US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

According to Trita Parsi, an Iran foreign policy specialist at the Quincy Institute, President Trump was left with no viable alternatives but to accept a ceasefire agreement with Iran. This assessment was shared during an interview with Al Jazeera, where Parsi emphasized that a broader conflict between the US and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other, would have severe repercussions for Trump’s presidency.

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry has expressed its enthusiasm for the newly brokered truce between the US and Iran, hoping it will pave the way for a significant reduction in regional tensions and ultimately foster a more secure and stable environment in the area.
In a statement reaffirming its backing for international and regional initiatives aimed at mitigating crises and promoting dialogue, the ministry emphasized the importance of unwavering commitment to the ceasefire and the avoidance of any actions that could escalate the situation.
Throughout the conflict, Iraq had witnessed a series of attacks by pro-Iranian groups targeting US interests, as well as retaliatory strikes by Israel and the US against fighters linked to Tehran.
Iran had also launched operations against armed Kurdish opposition groups operating in northern Iraq.

The extent to which Israel will adhere to a potential truce remains uncertain. A crucial factor will be the inclusion of Hezbollah and Lebanon in the agreement, with conflicting signals on this point. Some insiders within Israel suggest that Lebanon would be excluded from any ceasefire, viewing it as a vital component of their national security. This stance is closely tied to their ongoing campaign against Hezbollah, which Iran is reluctant to separate from the broader conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. This complex dynamic has implications for the ceasefire’s prospects.

Given the US’s senior role in brokering the deal, with Donald Trump’s assertion of a forthcoming ceasefire, it’s challenging to envision Israel resisting this development. The country’s past behavior during the 12-day conflict in June, when a ceasefire was initially agreed upon but later disputed, serves as a precedent. Ultimately, a decisive factor will be whether Israel can be persuaded to accept the ceasefire, or if it will continue to resist, as it did during the previous conflict, with a personal intervention from Donald Trump ultimately facilitating a resolution.

A leading Iran foreign policy expert has concluded that US President Trump was left with no viable alternatives but to accept a ceasefire agreement with Iran, given the dire consequences of a broader conflict. Trita Parsi, a Quincy Institute analyst, made this assessment in an interview with Al Jazeera, cautioning that a US-Israeli war with Iran would have catastrophic repercussions for Trump’s presidency.

Parsi pointed out that any attempt to target Iran’s energy resources and power plants would likely prompt retaliatory strikes against Gulf Cooperation Council states, exacerbating the current energy crisis. He suggested that Trump’s earlier threats were merely a tactical move to create the illusion that the agreement was reached on his terms, rather than a genuine reflection of his negotiating position.

In reality, Parsi noted, the ceasefire deal appears to be based on the 10-point plan proposed by Iran, which is a more moderate and reasonable framework for negotiations.

The Israeli government has yet to provide a definitive statement on the situation, despite speculation surrounding their stance on the proposed ceasefire. A US official’s comments carried by Israeli media suggest that Israel may be willing to accept the ceasefire, but this remains to be confirmed. Israel’s history of opposition to negotiations, including those brokered by Oman, raises questions about their true intentions. In recent months, they have actively worked to undermine peace efforts, including influencing Donald Trump’s decision to abandon negotiations in favor of conflict. Just last weekend, Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to a ceasefire during a phone call with Trump, emphasizing the need to complete unfinished business with Iran. Reports indicate that the Israeli and US militaries have been collaborating closely to finalize target lists for infrastructure projects, and recent Israeli strikes may be seen as a precursor to a broader campaign.

In a timely warning, the Emirati National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Authority has alerted citizens to a missile attack, urging them to stay safe and stay informed through official channels.
The agency has issued a statement, advising residents to remain in a secure location and to closely monitor official updates and warnings as air defense systems actively counter the missile threat.

The Gulf region has been irreparably altered by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, a development that has far-reaching implications for the entire region. The devastating consequences of this war are not limited to the United States, which has undoubtedly suffered significant losses. The extraordinary events unfolding in Iran, where the Supreme Leader’s position is under threat and the chain of command is in disarray, have left the country on the cusp of a major transformation. Rumors surrounding the health of the new Supreme Leader have added to the uncertainty, prompting Iran to reevaluate its priorities and reassess its position in the region. The Gulf Cooperation Council deserves credit for maintaining a cautious stance throughout the conflict, thus avoiding involvement. However, the time for reassessment has arrived, and the region must now reexamine its security and economic priorities in light of the significant damage inflicted.

A seasoned nuclear security specialist has cautioned that a direct strike on Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant could unleash a calamity on par with the devastating effects of Chernobyl or Hiroshima.
Tariq Raoul, a former chief of nuclear verification and security policy coordination at the International Atomic Energy Agency, shared his concerns with Al Jazeera, stating that while nuclear power plants like Bushehr are engineered to withstand impact, the actual outcome remains uncertain.
Raoul emphasized that if the Gulf were to be contaminated, the consequences would be far-reaching and prolonged, with a lasting impact on the region’s ecosystem.
“The desalination plants would cease to function, fish supplies would dwindle, and vast areas would become uninhabitable,” he noted, painting a grim picture of the potential fallout.
He also highlighted the severe health risks associated with radiation exposure, including blistering, loss of consciousness, blood loss, and cancer.
“It’s reckless to target, whether intentionally or by accident,” Raoul said, warning that an errant drone could eventually crash into the reactor, sparking a disaster of unimaginable proportions.

According to a high-ranking Iranian source who spoke with Reuters, Iran is giving serious consideration to Pakistan’s proposal. This development comes after Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made a request to the US President, asking him to delay his deadline for an Iran deal by two weeks and to have Iran keep the Strait of Hormuz open during the same timeframe, citing ongoing diplomatic progress that warrants further exploration.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, Iran’s joint military command spokesperson, has issued a stark warning that the country’s armed forces will unleash a crippling assault on the infrastructure of the United States and its allies, effectively cutting them off from the region’s vital oil and gas supplies for years to come and forcing their withdrawal from the area.

In a statement released through Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, Zolfaghari revealed that the country’s military has already launched a barrage of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, against US and Israeli interests across the Middle East, targeting over 30 sites in cities across central and southern Israel.