18/06/2025

WEDNESDAY | JUNE 18, 2025

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Trump wants ‘real end’ to nuclear problem

France shuts weapons stands at Paris Airshow PARIS: France shut down main Israeli company stands at the Paris Airshow on Monday for refusing to remove attack weapons from display, sparking a furious response from Israel. Stands including those of Elbit Systems, Rafael, IAI and Uvision were blocked off with black partitions before the start of the world’s biggest aviation trade fair. Smaller Israeli stands, which did not have hardware on display, and an Israeli Ministry of Defence stand, remained open. France, an Israeli ally, has hardened its position on the government of Benjamin Netanyahu over its actions in Gaza and interventions abroad. French President Emmanuel Macron made a distinction last week between Israel’s right to protect itself, which France supports and could take part in, and strikes on Iran it did not recommend. The office of Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said it had told all exhibitors ahead of the show that offensive weapons would be prohibited from display and that Israel’s embassy in Paris had agreed to this. It added that the companies could resume their exhibits if they complied with this requirement. Bayrou said given France’s diplomatic stance and very great concern about Gaza, the government had felt it unacceptable for attack weapons to be on show. – Reuters SHIPS COLLIDE OFF EMIRATES, 24 RESCUED DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates coast guard said yesterday it had evacuated 24 people from oil tanker Adalynn following a collision between two ships in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz. British maritime security firm Ambrey earlier reported an incident 22 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan in the UAE, and said the cause of the incident was not security-related. Shipping sources said a vessel had collided with two other ships. Naval sources said electronic interference with commercial ship navigation systems has surged in recent days around the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf, which is having an impact on vessels sailing through the region. About a fifth of the world’s total oil consumption passes through the strait. – Reuters THAI PLANES TO EVACUATE CITIZENS BANGKOK: The Thai government has ordered its military to prepare planes to evacuate citizens from Israel and Iran, a spokesman said yesterday. There are an estimated 40,000 Thais living in Israel, most working on farms under a government scheme, and around 300 nationals living in Iran. “We are ready to evacuate people and have coordinated with the military to prepare planes to bring them home,” government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said after a Cabinet meeting. Jirayu said Thai embassies in both countries have prepared evacuation plans for nationals. The Thai embassy in Tehran announced it had set up a shelter for citizens outside the capital. China said some of its citizens had been able to leave Iran. – AFP

four injured in Iran’s central city of Kashan in an Israeli attack, Iran’s Nournews reported yesterday. Iranian media also reported explosions and heavy air defence fire in Tehran early yesterday, with smoke rising in the city’s east after an explosion of suspected Israeli projectiles. Air defences were activated also in Natanz, home to key nuclear installations. Doctors and nurses have been recalled from leave to carry out their duties, Iranian media reported. Khorramabad city MP Reza Sepahvand said most incidents happening in Iran are due to “infiltrators” rather than direct action from Israel, adding that 21 people were killed in the western province of Lorestan. Israel’s military said yesterday that it killed Iran’s wartime chief of staff. Israel also said it carried out extensive strikes on Iranian military targets including weapons storage sites and missile launchers. Iranian officials have reported 224 deaths, mostly civilians, while Israel said 24 civilians had been killed. Sources said Tehran had asked Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to urge Trump to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to an immediate ceasefire. – Reuters

am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a ceasefire. Much bigger than that,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Israel launched its air war with a surprise attack that has killed nearly the entire top echelon of Iran’s military commanders and its leading nuclear scientists. It says it now has control of Iranian airspace and intends to escalate the campaign in the coming days. Trump has consistently said the Israeli assault could end quickly if Iran agreed to US demands that it accept strict curbs on its nuclear programme. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said yesterday that a “more powerful” new wave of missiles was recently launched towards Israel. A senior Iranian army commander said a new wave of drones would hit Israel. Three people were killed and

o ‘Infiltrators’ linked to attacks inside Iran

DUBAI: President Donald Trump said he wanted a “real end” to the nuclear problem with Iran and indicated he may send senior American officials to meet with the Islamic Republic as the Israel-Iran air war raged for a fifth straight day. He made the comments during his midnight departure from Canada, where he attended the Group of Seven summit on Monday, according to comments posted by a CBS News reporter. Trump predicted that Israel would not be easing its attacks on Iran. “You’re going to find out over the next two days. You’re going to find out. Nobody’s slowed up so far,” the CBS journalist quoted Trump as saying on Air Force One. He said “I may”, on the prospect of sending Middle East Envoy Steve

Witkoff or Vice-President JD Vance to meet Iran. Washington has said Trump was still aiming for a nuclear deal with Iran, even as the military confrontation unfolds. World leaders meeting at the G7 summit called for a de-escalation of the conflict, saying Iran was a source of instability and must never have a nuclear weapon while affirming Israel’s right to defend itself. Trump, who left the summit early due to the Middle East situation, said his departure had “nothing to do with” working on a deal between Israel and Iran after French President Emmanuel Macron said the US had initiated a ceasefire proposal. “Wrong! He has no idea why I

BR I E F S

Palestinians gather to receive aid supplies in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on Monday. – REUTERSPIC

Israeli tank shelling kills 51 people awaiting aid

GAZA: Israeli tank shellfire killed at least 51 Palestinians yesterday as they awaited aid trucks in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Health Ministry said, adding dozens of others were wounded. Medics said residents said Israeli tanks fired shells at crowds of desperate Palestinians awaiting aid trucks along the main eastern road in Khan Younis. They said at least 51 people were killed and 200 wounded, with at least 20 of them in critical condition. Witnesses said Israeli tanks fired at least two shells at thousands of

which operates sites in areas guarded by Israeli troops. The United Nations has rejected the plan, saying GHF distribution is inadequate, dangerous and violates humanitarian impartiality principles. Israel’s military offensive on Gaza has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, while internally displacing nearly Gaza’s entire population and causing a hunger crisis. The assault has also triggered accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations. – Reuters

The GHF stated in a press release late on Monday that it had distributed more than three million meals at its four distribution sites without incident. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military about Monday’s reports of shootings. In previous incidents, it has occasionally acknowledged troops opening fire near aid sites, while blaming gunmen for provoking the violence. Israel has put responsibility for distributing much of the aid it allows into Gaza into the hands of the GHF,

people awaiting aid trucks. Nasser Hospital wards were crowded with casualties, and medical staff had to place some on the ground and in corridors due to the lack of space. The incident was the latest in nearly daily mass deaths of Palestinians who were seeking aid in past weeks, including near sites operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Local health officials said at least 23 people were killed by Israeli gunfire on Monday as they approached a GHF aid distribution site in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.