Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC 20240703

Welcome tojerusalem. Its time to step back from the brink. Thats the warning from the un Secretary General Antonio Guterres, after irans attack on israel late on saturday. He was speaking at an Emergency Meeting of the un where representatives from the uk and us condemned the attacks by iran, but made it clear that they didnt want to see any further escalation. The worlds top political table is one of the few places where iran sets at the same table and it has been said iran crossed the first red line with its attack on israeli territory. The top diplomats of iran said the country had a legitimate right to self defence after the attack on its diplomatic property in damascus on the 1st of april which killed some of its top Revolutionary Guard members working in the region. Members of the Security Council including the us and uk condemned the attack from iran but there was a call for restraint and an origin of this not to retaliate. Here in israel this morning life is returning to its usual rhythms, the Emergency Measures put in place on saturday, hours before the strike from iran happened have now been removed. Schools are closed because the Passover Holiday is approaching but israelis are now allowed to engage in any educational activities connected to the school year and gatherings of more than 1000 people are now allowed but restrictions are in place in the north and the south because of the war in gaza, they have not been lifted. In israel, the Security Cabinet has been looking at a range of options, far right members of the cabinet at Benjamin Netanyahu who said in their words, israel should go crazy in its response to the iranian attack and others including benny gantz, a member of the workup and says israel will respond but at a time under the manner of its own choosing. Lets look at the latest developments over the 12 hours. Israels air defences call to action. In the early hours on sunday, fighterjets battled waves of iranian drones and missiles fired at israeli targets. It marked the first time iran has attacked israel directly from its own soil. Explosions could be heard widely, Including Injerusalem and tel aviv. Israel says that 99 of more than 300 drones and missiles launched by iran were intercepted. Some of those that got through hit here in the sensitive Nevatim Air Force base in southern israel. Nearby, seven year old Amina Hassouna was seriously injured when a Missile Fragment struck her house. Translation the children were frightened and wanted to run away from home. And thats when the missile hit our house. The israeli war cabinet met yesterday to plan its next move. One of its members, benny gantz, said israel would exact a price from iran when the time is right. And last night, the un Security Council met in an Emergency Meeting following the attacks. Israel called for sanctions on iran and reiterated its right to a response. This attack crossed every red line and israel reserves the legal right to retaliate. We are not a frog in boiling water, we are a nation of lions. Following such a massive and direct attack on israel, the entire world, let alone israel, cannot settle for inaction. We will defend our future. Irans ambassador to the un told the meeting that its actions, which were in retaliation for a deadly air strike on its consulate in syria, werejustified. These countries, especially the United States, have shielded israel from any responsibility for the gaza massacre, while they have denied iran inherent right to self defence against the Israeli Armed attack on our diplomatic premises. Amid rising tensions, the attacks have received Widespread International condemnation. The scale and nature of irans heinous assault, the first direct attack from iran on israeli soil, poses grave risks to the security and stability of citizens across the middle east. Now World Leaders are pressing for De Escalation in a bid for calm in the region. We have a shared responsibility to work for peace. Regional and indeed global peace and security are being undermined. All eyes are on israel and how it responds. Yolande knell, bbc news. Israel and its staunchest allies say the iranian attack failed but in teheran, its been said it was a success and achieved its objectives and it said the matter was closed but if israel retaliated it would respond with even greater force. What was trying to achieve . Lets speak to iran analyst esfandyar batmanghelidj, ceo of the bourse bazaar foundation, a think tank focused on Economic Development in the middle east. Welcome to bbc news. Forth is iran trying to achieve and did it do it . Its good to be with you. I think iran was going for a calibrated retaliation to the attack on the consulate in damascus from israel and that response was telegraphed over a period of two weeks giving time for israel and its partners to prepare but it also meant engaging in Back Channel Negotiations in the lead up to the attack making clear although iran was intending to show force in response to israel, it was not intending to trigger a wider regional war. Not intending to trigger a wider regionalwar. From not intending to trigger a wider regional war. From the iranian perspective, they think they have succeeded. The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary guard has declared that the attack has led to a new equation, demonstrating to israel that if iranian personnel or facilities are attacked, they can now expect a direct response from iranian territory rather than a response from the Axis Of Resistance but will that equation mean that deterrence has been re established . I think its unlikely given the fact that israel has thwarted the iranian attack and given that it is keen to continue its campaign against iranian aggression but we are waiting to see exactly how the chips will fall. ,. , waiting to see exactly how the chips will fall. ,. , will fall. There is danger in these differina will fall. There is danger in these differing perceptions, will fall. There is danger in these differing perceptions, isnt will fall. There is danger in these | differing perceptions, isnt there . What iran sees as a carefully telegraphed and calibrated strike, here in israel, they are saying there was more than 100 Ballistic Missiles fired at israel, they were just lucky that none of the missiles got through so they see it in a completely different way and hence their reaction to the attack from iran . � ,. ,. , their reaction to the attack from iran . � , iran . And understandably so. The spectacular iran . And understandably so. The spectacular nature iran . And understandably so. The spectacular nature of iran . And understandably so. The spectacular nature of the iran . And understandably so. The spectacular nature of the attack. Spectacular nature of the attack from iran, the idea that iran decided despite the expectation is that they would go for a measured response, using drones and Ballistic Missiles, creating really frightening images. I mean, the image of iranian Ballistic Missiles streaming across the sky above the Dome Of The Rock is the kind of thing that was once reserved for Propaganda Posters and now it has become something that is real and understandably civilians in israel have every right to be concerned about their security. 0n the other hand, its very clear the israeli air Defence Systems performed well and it seems that iran had taken certain steps to almost allow the interception of a lot of those drones and given how they were targeted at the time provided beforehand, that being said, the political pressure for leadership in israel to respond forcefully will be there. It will be difficult for them to consider the defence of israel as a win, a victory, the way that Foreign Secretary David Cameron or President Biden have suggested, that is really resources should approach this. But what is the role of the International Community and will they give israel the political space or the military support to take the fight to iran and for now it seems unlikely that will be the case. Always good to hear from you, thank you so much Forjoining Us with your analysis at this time. Israel is claiming a Success Notjust in the fact that 99 of the missiles and drones were brought down but that there was a coalition of allies which helped israel in this effort. Showing that israel did have support. They included britain and yesterday the uk Prime Minister rishi sunak condemned the iranian attack is reckless and pointed out that british fighter jets attack is reckless and pointed out that british fighterjets were also involved in bringing down some of the missiles. This morning, the Foreign Secretary lord cameron was speaking about the urgent need now to avoid another escalation. Its important to be respectful on these occasions. A country has had a Massive Attack from a dangerous or malign actor in the region. They will be considering, they are considering, the Israeli Cabinet has been meeting already to consider that. Our advice is dont retaliate. You know, take the win, recognise that iran has suffered a double defeat. Defeat as almost all their weapons were shot down and defeat because the world can now see their true nature. The right thing to do is to pivot now and look at hamas and say they must release the hostages. So we would not be supporting retaliatory action but were respectful of other countries. Lord cameron mentioning that the israeli war cabinet met for three hours last night, no decision was taken but they will meet at 11 oclock gmt, that is some hours away here in israel, but its interesting they met, it underlines there are still discussions and as we have underlined, they are meeting at a time when their key allies, the allies they would look to for support if they carried out retaliatory action, do not want to be involved yet. Joining me live from Downing Street is our chief Political Correspondent henry zeffman. The comments from lord cameron underlined the fact when it comes to worse like this, britain wants to be seenin worse like this, britain wants to be seen in all cases a Standing Shoulder to shoulder with its most important ally . Shoulder to shoulder with its most important ally . Thats right, we got more detail important ally . Thats right, we got more detail from important ally . Thats right, we got more detail from lord important ally . Thats right, we got more detail from lord cameron important ally . Thats right, we got more detail from lord cameron this more detailfrom lord cameron this morning than we got from rishi sunak over the weekend about the action that the raf participated in on saturday night and sunday morning. He described it as an assistance that the uk took part in following a us request but he was also arguing in his word is that it was very much in his word is that it was very much in the National Interest and the argument he was making was that if the iranian attack had been successful and if it had been able to achieve civilian casualties in israel, then that would have made much more severe israeli response inevitable and provoked a real bout of regional instability and that is what the uk government, both rishi sunak and lord cameron had been stressing they want to avoid that is why the fear of regional instability, they say that is why they supported the Israeli Defence but also why they are urging israel not to retaliate against iran extensively. Not to retaliate against iran extensivel. ,. ,. ,~ extensively. That decision was taken without consulting extensively. That decision was taken without consulting parliament, extensively. That decision was taken without consulting parliament, do i without consulting parliament, do you think this will be an issue or do you think there will be broad support across the political spectrum for the decision from britain to take part in a limited way as lord cameron underlined, in intercepting the drones and missiles. ,. , missiles. There is very much broad su ort missiles. There is very much broad sopport as missiles. There is very much broad sopport as it missiles. There is very much broad support as it stands missiles. There is very much broad support as it stands across missiles. There is very much broad support as it stands across the support as it stands across the political parties. Rishi sunak will make a statement to the House Of Commons this afternoon, explaining why the uk took the action it did and talking about how he sees the situation going forwards but i dont expect that he will give parliament some sort of Retrospective Vote on the actions it took. The liberal democrats, the sort of third party across the uk are calling for such a bill but also they are saying if there were a boat they would vote in support of what the government did. The Main Opposition Labour Party who most people expect to be in government at the end of the year are very supportive of the measures the government took and are calling forfurther the government took and are calling for further sanctions the government took and are calling forfurther sanctions on the government took and are calling for further sanctions on iran to the government took and are calling forfurther sanctions on iran to be brought forward as soon as possible and calling for the prescription here in the uk of the Iranian Revolutionary guard. Here in the uk of the Iranian Revolutionary guard. Henry, thank ou for Revolutionary Guard. Henry, thank you forjoining Revolutionary Guard. Henry, thank you Forjoining Us. Revolutionary guard. Henry, thank you Forjoining Us. Interesting you Forjoining Us. Interesting contrast to the very sharp divisions across the house when it came to the war in gaza and the way israel was fighting the war, now they are standing as one and no doubt as the day goes on henry, we will speak to you again. We are getting more comments from leading diplomats around the world, underlining the concern about how the region stands at the brink. The German Foreign minister said the Iranian Regime brought the region to the brink of the abyss with its latest attack on israel. The German Foreign minister who has taught several times to the Foreign Minister in iran in the run up to the attack which was in the early hours of sunday here in israel, they have spoken and underlined that in addition to the real kinetic activity on the ground, there is a need to end the war of words and also behind the scenes, there is urgent messaging as iran discusses with both western top diplomats but also arab allies and players across the region as everyone tries to calm the tension but theres no denying there is still great danger in this moment and its clear that israel has not yet taken retaliation of the table although there is nonsense about when and how that would happen. We will keep an eye on all the meeting set to take place today but now we can head over and join my colleague Lauren Taylor in london. Thank you. Donald trump will become the first former us president to face a criminal trial today. Hes been charged with 3a counts of fraud, relating to hush money allegedly paid to a former porn star, Stormy Daniels, before the 2016 election. Hes pleaded not guilty. Our new york correspondent nada tawfik reports. When donald trump headed to court last year to become the first former president to be criminally charged, it set the United States on an unprecedented course. Now, right in the thick of the president ial election campaign, the republican presumptive nominee is beginning his trial in the most salacious of the four cases against him. Though it is perhaps the least perilous, legally, given jail time is seen as unlikely. Donald trump has repeatedly painted the case as an attempt to interfere in the election. This is a witch hunt, its a hoax, thank you. The sa Felony Counts against him stemmed from hush money paid to the former porn star Stormy Daniels by trumps former fixer, Michael Cohen. Donald trump has denied the extramarital affair and any wrongdoing. However, he has acknowledged Reimbursing Cohen after initially denying any knowledge of the payments while president. Did you know about 130,000 payments to Stormy Daniels . | but manhattans District Attorney alleges trump directed those payments as part of a scheme to help his 2016 campaign for the presidency and then falsified Business Records when he disguised the payments as legal fees. Less than two weeks before the president ial election, Michael Cohen wired 130,000 to Stormy Daniels� lawyer. That payment was to hide damaging information from the voting public. The Participant Scheme was illegal. Political and legal experts disagree over the significance of the case. I think this case isjust so unique compared to the others. The others are really focused on actions that he truly undertook to undermine our democracy, right. And so this case is about, its about paying off a mistress. Its a serious case. This is notjust about a porn star, which some people are trying to portray it as. This is about an effort to defraud the American Voters in 2016 to keep them from learning Material Information that would have affected their vote. The trial begins with Jury Selection and is expected to last more than six weeks, making it all but certain that voters will know whether or not donald trump will be a convicted felon before they go to the polls in november. Nada tawfik, bbc news, in new york. Around the world and across the uk. This is bbc news. Monday marks one year since the eruption of the civil war in sudan. Fighting between the Sudanese Armed forces and the Rapid Support forces has claimed thousands of lives, displaced more than 8 million, and triggered the world s largest hunger crisis, according to the un. And a year in, theres seeemingly no end in sight. 0ur Africa Correspondent Barbara Plett usher joins me from nairobi. Give us an idea of the scale of the impact of the fighting thats been going on for more than a year. Saddam was already fragile before the world with people needing humanitarian assistance in parts because a previous conflict but things have worsened exponentially over the past few years, collapse of state Services Including health care and water and sanitation especially in conflict zones, the economy taking a hard hit, the fighting affected production and supply lines and farming which means sudan cannot produce its own food anymore and all those people displaced, around 2 million outside the country and 6 million outside the country and 6 million inside the country and they cannot get ate, they are dependent on humanitarian aid which is not able to get through because the access is difficult. The army has blocked access across conflict lines and it does not want to allow the Paramilitary Group the Rapid Response forces to get weapons but it has also affected humanitarian assistance and there is not that much assistance to begin with with the un asking for 3 billion in donorfunds and it the un asking for 3 billion in donor funds and it has 6 of that. There is a Conference Today in paris to try and move sudan towards the top of the agenda especially in humanitarian terms to get more money. Humanitarian terms to get more mone. � ,. , humanitarian terms to get more mone. ~ ,. , humanitarian terms to get more mone. A. ,. , money. Aside from the efforts to get more money money. Aside from the efforts to get more money for money. Aside from the efforts to get more money for aid, money. Aside from the efforts to get more money for aid, what money. Aside from the efforts to get more money for aid, what is more money for aid, what is happening on the diplomatic front to try and end the conflict . The happening on the diplomatic front to try and end the conflict . Try and end the conflict . The us has recently renewed try and end the conflict . The us has recently renewed efforts try and end the conflict . The us has recently renewed efforts to try and end the conflict . The us has recently renewed efforts to try try and end the conflict . The us has recently renewed efforts to try and i recently renewed efforts to try and organise ceasefire talks, previous talks have failed. The new us envoy for sudan had hoped to get some sort of negotiations going this week but that has not happened so its extremely difficult to get there, the Rapid Support forces had previously said they were open to negotiations and the army had said says it sees the Rapid Support forces as the aggressor and wants to pull out of the areas it occupied before the talks begin but you also have a real problem in terms of the nature of the conflict, especially International Actors and regional actors who are supporting different sites. Each of traditionally supporting the army, reports that iran has recently started arming the army with drones and on the other side the uae is a supporter of the Rapid Support forces and with these kinds and others as well, the dynamics are quite complicated. Us officials hoping that conditions had changed enough to get more interest especially originally for an end to the war not least because of the looming famine but because there is a threat the state will collapse and that the islamist hardliners Extremist Groups can take advantage of the power vacuum so thats what they have been talking about but they have been talking about but they havent been successful at this point in organising new talks. Thank ou. Here in the uk, parliament will resume voting today on the governments plan to send some Asylum Seekers to rwanda. Its expected the bill could be given final approval by the end of the week, following intense debate and attempts by the House Of Lords to make amendments. Ministers hope the first Asylum Seekers can be sent to the east african country within weeks. Police in australia have said its obvious that a man who fatally stabbed six people at a Shopping Centre in sydney was targeting women. Five of the six victims were female. Another 12 people, including a baby, were injured. These are live pictures from sydney of the opera house there has been eliminated with a black ribbon to remember the victims of the stabbing. Some larger news now. A lock in the highlands has welcomed its first osprey egg of the season, the Woodland Trust says a visiting 0sprey began tripping yesterday morning and treated live stream viewers to a glimpse of the egg just before 11 15am dont forget you can keep up to date with news on the website but do stay with us for plenty more news to come. Goodbye for now. Hello. Some turbulent weather ahead for the next day or so, low Pressure Driving from the atlantic giving heavy, thundery and in ten showers, Standing Water in tricky conditions on the road, especially adding in the strength of the wind. Tightly packed isobars, strong to Gale Force Winds buffeting the uk during much of monday and tuesday and coming from the north west, heading towards tuesday coming from the north so feeling colder, temperatures below average. We have heavy and showery rain pushing south, lots of heavy showers following behind and cooler air so snow over the mountains. Taking longer to get to the south and east but temperature holding up above freezing because of the strength of the wind which takes us through the day to day. This line of intense rain giving tricky Travel Conditions and winds reaching gale force in the west and south and lots of showers with hail and thunder and snow over the hills and mountains across Northern Ireland, scotland, possibly the pennines, temperatures 912. Possibly the pennines, temperatures 9 12. Feeling colder when you add in the wind chill so squally winds near the showers which continue into the night and tuesday. At that stage low pressure moving into the north sea, the winds from the north again, enough of it to prevent a frost, but the colour nor the wind continuing to feed showers into especially central and eastern areas, fewer and further west but because of the north westerly, some coming into the West Of Scotland and Northern Ireland but fewer showers in the west compared with monday but a brace wind in the north sea coasts, winds gusting at 40 50 miles an hour, feeling colder in east anglia, despite 12 14 inland. More sunshine around, feeling more like mid april but we had to get to the end of the week to see High Pressure building because on wednesday, low pressure is in charge in the east. These Weather Fronts in the west giving patchy rain or drizzle so things settling down and temperatures picking up as we head towards friday. This is bbc news, the headlines as Israel Considers its response to irans attacks, the un Secretary General Antonio Guterres says its time to � step back from the brink� , to avert a devastating full scale conflict across the region. The uk� s Foreign Secretary, lord cameron, is urging israel not to escalate the situation further. He says iran suffered a � double defeat� after its attack failed. And the first ever criminal trial of a former us president will begin in new york on monday, whenjurors are selected for donald trump� s hush money case. Let� s return to our top story. There� s a warning from the un Secretary General Antonio Guterres that it� s time to step back from the brink. After iran� s attack on israel late on saturday. He was speaking at an Emergency Meeting of the un where representatives from the uk and us condemned the attacks by iran, but made it clear that they didn� t want to see any further escalation. Britain� s Foreign Secretary, lord cameron, said israel should recognise iran� s attack has been a failure and not respond. We have heard from the german chancellor who has warned of israel and another