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Iran’s VP for legal affairs: Conditional accession to CFT a tool against Israeli crimes

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Speaking to reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting, Ansari said joining the convention would empower the Judiciary and the president’s office for legal affairs to file stronger legal cases on terrorist acts targeting Iran and to prosecute Israel as a terrorist entity.

He added that one of the possible outcomes of joining the convention could be Iran’s removal from the FATF blacklist and placement on the grey list, though he noted that sanctions have reduced the significance of this issue for Iran.

Ansari underlined that Iran already has stricter domestic laws concerning the issues addressed in the Palermo and CFT bills.

He said Iran has long been a victim of terrorism and that earlier ratification of such conventions could have helped the country legally pursue terrorist groups like the MKO, which has killed over 17,000 Iranians.

On another issue, Ansari confirmed that the court of appeal has upheld the initial verdict in the Crescent case. He further expressed hope that through diplomacy or settlement, Iran could recover assets belonging to its oil pension fund.

Indian refiners asked to pay for Russian oil with Chinese yuan: Reuters

By
IFP Media Wire
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Russia Oil
A view shows the Russian oil producer Gazprom Neft's Moscow oil refinery on the south-eastern outskirts of Moscow on April 28, 2022. (Photo by Natalia KOLESNIKOVA / AFP) (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images)

Indian Oil Corp, the country’s leading state-owned refiner, has recently purchased two to three cargoes of Russian oil using Chinese yuan, sources told Reuters.

Russia has been increasingly turning to the yuan for international trade in the wake of Western sanctions imposed over the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Yuan has also been on the rise in oil trade settlements as an alternative to the petrodollar.

Since the outbreak of the all-out war, India has become one of Russia’s leading buyers of crude, along with China.

Energy exports account for roughly one-third of Russia’s federal revenue and play a crucial role in sustaining the country’s wartime economy.

Indian buyers made payments for Russian oil with the Chinese currency in 2023, but ceased due to heightened tensions between India and China at the time.

Recent months have seen a thaw between the two Asian powers, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on India — imposed over Indian purchases of Russian oil — prompted New Delhi to seek alternative economic partnerships.

 

Zoroastrians celebrate Mehregan worldwide    

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Mehregan, dedicated to Mithra (or Mehr), the ancient deity of light, covenant, and affection, dates back thousands of years to pre-Islamic Iran. Traditionally, it was regarded as a time to express kindness and renew bonds of unity among family and friends.

Beyond its religious roots, Mehregan has also gained recognition in recent years as a cultural heritage celebration, reflecting Iran’s ancient traditions of peace, truthfulness, and respect for nature.

Zoroastrians around the world, including in Iran itself and also in the US, Australia and Europe, are observing the occasion, which is one of the most ancient Persian festivals celebrating love, friendship, and gratitude. The ceremonies feature prayers, offerings of flowers and fruits, and the recitation of hymns from the Avesta.

Many participants wear colorful garments and set up beautifully decorated tables symbolizing prosperity, purity, and harmony.

Zoroastrianism is an officially recognized religion in Iran, and Zoroastrian Iranians enjoy full civil rights under the Iranian Constitution.

They are also free to profess their faith and observe their religious rituals.

Ukraine claims Tomahawk missiles can ‘pressure’ Russia

By
IFP Media Wire
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Washington first signaled last month that it was considering supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. The weapons, which cost about $1.3 million each and have a range of 2,500km (1,550 miles), could reach targets deep inside Russia, including Moscow. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had “sort of made a decision” on the matter, but added that “I’m not looking to see escalation.”

Egor Cherniev, deputy chairman of the Ukrainian parliament’s national security, defense, and intelligence committee, suggested that the missiles could be deployed in phases, with one scenario being that they would not be fired at all, or only used against a narrow range of targets.

“First they will give us rockets, but a few pieces, or a couple of dozen, but they will not allow us to shoot them at once and we will see the Kremlin’s reaction,” he stated, as quoted by The Telegraph.

If Russia does not respond, he added, “the envelope increases, allowing strikes on the Russian border.” Eventually, he suggested, in order to push Moscow towards talks, all restrictions might be lifted “except perhaps strikes on the Kremlin and directly on [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”

“This whole epic could take at least a few months. But it’s already real pressure,” Cherniev argued.

Putin warned last week that sending Tomahawks to Ukraine would “lead to the destruction of [Russia-US] relations, or at least the positive tendencies that have appeared in these relations.”

The Russian leader has also pointed out that Ukrainian forces would be unable to operate the system without “direct participation of American military personnel,” adding that the deliveries would not alter “the balance of power on the battlefield.”

Putin recalled previous shipments of long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, which he said at first “caused some damage, but in the end, Russia’s air defense systems adapted.”

 

Italy’s PM says ICC complaint accused her of Gaza genocide complicity

By
IFP Media Wire
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Meloni made the statement during an interview with state television company RAI, in the first public comment on the situation, which has not been confirmed by the international court.

Meloni said Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani have also been “denounced”, referring to when the court is officially alerted to a possible crime. She said that she believes that Roberto Cingolani, head of Italian weapons and aerospace company Leonardo, might also have been named.

The complaint, dated October 1, was signed by some 50 people, including law professors, lawyers, and several public figures who accused Meloni and others of complicity by supplying arms to Israel.

“By supporting the Israeli government, particularly through the supply of lethal weapons, the Italian government has become complicit in the ongoing genocide and the extremely serious war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against the Palestinian people,” the authors of the court filing against the Italian leaders wrote.

The Palestinian advocacy group behind the complaint naming Meloni is calling for the court to assess the possibility of opening a formal investigation into the charge of genocide against the Italian prime minister.

Last month, a UN Independent Inquiry found that Israel’s war on Gaza is a genocide, adding to similar assessments from a broad range of experts in human rights, genocide and international law.

The ICC has outstanding arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, including starvation, murder and persecution.

However, neither Netanyahu nor Gallant has been charged with genocide specifically.

The ICC also issued arrest warrants for Hamas officials; however, those named have all since been killed in Israeli attacks.

“I don’t think there is another case in the world or in history of a complaint of this kind,” Meloni said of the complaint against her in the televised comments.

According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Italy was one of only three countries to export “major conventional arms” to Israel from 2020 to 2024, although the United States and Germany were responsible for 99 percent of the exports of the larger weapons category, which include aircraft, missiles, tanks and air defence systems.

The major arms that Italy provided to Israel in this period included light helicopters and naval guns, SIPRI said. It is also one of several countries involved in making parts for F-35 fighter jets, under a US-led programme, SIPRI added.

“Concerns about the potential use of the F-35 by Israel to carry out violations of international humanitarian law have led to much criticism of transfers of the aircraft or its parts to Israel,” SIPRI announced in a recent report.

Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has stated that Italy is only sending deliveries of arms to Israel under contracts signed before October 7, 2023 and that Italy has sought assurances from Israel that the weapons would not be used against civilians in Gaza, after Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani had earlier claimed Italy had stopped sending the weapons altogether.

Meloni’s acknowledgement of the complaint against her comes as hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in mass protests against Israel’s war on Gaza in recent weeks.

Italy’s major labour unions have actively supported the protests. The country’s dockworkers have threatened strike action over Israeli forces preventing the Sumud Global Flotilla from delivering aid to Gaza.

Following earlier protests, Meloni’s government sent naval ships to accompany the fleet of international vessels, but the Italian navy pulled back before Israeli forces intercepted the boats in international waters and detained close to 500 international activists.

Six crew members remained in Israeli detention as of Tuesday, according to the flotilla’s organisers.

The latest complaints against Italian leaders join a growing number of legal challenges to Israel’s actions in Gaza, alongside the ICC case against Netanyahu and Gallant.

At the International Court of Justice (ICJ), South Africa has submitted a case against Israel, accusing it of breaching the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.

In April this year, the ICJ ruled against pursuing a case brought by Nicaragua that accused Germany of aiding genocide in Gaza for its role in selling arms to Israel.

The US, which is the largest exporter of weapons to Israel, is not a member of the ICC.

It has also actively pushed back against the ICC pursuing charges against Israel.

Last month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the US was imposing sanctions on three Palestinian human rights organisations, Al-Haq, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, for engaging in efforts to “investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute Israeli nationals” at the ICC.

 

Israeli army intercepts another Gaza aid flotilla

By
IFP Media Wire
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The Israeli military was jamming signals with at least two boats being boarded, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said on Instagram.

“The Israeli military has no legal jurisdiction over international waters,” it added.

“Our flotilla poses no harm.”

“Three vessels – Gaza Sunbirds, Alaa Al-Najjar, and Anas Al-Sharif – have been attacked and illegally intercepted by the Israeli military” early morning, 220km off the coast of Gaza, organisers said on X.

It added another ship, the Conscience was also “under attack”.

The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed it had intercepted boats attempting to reach Gaza and that those on board would be transferred to an Israeli port where they would be deported.

“Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing,” the ministry announced in a post online.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is an international network of pro-Palestinian activist groups that organises civilian maritime missions aimed at breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians there.

The ships carried aid worth more than $110,000 in medicines, respiratory equipment and nutritional supplies intended for Gaza’s starving hospitals, the FFC noted.

The incident was the second such event in recent days, after Israel intercepted about 40 vessels and detained more than 450 activists in an aid convoy, the Global Sumud Flotilla, that was also attempting to deliver supplies to Gaza.

Some activists on board – including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg – alleged being subjected to brutal physical and verbal abuse by Israeli forces during their detention this week

Their detention drew mass protests across Europe.

 

Iran’s Foreign Minister: I have had no contact with Witkoff

By
IFP Media Wire
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Araghchi Witkoff

Speaking on Wednesday, Araqchi denied the report published by the Kuwaiti daily Al-Jarida, which alleged that Witkoff had contacted him to seek Iran’s support for Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.

“This is incorrect — I categorically deny it. There has been no such contact,” Araqchi said.

Al-Jarida had claimed that Witkoff called Araqchi to request Tehran’s backing for Trump’s 20-point plan to establish peace in Gaza, discussions which are currently underway in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

President Pezeshkian urges Swiss envoy to convey Iran’s peaceful nuclear intentions to US

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Receiving the credentials of Ambassador Olivier Bangerter in Tehran on Wednesday, President Pezeshkian described Switzerland as a “constructive and balanced” European country with an important historic role as a diplomatic channel between Tehran and Washington since Iran’s 1979 Revolution.

The president highlighted his recent meeting with his Swiss counterpart on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, saying Iran values expanding cooperation with Switzerland in various fields, especially in pharmaceuticals and food supply amid unjust sanctions by the US and some European states.

President Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran pursues regional peace and stability and dismissed Western claims about its nuclear program as “baseless propaganda.”

He also condemned Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, calling them “inhumane” and “the main source of regional instability.”

Ambassador Bangerter expressed satisfaction with his appointment and pledged to strengthen bilateral ties while maintaining Switzerland’s role as a trusted intermediary between Iran and the US.

IRGC Commander-in-Chief: any enemy miscalculation in Strait of Hormuz to face decisive response

By
IFP Media Wire
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General Mohammad Pakpour

In a message marking the IRGC Navy Day, Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour stated that this day symbolizes the strong faith, intelligent resistance, and deterrent power of the IRGC, which — under the leadership of the Supreme Leader — stands as the flagbearer of lasting security in the Persian Gulf, the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and the surrounding waters of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He added that today, the IRGC Navy — relying on its committed human capital and indigenous, advanced technologies in surface, subsurface, missile, drone, electronic, and cyber warfare — holds the position of an undisputed strategic and deterrent power.

According to General Pakpour, the IRGC, operating within the framework of Iran’s defensive-offensive doctrine, maintains its combat, intelligence, and operational readiness at the highest level, warning the enemies of the Revolution, the Islamic system, and Iran against any strategic miscalculation.

He further noted that the IRGC Navy today is not only a guarantor of Iran’s national and regional security, but also a founder of a new maritime order based on justice, power, and the independence of nations in the face of global arrogance and hegemonic ambitions.

Putin claims Russia captured nearly 5,000 square km in Ukraine in 2025

By
IFP Media Wire
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Russia’s 2025 gains would amount to nearly 1% of Ukraine’s land area, and the country controls nearly 20% in total.

Putin, addressing a meeting with Russian top military commanders on his 73rd birthday, said Ukrainian forces were retreating in all sectors of the front. He added Kyiv was trying to strike deep into Russian territory, but it would not help it to change the situation in the more than 3 1/2-year-old war.

“At this time, the Russian armed forces fully hold the strategic initiative,” Putin told the meeting in northwestern Russia near Russia’s second-largest city of St. Petersburg, according to a Kremlin transcript.

“This year, we have liberated nearly 5,000 square km of territory – 4,900 – and 212 localities.”

Ukrainian forces, he noted, “are retreating throughout the line of combat contact, despite attempts at fierce resistance.”

Ukraine’s military in August dismissed Russia’s recent offensives as a failure, with Moscow’s forces failing to capture a single major Ukrainian city this year.

Ukrainian accounts say Kyiv’s troops have made gains in the Donetsk region, particularly around Dobropillia, a town near the key logistics hub of Pokrovsk. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has also said Ukrainian forces have regained ground in the border Sumy region, where Russia has established a foothold.

Russian Army General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of Russia’s armed forces, told the meeting of top commanders that Russian forces were “advancing in practically all directions.” Ukrainian forces, he said, were focused on slowing the Russian advance.

Gerasimov, overall commander of Russia’s war effort, added the heaviest fighting was gripping Pokrovsk and areas towards Dnipropetrovsk.

Moscow’s troops were moving on the key cities of Siversk and Kostyantynivka in the main theatre of the Donetsk region.

Gerasimov stated that they were clearing Ukrainian forces from the city of Kupiansk, under Russian attack for months in Ukraine’s northeast, and were moving forward in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions further south.

They were also progressing in setting up buffer zones in Sumy and Kharkiv regions in the north.

In his remarks to the meeting, Putin said Russia’s objectives remained the same as when he launched its “special military operation” in February 2022, adding it was aimed at “demilitarising and denazifying” its smaller neighbour.

 

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