Western governments’ abandonment of the very system of international law which they created was embodied in a tweet from the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which sought to justify the illegal Israeli attack on Iran as “Targeted strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities”.
The former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Authority, Mohamed ElBaradei, was left to point out that far from a justification, it is specifically against international law to target nuclear facilities.
He refers to Article 56 of the Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions. While we are on the subject, you might also wish to see article 54:
It is worth noting that the exception on destruction of foodstuffs at Article 5 refers to the right of a country which is defending against invasion, not which is invading another country. It means that it is not illegal for a country to destroy crops and stocks of its own, on its own territory. Which is to say a scorched-earth policy against an invader is legal. It does not give the right to refuse supplies to a population under occupation.
The German justification was of course just part of a chorus of Western support for the Israeli attack on Iran, in which numerous Western leaders all parroted a co-ordinated line about “Israel’s right of self-defence”, even as Israel conducted an entirely illegal and unprovoked attack on Iran during peace talks.
There are dozens of examples, but I give you the openly genocidal von der Leyen as one:
Spoke with President @Isaac_Herzog concerning the escalating situation in the Middle East.
I reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself and protect its people. At the same time, preserving regional stability is vital.
I urge all parties to act with maximum restraint and work…
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 13, 2025
On Thursday, before Israel attacked Iran, I attended the UN General Assembly debate on Palestine. This had limited utility as it mandated no specific measures and did not suspend Israel from the United Nations, the one truly useful action the General Assembly has the power to implement.
The motion called for an immediate ceasefire and for states to take “all necessary measures”, but that is the last we shall hear of it. It passed by 150 votes to 12, with opposition from the United States, its de facto colonies and the small far-right collection of Argentina, Paraguay etc.
But there was one interesting point in the Statements, known as Explanations of Vote, of the national delegations. These too were very routine, with Arab states that have not the slightest intention of actually doing anything, condemning Israel and western nations all launching blood-curdling condemnations of Hamas (yes, really, that was still their priority, 60,000 dead Palestinian civilians later).
But the UK explanation of vote made one point that absolutely nobody else made. It stuck out like a sore thumb. The British Ambassador to the UN stated that
“While the UK voted in favour of this resolution, we wish to clarify that our long-standing position remains that there is no legal obligation on states to ensure respect for international law by third parties.”
When the EOV was published, this part of the statement was bolstered by a reference to Common Article 1 of the Geneva Convention. I do not recall her actually saying this and it is not in my notes.
Common Article 1 (so called because it is present in every one of the Geneva Conventions) reads:
Article 1
The High Contracting Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances.
So why did the UK, and the UK alone, say that it is not responsible for ensuring that other parties comply with international law, adding later a specific reference to the Geneva Conventions?
It is perfectly simple. Starmer and Lammy are terrified about future charges of complicity in Israeli war crimes. So the UK, only, feels it necessary to emphasise that they do not bear legal responsibility for Israel’s actions.
They claim they are not responsible for what Israel did with the supplies of UK munitions, which the UK increased to fuel the genocide.
They claim they are not responsible for what Israel did with the targeting information they gave Israel on a daily basis from RAF Akrotiri flights over Gaza.
They claim they are not responsible for the Israeli use of weapons flown in through the UK and Akrotiri.
They claim they are not responsible for use of the F-35 jets attacking Iran now, which they continue to supply with UK-manufactured spare parts.
We simply do not yet know what else they have done to support Israel based on the secret UK-Israeli defence treaty, but whatever it is, Starmer and Lammy want to make absolutely plain that the UK had no responsibility to prevent Israel from committing war crimes.
The claim that this is longstanding British policy is of course a rather frivolous bit of gaslighting. Indeed given that this argument runs completely counter to the doctrine of “the responsibility to protect” – of which the UK was the leading international proponent – it is simple nonsense.
[As it happens I always opposed the “responsibility to protect” argument because it is used as an excuse for Imperialism, cf. the destruction of Libya.]
The Genocide Convention in fact explicitly does create a duty on states to prevent genocide by third parties.
Article I of the Genocide Convention reads:
The Contracting Parties confirm that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and to punish.
So the declaration by Starmer and Lammy of not bearing responsibility really does not wash. The interesting thing is that they felt compelled to make it.
The evening after the debate I attended receptions hosted by both the British Ambassador and then by the Russian Ambassador, and I spoke to a large number of Ambassadors to the UN. Of course we discussed the debate, and everybody had noticed both the extraordinary and unusual addition to the UK statement and its motive.
They all specifically realised it was an effort to back away from responsibility for complicity in Israeli crimes.
I understand and share your disappointment at the collapse of international law. But I can tell you that the prospect of eventual retribution at the Hague still terrifies Starmer and Lammy.
Netanyahu’s desperate gamble in attacking Iran is an attempt to force the USA to join the war on Israel’s behalf, and to prevent peace talks.
It is of course simply untrue that Iran was about to produce a nuclear weapon. Every Spring a CIA-led US intelligence exercise formally reviews the situation, and the firm position of Five Eyes intelligence remains that Iran genuinely was not seeking to make a nuclear weapon.
I hope that Iran learns the lesson of Southern Lebanon. There, over many months, Israeli air superiority enabled them to substantially degrade missile systems of various resistance factions. Israel does – not least because of the traitors ruling Jordan and Syria – have air superiority over Iran. In a long war of attrition, Israeli bombing raids could do real damage to Iranian capabilities.
Iran’s best strategy would be to view this as the existential crisis, and seriously unload its missile capacity on Israel without restraint. The period of measured tit-for-tat reprisals is at an end. The decision of nuclear-armed Pakistan to stand behind Iran was extremely helpful. These are early days in the Israeli-Iranian war. I do not sense any popular enthusiasm in the USA to be involved. Even the mainstream American media is characterising Iranian attacks as “retaliation” and the Israeli victim card is no longer as Platinum as it used to be here in the USA.
Germany has been refuelling Israeli jets en route to attack Iran, and the UK may also have been doing so. Starmer and Macron have both expressed determination to defend Israel with their own military but both would face massive popular resistance.
We wait to see what happens next. But having lived through vicious Israeli bombardment of Beirut, having been menaced by drones in the Bekaa Valley, having stood on the line at Kfar Kila while a twelve-year-old boy was shot standing next to my producer, having witnessed 100,000 Lebanese homes destroyed, I have no sympathy left for Tel Aviv.
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Richard Madeley today repeated the claim that, Iran would seek to ‘wipe Israel off the map’ the moment they attained atomic weapons. This claim is largely based on a single speech Iran’s former president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made in October 26, 2005 at a conference on “The World Without Zionism”… pro-Zionist western media have been feeding off it ever since. The translation of the speech the New York Times produced is disputed by scholars; specifically, Israel “must be eliminated from the pages of history.” The speech :
I thank God that I have had the opportunity to participate in the event today ….
We need to examine the true origins of the issue of Palestine: is it a fight between a group of Muslims and non-Jews? Is it a fight between Judaism and other religions? Is it the fight of one country with another country? Is it the fight of one country with the Arab world? Is it a fight over the land of Palestine? I guess the answer to all these questions is ‘no.’
The establishment of the occupying regime of Qods [Jerusalem]was a major move by the world oppressor [the United States] against the Islamic world. The situation has changed in this historical struggle. Sometimes the Muslims have won and moved forward and the world oppressor was forced to withdraw.
Unfortunately, the Islamic world has been withdrawing in the past 300 years. I do not want to examine the reasons for this, but only to review the history. The Islamic world lost its last defenses in the past 100 years and the world oppressor established the occupying regime. Therefore the struggle in Palestine today is the major front of the struggle of the Islamic world with the world oppressor and its fate will decide the destiny of the struggles of the past several hundred years.
The Palestinian nation represents the Islamic nation [Umma] against a system of oppression, and thank God, the Palestinian nation adopted Islamic behavior in an Islamic environment in their struggle and so we have witnessed their progress and success. I need to thank you for choosing this valuable title for the conference.
Many who are disappointed in the struggle between the Islamic world and the infidels have tried to spread the blame. They say it is not possible to have a world without the United States and Zionism. But you know that this is a possible goal and slogan.
Let’s take a step back. We had a hostile regime in this country which was undemocratic, armed to the teeth and, with SAVAK, its security apparatus of SAVAK [the intelligence bureau of the Shah of Iran’s government] watched everyone. An environment of terror existed. When our dear Imam [Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder the Iranian revolution] said that the regime must be removed, many of those who claimed to be politically well-informed said it was not possible. All the corrupt governments were in support of the regime when Imam Khomeini started his movement. All the Western and Eastern countries supported the regime even after the massacre of September 7 [1978] and said the removal of the regime was not possible. But our people resisted and it is 27 years now that we have survived without a regime dependent on the United States. The tyranny of the East and the West over the world must should end, but weak people who can see only what lies in front of them cannot believe this.
Who could believe that one day we could witness the collapse of the Eastern Empire? But we have seen its fall during our lives and it collapsed in such a way that we have to refer to libraries because no trace of it is left. Imam [Khomeini] said Saddam must go and he said he would grow weaker than anyone could imagine. Now you see the man who spoke with such arrogance ten years ago that one would have thought he was immortal, is being tried in his own country in handcuffs and shackles by those who he believed supported him and with whose backing he committed his crimes.
Our dear Imam said that the occupying regime must be wiped off the map and this was a very wise statement. We cannot compromise over the issue of Palestine. Is it possible to create a new front in the heart of an old front. This would be a defeat and whoever accepts the legitimacy of this regime [Israel] has in fact, signed the defeat of the Islamic world. Our dear Imam targeted the heart of the world oppressor in his struggle, meaning the occupying regime. I have no doubt that the new wave that has started in Palestine, and we witness it in the Islamic world too, will eliminate this disgraceful stain from the Islamic world. But we must be aware of tricks.
For over 50 years the world oppressor tried to give legitimacy to the occupying regime and it has taken measures in this direction to stabilize it. About 27 or 28 years ago they took a major step and unfortunately one of the leading countries made a mistake which we hope will correct it.[an apparent reference to the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel].
Recently they [the Israelis] tried a new trick. They want to show the evacuation from the Gaza strip, which was imposed on them by Palestinians, as a final victory for the Palestinians and end the issue of Palestine with the excuse of establishing a Palestinian government next to themselves. Today, they want to involve Palestinians with mischief and trick them into fighting with one another over political positions so that they would drop the issue of Palestine.
They want to convince some of the Islamic countries that, since they evacuated the Gaza strip with good intentions, the legitimacy of their corrupt regime should be recognized. I hope Palestinian groups and people are aware of this trick.
The issue of Palestine is not over at all. It will be over the day a Palestinian government, which belongs to the Palestinian people, comes to power; the day that all refugees return to their homes; a democratic government elected by the people comes to power. Of course those who have come from far away to plunder this land have no right to choose for this nation.
I hope the Palestinian people will remain alert and aware in the same way that they have continued their struggle in the past ten years.
If we get through this brief period successfully, the path of eliminating the occupying regime will be easy and downhill.
I warn all leaders of the Islamic world that they should be aware of this trick. Anyone who recognizes this regime because of the pressure of the World oppressor, or because of naiveté or selfishness, will be eternally disgraced and will burn in the fury of the Islamic nations.
Those who are sitting in closed rooms cannot decide for the Islamic nation and cannot allow this historical enemy to exist in the heart of the Islamic world.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is President of Islamic Republic of Iran.
Goose
Yes, I remember that speech and looking at the Persian. It’s a false translation, not “Our dear Imam said that the occupying regime must be wiped off the map”, but rather the correct translation is passive, “the occupying regime will inevitably disappear”.
I don’t remember other speeches where the Israeli claim is made.
Much of Iran’s fiery rhetoric is for domestic consumption and should be viewed in that context.
I think much of what Ahmadinejad said has been borne out and has come to pass. Craig and others have hardened their positions too; recognising that the two-state solution is simply a ruse by western powers in order to buy time for the Israelis, as they import settlers from around the world, under their perverse Law of Return further expanding their territorial grip in the West Bank.
For years, the Israelis said they ‘didn’t have a partner for peace’ in Yasser Arafat, holed up as he was in his compound in Ramallah. The Palestinians elected dovish scholars, people like Mahmoud Abbas and Hanan Ashrawi – who are as moderate as the West could possibly hope for, and Israel and the collective West have given them nothing for their anger containment efforts in the West Bank.
Starmer and Lammy are helping Israel to wipe Gaza off the map.
Not talking about it .. doing it.
Madeley and co have all known that very well, every day and with news of every fresh atrocity in the Genocide.
Trump’s even worse…
He tells the media, he was informed of the attacks in advance, calls them “excellent” and explains that his negotiations were a ruse to lull the Iranians into a false sense of security, allowing Israel the maximum element of surprise.
Then he talks about how he hopes the negotiations can continue. and he’s sure that a deal is imminent.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo ‘s Nest certifiable stuff.
I’d be amazed if Iran doesn’t pull out of the NPT.
Trump’s idea of a “deal” has always been to crush the other side. In other words the fool doesn’t understand what “deal” means. It wouldn’t surprise me if all his life he’s done business as a flunky of people who are far more intelligent than himself, and far richer, and who let him take the limelight and collect a few pennies (when he’s not in the bankruptcy court) while they themselves stay in the shadows.
Goose
As a UK citizen, knowing everything you do about Starmer and Lammy’s role in the Gaza Genocide what do you think should happen to them?
It doesn’t matter what we think, because everything in the UK is built around shielding the elite from consequences. Look at Blair and Scarlett regarding the illegal Iraq invasion, which was built on lies.
Look at Cameron, allegedly threatening the ICC over the issuance of arrest warrants. Who was he acting/speaking on behalf of?
These decisions likely have very little to do with Lammy and Starmer, they are just functionaries following orders. There has to be some cabal or grouping somewhere pulling the strings. We’ve got things like the Privy Council, and there are probably sub-groupings + officialdom, that we don’t even know about. The monarchy is probably more influential that our constitution suggests too, the elite can hide behind residual Royal powers – the Royal prerogative. It’s likely why William has spent time at MI5,MI6; GCHQ etc despite no discernible need for him to be there.
We’d need PR and a written constitution to sort this unaccountable mess out. Or independence if Scottish.
Even if that were correct, it doesn’t stop you giving your opinion on what should happen to Starmer and Lammy.
They themselves clearly do fear consequences. Hence the attempt to claim they are not legally responsible for what the Israelis do with everything the British Government has furnished them with throughout this Genocide. Likewise their 11th-hour gesture sanctions on select settlers and politicians, heralded by the media while they suppress Britain’s ongoing participation in the Genocide.
PR would not sort anything out as you can plainly see from Germany and from the uniting of Britain’s political and media class against Corbyn.
So, Hague or not if you had your way?
I’m just being realistic.
Look at the wider political environment in the UK. Reform are poised to capitalise as Labour decline, and Farage is aping Trump, in being even more pro-Israel than the godawful Badenoch. On which, I honestly think the reason why Reform aren’t being challenged by the media is because the establishment know that the Tories and Reform can ultimately merge, if necessary; becoming the Conservative & Reform party, preserving the two-party system that enables so much of what is wrong with UK foreign policy.
So, I don’t see a route to hold them accountable through politics, and a purely performative citizen’s arrest attempt, like that attempted on Robert Mugabe by Peter Tatchell, would be futile too, as no one could even approach them.
Infidel? Is that who the infidel is?
Israel should be wiped off the map, like the Confederacy, Rhodesia, and French Algeria all were.
The zionist occupation is the last apartheid shite-stain to deface the earth, two down, one to go.
Iran should seriously consider closing the Straits of Hormuz, let’s see how quickly support for Israel evaporates
The Straits will be closed if the US starts bombing Iran, but not if they stay out. If the US stays out, Iran doesn’t need to close the strait.
They could possibly close one of the Straits, but not all of them.
Also, there’s a deal with the Donald, who never read the Geneva Conventions (he has much better things to do) but can read a Bank Statement. And that’s what matters under the sun.
Hormuz is so narrow, you could close it with a cannon. No great effort or equipment is required.
Iran needs to bring a surprise, as George Habash did with plane hijackings in 1970.
Could even be outside the region.
Apparently, only 1 in 10, or 10% of Iranian missiles are getting through.
Since long-range missiles and drones are Iran’s only real form of offensive capability – as they have no real air force – it seems incredible to me that Iran didn’t have multiple sleeper cells in Israel, ready for the command to degrade the Iron Dome defences and disable the two US operated THAAD systems. It would have probably been a one-way suicide mission; but this is a war, and the victors are usually those prepared to sacrifice. In WW2, the chances of returning from the bombing missions over Germany was less than 25%! as my family knows. Iran and other countries could learn a thing or two from Israel’s willingness to sacrifice.
Ukrainians, assuming it was Ukrainians(?), recently put their lives on the line in Russia. I’d wager China and Russia have had a real wake-up call.
Units that are well-trained in drone assembly and use, having repeatedly practiced/perfected these covert missions, I’d imagine, are the future of warfare. If you can disable a large part of your adversary’s capability(billions of dollars of equipment) before the shooting even starts, the battle is half won.
Has there ever been a single Israeli or Jewish suicide attack?
Everything they do in Gaza reeks of cowardice.
“Apparently, only 1 in 10, or 10% of Iranian missiles are getting through.”
Where are you getting that information from? Israel is not allowing reports of damage. This is just news management.
If you look at some of the private citizen videos which came out before the clamp-down on such, you will see within the space of a few seconds multiple strikes on Israeli land, often with secondary explosions from a direct hit. Multiply those few seconds into hours – what do you get?
Iran didn’t want war. Iran trusted to the agreement that Russia would defend it if Israel attacked it first, just as Russia would defend Israel if Iran was to attack Israel. Yes, they participated in proxy wars, and Iranian mothers lamented that their sons were dying in Yemen and Syria, but were told that if they didn’t keep on top of threats outside their borders they would have to fight them inside their borders. Iran and Russia abided by the agreements they made with other nations. Israel really is such a rogue state that it cannot make agreements and actually mean what they say. Iran has been caught when it is still believing in peaceful resolutions that would keep its citizens safe.
Friends of Israel control both our main political parties. The control is integrated in our national infrastructure.
GPS drone defence practice is happening around our coasts today, even as we speak. Is it for us? Elbit has bought former MOD land, for its factories and research development. We are enmeshed. But we didn’t suspect there might come a time when we would have to choose between war crimes and humanity. This moment approaches and parliament needs to stand up and be accountable to the country they have been elected by the electorate to serve.
Previously, Israel claimed 1 in 100. When 300 missiles arrived, that would have meant 3 getting through but videos emerged of dozens reaching targets. Israel lies and our media repeats these lies as if they are the indisputable truth. It’s most likely 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 getting through and for the most advanced missiles such as the hypersonics, it looks like pretty well all of them. But even if it is only 1 in 10, that’s still deadly for Israel if it continues for weeks or months. Israel’s fundamental weakness is that so many people there are dual nationals. As they see that their cities can become the front line at any time and that the Dome is more of a Colander, they are going to be considering their options. As will any potential investors. Attacking Iran could well be Netanyahu’s Barbarossa.
Are we not exaggerating Iran’s power now? In the end of the day Israel is the stronger force here, there should be no denial of that.
Iran is unable to close the Hormuz, if they do the nasties in Israel/US perhaps even collective West will just bomb Iran even more.
There was someone on RTE this morning pointing out that Iran had come through the war with Iraq despite massive casualties and damage.
Israel is the USAs proxy, without the USA Israel could not exist. Like Ukraine, without America pumping arms into the place they couldn’t defeat anyone. Israel on its own is not the stronger force.
Nothing like a good sex scandal (grooming gang inquiry announcement) to divert the attention of the masses from having to think about their government’s being complicit in genocide, being persistent breakers of international law, driving to take the country into war, maybe even, getting the disabled to make bombs as part of the war effort.
Crispa, you are spot on with your diversion tactic theory; at least with the lickspittle BBC. They have the grooming gangs inquiry as the lead on their news, plus a mysterious statement saying Israel have complete control over Tehran.
Presumably, Netanyahu’s blanket ban on phone footage from Israel is working, and giving us little idea of the levels of destruction.
They followed this up with a quote from Trump that Iran is losing and should start talks immediately.
Nothing like our national broadcaster to be relied upon to give an even handed view of events.
A whole organisation of lord and Lady Haw Haws, funded by the tax payer and Israel.
If you ask me, Crispa, referring to the grooming gangs abomination as a ‘good sex scandal’ is a bit like referring to the Yorkshire Ripper as an inveterate kerb crawler. In case you missed it:
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1875931298143084755
Not really David ‘I made love in a Chelsea top’ Mellor and Antonia de Sancha, is it? The incidents referred to Elon’s tweet took place in the dreaming spires of Oxford, specifically in a hotel about half a mile from the Bodleian Library. A full 373 people (including 50 men) have now come forward claiming abuse by members of that one particular gang over a 12 year period – much of which I’d imagine would have been of similar, if not greater, ferocity.
I generally don’t like talking about these things as they do have some personal impact, having known a couple of people who were abused as young teenagers (and in one case also subsequently) by British-Pakistani gangs in dirty Leeds – and having tried to some extent to help them out (the ‘charities’ and agencies they engaged with being effectively near-useless). One died at 29, the other at 32 – leaving five children without mothers (though by that point they were all in care anyway). Tragedy is by no means confined to Gaza. Think on.
It may be a bit of an understatement referring to the grooming gangs as a “good sex scandal”, but a diversionary tactic it certainly is, and the nastier the details, the better, as far as our lords and masters are concerned. Nothing like a good bit of outrage to stop people noticing the government sleepwalking into WWIII, just as they did in WWII.
Thanks for your reply Bayard. You can create a diversion without commissioning a public inquiry that could implicate scores of Labour councillors as accessories, if not outright participants, in child rape. From what I can gather, Baroness Casey seems to be more keen on getting to the truth regarding the rape gangs than Lord Hughes is vis-a-vis the tragic death of Dawn Sturgess. We’re probably a lot less close to WWIII than we were in 2022 in any event.
Once again the terrorist settler regime is using a religious name for its military operation, in this case “rising lion”. Operation Rising Lion, which is what they’re calling their aggression against Iran, takes its name from the Book of Numbers 23:24:
“The people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion that does not rest till it devours its prey and drinks the blood of its victims.”
Note to MSM journalists: don’t mention this – it’s more than your jobs are worth and you’ll be denounced as “anti-Semitic” and purveyors of blood libel.
It’s reported that Arab Israelis are complaining because their areas only have ‘cursory, very basic’ defences, no Iron Dome for them. And some of the shelters are now ‘Jews only’, with far east Asian guest workers refused entry.
MI6’s new chief says she wants to defend British values, are these the type of values we defend?
The press have dubbed Blaise Metreweli, the gadget expert. Wonder what she made of Netanyahu leaving a covert listening device in No.10’s toilet? Is that the behaviour of an ally? If so, who needs adversaries.
Do you still not accept that Britain has been facilitating the mass murder of the people of Gaza for a year and a half?
Perhaps Metreweli is thinking of the siege of Mafeking, where most of the people besieged were black and the British made sure they got smaller rations.
Or she could be thinking of how the disgusting British regime continues to run its segregated “health” and “education” systems.
Actually, they sound like very British values (especially if you are a coloured immigrant, or even just an immigrant).
“Gobby jobby”?
Can’t confirm – but if true no more visits from the IAEA and the Israeli puppet Rafael Grossi
“Iranian Parliament have just voted to withdraw from Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.”
Hard to believe Russia and China will have nothing to say about the total failure of the IAEA system. The agency is supposed to report to both the Security Council and the General Assembly. But it appears to have helped one regime bomb nuclear installations in another country. The probability is almost zero that Russia and China okayed that – or that they are okay with it after the event.
I wonder why the IRGC hasn’t been proscribed as a terrorist organisation?
Just to be clear, I don’t agree with proscription orders, as they basically amount to an attack on free thought, and free speech. Imho they’re an abuse of power often deployed simply to close down debate and limit what those opposing official policy can say.
The thing is though, this Labour govt are clearly censorious and they urged IRGC proscription in opposition. The Tony Blair institute; most of the UK’s huge Israel lobby and various neocon thinktanks e.g. Henry Jackson Society et al, have all been pressing for proscription. If implemented, it would probably change what people are allowed to say here, and more widely online, as per the proscription orders against Hamas and Hezbollah.
We are told, that reason the govt – Yvette Cooper- hasn’t followed through on her promise, is due to fears it would lead to a mutual expulsion of diplomats in Tehran and London. Maybe Craig knows more?
Goose, the USA proscribed the IRGC as a terrorist organisation in 2019.
https://www.dni.gov/nctc/terrorist_groups/irgc.html
Brian Red.
Yes I think Russia and China openly denounced the attack on Iran – I don’t know if this is true.
“Israel has asked Iran, through western mediators, to stop its retaliatory attacks and return to nuclear negotiations with the United States, American media report.
The Israeli regime is openly threatening Tehran, while secretly reaches out to the Islamic Republic to stop the war, according to the American broadcast television network NBC that quoted a senior Iranian source in Tehran as saying on Monday that Tel Aviv has made the demand through Western countries as intermediaries.
A representative for Israel’s prime minister refused to immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.
Using his social media platform Truth Social, US President Donald Trump suggested on Sunday that Iran and Israel will end their violent conflict by “making a deal” through his mediation.
“We will have peace, soon, between Israel and Iran. Many calls and meetings now taking place,” he said.”
And Iranian missiles took out Israel’s facility that produces jet fuel in Haifa – and around the same time 24 US refuelling airborne tankers left the United States heading in the direction of Israel.
Brian this is said to be the Israeli jet fuel facility – and its fully ablaze – also some reports of British refuelling airborne tankers in Cyprus.
https://nitter.poast.org/MonitorX99800/status/1934588234446823880#m
And this as well.
“32 Refueling Tankers with their respective Fighter Squadrons are on STAND BY in Europe, the Middle East & Asia Pacific for Trump’s Orders – Reuters confirmed.”
I’m sure that’s right, the Haifa jet fuel production capacity is gone. and the arrival of numbers of airborne tankers is to compensate. It was originally thought the tankers were intended to supply US air strikes, but I’m no longer convinced. So where does that leave the prospective US attack? Are there enough tankers to supply both Israel and US attacks? Or is some military going to take Trump aside and tell him this is going to be a catastrophe if you go ahead with the attack?
In addition of course they’ll all be landing at Akrotiri to refuel. That’ll look good for Starmer, I don’t think – forced to admit we’re supporting Israel’s unprovoked aggression against Iran.
Laguerre
Starmer is well compromised – I’m sure he won’t want the photos to find their way into the public domain – I’d imagine any MSM investigation into this will be D-Noticed.
https://nitter.poast.org/mohammedakunjee/status/1934541178818433170#m
@RoS
It’s not a matter of national security though, is it.
At most, it’s a matter of potential personal embarrassment. Using the D-Notice system like that would bring it into disrepute, along with the person responsible. I honestly don’t think they’d be so stupid as to use a D-Notice in an attempt to cover-up some politician’s peccadilloes.
Haifa…
https://x.com/DrLoupis__/status/1934553261689708778
A lot clearer,, for me at least.
Did you read the comments?
@Pears Morgaine
Claims it’s the Shahran oil depot in Tehran, not Haifa.
Just shows why trusting X updates isn’t wise.
Would explain why the guys watching are speaking Farsi and not Hebrew.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn2yrDTKEWg
@PM
Didn’t have the sound on.
OTOH. Reports state that gazans have no access to shelters so when the iranian missiles strike they sit on the hillsides and watch the attacks. Do gazans speak farsi ?
Doubt it. Haifa over 100 km from Gaza anyway…
PM
It’s the Lebanese from over the border who film events in Haifa. I’ve seen several.
“But I can tell you that the prospect of eventual retribution at the Hague still terrifies Starmer and Lammy.”
You certainly can, but then what are the thousands of innocent civilians under the threat of missiles, whether in Tehran or Tel Aviv, supposed to feel like? Exhilarated?
As you admit yourself, just being a little NEAR the epicenter of pain, in a B&B or hotel room in Beirut, was a source of lasting trauma. Just imagine what it’s like for real victims…
And if that comes as a surprise, I’m sure Starmer and Lammy have already booked their forthcoming vacation in the “West Indies”. Why would they feel more threatened by justice than Blair and so many others?
Israel has started doing the same as in Gaza and Lebanon, telling civilians to pack up and move out before they flatten large parts of Tehran
Meanwhile.
“Tel Aviv empties as Israel and Iran exchange strikes”
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/we-bombed-and-what-now-tel-aviv-empties-israel-and-iran-exchange-strikes
It may be nothing. Why did UK EUUs get updated on 7/10/24 to remove reference to SPIRE (see gov.uk)
Russian intelligence (SVR) on planned British state provocations:
https://tass.com/politics/1973777
“”The SVR of Russia has received information that the British-Ukrainian terrorist tandem is preparing new acts of sabotage,” the document says. “The main goals of these subversive actions are to escalate the Ukrainian conflict, disrupt the US-Russian negotiation process and convince the White House to continue providing Kiev with full-scale military support.”
According to information obtained by the SVR, the Ukrainians and the Britons are currently organizing a provocation in the Baltic Sea waters.
“One of the scenarios involves staging an alleged Russian torpedo attack against US Navy ship. Soviet/Russian-made torpedoes have already been transferred by the Ukrainian side to the British. According to the plan, some of the torpedoes will detonate at a ‘safe distance’ from the ship, and one will fail and will be presented to the public as evidence of Russia’s ‘malicious activity.’ The Ukrainian law enforcers are ready to take over the execution of the plot,” the document says.
Another Ukrainian-UK scenario envisages “accidental fishing out of Russian-made anchor mines in the Baltic Sea, allegedly planted for sabotage on the international sea lane, with the help of accomplices from Northern European countries.” “
The thing about this kind of op is that the Whitehall committee that tasks the SBS or other unit with supplying the torpedo detonation “at a safe distance” may find that someone is calling the shots who makes sure it actually doesn’t happen safely
… doesn’t happen safely, quite the contrary, and then for some reason there’s a lot of high-fiving at the Israeli embassy.
Could WW3 start like this? Yes.
@Brian Red
Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee’s(ISC) selections are pre-vetted, by the very security services they oversee: MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, thus it’s far from perfect itself, plus it rarely meets. It doesn’t have any oversight of UK Special Forces (UKSF). The ISC are not even given post-operational briefings, to study what went well or badly. They’re literally like five rogue units : the Special Air Service (SAS), Special Boat Service (SBS); Special Forces Support Group (SFSG), Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR) and 18 (UKSF) Signals Regiment. All trusted to do ‘the right thing’ for King and country.
Many think that allows them to do really dark things, that no one would agree to or want to know about. Many think the lack of democratic oversight is potentially dangerous in a representative democracy. Such secrecy is unique to the UK among democracies.
SAS Rogue Heroes. Who dares wins. BBC
I think their genuine heroics, bolstered by film, TV and book mythology about their exploits, created an image of invincible noble warriors and that has intimidated politicians from even venturing the idea they should be brought under democratic oversight. Then there’s the risk of being called unpatriotic by the jingoistic press.
Lots of things like this in the UK: like how the James Bond mythology prevents any honest assessment of the security service chiefs e.g. Scarlett and the Iraq WMD dossier, that was partly derived from a plagiarised thesis..
The special forces could only claim ‘heroic exploits’ during WW2. Ever since their exploits have mainly been those of a poorly controlled terrorist outfit.
It is time for a full parliamentary debate. Starmer and Lammy ‘just following orders’ is not accountability to the electorate
Vlad has allegedly offered the Donald to play the go-between and offer a safe haven in Moscow to the Supreme Leader if they have formal assurances that the Strait will remain open.
Meanwhile, lots of ‘deep fake’ probably engineered thru AI show the Iranian upper middle-class fleeing the country. They probably don’t fully trust their leaders and their TRUE PROMISE.
So what about BRICS? When they’re needed the most!
Melrose, it isn’t fake, lots of Iranians are getting out of Tehran, including my brother and sister in laws. They are certainly not the “upper middle class”.
Can’t confirm.
” Israel will no longer allow foreign journalists to work and report in Haifa.
Expect lesser footage of Iranian impacts”
From the ‘horse’s mouth’
‘ The Bazan Group, says that as a result of the Iranian strike on its oil refinery in the Haifa Bay, all its facilities have been shut down.
Three people were killed in an Iranian missile strike on the refinery overnight.
In a statement to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, Bazan says that “as a result of damage to the facilities, the power plant was significantly damaged, and therefore all of the refinery’s and subsidiary companies’ facilities were shut down.”
Read more at The Times of Israel.’
Strategically speaking if I were the Iranians I’d build a nuclear weapon and then not tell anyone.
This would allow them to go for it conventionally, trading missiles all day long. They are not going to lose that one.
Then if Israel gets desperate and throws a nuke at them they simply reply. And are totally justified in doing so.
Alternatively if they make a big show and dance about having a nuclear weapon they will be sanctioned to death. Just build it and wait.
Given the use of chemical weapons in the Iran – Iraq war(Iraq’s precursor chemicals supplied by the US) it’d be surprising if they have no stockpiles left of those, and biological weapons.
Asymmetric state-sponsored bio-terrorism is a real fear in the West. Depending on how determined a state is, it could, in theory, get revenge even against a much greater power with plausible deniability. No power should be too hubristic about their own security, given what some small state lab could produce. Look at the damage, physical and financial, covid caused. It’ll be a very dangerous world if we don’t find a way to live together in peace.
Goose, Iran never used chemical weapons in that war.
Seeing everything through the optics of the West is why these conflicts happen.
Israeli stands at Paris airshow shut down ‘by order of French government…only those displaying military hardware 🤣
https://archive.is/EEFck
Read the whole piece for giggles. It’s hard to believe someone actually wrote this piece.Those French are really sticking it to the Israelis.
I sample BBC 5 Live rather than listen to it, but it seems to me that it has gone quite coy in its reporting of the Israel – Iran conflict, clearly unable to offer its usual endorsement of Israeli actions and unwilling to endorse Iran’s right to retaliate, so it has gone into a sort of faux neutrality pose. Alistair Burt, ex – Tory Middle East Minister actually provided an accurate but pessimistic assessment suggesting that things will get worse for either side before they get better. He clearly refrained from going gung – ho on Israel’s achieving their goals.
Iran media seems to be much more open about the impact of Israeli attacks and the numbers of casualties. Israel as is its wont has imposed a more or less blanket ban on reporting of any kind which suggests that Iran is causing more damage than Israel is willing to admit.
When was the last time the BBC said Palestine, Fatah, the Palestinian Authority, the Gaza government, Hamas, Lebanon, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran, or Yemen had any kind of right to do anything when the Jewish supremacists were bombing, massacring, and terrorising them, or even to do anything to prepare to defend themselves?
The “right” to use force, to resist, or to prepare to resist is not a concept the BBC filth ever applies to the Zionists’ victims.
Countries should start de-recognising “Israel”. It is not enough to close embassies. They should cease to recognise the legitimate existence of this genocidalist Nazi entity.
“Operation Rising Lion”, the entity is calling its attack on Iran.
Here’s Netanyahu at the Western Wall, hours before the attack started:
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-857597
He put a note in the wall quoting the Book of Numbers 23:24, which states “Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: He shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, And drink the blood of the slain.”
I just started watching Jacques Baud´s conversation with Nima on “Dialogue Works”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln3LkPXext0
So early into the beginning Baud seems reluctant to deliver an in-depth analysis of the first Israeli attack and what happened in Iran then.
However he did make this very interesting observation:
That Iran could have intentionally deactivated AD systems. Taking a heavier hit instead of repelling it and with that however potentially giving away vital secret positions of AD installations. Deriving from Baud´s argument that an initial attack is always two-fold:
-destroy
-but also identify and test enemy defenses
Which could offer an explanation for the unexpected quick and heavy response by Iran.
I wouldn´t be surpised if Starmer/Lammy preemptively were offering a justification for their actions also due to their fears that balance of power in the region has shifted to the detriment of Israel, their ally and accordingly their leverage over post-genocide persecution has been diminished too. Perhaps with Iran now prevailing.
Long story short, without having listened to Baud to the end yet I assume Iran is very serious with this matter. And if speculation permits so are China and Russia and towards the attempt to create cracks in BRICS vis a vis India.
For that see this excellent new entry by nakedcapitalism, also covering “the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)” and how those interests play into this entire gmable:
What’s the Vision for the Middle East if Iran Falls?
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2025/06/whats-the-vision-for-the-middle-east-if-iran-falls.html
So far these geopolitical fundamentals seem to entirely escape Western institutional analyses.
Apparently, four F35s now lost over Iran, at $100mn a pop. On the positive side, I’m sure the western tax payers will happily cough up the $400mn needed to replace these POS for the genociders.
Four now is it, it was only three earlier.
A pity the Iranians only have images of completely different aircraft to show us.
It’s highly touted and also a horribly expensive POS of a plane.
So the incentive for Iran to claim that are obvious, even if the IDF is using older, cheaper models that actually work…
Not that the lack of evidence has stopped
speculatorsinvestors dumping Lockheed Martin shares.“Go on, stick it where it hurts”.
How could the West live with themselves? Their arrogance/ignorance is nauseating. Iran have for decades, naively, engaged in good faith with the West regarding their nuclear program diplomatically. Even though they do not need permission by anyone for their peaceful nuclear program, they have bent over backwards to the West and got nothing in return but broken promises/agreements and now the thugs in the West back a war of aggression against them!?
How on earth do the west believe that Iran will trust these lying s.o.b ever again, cynically calling for Iran to go back to diplomatic route?! Go back?! They never left!
It is like folly after folly by the west, it is like no one is in charge, it is like there is not a scintilla of intellectual fiber in the mind of the western elite, it is like this very elite simply lack education altogether. For decades they whined about “Iran must not have nuclear weapons!” and then go and do this, giving Iran every reason to build one if they want. How stupid are these friggin people!?
What breaks my heart too is that the Iranians are to me a very kind and compassionate people, I do not know how many stories I have heard from western travelers, backpackers etc that have visited the country and shared the same warm stories how kind the people there are, it is like if you go there as westerner (perhaps, until now that is), people will happily flock to you on the streets wanting to get to know you, inviting you home for food and tea and to meet their parents, friends, family. To then see the rabid nazis in israel bombard this beautiful people…I have no words.
Jack, I have been married to an Iranian woman for 34 years and I have been there several times. I have witnessed only friendship and kindness from the people there, so this whole dabacle has left me feeling sick.
But surely they’d be much happier with the IMF, World Bank, austerity, foreign owned assets, McDonald’s, Starbucks, LBQWERTY, food banks and a generous dollop of USA bases ?
/s
USA president Trump is telling 10m people in Teheran to flee the city so that the Zionists can bomb what they want. Clearly he has found a role for himself at this stage in his pathetic life – the role of megaphone holder for Jewish-supremacist terrorists.
Meanwhile in Gaza the Zionist military are controlling the distribution of aid through the USA-Israeli organisation the “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation”. This is operating only or mostly in the south of the Gaza strip so as to help achieve the Zionist military aim of clearing the population out of the north. (Yes – using restrictions on the distribution of aid as a weapon of war in this way is a war crime.) The Zionist military have also committed massacres of near-starving people who have come to GHF distribution points.
Trump probably couldn’t find Iran on a map, never mind its capital, Tehran. The idea of this vulgar, ignorant, narcissistic, petty man ordering ‘nukes’ be used against anyone – especially a precious ancient civilisation – and this coming after Israel unilaterally started this war! Well, it makes me glad the earth will one day be consumed by fire, and America, the UK and Israel will exist no more. Humanity will be lost for all eternity, without a trace we ever even existed, just a fact.
Sorry if that is dark. But if there is any kind of earlier judgement day, we don’t deserve to survive… if only for allowing men like Trump and Netanyahu to rule the earth. Humanity should be better than this.
CM mentioned in his X feed that there are a lot of yachts sailing from Israel to Cyprus, far more than usual.
Apparently Israeli gov has banned airlines from carrying passengers out of Israel.
https://archive.is/CAwvC
Headline is:
“Israel Tells Airlines Not to Let Israeli Citizens Leave, Even Once Repatriation Flights Start.”
Interesting.
Most of the settlers who are rich enough to travel by air have other countries’ citizenships as well as Zionist documents. But it’s against Zionist law for them to enter on other countries’ documents so presumably it’s also against Zionist law for them to exit on them.
At the moment the regime’s civil airspace is closed. There are three land crossings to Jordan that are open. The remaining three hostages seized on the Madleen have now been allowed into Jordan.
Could the situation possibly be different from in 1967 and 1973 when Zionists in other countries flocked to Occupied Palestine to participate in wars?
The very rich will of course go wherever they want. Maybe bribes are being taken from the less rich to allow them out. This is usual in war zones.
“The Israeli government has instructed domestic airlines not to allow Israeli citizens to leave the country on planes designated for the repatriation of Israelis stranded abroad. The decision stems from security officials’ concerns about overcrowding at Ben-Gurion Airport and the risk of mass casualties among passengers waiting to depart.”
That’s obviously a lie. If it were true, it would be good reason for “Israelis” outside of Palestine not to fly back. Avoiding getting blown up is usually considered sensible.
Taking a glance at wikipedia, MI6’s new chief, Blaise Metreweli’s father Constantine Metreweli (originally also Dobrowolski) was born in Ukraine during World War II.
Just great, huh…. wonder why they chose her? /S A privately educated (Westminster School) jolly hockey sticks ‘ Oxbridge posho, WW3 here we come!
Is politics deciding our foreign policy, or is foreign policy deciding our politics? If you can answer that, then you understand the UK.
I thought it was Georgian ancestry ?
Our foreign policy is decided by the USA and Israel.
I’d wager she’s ultra hawkish on Russia, and that was likely her chief attribute over Dame Barbara Woodward, who was apparently the favourite. Woodward was subject to a campaign to damage her reputation- she was dubbed “Beijing Barbara”, in that effort to derail her candidacy; the suggestion being, she was ‘too soft’ on China.
UK military and intel appointments in recent years have typically tended to just reinforce the existing groupthink. To make sound decisions you need to hear different arguments, perspectives; indeed try to understand the Russian, Chinese and Iranian perspectives. Because, whether they agree with them or not, they are making them from what they honestly perceive to be their national interests.
“honestly perceive “. Not an attribute one would associate with security services.
“the suggestion being, she was ‘too soft’ on China.”
I’d imagine that was because she tried to inject some realism into the rabid sinophobia.
Her father was listed in the London Gazette when he was a student, possibly in connection with naturalisation:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44092/page/9354/data.pdf
Sopo Japaridze, internet verbal-diarrhoea scribbler no. 704328, says
“This dual-identity revelation complicates the family’s backstory, suggesting Blaise’s father may have been either a mixed Georgian-Slavic émigré (the Polish-derived “Dobrowolski” hinting at possible Warsaw Pact roots) or part of that nebulous class of stateless Cold War operatives who strategically shed identities.”
https://sopio.substack.com/p/the-new-head-of-british-secret-intelligence?source=queue
That “nebulous…identities” bit may be intended to ask whether Metreveli’s father was Jewish.
Another question would be whether he was a Nazi or Banderite.
Perhaps Metreveli is a Georgian princess? They are two a penny.
Who cares ? Just another turd floating in the establishment cess pool that will not be of any benefit whatsoever to the ordinary man in the street.
Rowing is her thing. Dunno about hockey.
It’s just a saying related to private schools.
…characteristic of a type of upper-class English schoolgirl.
“I know she’s dreadfully jolly hockey sticks, but she does mean well”
Have you never heard it before?
You will know them by their behavior.
Who are they?
The Khazarian Origin
As a result of this movement, by the 6th and 7th centuries AD, a people of mixed Idumean-Turkic-Mongol stock had settled on the shores of the Black and Caspian Seas. They were the KHAZARS; and were called by the true Sephardic Jew, THE ASHKENAZIM’[3]. Funk and Wagnall’s Jewish Encyclopaedia shows the religions of Europe in the 10th century. The ‘CHAZAR’ Empire is clearly shown: This ancient Khazarian Empire only ‘converted’ to Judaism in 740 AD even like those who “became Jews” in Esther’s time. Their Chagan (king) Bhulan, adopted Judaism as the religion of his people by decree, so as to consolidate them into one powerful nation. Rabbis were engaged to teach the people the religion of the Pharisees, and the Hebrew letters were used to write the Khazar language. The result was Yiddish.
Robert Quillan in his article, ‘The Jewish Kings of Russia’, elaborates on this “new Israel”: “Long before the modern State of Israel, a Jewish kingdom located between the Caspian and Black Seas arose amid a world overtly hostile to the Jews. This new Israel was called Khazaria. The King converted to Judaism–as did much of the population. Thus began a line of Gentile–––- Jewish kings that ruled into the tenth century[4].”
History Shows Their Gentile Lineage
Askenazi is the ‘tribe’ from which most Jews dubiously claim descent. However, even the name itself reveals the GENTILE origin of almost 95% of today’s modern “Jews”. The name occurs in Genesis 10:3, and in 1st. Chron. 1:6 as one of the sons of Gomer, a son of Japheth (progenitor of the Gentiles). The “kingdom” of Ashchenaz is also mentioned in Jer. 51:27 and refers to a people living in the vicinity of Mt. Ararat and Armenia.
This is the precise location where the ancient Khazarian Empire was formed, just north of the Black Sea in the southern section of Russia below Moscow. Their capital was Itel or Atel (near the present town of Astrakhan on the Volga), located on the trade routes between Northern Europe and the East. Here they extracted tolls from the merchant caravans on the Eastern trade route, while their main trade was in slaves and amber. They were a very warlike people, with little feeling for the sanctity of life.
By the 8th century A.D. this Khazar Kingdom on the Steppes in Russia was the largest nation in Europe, covering an vast area of approximately 1 MILLION miles square. The origins of the Khazars and their Empire are historical facts, and have been well documented in history books, yet few people know anything about their connections to modern Jewry. Perhaps this lack of knowledge may stem from the fact that, while earlier encyclopaedias and history books discussed these people freely, mention of them in most all modern history books has been purged.
They Move Into Western Europe
The Scandinavian founders of Russia finally conquered these Khazars in 969 A.D. when their state was destroyed by Swyatoslav, Prince of Kiev, and his warlike Russ. Kiev is the capital of the Ukraine, and the Khazars have never forgiven the Ukrainians for this defeat. Consequently, there has been a conflict between them ever since. After their defeat, and due to the pressure of people coming in from the east, many of these Ashkenazi-Khazar “Jews” moved along their trade routes into Russia, Hungary, Poland, and the Baltic States. Eventually they made their trek further west, and as history shows, created extreme difficulties for Christian Europe. Some also moved South and East into India, where they again placed themselves into positions of collecting tolls and taxes, being the advisors to governments.
As they practiced the ancient art of lending money at interest (usury), they soon became the wealthy class of the nation. It is well known that India and the nations surrounding it possess some of the richest families in the world – despite the fact that the vast majority of people in that region are extremely poor. Earl Jones, in his ‘Intelligence Digest’ shares some information on the well-known Sassoon family:
“It was the Sassoon family of India of the Ashkenazi clan who worked with the British East Indies Co. during the colonization of India. The people of India were forced to produce opium and ship it to China… The ‘Chinese Opium War’ created enormous wealth for these families[5].”
The facts concerning the migration of the Khazars have been established by many historians, and is beyond dispute. While Polish historians agree That: “–in earlier times, the main hulk of the Jewish population originated from the Khazar country– “, Kutschera went even further, stating that Eastern Jewry was 100% Khazar origin. The implications of such facts are, in today’s society, enormous. True Jew, or Khazar?
After many years of research, Arthur Koestler, the well known Jewish author, published a 255 page book titled ‘The Thirteenth Tribe’. In this he proves that the Eastern European “Jews” (who migrated west), are not Israelites or “Semitics”, but actually Khazars, Mongols and Huns. Among the major newspaper and magazine editors who reviewed the book during 1976, Edmund Fuller, of the Wall Street Journal stated –
“You do not have to be Jewish to be interested–-Are today’s western Jews really ethnic, Semitic, BIBLICAL JEWS, or are most of them descendants of converted Khazars?—-This compact, interesting book examines tragic-ironic implications [on this issue] for modern history.”
Regarding Germany’s role in that. You, Sir, say that German tankers are refueling Israeli fighter jets but this claim was rejected by German officials. What is the striking evidence for German involvement as you claimed?
I am trying to find the origin but I think it was German A400s used for refueling in the air.
(And I assume some on the ground intel too as Germany has close ties to Iranian opposition and “civil society”. My guess is some vital assets there are German BND affiliates.)
I was asking because the journalist Florian Warweg asked for a potential German involvement in the recent press conference in Berlin and Kenneth Harms, spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Defense for Naval Affairs, has denied the reports. However, Harms also confirmed that a deployment contingent of the Bundeswehr, including an air force tanker aircraft, is stationed in Jordan.
RT.de has a video of that press conference [1] and here is an article in some other news outlet [2].
[1] https://rtde.live/kurzclips/video/248089-warweg-unterstuetzt-deutsche-luftwaffe-israels/
[2] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/germany-denies-refueling-israeli-jets-during-iran-strikes/3600453
Yes. From officialdom that is what we were told.
Second response by Harms leaves a gate very wide open for participation of German Luftwaffe.
I personally believe – just from bad experience since 2022 – that Harms is lying and that Luftwaffe has also been refueling IDF aircraft.
Perhaps some definite prove will pop up some day though I seriously doubt it.
Of course I can be wrong. But in the essence that doesn´t matter.
For non-German readers here the Warweg excerpt on NACHDENKSEITEN you are referring to from the press conference via machine-translation:
entire article:
“Did an Air Force refueling Airbus support the Israeli attack against Iran?”
by Florian Warweg
6/17/25
https://archive.is/8WXK9
“(…)
Excerpt from the minutes of the Federal Press Conference of 16 June 2025
Question Warweg:
I think I’d like to expand the personnel table a bit, specifically to include Mr. Harms. Reports are currently circulating on social media and in foreign media that a German Air Force Airbus A400M Atlas refueling aircraft was operating in Jordan at the time of the Israeli attacks against Iran on June 14. This story is also supported by the interception of a transponder signal in Jordanian airspace on Flightradar24. Can you confirm the presence of a German Air Force refueling aircraft in Jordan on June 14 during the Israeli wave of attacks against Iran? If so, what mission was this aircraft on?
Harms (BMVg)
Mr. Warweg, you know that we have a contingent in Jordan. A tanker aircraft from the Air Force is also stationed there. It is carrying out a mission there that is clearly defined by a mandate given to us by the German Bundestag. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but this mission we have there will not end just because Israel has initiated a military campaign in Iran. So there are still air movements. But I can say quite clearly here today: No refueling of Israeli fighter jets has taken place by German Air Force aircraft.
Follow-up question: Warweg:
You’ve emphasized Israeli fighter jets so much. Reports indicate that French, British, and US fighter jets have also attempted to intercept Iranian drones and missiles. Can you also completely rule out the possibility that the Air Force tanker was involved in connection with these aircraft? That would be just as inconsistent with the mandate, which is exclusively dedicated to the fight against IS.
Harms (BMVg)
The mandate allows – it is even the mission – for our fighter aircraft to supply our allies operating there with aviation fuel in the air. We do this regularly. In the past and in recent weeks – I can say that much – we have refueled French Rafale fighter jets. Of course, the mission of these aircraft is also to protect our forces, the allied forces stationed there, in self-defense. So if the hypothetical case arises that the pilots of the fighter jets deployed there decide they must act accordingly in self-defense, then they can do so. That is entirely legitimate, and the mandate does not contradict it.
(…)”
Is it true that the largest Jewish community outside Israel in the region is located in Tehran?
And that they used to live peacefully there?
Or is that nonsense?
@AG
Insanity from the West.
That is Trump’s belief he can collectively bludgeon 90 million people into agreeing with him. If the plan is to use Cambodia tactics on Iran, I hope Pakistan or China become involved in Iran’s defence – unlikely to be Russia, as Netanyah seems to have Putin under his spell. Iran didn’t start this war, a fact the corrupt von der Leyen didn’t mention in her tweet in which she talked only of Israel’s right to self-defence.
Btw. Have you seen WELT and SONNTAG coverage of the EU’s NGO payments scandal; with leaks showing how the Commission is trying to keep the millions in payments secret. Basically, it appears the EU has been trying to fund colour revolutions in noncompliant (with Brussels) EU states, and push propaganda about itself, at the expense of Europeans, using NGOs. We all suspected it.
I had only heard of funding NGOs not that they were potentially involved into “peaceful regime change”.
The entire intellectual structure here is falling apart in real time. It´s – I don´t know how to call it – a psychosis? Both to experience but also to witness it.
You know the worst part – it will be forgtotten.
When we had the Covid media hysteria I remember telling people: you will see once this entire madness and state of emergency (the streets were empty) are over people and the public will have forgotten.
I guess that´s how the human beehive mind works…
p.s. How they now totally disregard Art. 51 in the open with insane twisting of legal standards and agreements and simple lies is just disgusting. As I wrote a few weeks ago: By now I am certain that European public would not lift a finger if e.g. millions of Russian civilians would be killed by our “actions” just like in WWII. As long as Europe wouldn´t have to suffer. That of course won´t happen. But the ideology is unchanged.
AG, I was looking at Flightradar at the weekend and there was a german airforce A400 over Iraqi airspace – the only aircraft that I could see over Iraqi airspace.
“the only aircraft that I could see over Iraqi airspace.”
How adorable they are, right.
AG
Yes, they say currently it’s largest Jewish community in the ME outside Israel. it used to be 30K twenty years ago, now it’s 10K. They refused all the blandishments to move to Israel. Though, unlike in Iraq, the Israelis didn’t carry out false-flag terror attacks to get them to move, as far as I know..
They didn’t “used to live peacefully there”. They still do.
Obviously the wrong sort of jew ! Probably antisemitic to mention them.
Thanks für the info!
It seemed so odd when I first read it (nobody in Germany even alluding to it) I wasn´t sure I hadn´t made it up.
There are around 9 thousand Jews living in Iran. They have called for daily attacks on Israel. (Source the Jerusalem Post)
Thanks!!
(Of course the Post does put into question the sincerity of the criticism coming from Iranian Jews. How could it not.)
India and China have just given instructions for their citizens abroad to leave Iran immediately.
Sounds like a very promising omen, and another sign of BRICS breaking down…
I would be interestd to know how they can leave, given that there are currently no aircraft flying in Iranian airspace (apart from the obvious). The border crossings are notoriously dangerous.
Agreed. Better ask their governments. I understand the Turkish border is still open, though possibly dangerous, but no more than a Beirut suburb…
No it isn’t, telling civilians most whom are probably concentrated in Tehran to leave a warzone is SoP for a foreign ministry anywhere.
They’re also telling their citizens in Israel to leave. Also bye-the-bye the way Israel has banned it’s *own* citizens or duel-citizens from leaving.
What is *that* an omen of, hmm?
When planes fly out, having enough money will buy a seat.
That said, there will be some well-equipped and high-resilience shelters for the super-rich.
A little-known fact is that Eton College has a nuclear shelter.
I would hate being a *duel* citizen
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
My device has that annoying auto-spell feature, which can automatically put in the wrong word if you aren’t careful or rush post without double-checking.
Care to address the actual point without being a smart arse?
Almost all rich Arab countries – members of the Gulf Cooperation Council – have permanent USA military bases: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi, UAE. The only exception is Oman, which has a British military base. The USA also has a military presence in Iraq and on the territory of new NATO friend Jordan.
What’s up with Hezbollah? Are they not in a position to do anything?
Zionist warplanes are flying over Iraq to bomb Iran. It is not wholly clear whether they are flying over Jordan too, or only taking routes over Syria.
Gaddafi warmed the Arab League that if the Islamic world didn’t stand together they’d be picked off one by one. Countries like Egypt, KSA and Jordan and the Gulf monarchies think they have a cosy deal with the US, and that they surely aren’t on the menu of the region’s crocodile(Israel), but the US’s politicians are bought (via campaign donations), and in a choice between siding with Israel and them , they’ll always side with Israel. Turkey’s Erdogan talks a good game, but he’s all mouth and no trousers – as over Gaza and Lebanon.
Israeli leaders know their vulnerability is the country’s size, and the fact that were they to be invaded and lose their air power advantage, they could quickly be overrun in the streets. That which was previously unspoken, is now openly discussed on Israeli TV ; namely, the Greater Israel plan. Their expansionist aims are going to be an ongoing problem for the whole world, regardless of what happens with Iran.
One wonders if Putin’s bombing of the Neo-Nazi dictatorship in Ukraine – was designed to stretch Nato’s assets – some of which are currently deployed aiding the Zio-Naz’s in their illegal attack on Iran – Putin should push on and finish the conflict, whilst the Eye of Sauron (Nato) is partially focused on Iran.
The Ukraine – Russia war may at least make the West prevent Israel from using nukes – yes, I think Netanyahu and his extremist cabinet are crazy enough to consider it.
The last thing anyone in the west will want is Putin thinking he has a green light to make Kyiv disappear, shortly after Israel uses them. Leaving the west unable to take UN action against one and not the other due to China demanding equal punishment.
Republicofscotland
June 17, 2025 at 14:45
“Neo-Nazi dictatorship in Ukraine”? Bollocks.
The Putin regime is close to a dictatorship and its ultra nationalist policies are reminiscent of the Hitler regime.
The Ukrainian Government was elected democratically and will call elections once the Great (sic) Russian Army have fvcked off back to Mordor.
“The Ukrainian Government was elected democratically and will call elections once the Great (sic) Russian Army have fvcked off back to Mordor”
JK redux
On the above you sound like Al-Jolani – oh they’ll be elections in Syria in four years – followed a maybe not.
As for Zelensky he employs Neo-Nazi brigades who are part of the National Guard, he’s on record saying that his Neo-Nazi brigades are what they are – I’ve told you this before and you know it – Ukraine has a plethora of streets and avenues, along with monuments of Nazi sympathisers, hell their national hero Bandera – who’s portrait is everywhere in Ukraine, was a well known WWII Nazi collaborator.
Zelensky rules Ukraine – the facade of democracy in the failed state – fools no one.
Lol, sure. Ukrainians just got their first democratic election since 1991 and it was just coincidence it was another oliogarch. Russia being bad does not make Ukraine good. That is simpleton logic
“Remind me who walked away from the peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in 2022”
Two countries are at war. One holds elections, the other doesn’t “because of the war”. Which one looks more like a dictatorship?
”
The Ukrainian Government was elected democratically and will call elections once the Great (sic) Russian Army have fvcked off back to Mordor.”
The “Hitler regime” you mention was elected democratically, too. Didn’t stop it becoming a dictatorship. (References to “Mordor” just sound like a teenager, BTW, they really don’t help anyone reading them take them seriously.)
You forgot to remind me who walked away from the peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in 2022.
Ukraine population in 1991: 53 million – Ukraine population in 2025: 30-5 million.
Some of the spanking new fluffy doubleplus good EU-NATO “democracies” from the former U.S.S.R/WTO have also seen 25-35% population collapse in peacetime, since they were “liberated”.from the Moscow yoke.
Russia’s population OTOH if you add in non-citizen guest workers, (il)legal migrants and refugees etc is actually bigger than it was in 1991.
Of course if Russia had the same population trajectory as say Latvia, naturally their situation would be described as apocalypticlly sh*t. Due to the evil Kremlin regime driving it’s miserable slaves to death or flight.
So Putin’s fascist regime as you put it, is unironically better for the survival of Russia as such, compared to Western “democracy”.
Just like Best Korea is unironically better for the survival of Koreans as an ethnos, than Yankee Colony Korea.
Are you seriously argueing with LOTR terms?
And if that weren´t enough you think alluding to Mr. H when mentioning Mr. P. is an adequate way to engage this subject.
If at least you would have suggested Mr. Hilter instead.
My my…
Well, Ukraine was already buggered either way. This just leaves them unlubed & unconsidered.
The US was already pulling assets *or* preemptively redirecting them to Israel, ditto for Eurostan who couldn’t fill the gap left by the US. Even if they weren’t also materially up to their filthy necks in Bibi’s latest crimes.
As I’ve seen posted elsewhere, the difference between Israel and Ukraine. Is the difference between “the wife” and “the prostitute”.
Heading for the fray? more than likely.
” A US Airforce KC-135 tanker reecently seen departing from the Lakenheat airbase in the UK.
It is escorted by 4 F-35A, interestingly not in “stealth mode” as they have AIM-9 pylons on the tips of their wings”
And
“Several U.S. Air Force aircraft, including aerial refueling planes and four F-35 Lightning stealth fighters, were seen flying south over the UK today en route to the Middle East”
US Air Force tanker aircraft have taken off from Ramstein Air Base heading to the Middle East.
They are escorting dozens of fighter jets.”
All out war against Iran is on the cards.
https://nitter.poast.org/GlobeWarReport
” The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier crossed the Malacca strait this morning and entered the Indian Ocean.
The carrier strike group is expected to arrive in the Middle-East in 2-3 days”
https://nitter.poast.org/GlobeWarReport
Saw a UK tanker last night. Took of from Cyprus, did a load of loops to the south (refuelling interceptors I guess) and then made it’s way down the Suez and across Joran to Iraq. It went dark for a bit and then headed back the same way.
Kier Starmer has us involved in (yet) another war that they have no right being involved with. Meanwhile a shit-ton of assets have stopped of at the Riyadh base.
So much for Saudi / Iranian reproachment. Yet again Muslim countries fail to see the bigger picture that they may well be next on the list.
Please toast a *Kier* to my health, and I will gladly reprocicate…
There are no longer such things as Muslim countries. Religion is no longer ruling the planet, except for the fanatical. And these don’t seem to have the upper hand currently.
Muslim countries are mostly glad to work for the yankee dollar. Those who are next on the list as you say are the rare countries that dare resist, and the list has become very short…
Israel is fanatical, religion rules their “country”
Fanatical yes, religious no. The nutters use religion to further their agenda, just as they use WW2 and the holocaust. There are strict Jewish religious groups inside Israel that don’t support the zionist government or what they are doing to Palestinians.
Yet, Muslim fundamentalism was used as fuel to feed the propaganda surrounding the ‘war on terrorism” in the last thirty years.
Now the switch to “military age males” has supplanted Muslim fundamentalism.
What’s next? Eastern orthodox Christian fundamentalism.
“Those who are next on the list as you say are the rare countries that dare resist, and the list has become very short…”
Dare resist who or what?
“Yet again Muslim countries fail to see the bigger picture that they may well be next on the list.”
That’s probably because they are already on the list of countries that have US bases making sure that they “do the right thing”. Most European countries are on that list, too. That’s what those bases are there for.
Watch videos of urban Iran on Youtube, and you’ll see a very modern, western looking country. Women with hair uncovered everywhere, unbothered by authority. Neon lights; amazing architecture and walkways; well-kept parks; posh cafes , it’s all very clean and what looks like a healthy, friendly atmosphere to raise a family. Women walk alone at night, presumably without concern, maybe due to the draconian sentences for assaults ,rapes, murders?
The media, esp. news media in the West, steadfastly prevent anyone seeing Iran like this. They want the white savior lie to prosper, because UK and US populations need to believe we are the ‘good guys’ right? Saving folks from oppressive regimes.
But it is absolute BS. These people don’t need saving by the far from perfect west, a west falsely wearing the cloak of the humanitarian.
Compared to say Pakistan and India, where true grinding poverty exists even in major cities: street beggars, meat covered in flies etc, Iran’s cafe culture and smartly dressed youth and fancy architecture, means it looks positively modern and sophisticated by way of contrast. If the US News networks showed Iran as it really is, Americans wouldn’t support military action.
I went on a trip to see Iran again 6 years ago. things weren’t quite as advanced as you see on YouTube now. It is a very modern country now. I met a good number of different families of my contacts. If it weren’t for the unjustified hostility of the west, they would be doing very well.
But Israel’s plan is to destroy Iran (not just regime change, like in Syria, there will be no new strong government). Crooke’s article today is not a bad evaluation: https://conflictsforum.substack.com/p/does-trump-realistically-expect-iranian. Things are not going as well for Israel as the media present.
Quite a young country.
The median age of the Iranian population was 34 years in 2025. This means that half of the population is older than 34, and half is younger.
For comparison:
The median age of the UK population was 40.7 years
U.S. population is 38.9 years, birth rates typically higher among Black and Hispanic communities
Germany is 44.6 years,
Japan >49.5 years
Laguerre, I went to Iran in May 2018 and it was just as Goose has depicted. It is a modern country with large shopping malls, a very clean and modern Underground system, large parks, museums, fine architecture, both old and modern.
Mike Huckabee, US ambassador to Israel, has messaged Trump with a thinly-veiled exhortation for him to authorise the nuking of Iran, alluding – as it does – to Truman in 1945. It’s full of vomit-inducing sycophancy and delusional justification by reference to God’s voice.
Trump has shared it and it’s so far beyond parody that, presumably, it’s designed only for public consumption in the US. But if it’s indicative of the actual reasoning of senior politicians with real power in the US then we’re in deep, deep trouble.
https://x.com/aaronjmate/status/1934967720253989048/photo/1
Trump appointed a total religious fanatic in Mike Huckabee.
He’s probably praying for rapture to emerge out of all this?
I’d imagine most Americans are embarrassed by these strange people, and if not, they should be. The last thing the Middle East needed was another religious extremist.
“most Americans”. I don’t think so. Many but not most, and that’s part of the problem.
Mart, mark my word. This looks a lot like a parody.
But not unlike something the one and only Mike Huckackee could have written.
After all, isn’t he the bright mind who only last week suggested to the ‘emmerdeur’ Macron to simply detach a piece of the French Riviera to make room for Palestinian refugees?
Tigers can’t hide their spots…
And morons their naivety…
Tigers have stripes, leopards have spots.
Wonderful to learn, try again
Ah, so tigers don’t have spots, therefore morons have no naivety to hide. Mike Hucjabee was being a bit naive, therefore he is not a moron. Is that it?
Last try, you failed, Chevalier
“If no-one can understand what I write, they will never be able to prove I got anything wrong.”
How about that?
Israel has stated categorically that if Iran does not stop all attacks on Israel Tehran will ‘burn’. They are absolutely resolute on nuking Tehran if all shelling of Israel is not completely halted. Given the number of jets heading to the region it would seem that they might ‘only’ flatten the country using conventional weapons if all Iranian defence ceases. They will not stop, however, until the ‘job’ is done.
Will the world continue to be a bystander?
Which countries will be next after Iran?
The people have been told to leave. Ten million people are walking out of Tehran
An Iranian missile has hit the Zionist regime’s Weizmann Institute, south of Tel Aviv:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/06/17/749974/mossad-linked-weizmann-institute-reduced-rubble-iranian-missile
The institute worked closely with the regime’s intelligence service, its armed forces, and weapons manufacturer Elbit, and conducted research into artificial shit-elligence and genetic engineering.
Curiously it also seemed to employ people who were quite knowledgeable about biological weapons:
https://davidson.weizmann.ac.il/en/online/sciencepanorama/scariest-weapon
and Covid:
https://centers.weizmann.ac.il/host-microbe/research-topics/covid-19
and “climate change”:
https://www.gov.il/en/pages/weizmann-institute-study-reveals-climate-change-might-be-more-rapid-than-predicted-26-may-2022
Iran has also hit the logistical HQ of the Zionist regime’s main military intelligence service, Aman:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/06/17/749975/irgc-destroys-israeli-key-military-intel-center-tel-aviv
The UK press is hideously out of step with public opinion :
https://x.com/AaronBastani/status/1934554963151049208/photo/1
Interesting, how more of those expressing an opinion, aged18-24, side with Iran over Israel. No doubt a result of the rightful anger over Gaza.
The Telegraph and Times are the worst. Every columnist an apologist for Israel’s actions. Israel could kill tens of millions, and they’d be like Oliver Cromwell stood over King Charles I’s freshly beheaded body, “twas a cruel necessity, twas a cruel necessity”.
Starmer repeating today : Iran can never be allowed a nuclear weapon. This has been repeated by Merz, von der Leyen, Macron and many others.
It’s a complete fixation, isn’t it, and a hypocritical one at that. Iran has far more need of a nuclear deterrent than France or the UK. Netanyahu has just shown that. Either Russia, China or Pakistan should offer them some sort of nuclear guarantee akin to Belarus’ arrangement with Russia. For if it’s good enough for Germany, Netherlands , Italy; Poland and Turkey via the US and NATO to host US nuclear weapons, why shouldn’t Iranians, all 90 million of them be entitled to similar security assurances? Would the US remove nuclear weapons from NATO countries at Russia’s behest? No way.
It’s US foreign policy. Our ‘journalists’ aren’t allowed to criticise, whether it is Ukraine, Israel or even Brexit. I am almost certain that the use of ‘Israel’ and ‘anti-semitism’ is actually part of the deception – these people are propagandists for the CIA, and Israel and Ukraine, and probably the UK itself too, are vehicles. Mockery of Trump is ‘allowed’ in our media, of course, as a lightning rod and distraction for the institutionally biased substance. No decent person wants anyone killed but lets hope both Israel and the US get peaceful humiliations before they cause any more destruction.