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EU foreign policy chief warns lack of Russian concessions could fuel future wars beyond Ukraine

By
IFP Media Wire
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Russia Ukraine War

In an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Kallas said a sustainable settlement to end Russia’s war in Ukraine cannot be achieved unless Russia changes its behavior and accepts concrete limits on its military power.

“The problem for peace is Russia. Even if Ukraine received security guarantees, but there were no concessions from Russia, we would have other wars, perhaps not in Ukraine but elsewhere,” she stated.

She noted that while the European Union welcomes renewed diplomatic momentum toward peace, including efforts by the US administration, Kallas added Russia continues to show no “genuine willingness” to stop the war, citing ongoing attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.

According to Kallas, a ceasefire must be the first step toward any credible agreement, and preventing future conflicts requires ensuring that Russia is no longer able to launch new wars.

“For a sustainable peace, we must ensure that Russia doesn’t attack again. We need concessions from Russia, whether it means limiting their army or curbing their military budget,” she said.

Kallas reiterated the EU’s firm position that there should be “no territorial concessions and no recognition of the occupation of Ukrainian land,” stressing that borders cannot be changed by force.

“And there should be no points in the European security architecture that give Russia a direct role,” she added.

Addressing the possibility of Ukraine joining the EU by 2027, Kallas said accession remains a merit-based process determined by member states, but acknowledged that US support could help overcome political blockages within the bloc.

“This proposal is a good sign for the country that’s blocking Ukraine’s progress, a country very friendly to the United States (Hungary): the US push for it could convince them to lift their veto,” she added.

Lebanese newspaper claims Beirut has halted acceptance of new Iranian ambassador

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran Lebanon Flags

According to the newspaper, following the appointment of Ahmad Sweidan as Lebanon’s ambassador to Iran in October, Tehran formally submitted the name of its proposed new ambassador to Lebanon through standard diplomatic channels.

However, Al-Akhbar reported that the process has since stalled within Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry.

The paper alleged that Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji has kept the nomination in his office without submitting it to the Lebanese cabinet, a move described by the newspaper as contrary to Lebanon’s diplomatic and administrative regulations.

It further claimed that the minister has not forwarded a copy of the ambassador’s credentials to the presidential palace, nor officially informed Tehran of Lebanon’s approval of the appointment.

The newspaper cited informed sources as saying the delay stems from a political decision linked to the Lebanese Forces party, accusing it of seeking to escalate political tensions with Iran and push bilateral relations toward a diplomatic crisis.

The report comes days after Raji formally declined an invitation to visit Tehran, saying the circumstances are not suitable for such a trip at the moment.

Debate in Lebanon over the future of the Iran-aligned Hezbollah and calls for state control over the resistance movement’s weapons stand out in the tensions between Tehran and Beirut.

One-fifth of Iran’s population to be elderly by 2050, expert warns

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Aging population in Iran

Speaking on demographic developments, Ghasemi said Iran is nearing the end of its demographic transition, driven by sharply declining fertility rates over the past three decades, rising life expectancy, delayed marriage, smaller family sizes and the migration of younger workers.

Currently, about 8 percent of Iran’s population is over 65, while those aged 60 and above account for roughly 12 percent.

By mid-century, the share of people aged 60 and over is projected to reach nearly 30 percent.

He warned that the aging trend is more pronounced in Tehran, where 11 to 13 percent of residents are already over 60, rising to 18 percent in older districts.
Ghasemi said the capital lacks adequate infrastructure and services to meet growing elderly needs.

The demographic shift poses serious challenges for healthcare systems, pensions, urban planning and social services, he noted.

However, Ghasemi stressed that with forward-looking policies, aging can also create opportunities, including the development of a “silver economy,” better use of seniors’ experience and stronger social cohesion.

Iran’s women’s youth goalball team wins gold at Para-Asian Youth Games in Dubai

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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According to Tasnim’s correspondent in the UAE, in the final match of the fifth edition of the Asian Youth Women’s Goalball Tournament held at Al Mazhar Stadium, Iran faced Thailand and secured a 6–2 victory.

Iran dominated both halves of the match, defeating Thailand 2–0 in the first half and 4–2 in the second, achieving an overall 6–2 win to take the gold medal.

In the previous edition of the tournament in Bahrain, the Iranian team had earned the silver medal.

During the preliminary stage of this edition, Iran recorded four wins, including two victories each over South Korea and Thailand.

Marble Palace, Iran Art Museum

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Due to its unique architecture, the Marble Palace is often compared to Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan and, on its own, reflects an important part of Iranian art.

More in pictures:

Israel approves several new West Bank settlements in major annexation push

By
IFP Media Wire
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Israeli settlements West Bank

Israeli media reported on Friday that the decision also revives two northern West Bank outposts dismantled during the 2005 “disengagement”.

The Israeli press outlet Ynet claimed the plan “was coordinated with the US in advance”, while Channel 14 said the push came from far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich – a settler himself and one of the most hardline figures in Israel’s governing coalition.

Settlement expansion, though illegal under international law, is widely accepted across Israel’s political spectrum.

Palestinian officials condemned the decision, warning that it accelerates Israel’s annexation drive.

Mu’ayyad Sha’ban of the Palestinian Authority’s Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission described it as another step towards erasing Palestinian geography, saying it underscored growing fears about the future of the territory.

Hamas condemned the plan as a dramatic escalation. In a statement, the group announced that the move “constitutes a dangerous escalation in the annexation and Judaisation project” and reflects a government that “treats Palestinian land as colonial spoils and desperately seeks to entrench a settlement reality, ultimately aiming for complete control over the West Bank”.

Hamas urged the UN and human rights organisations to confront what it called Israel’s “unchecked colonial behaviour”.

The Palestinian National Council also denounced the decision. Its head, Rouhi Fattouh, stated that the move “constitutes a double violation of international law and a blatant breach of international legitimacy”.

He added that the policy “represents a systematic expansion of a colonial structure … a de facto colonial authority” outlawed under global legal frameworks.

The approval comes as Israeli forces and settlers escalate violence across the West Bank, against the backdrop of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

According to the UN humanitarian office (OCHA), at least 232 Palestinians – including 52 children – have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers since the start of the year. OCHA has also recorded more than 1,700 settler attacks causing casualties or property damage, averaging five assaults per day across more than 270 communities.

Most attacks were clustered around Ramallah, Nablus and Hebron, areas long targeted by settlement expansion.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced this year in Area C, which makes up roughly 60 percent of the West Bank and remains under full Israeli military control.

Homes have been demolished, seized or sealed, leaving entire communities without shelter as Israel entrenches an apartheid system across the territory.

 

 

Minister: Worst of flu wave to end in Iran in 3 weeks   

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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COVID in Iran

Speaking on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting, he underlined that the Ministry of Health is concentrating on maintaining hospital preparedness and enhancing treatment capabilities during this critical period.

According to Zafarghandi, precise monitoring of disease conditions and full readiness in hospitals are essential.

He noted that respiratory illnesses are particularly severe during periods of air pollution, making it vital for hospital departments, including pulmonary, internal medicine, and intensive care units (ICUs), to be fully prepared.

The minister confirmed that all necessary health and treatment protocols have been communicated to relevant hospital sections.

“Although we are currently experiencing a peak in respiratory illnesses due to air pollution, we anticipate improvement within the next two to three weeks”, he said.

He added that ongoing efforts are focused on ensuring hospitals are fully equipped and capable of providing critical care to patients. Influenza has claimed the lives of more than 100 people in Iran in recent days.

US stormed cargo ship travelling from China to Iran: Wall Street Journal

By
IFP Media Wire
-

Unnamed officials told the newspaper that US military personnel boarded the ship several hundred miles from Sri Lanka, according to the report on Friday. It was the first time in several years US forces had intercepted cargo travelling from China to Iran, according to the daily.

The operation took place in November, weeks before US forces seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela earlier this week, citing sanctions violations. It was another action Washington has not taken in years.

An official told the paper that they seized material “potentially useful for Iran’s conventional weapons”. However, the official noted the seized items were dual-use, and could have both military and civilian applications.

Officials say the ship was allowed to proceed following the interdiction, which involved special operation forces.

Iran remains under heavy US sanctions. Neither Iran nor China immediately responded to the report, although Beijing, a key trading partner with Tehran, has regularly called the US sanctions illegal.

Earlier in the day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the seizure of the oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, which was brought to a port in Texas on Friday.

The action came amid a wider military pressure campaign against Venezuela, which Caracas has charged is aimed at toppling the government of leader Nicolas Maduro.

Beijing “opposes unilateral illicit sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction that have no basis in international law or authorisation of the UN Security Council, and the abuse of sanctions”, Guo stated.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday the Trump administration would not rule out future seizures of vessels near Venezuela.

 

Trump’s envoy to meet Zelensky, European leaders over US peace plan: WSJ

By
IFP Media Wire
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The latest round of discussions comes amid growing U.S. pressure to advance negotiations and fresh accusations from Trump that Zelensky is the one refusing to agree to the American plan.

U.S. officials told WSJ that French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will attend talks with Witkoff scheduled for Dec. 14-15.

The next round of discussions was initially expected to take place on Dec. 13, however the date for a meeting involving Zelensky was not immediately clear. The Kyiv Independent has reached out to the White House for confirmation.

The reported meeting involving Zelensky follows news that Kyiv and its European partners handed Washington their revisions to the U.S.-proposed peace framework, with territorial concessions dominating tensions between the parties.

Moscow has demanded that Ukraine leave the eastern Donbas region, including parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts Russia has failed to seize over more than a decade of war.

Zelensky has said Ukraine’s withdrawal from unoccupied parts of Donbas, the scope of security guarantees, and the status of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remain the most sensitive elements under negotiation.

He added that any territorial decisions must be made by Ukrainians themselves, either through elections or a referendum.

In its search for consensus on its territorial sovereignty, Kyiv has pushed to involve European partners in negotiations after the continent found itself completely shut out of a process that directly affects its security.

The WSJ reported that European leaders had initially hoped to arrange a meeting with Trump in Europe this weekend after a tense phone call between the European leaders and Trump on Dec. 10 — in which Trump reportedly pressured European leaders to press Zelensky to accept the U.S. peace plan.

The White House has previously signaled impatience with the diplomatic process with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt telling reporters that Trump is “sick of meetings just for the sake of meeting.”

US withheld intelligence from Israel during Biden era: Reuters

By
IFP Media Wire
-

In the second half of 2024, Washington cut off a live video feed from a US drone over Gaza which was being used by Tel Aviv in its hunt for hostages and Hamas fighters. The suspension lasted for at least a few days, five of the sources told Reuters news agency.

The US also restricted how Israel could use certain intelligence in its pursuit of high-value military targets in Gaza, said two of the sources, who declined to specify when this decision was taken.

All of the sources spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss U.S. intelligence.
The decision came as worries intensified in the US intelligence community about the number of civilians killed in Israel’s military operations in the besieged enclave. Officials were also concerned that Shin Bet was mistreating Palestinian prisoners, the sources added.

Officials were concerned that Israel had not provided sufficient assurances that it would abide by the law of war when using American information, according to three of the sources.

Under US law, intelligence agencies must receive such assurances before sharing information with a foreign party.

While the Biden administration maintained a policy of continuous support of Israel with both intelligence and weapons sharing, the decision inside the intelligence agencies to withhold information was limited and tactical, said two of the sources. The officials sought to ensure that Israel was using American intelligence in accordance with the law of war, added the sources.

One person familiar with the matter stated that intelligence officials have latitude to make some intelligence-sharing decisions in real time without an order from the White House. Another person familiar with the matter noted any requests by Israel to change how it uses US intelligence required new assurances about how it would use the information.

The intelligence sharing resumed after Israel provided assurances that it would follow US rules.

The Biden administration’s concerns about Israel’s actions in Gaza have been widely reported, but less is known about how the US intelligence community handled relations with its Israeli counterparts.

Following the October 7 attack, Biden signed a memorandum directing his national security agencies to expand intelligence sharing with Israel, said two of the sources.

In the days that followed, the US established a team of intelligence officials and analysts led by the Pentagon and Central Intelligence Agency that flew MQ-9 Reaper drones over Gaza and provided a live feed to Israel to help locate Hamas fighters, according to three of the people familiar with the matter. The drone feed also helped with hostage recovery bids.

Toward the end of 2024, however, American intelligence officials received information that raised questions about Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners, stated four of the sources.

Rights groups have reported grave abuses of Palestinians in Israeli detention during the war.

In the final weeks of the administration – months after the intelligence was shut off and restored – senior national security officials met at the White House for a National Security Council meeting, chaired by President Biden, according to two people familiar with the matter.

At the meeting, intelligence officials proposed that the US more formally cut off some intelligence that had been provided to Israel following the October 7 attack.

The intelligence sharing partnership was set to expire and intelligence officials stated that their concerns had deepened that Israel had committed war crimes in Gaza, said the two sources. Just weeks earlier, the US gathered intelligence that Israel’s military lawyers warned there was evidence that could support war crimes charges against Israel for its military campaign in the coastal enclave.

Biden chose not to cut off the intelligence, however, stating the Donald Trump administration would likely renew the partnership and that the administration’s lawyers had determined Israel had not violated international law, according to the two sources.

Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities.

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