In this episode of World News, Pankaj Mishra examines reports that Iran has restored access to parts of its underground missile network despite weeks of US and Israeli strikes. As Tehran rebuilds its capabilities, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warns that Washington is prepared to restart military action if diplomacy fails.
We also look at reports of fresh US-Iran military exchanges, including alleged Iranian strikes on a UAE air base and American attacks on Iranian military infrastructure.
The conflict is expanding into cyberspace as Iranian-linked hackers reportedly compromise a social media account associated with the US Space Force, highlighting a new front in modern warfare.
Meanwhile, China has launched coast guard patrols east of Taiwan in response to maritime boundary talks between Japan and the Philippines, adding to growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
Watch the full analysis.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
00:34 Iran Restores Missile Network
03:12 Iran-US Exchange Fresh Strikes
05:41 Iranian Hackers Target US Space Force
07:52 China Patrols Near Taiwan
09:32 Final Analysis
#Iran #USIran #MiddleEast #IsraelIran #PeteHegseth #WorldNews #ChinaTaiwan #IndoPacific #USSpaceForce
~HT.410~PR.282~ED.532~GR.538~PR.460~VG.MX~
We also look at reports of fresh US-Iran military exchanges, including alleged Iranian strikes on a UAE air base and American attacks on Iranian military infrastructure.
The conflict is expanding into cyberspace as Iranian-linked hackers reportedly compromise a social media account associated with the US Space Force, highlighting a new front in modern warfare.
Meanwhile, China has launched coast guard patrols east of Taiwan in response to maritime boundary talks between Japan and the Philippines, adding to growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
Watch the full analysis.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
00:34 Iran Restores Missile Network
03:12 Iran-US Exchange Fresh Strikes
05:41 Iranian Hackers Target US Space Force
07:52 China Patrols Near Taiwan
09:32 Final Analysis
#Iran #USIran #MiddleEast #IsraelIran #PeteHegseth #WorldNews #ChinaTaiwan #IndoPacific #USSpaceForce
~HT.410~PR.282~ED.532~GR.538~PR.460~VG.MX~
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NewsTranscript
00:02Hello and welcome to World News. I am Pankaj Mishra. New reports suggest Tehran is restoring
00:07parts of its underground missile network, raising fresh concerns about the region's
00:12security landscape. We also examine reports of fresh exchanges between American and Iranian
00:17forces, including alleged strikes involving a key air base in the Gulf. Iranian-linked
00:24hackers are reportedly being blamed for breaching a social media account associated with the
00:29U.S. Space Force. And in the Indo-Pacific, China has launched a new Coast Guard patrols near
00:36waters east of Taiwan. Four stories, four strategic flashpoints, one world facing increasing geopolitical
00:45uncertainty. Let's begin. The Middle East may be heading toward another dangerous escalation.
00:51U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hickseth has warned that American forces are fully prepared to resume
00:56military strikes against Iran if ongoing negotiations fail to produce a lasting ceasefire agreement.
01:03The warning comes as new satellite imagery suggests that Iran has restored access to parts of its
01:09underground missile network despite weeks of heavy American and Israeli attacks.
01:15According to reports, Iranian engineering teams have been clearing debris, reopening access routes,
01:21and recovering long-range missile capabilities that many believed had been disabled during the conflict.
01:28This is a significant development because Tehran's missile infrastructure was designed to survive
01:34precisely this kind of military campaign. Experts now say that destroying tunnel entrances may delay
01:41operations but does not eliminate Iran's strategic missile arsenal.
01:48Iran is reportedly rebuilding its underground missile infrastructure at a much faster pace than expected,
01:56despite recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeting key military sites.
02:01According to a CNN investigation based on satellite imagery, Iran has reopened around 50 out of 69 tunnel
02:09entrances that were previously struck during coordinated attacks on underground missile facilities.
02:15The analysis shows large-scale repair operations taking place across multiple sites,
02:21with heavy machinery such as bulldozers, dump trucks, and excavators actively clearing debris,
02:28filling craters, and restoring excess roads.
02:31Some of the most affected locations, including missile bases in Desval, Kermanshaw, Isfahan, and Khomeen,
02:38have already seen significant recovery.
02:41In several cases, multiple tunnel entrances have been fully reopened and made operational again within weeks.
02:48The strikes were originally intended to disrupt Iran's ability to launch missiles
02:53by collapsing tunnel entrances and blocking access routes used to move weapons and equipment.
02:59However, while surface damage was achieved, intelligence assessments suggest that deep underground facilities,
03:06built over decades and buried hundreds of meters beneath rock, remained largely intact.
03:13U.S. intelligence officials cited in the report say Iran has exceeded all expected timelines for recovery,
03:20restoring operational capacity faster than analysts had predicted.
03:25Experts also believe Iran still maintains a stockpile of around 1,000 missiles stored in hardened underground facilities,
03:33many of which are now accessible again as tunnels are reopened.
03:37This rapid reconstruction highlights a key challenge for U.S. and Israeli military strategy.
03:44While precision strikes can temporarily disrupt operations,
03:48they may not be enough to permanently neutralize deeply buried and widely dispersed missile networks.
03:54Some defense analysts have even described the situation as a potential strategic limitation of air power alone,
04:02noting that low-cost engineering equipment is allowing Iran to restore expensive damage in a relatively short time.
04:10The developments come amid ongoing tensions following broader U.S.-Israeli operations
04:16targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure over the past year.
04:21Although a ceasefire remains in place, the pace of Iran's recovery is likely to be closely monitored by Western intelligence
04:29agencies,
04:30especially as regional tensions continue to fluctuate.
04:34For now, the key question remains whether future strikes will be able to meaningfully slow down Iran's underground missile program,
04:42or whether the current rebuilding trend signals a long-term strategic resilience that is difficult to contain.
04:57Even as negotiations continue, reports of fresh military exchanges are raising questions about how stable the current ceasefire really is
05:05between Iran and the United States.
05:07According to multiple reports, Iran targeted aircraft hangars at UAE's Al Safran Air Base,
05:14a facility believed to host Mirage 2000 fighter jets and Chinese-made Wing Loom drones.
05:20These assets were reportedly involved in operations against Iranian targets during the recent conflict.
05:25At the same time, the United States says it carried out strikes against Iranian radar installations and drone command centers
05:33after Tehran allegedly shot down an American MQ-1 Predator drone.
05:38Iran's Revolutionary Guard claims American attacks struck communications infrastructure in southern Iran and says it responded,
05:47although it has not publicly disclosed the target.
05:50This creates a dangerous reality.
05:53Negotiations are moving forward, but so are missiles, drones, and retaliatory strikes.
05:59The war is expanding.
06:02What began as a confrontation between Iran, the United States, and Israel has now pulled another major Gulf power directly
06:11into the line of fire.
06:13And tonight, the Middle East faces one of its most dangerous moments in months.
06:18Iran has launched a direct strike against the United Arab Emirates, marking a dramatic escalation in a conflict that shows
06:27few signs of slowing down.
06:29According to Iranian state media, the target was Al Safran Air Base, one of the UAE's most important military installations.
06:38Located southwest of Abu Dhabi, the base has played a key role in regional air operations.
06:45Iran claims its aerospace force carried out the attack, striking aircraft hangars at the facility twice.
06:53The targets, according to Tehran, included hangars housing Mirage 2000 fighter jets and Chinese-made Wing Loong combat drones.
07:02Iranian officials accused the UAE of actively participating in military operations against Iranian territory,
07:11specifically citing alleged Emirati involvement in strikes targeting Bandar Abbas and the strategically important Lavon oil refinery.
07:21Tehran described the attack as a measured and proportional response.
07:26Videos circulating online appear to show explosions and fires inside the airbase complex, though independent verification remains limited.
07:37The UAE has not yet released a full damage assessment, nor has it confirmed casualty figures.
07:44However, local reports indicate air defense systems were activated as the attack unfolded.
07:51The strike represents a major turning point.
07:54Until now, the United Arab Emirates had largely avoided becoming a direct target, despite its close military ties with Washington.
08:04While Emirati facilities have faced threats from Iranian-backed groups in the past,
08:09this marks the first direct Iranian strike on UAE territory during the current conflict.
08:16Military analysts say the implications are significant.
08:20The UAE has quietly played a larger role in regional security operations than publicly acknowledged, providing intelligence support, hosting military
08:30assets, and coordinating closely with Western partners.
08:35Al Safran Air Base has become one of the key centers for those activities.
08:39By targeting the base, Iran appears determined to raise the cost for countries supporting military pressure against Tehran.
08:48The timing is particularly sensitive.
08:52The strike comes amid an accelerating cycle of retaliation.
08:56In recent days, the United States targeted Iranian radar installations, drone command centers, and military infrastructure.
09:04Iran responded with missile attacks on American facilities, including Ali al-Salem Air Base in Kuit.
09:12Now, the conflict has widened further, bringing another Gulf state directly into the confrontation.
09:19Diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes.
09:23Indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain active, but each new strike makes the path toward de-escalation increasingly difficult.
09:34Regional governments are closely monitoring developments.
09:38Military readiness levels have reportedly increased across several Gulf nations, and energy markets are watching nervously.
09:45Any prolonged instability near critical shipping routes and oil infrastructure could have global consequences.
09:54For now, all eyes are on Abu Dhabi.
09:57Will the UAE respond directly?
10:00Will the United States increase its involvement?
10:03Or can diplomacy still prevent a broader regional war?
10:09The confrontation between Washington and Tehran is no longer limited to missiles and military bases.
10:15It has now moved firmly into cyberspace.
10:19Reports indicate that Iranian-linked hackers compromised the Instagram account of Chief Master Sergeant John Bentivenga, the top enlisted leader
10:28of the U.S. Space Force.
10:30The hacked account reportedly displayed pro-Iranian messages, references to Imam Ali, comments linked to senior Iranian political Ali Larijani,
10:40and even material associated with psychological warfare broadcast from the Vietnam War era.
10:46What makes this incident significant is not the platform itself, but the symbolism.
10:52A social media account connected to one of America's newest military branches appears to have been used as a stage
10:59for Iranian messaging during a sensitive phase of nuclear negotiations.
11:06Has Iran just humiliated the U.S. military online?
11:11A bizarre cyber incident has sparked fresh concerns about online security after hackers briefly seized control of the archived Obama
11:21White House Instagram account and filled it with pro-Iranian propaganda.
11:25The account, known as at Obama White House, served as the official White House Instagram page during the presidency of
11:34Barack Obama.
11:36While inactive since January 2017, the account still retains millions of followers, making it a highly visible digital target.
11:45Visitors were stunned when unauthorized posts suddenly appeared featuring images of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, the powerful military commander killed
11:56in a U.S. drone strike in 2020.
11:59The hackers didn't stop there.
12:02The compromised account reportedly displayed AI-generated imagery and provocative messaging claiming that the White House was now under Shiite
12:11control.
12:12Other posts contained anti-American themes, religious references, and messaging aimed at mocking the United States and its political leadership.
12:22Screenshots of the posts quickly spread across social media before the content was removed.
12:28According to cybersecurity observers, the operation appeared designed less to steal information and more to score a symbolic propaganda victory
12:38against a high-profile American government-linked account.
12:42Even more concerning is how the attackers allegedly gained access.
12:47Reports suggest the hackers exploited weaknesses in Instagram's AI-powered support system.
12:54By manipulating customer support processes, they may have convinced automated systems to authorize password resets and account changes
13:02without defeating traditional cybersecurity defenses.
13:06If confirmed, the incident highlights a growing threat facing major technology platforms as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into customer
13:17service and account recovery systems.
13:19Meta reportedly acted quickly to secure the account and remove the unauthorized content.
13:26The company is also believed to have patched the vulnerability allegedly used during the attack.
13:32At the same time, another account connected to senior U.S. Space Force leadership was reportedly compromised with similar pro
13:40-Shiite messaging, leading analysts to suspect a coordinated campaign.
13:45Many cybersecurity researchers and OSINT investigators believe the operation bears signs of Iranian or pro-Iranian actors.
13:56However, no official U.S. government attribution has been released so far.
14:02Importantly, there is no evidence that active White House systems, government networks, or classified information were accessed.
14:10The breach was limited to a dormant social media account.
14:13Still, the incident demonstrates how cyber operators can use even inactive but recognizable accounts to generate headlines, spread propaganda, and
14:24embarrass political institutions.
14:27As tensions between Washington and Iran remain elevated, experts warn that influence operations and social media attacks are becoming an
14:36increasingly important front in the wider shadow conflict between the two countries.
14:41Moving east, China has launched new Coast Guard patrols east of Taiwan, opening another chapter in the growing contest of
14:48control of strategic waters in the Indo-Pacific.
14:52Beijing says the patrols are a response to plans by Japan and the Philippines to begin formal maritime boundary delimitation
15:00talks.
15:00The two countries recently announced discussions aimed at defining their exclusive economic zones and continental shelf boundaries in accordance with
15:09international law.
15:11China strongly opposes those talks, arguing that the area involved includes waters linked to territory it claims through Taiwan.
15:20Taiwan.
15:21Taipei has condemned the patrols but says only a limited number of Chinese vessels were detected and that they remained
15:29outside the restricted waters.
15:31A new flashpoint is emerging in the western Pacific.
15:36As tensions rise across multiple disputed waterways, China is once again flexing its maritime muscle.
15:43And this time, the focus is on the waters east of Taiwan.
15:46In a move already drawing regional attention, Chinese Coast Guard has announced a new round of patrols in waters surrounding
15:55Taiwan.
15:56Patrols, Beijing says, are necessary to defend what it calls its sovereign rights.
16:02But critics say the operation is part of a broader effort to increase pressure on Taiwan and challenge the growing
16:09security cooperation between America's regional allies.
16:12According to Chinese authorities, the patrols were conducted as law enforcement operations.
16:18The mission was announced on June 1st and specifically linked to planned maritime border discussions between Japan and the Philippines.
16:27Beijing strongly opposes those talks, arguing that any attempt to define maritime boundaries without Chinese participation undermines its territorial claims.
16:37Chinese Coast Guard vessels operated in waters east of Taiwan, areas that Beijing claims fall within its territorial waters and
16:47exclusive economic zone.
16:49Those same waters are also claimed by Taiwan.
16:52The Chinese Coast Guard stated that its mission was designed to quote,
16:56resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, end quote.
17:01State media released footage showing Chinese vessels conducting patrol operations and navigating through contested waters.
17:10The timing is significant.
17:12Japan and the Philippines have steadily deepened security cooperation over the past several years,
17:17driven largely by shared concerns about Chinese expanding maritime presence.
17:23Both countries have strengthened military ties with each other and with United States.
17:27Together, they have pushed back against Chinese claims in both the South China Sea and East China Sea.
17:34For Taiwan, the waters east of the island hold enormous strategic importance.
17:40Unlike Taiwan's western coastline, which faces mainland China, the eastern approaches provide access to the broader Pacific Ocean.
17:49Military planners view the region as critical for both defense and international connectivity.
17:54China, however, maintains its long-standing position that Taiwan is a part of China,
18:00and therefore has no separate maritime rights under international law.
18:05The latest patrols come amid a wider pattern of increasing Chinese military activity.
18:11In recent months, Beijing has conducted large-scale military drills around Taiwan,
18:17expanded Coast Guard deployments, and intensified naval patrols throughout contested areas.
18:22Analysts warn that the growing number of ships, aircraft, and overlapping territorial claims
18:29raises the risk of accidental confrontation, particularly as multiple countries operate in close proximity.
18:36The concern is not necessarily intentional conflict, but miscalculation.
18:41A single incident between Coast Guard vessels, military aircraft, or naval forces could rapidly escalate.
18:48Diplomatic efforts continue, but the strategic competition in the region is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
18:55So, from Iran's missile recovery and cyber operations to fresh military exchanges in the Gulf and drawing maritime tensions around
19:04Taiwan,
19:05today's developments underline one reality.
19:08Geopolitical competition is intensifying across multiple fronts, and the world is entering a period of sustained strategic uncertainty.
19:18Thank you for watching World News. I am Pankaj Mishra.
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