Episode Details

HEADLINES
Iran crackdown tests Western resolve
UAE backs Israel from Red Sea bases
Israel cuts ties with three UN bodies

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is a 1:00 PM update on unfolding events in the Middle East and related regional dynamics, with attention to Israeli and international perspectives.

Protests in Iran and international responses continue to shape the region’s security landscape. Masih Alinejad, the Iranian‑American journalist and women’s rights advocate, described the current moment as a defining test for Western leaders, saying, “This is our Berlin wall.” In a wide-ranging interview, she spoke of a sustained, nightly protest movement across Iran even as authorities press a brutal crackdown. Alinejad also called out Europe for what she described as a cautious, token response to Tehran’s violence, urging ambassadors to be recalled and embassies closed in protest. Her account stressed the personal stakes for families abroad who cannot confirm the safety of loved ones inside Iran, a reality heightened by internet blackouts and the regime’s efforts to choke off communications. The nuclear and ballistic missiles programs are part of the wider threat narrative that she argues must be addressed by international action, while she warned that any renewed negotiations could enable mass arrests and executions of protesters.

Estimates of the toll from Iran’s crackdown vary and reflect the difficulty of independent verification. Iranian authorities have acknowledged fatalities among security personnel and protesters, while opposition groups and some international outlets have cited higher figures, with some reports suggesting tens of thousands could have died in the hardest‑hit periods. One widely cited analysis notes that the death toll among protesters has grown rapidly, with reports from various sources indicating that the violence is concentrated in urban centers and that arrests and disappearances have intensified in parallel with the crackdown. The tallies are uncertain and disputed, but the scale of the crackdown is widely described as unprecedented in the post‑revolution era.

The United States has signaled a willingness to consider strong measures, including targeted actions against Tehran’s leadership and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while also weighing broader options. President Trump has used aggressive language toward Iran in recent days, saying “Help is on the way” to Iranians and calling on the public to protest and “take over your institutions.” He also announced a new tariff policy aimed at states doing business with Iran and indicated that senior administration discussions about possible military options would proceed, even as some officials urged restraint and a renewed diplomatic opening. In parallel, the United States designated three branches of the Muslim Brotherhood—those in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan—as terrorist organizations, arguing that they support or enable violence and instability in the region. The designation is intended to deprive the groups of resources and to restrict travel and financial activity associated with them, in line with a broader US effort to counter what it views as extremist networks linked to Hamas and other groups.

International reactions to Iran’s crackdown have grown more pointed. France, Germany, and Italy summoned their Iranian ambassadors and issued strong statements condemning the violence; French Foreign Minister Jean‑Yves Le Drian described the crackdown as “unbearable and inhumane,” while Germany urged Tehran to end the violence and respect the rights of protesters. Italy’s foreign minister called the crackdown “absolutely unacceptable.” The coordinated action by several European powers underscores a shared concern about the regime’s willingness to use lethal force against demonstrators.