Friday, December 26, 2025

Latest News and Views from Iran and the World

Iran’s cabinet withdraws controversial internet regulation bill

The Iranian government has officially approved the withdrawal of a controversial bill on regulating online content, following public criticism and a directive from President Massoud Pezeshkian.

New poll finds plunging US public support for Israel’s war on Gaza

A new poll from the research firm Gallup suggests that only 32 percent of Americans approve of Israel’s military action in Gaza, a 10-point drop from September 2024, as anger over atrocities against Palestinians continues to rise.

Trump issues ten-day ultimatum to Russia over Ukraine war

Washington will impose new sanctions against Moscow if it fails to reach an accord with Kiev to settle the Ukraine conflict within ten days, US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday. His initial deadline was due to expire in early September.

EU fails to agree Israeli suspension from research fund over Gaza war

A European Commission proposal to deny Israel partial access to the EU's €95 billion Horizon Europe research fundfailed to garner the necessary qualified majority support when EU ambassadors met in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

Britain to recognise Palestinian state by September if no Gaza ceasefire reached

The United Kingdom will recognise a Palestinian state by September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip by then, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday after an emergency cabinet meeting in London.

Israeli PM ‘presents plan to annex parts of Gaza’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Tel Aviv will move to annex parts of the Gaza Strip if a ceasefire accord with Hamas is not reached, according to Israeli media.

Ayatollah Khamenei attends commemoration for martyrs of Israel’s recent war

A solemn and powerful ceremony marking the 40th day since the martyrdom of those fallen in the Zionist regime of Israel’s imposed war was held at the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah in Tehran, with the presence of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Iranian wushu fighter bags silver at Asian Championships in China

Amir Mehdi Shirdel, a promising young wushu athlete from Iran’s Ardabil Province, secured a silver medal in the 75kg weight class at the ongoing Asian Junior Wushu Championships in China.

MP says Iran rejected European proposal to delay snapback mechanism

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, senior member of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, revealed that during recent negotiations in Istanbul, European countries sought a six-month extension on the snapback mechanism under the JCPOA framework — a request firmly rejected by Iran.

Gaza death toll surges past 60,000 amid Israel’s war

At least 60,034 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, the Health Ministry announced on Tuesday.

Palestinian activist who worked on Oscar-winning film ‘No Other Land’ killed by Israeli settler in West Bank

Awdah Hathleen, a Palestinian activist who was part of the crew on the Academy Award-winning documentary No Other Land, was shot dead by an Israeli settler on Monday, the film's co-directors announced.

Iran’s Parliament chief: Israel’s actions in Gaza reminiscent of Nazi crimes

Iranian Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, has described Israel’s actions in Gaza as reminder of Nazi crimes, warning that every moment of delay in confronting Israel is tantamount to complicity in the crimes of the “Nazis of the 21st century.”

Iran’s president orders broad consultation on controversial internet regulation bill

Iran’s government spokesperson announced on Tuesday that President Massoud Pezeshkian has issued a firm directive to ensure that public and expert opinions are heard regarding the recently proposed internet regulation bill.

The Leader: Iran displayed strength during war with Israel, US

Marking the 40th day since the martyrdom of Iranians in the 12-day war with Israel last month, the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, declared that the conflict revealed the full power, resolve, and unity of the Islamic Republic.

IPC warns ‘worst-case scenario of famine’ unfolding in Gaza

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global hunger monitoring system, has warned that "the worst-case scenario of famine" is currently unfolding in the Gaza Strip amid intensified conflict, displacement, and plummeted access to food.

‘Peace through strength is possible’: Zelensky welcomes Trump’s new Ukraine peace accord deadline

President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's new 10- to 12-day deadline for Russia to reach a peace accord with Ukraine.

Iranian delegation to Chengdu games pays military salute in tribute to war martyrs

The Iranian delegation heading to the Chengdu international sports event in China performed a military salute during their send-off ceremony on Tuesday, coinciding with the national commemoration of the martyrs of the war with the Israeli regime in June.

Iranian documentary filmmaker Mehran Zinatbakhsh passes away

Acclaimed Iranian documentary filmmaker, director, and cinematographer Mehran Zinatbakhsh passed away on Monday after a period of illness.

Iran rejects Trump’s allegation of interference in Gaza ceasefire talks

The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry refuted the accusation made by the US president that Tehran has been intervening in the latest round of negotiations aimed at ending Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip.

Top military chief: Iran fully prepared to counter any new US or Israeli aggression

Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, declared that Iran is fully prepared to respond decisively to any renewed aggression by the US or Israel, emphasizing a deep distrust in their promises or commitments.

Netherlands bans Israeli ministers, calls for EU sanctions over Gaza

The Dutch government has barred two Israeli far-right ministers from entering the European country, citing their incitement of violence and support for ethnic cleansing.

Iran urges UN to condemn terror attack in Zahedan, calls for firm stance against all forms of terrorism

Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations has called on the UN Security Council and Secretary General to strongly condemn a deadly terrorist attack in southeastern Iran and to adopt a firm, principled position against all forms of terrorism, regardless of perpetrators' identity or affiliation.

Trump confirms Gaza suffering ‘real starvation’, pledges to open US food hubs

US President Donald Trump has stated that Gaza is experiencing "real starvation" as he urged Israel to get people food, seemingly recalibrating his stance on the humanitarian situation in the Strip as images of emaciated children have sparked renewed worries about hunger in the enclave.

UN chief urges ‘viable two-state solution’ to Israel-Palestine conflict

Dozens of ministers have gathered at a United Nations conference to call on the world to work towards a two-state solution between Israelis and the Palestinians, but the United States and the Zionist regime have boycotted the event.

Two major Israeli rights groups say Tel Aviv committing genocide in Gaza

Two major Israeli human rights groups have stated that the Zionist regime is committing genocide against Palestinians in the besieged and bombardment Gaza Strip.