World
Iran’s Zarif blames Israel for Natanz incident, vows revenge
Iran blames its regional arch-foe Israel for Sunday’s incident at the Natanz nuclear site and will take its revenge, state TV quoted Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying on Monday.
Iranian authorities described the incident – an apparent cyber-attack – a day earlier as an act of “nuclear terrorism” and said Tehran reserves the right to take action against the perpetrators, Reuters reported.
“The Zionists want to take revenge because of our progress in the way to lift sanctions … they have publicly said that they will not allow this. But we will take our revenge from the Zionists,” Zarif was quoted as saying.
Multiple Israeli media outlets have quoted unnamed intelligence sources as saying that the country’s Mossad spy service carried out a successful sabotage operation at the Natanz site, potentially setting back enrichment work there by months. Israel has not formally commented on the incident, Reuters reported.
The Natanz uranium-enrichment site, much of which is underground, is one of several Iranian facilities monitored by inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
Israel’s army chief has appeared to hint at possible Israeli involvement in an incident at the Natanz nuclear site in Iran — an event labeled a “terrorist action” by the head of Iran’s atomic energy agency.
CNN meanwhile reported that a spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Behrouz Kamalvand said: “Fortunately, the incident did not cause any human injuries or leaks.”
“The causes of the accident are under investigation and further information will be announced later.”
AEOI condemned the incident, calling it a “terrorist action,” according to the Iranian telegram channel of the Revolution Guard Corps, or IRGC, a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces.
CNN reported that just hours after Iranian officials reported the incident, Israel’s army chief Aviv Kochavi said the country’s “operations throughout the Middle East are not hidden from the eyes of the enemies.”
“They are watching us, seeing the capabilities and carefully considering their steps,” he said.
Israel’s Prime Minister’s office offered no comment on the reports, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Iran Sunday at a toast to mark the anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel.
“The struggle against Iran and its proxies and the Iranian armament efforts is a huge mission,” he said.
“The situation that exists today will not necessarily be the situation that will exist tomorrow.”
Netanyahu is due to meet Monday with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin who is on a visit to the country, CNN reported.
World
Suspect dies after trading gunfire with officers near White House, Secret Service says
A gunman who fired at a White House checkpoint was shot by officers and died after being taken to the hospital on Saturday evening, the Secret Service said.
The man approached the checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House, pulled a gun out of his bag and started shooting at officers, according to a Secret Service statement sent to Reuters. Officers returned fire and shot the suspect, the agency said.
A bystander was struck by gunfire, the statement said, but it did not make clear how badly the person was hurt. Another Secret Service statement, cited by multiple news outlets, said it was not clear whether the bystander was hit when the gunman began shooting or during the subsequent exchange of gunfire.
The shooting suspect was identified as an emotionally disturbed person, a law enforcement official told Reuters, adding that a “stay-away order” had been issued to him previously.
No law enforcement personnel were injured, the Secret Service said, adding that President Donald Trump was at the White House during the incident.
The shooting comes nearly a month after a gunman fired shots inside the hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, prompting Trump and other officials to be rushed out.
World
One dead, 36 injured in explosion at New York dry dock
An explosion at a dry dock in New York City’s Staten Island killed one person and injured 36 others on Friday, as the blast occurred while firefighters were on the scene responding to a fire and attempting to rescue two people who were trapped, officials said.
Two firefighters were hospitalized, including a fire marshal who suffered a fractured temple and a brain bleed and was intubated, officials said. The other firefighter was in serious condition but had shown improvement, officials said, Reuters reported.
“This was a complex, fast-developing emergency situation,” New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani told reporters.
“First responders did what they always do: they ran towards danger so others could escape to safety.”
Officials did not provide details about the person who died except to say it was a civilian.
A comprehensive investigation would begin once the fire was completely extinguished, Mamdani said.
Firefighters had responded to reports of a fire in a basement and two workers trapped and were on scene when the explosion occurred, officials said.
The incident took place in the Richmond Terrace section of the borough of Staten Island, a part of New York City that is across the harbor from Manhattan.
World
Trump says US will send additional 5,000 troops to Poland
The United States will be sending an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday.
Trump, in a Truth Social post, cited his relationship with Poland’s conservative nationalist president, Karol Nawrocki, as the reason behind his decision to send additional troops.
The announcement comes two days after U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters a U.S. troop deployment to Poland had been delayed.
The U.S. had been reviewing its troop presence in Europe and had long been expected to scale it back following demands from Trump that NATO take a larger role in the defense of Europe.
“Based on the successful Election of the now President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, who I was proud to Endorse, and our relationship with him, I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” Trump said in the post.
Trump hosted Nawrocki at the White House in May last year and backed him at a crucial moment ahead of the Polish election in which Nawrocki went on to defeat the candidate of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-European, centrist party.
He met Nawrocki again at the White House in September, and said at the time that the U.S. could increase its troop presence in Poland and pledged to secure the country’s defense.
-
Latest News3 days agoChina restricts export of chemical substances to Afghanistan
-
Business2 days agoMajor pharma firms eye investment in Afghanistan
-
Sport4 days agoMohammadi crowned champion of 2nd season of Ariana Snooker Championship
-
Business5 days agoKabul, Tashkent push industrial cooperation with planned factory transfers
-
World3 days agoOne dead, 36 injured in explosion at New York dry dock
-
Business5 days agoFifth section of Hairatan–Mazar-i-Sharif railway reopens in northern Afghanistan
-
Sport4 days agoChennai Super Kings eliminated as Gujarat Titans register record IPL victory
-
Latest News5 days agoIEA says marriage separation regulation aligns with Sharia
