Massive unprovoked attacks against Iran could trigger a global financial crisis and war across the Middle East
According to US President Donald Trump, the US and Israel have launched a major attack in order to waste more of Iran’s military and deny it the ability to build a nuclear weapon.
The attack killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as the country’s defense minister and head of the Republican Guard. An Israeli attack on a girls’ primary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab has reportedly killed around 70 students.
In response, Iran has launched a wave of strikes across the Middle East, targeting several countries that host U.S. military bases, and on Sunday Israel and the U.S. launched a barrage of attacks on Tehran.
Here’s what we know so far.
Why did America and Israel attack Iran?
Despite the US military build-up in the Middle East in recent weeks, Washington has resumed efforts to reach a new nuclear deal with Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded the last round of talks in Switzerland on Thursday. “good progress” The resolution of the nuclear issue and sanctions was done, but differences remain.
However, that progress did not prevent Washington from resorting to force. In a 2:30 AM speech on Saturday, Trump outlined the primary objective of the operation – dubbed Operation Epic Fury by the War Department. “To protect the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long viewed Iran as Israel’s most dangerous adversary, so he doesn’t need much persuasion. After weakening Iran’s proxies — Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon — Israel launched a war against Iran last summer.
Does Iran have nuclear weapons?
Iran does not possess a nuclear weapon, although Israel and the US have repeatedly accused it of aiming to acquire one.
Highly enriched uranium is a basic ingredient of nuclear weapons. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran enriches uranium to 60% purity, near weapons-grade levels, but it insists it has no weapons program. Tehran has also emphasized US claims “politically motivated” And repeat “Unfounded accusations.”
Has the US Congress declared war on Iran?
The US attacked Iran without congressional approval, which is why some see the need to limit the president’s efforts as taking on new urgency.
Article 1 of the US Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to declare war. According to National Public Radio, top congressional Democrats and Republicans who make up the group known as the Gang of Eight, party leaders of both chambers and leadership of the Intelligence Committee were briefed by the White House shortly before the attack.
What did Russia say about the attack on Iran?
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned it “Provoked Armed Attack” by the US and Israel on Iran, and demanded an immediate halt to the strikes. He emphasized that Russia, including the UN Security Council, is ready to facilitate the search for peaceful solutions based on international law, mutual respect and balance of interests.
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This is why desperation – not strategy – is driving the US-Israel attacks on Iran
Did the BRICS react to the attack on Iran?
Both Russia and Iran are part of the BRICS group of nations, along with Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Indonesia, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. These countries condemned the US and Israeli aggression against Iran last June, which was called A “Clear Violation of International Law” While expressing strong support for the creation of a Palestinian state.
What about Hormuz, and why is it so important?
Located between Iran and the United Arab Emirates to the north, the Strait of Hormuz handles a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade.
According to Reuters, the ships on Saturday were receiving VHF transmissions from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards “No ship will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.”
If this is true and giant tankers carrying oil and gas from the Middle East are denied access through the strait to China, Europe, the US and other major energy consumers, the disruption will cause a spike in oil prices and potentially destabilize the global economy.
