Ben Gvir calls for execution of shooter suspects Israel's far-right security minister Itamar Ben Gvir has called for the execution of the suspects in a deadly shooting attack in central Israel on Sunday. Israeli police said they had "neutralised" one suspect and are currently searching for the second. “If the terrorist is caught alive he will be executed.
Tehran raises concerns over strikes at IAEA board meeting Iran’s delegation to a special meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors condemned US and Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities operating under IAEA safeguards, describing them as an unprecedented assault on safeguarded nuclear sites. According to the delegation, the attacks threaten the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and undermine the principles of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the IAEA safeguards system. Iranian representatives called on member states to adopt a zero-tolerance approach toward attacks or threats against safeguarded nuclear facilities and urged the international community to prevent what they described as the normalisation of such actions.
Hezbollah official rejects claims Lebanon is bargaining chip for Iran Ibrahim Al Moussawi, a Hezbollah official and member of the Lebanese Parliament, said any ceasefire agreement should apply to all parts of Lebanon and not be limited to Beirut or its southern suburbs. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Al Moussawi questioned why a ceasefire would not extend to southern Lebanon, calling instead for a complete halt to hostilities without conditions. He also rejected comments by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who had accused Iran of using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Video: Senior Iranian official rules out Trump-Khamenei meeting Mohsen Rezaei, a senior military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said negotiations with the United States are currently at a standstill and ruled out the possibility of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Mojtaba Khamenei, according to an interview with CNN. Rezaei said Washington must release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets as a “test of trust” to move negotiations forward, arguing that the funds belong to Iran. He also warned that if the naval blockade remains in place and military hostilities continue, Iran could expand the conflict beyond the Gulf region into the Indian Ocean, Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea, including by targeting additional US military bases.
US senator criticises plan linking Israeli and US defence industries US Senator Bernie Sanders said he would oppose legislation under consideration in Congress that he argues would further integrate Israel into the US military-industrial system through defence co-production arrangements. In a post on X, Sanders accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to shift military assistance into Pentagon-linked programmes rather than reducing aid. “Netanyahu knows Americans are sick of funding Israel’s wars.
US Ambassador to UN vows to dismantle structures seen as anti-Israel US Ambassador to the United Nations Jeff Bartos said Washington’s efforts to reform the United Nations are partly aimed at addressing what he described as longstanding bias against the United States and Israel within the international body. In a post on X, Bartos said the Trump administration had already achieved major reforms, including the elimination of 3,000 bureaucratic positions and a reduction of $570 million from the UN budget this year. He added that the United States would continue pursuing changes across the UN system and would seek to dismantle what he called the infrastructure supporting “the unconscionable bias against the United States and our ally Israel.
Pakistani minister delivers 'important message' to Khamenei during Tehran visit Iranian interior minister Eskandar Momeni said that his Pakistani counterpart, Mohsin Naqvi, met him in Tehran and discussions covered border security, counterterrorism efforts and combating drug trafficking. Naqvi said he had delivered 'an important' message from Field Marshal General Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, concerning the regional situation. The Iranian minister said the two nations had agreed to work towards increasing bilateral economic exchanges to $10 billion, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.
Araghchi rejects claim that Iran is using Lebanon as leverage Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has responded to remarks by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who accused Iran of using Lebanon as a “bargaining chip” in negotiations with the United States aimed at ending the war. In a post on X, Araghchi rejected the accusation, writing: “Based on Mr Aoun’s comments, one would think it’s Iran that has occupied 1/5 of Lebanon, displaced 1/4 of Lebanese and bombing his country on daily basis. ” “Save Lebanon from the real foe, Mr President,” he added.
US raises threat assessment level for Israeli spying of officials to 'critical' The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has reportedly raised its counter-intelligence threat assessment for Israel to “critical”, according to US media reports citing two current US officials and one former official. The reported assessment comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Israel over developments related to Iran and the wider Middle East. According to the report, the DIA circulated an internal document outlining concerns that Israel was seeking intelligence on the Trump administration’s internal discussions and decision-making regarding regional conflicts.
US lawmakers urge Rubio to act against West Bank settlement expansion Two Democratic members of the US House of Representatives have led an appeal to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging the Trump administration to use all available diplomatic and legal tools to prevent further Israeli settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, particularly in the controversial E1 area. Representative Mark Pocan said the United States should use its influence to act immediately. “As the world’s most powerful country, we need to use our leverage to act now,” he said.
Trump says agreement with Iran will take time US President Donald Trump said reaching an agreement with Iran will take time, pushing back against critics who have urged his administration to move more quickly. Speaking to NBC, Trump said negotiations and efforts related to Iran were advancing rapidly despite the complexity of the situation. “We are only in the third month of operations compared to the 19-year Vietnam War,” Trump said.
Slovenia’s new prime minister takes down Palestinian flag in pro-Israel turn Janez Jansa began his fourth term as Slovenia’s prime minister by ordering the Palestinian flag removed from the main government building in Ljubljana, where it had flown for two years. The move, carried out almost immediately after he took office on Thursday, signalled a sharp pro- Israel turn under a leader closely aligned with US President Donald Trump and Israel. In a post on X on Friday, Jansa said his government would pursue what he called a “responsible” foreign policy “based on facts”, language many read as a coded rejection of Slovenia’s recent anti-genocide stance and its commitment to international law.
Slovenia’s new prime minister takes down Palestinian flag in pro-Israel turn Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Fri, 06/05/2026 - 20:42 The flag removal marks a symbolic rupture after Slovenia’s recent condemnation of Israel over the Gaza genocide Palestinian and Ukrainian flags are seen next to Slovenian and European flags on main government buildings and the Presidential Palace in Ljubljana, on 26 September 2025 (Jure Makovec/AFP) Off Janez Jansa began his fourth term as Slovenia’s prime minister by ordering the Palestinian flag removed from the main government building in Ljubljana, where it had flown for two years. The move, carried out almost immediately after he took office on Thursday, signalled a sharp pro- Israel turn under a leader closely aligned with US President Donald Trump and Israel. In a post on X on Friday, Jansa said his government would pursue what he called a “responsible” foreign policy “based on facts”, language many read as a coded rejection of Slovenia’s recent anti-genocide stance and its commitment to international law.
Israelis accuse White House officials of leaking Iran plan to Turkey Israeli sources have blamed officials inside the White House for leaking details of an Israeli plan involving Iran to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Jerusalem Post reported. The report said some Israeli sources pointed to US Vice President JD Vance, who has raised doubts about the 2026 war with Iran, suggesting the leak helped Erdogan reach President Donald Trump in time to stop the operation before Israel could launch it. Vance’s team rejected the claim.
IAEA chief says US and Iran close to nuclear framework The UN nuclear watchdog chief says Iran and the US are close to agreeing on a nuclear framework, as Israel’s regional war agenda continues to fuel instability. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said the agency remains in contact with both sides but is not directly taking part in the talks. “Our sense is that they seem to be pretty close to agreeing on what I would describe more with regards to the nuclear … to sort of a framework, organisational structure to give themselves time to look into the different problems,” he said.
Why Policy Exchange invented the bogeyman of 'Islamopopulism' Submitted by Iqbal Mohamed on Fri, 06/05/2026 - 14:29 Muslims across Britain are engaging with politics in a more meaningful way - and that frightens defenders of the status quo Protesters take part in a Palestine solidarity march in London on 11 October 2025 (AFP) Off Fifteen years ago, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi famously declared that Islamophobia had passed the “ dinner-table test ”. For Policy Exchange, a right-wing think-tank that is notoriously opaque about its funders, contempt for Muslims has been on the menu for considerably longer than that. Last month, Policy Exchange released two reports on a new phenomenon that it is calling “Islamopopulism”, and whose supposed rise can be seen in the recent local election results.
Lebanese President: Iran is using Lebanon as a "bargaining chip" with US Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated that the Iranians are "using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiations with the United States" in an interview with CNN. He also added that Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem does not represent the Lebanese people, slamming the group's actions. The remarks come as Israel continues its attacks on Lebanon amidst the renegotiation of the ceasefire.
Israeli ambassador to France accused of 'foreign interference' after election remarks Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 06/05/2026 - 13:09 Joshua Zarka says he prefers any presidential candidate over Jean-Luc Melenchon, a supporter of Palestinian rights, prompting criticism across the French political spectrum Israel's Ambassador to France Joshua Zarka speaks during a ceremony to pay tribute to Israel's Olympic team victims in the 1972 Munich Games, at the Embassy of Israel in Paris on 6 August 2024 (Stephane De Sakutin/AFP) Off The Israeli ambassador to France has been accused of "foreign interference" after saying he would prefer "anyone rather than Jean-Luc Melenchon" to win the 2027 presidential election. Speaking in a television interview on Thursday, Ambassador Joshua Zarka said he would rather see any candidate elected to the Elysee Palace than Melenchon, the leader of the left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI), a strong supporter of Palestinian rights. Zarka also added that he met last month with Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French far-right National Rally.
Labour contender Andy Burnham declines to say Israel has committed genocide in Gaza Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has declined to describe Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide. Burnham, who is standing to be the MP for Makerfield in the by-election on 18 June and intends to replace Sir Keir Starmer as British prime minister, was asked about foreign policy an interview with the Guardian on Thursday. According to the news outlet, Burnham declined to say Israel has committed genocide, explaining: "I can’t judge things of that enormity from where I am as mayor of Greater Manchester.
Why Netanyahu wants to wreck Trump's Iran deal Submitted by Sami Al-Arian on Tue, 06/02/2026 - 16:55 As Washington and Tehran edge towards a ceasefire, the Israeli prime minister is determined to sink it, believing any settlement that leaves Iran standing amounts to defeat A protester holds a placard depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration in Milan on 21 May 2026 (Piero Cruciatti/AFP) On Israeli prime minister and indicted war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu does not adapt to imposed realities. He tries to smash them through brute force, permanent escalation and manufactured crises. Throughout his career, war has been a favoured strategic instrument for preserving Israeli supremacy and his own political survival.
