Diverse Places: Denmark Struck By 2nd Largest Recorded Earthquake

Denmark was Just Struck by its 2nd Largest Recorded Earthquake; Geologist Analysis

(Video)

On Wednesday, the 2nd largest earthquake to have ever occurred in Denmark struck, occurring south of the capital city of Copenhagen. This caused the ground to shake for several seconds, surprising the millions of people who felt it. Yet, while some scientists are claiming that this earthquake was caused by a weak zone in the crust known as the "Sorgenfrei-Tornquist zone", I must disagree as in my interpretation as a geologist I think an even older weak zone was to blame. This earthquake occurred on May 20th, 2026.

Israel, GOP hawks deeply worried as Trump says Iran deal ‘largely negotiated’

Israel, GOP hawks deeply worried as Trump says Iran deal ‘largely negotiated’

World Israel News Staff

Reports of a nearing US-Iran agreement have triggered concern in Israel and among Republican lawmakers who fear Trump may accept a deal that does not fully dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

As US President Donald Trump signaled that the United States may be on the verge of a major agreement with Iran, alarm bells immediately began ringing in Jerusalem — and among many Republicans in Washington who fear the deal could leave Israel facing an even more dangerous Iranian regim

Trump said that an agreement with Iran had been “largely negotiated” and claimed details would be announced “shortly” following talks involving regional leaders and a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The president described the conversation with Netanyahu as having gone “very well,” but reports from Israeli and American media suggested the reality behind the scenes was far more tense.

According to reports, Netanyahu convened an urgent meeting with coalition leaders and top security officials after details of the emerging framework began circulating.

Israeli officials view the proposed arrangement as potentially “very bad” for Israel, especially if it allows Iran to preserve elements of its nuclear infrastructure while easing pressure on the regime.

Trump’s public statements focused heavily on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the current confrontation but notably avoided specifics about dismantling Iran’s nuclear program or removing its stockpile of highly enriched uranium — issues Israel considers non-negotiable.

That omission immediately fueled concern among pro-Israel Republicans and longtime Iran hawks.

Several conservatives warned that any agreement resembling the Obama-era nuclear deal would be viewed as a dangerous concession to Tehran.

Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the strongest Republican supporters of Israel, reportedly expressed concern that Iran could emerge from the arrangement appearing stronger and more influential across the region.

Others inside the Republican Party have been openly uneasy about Trump appearing willing to settle for a temporary diplomatic arrangement instead of fully eliminating Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

The skepticism reflects deep scars left by the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under President Barack Obama, which Republicans overwhelmingly opposed at the time as a threat to both Israel and American security.

Many conservatives argued then that sanctions relief would only strengthen Tehran financially while allowing it to continue advancing toward nuclear weapons capability.

Israeli officials now fear history could repeat itself.

According to reports in Israel, officials believe some American negotiators are pushing Trump toward “a deal at almost any price” to avoid renewed military escalation.

Trump himself appeared conflicted in recent days, at one point saying he was “50-50” on whether diplomacy would succeed or whether military action would ultimately be necessary.

The rapid swings between threats of strikes and announcements of near-peace have added to growing uncertainty in both Washington and Jerusalem.

Iran, meanwhile, has publicly projected confidence.

Iranian officials confirmed negotiations are advancing but reportedly continue demanding sanctions relief and an end to American pressure measures before agreeing to broader understandings.

For Israel, the central question remains unchanged: whether any agreement truly prevents Iran from becoming a nuclear threshold state — or merely delays the problem while giving Tehran room to recover economically and militarily.

That concern has long united Republicans and Israeli leaders across party lines.

Netanyahu has spent years warning that partial agreements and temporary arrangements only strengthen the Iranian regime.

Trump requested Muslim leaders normalize ties with Israel if Iran deal reached — report

Trump requested Muslim leaders normalize ties with Israel if Iran deal reached — report

TOI

US President Donald Trump told the leaders of several Arab and Muslim countries in a Saturday phone call that he expects them to normalize relations with Israel if he reaches a deal to end the war with Iran, two US officials tell the Axios news site.

During a phone call, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain all told Trump “we are with you on this deal” that is emerging with Tehran, one of the officials say.

Another official with knowledge of the call says Trump told the leaders he would call Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next, and that he hoped he would join a group call with the Muslim and Arab leaders in the future.

Trump then said he wanted those countries that have yet to join the Abraham Accords to do so and normalize relations with Israel, the two officials say.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan have never established formal ties with Israel.

“There was silence on the line and Trump joked and asked if they are still there,” one of the officials tell Axios.

IDF frustration grows over emerging Iran deal: 'Buying temporary quiet for long-term nuclear threat'

IDF frustration grows over emerging Iran deal: 'Buying temporary quiet for long-term nuclear threat'

Yossi Yehoshua

Senior IDF officials are expressing deep frustration over the emerging agreement between the Trump administration and Iran, describing the framework published so far as “a bad agreement for Israel.”

According to senior military officials, the deal does not provide a sufficient answer to Iran’s nuclear program, which Israel views as its central strategic threat. They are also concerned that it fails to address Iran’s ballistic missile project, which Tehran could accelerate quickly.

The IDF is also especially worried about a possible ceasefire arrangement in Lebanon involving Hezbollah.

“The agreement must not include Lebanon,” a senior defense official said.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir visited Northern Command on Sunday and approved fire plans for the continuation of fighting against Hezbollah, including deep inside Lebanon. However, according to defense officials, those plans have not been approved at this stage by the political echelon, in part because of U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to advance the diplomatic move with Iran.

“The IDF continues to monitor regional developments, is prepared to immediately return to high-intensity fighting and to further weaken the Iranian terror regime and its capabilities,” Zamir said. “We will maintain readiness and operational flexibility for as long as required.”

During the visit, Zamir said the IDF continues to operate against Hezbollah across all dimensions.

“We are determined to deepen the damage to Hezbollah across all of its systems,” he said. “The damage to the terrorist organization is systematic and consistent. We will not let up.”

Zamir later visited the headquarters of the 401st Brigade, met with the acting brigade commander and spoke with commanders and troops. He also addressed the serious wounding last week of the brigade commander, Col. Meir Biderman, in southern Lebanon, and praised the combat spirit of the brigade’s commanders.

Israeli officials say Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were the driving forces behind the scenes in advancing the understandings with Tehran, pressing the president to “close the event” and bring about rapid regional stabilization, even at the cost of Israel’s security.

Defense officials are especially concerned that the agreement could leave Iran as a “nuclear threshold state,” meaning a country that retains the knowledge, infrastructure and enriched material needed to break out toward a nuclear weapon in a short period of time.

The IDF believes that halting the fighting without fully dismantling Iran’s enrichment facilities and removing enriched uranium from Iranian territory could allow Tehran to rebuild its capabilities under an American diplomatic umbrella.

“Iran must not emerge strengthened,” a senior IDF official said. “They must not be allowed to come out stronger.”

There is also disappointment at IDF headquarters that the emerging agreement does not deeply address Iran’s ballistic missile program or its network of proxies across the region.

Defense officials warn that renewed money flows to Tehran as a result of sanctions relief could help rebuild Hezbollah, the Shiite militias in Iraq and the Houthis.

A senior defense official said Israel fears the deal could amount to “buying temporary quiet at the price of a long-term threat.”

Trump said to assure Netanyahu he will thwart Iran nuke program as Israel fears ‘very bad’ deal

Trump said to assure Netanyahu he will thwart Iran nuke program as Israel fears ‘very bad’ deal

Nava Freiberg

Israel deeply concerned over plan that gives Iran time, money, falls short of key security needs, with regime’s nuclear activities only up for discussion later, no commitment to export uranium stockpile, terror proxies intact

US President Donald Trump sought to reassure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call that a final agreement with Iran will fully dismantle Tehran’s nuclear program, a senior Israeli official said in a statement on Sunday, as details emerged of a deal being cobbled together with Iran that appeared to leave central Israeli and American demands unmet and prompted profound concerns in Jerusalem.

According to multiple reports, confirmed by Israeli officials, the initial deal will focus on extending an existing ceasefire for another 60-days and opening the choked Strait of Hormuz to vital shipping, with the key issue of Iran’s nuclear activities relegated to discussions during that period, and no requirement for Iran to export its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. In addition, the plan is said to include a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, but does not include disarming the Iran-backed group.

Trump “clarified that he will stand firm in the negotiations on his longstanding demand for the dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program and the removal of all enriched uranium from Iranian territory, and that he will not sign a final agreement without these conditions being met,” the unnamed senior official said.

The call took place on Saturday night.

Washington was keeping Jerusalem updated on the negotiations “over a memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and enter negotiations toward a final agreement on the points that remain in dispute,” the statement read, adding that Netanyahu thanked Trump for his “exceptional commitment to Israel’s security.”

Trump had declared on Saturday afternoon that the US and Iran were finalizing a deal to end the war, saying that the Memorandum of Understanding “has been largely negotiated” and would be announced shortly. The New York Times reported that the US has almost completely excluded Israel from the negotiations.

For his part, Netanyahu told Trump that Israel will retain its freedom of action against “all threats in all arenas,” the official said. “The prime minister emphasized that Israel will preserve its freedom of action against threats in all arenas, including Lebanon, and President Trump reiterated his support for this principle,” the official said.

The phone call came after last week, the two leaders were said to have held a tense conversation about how best to proceed with Iran. Netanyahu was said to have favored renewing strikes while Trump wanted to give more time for diplomacy.

Netanyahu will hold a limited security cabinet meeting Sunday evening to discuss the emerging US-Iran deal, an aide to one of the attending ministers confirmed to The Times of Israel.

There has been no public statement from Netanyahu or other senior ministers amid the growing reports of a nearing deal.

However, the Maariv outlet cited an unnamed member of the security cabinet as saying in a private conversation that if the reported terms of the deal are accurate, then it was “very bad.”

According to the outlet, Israeli officials are most worried that the subject of Iran’s nuclear program has been pushed down below reaching a ceasefire and opening the Strait of Hormuz.

Closure of the strait, which Iran blockaded as a war tactic and which usually carries a fifth of the world’s oil supply, rattled global economies, putting pressure on the US to resolve the issue.

The source told Maariv that the concern is that the deal gives Iran “time, money and regional quiet, without a real dismantling of its nuclear and terror capabilities.”

According to Axios, the memorandum of understanding that is expected to be signed by the US and Iran and ushers in a 60-day ceasefire extension, contains a clause that would end fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The report said Israel will be permitted to strike Hezbollah if the terror group instigates or carries out attacks.

A senior Iranian source told Reuters on Sunday that Tehran has not agreed to hand over its highly enriched uranium stockpile under the preliminary agreement, though both Axios and The New York Times cited officials as saying that was part of the deal, which also envisions the US lifting some sanctions on Iran, enabling it to trade in oil, thereby removing what had been a key pressure tactic by Washington to push Iran into a nuclear deal.

More.....

Iran’s Pezeshkian says Tehran ready to assure world it’s not seeking nuclear weapons

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian says Tehran is ready to assure the world that it is not seeking nuclear weapons, as a preliminary deal between Iran and the US begins to emerge.

“We are not seeking unrest in the region,” he tells IRNA, claiming instead that “the one seeking to destabilize the region” is Israel.

Iran, which is avowed to destroy Israel, has a stockpile of more than 400 kilograms of uranium that has been enriched to a point that it is a short technical step from weapons-grade. Israeli officials have said it is sufficient for 11 nuclear bombs if enriched further.

Tehran has long claimed that it is not seeking nuclear weapons, despite the fact that it has enriched uranium to a level that the UN atomic agency says has no civilian use.

Pezeshkian also says that Tehran’s negotiating team “will not compromise the country’s honor and pride in any way.”