EU divided on Iran war: Energy fears and security risks escalate across Europe

EU divided on Iran war: Energy fears and security risks escalate across Europe

RT

The EU is facing a dilemma that could define its role in the escalating confrontation with Iran. Supporting Washington’s military campaign may strengthen transatlantic unity, but it also risks dragging the continent into a conflict that could trigger severe economic and energy consequences for the bloc.

Tehran has made this risk explicit. Majid Takht-Ravanchi, political deputy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, recently stated that Europe could become a legitimate military target if it aids the US and Israel in their aggression against the Islamic Republic. In an interview with France 24, he emphasized that any logistical or military support European nations provide to American operations would lead Tehran to view them as participants in the conflict, with all the associated consequences.

Essentially, Tehran is signaling to European countries that if they choose to side with Washington and West Jerusalem, they should not expect any special diplomatic treatment. Iran has made it clear: those who assist an aggressor become part of the aggression.

This reaction from Tehran came on the heels of remarks made by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Just days after the start of the US military operation against Iran, Rutte declared that Europe fully supports US actions and labeled Iran a threat to Europe, Israel, and neighboring regions. However, he added that NATO has no plans to engage in military operations against Iran. This underscores a delicate nuance: Rutte essentially spoke on behalf of all of Europe and NATO, despite significant internal disagreements within the bloc.

For example, Norway, while a NATO member, has distanced itself from Washington’s policies. Oslo openly stated its disapproval of US President Donald Trump’s decision to attack Iran, characterizing the strikes on the country as violations of international law. Such rhetoric is quite severe for an ally within NATO.

Similar sentiments have emerged from Spain. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares asserted that Spanish military bases are not being used for US and Israeli operations against Iran, signaling Madrid’s desire to avoid being drawn into the conflict. Washington’s response was swift and sharp. Donald Trump said that if the US could not use Spanish bases for operations against Iran, it might reconsider trade agreements with Spain and impose sanctions.

The situation escalated further when White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that Spain had agreed to assist the US. The Spanish government quickly countered this claim, clarifying that no such agreement had been reached. Consequently, Madrid publicly accused the American administration of dishonesty, which undoubtedly dealt another blow to Washington’s reputation in Europe.

The positions of France and the UK remain notably ambiguous. On the one hand, these countries have a long-standing tradition of demonstrating solidarity with the United States. On the other hand, both clearly recognize that the conflict surrounding Iran could lead to serious political and economic repercussions for Europe. As a result, their rhetoric remains cautious and ambiguous. 

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Iran-linked cyberattack on US is 'first drop of blood' as experts reveal alarming new threat to homeland

Iran-linked cyberattack on US is 'first drop of blood' as experts reveal alarming new threat to homeland

STACY LIBERATORE

Security experts have issued a stark warning after an Iran-linked attack on a major US company this week, cautioning it may only be the beginning.

The alert follows a cyberattack on Michigan-based medical technology giant Stryker that knocked thousands of employees offline and disrupted internal systems across the company's global network.

The Iran-linked hacker group Handala later claimed responsibility, describing the operation as retaliation for what it claimed was a US strike on a school in Minab.

Lee Sult, chief investigator at cybersecurity firm Binalyze, said the incident could mark the start of a broader campaign targeting Western organizations.

'The Stryker attack looks to be the first drop of blood in the water as a result of nation-state and hacktivist activity off the back of the Iran conflict,' he said.

'This attack confirms Western organizations are not only in the adversary's crosshairs, but the adversary can also make the shot. More shots are coming.'

Frank A Rose, former US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control and a policy adviser at the Defense Department, told the Daily Mail the incidents may signal a dangerous shift toward targeting American infrastructure.

Rose warned that data centers, banking systems, energy facilities, and privately owned infrastructure could be next on the Iranian hackers' list.

'When the Iranians know very well they cannot take us on head-to-head in America militarily, they're going to look for asymmetric ways to respond,' Rose said. 

'Attacking American infrastructure might be one of those asymmetric vulnerabilities.' 

He added that most of the US is commercially owned or privately held, and these groups do not think about security the way national security organizations do.

'You would hope companies in the private sector understand the evolving threat and start hardening key systems like data centers, banking networks and their cyber infrastructure, said Rose. 

'But that costs money. When I worked on cyber issues in government, we often didn't make the investments we needed to because there were always other budget priorities. 

'Since 9/11, we've improved security around critical infrastructure, but it's still not 100 percent.' 

Sult said that the Wednesday cyberattack on Stryker 'be the first in a wave of attacks.'

The Handala group stated Telegram, saying it wiped more than 200,000 systems and extracted 50 terabytes of data in retaliation for military strikes on Iran.

Handala emerged around 2022 and has claimed responsibility for several cyberattacks against Israeli and Western targets

The group claimed it shut down Stryker offices in 79 countries and that all extracted data is 'now in the hands of the free people of the world.' Stryker is active in over 100 countries around the world.

'Our major cyber operation has been executed with complete success,' Handala says in a statement, describing the attack as retaliation for what it calls 'the brutal attack on the Minab school' and for 'ongoing cyber assaults against the infrastructure of the Axis of Resistance.'

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Israel’s Laser Weapon Redefines Air Defense Economics

Beaming Defense: Israel’s Laser Weapon Redefines Air Defense Economics

 PNW STAFF

In a conflict increasingly defined by missile salvos, drone swarms, and relentless asymmetric aerial assaults, Israel has quietly fielded a weapon long believed the stuff of science fiction: a high‑energy laser air defense system that is now operational in the field. 

Known as Israel's "Iron Beam," this directed‑energy weapon has already seen combat use -- successfully engaging and shooting down drones and short‑range aerial threats -- and represents a strategic shift in how modern warfare is waged and financed.

Unlike traditional missile interceptors -- such as the Iron Dome's Tamir missiles or medium‑range Stunner and Arrow interceptors -- which are costly to produce and fire, the Iron Beam operates by focusing a concentrated laser beam on an incoming target, heating it until structural failure occurs. Though limitations remain, particularly in adverse weather conditions and against long‑range ballistic missiles, its performance to date is already reshaping the calculus of air defense economics.

For decades, Israel's layered air defense network -- Iron Dome, David's Sling, and the Arrow systems -- has been a cornerstone of national security. They have proven effective in stopping rockets, missiles, and drones launched by hostile actors such as Hezbollah and Iranian proxies, but at a staggering cost. 

Analysis of past conflicts shows that Israel's interception efforts against Iranian drones and missiles can easily run into hundreds of millions of dollars in a single barrage, just in interceptor costs and supporting air operations.

To put this in perspective:

A Tamir interceptor missile fired by Iron Dome can cost on the order of tens of thousands of dollars per shot.

Medium‑range interceptors like Stunner missiles may cost around $700,000 or more each.

Arrow interceptors, designed to counter long‑range ballistic threats, can exceed tens of millions per shot.

In contrast, laser systems like Iron Beam are reported to cost only a few dollars per interception, essentially the cost of the electricity needed to fire the beam -- a fraction of a percent of what missiles cost. Even accounting for operational overhead, this disparity is dramatic: potentially a thousand‑to‑one cost advantage in favor of directed‑energy defenses.

This matters because attackers often have the economic advantage. Iran and its allied militias can deploy cheap drones and rockets that cost thousands of dollars or less, forcing Israel to respond with interceptors that cost tens -- or hundreds -- of thousands of dollars each. The result is a negative cost exchange: every $10,000 projectile from the adversary could cost Israel $100,000 or more to neutralize. The Iron Beam flips that math.

Real‑World Performance and Limitations

Over the past week, as war escalates along Israel's northern border with Hezbollah and against Iranian‑aligned forces, multiple reports confirm that Israel has actively used laser systems to counter incoming drones and rockets. Although not all details are publicly released due to operational security, Israeli defense sources have stated that the system has successfully downed scores of small aerial threats.

Yet, the technology is not omnipotent. Recent news analysis acknowledges that lasers are still limited by environmental conditions -- rain, dust, or smoke can degrade effectiveness -- and that they remain primarily a short‑range solution compared with conventional missile systems. Some analysts note that Hezbollah drone swarms have penetrated laser defense coverage, exposing the need for continued refinement and broader deployment.

For now, Iron Beam complements -- rather than replaces -- existing defenses. It is particularly well‑suited to engage drones, low‑flyers, and short‑range projectiles that would otherwise eat into Israel's supply of expensive interceptors.

Strategic and Economic Implications

The arrival of operational laser defenses comes at a pivotal moment, as the broader Middle East conflict sees escalating exchanges with Iran's missile and drone arsenal. Economists and defense strategists alike recognize that cheap, scalable directed‑energy systems could become a global standard for countering aerial threats. Nations from Europe to the United States are watching closely, with several allied militaries expressing interest in similar technology.

A Beam of Strategic Hope

The operational deployment of Israel's laser defense system -- now proven in live combat -- marks one of the most consequential developments in air defense in decades. Economically unbalancing the attacker‑defender dynamic, it offers a glimpse of a future where wars are won not just by firepower, but by smarter, cheaper, and faster shields of light.

Israel's foes now face a stark reality: the era of costly missile defenses dominating the battlefield economy may be ending -- replaced by beams of light that promise security and sustainability for years to come.

Empire of the Son: Ayatollah's Billions Explain Why Iran's Regime Unlikely to Go Willingly

Empire of the Son: Ayatollah's Billions Explain Why Iran's Regime Unlikely to Go Willingly

Paul Petitte

Before a missile strike killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he oversaw oppression and funded terror groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah. Investigations reveal that he also controlled a financial empire, which is now headed by his son, Mojtaba, Iran's new supreme leader.

Khamenei's amassing of wealth contrasts sharply with the poverty many Iranians face today.

As U.S. and Israeli missiles hit Tehran, residents cheered. It was an ironic, yet telling, response of a population tired of oppression.

Dan Diker, director of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, told CBN News, "This entire massive, evolving demonstration by the Iranian people began as an economic grievance. And, you know, there's is no water in Iran. There's, the economy is in tatters. Their people are hungry. Inflation is in the hundreds of percent."

Until his death, Khamenei was a billionaire who portrayed himself as a modest religious leader.

Diker noted, "The Iranian regime has always lived according to the principle of what's called Taqiyya, which means deception or dissimulation..

According to a 2013 investigative report by Reuters, Khamenei controlled or influenced a hidden business empire with stakes in oil, banking, telecommunications, and even the manufacturing of birth control pills. 

Dr. Udi Levy from the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security told us, "I know that it sounds like a dream, but it's something around $100 billion."

Levy is a former Israel Defense Forces intelligence officer who managed Israel's campaign against terror financing. He explained that the money flowed in after the Obama administration lifted Iranian sanctions in 2016.

He noted, "Since then, we saw billions of dollars –  billions of dollars – move from Iran to the private pockets of the leaders of the Revolutionary Guard."

The financial system known as SETAD consolidates power under the supreme leader while providing luxurious lives for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), its proxy groups, and Khamenei's family members, including his son, Mojtaba, Iran's new supreme leader.

"Khamenei’s son owns two major properties in London overlooking the Israeli embassy in London," Diker revealed.

Add to that cryptocurrency holdings, a private villa in Dubai, and luxury hotels in Europe. Records show the operation laundered money and built a massive real estate portfolio by seizing property.

"They take real estate from the poor people, from the poor people," Levy emphasized. "This is something very close to what Assad did in Syria. They took the assets, and they canceled all the privileges of those people about this property and took it for themselves."

All while many ordinary Iranians live in poverty, with estimates that more than half of the population suffers from malnutrition.

"They don't have anything. They cannot buy anything. They cannot get anything. There is no service, nothing. And on the other hand, people that belong to the regime (are) living very well," Levy observed.

While there is no direct evidence that Khamenei or his son personally pocketed the money, Dr. Levy believes it's a major reason the IRGC chose Mojtaba as their new leader, reportedly against his father's wishes, and it explains why the regime will likely fight to the end. 

"If you ask me, it's not the ideology, it's the assets, the money," Levy stated. "They're afraid that they're going to lose a huge amount of money that they have."

In addition to fighting Iran, Dr. Levy contends that Israel and the U.S need to focus more on confiscating Iranian assets, which he believes is the best way to convince the regime to lay down their arms.

IDF ‘severing connection between Iran and Hezbollah’

IDF ‘severing connection between Iran and Hezbollah’

Yaakov Lappin

The Israel Defense Forces is destroying the operational linkage between Iran and Hezbollah, military sources stated on Thursday, while stressing that the main effort in the war remains focused on further severely degrading the Islamic Republic’s offensive and defensive capabilities.

As part of this effort, Israel is actively working to sever the connection between Hezbollah and its Iranian sponsors by targeting the Quds Force, the expeditionary arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which coordinates between Tehran and Hezbollah in Lebanon, arming, activating and funding it.

“We put out a warning for them that any Quds Iranian official who is conducting or promoting or directing attacks against Israel from Lebanon, we will find them and carry out strikes against them,” said IDF International Spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani.

Speaking during a briefing to journalists on the 13th day of “Operation Roaring Lion” and the 12th day since Hezbollah joined the conflict, he revealed that most Iranian Quds Force leaders in Lebanon had now either left the country or been eliminated.

On Thursday, the IAF said that, with the guidance of Military Intelligence, it struck and eliminated a commander of the Imam Hussein Division, a force used by the Quds Force to strengthen the Iranian axis and launch attacks on Israeli forces and civilians. It named the commander as Ali Muslim Tabaja.

“The division is composed of thousands of terrorists across the Middle East and it serves as a force-employment method, providing Hezbollah with significant capabilities,” said the military.

Tabaja, it said, was a key figure within the division “for the Hezbollah terrorist organization. He joined the Hezbollah terrorist organization and, over the years, held a series of military roles both within Hezbollah and within the division, including serving as the deputy commander of the division.”

The previous commander of the division was eliminated in 2024. The strike also eliminated several additional terror operatives, including the division’s deputy commander and its drone officer.

The IDF confirmed that on Tuesday, it eliminated a commander in the IRGC’s missile unit within Hezbollah in Beirut, responsible for key coordination efforts between Hezbollah and Iran.

Combined Hezbollah-Iranian attack

In his briefing to reporters, Shoshani described Wednesday night’s combined Hezbollah-Iranian attack against Israel. “Last night, Hezbollah timed a simultaneous attack with Iran, firing rockets and drones at towns and communities across Israel,” Shoshani said.

He noted that the barrage included approximately 200 rockets and 20 UAVs, combined with ballistic missiles fired from Iran.

“These attacks aren’t Hezbollah protecting the people of Lebanon. It’s Hezbollah protecting a terrorist regime that is 2,000 kilometers away, based on a shared conviction that Israel must cease to exist,” Shoshani stated.

Shoshani added that Israeli intelligence had indications of the impending attack, allowing the military to prepare aerial defense systems and the home front. This preparation enabled the IDF to precisely strike more than 50 percent of the launchers used in the first wave, in some cases eliminating the terrorists as they fired.

“Our actions also prevented this attack from being much larger. They fired from 8 p.m. yesterday to this morning, approximately a third of what we estimate that they were planning on firing towards Israel,” Shoshani noted.

The rapid response resulted in minimal casualties in the north of Israel, with only two or three direct hits and a few civilians lightly injured.

Since joining the war, Hezbollah has launched over a thousand UAVs, missiles, and rockets at Israel, according to IDF data. Shoshani highlighted that while Hezbollah’s capabilities have been diminished in recent years, it remains a dangerous terror force requiring decisive action.

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