Articles

Historic Strike: A Symbolic Blow to the Iranian Regime

In what may mark a turning point in the Iran-Israel confrontation, Israeli forces reportedly struck the headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Iran’s state-run television and radio organization. This unprecedented attack not only silenced a key propaganda arm of the regime, but also delivered a symbolic and psychological blow with potentially wide-reaching implications inside Iran.

The Symbolism of Targeting IRIB

While Iran operates many media channels, the IRIB carries unparalleled symbolic value. Throughout Iranian history, control over state television has represented control over the regime itself. During the 1979 Islamic Revolution, one of the first indicators that the Shah’s rule was collapsing came when revolutionaries took control of the national broadcaster.

In Iranian collective memory, when the regime loses control over state media, it signals a collapse of authority. The interruption of IRIB’s broadcasts is more than a technical event—it resonates deeply in the national psyche as a sign that the foundations of power are being challenged.

Footage broadcast by outlets such as Iran International captured the moment broadcasts were cut mid-air, and early reports indicated that residents in central Tehran, near government complexes, were instructed to evacuate following the strike. Eyewitnesses described hearing explosions in the vicinity of the broadcast towers.

Dual Messaging from Iran: Dialogue and Threats

Simultaneously, Tehran is sending conflicting signals. On one hand, Iranian officials have hinted at an interest in halting the escalation and returning to diplomatic negotiations. Some even floated openness to conditions previously considered non-negotiable, such as suspending uranium enrichment.

Yet on the other hand, Iran continues to issue ominous threats, including the potential deployment of “a new type of weapon” that could inflict lasting damage on Israel. Iranian regime figures, such as Mohsen Razaei—former commander of the Revolutionary Guard—have vowed to fight “until victory over Israel,” keeping tensions at a boiling point.

This strategic ambiguity may reflect internal disarray or a calculated effort to stall for time while assessing the extent of the damage and next moves.

Mounting Civil Pressure Inside Iran

Domestically, Iran is under severe internal pressure.

• Gasoline rations have been slashed to 15 liters per citizen in a country rich with oil reserves.

• Long fuel queues are forming across major cities.

• There is widespread public distrust in government evacuation guidance, with some social media voices warning citizens not to enter metro stations or mosques out of fear the regime might use them as targets to blame Israel.

• Tehran is reportedly beginning to empty out as citizens seek refuge in northern regions like the Caspian coast.

All this reinforces the perception that the Iranian regime is losing its gri, not only militarily but socially and psychologically.

Military Action with Political Objectives

While Israeli defense officials stress that the operation is not over and many targets remain, analysts suggest the campaign is not only military—it is designed to reshape the political endgame.

Indeed, some Israeli commentators see this strike as a prelude to a longer-term diplomatic reset, in which Iran is forced into a more durable agreement under maximum pressure. “You can’t destroy the nuclear program completely,” noted analyst Nir Dvori. “But you can set them back significantly and change the strategic equation.”

What Comes Next for Iran?

The targeted strike on IRIB may go down as one of the most symbolically powerful moves in modern regional conflict. Whether it signals the beginning of a wider campaign against the Iranian regime itself, or serves as a psychological lever toward renewed negotiations, remains to be seen.

But for now, the images from Tehran tell a story of disruption, panic, and vulnerability – a regime shaken not just by military might, but by a collapse in its narrative control.

This article was written by Itai Levitan at www.forexlive.com.

• European Commission says reports suggest the EU accepts a US tariff of 10% are speculative and do not reflect current state of discussions
• The EU has from the start objected to unjustified and illegal US tariffs

The euro is up 36 pips to 1.1586 today but down modestly in the last hour.

This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.

The post Ex-Dividend 17/6/2025 first appeared on IC Markets | Official Blog.

Strong bids continue to lift US equity markets today and the S&P 500 is now up 1.2%, erasing Friday’s losses and threatening last week’s highs. The Nasdaq is also up 1.6%.

Leaders include Meta, Intel, Nike, Goldman Sachs and travel names that were hurt on Friday.

The market doesn’t seem to mind Israel and Iran fighting so long as the US doesn’t get involved, which hasn’t been the case so far.

This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.

Two Iranian and three regional sources cited by Reuters.

In exchange Iran is said to offer more flexibility in nuclear negotiations.

Separately, a joint G7 draft statement calls on Israel and Iran to de-escalate but Trump hasn’t signed off on it.

This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.

Gold quickly lower on this report from the WSJ.

• Messages passed by Tehran through intermediaries seek a return to talks if the U.S. stays out of the fight

This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.

Local media in Iran report the sounds of explosions near Tehran.

This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.

S&P 500 futures are up 40 points, or 0.7% ahead of the US weekly open. The rebound is part of a broad market reversal from the moves from late last week when Israel struck Iran, followed by Iranian retaliation.

The conflict doesn’t look like it’s about to end but the US has stayed on the sidelines and that has the market optimistic that the fight won’t spread.

Oil and gold are down today as well in reversals from Friday’s moves.

This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.

The G7 meetings in Canada start today and they will be a major focus of markets this week.

There were big hopes for trade deals ahead of time but yesterday, Canada’s minister of US trade Dominic LeBlanc said progress hasn’t come quickly enough.

“I’m hopeful we’ll get there, but it’s not fast enough,” LeBlanc said in an interview with The West Block.

“Our hope was that we would have made more progress before the president
arrives in Alberta for the G7. We haven’t hit that sweep spot.”

Sticky points are on steel and aluminum tariffs, autos and duties on other sectors.

Leblanc said conversations have been “frequent and constructive” but warned that time is running out to make a deal before Canada strikes back.

So far those comments haven’t hurt the loonie, it’s trading at the best levels since October.

This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.

• Prior reading was -9.2

Details:

• New orders: -14.2 vs +7.0 prior
• Shipments: -7.2 vs +3.5 prior
• Unfilled orders: -8.3 vs +4.8 prior
• Delivery times: +1.8 vs +1.0 prior
• Inventories: +0.9 vs +4.8 prior
• Prices paid: +46.8 vs +59.0 prior
• Prices received: +26.6 vs +22.9 prior
• Employment: +4.7 vs -5.1 prior
• Average employee workweek: -1.5 vs -3.4 prior

Six-month ahead expectations

• General business conditions: +21.2 vs -2.0 prior
• New orders: +26.1 vs -2.7 prior
• Capital expenditures: -7.3 vs -6.7 prior

Prices paid came down but so did new orders.

This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.

Netanyahu says ‘we are on our way to achieve our two main objectives, eliminating the nuclear threat and eliminating the missile threat’.

He also said: “we are telling the citizens of Tehran to evacuate and are taking action'”

There is some optimism today after an earlier report citing sources in Iran but this isn’t exactly encouraging.

This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.

• Prior was 278.6K (revised to 280.2K)

USD/CAD was trading at 1.3564 ahead of the release, close to the lowest levels since October. This is a good sign that house construction is continuing despite falling prices in much of the country.

This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.