Israel aims to break ‘foundations of Khamenei's rule’ – Reuters

Iran, long seen as a rising regional power, is contending with a new Middle East reality marked by evolving alliances, according to a Time magazine analysis published on Thursday.

The analysis said that while Iran's "Axis of Resistance" and its opposition to Israel have been central to its post-1979 revolutionary ideology, the recent conflict with Israel has shown a different dynamic.

Time suggests Iran's leadership prioritized "the preservation of the system," leading to continued investment in its nuclear program for survival.

The analysis pointed to wealthy Persian Gulf states increasingly aligning with Israel due to a shared animosity towards Tehran, a development exemplified by the Abraham Accords and Saudi Arabia's signals towards normalization.

This shift, Time concludes, outlines a new regional landscape where Arab nations are actively participating in intercepting Iranian missiles targeting Israel.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for moderation in Israel's military campaign against Iran during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday evening, a German government source told Reuters on Thursday.

While voicing Germany's "support in principle" for Israeli military attacks on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, Merz stressed the importance of seeking diplomatic solutions to the ongoing conflict, the source added.

Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, currently outside Tehran, has called for an immediate ceasefire in the war between Iran and Israel, according to an exclusive message to Time magazine published on Thursday.

Mohammadi urged fellow Nobel laureates and human rights organizations to unite in advocating for peace, saying the conflict has already caused "devastating" destruction and forced millions of Iranians from their homes.

"The scale of destruction already resembles that of a months-long conflict," Mohammadi wrote.

"Let us rise together to form a united, global front for the right to peace. The scope of war expands by the day. Its fire will not remain confined to the lands directly involved—it will cross borders and engulf the entire world."

The speaker of Israel's Knesset, Amir Ohana, on Thursday expressed a desire to renew friendship with the Iranian people, stating that Israel's target is "the vicious Ayatollah regime."

Speaking at the site of an Iranian attack, he said, "We had friendship with the Iranian people for many years, and we look forward to renew that friendship. Our target is the vicious Ayatollah regime."

Iran has entered the second day of a near-total nationwide internet shutdown, according to NetBlocks, marking the most severe connectivity disruption since the 2019 protests.