Middle East War Live Ticker +++ 22:08 Trump Hungers for "Total, Complete Victory"
Trump Aims for a "Comprehensive, Ultimate Triumph"
US President Donald Trump lashes out again at French President Emmanuel Macron. "He's preaching I'll go home and close a ceasefire. We ain't even close to a ceasefire, buddy!" Trump grumbles about the Israel-Iran war. "Ceasefire is a wimpy term. We want complete, total victory," the Republican huffs.
21:40 "Insane Remarks": Tehran summons German AmbassadorAfter German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's statement that Israel is performing dirty work for others against Iran, Tehran has recalled the German ambassador. "Following Merz's insane remarks in support of Tel Aviv's aggression against our country, the ambassador of his pitiful nation has been summoned to the Foreign Ministry," Iranian state television reported. The German ambassador to Iran is diplomat Markus Potzel. Merz praised Israel's military operation against Iran on Tuesday on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada. "That's the dirty work Israel does for us all," the Chancellor smirked to ZDF. "All I can say is, greatest respect for the courage shown by the Israeli army and leadership in doing this."
21:18 Iran's Air Defense Battles Over RashtIn the Iranian city of Rasht on the Caspian Sea, air defense is in full swing. According to Iranian media reports, small flying objects and combat drones are being fought after dark. Rasht, also known as the "City of Rain," is located on the Caspian Sea and is a popular tourist region. It's only four hours' drive from the capital Tehran. Since the beginning of the war, thousands of Iranians have fled to the area to escape Israeli attacks.
20:58 Iran Reports Israeli Attacks near Tehran Police HeadquartersIranian state media claims there were Israeli attacks near the Tehran police headquarters. Buildings near the police headquarters in the Iranian capital were attacked, according to a police statement cited by the state news agency Irna. Several officers were injured in the attack. Meanwhile, the Israeli army reported renewed attacks on rocket launch sites and missile silos in western Iran. Fighter jets were in operation over the sites, the army said. Workers trying to restore previously damaged sites were also targeted.
20:35 Ex-Israeli Minister: "After America, We're the Best"Some of Iran's central nuclear facilities are deep underground. Nevertheless, former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz is confident it's possible for his country to achieve its goals in the war against Tehran without American military aid. In an interview with ntv, he also expresses doubts about a possible diplomatic solution.
20:23 Iran Debuts Modern "Sedjil" MissilesIran's Revolutionary Guard has apparently fired one of the most advanced missiles from its arsenal in its latest attack on Israel. The elite force fired so-called "Sedjil" missiles with a range of at least 2000 kilometers, according to a statement from the Revolutionary Guard, which was distributed by Iranian media. The missile type belongs to the most modern generation of Iran's missile arsenal. Due to their solid-fuel propulsion, these missiles are significantly faster to deploy and harder to detect than liquid-fueled systems. They can carry warheads weighing up to one ton.
19:57 Schumer Demands Secret Briefing from TrumpThe minority leader in the US Senate, Democrat Chuck Schumer, has reportedly requested a secret briefing from President Donald Trump on the conflict between Iran and Israel. All 100 senators should be involved, he says. He assumes Trump will agree. There is no statement from the president as yet.
19:33 Expert: Trump and Netanyahu "Are Leading a Deception Campaign""The Israelis are tactically brilliant, and they have their backs to the wall" - with these and other reasons, GIDS expert Marie-Theres Sommerfeld suggests that the goals in the fight against Iran are likely to be achieved. However, the US has long been much more actively involved in the conflict than it appears.
19:13 Iran Almost Completely Shuts Down the InternetIn the middle of the war, the internet in Iran is almost completely shut down. Real-time data confirms a "near-total national internet blackout," reports the organization Netblocks, known for monitoring internet shutdowns. Residents of Tehran confirm the outage by phone. The Mehr news agency cites a statement from the Communications Ministry. According to this, the restriction is "due to the misuse of the national communications network by the hostile aggressor for military purposes and to endanger the lives and property of innocent people." Access to communication within the country remains possible. Almost three hours after the restriction, it is no longer possible for people outside Iran to reach them by phone.
19:00 Israel Reports New Rocket Attack from IranIran has reportedly fired rockets at Israel again, according to the Israeli army. "Defense systems are in operation to intercept the threat," a statement says. Iran confirms the attack. Warning sirens have sounded in several areas of the country, including the densely populated Tel Aviv metropolitan area. People in the affected regions were instructed to stay in shelters. There have been further rocket attacks from Iran in the night before. Since then, Israel has also been attacking targets in Iran.
18:42 Opposition Politician: "Regime Change" in Iran Must Come from the PeopleProminent Iranian opposition figure Marjam Rajavi calls for the overthrow of the government in Tehran in the context of the Israel-Iran conflict, but stresses that the Iranian people must achieve it themselves. The "regime change" must come from the "Iranian people and their resistance," says the chair of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), active in exile. Rajavi warns against resuming negotiations with Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, over the nuclear program. The leadership in Tehran, she says, "will never abandon its uranium enrichment program." Khamenei is pushing the people of Iran "into war and uncertainty to preserve his fragile and faltering regime."
18:14 Israeli Minister Calls Erdogan's Remarks "Stirring Speech"Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar labels a statement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as "inciting speech." "It's particularly ironic that someone who openly pursues imperialistic ambitions, who invaded northern Syria and illegally occupies the northern part of Cyprus, pretends to speak in the name of morality and international law,” Saar wrote on X. Erdogan had previously described Iran's actions as fully legitimate in defending itself against "state terrorism." According to him, Israel is being attacked by a "lawless country that knows no rules, no rights, and no principles.”
18:06 Special Flight Brings 171 People from Jordan to GermanyA special flight is bringing Germans and their family members who were stranded in Israel from the Jordanian capital Amman to Frankfurt. 171 people were able to leave the region, the Foreign Office announced on X. The landing is expected in the evening at Frankfurt Airport. Another flight is planned for Thursday. Germans wishing to leave Israel must make their way to neighboring Jordan on their own. Other European countries, like Poland, have organized a convoy to Jordan for their citizens. The Foreign Office calls on Germans to register on their crisis prevention list, Elefand. A spokesman had previously said that this was not a repatriation or evacuation action. They are "commercial special flights" because the flight options of the airlines are not sufficient. The flights will continue "as long as the situation allows and there is a need."
17:51 Hegseth Refuses to Testify About Potential Iran Options Before SenateUS Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate that he will not disclose whether he presented President Donald Trump with options for an attack on Iran in a public forum. The US military, however, is ready to implement Trump's decisions, he said before the Armed Services Committee of the congressional chamber.
17:32 Trump Spoke to Putin – and Discussed MediationUS President Donald Trump spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. "He offered to mediate," Trump said, referring to the war between Israel and Iran. "Do me a favor, mediate in your own land first."
17:06 Iran: Trump Lies – "Iran Does Not Negotiate Under Duress"Iran denies having asked the US to negotiate over its nuclear program. "No Iranian official has ever begged to crawl before the White House gates. The only thing more despicable than his lies is his cowardly threats to 'eliminate' the Supreme Leader of Iran," says the Iranian mission to the UN on X, referring to US President Donald Trump. "Iran does not negotiate under duress, will not accept peace under duress, and certainly not from a former warmonger who clings to his relevance. Iran will respond to any threat with a counter-threat and to any action with countermeasures."
16:45 Trump Remains Evasive: "No One Knows What I Will Do"US President Donald Trump refuses to commit to a clear course regarding Iran. "No one knows what I will do," the Republican says when asked if he is considering a US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. "I could do it. I could not do it," Trump says, adding that he wouldn't announce it beforehand. The US President reiterated his demand for Iran's unconditional surrender but did not rule out further negotiations. "It's not too late," Trump says, noting that Tehran has "a lot of anger." He complains that a solution could have been found earlier. "There's a big difference between now and a week ago," Trump says, adding that the Iranian side had even suggested coming to the White House. "That's (…) brave, (…) it wasn't easy for them to do that," he says.
16:29 Israel's Army Advises Concerned Iranians to Contact MossadIsrael's army says it has received many messages from concerned Iranians and advises them to contact the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. "Perhaps you'll find a new way to improve your situation there," a statement in Persian on the X platform says, with a link to the Mossad's website. Israel's military understands the difficult situation of Iranians, the statement continues. In recent days, Israel's military has received many messages from people worried about their future in Iran. Even officials from the Iranian government's security apparatus have expressed their fear, despair, and anger about the situation in Iran, and asked the army to contact Israeli authorities to prevent Iran from following the same path as Lebanon and Gaza. However, the army is not responsible for such requests.
16:06 Unique Bomb Can Burrow Dozens of Meters into the GroundIf US President Donald Trump decides to intervene militarily in the conflict between Israel and Iran, the GBU-57 would be his weapon of choice. This bunker-busting bomb is the only strategic weapon capable of destroying Iran's underground nuclear facilities. The US bomb is unique because it can penetrate up to 61 meters deep into rock and concrete, according to the US Army. Unlike many rockets and bombs that detonate upon impact, bunker-busting bombs first burrow into the earth before exploding when they reach the underground facility. "They have a very thick shell of hardened steel that allows them to penetrate rock layers," says Masao Dahlgren, an armor expert at the CSIS research center in Washington. This explains their weight - more than 13 tons and 6.6 meters long.
15:41 Israeli Minister: Iran's Internal Security Headquarters DestroyedIsraeli Defense Minister Israel Katz says the Israeli Air Force has destroyed the Iranian internal security headquarters. He describes it as the "main arm of the Iranian dictator's oppression." Katz adds, "As we promised, we will continue to target symbols of the regime and attack the Ayatollah regime wherever it is located."
15:25 Multiple Explosions in TehranThere have been multiple explosions in the Iranian capital, Tehran, again. AFP reporters reported numerous detonations in the afternoon, with black smoke columns rising in the east and southeast of the capital.
15:00 Deep Underground: The Heart of Iran's Nuclear FacilitiesIsraeli strikes are targeting Iran's nuclear program facilities. Experts have long been certain that the regime is building an atomic bomb there. To completely disable the program, the Fordo facility, the heart of the operation, would need to be destroyed. However, this is hardly possible with conventional means.
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Destruction Requires Special Bomb Deep Underground: The Heart of Iran's Nuclear Facilities
14:37 Erdogan: Iran Has the Right to Self-DefenseTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan believes that Iran has a clear right to self-defense in its conflict with Israel. He says it's "completely natural, legitimate, and a right" for Iran to defend itself against this "state terrorism" from a country that "knows no rights, no rules, and no principles."
14:14 Wadephul Calls on Iran to Return to Negotiating TableGerman Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul calls on Iran to resume negotiations over its nuclear program. The E3 countries – Germany, France, and Britain – are ready for this, he says at a press conference with the Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Berlin. Trust-building measures by the Iranian leadership are now required. "It's never too late to come to the negotiating table if you come in good faith," the minister said.
13:55 Israel Confirms Downing of One of Its Drones over IranThe Israeli military confirms, with unusual openness, the downing of one of its drones by Iranian air defense. "During a mission, a surface-to-air missile was fired at an Israeli Air Force drone. The drone crashed in Iran," the army said. This is the first time since the start of the Israeli airstrikes last Friday that the army has confirmed the downing of one of its drones.
13:33 Expert: "Regime Change in Iran is a Dangerous Game"An end to the Mullah regime in Iran could have unforeseeable consequences, according to Klemens Fischer, a foreign policy expert. He emphasizes that similar regime changes influenced by the US have significantly destabilized other states.
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Expert Sees Only One Winner: "Regime Change in Iran is a Dangerous Game"
13:12 Khamenei: Iran Will Never SurrenderIran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sharply rejects calls for surrender and warns the US against military intervention in the conflict with Israel. "The Iranian people are determined and will resist both an imposed war and an imposed peace," he says in a televised speech. He also warns U.S. intervention would cause "irreparable damage." Khamenei was not shown, and his voice was not heard. Observers suggest this could fuel speculation about a possible imminent succession of the Ayatollah at the head of the country.
12:57 Russia Warns U.S. Against Aiding IsraelRussia warns that direct US military aid to Israel could lead to a radical destabilization of the situation in the Middle East. Vice Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov advises against providing such aid or even considering it, according to the Interfax news agency. Russia is in contact with both Israel and Iran, Ryabkov adds.
12:43 Israel Claims to Have Attacked Over 1100 Targets in IranIsrael's army claims it has attacked more than 1100 targets in Iran since the start of its offensive. The air force has flown hundreds of attacks since Friday, says army spokesman Effie Defrin. "We are acting systematically to neutralize the nuclear threat." Defrin adds that the attacks have also caused "significant damage" to the infrastructure of ballistic missiles. Iran, in turn, has fired several rockets daily in waves towards Israel. Last night, there were about 30 ballistic rockets in two salvos, says Defrin. Most of the projectiles were intercepted, and there were no casualties. Since the start of the war, 24 people have been killed and more than 800 injured, according to Israeli reports.
12:12 Iran Warns U.S. Against Joining the FightIran warns the US against direct participation in the war alongside Israel. The government in Tehran says it would respond decisively in such a case, says Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini. "We will not hesitate to defend our people, our security, and our country – we will respond seriously and strongly, without restraint," Bahreini tells reporters. He also describes the US as "complicit in Israel's actions."
11:53 Kiesewetter: Germany is not a Spectator in the Middle East Conflict"We were not critical enough of Iran," Roderich Kiesewetter says, looking at the war in the Middle East. The CDU foreign policy expert sees Israel's attack on Iran also as a failure of German foreign policy, which should have acted more decisively against the mullah regime.
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Germany is not a Spectator in the Middle East Conflict
11:22 Russians and Chinese Leave Israel and IranSince the beginning of Israel's large-scale attack on Iran, 791 Chinese citizens have been brought to safe regions by Iran, says spokesman Guo Jiakun of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. More than a thousand others are preparing for evacuation. Chinese citizens have also been evacuated from Israel. Meanwhile, the Russian ambassador in Tel Aviv, Anatoly Viktorov, says that the families of Russian diplomats have left Israel. "Almost all the wives and children of the employees of the embassy in Israel" left on Tuesday. They returned to their homeland via Egypt, he adds.
10:51 ntv reporter observes on site: "Israel has possibly gained air superiority"Iran claims to have shot down a hypersonic missile of the Fattah 3 type on Israel, which Tel Aviv has not yet confirmed. ntv reporter Alexandra Callenius reports on the latest developments in the Middle East and the threat from Donald Trump.
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Less attacks from Iran "Israel has possibly gained air superiority"
10:24 Israel's "Arrow" intercept missiles running outAccording to a media report, Israel's stock of intercept missiles for the "Arrow" defense system is running low. The Wall Street Journal reported, citing an unnamed US source, that the supply of missiles was running low. The report has not yet been confirmed.
The conflict between Israel and Iran has significantly escalated in recent days, with Israel launching a major military campaign targeting Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities. However, the situation is not completely clear, and Iran maintains its own counterattacks. Critics of Israel's actions raise questions about the legality and motivations behind the assault, while supporters defend Israel's right to protect its people and interests. The situation remains tense as both sides continue their fighting, and diplomatic solutions seem elusive.
- Political cooperation is essential for maintaining peace and security in the Middle East, as the conflict between Iran and Israel escalates, with both sides showing no signs of backing down.
- In the midst of war and conflicts, diplomatic solutions are becoming increasingly important, with the US and Iran engaging in a war of words through their leaders, highlighting the urgency for dialogue and negotiation to prevent further escalation.
