Exiled Iranian crown prince calls for calm and readiness after the US and Israel launched strikes against the Islamic regime in Iran; appeals to security forces and President Trump
The Israeli Defence Forces said they intercepted at least two barrages of missiles fired by Iran after joint US-Israel strikes on Tehran, as sirens sounded and security guidelines were tightened
Bahrain on Saturday said that a missile attack targeted the US Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom. It offered no other immediate information about the attack. The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran, with the first apparent strike happening near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian media reported strikes nationwide, and smoke could be seen rising from the capital.
The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen have decided to resume missile and drone attacks on shipping routes and on Israel in support of Iran. That's according to two senior Houthi officials, who spoke in condition of anonymity because there is no official announcement from the Houthi leadership. One of the officials said the rebels' first attack could come as soon as "tonight." The rebels ceased their attacks on the Red Sea shipping route as part of a deal with the Trump administration that also halted US strikes against the Houthis. They also stopped their attacks against Israel after an October ceasefire that halted major fighting in Gaza.
Air India on Saturday diverted its Delhi-Tel Aviv flight to Mumbai due to the closure of Israeli airspace. Israel has launched attacks on Iran, following which some airspaces are closed for flight operations. "AI139 operating from Delhi to Tel Aviv on 28 February is returning to India due to closure of airspace in Israel and in the interest of safety of passengers and crew," the airline said in a statement. An airline official said the flight has been diverted to Mumbai. "We will continue to assess the safety and security environment for our flight operations and adjust operations proactively as needed," Air India said. The airline also regretted the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this unforeseen situation. Meanwhile, IndiGo said it was closely monitoring regional updates concerning Iran and its airspace. "Our teams stand prepared to implement any necessary adjustments as the situation evolves," it said in a post on X and asked passengers to check their flight status
Several ministries in southern Tehran were reportedly struck, and residents heard powerful blasts as tensions surged following a pre-emptive military strike by Israel and US
In his first comments on the Iran war, US President Donald Trump said the objective was to eliminate imminent threats from Tehran and prevent the regime from acquiring nuclear weapons
Even with the US saying the door to further diplomacy remains open, President Donald Trump has amassed huge military forces in the Middle East, sending a second aircraft carrier to Israeli waters
The attack, coming after Israel and Iran engaged in a 12-day air war in June, follows repeated US-Israeli warnings that they would strike again if Iran pressed ahead with its nuclear programmes
Earlier on Friday, the US told non-emergency staff at its embassy in Jerusalem that they're allowed to leave Israel, with the country being vulnerable to Iranian retaliation
American news outlets also reported that a US official has confirmed that the fifth-generation aircraft landed at an Israeli air force airbase in South Israel
Iran has signed a nearly €500 million deal with Russia to buy portable air-defence missiles, aiming to quickly rebuild its weakened air shield after last year's conflict damaged key defence systems
Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to travel to Israel next week to update Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the US-Iran nuclear talks, two Trump administration officials said. Rubio is expected to meet with Netanyahu on Feb. 28, according to the officials, who spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity to detail travel plans that have not yet been announced. The U.S. and Iran recently have held two rounds of indirect talks over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. Officials from both sides publicly offered some muted optimism about progress this week, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi even saying that "a new window has opened" for reaching an agreement. "In some ways, it went well," US Vice President JD Vance said about the talks in an interview Tuesday with Fox News Channel. "But in other ways, it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through." Netanyahu visited the
With President Donald Trump saying he believes Iran wants to make a deal on its nuclear program, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to arrive at the White House on Wednesday with his own urgent message: Expand the talks further. The visit from Netanyahu - their seventh meeting in Trump's second term - comes as both Tehran and Washington are projecting cautious optimism after holding indirect talks in Oman on Friday about how once again to approach negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. "We'll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal," Trump said in an interview Tuesday with Fox Business Network's Larry Kudlow. "I think they'd be foolish if they didn't. We took out their nuclear power last time, and we'll have to see if we take out more this time." He added, "It's got to be a good deal. No nuclear weapons, no missiles." Netanyahu pushes for more in Iran talks ------------------------------------------ Netanyahu's office has said he wants those talks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns Iran of a strong response if attacked, as protests and US military moves from Tehran and Washington raise regional tensions
No pursuit of nuclear weapons. Confronting drug trafficking. An immediate recognition of the state of Israel. Exporting copious amounts of oil and gas. Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi laid out his aspirations Thursday for Iran if its theocracy is toppled and experts say they sound exactly like what US President Donald Trump wants to hear. That plan likely is aimed at trying to secure support to lead Iran if the nationwide protests succeed in ousting the Islamic Republic. Activists describe a bloody crackdown by security forces that has killed 2,637 people and broadly smothered the demonstrations. But Trump has yet to fully embrace Pahlavi. He's really struggling to win Trump's approval, to give the impression he has that strong support, but it doesn't seem to be working, said Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute, a Washington think tank and author of several books on Iran. Many of his goals also dovetail with the wishes of hard-line Israeli Prime Minister
Earlier, the MEA issued an advisory urging Indian citizens to avoid travel to Iran until further notice and has asked those already in Iran to leave immediately using available commercial flights
As Iran's economy buckles under inflation and a weakening currency, Tehran's Grand Bazaar is again turning into a pressure point, with shop closures signalling unrest spreading beyond the market
Iran's rial has slid to nearly 1.65 million per dollar, crushing purchasing power and trade options as sanctions, inflation, and the Israel war have converged into a full-blown currency crisis
Iran's parliament speaker warned Sunday that the US military and Israel would be legitimate targets if the US strikes the Islamic Republic over the ongoing protests roiling the country, as threatened by President Donald Trump. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf made the threat after nationwide protests challenging Iran's theocracy saw protesters flood the streets in the country's capital and its second-largest city into Sunday morning, crossing the two-week mark. At least 203 people have died in violence surrounding the demonstrations, activists said, with fears the death toll is far higher. With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran's security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Trump offered support for the protesters, saying on social media that Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!