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Entangled leopard returns to habitat after rescue operation near Tehran 

A local wildlife protection official said the operation to rescue the leopard lasted several hours from the afternoon until late evening on Thursday.

For this purpose, the rescuers first anesthetized the leopard and then disentangled it from the barbed wire fence.

The animal was then safely returned to its natural habitat. Leopards of Iran are on the list of animals facing the danger of extinction.

The Persian leopard is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List; the population is estimated at fewer than 871–1,290 mature individuals and is considered declining.

Iran FM to Lavrov: Three Persian Gulf islands inseparable parts of Iran 

Amirabdollahian and Lavrov

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Friday afternoon held talks on the phone about developments in southern Caucasus, the situation in Palestine and Gaza and bilateral as well as regional issues.

Amirabdollahian described as positive the trend of peace talks between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia. He referred to the negative implications of interferences by some extra-regional players in the region, underlining the need to use the possibilities of the regional countries. Amirabdollahian said regional nations can play a constructive role to establish and guarantee peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

He reacted to some parts of the statement of the sixth session of the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum in Morocco, saying the three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf are inseparable parts of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s territory.

The Iranian foreign minister added that Tehran rejects any other claim in this regard.

Pointing to the good and growing ties between Tehran and Moscow, Amirabdollahian noted that respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries is a basic tenet of relations between nations and that Iran doesn’t stand on ceremony with any country when it comes to its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Lavrov for his part spoke about the recent 3+3 group in Tehran and stressed the need for the members of the grouping to strengthen their cooperation in order to help Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a peace deal and put a regional mechanism in place to secure the implementation of the agreement.

The Russian foreign minister also underscored the important and constructive role of Iran in helping establish peace in the southern Caucasus.

Lavrov described the Tehran-Moscow ties as strategic and underlined that Russia has always respected Iran’s territorial integrity and this is the Russian Federation’s official policy, which must not be doubted at all. Lavrob said, “During the talks for preparing the final statement of the Morocco meeting, we explicitly reaffirmed our respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran.”

Amirabdollahian and Lavrov also discussed the developments in Palestine during their telephone conversation.

President Raisi in Iran border town, meets Turkmens 

President Raisi also addressed crowds of people in this border town where most people are Turkmen.

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Ex-MP says Iran’s foreign policy on Russia ‘naïve’ 

Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, a former chairperson of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, speaking to Entekhab news website, made the reaction after Russia sided with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in its territorial dispute with Iran over three islands in the Persian Gulf.

Falahatpisheh said, “When the Iranian president’s entourage were counting the steps of the Kremlin, Putin’s agents were drafting a new anti-Iranian statement in Abu Dhabi,” referring to a recent trip by Raisi at the head of a high-ranking delegation to Moscow.

The former parliamentarian singled out the development as a ‘case of naivety’ in Iran’s foreign policy.

Falahatpisheh sarcastically recalled the remarks by the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari after the early December trip to Russia, saying, “They received Raisi very warmly in Russia. Putin took 76 steps to come down to the car to greet the president. Despite the heavy snow, he didn’t move until the (Iranian president’s) car started moving.”

The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned Russia’s stance in support of the UAE’s sovereignty claims over the Persian Gulf islands in the sixth Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum held in Morocco.

Iran’s candidate in Oscars bowed out of cinematic event

The movie directed by Iranian filmmaker Reza Mirkarimi was picked in a unanimous vote by a selection committee in Iran in September as the 29th representative of the Iranian cinema in the 96th edition of the Academy Awards.

Academy members from all branches participated in the preliminary round of voting.

88 countries and regions were eligible in the International Feature Film category, from which 15 movies were picked to advance to the next level.

Amerikatsi from Armenia, the Monk and the Gun from Bhutan, the Promised Land from Denmark, Fallen Leaves from Finland, the Taste of Things from France, the Teachers’ Lounge from Germany, Godland from Iceland, Io Capitano  from Italy, Perfect Days from Japan, Totem from Mexico, The Mother of All Lies from Morocco, Society of the Snow from Spain, Four Daughters from Tunisia, 20 Days in Mariupol from Ukraine, The Zone of Interest from the United Kingdom were the movies that were given the green light for the next stage of the major cinematic event.

Iran UN envoy warns Israel’s ‘provocative moves’ destabilizing region

Amir Saeed Iravani made the remark in a UN Security Council meeting on West Asia and Syria on Thursday, where he asked the 15-member council to lament the Israeli regime for breaching Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and destabilizing the region.

Iran’s permanent representative also condemned Israel’s attack in Syria earlier this month which claimed the lives of two Iranian military advisors, who were in the country on a mission to support the Syrian army against terrorism.

Iravani also blamed the US for its “decade-long aggression and unlawful measures” in Syria and other parts of the region, saying American forces should end their ‘unlawful’ military presence as it causes an environment of terrorist activities.

He also said the humanitarian situation in Syria remains extremely challenging, as people are grappling with economic hardship as a result of the US sanctions.

US intelligence analysis: Hamas’ influence and credibility has grown since its attack on Israel

Hamas Group

As Israel’s relentless air campaign has killed thousands of civilians inside Gaza, Hamas has been able to cast itself as the lone armed group fighting back against a brutal oppressor killing women and children.

Officials familiar with the different assessments say the group has successfully positioned itself across some parts of the Arab and Muslim world as a defender of the Palestinian cause and an effective fighter against Israel.

Hamas’ growing influence comes in the wake of its October attack on Israel that killed about 1,2000. The US has staunchly defended Israel’s right to defend itself in the wake of the attack, including its campaign to eliminate Hamas entirely.

From Hamas’ perspective, the October 7 attack on southern Israel was a stunning operational success.

At least 20,000 people have been killed in the besieged Gaza Strip since Israel began bombarding the enclave more than 10 weeks ago, according to Palestinian officials.

At least 8,000 children and 6,200 women are among those killed, Gaza’s Government Media Office reported on Wednesday.

MP: Iran’s petrol stations hacking unveils alarming security breach, calls for govt. accountability

Iran Petrol Station

He highlighted the multifaceted nature of the breach, alleging a combination of cyber intrusion and physical intervention by unauthorized individuals.

“The system was disrupted in several ways, with evidence suggesting physical infiltration beyond just cyberspace,” claimed Mohammadnejad. “This breach involved individuals entering the system using deceptive means, exploiting vulnerabilities under the guise of a program or USB stick.”

Expressing dismay at the repeated security lapses, Mohammadnejad stressed the urgency of preventing such incidents in a nation boasting exceptional talent and active organizations.

He called for stringent measures to prevent a recurrence and urged for greater accountability within government entities.

“This breach marks the second instance, which is unacceptable for a country with our caliber of expertise. We must ensure that individuals within government bodies are not allowed to perpetrate such actions effortlessly,” emphasized Mohammadnejad, vowing to intensify efforts to fortify security measures and initiate discussions on robust preventive strategies.

Armenians ready for festive celebrations at Vank Church in Iran’s Isfahan

Christmas in Iran

The resplendent Vank Church, an emblem of historical and religious significance for Isfahan Armenians, is bedecked in stunning adornments, beckoning both locals and visitors alike.

In a heartwarming display of inclusivity, the Armenian community eagerly anticipates sharing their traditions and festivities, extending invitations to fellow citizens to join in their joyous celebrations.

The meticulously decorated Vank Church stands as a testament to the unity found in diversity, symbolizing the harmonious coexistence of different cultures within the vibrant tapestry of Isfahan.

As the New Year dawns and the spirit of Christmas fills the air, the streets of Jolfa echo with anticipation, promising a celebration that transcends boundaries and embraces the rich heritage woven into the fabric of this diverse city.

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Gaza residents face “toxic” combination of disease, hunger and lack of hygiene: WHO chief

Gaza War

“Hunger weakens the body’s defenses and opens the door to disease,” World Health Organization director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“Gaza is already experiencing soaring rates of infectious disease outbreaks. Diarrhoea cases among children aged under 5 are 25 times what they were before the conflict,” he added.

“Such illnesses can be lethal for malnourished children, more so in the absence of functioning health services. We need a ceasefire now.”

Tedros’ comments come amid multiple calls from UN agencies for a pause in fighting to help relief efforts in Gaza.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has also warned Thursday that intense fighting is impeding efforts to assist people in Gaza.

He called for “conditions to allow for large-scale humanitarian operations” to be “reestablished immediately”.

On Wednesday, the World Food Programme announced half of Gaza’s population is starving and residents are often going entire days without eating. Meanwhile, UNICEF warned Tuesday that children and families “are not safe in hospitals” in Gaza as the enclave’s wider health care system teeters on the edge of collapse.