A Looming Battle: Trump's Persistent Push for a "Real End" to Iran Conflict
Trump advocates for a comprehensive resolution rather than a temporary ceasefire in the conflict with Iran.
While the brutal clashes in the Israel-Iran conflict persist relentlessly, speculation about a potential US military intervention intensifies. President Trump ignites the debate further with his blunt statements. In the meanwhile, Israel readies for more assaults on "critical assets".
Trump's blunt message on his return from the G7 summit in Canada, "I want a real end to Iran's nuclear program, not a ceasefire, a real end," sets the stage. He reiterates, "It's not about a ceasefire, it's about ending it."
Day five of the war finds both adversaries still locked in a fierce battle. In Israel, the death toll reaches 24 with over 600 injured, as per government reports. The casualties in Iran are suspected to be far higher.
North Tehran has witnessed yet another bombing run by Israel's air force. The explosion resonated badly in a bustling, upscale neighborhood. The escalating air raids have turned parts of the 15-million strong metropolis into a haunting ghost town. Residents are fleeing, supermarkets are deserted, and internet access is severely limited.
Iran's 15-million metropolis transforming into a war-torn city
Defense Minister Israel Katz announces impending heavy attacks on "significant targets." "We will continue to strike heavy blows against Iran," he said. Katz hints at more than ten nuclear targets in the Tehran area.
Responding to a question about possible US involvement in the war, Katz responded, "Israel is handling this battle with its forces." Presently, the US is merely providing Israel with defense. "We will abide by any decisions made by the US and appreciate any support they provide."
A Nuclear Threat looming over Iran: Expert analysis
Iran has launched around 400 missiles and hundreds of drones since Friday, but the frequency has significantly decreased. The Israeli military manages to neutralize many missiles while they're still in transit. The Israeli air force now enjoys a broad operational space in the Iranian skies.
European Union Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas cautions against widespread conflict if the US were to join the Israel-Iran war. "If the US were to enter the fray, it would undoubtedly escalate the conflict in the region, and that is not in anyone's interest," she warned journalists in Brussels.
The US Military is planning to send a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East. Moreover, it's reported that the US is moving dozens of tanker aircraft to Europe over the weekend to be ready for immediate deployment in the Middle East should it be necessary. The prioritized goal is to safeguard American forces in the Middle East.
A Race against Time: Prevention of an Iranian Nuclear Bomb
Israel claims its attacks are intended to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Contrastingly, Iran's leadership maintains that their nuclear program serves solely civilian purposes. In an online post, Trump criticized Iran for not signing the proposed agreement regarding the Iranian nuclear program, deeming it a "waste of lives." In capital letters, he demanded, "Iran must not possess a nuclear weapon."
Tensions among the leading industrial nations have found their way to the G7 summit in Canada. The combined statement issued by the leaders emphasizes Iran as "the primary cause of regional instability and terrorism" and reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense, stressing that Iran should never acquire a nuclear weapon.
According to Israeli reports, the well-defended facility near the city of Ghom is the key focal point in preventing Iran from building a nuclear weapon. "Fordo must be neutralized at the end of this operation," said Israel's ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, to Fox News.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirms that hundreds of centrifuges are operational at supersonic speeds in Fordo, generating uranium enriched to up to 60% purity, tantalizingly close to weapons-grade material. Experts indicate that Israel would need a highly specialized bomb, exclusively available from the US, to wipe out the deeply buried nuclear facility.
[1] Sources: ntv.de, Arne Bänsch, Cindy Riechau, and Matthias Röder, dpa (Accessed on 2022, June 1)
The European Union has a responsibility to ensure that the EU's foreign policy is fully implemented, considering the intensifying speculation about a potential US military intervention in the ongoing war-and-conflicts between Israel and Iran, and the potential impact on general-news such as the rising tensions, threat of nuclear war, and the instability in the region.
In light of the escalating Israel-Iran war and the looming nuclear threat, European Union Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas cautioned against widespread conflict if the US were to join the war, stating that such involvement would undoubtedly escalate the conflict in the region and not be in anyone's interest.
