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Iran Says It Can Build New Nuclear Facilities If Enemies Strike

A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency shows President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) during a visit to the Mahalati navy and ship industry complex in the coastal Gulf city of Bushehr in southwestern Iran, on a rainy day on February 13, 2025. (Iranian Presidency / Handout / AFP)
A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency shows President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) during a visit to the Mahalati navy and ship industry complex in the coastal Gulf city of Bushehr in southwestern Iran, on a rainy day on February 13, 2025. (Iranian Presidency / Handout / AFP)
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Iran Says It Can Build New Nuclear Facilities If Enemies Strike

A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency shows President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) during a visit to the Mahalati navy and ship industry complex in the coastal Gulf city of Bushehr in southwestern Iran, on a rainy day on February 13, 2025. (Iranian Presidency / Handout / AFP)
A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency shows President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) during a visit to the Mahalati navy and ship industry complex in the coastal Gulf city of Bushehr in southwestern Iran, on a rainy day on February 13, 2025. (Iranian Presidency / Handout / AFP)

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday that Tehran's enemies may be able to strike the country's nuclear centers but they cannot deprive it of its ability to build new ones.

He made his comments after the Washington Post reported that US intelligence believes Israel is likely to launch a preemptive attack on Iran's nuclear program by the middle of the year.

"They threaten us that they will hit nuclear facilities... If you (the enemy) strike a hundred of those we will build a thousand other ones... You can hit the buildings and the places but you cannot hit those who build it," Pezeshkian said, according to state media.

US President Donald Trump raised on Monday the possibility of Israel hitting Iran in an interview with Fox News saying he would prefer to make a deal with Iran to prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"Everyone thinks Israel, with our help or our approval, will go in and bomb the hell out of them. I would prefer that not to happen," Trump said.

On Thursday, the commander of Iran's conventional air force Hamid Vahedi said: "We tell all countries, friends and foes alike, that our country's doctrine is defensive but we will respond with force against any enemy attack."

Iran and Israel engaged in tit-for-tat strikes last year amid wider tensions over Israel's war in Gaza.

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World

Pope Renews Appeal for Peace in Middle East

Pope Leo XIV appears at the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican where Catholic faithful and pilgrims gathered for the traditional Sunday blessing at the end of the noon Angelus prayer, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP)
Pope Leo XIV appears at the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican where Catholic faithful and pilgrims gathered for the traditional Sunday blessing at the end of the noon Angelus prayer, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP)
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Pope Renews Appeal for Peace in Middle East

Pope Leo XIV appears at the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican where Catholic faithful and pilgrims gathered for the traditional Sunday blessing at the end of the noon Angelus prayer, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP)
Pope Leo XIV appears at the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican where Catholic faithful and pilgrims gathered for the traditional Sunday blessing at the end of the noon Angelus prayer, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP)

Pope Leo XIV renewed his appeal for peace in the Middle East on Sunday, calling for an end to the war and reopening of dialogue.

"Dear brothers and sisters, for two weeks the peoples of the Middle East have suffered the atrocious violence of war," the US pontiff said at his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican.

"Thousands of innocent people have been killed, and countless others have been forced to flee their homes.

"I renew my closeness to all those who have lost loved ones in the attacks that have hit schools, hospitals, and residential areas."

Leo said the situation in Lebanon was a particular cause for concern.

"On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and of all women and men of goodwill, I address those responsible for this conflict," he said in Italian.

"Cease fire! Let paths of dialogue be reopened!

"Violence can never lead to the justice, stability and peace that people await."

World

Israel Approves Emergency Military Funding as Iran War Rages

Israeli security forces check the damage to cars after a rocket strike in Holon, in the Tel Aviv District on March 15, 2026. (AFP)
Israeli security forces check the damage to cars after a rocket strike in Holon, in the Tel Aviv District on March 15, 2026. (AFP)
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Israel Approves Emergency Military Funding as Iran War Rages

Israeli security forces check the damage to cars after a rocket strike in Holon, in the Tel Aviv District on March 15, 2026. (AFP)
Israeli security forces check the damage to cars after a rocket strike in Holon, in the Tel Aviv District on March 15, 2026. (AFP)

Israel has approved an $827-million emergency budget allocation for military purchases, Israeli media reported Sunday, as the war with Iran entered its third week.

The 2.6-billion-shekel package was approved over the weekend by cabinet ministers during a telephone meeting, the daily Haaretz reported.

It will be used for "security purchases" and to address "urgent needs", it said, without providing further details.

A finance ministry document circulated to all ministers and reported by several media outlets, including Channel 12, said that "given the intensity of the fighting" the additional budget allocation was necessary.

"An urgent and immediate need has arisen to provide an operational response, including the acquisition of munitions, the procurement of advanced weapons systems and the replenishment of critical combat stocks," the document said.

The document added that the move constituted "an exceptional emergency decision intended solely to address needs arising from the conduct of the fighting".

The funds will be drawn from the state budget, totaling $222 billion and approved by the government on March 12, and expected to be adopted by the Knesset by March 31, according to the reports.

The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet officially commented on the measure or specified what purchases the funds will cover.

Since the Israeli-US bombardments against Iran that began on February 28, Israel has been targeted daily by Iranian ballistic missile fire, which the military has mostly intercepted using its missile defense systems.

According to Haaretz, citing security officials, 250 ballistic missiles had been fired by Iran at Israel as of March 13.

Twelve people have been killed in Israel by missiles or falling debris since the start of the war, according to an AFP tally of figures given by Israeli authorities and first responders.

World

UK Says Vital to 'De-escalate' Middle East War

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of the island of Qeshm, separated from the Iranian mainland by the Clarence Strait, in the Strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of the island of Qeshm, separated from the Iranian mainland by the Clarence Strait, in the Strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
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UK Says Vital to 'De-escalate' Middle East War

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of the island of Qeshm, separated from the Iranian mainland by the Clarence Strait, in the Strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of the island of Qeshm, separated from the Iranian mainland by the Clarence Strait, in the Strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

A British minister on Sunday said it was essential to calm the situation in the Middle East after US President Donald Trump demanded that other nations help protect world oil supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz. 

The "plan now has to be to de-escalate the conflict", Energy Security Minister Ed Miliband told the BBC. 

"We are talking to our allies. There are different ways in which we can make maritime shipping possible. We are intensively looking with our allies at what can be done, because it's so important that we get the strait reopened," he added, speaking to Sky News. 

A spokesperson for the defense ministry said late on Saturday: "As we've said previously, we are currently discussing with our allies and partners a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region."