Journalist and International Affairs Commentator, Tom Gross, joined AnewZ from Tel Aviv to tell us why he thinks the attack happened now and whether this could mark the beginning of the end for the Iranian leadership.
Gross said there were “two interests” behind the strikes. The first, he said, is “a defensive, a pre-emptive defensive attack by Israel and the U.S. to prevent the Iranians from being in a position where they pose a really serious threat, eventually a nuclear threat, to Israel, the U.S., and European allies”.
The second, he said, is that Trump is “honouring his promise to the Iranian people in January”, when the U.S. president said that “if you protest against the regime, we’ll have your back”. Gross added that Trump “essentially said, America will be with you”.
The central question now, Gross told AnewZ, is “what will the Iranian people do?”
Gross said the issue is whether this is “just a military strike” or “some kind of plan for the Iranian protesters to attempt to seize power” and prompt a leadership change.
Gross outlined three main possibilities. The first, he said, would be a short operation lasting only “a few hours”, after which Washington “will pose again the question to the Iranian regime, this is your chance, negotiate properly”, telling Tehran to address its nuclear and missile programmes before the campaign stops.
The second possibility is a longer effort, “until the regime in Iran crumbles”, depending on Tehran’s reaction and internal stability. While the third possibility, which Gross compared to a Venezuela-style shift, involves someone inside Iran’s power structure moving to redirect the country away from confrontation. He said the U.S. could accept such a figure if it changed course, noting Trump would “probably be OK with that”.
He said “there will not be any ground troops” and that the outcome “will be up to the Iranian people”. Gross added that “up to one-third of American naval forces are essentially surrounding Iran”, underscoring the pressure behind these scenarios.
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Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both...
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed neighbouring Iraq will hold a funeral procession next week for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, as preparations intensify for week-long ceremonies after the 86-year-old was killed in Israeli–U.S. air raids in February.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 1 July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said.
Mexico ended their 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout win, while Erling Haaland sent Norway through and Kylian Mbappé fired France into the last 16.
The wife and children of Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo were among around 1,700 people who died when two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela last week.
The latest AnewZ investigative documentary examines how Emmanuel Macron’s promise to break with France’s old political habits collided with diplomatic setbacks in Africa and legal fallout surrounding figures once close to the Élysée.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said.
On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that unexploded ordnance remains a deadly threat across Afghanistan, with children accounting for around 80% of victims and about 50 people being killed or injured each month.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed neighbouring Iraq will hold a funeral procession next week for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, as preparations intensify for week-long ceremonies after the 86-year-old was killed in Israeli–U.S. air raids in February.
CSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov has inspected security along the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border as the regional bloc continues a long-term programme to strengthen one of Central Asia's most strategically important frontiers.
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