International
Iran warns US against attack, threatens with nuclear weapon
Iran warns US against attack, threatens with nuclear weapon
Iran would have no alternative but to acquire a nuclear weapon if attacked by the United States or its allies, an adviser to the country’s supreme leader warned on Monday, following a threat by Donald Trump.
The comments came hours after the supreme leader himself, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had promised to hit back if the US president made good on his threat to bomb the Islamic republic if it did not agree to a deal to curb its nuclear programme.
“We are not moving towards (nuclear) weapons, but if you do something wrong in the Iranian nuclear issue, you will force Iran to move towards that because it has to defend itself,” Khamenei’s adviser Ali Larijani said in an interview with state TV.
“Iran does not want to do this, but… (it) will have no choice,” he added.
“If at some point you (the US) move towards bombing by yourself or through Israel, you will force Iran to make a different decision.”
In an interview on Saturday, Trump had said “there will be bombing” if Iran did not agree to a new nuclear deal, according to NBC News, which said he also threatened to punish Tehran with what he called “secondary tariffs”.
Trump’s language represented a sharpening of his rhetoric, though it was not clear whether he was threatening bombing by US planes alone or perhaps in an operation coordinated with another country, possibly Iran’s nemesis Israel.
“They threaten to do mischief,” Khamenei said of the remarks during a speech on Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
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“If it is carried out, they will definitely receive a strong counterattack.”
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, in a post on X, said the threat was “a shocking affront to the very essence of international peace and security”.
Baqaei warned of unspecified “consequences” should the United States choose a path of “violence”.
Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapon, which Tehran has denied, insisting its enrichment activities were solely for peaceful purposes.
The 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers required Iran to limit its nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief.
– ‘Indirect’ channel –
On March 7, Trump said he had written to Khamenei to call for nuclear negotiations and warn of possible military action if Tehran refused.
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The letter was delivered to Tehran on March 12 by UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash, Iranian news agency Fars reported at the time.
On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country had delivered a response via intermediary Oman, without detailing its content.
Araghchi said Iran would not engage in direct talks “under maximum pressure and the threat of military action”.
In his remarks, however, the minister left open the door for “indirect negotiations”.
According to NBC, Trump also said US and Iranian officials were “talking,” but he did not give details.
President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday said Khamenei, who as supreme leader has the final say in major state policies, had permitted indirect talks.
Oman has served as an intermediary in the past, in the absence of US-Iranian diplomatic relations severed after the 1979 Islamic revolution.
On Monday, Araghchi said the United States had received Iran’s letter.
“We have been informed by our friends in Oman that the letter has reached its destination and has been read.”
Beyond its nuclear programme, the West also accuses Iran of using proxy forces to expand its influence in the region, a charge Tehran rejects.
“There is only one proxy force in this region, and that is the corrupt usurper Zionist regime,” Khamenei said, calling for Israel to be “eradicated”.
Iran warns US against attack, threatens with nuclear weapon
International
US Government Accused of Cover-Up in Trump Epstein Sexual Abuse Files
US Government Accused of Cover-Up in Trump Epstein Sexual Abuse Files
Democratic lawmakers have accused the United States government of orchestrating the “largest government cover-up in modern history” over allegations that crucial documents relating to Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were withheld from the public. The controversy centers on missing FBI interview summaries tied to a 2019 sexual abuse complaint against the former U.S. president.
The House Oversight Committee, led by Representative Robert Garcia, claims that the Department of Justice (DOJ) failed to release more than 50 pages of interview notes with a woman who alleges she was sexually abused by Trump in the mid-1980s, when she was 13 to 15 years old. While the DOJ released millions of pages under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, investigators and media outlets, including NPR, found that only one summary focusing on Epstein’s actions appears publicly, leaving key follow-up materials missing.
“This is the largest government cover-up in modern history. We are demanding answers,” said Democrats on the Oversight Committee in a statement. Garcia confirmed that his team reviewed unredacted DOJ logs and concluded that FBI interviews with the survivor were not properly disclosed. He announced a parallel congressional investigation to ensure all records are produced.
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The DOJ has denied any wrongdoing, explaining that some materials may fall under exempt categories, such as duplicates, privileged records, or documents linked to ongoing investigations. Officials added that any documents improperly tagged or temporarily removed for privacy reasons will be restored. The department stated it is reviewing flagged files to ensure compliance with the law.
The woman at the center of the allegations first contacted authorities in July 2019, shortly after Epstein’s arrest on sex trafficking charges. Internal DOJ references describe her claim that Epstein introduced her to Trump, who then allegedly assaulted her. However, the public FBI summary does not evaluate the credibility of these allegations, and follow-up interview notes remain unavailable.
Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the release of the Epstein Files exonerates him. White House statements dismissed cover-up claims as politically motivated, asserting that no law enforcement agency has accused Trump of criminal conduct related to Epstein.
Legal experts and transparency advocates warn that withholding such key materials undermines public trust in U.S. institutions, particularly in high-profile cases involving political figures. The unfolding investigation is expected to intensify scrutiny on the DOJ’s handling of sensitive documents and the broader accountability of government agencies in politically charged cases.
US Government Accused of Cover-Up in Trump Epstein Sexual Abuse Files
International
Nigeria Joins 106 Nations in UN Vote Calling for Ceasefire, Peace in Ukraine
Nigeria Joins 106 Nations in UN Vote Calling for Ceasefire, Peace in Ukraine
On the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Nigeria joined 106 other UN member states in voting for a resolution calling for peace, sovereignty, and humanitarian protection for Ukraine. The vote took place during an emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.
The resolution, titled “Support for Lasting Peace in Ukraine”, was adopted with 107 votes in favour, 12 against, and 51 abstentions, including the United States. It calls for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace, an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, the exchange of prisoners of war, and the return of civilians forcibly transferred, including children. The General Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity within internationally recognised borders.
UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock described the war as shattering the peaceful aspirations of Europe and stressed that “war must never be the new normal.” She highlighted that generations in Europe have long lived in peace, but Russia’s invasion disrupted this reality.
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UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the conflict a “stain on our collective conscience” and a continuing threat to regional and international security. He warned that prolonged warfare increases civilian casualties, with 2025 witnessing the highest number of civilian deaths in Ukraine since the invasion began. Guterres urged the international community to “use every diplomatic tool” to secure a full and unconditional ceasefire as a first step toward lasting peace.
During the session, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa condemned the invasion as a “war against the rules-based international order,” citing attacks on civilians, nuclear threats, and the forced deportation of children as potential war crimes. She reiterated that Ukraine rejects territorial concessions, insists on sovereignty as a red line, and called for stronger sanctions, air defense, binding security guarantees, and accountability for war crimes.
Conversely, the Russian Federation’s delegate rejected the resolution’s narrative, accusing European states of escalating the war while ignoring negotiations. Moscow reaffirmed its preference for diplomacy and stated that any settlement must address “root causes” and reflect “new territorial realities.”
The resolution demonstrates the broad international support for Ukraine, highlights Nigeria’s commitment to multilateral diplomacy, and emphasizes the urgent need for peaceful conflict resolution and adherence to international law as Russia’s invasion enters its fifth year.
Nigeria Joins 106 Nations in UN Vote Calling for Ceasefire, Peace in Ukraine
International
Israeli Settlers Torch, Deface West Bank Mosque During Ramadan
Israeli Settlers Torch, Deface West Bank Mosque During Ramadan
TELL, West Bank — Israeli settlers have vandalized and set fire to the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, authorities confirmed, marking the latest in a series of attacks on Palestinian religious sites amid a surge in settler violence. The attack occurred early Monday during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Worshippers arriving for morning prayers discovered the mosque’s entrance smoldering, with black smoke staining the doorway and broken glass scattered across the area. According to the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Religious Affairs, settlers spray-painted offensive graffiti, including derogatory references to Islam and slogans linked to extremist “price tag” operations.
Local resident Munir Ramdan described the scene: “I was shocked when I opened the door. The fire had been burning here, the glass was broken, and the door was damaged.” Security footage reportedly shows two individuals carrying gasoline and spray paint approaching the mosque before fleeing the scene.
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The incident is part of a broader pattern of attacks on mosques in the West Bank, with the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs reporting that 45 mosques were vandalized or attacked last year. Residents said the assault was a deliberate provocation during Ramadan, targeting both the religious sanctity of the mosque and the spiritual practice of fasting.
The Israeli military and police responded to reports of the incident and are actively searching for suspects. While the military condemned harm to religious institutions, Palestinian officials and rights groups say Israeli authorities often fail to hold settlers accountable for violence.
The attack comes amid a recent rise in settler violence, including last week’s killing of a 19-year-old Palestinian-American, Nasrallah Abu Siyam, highlighting ongoing tensions between settlers and Palestinian communities in the occupied territories.
Israeli Settlers Torch, Deface West Bank Mosque During Ramadan
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