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Trump could unveil Gaza ‘peace council’, ‘government’ soon: Report

By
IFP Media Wire
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Israel’s Channel 12 quoted senior White House officials as saying the US hopes to announce the establishment of a Palestinian technocratic government to run day-to-day affairs in Gaza in early January, a key provision of phase two of the plan to end the genocidal war.

The White House also plans to unveil a multinational peace council to oversee the technocratic government’s work and an international stabilisation force to handle security in Gaza next month, Channel 12 reported.

Trump could announce the peace council, which he has suggested he would head, as early as in the Davos Economic Forum on January 19, it added.

Meanwhile, the US envisions the start of staged disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, to be managed by the newly established technocratic government, according to a senior White House official quoted by Channel 12.

Hamas’s demilitarisation, part of the ceasefire framework adopted by the United Nations Security Council in November, has remained a key sticking point that the Palestinian group has not fully committed to. Earlier this month, senior Hamas figure Khaled Meshaal stated that the group would be open to a temporary “freeze” on its weapons but not full disarmament.

Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff recently briefed Israeli officials on US plans to advance the ceasefire process, including the establishment of the new peace council, Israel’s Channel 13 quoted a senior Israeli official as saying.

But Netanyahu, who expected to meet Trump on Monday, has resisted the plans, expressing particular scepticism about the proposal for Hamas’s disarmament, a separate informed source told Israel’s Channel 12.

The report follows repeated Israeli violations of the October ceasefire that have thrown its future into jeopardy.

During the 11-week truce, Israel has continued to attack Gaza on a near-daily basis, killing at least 406 Palestinians, including many civilians, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Israel has also blocked the full delivery of aid promised by the ceasefire, continuing to restrict essential and nutritious food items like meat, dairy, and vegetables.

The US has grown frustrated by what it perceives as Israel’s disregard for the truce and “delay” tactics that hamper Washington’s plans to advance the peace process, Israel’s Channel 12 reported.

“It’s felt for some time as if the Israelis are having second thoughts about the Gaza agreement,” an unnamed US official told the media, adding, “Implementation is already difficult, but sometimes the Israelis make it even harder.”

 

China sanctions many US firms over Taiwan arms sales

By
IFP Media Wire
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The United States has long been Taiwan’s biggest arms supplier despite China viewing the democratic island as part of its territory and refusing to rule out using force to bring it under control.

Taipei announced this month that Washington had approved $11 billion in defence sales in what would be one of the largest weapons packages for the island.

China criticised the deal and announced new sanctions on Friday against Boeing’s defence manufacturing outpost in St. Louis, aerospace giant Northrop Grumman and others.

The companies appear to have little or no business in China and some have been previously sanctioned by Beijing.

Chinese entities will be banned from working with the firms, and their assets in the country will be frozen.

The arms sales “violate the one-China principle… seriously damaging China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, Beijing’s foreign ministry said.

China also sanctioned 10 industry executives, banning them from entering the country, including Hong Kong and Macau.

African Union refutes ‘any recognition of Somaliland’ after Israel declaration

By
IFP Media Wire
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Benjamin Netanyahu

In a statement issued by its head, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, the AU called for African borders to be respected and said: “Any attempt to undermine the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia… risks setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent.”

The chief of the pan-African body, which counts Somalia as a member, stated that he “firmly rejects any initiative or action aimed at recognizing Somaliland as an independent entity” and stating that Somaliland “remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has stated that he announced “the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state”.

“The declaration is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” Netanyahu’s office said, referring to several agreements between Israel and Arab countries brokered by US President Donald Trump during his first presidency to normalise ties with Israel.

It added Netanyahu had invited Abdullahi to visit.

 

Minor earthquake shakes northeastern Tehran, renewing warnings over seismic risks

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Earthquake Iran

The tremor occurred at 9:52 a.m. local time, at a depth of about seven kilometers. Residents in Pardis and several districts in northeastern Tehran reported feeling the quake.

Tehran’s provincial emergency services said no injuries or damage have been reported so far.

“Our assessments indicate that this earthquake caused no casualties,” the spokesperson for Tehran Emergency Organization said.

Although the quake was relatively weak, it has once again highlighted concerns about Tehran’s vulnerability to major seismic events. Experts have long warned that Iran lies on several major seismic fault lines, and Tehran itself is surrounded by active faults, including the Mosha, North Tehran and Rey faults.

Seismologists and disaster management officials have repeatedly cautioned that a strong earthquake in the capital could have devastating consequences, given Tehran’s high population density, aging infrastructure in some areas, and limited preparedness in certain districts.

Iran’s Leader: Core dispute with west is opposition to global dominance, not nuclear issue

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Ayatollah Khamenei

In a message to the 59th annual meeting of the Union of Islamic Student Associations in Europe, Ayatollah Khamenei said recent tensions stem from Iran’s challenge to “the domination and coercion of the prevailing global system” and its pursuit of just national and international Islamic order.

He referred to the defeat of a “heavy military assault” by the US and its regional allies on Iran, attributing their failure to the initiative, courage and sacrifices of Iranian youth.

According to the message, these developments enhanced Iran’s international standing and demonstrated the country’s ability to confront powerful adversaries through faith, unity and self-reliance.

Ayatollah Khamenei acknowledged the loss of scientists, military commanders and civilians, saying their deaths would not halt Iran’s progress and that the families of those killed remain at the forefront of the movement.

Addressing Iranian students abroad, he said they carry a significant responsibility in advancing these goals.

He urged them to rely on faith, recognize their capabilities and guide their associations toward supporting Iran’s broader vision.

He concluded by expressing confidence in eventual success.

EU should not act as alternative to NATO: Chief

By
IFP Media Wire
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Rutte was responding to Manfred Weber, the head of the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament, who called for the EU to be turned into a “European NATO” in late November.

On Friday, he urged Brussels to “act confidently” and “write [its] own security strategy.”

“We must stop shaping our policy out of Washington papers,” the German politician said.

When asked if he shares the sentiment, the NATO chief warned that “there’s more than the EU” when it comes to NATO.

The EU members of the US-led bloc account for only around a quarter of its total economic output, he added.

Washington has “one big expectation” of its European NATO partners, which is “us spending more, Europe taking more responsibility,” Rutte maintained.

US President Donald Trump pushed NATO members towards committing to spend 5% of their GDP on their militaries annually by 2035 at a summit in The Hague in June. The move did not sit well with some members, including Slovakia and Spain. Madrid emerged as the biggest opponent of the increase, which it dismissed as “absolutely impossible,” prompting Trump to threaten it with tariffs over a failure to comply.

Brussels and Washington also appear to have different approaches to the Ukraine conflict. In November, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned that the EU was stalling US peace efforts and “plotting war.” Earlier the same month, the New York Times reported that Washington had cautioned Kiev’s European backers against dragging out the conflict, citing an increasing risk of escalation.

Moscow maintains that the hostilities are a NATO proxy war sparked by the bloc’s continued eastward expansion. Earlier this month, President Vladimir Putin told a Q&A that Russia has no desire to confront the bloc as long as its interests are respected.

Minister: Iran’s oil sales remain strong despite sanctions, lower global prices

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Speaking in a televised interview, Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said that when assessing oil sales, two main factors should be considered; volume and price.

“In terms of volume, meaning the number of barrels and the amount of oil we sell, the figures are good and this trend continues as before,” he said.

Paknejad noted that the second factor, price, is influenced largely by global benchmarks that have fallen significantly compared to last year.
He stressed that the international price indicators are beyond Iran’s control and may affect national revenues in certain areas.

However, the minister said the government is working to offset the impact of lower global prices by increasing production and sales volumes.
He pointed to the launch of new projects, the opening of facilities, and the continued development of oil fields as key measures aimed at boosting output.

“By raising production capacity and increasing the quantity of oil we sell, we can compensate for the decline in international price indices,” Paknejad said, adding that these efforts help ensure oil revenues remain stable and aligned with the country’s economic needs.

He emphasized that maintaining steady income from oil exports remains a priority for the energy sector.

Cooperation with IAEA under new framework serves Iran’s interests, analyst says

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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In an interview with IRNA, Hassan Beheshti-Pour said Iran has adopted a policy of maintaining at least a minimum level of cooperation with the IAEA, despite disputes following US military attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities that were under agency safeguards.

He argued that sustained engagement helps resolve outstanding questions and weakens the arguments of the US and European powers against Iran.

Beheshti-Pour noted that inspections of facilities damaged in attacks cannot proceed under normal safeguard rules and require new, mutually agreed arrangements, as existing frameworks were designed for peacetime conditions. He said it is unprecedented for safeguarded nuclear sites to be targeted militarily, leaving a legal and technical gap that must be addressed through negotiations with the agency.

He also criticized political pressure to allow immediate inspections, calling it more political than technical in nature. According to Beheshti-Pour, Iran should pursue continuous, independent dialogue with the IAEA to clarify inspection mechanisms and ensure nuclear safety.

The analyst stressed that abandoning cooperation would only deepen Iran’s challenges, adding that resolving disputes through the agency remains both possible and preferable within international norms.

Iranian president visits family of Christian martyr on Christmas eve

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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During the meeting, the president paid tribute to Khachatourian and highlighted the role of all ethnic groups and followers of divine religions in defending Iran’s independence, dignity, and territorial integrity.

Pezeshkian said the presence and sacrifices of Christian martyrs during the Iran-Iraq war were a clear symbol of national unity and deep solidarity among the Iranian people. He added that Iran’s current strength and stability are owed to the sacrifices of martyrs and the resilience of their families, stressing that honoring them is a lasting duty of state officials.

Family members of Razmik Khachatourian, along with Ara Shahverdyan, the parliamentary representative of Iran’s Christian community, thanked the president for his visit and attention.

They reaffirmed their commitment to the ideals of the Islamic Revolution and to continuing the path of the martyrs in service to Iran.

Iranian border guards rescue 1,600 Afghans stranded in snow

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

According to a statement by police spokesman Saeed Montazerolmahdi, the incident occurred last week during heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures along the eastern border. The individuals were at serious risk of hypothermia and death due to the harsh weather conditions.

Border forces used all available resources, including heating equipment and transportation, to move the stranded migrants to safe locations and prevent further danger.

After weather conditions improved, the Afghan nationals returned to Afghanistan.

Iranian border police said they had previously warned Afghan authorities about the risks of illegal border crossings during winter. They also urged Afghan citizens to use legal procedures and authorized routes when seeking to enter Iran.

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