News

Opinion | Prolonging the war with Iran could strengthen China’s hand  The Washington Post

Rift Widens Among Republicans Over Israel and War in Iran  GV Wire

Trump’s Iran war has cost Americans at least $11bn already. And that’s just the start | Arwa Mahdawi  The Guardian

Al-Aqsa Mosque closure heralds a dark new chapter for Palestinians Lubna Masarwa on Tue, 03/17/2026 - 15:36 Israel is using the Iran war as a pretext to empty the complex of worshippers, as it pushes to exert full control over the holy site Palestinian Muslims pray outside the Old City of Jerusalem during Ramadan on 15 March 2026, as the nearby Al-Aqsa Mosque remains closed by Israel (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP) Off It’s the last Friday of Ramadan, and the Old City of Jerusalem is a ghost town. Al-Wad, the main street that leads to Al-Aqsa Mosque, is empty, and the shops selling sweets, herbs and clothes are all closed. Even the pharmacies and the famous Abu Khadija’s coffee shop have been forced to shut their doors. No sweets are offered to children. There are no calls to buy Ramadan products. The usual decorations that adorn the alleyways during the Islamic holy month are nowhere to be seen. The rumbustious Old City has fallen silent. Walking towards the main entrance to Al-Aqsa complex, Souq al-Qattanin, a market usually bursting with tourists, pilgrims and children, is empty. Two Israeli police officers stand guard idly at the green door, ensuring no-one gets closer. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); For those of us who have lived all of our lives in this city, the empty streets and closed doors inspire a deep fear and uncertainty for the future of Palestine. Israel enforced the closure after it joined the US in attacking Iran. It started by closing the doors of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, before extending restrictions to Al-Aqsa. Both mosques are in occupied Palestinian territory. Palestinians are used to arbitrary and punitive restrictions on their lives. But the closure of Al-Aqsa, one of the holiest sites in Islam, during Ramadan is unprecedented. Pretext of war This has been the first Ramadan since Israel seized East Jerusalem in 1967 that Palestinians have been unable to perform Friday prayers at the mosque. For Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank, this has hit especially hard, since Ramadan is usually the only time of year when Israel allows them, albeit in limited numbers, to visit Al-Aqsa. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, the streets were busier than they are now. Restrictions on prayers imposed then were a matter for the Islamic Waqf, which administers Al-Aqsa. This time, it was Israeli authorities who banned crowds from the site, citing public safety considerations because of the war. Al-Aqsa is the foundation of Palestine - and losing it means losing something essential to our existence Curiously, the same rule does not apply to the other side of the city, where restaurants and coffee shops are full of people, and synagogues remain open. It’s very clear that the empty streets presage a new and darker chapter in the history of a city that has endured tumultuous events for many centuries. Israel is using the war as a pretext to empty Al-Aqsa of worshippers, and to impose a new reality of full control over the site. For Palestinians, Al-Aqsa is the foundation of Palestine - and losing it means losing something essential to our existence, even among those who are not highly religious. A Palestinian woman who lives in the north of Israel told me: “Al-Aqsa Mosque is not only the sacred heart of Palestinian identity, but it has also become a symbol of sumud, of resilience and the enduring struggle for liberation, carrying the faith and prayers of Palestinians towards liberation of their land, the right of return and the restoration of their dignity as a free people.” Imposing a new reality In 2021, during the May uprising, thousands of Palestinians marched to Al-Aqsa: both religious and secular, Muslim and Christian. Palestinians from all towns and cities in Israel and the occupied territories rushed to the site in a symbolic effort to protect it, not only because of its religious importance, but because it stands as an emblem of Palestinian identity. The fear is that this shutdown is the prelude to a takeover and a complete change in the status-quo arrangements that have long determined who controls this space. Israel is unilaterally imposing a new reality, which threatens to transform the site primarily into a Jewish place of worship, as has already happened at the Ibrahimi Mosque. In 1994, Baruch Goldstein, a US-born settler, opened fire on hundreds of Muslims worshipping in the mosque during Ramadan, killing 29 Palestinians and wounding another 125. Goldstein was eventually disarmed and killed by survivors. The attack was condemned by then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, but venerated by some on the Israeli far right. Goldstein’s tomb in the settlement of Kiryat Arba subsequently attracted pilgrimages from Zionist extremists. Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, gave a speech in front of a wall-hanging that glorified Goldstein in 2023. After the attack, the prayer hall was partitioned on the recommendations of an Israeli-led commission. Two-thirds of the space is reserved for Jews and the remaining third for Muslims. Could the same now happen to Al-Aqsa? City under siege Aouni Bazbaz, director of international affairs at the Islamic Waqf, said the closure could have serious consequences.  “The continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque, particularly at a time when signs of normal life are returning elsewhere, could carry risks and future consequences that cannot be ignored,” he told Middle East Eye. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Bazbaz warned that keeping the mosque closed could “heighten tensions and public anger”. Fakhri Abu Diab, a Jerusalem-based activist and expert on the city’s affairs, said the public safety justification for closing the mosque was a lie: “The police and the government do not care about protecting us. There are no bomb shelters for Palestinians in Jerusalem.” Israel's closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque is an act of war Read More » He said the objective of the closure was to empty the mosque, push Palestinians away, and prevent them from exercising their right to worship, especially during Ramadan. “We have been prevented from reaching Al-Aqsa, yet people are still in the streets and the markets,” Abu Diab said. The closure of Al-Aqsa is part of a wider siege imposed on Palestinians in the Old City. “They destroyed our source of living. We were waiting for Ramadan to make some business, but they forced everyone to close, except if you have a food shop,” one young man, who defied orders to close his juice kiosk, told MEE. “A friend of mine had to pay a 6,000-shekel ($1,935) fine for opening his shop, even though they allowed food shops to open. But even apart from the fine and the harassment, to whom are you going to sell? The city is closed and there are no customers.” Israel has closed the entrances to the Old City. Soldiers guard the Damascus Gate and check IDs. Only residents with addresses inside are allowed through. “Sometimes they open it, and sometimes they decide to close; there is no reason for that, and no one knows when they change the orders,” the man at the juice stall said. A Palestinian man stands with a tray, selling some wheat. Nearby, an Israeli policeman walks across and confronts him. “Go before I turn this on its head,” he says in broken Arabic, gesturing at the tray. “Don’t force me to do that to you.” The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye. Al-Aqsa Attack Opinion Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:29 Update Date Override 0

Israel 'assessed Iranians would be slaughtered' if they rise up against Islamic Republic MEE staff on Tue, 03/17/2026 - 15:47 Israeli officials reportedly say Iran's ruling establishment 'not cracking' and would defeat popular uprising despite calls from US, Israel and Pahlavi An Iranian woman holds an image of the new supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as she takes part in the Al-Quds Day rally (AFP) Off Israel has privately assessed that Iranians would be "slaughtered" if they took to the streets against the Islamic Republic, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly calling for them to do so. According to a State Department cable reviewed by the Washington Post, a number of Israeli officials privately admitted to their US counterparts that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had the "upper hand" and would quickly overwhelm them. In spite of boasts from both the US and Israel, the officials conceded that the Islamic Republic was "not cracking” and was willing to “fight to the end" and any attempt by anti-government activists to take control would likely be a disaster. The cable details meetings between American officials and senior members of Israel’s National Security Council, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday and Thursday. Though Iranians inside and outside Iran have at various points been supportive of US and Israeli strikes against the Islamic Republic, the increasing civilian death toll and mixed messaging from the two countries has soured some of that fervor. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In a speech following the killing of Iranian security chief Ali Larijani on Tuesday, Netanyahu again called on opponents of the Islamic Republic to rise up against their government. "We are undermining the regime in the hope of giving the people an opportunity to remove it," he said in a televised statement. "It will not happen all at once, and it will not be easy. But if we persist, we will give them an opportunity to take their fate into their own hands." Reza Pahlavi’s supporters in Iran are turning against him Read More » However, his comments appear to contradict the assessment of his own officials, who were cited by the Washington Post as saying Iran's ability to launch ballistic missiles and drones "everywhere they want to" was proof of the state's resilience. The Israelis also said that despite reports of his being wounded or out-of-action, new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was “still in charge” and “more aligned” with the the IRGC than his father. The failure of Iran's opposition to provide an organised front or project its influence inside the country since the beginning of the most recent conflict has been another factor. Middle East Eye spoke to a number of Iranians inside the country earlier this week who had previously been supporters of monarchist leader Reza Pahlavi - arguably the most high-profile opposition figure - but had now lost faith is his ability to lead. Pahlavi took to X on Sunday to urge Iranians to take to the streets, using Chaharshanbe Suri - an ancient celebration ahead of the Persian new year – to mobilise the public. But there has been little obvious response to his calls. “My friend was shot right in front of my eyes,” Majid, a 21-year-old student in Tehran, told MEE. “I still cannot process it.” “Now he tells people to go celebrate in the streets - does he even know what life is like here? People go to sleep not knowing if they will wake up alive in the morning. “We are afraid every time we step outside that another air strike might hit somewhere nearby. And in this situation he says we should celebrate?” War on Iran News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

The Strait of Hormuz: The military cost of disruption as the Iran war escalates  Forces News

Not so diplomatic: Witkoff, Kushner, and Trump’s march to war in Iran  Responsible Statecraft

Palestinian Islamic leader issues fatwa calling for Eid prayers outside Al-Aqsa Mosque Lubna Masarwa on Tue, 03/17/2026 - 13:02 Ekrima Sa'id Sabri issues religious edict after Israel forces closure of Al-Aqsa during Ramadan An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man prays in front of the closed Western Wall overlooking the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in the Old city of Jerusalem on 13 March 2026 (Olympia De Maismont/AFP) Off A leading Palestinian Islamic cleric has issued a fatwa calling for Eid prayers outside Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, after access to the site was blocked by the Israelis. Ekrima Sa'id Sabri, a preacher at the mosque and a member of the Islamic Waqf Department, said all Muslims should attend the Friday event and pray at the nearest possible location to the site, considered one of the holiest in Islam. “It has become clear to everyone that the closure of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque since the beginning of the war on Iran carries Israeli political goals and agendas, related to an attempt to exploit this major regional event in order to push Judaisation plans on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque,” said Khaled Zabarqa, Sabri’s lawyer, speaking to Middle East Eye. “Therefore, the Israeli occupation’s pretext that it closed Al-Aqsa for security reasons to protect people’s lives is a false and fabricated excuse and an attempt to mislead public opinion.” Al-Aqsa Mosque, which Jews regard as the Temple Mount and the most sacred place in Judaism, has long been a flashpoint site in occupied East Jerusalem. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); While the official position of the Chief Rabbinate has long been that Jews may not enter the site until it is religiously ordained, some Jewish groups have demanded access to Al-Aqsa Mosque for prayers and even the construction of the Third Temple there. Many Palestinians fear that restrictions on Muslim access to the site are a precursor to increasing Jewish worship and even demolishing the mosque in part or completely. Middle East Eye reported on Monday that the Israeli authorities were planning to close the site, which has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 war, on Eid al-Fitr, a move that would provoke outrage from Muslim worshippers. Exclusive: Israel to keep Al-Aqsa Mosque closed through Eid al-Fitr and beyond Read More » Sources familiar with the mosque’s affairs said Israeli authorities informed the Islamic Waqf, the body responsible for administering the site, of the decision in recent days. This would mark the first Ramadan since 1967 that Palestinians have been unable to perform Friday prayers at the mosque. The site was closed by Israeli authorities earlier this month, citing the “security situation” amid the US-Israeli war on Iran. Despite this, Palestinians have attempted to pray near the site each night, provoking violent responses from the Israeli police. Last week, eight Muslim-majority countries condemned the “unjustified” closure, saying Israel has “no sovereignty” over the revered site and must lift the restrictions immediately. However, the closure has continued unchecked. Friday prayers and Ramadan night prayers remain banned, and Palestinians have been barred from reaching the site, with a heavy presence of Israeli forces in the Old City. Since the closure, no more than 25 Waqf staff members have been allowed inside the vast mosque complex per shift. Zabarqa said Sabri’s authority was such that praying near the mosque would be considered, in religious terms, equivalent to praying inside it. “This fatwa is very important, and also for all those who seek reward and blessings, especially during these virtuous days, there is an opportunity for them to gain reward and blessings,” he said.  “Ultimately, God Almighty is the one who manages affairs and protects the holy sites and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.” Occupation Jerusalem News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

The Take: Why Iranians are taking to Tehran’s streets during war  Al Jazeera

Top Trump official resigns over Iran, blaming Israel for march to war  Military Times

The Iran War Spreads to the Gulf Region  J Street

Trump's Iran War looks improvised. It isn't. Here's the playbook he's been running for decades  Fortune

One killed, one wounded in Israeli attack on southern Lebanon One person has been killed and another wounded in an Israeli attack between the southern Lebanese towns of Abba and Jebchit, the country's National News Agency is reporting. According to the report, the air stike hit a car near a school. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported that 912 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on the country since 2 March.

At least 912 people killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon At least 912 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since 2 March, the country's Ministry of Public Health is reporting. It added that another 2,221 have been wounded since Israel renewed its assault.

The US-Israeli war on Iran is founded on two huge miscalculations Meron Rapoport on Tue, 03/17/2026 - 14:23 If Trump and Netanyahu fail, it will be because they believed the Islamic Republic could be easily toppled and Hezbollah was a spent force Police stand guard on a street, with a large billboard featuring Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the background, in Tehran, 12 March 2026 (Reuters/Alaa Al-Marjani) Off More than two weeks since Israel and the US attacked Iran, inflicting "death and destruction from the sky all day long" as US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said, it seems that at the foundation of the decision to go to war were two major miscalculations. One is almost entirely an American miscalculation regarding the possibility of toppling the Iranian ruling establishment, and the other is an Israeli misreading of Hezbollah and its potential response. "If we had not acted immediately, within a few months Iran’s industries of death would have become immune to any strike," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday in his first televised speech since the war began. Israel and the US want "to prevent Iran from developing ballistic missiles that threaten Israel, the United States, and the entire world. That is our objective," Netanayu said, adding that the Israeli-American attack will facilitate conditions for the Iranian people to rise up and topple the Islamic Republic. US President Donald Trump has even claimed that his attacks have averted a nuclear war, telling reporters: "If we didn't do it, they were going to attack first." (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Regime-change war: A US miscalculation Despite Trump and Netanyahu's remarks, it's hard to think that the aim of the Israeli-US war on Iran was anything other than an attempt at regime change. Even if we accept the view that Iran is posing a grave danger to Israel through its nuclear and ballistic missiles programmes and its allies in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq, Israel itself claimed in June 2025, after its 12-day war on Iran, that the Islamic Republic's capabilities to strike it were greatly reduced.  Back then, Netanyahu said that Israel "achieved a historic victory, which will stand for generations", adding that it "removed two existential threats: The threat of annihilation by nuclear weapons and the threat of annihilation by 20,000 ballistic missiles". Now, it's clear that Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes did not suffer a terminal blow in that war, despite Israel and the US inflicting heavy losses on Iran and diminishing some of its powers. So, what has changed since that "historic" Israeli-presumed victory some eight months ago? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The motives changed. Iran is a lifelong obsession of Netanyahu, and toppling the Iranian establishment is a dream of the Israeli prime minister. However, Israel could not have achieved that alone. It needed its closest ally. Israel and the US have gone to war under the assumption that toppling the Iranian government is possible. From Gaza to Tehran, Palestinians and Iranians compare life under the bombs Read More » It probably stemmed from the apparent weakening of Iran and its closest allies since October 2023. Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon suffered heavy losses from Israel's brutal war machine, while the government of Syria's Bashar al-Assad fell and was replaced by an anti-Iranian administration. In addition, the results of the 12-day war and the recent demonstrations in Iran and subsequent violent crackdown led Israel and the US to believe that there was a golden opportunity to topple the Iranian government. As of now, it seems that that assumption was wrong. According to US intelligence sources, the Iranian government is not close to collapse despite the heavy bombardment of the Israeli and American armies. In the streets of Tehran and other cities, demonstrations calling for an end to the Islamic Republic have not been seen so far, as Israel and the US expected. Iran was also able to replace its slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with his son Mojtaba Khamenei, which indicates that the system still functions to some degree. In addition, Iran, since it was attacked, has been carrying out successful attacks on its neighbours in the Gulf and on Israel, causing heavy damage and killing US troops. The extent of the hits may also cause destabilisation in the Gulf. It's hard to believe that Netanyahu or Trump, whoever decided to go to war on Iran, considered that Iran could inflict such damage to American assets in the Middle East and close the Strait of Hormuz, spiralling the world into what some describe as the worst energy crisis since the 1970s. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Therefore, Iran's response is challenging American hegemony in the Middle East, and the world. If the Iranian government can stand the Israeli-American attacks without falling, it will be a colossal defeat for US hegemony in the Middle East, as it will fail to accomplish its goals, despite using the full might of two of the strongest armies in the world. Not toppling the Iranian government can be seen as an American failure which Russia and China can use. It can also lead states like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, the UAE and Kuwait to ask themselves whether the US bases scattered all over their territories really benefit them or provide them security, as they suffer casualties and heavy damage because of an Israeli war that is not in their interests. If the Iranian government can stand the Israeli-American attacks without falling, it will be a colossal defeat for US hegemony in the Middle East A lack of basic freedom rights in Iran and the undemocratic system there are the last things that the Gulf Arab states are interested in. The United States won’t be the only country to suffer if the war does not end with regime change. Israel can suffer too. Nowadays, Israel is almost inseparable from Trump's United States, as it's fighting with great coordination alongside the US army. This Israeli-US alliance will appear weak if the goal of the war is not achieved. In addition, Israel's image in American public opinion could be hurt. Netanyahu and Israel are already seen by many Democrats, Republicans and independents as responsible for dragging the US into war in the Middle East. Polls in the US indicate that the current war is the least popular in modern American history. An Israeli-American failure can also boost Iran's status around the world, with a reputation as a country that successfully stood alone against colonialist-imperialist power. It's not the first time Israel joined a colonialist-imperialist power. In 1956, Israel attacked Egypt alongside the UK and France, with the aim of toppling Gamal Abdel Nasser's government after he nationalised the Suez Canal. Israel, the UK and France won militarily but lost politically. They had to withdraw, and Abdel Nasser went on to become the leader of the Arab world and one of the most significant Third-World figures until the 1967 Middle East war. History can repeat itself if Iran is seen to stand up against the full might of Israel and the US. Hezbollah's response: Israel's miscalculation "I promised you victory, and we will achieve victory," Netanyahu said in November 2024, just before his government approved a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. After a year of war on Israel's northern front, which culminated in the killing of most of Hezbollah’s leadership, Netanyahu claimed the Lebanese armed movement was not the same as before. "We have pushed them decades back," he said. When Israel attacked Iran on 28 February, it seemed to act under the wrong assumption that Hezbollah was effectively a finished organisation that could not pose a threat. The assassination of Hezbollah's top brass, including its leader Hassan Nasrallah, the heavy blows Israel inflicted on the organisation, the fact that since the 2024 ceasefire agreement it had not responded to incessant Israeli attacks, and a political climate critical Hezbollah in Lebanon all led Israel to think that the movement could not pose any threat. This is what the Israeli public was led to believe. Lebanon’s prime minister mulls sacking army chief over Hezbollah disagreements Read More » Yet two weeks into the war, it seems that this assumption was wrong. So far, Hezbollah has shown military capabilities, firing long-range missiles and hitting critical infrastructure in central Israel. This has been done alongside firing hundreds of rockets into northern Israel, effectively paralysing the region. Two Israeli soldiers were killed and the military has tried to take new positions in southern Lebanon. The renewed full-fledged war on Israel's northern front, together with the global implications of the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, can have detrimental political effects on Netanyahu. Since October 2023, Netanyahu has been promising Israelis he will change the Middle East. The previous war with Hezbollah was used by the prime minister to claim that he achieved this goal, and the Israeli public bought this narrative. While there is a consensus in the Israeli public that Hamas was not defeated and the views regarding Israel's success in Iran vary, there was a consensus that Hezbollah was vanquished.  By attacking Israel, Hezbollah is proving that Netanyahu and the Israeli public were wrong. Israel finds itself fighting on two fronts. This not only stretches its war efforts, but it may also have political implications. As Israelis are rushing to shelters across the country, either because of Hezbollah missiles or Iranian ones, more of them could question the purpose of the war, which was strongly supported by the vast majority of Israelis in its first days. They may question what Israel wants to accomplish in the war and how long it will take. It may resemble the war on Gaza after Hamas's attack on October 2023. That war was strongly supported by most Israeli Jews, despite the genocide committed by the Israeli army. The combined attacks of Iran and Hezbollah may put pressure on Israel's home front and that could lead Israelis to start asking questions Yet, as the war went on and its goals were not clear, this support started to crack. This crack was one of the reasons that led Israel to sign the ceasefire agreement with Hamas in October 2025. Netanyahu wanted to go on, but he had to stop. The combined attacks of Iran and Hezbollah may put pressure on Israel's home front and that could lead Israelis to start asking questions. Netanyahu is boasting that Israel has become "a global power" and the military achievements of the current war with Iran have made Israel "stronger than ever". If the Iranian government falls - or at least agrees to bow to American dictates - Netanyahu may be proved right. But if Iran holds fast and Trump imposes a ceasefire on Israel for his own reasons, the miscalculations at the foundations of this war may end up putting Israel, and its American ally, in a worse position in the Middle East than before. Analysis Tel Aviv, Israel News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

Elbit Systems reports surge in demand amid US-Israeli attacks on Iran Israel's largest weapons company is reporting a surge in demand amid US-Israeli attacks on Iran, following record revenues as a result of its 2 year genocide in Gaza. Elbit chief executive Bezhalel Machlis said on Tuesday that Israel's "success" Iran is generating "a lot of interest and a lot of traction". Machlis told Reuters that "there is a lot of interest  in many countries who are suffering from the same enemy," citing Abraham Accords countries, but without specifying which. Machlis added that Elbit supplies Israel with a range of systems for use in Iran, including long-range guided munitions or equipment used in electronic warfare. "Customers like to see (systems) tested in battle, so we are engaged with international customers, and we anticipate demand," said chief financial officer Yaacov Kagan. Reporting by Reuters

Iran missile shrapnel falls on West Bank Palestinians as settler attacks, Israeli raids and restrictions continue.

Top UK official judged Iran 'posed no nuclear threat' just before war began Imran Mulla on Tue, 03/17/2026 - 14:14 Starmer's national security adviser attended US-Iran talks days before US and Israel attacked Tehran Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks to the media on the situation in the Middle East, at Downing Street in central London on 16 March (AFP) Off Britain believed Iran did not pose a nuclear threat and saw no evidence of an imminent Iranian attack on Europe when the US-Israeli attack on Iran began, it has emerged. Jonathan Powell, the prime minister's national security adviser, attended the final talks between the US and Iran, which ended two days before the attack started, the Guardian reported on Tuesday. Powell reportedly judged that Tehran's offer on its nuclear programme was "surprising" and that progress had been made. He was attending the talks at Oman's ambassadorial residence in Cologny, Geneva, as an adviser, accompanied by an expert from the UK's Cabinet Office. The Guardian reported that a former official briefed on the talks said the UK team "were surprised by what the Iranians put on the table". (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "It was not a complete deal, but it was progress and was unlikely to be the Iranian’s final offer. The British team expected the next round of negotiations to go ahead on the basis of the progress in Geneva." The UK came to believe there was no evidence that Iran was close to securing a nuclear weapon, or that there was an imminent threat of an Iranian missile attack on Europe. Further talks were scheduled for Monday 2 March. According to the Guardian, a diplomat of unspecified nationality said there was reason to believe the US was dragged into war. "We regarded Witkoff and Kushner as Israeli assets that dragged a president into a war he wants to get out of.” The source said. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); UK-US relations strained The new revelation comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer seeks to avoid active involvement in a war that is opposed by most of the British public. Britain has nevertheless become embroiled in the conflict to an extent, allowing the US to use British military bases for bombers en route to targeting Iranian missile sites. Relations with the US have been strained over Downing Street's initial refusal, when the war began, to allow the Americans to use the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to launch strikes on Iran. UK was an 'active participant' in Israeli war crimes, Corbyn tribunal finds Read More » Powell's presence in the talks could help explain Starmer's early decision, and why he remains opposed to taking Britain fully into the war.  Whitehall sources told Middle East Eye that the Starmer government believed the US-Israeli attack had no lawful basis and joining it would be against Britain's national interest. Starmer said in an address from Downing Street on Monday morning that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened to "ensure stability in the markets", adding "that is not a simple task". This came after Trump threatened on Sunday night that Nato faced a "very bad" future if its member states failed to help America in opening up the crucial waterway, through which a fifth of the world's oil passes - and which Iran has effectively shut in response to the US-Israeli war on the country. Starmer said the UK was working with "all of our allies" on a "viable plan" to reopen Hormuz. He added that the US-Israeli attack on Iran has "massively weakened" the military capability of the "abhorrent regime in Iran", but said there will need to be a "negotiated agreement" with the country to limit its ability to rebuild its nuclear programme and safeguard international shipping. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said on Sunday that the government is considering sending minesweeping drones rather than warships to Hormuz. Minesweeping drones trick mines into detonating safely by flying in a pattern that makes them appear to be ships. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Guardian reported that Downing Street did not respond to its request for comment. Starmer said on Monday morning that his priority is to work to "de-escalate" the war. UK Politics News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

The president said Iran wasn’t ‘supposed to go after all these other countries in the Middle East’