Saturday, December 27, 2025
Home Blog Page 1184

Russia says west pushing Middle East towards major war

Gaza War

“Right now, we are witnessing how the Anglo-Saxons are literally pushing the Middle East to the brink of a major war,” he said.

The consequences of this Western approach are evident in Ukraine, Iraq, Libya, and Syria, with the ultimate result being the loss or weakening of statehood in these countries, the top diplomat emphasized.

“Other consequences include a surge in terrorism and extremism, shattered human destinies, broken families and the massive influx of refugees,” Lavrov noted in his speech at the “Znanie” (lit. “Knowledge”) Society event.

“The methods used by the United States and its allies are sowing chaos in various regions of the world, fueling conflicts between countries and peoples, exacerbating inter-religious and inter-ethnic tensions.”

The West has grown accustomed to solving its own problems at the expense of others and exploiting other people’s resources and, contrary to global processes, hopes to rule the world by interfering in the internal affairs of states, Lavrov concluded.

In a recent flare-up, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict reignited on October 7 after a major rocket attack on Israel from Gaza. Subsequently, Hamas infiltrated the southern border areas, attacking military and civilian targets in Israel and taking hostages. In response, Israel launched Operation Swords of Iron in the Gaza Strip, taking control of border settlements, conducting airstrikes, including on civilian targets, and imposing a complete blockade, cutting off supplies of essential goods.

Moscow has called on both sides to cease hostilities. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Middle East crisis can only be resolved on the basis of the United Nations Security Council’s “two-state” formula, which calls for an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.

Death toll among Hezbollah fighters rises to 61 in cross-border clashes with Israel

Hezbollah

Hezbollah has announced one more member had been killed in clashes with Israeli forces on Lebanon’s border with Israel.

The group, however, did not provide any details about the circumstances leading to its member’s death.

At least 61 Hezbollah members have been killed in cross-border clashes since October 8.

Amid the conflict in the Gaza Strip between Israeli troops and Hamas, tension has flared along the border between the Israeli-occupied territories and Lebanon, with exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah and the Israeli regime have been exchanging sporadic fire since October 8, a day after the Zionist regime started bringing the Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip under a relentless and indiscriminate war.

The Lebanese resistance movement has announced the group’s “guns and rockets” were with Palestinian fighters, and stressed that it will intensify its attacks against Israel if necessary.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has recently told senior Israeli officials that Hezbollah is “ten times stronger than Hamas”, Israel’s Kan public broadcaster has reported.

President Joe Biden and his aides have advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to launch pre-emptive strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, The New York Times daily newspaper has reported.

Hezbollah has already fought off two Israeli wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006, forcing a humiliating retreat upon the Tel Aviv regime’s military in both cases.

The resistance movement has vowed to resolutely defend Lebanon in case of any Israeli-imposed war.

Iran Leader: Muslims should pile up political pressure on Israel, US to stop Gaza massacre

Ayatollah Khamenei and Sudani

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani in the Iranian capital Tehran on Monday, where he hailed the Iraqi nation and government’s role in supporting the people of Gaza amid the brutal Israeli airstrikes that started on October 7.

The Leader said the US is “truly and in all fairness” complicit in the Israeli crimes by supporting the occupying regime militarily and politically.

Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out, “Since the very first days of the Zionist regime’s attacks, all evidence indicated the Americans’ direct involvement in running the war.”

However, the Leader reiterated, “Despite all the killings taking place in Gaza, the Zionist regime has so far been the main loser in this matter, as it has not been able to restore its lost reputation and will not be able to do so in the future.”

He also said Iran and Iraq can cooperate to play an effective role to pressure the US and the Israeli regime into stopping the incessant strikes on the besieged Palestinian enclave where 2.3 million people live.

Meanwhile, al-Sudani highlighted Baghdad’s political efforts to stop the carnage in Gaza, stating that the Iraqi government and nation, as well as the political movements in the country, are at the forefront of supporting the Palestinian people.

The Iraqi premier criticized the international community for its silence in the face of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Al-Sudani said Tehran and Baghdad are making the arrangements to take measures to stop the bombings in Gaza, in the first place, and send food and medical supplies to the people of Gaza, as the next step.

Autumn rain in Tehran

Iran Rain

Iran tourism: Bisheh waterfall lures tourists from across world

Iran Bisheh waterfall

The 48-meter waterfall is located in the towering mountains near the provincial capital Khorramabad in a village with the same name.

It was included in Iran’s natural heritage list by the Cultural Heritage Organization in 2008.

Below you can see some fascinating pictures of the waterfall:

Ukraine’s Zelensky says ‘some countries’ engaged in peace talks with Russia

Volodymyr Zelensky

In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Zelensky was asked to address reports that Western officials had approached Kiev to discuss potential peace talks with Russia. The channel also sought to clarify whether he was personally involved in the process.

Zelensky said that while he had heard “a lot of different voices and emotions and without any contradictions and propositions”, he did not have any contact with Russia, adding that all top US officials and policymakers were well aware of his reluctance to negotiate with Moscow.

The Ukrainian president also stressed that he had not experienced any overt pressure from the West to sit down with his opponent. However, he conceded that “I’m sure that there are some countries [where] on the level of intelligence or advisers of leaders… maybe they speak with Russia. Maybe they think how to manage everything.”

According to Zelensky, however, talks are impossible until Russian troops leave the territory that Ukraine claims as its own. That statement was in line with the Ukrainian leader’s long-touted peace formula, which in addition to the withdrawal of the Russian army also demands the establishment of a tribunal to prosecute Russians for alleged war crimes. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed those proposals as detached from reality.

While the Kremlin maintains it is open to a settlement with Ukraine, Zelensky signed a decree last autumn banning any negotiation with the current leadership after four former Ukrainian regions overwhelmingly voted to join Russia.

However, NBC reported on Saturday that Western officials were holding “delicate” talks with Kiev, probing it on what concessions it might be willing to make to end the conflict.

According to the article, the discussions are being driven by fears that hostilities have “reached a stalemate”, and that Ukraine is “running out of forces.” It comes amid Kiev’s ongoing counteroffensive, which has been underway since June, but has failed to gain any substantial ground. According to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, Ukraine has lost more than 90,000 troops since the start of the push.

Iran president: US lies about truce efforts, gives Israel free rein to commit crimes

Raisi and Sudani

Ebrahim Raisi made the remarks earlier on Monday in a press conference with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani who is in the Iranian capital Tehran as part of a regional tour.

“What we see in practice from the Americans is that they veto proposed resolutions in the (United Nations) Security Council and practically give the Zionist regime a free rein to murder,” Raisi said, referring to draft resolutions on the establishment of humanitarian pauses in the war on the blockaded Palestinian territory.

Raisi stressed that the relentless Israeli bombardment against Gaza should immediately stop and a ceasefire has to be established to send humanitarian aid and supplies to 2.3 million people caught up in the besieged enclave.

He called on Muslim nations to break their silence on the Israeli crimes, adding Iran supports any measure by the Muslim, regional and or non-regional countries aimed at stopping the US-aided Israeli onslaught on Gaza.

The Iraqi premier also said Tehran and Baghdad hold similar views about the war in Gaza that has so far left nearly 10,000 people dead, a large majority of them women and children, since October 7.

Raisi to Pope: Israel committing ‘biggest genocide of century’ by killing thousands of Palestinians

Raisi and Pope

Raisi made the remark in a phone call with the leader of the Catholic Church Pope Francis on Sunday.

Iran’s president said, “The horrendous and unprecedented crimes of the usurper Zionist regime in martyring nearly 10,000 people, including 4,000 children and 2,500 women [in Gaza], is the biggest genocide of the century.”

He then slammed those countries that support Israel’s crimes despite the global outcry against them, stating, “What response can the countries supporting this regime give to the people of the world in the face of such shocking crimes?”

Israel waged a bloody war on the blockaded Gaza Strip on October 7 after the Gaza-based Palestinian resistance groups launched Operation al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity.

The death toll from Israel’s genocidal attacks has exceeded 9,800, while more than 26,000 people, mostly women, children and the elderly, have been wounded.

It has also imposed a complete siege on the coastal territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, medicines, and water to more than two million Palestinians living there.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian president described “the Zionists’ crimes against the oppressed women and children of Gaza, including its attacks on al-Mamadani Hospital and the Jabalia refugee camp, as clear examples of crimes against humanity.

Referring to a report released by international institutions, which have called Israel an apartheid regime, Raisi added, “The bombing of the Gaza church and the destruction of this historical heritage of the Palestinian nation is an example of apartheid practices not only against Palestinian Muslims, but also against other divine religions, which was carried out with the support of the United States and a number of European countries.”

Stressing that “today, supporting the oppressed people of Palestine is in line with the teachings of all Abrahamic religions, including Christians”, the Iranian President appreciated the position taken by Pope Francis on the necessity of enforcing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Raisi then urged Pope Francis to remind the Western supporters of Israel to speed up efforts aimed at stopping the regime’s crimes.

The Iranian president also called for the use of all diplomatic capacities to immediately stop the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and send humanitarian aid there.

Pope Francis, for his part, appreciated the Iranian president’s positions in support of the oppressed people of Palestine.

Emphasizing the need to stop Israel’s brutal attacks on Gaza and establish a ceasefire there, the Pope said, “As the leader of the world’s Catholics, I will do everything in my power to stop these attacks and prevent more women and children from becoming victims in Gaza.”

Iranian daily: Govt. ‘paying ransom’ in face of ‘bullying’ Taliban

Abdul Ghani Baradar

The barbed words by Jomhouri-e Eslami came in an article on Monday, a day after Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian received acting deputy prime minister for economic affairs of the Taliban government Abdul Ghani Baradar at the ahead of a 30-member delegation in the Iranian capital Tehran.

The daily also said failing to discuss the standoff between Iran and the Taliban administration on the water rights from the Hirmand River in the meeting, while a representative of the Afghan energy ministry was on the delegation, raised eyebrows.

Jomhouri-e Eslami wrote “it is very strange and regrettable” that the Iranian government officially hosted the delegation and started a new phase of interaction with the self-styled Taliban administration before it acknowledges Iran’s share of water from Hirmand.

“It definitely is not in our national interest to give so many privileges to a group that is not willing to gain legitimacy by the popular vote inside their country and acts like a bully in its foreign relations over Iran’s legal rights,” the daily censured.

Two years after taking over in Afghanistan following the US military withdrawal, the Taliban are consolidating their power in the country even as they remain shunned by most of the world, with the exception of a few countries like China.

US ‘will be hit hard’ if Gaza war does not end: Iranian defense minister

Iran’s Defense Minister General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani

“Our advice to the Americans is to immediately end this war and implement a ceasefire, otherwise they will be hit hard,” Ashtiani said on Sunday.

“We have always recommended the Americans not to support the Zionist regime.”

The death toll continues to rise in the Gaza Strip.

The Iranian minister added the United States has made several strategic mistakes, particularly in West Asia. Under the current circumstances, the minister added, Washington has sent messages to Iran out of desperation and fear.

The Americans along with the Israelis are now in a quagmire trying to get themselves out, General Ashtiani continued.

Israel ignited the war machine on October 7 after the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas against the occupying entity. Since then, the regime has killed at least 9,800 Palestinians, including 4,800 children and 2,550 women.

Israel has also cut off fuel, electricity, food and water to more than two million Palestinians living in Gaza.

US military bases and personnel in Iraq and Syria have repeatedly come under drone and missile attacks since the Israeli regime launched the war on Gaza.

On November 1, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called upon Muslim states to press for an end to the Israeli atrocities against Gaza, impose sanctions on the regime and stop oil and goods exports to the occupied territories.