikes as deliberate massacres and acts of terrorism, violating international law and human conscience.
The ambassador criticized the UN Security Council and UN nuclear agency for their inaction in response to Iran’s repeated warnings about Israeli threats to its nuclear facilities, accusing them of emboldening the regime to escalate aggression and cross red lines.
Iravani emphasized the potential catastrophic radiological consequences of attacks on safeguarded nuclear sites, warning that the effects could extend far beyond Iran’s borders.
He said Israel’s aggression also violated the sovereignty of Iraq, whose airspace was used for the aggression, with the Iraqi permanent mission to the UN formally protesting the breach.
The ambassador held the United States responsible for enabling the Israeli strikes, citing Washington’s intelligence, political support, and weapons transfers.
“The complicity of the United States in these terrorist acts is undeniable,” he said.
Iran reaffirmed its inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Recalling Security Council Resolution 487 (1981), which condemned Israel’s previous attack on Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor, Iravani called on the council to enforce international law and hold Israel accountable. He stressed that decades of inaction and double standards have emboldened Israel’s aggressive conduct.
“Any failure to act now,” he warned, “would signify the collapse of the international system and invite chaos.”
The Nova Music Festival Exhibit: An Exercise in Racist Porn Propaganda to Justify Genocide
By Karin Brothers | Global Research | June 12, 2025
The Nova Music Festival Exhibit now touring North America is described on its website as:
… an in-depth remembrance of the brutal massacre at The Nova Music Festival on October 7th, 2023. The installation sets out to recreate a festival dedicated to peace and love that was savagely cut short by a terrorist attack on that fateful day. The attack at The Nova Music Festival was the largest massacre in music history. This groundbreaking installation is presented as a way to empower visitors to responsibly explore & bear witness to the tragic events of October 7 and its aftermath. …
The exhibit, now in Toronto, has been shown in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Its purpose (besides raising money and membership “for the Nova community”) is implicitly to rationalize Israel’s extermination of Gazans by generating hatred of Palestinians as inhumane and terrorist. The Hamas breakout, presented with no context, portrays it as sex-fueled and wantonly destructive.
I was aware that independent investigators had discredited Israeli claims that on October 7th Hamas had committed rapes, “killed babies” or burned them, but I wanted to examine the legitimacy of this exhibit because the Toronto school board had sent students to it.
Tickets ranged in price from $28 to $360 with everything over $18 donated to “the Nova community”. I wondered about the exhibit’s requirement not to wear a face covering unless “medically essential”.
When I arrived at the venue with my ticket (which could only be purchased online, after providing my home address and e-mail address), I was met with a sign that said by entering the exhibit, I consented to having my photo taken. So one of the costs of this exhibit was being coerced into sacrificing facial recognition privacy: a facial biometric scan connected to key information. (Was it a coincidence that two e-mail accounts ceased to function due to a “system error” after I purchased the tickets? Days later, it’s not clear that they can ever be recovered.) On entering, visitors had to pass through metal-checking gates and searches similar to those in airports.
The exhibit venue is in a mammoth structure that appeared to have been a mall. Most of the space was devoted to the exhibit, with a gift shop and a large seated area for membership and donation pitches for “the Nova community” or “the Nova Tribe” at the end. The dark, cavernous exhibit space tried to recreate what it would have been like at the abandoned festival site, with signs and dozens of computer screens featuring witness accounts and other information. An introductory sign at the beginning claimed that on October 7, 2023, three thousand “Hamas terrorists” entered Israel, raping and burning people. An introductory film, probably a reenactment, showed a packed Nova crowd jumping up and down and waving their arms to music before a “red alert” at around 6:30 am.
The computer screens, along with written signs, included what were claimed to be witness reports of sexual abuse and rape. The first was from first responders “Zaka” and a Rami Davidian, who both made pornographic claims that they found abused women who were naked, tied to trees with legs “spreadeagled” [sic]. Another exhibit claimed that Hamas sexually abused “both sexes”.
Intensive investigations, including one by Max Blumenthal(1), found that there was no evidence to support the claims of rape, or of the burning or killing of “babies” (one child was killed by accident). An early UN report that seemed to echo the sexual abuse claims was presented with the admission that the Special Rapporteur had “gone dark”, implicitly questioning the discredited accounts.(2)
Continuing through the exhibit, visitors pass the computer screens while wandering through what looks like hastily abandoned campsites, mock- ups of concrete shelters and a few incinerated, deformed cars. A sign at the end claims that (despite virtually all captives’ reports) Hamas beats and starves the hostages. Handwritten cards were on display through the end of the exhibit that appear to be visitor feedback, which showed how emotionally affected many were by the exhibit.
The exhibit played on the self-serving stereotypes of Jewish victimhood and Palestinian “terrorism”, clearly designed to leave naive visitors with a hatred of Palestinians and a rationalization for their extermination. The pornographic rape accounts, which were discredited well before the exhibit was put together, are at the shocking heart of this show. I saw no pictures of the fleet of Israeli tanks or of the helicopter gunships that came out on that day, despite open publication in Israeli media. There was no explanation of how Hamas fighters with hand-held weapons were able to incinerate about 80 cars along with their festival occupants. I saw no mention of the Nova victims’ calls for help that went unheeded for over eight hours that day.
I did not see any mention in the exhibit that Israel had invoked its “Hannibal Directive”(3) — which allowed the killing of Israelis to prevent them taken as hostages. This directive was responsible for much of the day’s slaughter. Despite Israeli calls for their government to hold an independent investigation into what happened on October 7th, and how people were killed, none is scheduled.
No background to the October 7, 2023, event is provided: no mention of Gaza being under a brutal military occupation since 1967, no mention of Gazans being illegally incarcerated for over 20 years, no mention of Israel’s illegal blockade since 2006, its illegal takeover of one third of Gaza’s agricultural land, most of its fishing zone, and no mention of daily Israeli attacks on Gaza by land, sea and air. Or the fact that Gazans have been incarcerated with virtually no potable water on land that the UN claimed could not sustain life after 2020. Richard Falk, the former United Nations Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, not only called the Hamas breakout on October 7th “entirely justifiable”, given the context, but “long overdue”.(4)
The Hamas suicide mission was not to kill Israelis but to capture hostages connected to the Israeli military bases around Gaza’s border to exchange for the thousands of Palestinians held by Israel. Soon after the hostages’ arrival in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar told the Israelis that they would be safe and returned in a hostage exchange within a day or two.(5) Hamas did not expect the presence of the Nova rave event; its placement near Gaza’s border had been named just two days earlier.(6)
School boards that encourage students to visit this exhibit demonstrate a political agenda and a lack of responsibility to both the students and the greater community. The Toronto District School Board (TDSB), the largest school board in Canada, sent students to this exhibit while banning the joint Israeli-Palestinian and Academy award-winning “No Other Land” as “political”. Palestinian children in at least one TDSB elementary school are already confronted with hate- filled jibes that “Kids in Gaza deserve what they get.” Exposing students (or anyone else) to this exhibit can be expected to turn them against any justice for Palestinians unless they come with an understanding of the historical context and are able to identify the exhibit’s lies, omissions and half-truths. Given this school board’s bias, that preparation is unlikely.
This exhibit moves to Washington, D.C. in late June, 2025.
Karin Brothers is a freelance writer. She is a regular contributor to Global Research.
Notes
1. “Mass rape by Hamas on Oct 7? NYT coverage questioned by Max Blumenthal: Rising debated”. The Hill. January 4, 2024. https://thehill.com/video/mass-rape-by-hamas-on-oct-7-nyt-coverage-questioned-by-max-blumenthal-rising-debated/9302297/
2 Feminist Solidarity Network for Palestine. “Here’s what Pramila Patten’s UN report on Oct 7 sexual violence actually said”. Mondoweiss. March 11, 2024.
https://mondoweiss.net/2024/03/heres-what-pramila-pattens-un-report-on-oct-7-sexual-violence-actually-said/
3. “Israeli army used Hannibal Directive during October 7 Hamas attack: Report”. Al Jazeera. July 7, 2024.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/7/israeli-army-used-hannibal-directive-during-october-7-hamas-attack-report
4. “Ex-UN Rapporteur: October 7 Attack By Hamas Was ‘Long Overdue’”. Matsav. April 7, 2025.
https://matzav.com/ex-un-rapporteur-october-7-attack-by-hamas-was-long-overdue/
5. Harel, Amos. “Hamas Leader Sinwar Met Israeli Hostages in Gaza Strip Tunnels Day After October 7 Massacre”. Ha’aretz. November 28, 2023.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-11-28/ty-article/.premium/hamas-leader-sinwar-met-israeli-hostages-in-gaza-strip-tunnels/0000018c-12d6-d65f-a7dd-f2d75b9f0000
6. Blumenthal, Max, Maté, Aaron. “Zero hour in Gaza – The Grayzone live.” Friday, October 13, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-p2bjA2b4U
Large Numbers in Congress Back Attack on Iran, Call for US to Support Israel
By Kyle Anzalone | The Libertarian Institute | June 13, 2025
Following the opening salvo in Israel’s bombardment of Iran, many members of Congress rushed to make statements declaring their support for the Jewish state. Some went further, demanding the White House defend the Jewish state from retaliation. A small number of lawmakers criticized Israel and called for Washington to stay out of the conflict.
Shortly after the start of the Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, military bases, and residential buildings, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) posted on X, “Game on. Pray for Israel.”
Graham led a chorus of largely Republican lawmakers who called for prayers for Israel as it attacked Iran.
Some lawmakers hoped the war would bring down the Iranian government. “The threat from Iran will only stop when the regime is destroyed.” Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (R-FL) added, “Anything less is just a temporary respite from the existential threat Iran poses to our allies and the free world.”
Many US members of Congress claimed that Israel’s preemptive attack on Iran was an act of defense. “Make no mistake: Israel is not the aggressor. It is defending itself against an existential threat that long predates the present preemptive strike. The true aggressor is the Islamic Republic and its empire of terror—an empire stained with the blood of innocent Israelis,” Bronx Democrat Rep. Ritchie Torres wrote on X.
Other members of Congress, including Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) framed the Israeli strikes as “defensive.”
Rep. Mike Lawler said that the Israeli strike was “justified,” but the US should attack Iran if Tehran responds to Tel Aviv’s war. “Let there be no doubt, we will defend our ally Israel, our other partners in the region, and our military and diplomatic personnel. Iran should understand that there will be grave consequences for any actions they take in response to this justified strike on their nuclear facilities,” he said.
A frequent argument given by members of Congress is that the nuclear weapons threat Iran poses to Israel justifies the ongoing Israeli attacks. “Iran has greatly expanded its uranium enrichment with the goal of producing nuclear weapons that pose an existential threat to Israel,” Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins wrote. “Our country too is at risk as Iran continues its development not only of fissile material but also of ballistic missiles. I hope the Israeli operation to eliminate Iran’s nuclear capability is successful.”
However, top intelligence officials in both the Trump and Joe Biden administrations repeatedly stated that Iran was not attempting to develop a nuclear weapon. During recent talks about its nuclear program with Washington, Tehran said it was willing to agree to caps on its energy program to ensure it was only used for civilian purposes.
That Director of National Intelligence affirmed in March that Iran was not making a nuclear weapon, did not stop Rep. Nancy Mace from asserting that the Islamic Republic was just “days” from building a nuclear weapon.
“We stand with Israel, fully and without hesitation. Iran was days away from a nuclear weapon. They fund terror and want Israel wiped off the map. Israel has the right, and the duty, to fight back,” she wrote on X. “America must never flinch.”
One of the most vocal Democrats supporting Israel is Sen. John Fetterman, who demanded that the White House aid the Israeli assault. “Our commitment to Israel must be absolute and I fully support this attack. Keep wiping out Iranian leadership and the nuclear personnel.” The post continued, “We must provide whatever is necessary—military, intelligence, weaponry—to fully back Israel in striking Iran.”
A handful of lawmakers did oppose the Israeli strikes. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) argued Tel Aviv’s war interfered with Trump’s effort to secure a new nuclear deal with Iran. “Netanyahu wasn’t trying to help diplomacy; he was trying to destroy diplomacy. How do we know? They reportedly targeted and killed Iran’s chief negotiator with Trump,” he wrote.
Additionally, Democratic Representatives Hank Johnson and Rashida Talib called on Congress to exercise its authority over war making. “As America is mired in internal turmoil — and with Hegseth, Gabbard, and Rubio at the controls — foreign leaders like Netanyahu are emboldened to achieve their narrow objectives at America’s expense.” Johnson continued, “Before it’s too late, Congress must stop being a rubberstamp and start exercising oversight to prevent America from being dragged into another war.”
Among Republicans, Senator Rand Paul and Congressman Thomas Massie called on Trump to avoid directly entering the war. “War with Iran is not in America’s interest. It would destabilize the region, cost countless lives, and drain our resources for generations,” Paul explained. “We should pursue diplomacy, not destruction. Engaging in dialogue with adversaries is not weakness; it’s the strength of a confident nation seeking peace. Our primary responsibility is to protect American lives.”
Rep Massie was the only member of Congress to point out that the war Israel launched on Friday was offensive, and a war of aggression. “Israel doesn’t need US taxpayers’ money for defense if it already has enough to start offensive wars.” His X post added, “I vote not to fund this war of aggression.”
Western hypocrisy: ‘Israel’ bombs Iran, Tehran told not to retaliate
Al Mayadeen | June 13, 2025
Top Western leaders have called for restraint in the wake of the ongoing Israeli aggression on Iranian territory. Brutal strikes targeted military, nuclear, and civilian infrastructure and led to multiple casualties. Yet, while urging de-escalation, these leaders have largely avoided condemning “Israel’s” violation of international law, choosing instead to direct their diplomatic pressure on Tehran not to retaliate.
The double standard is stark: while Iran has consistently operated within the framework of international law and the UN Charter, the Israeli entity has carried out cross-border aggression with impunity. Under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Iran has a recognized legal right to self-defense, a point conspicuously absent from most Western statements.
Europe avoids accountability for ‘Israel’
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the situation, not Israeli attacks, “dangerous” and appealed for restraint from “all sides”, despite Iran being the target of the aggression. Kallas, who reportedly spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar shortly after the attack, did not denounce the strikes or the violations of Iranian sovereignty.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed the vague language, urging parties to “exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate immediately, and refrain from retaliation.” The call placed the burden on Iran to avoid a response, while the Israeli entity’s unlawful actions were met with silence.
On his part, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani both stressed the need for “diplomacy”, but neither condemned the unilateral Israeli aggression. Tajani stated, “There is no solution but a diplomatic one. Actions and reactions are dangerous,” drawing false parity between attacker and victim.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron convened a special defense meeting but offered no criticism of “Israel’s” blatant breach of international norms.
Australia and NATO echo the US line
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking from Fiji, framed the issue around Iran’s nuclear program rather than the illegal nature of the Israeli strike. “We are very conscious of the threat that Iran becoming a nuclear state would represent,” he said, further aligning with Washington’s narrative. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs updated travel advisories, urging Australians to leave “Israel” and the occupied Palestinian territories.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, while warning of escalation, also avoided assigning blame, waving the “de-escalation” card for vague purposes.
“De-escalation is now the first order of the day,” he said, reflecting a Western consensus that implicitly tolerates Israeli militarism while expecting Iranian restraint.
Walking a delicate line
Former US President Donald Trump confirmed that he had been briefed ahead of the strikes and stated, “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb. We are hoping to get back to the negotiating table,” again shifting the narrative away from Israeli accountability.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that the United States had no involvement in the strikes but issued a warning to Tehran, “Israel took unilateral action against Iran,” and any retaliation must not target US interests.
“We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said in an official statement. “Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense, Rubio added, although it was “Israel” that always initiated attacks against the Islamic Republic.
“Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel,” Rubio said, without addressing whether Washington would defend “Israel” in the event of Iranian retaliation, departing from traditional US messaging that often emphasizes unwavering support for the Israeli regime. This support came directly from the US president himself, who rushed to “Israel’s” rescue.
‘Both sides’ should avoid further destabilization
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled the attacks “concerning” but urged all sides to reduce tensions, stopping short of condemning the aggression.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who received a direct call from Netanyahu, affirmed “Israel’s” so-called right to “self-defense” and echoed longstanding Western concerns over Iran’s nuclear program. He, too, urged both sides to avoid further destabilization, without acknowledging who initiated the escalation.
Tehran maintains right to self-defense
Iranian officials have underscored that the Islamic Republic has not initiated the war and that its actions have consistently adhered to international law. Tehran has emphasized that its right to respond is enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter, asserting that “Israel’s” continued violations of international law, coupled with Western silence, further undermine the credibility of global institutions.
The widespread Western calls for restraint, directed almost exclusively at Iran, highlight a longstanding hypocrisy: that Israeli violations of international law are tolerated, while Iranian sovereignty and legal rights are dismissed or ignored.
It is worth noting that this is happening as Oman was planning to host the sixth round of US‑Iran nuclear talks this Sunday in Muscat.
Tehran and Washington have held five rounds of talks since April to carve a new nuclear deal to replace the 2015 accord that Trump unilaterally withdrew from during his first term in 2018.
Iran has always reiterated its commitment to diplomacy while upholding its commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, while the West has manipulated the agency to serve geopolitical goals.
It is worth noting that Iranian media outlets on Thursday published a series of documents that reveal covert coordination between IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and “Israel”, a collaboration Iranian officials say was designed to politicize the agency’s oversight of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
Israel publicly confirms its military involvement in Ukraine
By Lucas Leiroz | Strategic Culture Foundation | June 13, 2025
While global attention remains focused on the rising tensions between Israel and Iran, a significant development has been largely ignored by Western media in recent days: the revelation of Israel’s involvement in the arming campaign for Ukraine.
Despite publicly maintaining an appearance of military neutrality in the conflict between Moscow and Kiev, the State of Israel has quietly deepened its collaboration with Western military interests in Ukraine. Recent statements from Israeli diplomatic representatives make it clear that Tel Aviv not only politically supports Kiev but also directly participates in the military effort against Russia.
In an interview with Ukrainian media, the Israeli ambassador in Kiev confirmed that air defense systems originally supplied by the United States to Israel were transferred to Ukraine. According to him, the delivery was deliberately kept secret and away from international headlines, demonstrating Israel’s attempt to participate in the conflict without attracting negative consequences.
The omission of logistical details about the delivery reveals a clear attempt to preserve an appearance of neutrality before the public. It remains unclear whether the equipment was sent directly by Israel or through third parties, suggesting an internationally coordinated operation to avoid diplomatic friction with Moscow.
Until recently, Tel Aviv claimed a stance of non-involvement in the Ukraine conflict, citing concerns about potential Russian retaliation—particularly in Syria, where Russian forces maintain a strategic presence. However, this justification is becoming increasingly obsolete in light of Israel’s actual behavior.
Historically, Russia has acted as a stabilizer in Syria, preventing clashes between Israel and anti-Zionist groups from escalating into a broader regional war. However, the regime change in Damascus — with the new government composed of former Al-Qaeda members — shifted the balance of power in the region, favoring Israeli interests. In a sense, this change emboldened Israel to take more provocative military actions, not only regionally, but also in conflicts outside its immediate sphere of interest.
The recent neutralization of Shiite militias in Syria, which were aligned with Tehran, and the rapprochement between the new Syrian government and Israel have created a more favorable environment for Tel Aviv’s foreign military maneuvers. Feeling less vulnerable to indirect retaliation, Israel now appears more willing to expand its involvement in conflicts beyond the Middle East, such as the one in Ukraine.
It’s important to recall that the first signs of Israeli military involvement in Ukraine emerged after U.S. missiles were withdrawn from Israeli territory and transferred to bases in Eastern Europe — specifically Poland, from where they were expected to be sent to Ukraine. At the time, some newspapers reported the story, but the absence of official confirmation left the issue unresolved and debatable. Now, with official admission, it is evident that Israel’s collaboration in the Western military campaign in Ukraine is a consolidated reality.
In the face of this hostile posture from Tel Aviv, Russia is likely to strengthen its regional alliances as a way to counterbalance Israeli actions. The partnership between Moscow and Tehran — recently reinforced through security and defense cooperation agreements — represents a strategic response to Western provocations against both countries and may also serve as a way to rein in Israel’s increasing “boldness,” both in the Middle East and abroad.
While Israel ignores the risks of regional destabilization by engaging in NATO-sponsored conflicts, Moscow has chosen to solidify ties with regional powers that share a multipolar vision of world order. Russian support for Iranian military development could serve as a clear warning that Israel’s involvement in proxy wars might carry a high price.
Israel’s decision to more openly support the Kiev regime marks a significant shift in its foreign policy, abandoning previous caution in favor of a stance more aligned with the interests of the Collective West. However, this move may bring unforeseen consequences — not only at the regional level but also in the structure of its bilateral relationship with Moscow.
Rather than seeking to preserve diplomatic channels with a major power like Russia, Israel appears willing to sacrifice this strategic relationship to appease its Western allies. In the long run, this gamble could prove to be a major geopolitical miscalculation — especially if Russia responds by deepening its military support for Tel Aviv’s most feared regional adversary: the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is also the political and military brain behind Hezbollah, the Houthis, and key Palestinian Resistance movements.
Israel’s Attack on Iran: The Latest Developments
By Ilya Tsukanov – Sputnik – 13.06.2025
Israel has carried out an unprecedented, multi-wave surprise attack against Iran involving 200 jets, plus drones operating inside the Islamic Republic. Here’s a recap of the key details, plus new information that’s come to light in the past hours.
The attack, codenamed ‘Operation Rising Lion’, targeted:
- The Natanz uranium enrichment facility and the Tabriz research site.
- Cities, with damage reported in Tehran and at least 9 other urban areas. 320+ civilians injured, nearly 80 killed.
- Air defense and missile launchers.
- Top IRGC and Armed Forces leaders, nuclear scientists, a senior aide to the Supreme Leader.
Iran’s Response
- Ali Khomeini vowed “severe punishment,” while President Pezeshkian promised to make Israel “regret” its “reckless” actions.
- Iran cancelled a new round of nuclear talks with the US, owing to US “complicity” in the attacks.
- Assassinated military leaders are being replaced, with Mohammad Pakpour taking Hossein Salami’s place as IRGC chief, and Abdolrahim Mousavi replacing Mohammad Bagheri as Chief of General Staff.
Has Iranian Counterstrike Taken Place?
- Initial reports suggested Iran launched 100-200 drones toward Israel.
- Other reports said up to 800 projectiles, including cruise and ballistic missiles, were launched.
- But Fars News says Iran hasn’t carried out ANY substantive retaliatory attacks yet.
Trump’s Ultimatum
The US president wrote a mob boss-style Truth Social post boasting about the murder of “certain Iranian hardliners,” and warning that the next attacks will be “even more brutal” unless Iran makes a deal. Later, he issued a post about his “60-day ultimatum,” signaling direct knowledge of Israel’s plans.
- Israeli officials told Axios the US gave Israel a “green light” for the strikes.
- JPost reported Israel is trying to convince the US to join in on the attacks directly.
Key Reactions
Traditional regional US allies including Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar sharply condemned Israel, with Qatar saying Tel Aviv’s “reckless actions continue to destroy prospects for peace” & put global security “in imminent danger.”
Russia condemned the sharp escalation of tensions and Israel’s blatant “violation of the UN Charter and international law.”
The UN’s response? “Concern” about the targeting of nuclear sites.
AEOI slams IAEA’s silence despite Israeli aggression on nuclear site
Al Mayadeen | June 13, 2025
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has issued a sharp rebuke of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its Director General, Rafael Grossi, denouncing the agency’s failure to condemn the Israeli aggression on Iran, most notably its Natanz nuclear facility. The AEOI called the IAEA’s silence a “form of cooperation” with the Israeli entity.
The condemnation came in the aftermath of the ongoing Israeli aggression on Friday, which targeted the Shahid Ahmadi Roshan enrichment complex at Natanz, in addition to residential buildings, military sites, and nuclear facilities.
In a statement, the AEOI confirmed that although sections of the site sustained damage, no casualties occurred and no radiation or chemical leaks were detected. “Investigations are underway to determine the level of the damage,” the agency said.
Iran’s nuclear authority stated that the attack violated international law and multiple resolutions issued by the UN Security Council, the IAEA Board of Governors, and the IAEA General Conference. The AEOI also denounced the IAEA’s longstanding inaction in the face of repeated Israeli threats against Iranian nuclear facilities.
“The Agency has practically distanced itself from professionalism and impartiality by preparing biased political reports based on fake information received from the Zionist regime,” the AEOI emphasized.
IAEA ‘lost its credibility’
The organization further accused the IAEA of having “lost its credibility as a valid international organization,” warning that its continued inaction has turned it into “a tool in the hands of the Zionist regime.” The attack, the statement noted, represents a “setback for the IAEA due to the Director General’s unjustifiable shortcomings and failure to play a professional and impartial role.”
Reaffirming Iran’s commitment to peaceful nuclear advancement, the AEOI declared that “political and military pressure will not derail Iran’s nuclear program” and added, “These great people, much to the enemies’ chagrin, will pursue the country’s lofty goals in further advancing the nuclear industry with double motivation.”
‘Nuclear sites must never be attacked’
Shortly after Iran’s statement, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi remarked that “nuclear sites must never be attacked,” yet pointedly refrained from condemning the Israeli aggression on Iran’s nuclear facility, an omission that Tehran views as tacit complicity.
Meanwhile, a growing number of states denounced the Israeli aggression against Iran, warning against escalation risks and far-reaching international consequences.
“This development is deeply concerning… I reiterate that any military action that jeopardizes the safety and security of nuclear facilities risks grave consequences for the people of Iran, the region, and beyond,” Grossi said in a message to the IAEA Board of Governors.
He added that he was “ready to travel to Iran at the earliest” to assess the situation and reaffirm the agency’s oversight. Grossi confirmed that Iran’s Fordow enrichment plant and a site in Esfahan were not impacted and that radiation levels at Natanz remained normal.
After Israeli attack, Grossi calls for restraint
Calling for restraint, Grossi urged both sides to step back from escalation. “Despite the current military actions and heightened tensions, it is clear that the only sustainable path forward, for Iran, for Israel, the entire region, and the international community, is one grounded in dialogue and diplomacy to ensure peace, stability, and cooperation,” he said.
Earlier today, the IAEA announced that Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant remains unharmed and that no increase in radiation has been detected at the Natanz nuclear site, despite the massive Israeli aggression on Iran.
The U.S. is on the Brink of War with Iran… Why and for Whom?
If Americans Knew | June 12, 2025
Excerpted from original URL: 
• “Millions would die and that’s exactly wha…
Col. Douglas Macgregor is a decorated combat veteran, author of five books, a PhD, and a defense and foreign policy consultant. In 2020 he was appointed Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense by President Trump. In 28 years of service Macgregor taught at West Point; commanded the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry; served as the Director of the Joint Operations Center at SHAPE in 1999; and was awarded the Defense Superior Service medal. – https://www.douglasmacgregor.com/about
For more information regarding war with Iran, visit: https://www.IAKN.org/IRAN
GHF contractor reveals ‘horrific’ details of US-Israeli ‘aid traps’
The Cradle | June 12, 2025
An anonymous US security contractor employed at one of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s (GHF) aid sites in the Gaza Strip has slammed the entire initiative as “pure chaos,” calling it “absolutely horrific” while accusing Israeli forces of continuously firing at unarmed Palestinians.
“I thought I was signing up for an aid mission. But what I’ve witnessed in Gaza is horrific,” the anonymous contractor wrote in a Zeteo article published on 12 June. “I am one of hundreds of security contractors who have been in Gaza to facilitate aid under the new US-backed GHF project. And it’s all bullshit,” the contractor added.
The contractor said his group of 300 people who were deployed to Gaza were provided with machine guns and pistols, and that while some of them had a military background, others did not – stressing “no one was tested to ensure they had proper training.”
“We were later issued less lethal options: pepper spray, flashbang grenades. You guessed it: no one was tested to see if they knew how to properly use them. How close to people can you throw a flashbang? If you’re going to pepper-spray someone, where do you spray? For how long? Nobody knows because nobody told us. We’re talking about people who don’t have access to water, and we’re ready to spray them in the face with pepper spray,” he said.
The contractor also stressed that no cultural awareness training was offered.
He confirmed that on the second day after the GHF was launched, the site he operated at was completely overrun by starving Palestinian civilians. “They were never aggressive towards us,” the contractor made sure to emphasize.
After falling back a second time, the contractor confirms that his group was ordered to expel all the aid seekers from the area, and that he witnessed other contractors firing live ammunition into the air.
One even pushed a Palestinian to the ground.
“We all got in a line and began pushing these people out. We’re telling crying women trying to pick up food for their families that they had to go. They were looking at this food on the ground that they desperately needed, and they couldn’t take it. It was absolutely horrific.”
“I was later told that the Israeli military needed to clear those people out because they were going to come through. They soon showed up with tanks, as some sort of security presence, but we had pushed people out by then,” he went on to say, adding that “This idea that the Israeli military isn’t involved is bullshit.”
The contractor confirmed that the Israeli military has set up offices in the GHF compounds.
While they are not directly “on-site” during the aid operations, their tanks and sniper units are just hundreds of meters away, and “You can hear them shooting all day.”
The contractor notes one specific episode where hundreds of Palestinians approaching an aid site came under Israeli artillery fire.
“Tanks fire all day long near these aid sites. Snipers fire from what used to be a hospital. Bombs and bullets fly all day long in one direction – toward Palestinians … But never any fire from the opposite direction,” he added, calling the distribution sites “aid traps.”
“The west doesn’t really want to believe the Palestinian media,” the contractor also said.
Just two days ago, at least 36 aid seekers were killed and another 208 injured by Israeli attacks on GHF sites.
A video circulating online shows Israeli artillery shelling a group of civilians on the morning of 10 June as they attempted to reach the Netzarim Corridor aid site.
Since GHF was launched on 27 May, at least 240 Palestinians seeking aid have been killed and 2,152 injured by Israeli forces at aid sites.
The Gaza Government Media office has referred to the GHF sites as “death traps.”
GHF has been repeatedly condemned by the UN and other international humanitarian groups for being designed to reinforce further displacement of the Palestinian population in Gaza.
Most of the distribution centers are located in southern Gaza, with one in the center near the Netzarim Corridor. Palestinians are forced to travel long distances under bombardment and gunfire, before being crammed into extremely tight spaces and subjected to intensive restrictions.
Meanwhile, Israel’s recent ongoing operation – dubbed Gideon’s Chariots – continues to kill dozens and displace thousands across Gaza on a daily basis.
Israeli Incursion in Rural Damascus Leaves One Martyred, Seven Detained
Al-Manar June 12, 2025
In a pre-dawn military incursion near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israeli occupation forces shot and killed a young Syrian man on Thursday in the town of Beit Jinn, west of Damascus, amid a wider sweep through border villages near Mount Hermon.
According to Syria TV, the Zionist troops also detained seven young men during a series of raids in the town. The martyr, identified as Mohammad Ahmad Hamadeh, was reportedly shot at close range. His uncle, Ali Qassem Hamadeh, was among those arrested. No further details about the detainees were provided.
Heavily Armed Incursion
The incursion began before dawn, with Israeli forces advancing from positions near Qurs Al-Nafl in northern Quneitra and Tloul Al-Hamr—areas under Zionist military control—toward Beit Jinn, a town situated less than 20 kilometers from Quneitra and roughly 50 kilometers from Damascus.
Witnesses reported the sounds of Israeli tanks, armored vehicles, and aircraft accompanying the operation. Syria TV described the raid as a large-scale military deployment involving approximately 100 personnel and at least 10 tanks and armored vehicles.
The invading forces reportedly surrounded Beit Jinn, using loudspeakers to call out the names of individuals targeted for arrest. Tensions escalated between residents and soldiers before Mohammad Hamadeh was fatally shot.
Part of Ongoing Cross-Border Violations
The latest operation is part of a broader pattern of Israeli violations along the border with the occupied Golan Heights. These include surveillance and drone activity, as well as direct ground incursions into Syrian territory—often resulting in the detention of civilians, including farmers and shepherds working near the separation lines.
Iran condemns ‘biased’ IAEA, announces enrichment countermeasures
Al Mayadeen | June 12, 2025
Iran has sharply rejected a resolution passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors, accusing it of being “politically driven” and “biased”. In a joint statement released Thursday by the Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Iranian officials condemned the resolution and unveiled a series of countermeasures aimed at accelerating the country’s nuclear program.
This comes shortly after the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution against Iran on Thursday, claiming Iran was in breach of non-proliferation obligations. The vote passed with 19 countries voting in favor, 3 opposing, and 11 abstaining, according to diplomats cited by Reuters. Two countries were absent and thus did not vote.
The resolution, marking the first formal accusation in nearly two decades that Iran has violated its nuclear non-proliferation obligations, was passed during a closed-door session of the 35-member board. The move, described as “politically motivated” by Iranian officials, was initiated by the United States along with the E3, Britain, France, and Germany.
IAEA resolution lacks ‘neutrality’
The joint statement asserted that Iran remains committed to its obligations under the Safeguards Agreement, adding that no IAEA report to date has ever confirmed any deviation or non-compliance. Iranian authorities described the IAEA’s latest move as lacking “neutrality” and being manipulated by Western powers, particularly the United States, Britain, France, and Germany, to pursue geopolitical goals.
In a direct response, Iran announced the activation of a new uranium enrichment facility at a secure site and plans to upgrade the Fordow nuclear plant by replacing older centrifuges with sixth-generation advanced models.
Iran blasts Western double standards on nuclear disarmament
Iranian officials criticized the IAEA and its Western backers for what they described as selective enforcement of nuclear obligations. The joint statement accused the US and its European allies of reviving “25-year-old allegations” that had already been settled under the 2015 nuclear deal, while turning a blind eye to “Israel’s” undeclared nuclear arsenal and refusal to adhere to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
“The United States, Britain, and France have failed to comply with Article VI of the NPT regarding nuclear disarmament,” the statement read, adding that Germany remains in possession of “inhumane weapons of mass destruction.”
Iran further warned that continued political maneuvering within the IAEA would render any future engagement futile. “This political approach toward Iran, which has always honored its obligations and cooperated extensively with the Agency, forces us to conclude that the path of engagement and cooperation is futile,” the statement asserted.
Iran thanks allies opposing the resolution
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, strongly condemned the resolution passed Thursday by the IAEA Board of Governors, calling it a politically motivated effort by Western powers to undermine the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.
Baghaei specifically denounced the role of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, accusing them of exploiting the IAEA to “cast doubt on the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.”
He firmly rejected the allegations outlined in the resolution, which he said were based on “baseless and unfounded claims” and stemmed from a political report by the IAEA Director General. The resolution, jointly submitted by the four Western states, was described as “an unjustified, groundless, and cruel move,” aimed at exerting “maximum pressure on Iran to deviate from the legitimate rights and interests of the Iranian people in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.”
Baghaei warned that those behind the resolution will be held accountable for its repercussions. “The Islamic Republic of Iran will take proportionate measures in response to this move to secure and protect the interests and inalienable rights of the Iranian nation in benefiting from peaceful nuclear energy,” he said.
He also expressed deep concern over the conduct of the IAEA Director General, criticizing his public statements and what he described as provocative interviews on Iran’s nuclear activities. Baghaei accused the agency chief of undermining the organization’s neutrality, stating that he “must adhere to his missions and duties in accordance with the Agency’s statute.”
Furthermore, the Iranian diplomat extended gratitude to China, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Belarus for issuing a joint statement rejecting the resolution. He praised their “responsible and legal positions” and reaffirmed the Iranian nation’s determination to defend its rights and interests as outlined in the United Nations Charter and the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Iran’s IAEA representative Najafi slams politicized resolution
Iran’s representative at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Reza Najafi, strongly criticized the agency’s recent resolution against Iran, denouncing it as politically motivated and based on unreliable sources. Speaking on Thursday, Najafi warned that such moves undermine the IAEA’s credibility and threaten the rights of member states under its founding charter.
Najafi emphasized that any draft resolution brought forward by the Board of Governors should rely strictly on unbiased, verifiable evidence, not intelligence supplied by specific states with vested interests. “Basing reports on questionable or politicized information undermines the agency’s objectivity,” he stated, in clear reference to data provided by Western governments and the Israeli occupation.
US current approach risks setting a dangerous precedent
He warned that the United States’ current approach risks setting a dangerous precedent, one that could erode trust and cooperation between the agency and its member states. Najafi asserted that such behavior contradicts the IAEA’s stated commitment to impartiality and transparency.
Reaffirming Iran’s position, Najafi made it clear that the Islamic Republic would not tolerate any attempt to erode its sovereignty through international pressure.
“Iran categorically rejects any pressure or mediation that seeks to undermine its sovereignty. We will defend our national interests, independence, and dignity,” he declared.
Politicized resolution in disguise
Najafi also expressed Iran’s outright rejection of what he described as a politicized resolution disguised as a technical safeguard concern, echoing Tehran’s longstanding understanding that the IAEA is being used as a tool for Western geopolitical agendas.
In a pointed warning to the E3, Britain, France, and Germany, as well as the United States, Najafi made it clear that Iran’s response would be firm. “These measures will not pass without consequences. They must take full responsibility for the repercussions and Iran’s strong reaction,” he said.
Kamalvandi: Political pressure will escalate Iran’s nuclear program
Behrouz Kamalvandi, Deputy Head of the Atomic Energy Organization, reinforced the government’s defiant tone, declaring that political pressure would only accelerate Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“It is a strategic mistake to think that political pressure will push Iran to abandon its legitimate positions,” Kamalvandi said, warning that the current approach would “backfire”.
He confirmed that Iran would soon launch a third uranium enrichment facility, in addition to boosting enrichment capacity at existing sites. “We will develop sixth-generation centrifuges and increase uranium enrichment significantly,” he stated.
More Western pressure, more Iranian countermeasures
Iran’s latest response underscores its growing rejection of Western pressure and marks a new phase in the country’s nuclear trajectory, one increasingly independent of multilateral negotiations and oversight mechanisms perceived by Tehran as compromised.
This development comes just days ahead of the sixth round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, set to take place this Sunday in Muscat, Oman. The announcement was confirmed by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who wrote in a post on X: “I am pleased to confirm the 6th round of Iran-US talks will be held in Muscat this Sunday, the 15th.”
Tehran and Washington have held five rounds of talks since April to carve a new nuclear deal to replace the 2015 accord that Trump unilaterally withdrew from during his first term in 2018.
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Inside Job? Inside What?
By Prof. Tony Hall | American Herald Tribune | July 28, 2016
The Kevin Barrett-Chomsky Dispute in Historical Perspective – Sixth part of the series titled “9/11 and the Zionist Question”
In his chapter on “Left Gatekeepers” and the “Shame of Noam Chomsky,” Barrie Zwicker refers to the the “New World Order” as the “diaboligarchy’s” directing agency. Less compelling is Zwicker’s reference to the “New World Order” as the “diaboligarchy’s” directing agency. To me this unfortunate choice of words is much too closely associated with the often crude and chauvinistic populism of Alex Jones and his Infowars media network. Many have come to see Jones’ lucrative media operation as a limited hangout set in place by handlers trying to hold the activities of the 9/11 Truth Movement within manageable constraints.
Due to the important findings over fifteen years of the citizens’ investigation into 9/11, the culprits most deeply implicated in the crime can be identified with much more specificity than an entity vaguely described as a “New World Order.” As Kevin Barrett and many others insist, the time has come to name the names of the probable culprits, Noam Chomsky prominent among them.
While Alex Jones ultimately serves the same masters as Chomsky, the former’s media product is often much closer to the mark of what is really going on than the content of Noam Chomsky’s more magisterial pronouncements. Jones goes at least part of the way into realities of the deep state politics of the twenty-first century. Chomsky, however, sacrificed his capacity to contribute cogently to sensible discourse on contemporary geopolitics by making himself a primary instrument of the most consequential deep state deception of recent times. As a leading agent of disinformation in the psychological trenches of the ongoing Global War of False Flag Terrorism, Chomsky has reduced himself to the level of skeptic pretender Michael Shermer. In the style of Shermer, the elder Chomsky has become an establishment TV professor readily available on Netflix. … continue
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