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Iranian parliament approves plan to remove four zeros from national currency

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The decision came after lawmakers resolved the Guardian Council’s objections to the bill during a public session on Sunday.

The bill was passed with 144 votes in favor, 108 against, and 3 abstentions out of 262 members present.
Once implemented, the reform will change the official unit of currency from the rial to the “new toman,” equal to 10,000 current rials or 100 qerans.

According to the approved legislation, the Central Bank of Iran will oversee a three-year transition period, during which both the rial and the new toman will circulate simultaneously.

The Central Bank must also prepare necessary executive measures within two years of the law’s enforcement and officially announce the start of the transition through public channels.

Additionally, the bank is tasked with determining foreign exchange rates in accordance with the country’s legal and economic framework.

The executive bylaw of the reform must be drafted within three months and approved by the Cabinet following endorsement by the Central Bank’s High Council.

Israel pounds Gaza, killing dozens, despite US call for it to halt bombing

By
IFP Media Wire
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Israeli attacks across the besieged Gaza Strip have killed at least 70 Palestinians, medical sources confirmed, despite calls from United States President Donald Trump for Tel Aviv to stop its bombardment after Hamas announced it had accepted some elements of the American leader’s 20-point plan to end Israel’s war.

At least 45 of the victims killed in bombardments and air strikes on Saturday were in the famine-struck Gaza City, where the Israeli army has been pressing an offensive in recent weeks, forcing some one million residents to flee to the overcrowded south.

Eighteen people were killed and several others wounded in an Israeli strike on a residential home in the Tuffah neighbourhood in Gaza City, medics said. The attack also damaged several buildings nearby.

In a statement shared on Telegram, Gaza’s civil defence agency said seven children between the ages of two months and eight years old were among those killed.

Israeli forces also targeted a displacement camp in al-Mawasi in southern Gaza, killing two children and wounding at least eight others.

Al-Mawasi is a so-called safe humanitarian zone that the Israeli army has been ordering Palestinian families to evacuate to. But the area has been repeatedly targeted over the last few weeks and months.

On Saturday, Trump urged Hamas to move quickly to release captives and finalise negotiations over his plan to end the war, “or else all bets will be off”.

“I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again. Let’s get this done, FAST. Everyone will be treated fairly!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

In a separate post later on Saturday, Trump stated that Israel had agreed to an initial “withdrawal line” and that it was also shared with Hamas.

“When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal,” he added.

Hamas had agreed to certain key parts of Trump’s 20-point proposal, including Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and the release of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners. But the group has left some questions unanswered, such as whether it would be willing to disarm.

Trump will be sending his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to Egypt to finalise the technical details of the captive release and discuss a lasting peace deal, according to a White House official. Egypt will also host delegations from Israel and Hamas on Monday to discuss things further, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The first phase of Trump’s proposal includes the return of all captives, dead and alive, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Speaking to reporters from Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed negotiators will be working on a timeline for the release of the remaining captives under Trump’s Gaza plan in Egypt.

He also reiterated that the US proposal includes the demilitarisation of Hamas.

That will be achieved either through Trump’s proposal or through Israeli military action, he said. He added he hoped to announce the return of the captives, all while the Israeli military remained deep in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Hamas has decried Israel’s ongoing raids on the enclave, saying they are proof of “Netanyahu’s lies” about ceasing its offensive in the enclave after Trump’s call.

“The Zionist occupation army continues to commit its horrific crimes and massacres against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip,” Hamas announced in a statement.

The group called on the international community, including Islamic and Arab states, to take “urgent action to protect and provide relief to our people”.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 67,000 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and experts believe the actual toll could be as much as three times higher.

 

Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg abused in Israeli jail: Activists

By
IFP Media Wire
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Thunberg was among the activists who attempted to breach the blockade of Gaza by sea, whose boats were intercepted by the Israeli Navy on Thursday and Friday. Most detainees were taken to Ketziot Prison in the Negev Desert, and more than 130 have since been deported to Türkiye.

Italian journalist Lorenzo D’Agostino told Anadolu that Israeli forces left flotilla members without fresh water for two days, while Thunberg was “wrapped in an Israeli flag and exhibited like a trophy.”

Turkish journalist Ersin Celik said he witnessed the “torture” of Thunberg.

“They dragged little Greta by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” he told the outlet.

Activists Hazwani Helmi and Windfield Beaver also stated that Thunberg was paraded with an Israeli flag and “used as propaganda” during Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s visit to the prison.

The Swedish Embassy in Tel Aviv has announced that Thunberg had complained about “harsh treatment” and not receiving enough food or water. The Israeli rights group Adalah also noted the activists were “forced to kneel with their hands zip-tied for at least five hours.”

The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected the allegations as “complete lies,” saying that Thunberg and other activists were “safe and in good health.” The ministry added that “their true goal was provocation in the service of Hamas, not humanitarian assistance.”

 

US denies visas to Iranian football delegation for 2026 World Cup draw

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The move effectively prevents their attendance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Washington DC on December 5.

According to Sports Business Journal, the decision contradicts an executive order issued earlier this year by President Donald Trump, which bars travelers from 12 countries, including Iran, but allows exceptions for major sporting events such as the World Cup and the Olympics.

FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani said he was confident that Iran’s participation in next summer’s tournament would not be affected by US entry restrictions, noting that match locations would be determined by the December draw rather than political considerations.
He added that FIFA had received assurances from the US, Canada, and Mexico guaranteeing entry for all qualified teams.

Iran Expediency Council member: CFT accession was a measured decision

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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He underlined that implementation of the convention’s provisions will be subject to Iran’s Constitution and domestic laws.

According to Bahonar, the decision was made by a relative, not unanimous vote, following renewed deliberations authorized by the Supreme Leader and requested by the previous government.

He noted that the CFT bill originally belonged to the 10th parliament, and its recent review was part of Iran’s continuous legal process after the Guardian Council raised objections to the legislation.

Bahonar also said the conditional approval aims to reduce obstacles to international economic cooperation, particularly with countries such as China and Russia, both of which had officially urged Tehran to resolve the issue to facilitate trade and financial exchanges. “While the decision will not lead to the lifting of U.S. sanctions,” he said, “it could help alleviate part of the current economic pressures”.

He also addressed the concerns of critics who believe that joining the CFT under current political and economic pressures is not in the country’s best interest.
However, Bahonar argued that conditional accession would not harm Iran’s national security or sovereignty.

He noted that failure to join has already increased shipping insurance costs, financial transfer expenses, and oil trade discounts. Bahonar described the conditional approval of the CFT as a measured and lawful decision, saying it ensures that Iran’s participation remains fully aligned with its constitutional principles while potentially opening space for smoother economic cooperation with friendly nations.

Iran cultural heritage minister: Mehregan Festival ‘symbol of justice, global solidarity’

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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In a message marking the celebration of Mehregan, Salehi-Amiri said the festival embodies values such as love, moderation, gratitude, and harmony between humans and nature.
He noted that Mehregan, jointly inscribed by Iran and Tajikistan on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2024, carries a “strategic message” of peace and trust among nations.

“Culture and civilization form the lasting foundation of peace and mutual confidence between peoples,” the minister stated, adding that the recognition of Mehregan reflects both the cultural depth of the region and the responsibility to preserve and transmit its humanistic values.

He also referred to Mehregan as “a festival celebrating the unity of humanity and nature,” saying its message is especially relevant amid today’s global environmental and social challenges.

The term Mehregan derives from Mehr—meaning love, friendship, and the sun—combined with the suffix -gan, denoting celebration; together it signifies “the Festival of Mehr.”

At least 562 aid workers killed in Gaza in nearly 2 years: UN

By
IFP Media Wire
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UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that a staff member from Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) was killed in a strike on Deir al-Balah, which also seriously injured four others while the team was waiting for a bus to go to an MSF hospital.

“This was the 14th staff member from Medecins Sans Frontieres to have been killed in Gaza since the start of this conflict on October 7,” Dujarric added.

MSF identified the victim as Omar Hayek, 42, an occupational therapist who had worked with the group since 2018.

“All staff were wearing MSF vests, clearly identifying them as medical humanitarian workers,” it said, expressing “deep sorrow and outrage” over his killing.

He also relayed figures from the UN humanitarian office.

“OCHA warns that since that date (Oct. 7), at least 562 aid workers have been killed, including some in the line of duty. That includes 376 UN staff members,” he stated.

“On the ground, our humanitarian colleagues warned that the situation in northern Gaza continues to rapidly deteriorate. Military operations and heavy strikes hitting residential areas and buildings are driving up the death toll and continue to wreak havoc on the area,” Dujarric continued.

The Israeli army has killed over 66,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The relentless bombardment has rendered the enclave all but uninhabitable and led to starvation and the spread of disease.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

Majority of US Democrats favour wide-ranging punitive measures against Israel: Survey

By
IFP Media Wire
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The poll was carried out for the Institute for Middle East Understanding Policy Project, as well as Gen-Z for Change, and conducted by YouGov among 1,221 likely Democratic voters.

Eighty percent of all respondents said the US should reduce its support for Israel, and 72 percent agreed that Israel is carrying out a genocide in Gaza. Sixty-five percent of respondents said they want some form of sanctions to be imposed as a result.

All those figures increased among respondents aged 18-29, at times by 10 percentage points or more.

Pollsters then blindly split that 1,221 figure roughly in half, and posed more specific questions about sanctions. One group was asked the questions with the context that similar policies had been enacted against Apartheid South Africa, and the other was asked the questions directly, with no implication.

Perhaps surprisingly, those who responded to the questions without historical context showed higher rates of support for punitive measures against Israel.

When asked if there should be a ban on extending credit to the Israeli government, including the purchase of Israel bonds by local, state and federal governments, 76 percent said yes. A similar number said there should also be import restrictions on Israeli-made weapons and cybersecurity software.

Sixty-two percent of respondents in the no-context category also agreed the US should prohibit the entrance to the US of Israeli government officials and soldiers, and end all cooperation and intelligence sharing between the US and Israeli militaries.

Asked if the US should send weapons to Israel via taxpayer funds, one randomised half of respondents said no at 71 percent.

The other group was asked the same question, with the caveat that Israel would fully pay for its weapons purchases. This half also said no, at 63 percent.

At least 55 percent of all 1,221 respondents to the poll indicated they would only support a congressional candidate who voted against sending taxpayer-funded weapons to Israel. In the 18-29-year-old category, there was a significant jump of close to 10 percentage points.

The poll was carried out between 11-24 September and has a margin of error of three percent, give or take.

“What was once dismissed as radical is now mainstream: Democratic voters believe their tax dollars should not fund apartheid. This moment did not arrive suddenly. It was built on decades of resistance and unyielding demands for dignity,” Cheyenne Hunt, executive director of Gen-Z for Change, said in a statement.

“The question before Democratic leadership is: will they finally listen, or will they continue to deny this reality and suffer the consequences of ignoring the overwhelming mandate of their voters? Oppression is not an anomaly—it is a consequence of policy”.

Margaret DeReus, the executive director of the Institute for Middle East Understanding Policy Project, warned that “Democratic Party leadership must finally recognize this undeniable reality and listen to their voter base, or they risk repeating their disastrous loss in 2024”.

Iran to conduct first satellite launch using solid-fuel rocket

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

According to Hassan Salarieh, the Chabahar site, in southern Iran, is strategically located to provide access to orbits with various inclinations, making it vital for deploying satellite constellations and sun-synchronous missions.

He said the first phase of the center, designed for solid-fuel launch vehicles, is nearly complete, while the second phase, intended for liquid-fuel rockets capable of carrying heavier payloads to higher orbits, has been fully designed.

Salarieh added that upcoming missions include the launch of “Zafar-2” and “Paya” remote-sensing satellites aboard foreign launchers, while the domestically built “Nahid-2” satellite is scheduled to be launched using Iran’s “Simorgh” rocket.

He also highlighted progress on the “Martyr Soleimani” satellite constellation, initially comprising about 20 narrowband nano-satellites for data transmission across Iran.

In addition, he reported ongoing private-sector developments, including the “Kosar” satellite with four-meter imaging resolution, set for launch soon.

More than 40,000 Gazans have life-changing injuries, needing years of rehabilitation: WHO

By
IFP Media Wire
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One in four of the injured are children, said WHO, noting that at least 5,000 people have undergone amputations. Severe injuries include more than 22,000 to arms and legs, over 2,000 spinal cord injuries, 1,300 brain injuries, and over 3,300 major burns, the report found. Complex facial and eye injuries, particularly for those awaiting evacuation, were also highlighted as a growing source of disability and stigma.

The report warned that Gaza’s health system is on the brink of collapse, with only 14 of 36 hospitals partially functional and less than one-third of pre-war rehabilitation services operating. Despite thousands of amputations, Gaza has just eight prosthetists able to produce and fit artificial limbs, it stressed.

The rehabilitation workforce has been decimated, with at least 42 specialists killed as of September 2024, said the WHO.

“Rehabilitation is vital not only for trauma recovery but also for people with chronic conditions and disabilities,” said Richard Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territory. He added that displacement, malnutrition and the lack of psychosocial support are compounding the crisis.

The UN agency called for urgent protection of the health care system, unrestricted entry of medical supplies and an immediate ceasefire.

“The people of Gaza deserve peace, the right to health and care, and a chance to heal,” it noted.

Peeperkorn urged international action. “First, we need many more countries to accept patients. Second, equally important, maybe even more important, is the restoration of the West Bank and East Jerusalem medical referral pathway.”

He said the report, covering January to September 2025, is “much more extensive” than earlier findings. “What I’ve witnessed in Gaza, I’ve never witnessed before.”

He added conditions before Israel’s relentless destruction of the enclave.

“People always say, ‘Oh, the health system was actually very poor.’ No, it was not that poor. I don’t say it was great. … But overall, the systems were working much better than you would actually imagine.”

“The health indicators in Gaza, West Bank, were actually better than a lot of the neighboring countries,” he continued.

Peeperkorn has concerns about the surge in psychological trauma. “We estimate that the number of people in Gaza requiring urgent mental health and psychosocial support has more than doubled … over a million people today, which will need some kind of support.”

He stressed that before the onslaught, Gaza had “six community-based mental health centers and one psychiatric hospital,” but today “those centers and the psychiatric hospital are not functioning anymore.”

“I think that probably no one in Gaza is not affected by what have happened, what is currently still happening,” stated Peeperkorn.

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