Netanyahu says Iran war goals achieved 'beyond halfway point' as strikes continue across Middle East

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump's partner in attacking Iran, said more than half of his military aims had been achieved, but both leaders refused to put a timeline on an operation that has ignited a month-long regional war and jolted global markets.

Iran launched missiles across the Middle East early on Tuesday in response to fresh Israeli strikes on its capital Tehran, hours after Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said more than half of his military aims had been achieved.

"It's definitely beyond the halfway point. But I don't want to put a schedule on it," Netanyahu told US broadcaster Newsmax.

Sirens rang out in Jerusalem as Israel's military said it had responded to fresh Iranian missiles, while local Iranian media reported new explosions in Tehran that caused "power outages in parts" of the capital.

Iranian media also reported that initial investigations indicated strikes in central Iran had hit some "military sites".

More Iranian attacks on Gulf nations

Iran fired more missiles at Gulf nations, as falling debris from intercepted projectiles wounded four people in Dubai, while a Kuwaiti oil tanker in the city's port caught fire.

In Saudi Arabia, authorities said they intercepted eight ballistic missiles, hours after Iran's top diplomat called on Riyadh to "eject US forces".

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that Tehran’s attacks on the Gulf Arab states only target US forces, even after assaults have hit civilian targets throughout the region.

Araghchi’s comments, addressed to Saudi Arabia, come as growing Gulf Arab anger has those states encouraging America to continue to prosecute the war.

"Iran respects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation," he wrote on X, sharing a photo purportedly showing damage to an American aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base in the kingdom. "Our operations are aimed at enemy aggressors who have no respect for Arabs or Iranians, nor can provide any security. ... High time to eject US forces."

Trump claims talks ongoing despite Iran's denial

US President Donald Trump has claimed to be in direct contact with senior Iranian figures. On Monday, he said the US is negotiating with Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.

The former Revolutionary Guard commander was previously floated as Washington’s negotiating partner, but has denied Iran is talking to the US and said Pakistan-facilitated discussions were merely a cover for American troop deployments.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei again denied any negotiations, saying the United States had sent only a request to talk via intermediaries, including Pakistan.

According to Baghaei, Tehran had received a 15-point proposal from the Trump administration containing “excessive, unrealistic and irrational” demands but there haven't been any direct talks.

Qalibaf, the parliament speaker Trump says he is negotiating with, said Iranian forces were "waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever," according to state media.

New threats against Iran's power stations

On Monday, Trump again threatened widespread destruction of Iran’s energy resources and other vital infrastructure, including desalination plants, if a deal to end the war with Tehran is not reached "shortly".

He has threatened to deploy ground troops to seize critical oil infrastructure on Iran's Kharg Island, a military gambit that experts say would risk American lives and could still fail to end the war.

"Putting people on the ground might be the most psychologically compelling way of striking a blow at Iran," said Michael Eisenstadt, a former US military analyst who now directs the Military and Security Studies Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

"On the other hand, you’re putting your own troops at jeopardy," he added. "It’s not far from the mainland. So they can potentially rain a lot of destruction on the island, if they’re willing to inflict damage on their own infrastructure."

A US Navy ship carrying about 2,500 Marines recently arrived in the Middle East, while at least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division are expected soon. Another 2,500 Marines are being deployed from California.

The Trump administration has not said what all those troops will be doing, but the 82nd Airborne is trained to parachute into hostile or contested territory to secure key territory and airfields.

Source: Euronews