Middle East Crisis Iran War

German Criticism of Trump: “There is No Strategy”

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is criticizing Donald Trump for the war in Iran. At a meeting in Australia, he expressed concern that the United States does not seem to have a strategy in Iran.

– What worries me most about the war is that there was no consultation, that there is no clear strategy or clear goal, he says according to ABC Australia.

He is also upset that the American president has called NATO “cowards” for not helping the United States in the Strait of Hormuz. Pistorius recalls that Trump’s administration has previously urged European countries to focus more on Europe.

– Now it sounds different.

New Iranian attacks on Israel – several injured

Iran has escalated its attacks on Israel and neighboring countries on Thursday morning. Israeli media reports seven attacks on Thursday morning and air raid sirens have sounded across large parts of Israel. Several people have been injured, including in Kafr Qasim near Tel Aviv when parts of a cluster bomb hit, writes TT.

Bahrain and Kuwait have also reported Iranian attacks. Two people have been killed and several have been injured after an Iranian missile hit Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

The attacks come after a night of Israeli strikes on Iran. According to the Israeli military, a top commander in the Revolutionary Guard was killed, and the US says over 10,000 targets have been hit during the war, writes TT.

Iranian military chief reported dead – responsible for Hormuz

Iranian commander Alireza Tangsiri has been killed, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz says, reports the New York Times.

Tangsiri was the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' navy and was reportedly killed in a "precise and lethal operation," according to the statement. Several other senior officers were also reported to have been killed.

Alireza Tangsiri is identified as the person directly responsible for mining and blocking the Strait of Hormuz, according to Katz.

Iran rejects proposals – demands control over the Strait

Iran rejects US conditions and proposals for a ceasefire. Instead, the country lists its own demands, several media outlets report.

Among them are “guaranteed and clearly defined payment of war reparations and compensation” and “international recognition and guarantees regarding Iran’s sovereign right to exercise control over the Strait of Hormuz”.

Iran also demands “concrete mechanisms” that prevent a new war.

Oil prices are strengthening slightly in connection with the news.