The world is right now focused on the funeral of the Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenie, to be buried on July 9, but not amid the threats of an attack from Israel, which Iran has warned of severe retaliation, if Israel makes to it. World leaders like Prime Ministers, President and delegates are present, except from Israel and US in Tehran, yet, there are voices from US, most prominent being that of Lauren Loomer, an ultra rightist, someone who is even followed by US President Donald Trump, suggesting that Israel or US could bomb Khamenie’s funeral, calling it a “target rich environment”! This has triggered a worldwide condemnation, particularly from Russia, as that would signal an outright start of the third world war.
Targeting Iran’s negotiators
The so-called Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Iran and US, is what Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu wants dead, Israel in fact wants even the negotiators from Iranian side dead too. Iran prime negotiator Ali Larijani had long been killed, along with his son, on March 17, Kamal Kharazi, a former Iranian foreign minister, member of the negotiation team was killed too on April 1. There are reports, that Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Parliament were to be targets too, before the cease-fire negotiations that began in April. The report came in The New York Times 1 on July 3, but somehow the situation was saved as US, the prime supporter of Israel, alerted other nations in the region to warn Iran about the possibility that Israel could target the two officials.
US requests and Israeli actions
In the same report it is stated, that as per ‘The Wall Street Journal reported in March, Israel had both the leaders on its target list, but temporarily removed them as the United States discussed beginning negotiations with Iran. The Trump administration learned around that time that at least Ghalibaf was on an Israeli targeting list and asked Israel to refrain.’ But, did Israel refrain? No!
Air escort, emergency landing, and onset of war
Iran wanted guarantees from US for safety, through Pakistani and Qatari intermediaries, Pakistani fighter jets escorted the Iranian airplanes carrying a delegation of more than 70 Iranians from the border of Iran to Islamabad and back again when the session was over. But on the way back to Tehran, an Israeli security threat emerged. Israel planned to attack the plane and two Israeli fighter jets had entered Iran’s airspace from its western border near Iraq. The Iranian plane made an emergency landing in the city of Mashhad, Iran’s closest airport to the Pakistani border, and the Iranian delegation traveled some eight hours by land back to Tehran, Israel has termed the story as fake. The US/Israel war on Iran began on February 28, primarily to ensure regime change and finish Iran’s nuclear programme. While Israel focused to kill leadership US targeted Iran’s nuclear and missiles sites. Ali Khamenie and 40 top military generals were killed by Israel, right on the onset of the war.
Mass turnout and resumption of hostilities
There are over 200 million people who have attended Ali Khamenie’s funeral, in which over a 100 countries have sent their delegates and diplomats etc. No sooner the funeral could reach neighbouring country Iraq, Trump has stated that for him ceasefire is over! War has resumed again. Trump is on his visit to Ankara, to attend to NATO summit, after a direct phone call by Turkiye President Tayyip Erdogan, It is reported that US has attacked 80 sites in Iran, Trump has given this as a gift to Netanyahu, who is slated to make his seventh visit to US, since Trump had taken over in 2004, his first after the war had broken out in February.
Israel’s role and regional responses
Israel is also very soon to join the attack. Israel wanted to attack funeral. Somehow it could not, now what Israel want is that US is to continue the attacks and not to stop. Iran has retaliated with attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain, but in this entire new melee the bargain is Turkiye! US has signaled to clear the deal for the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets bombers to Turkiye, which Israel has opposed, and now therefore, Turkiye, is to get further muted, as it has been, since October 7, 2023, when Hamas in Palestine had attacked Israel.
Erdogan, the F-35 bargain, and NATO alignment
Trump has lauded Erdogan to have stayed on US side, and not to have gone ahead with a conflict with Israel. Trump took Erdogan in his stride saying that Turkiye would not like to see a nuclear Iran, the prime reason for US/Israel to launch attacks on Iran, in togetherness with a change in regime. Something which the duo has not as yet accomplished. Iran is credited to have enriched 440 kgs of Uranium until 60% and US/Israel want Iran’s nuclear programme dead. The last three years has found Erdogan to completely toe NATO and US line, which is Israel line, and except for lip-service, has not fashioned itself to help Palestinians, despite the fact that once Palestine was a part of the erstwhile Ottoman empire. The Arab states, in sync with their past record, will only help US against Iran.
F-35 promises and public sentiment in Iran
The new buzz is F-35 going Turkiye way, which seem too far-fetched as US has given this as a bait to Turkiye, to keep mum, towards this new and lasting war on Iran. Iran is right now under a wave of sentiment for the departed Supreme Leader, and people are still on streets, calling for revenge against US, therefore, it is quite understandable that this new phase of war, is likely to continue. For long!
Wider regional alignments and arms deliveries
Iran is to see fighting against all Arab neighbours, who have and will help US and Israel. French President Emmanuel Macron has also arrived in Turkey, after he had reached out to Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara, where 32 allied nations are to brainstorm to bring down Iran and Russia. NATO has been supportive of Ukraine war against Russia since 2022. Iran’s only ally is Russia, and it is expected that Russia is soon to deliver its 4.5-generation Su-35 Flanker fighters Iran to Iran very soon, as per Forbes 2.
Reminder: recent threats and shipping routes
A quick reminder is worth telling! Remember, it was only on June 13 last, when Trump had threatened to use Ahmad Al Shara against Iran backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Macron’s visit has been for the same purpose. Iran has always maintained that Israel attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon should cease and oil ships can pass through Iran’s prescribed routes from Straits of Hormuz, the biggest emerging flashpoint which has affected the oil prices the world over. Russia and Ukraine have intensified their attacks on each other. How will Netanyahu precipitate the world scenario into a likely world war three is what thr world watches.
Note: The writer Mr. Haider Abbas is a former UP State Information Commissioner and writes on international issues.
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