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Iran condemns “unlawful actions” of the US against Venezuela as piracy

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran

In a statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that these positions and actions represent blatant manifestations of a policy based on coercion and systematic bullying, in clear violation of well-established principles and rules of international law and the UN Charter, including freedom of navigation, maritime security, and the freedom of international trade.

It said the US interference with as well as its seizure and obstruction of the free passage of commercial vessels to or from Venezuela constitutes a clear case of state piracy and armed robbery at sea.

The statement pointed out that invoking the US domestic laws and unilateral, illegal sanctions to justify these actions cannot, in any way, serve as a basis to legitimize such criminal acts.

It said threats, economic blockades, and the use of force against an independent member state of the UN constitute a direct violation of the fundamental principles of the world body’s Charter.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry added the continuation of the US’s aggressive unilateralism against independent countries, if not responsibly addressed by the international community and the UN, will set a dangerous precedent and normalize violations of international law, which would disrupt global peace and security. Accordingly, the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement, all responsible states, and relevant international bodies are expected to recognize the gravity of the current situation, condemn the unlawful and coercive actions of the US, and hold Washington accountable for its blatant violations of international law and the UN Charter.

US Congress ends sanctions on Syria

By
IFP Media Wire
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President Donald Trump had already twice suspended the implementation of sanctions, in response to pleas from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, allies of the new government headed by former militant Ahmed al-Sharaa.

But Sharaa had sought a permanent end to the sanctions, fearing that so long as the measures remained on the books they would deter businesses wary of legal risks in the world’s largest economy.

The Senate passed the repeal of the 2019 Caesar Act as part of a sweeping annual defense package. The Senate voted 77 to 20 in favor of the legislation, which was already approved by the House of Representatives and is expected to be signed by Trump.

The repeal, broadly backed by lawmakers of both parties, “is a decisive step toward giving the Syrian people a real chance to rebuild after decades of unimaginable suffering”, stated Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Caesar Act, named after an anonymous photographer who documented atrocities in Assad’s prisons, severely restricted investment and cut off Syria from the international banking system.

The law was intended to prevent the influx of foreign businesses to rebuild Syria at a time when it had seemed that Assad had triumphed following more than a decade of war that triggered a massive flow of refugees toward Europe and helped spawn the birth of the Islamic State terror group.

Sharaa’s fighters seized Damascus a year ago in a lightning offensive.

Sharaa — now dressed in a business suit and seeking better relations with the West — has impressed Trump, including when they first met during the US leader’s May trip to Riyadh.

 

US approves $11bn in weapons sales to Taiwan in deal likely to anger China

By
IFP Media Wire
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The US State Department announced the deal late on Wednesday during a nationally televised address by President Donald Trump.

Weapons in the proposed sale include 82 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, and 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS – worth more than $4bn – defence systems that are similar to what the US had been providing Ukraine to defend against Russian aerial attacks.

The deal also includes 60 self-propelled howitzer artillery systems and related equipment worth more than $4bn and drones valued at more than $1bn.

Other sales in the package include military software valued at more than $1bn, Javelin and TOW missiles worth more than $700m, helicopter spare parts worth $96m and refurbishment kits for Harpoon missiles worth $91m.

In a series of separate statements announcing details of the weapons deal, the Pentagon said the sales served US national, economic and security interests by supporting Taiwan’s continuing efforts to modernise its armed forces and to maintain a “credible defensive capability”.

Taiwan’s defence ministry and presidential office welcomed the news while China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Reuters news agency.

Washington’s huge sale of arms to Taiwan will likely infuriate China, which claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control.

“The United States continues to assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defence capabilities and in rapidly building strong deterrent power,” Taiwan’s defence ministry announced in a statement.

Taiwan presidential office spokesperson Karen Kuo said Taiwan would continue to reform its defence sector and “strengthen whole-of-society defence resilience” to “demonstrate our determination to defend ourselves, and safeguard peace through strength”.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office announced on Wednesday that it opposed efforts by the US Congress to pass bills “related to Taiwan and firmly opposes any form of military contact between the US and Taiwan”.

“We urge the US to abide by the one China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-US joint communiques : Stop ‘arming Taiwan’, stop reviewing relevant bills, and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs,” the office’s spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said in a statement.

Zhu added Taiwan’s political leaders were pursuing “independence”, and were “willing to let external forces turn the island into a ‘war porcupine’,” which could result in the population becoming “cannon fodder” and “slaughtered at will, which is despicable”.

Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te last month announced a $40bn supplementary defence budget, to run from 2026 to 2033, saying there was “no room for compromise on national security”.

Iranian president: US sets humiliating conditions for talks

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Pezeshkian said while Iran had engaged in talks with the US and was prepared for an agreement, the other side disrupted the negotiations through confrontation.

“Now, they are presenting humiliating conditions for further negotiations, which I am unwilling to accept”, Pezehskian noted.

“We will not give in to humiliation, nor will we accept a weak and fragmented Iran”.

Meanwhile, Pezeshkian underlined that the Islamic Republic is not seeking conflict.

He said, “We have repeatedly stated that we are not pursuing nuclear weapons and are ready for any verification measures, but, the other side seeks to seize all elements of Iran’s power and weaken the country vis-à-vis the Israeli regime”.

The Iranian president reiterated that Tehran pursues peace, but it will not tolerate bullying.

Iranian actor Hamid Taleghani passes away at 59

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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In a statement, Iran’s House of Cinema expressed condolences over his death and announced that his funeral will be held on Thursday.

Taleghani will be laid to rest at the Artists’ Section of Behesht Zahra cemetery in Tehran.

Born in Tehran in 1966, Taleghani rose to prominence with his role in the film High School and went on to build a long career in Iranian cinema and television.

He appeared in numerous films, including Wild Jasmines, Without Permission, A Man Like Rain, The Final Stage, Seven Passages, Line of Fire, White Dial, Come With Me, The Victim, Thus It Was, Chrysanthemum Flowers, Tell Her I Love Her, The Bearers of Life and The Necklace.

Taleghani was also active in television, starring in series such as A Nest for Life, Tell Her I Love Her, The Bearers of Life and The Necklace.

In addition to acting, he directed two works, Freer Than the Sea and A Nest for Life, contributing to Iranian cinema both in front of and behind the camera.

Iran, Russia sign foreign ministry cooperation program in Moscow

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

The document was signed on Wednesday by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov at the conclusion of their negotiations and comes after the implementation of the Comprehensive Iran-Russia Strategic Treaty.

Talks between the two foreign ministers focused on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues.

Lavrov welcomed Araghchi and the accompanying Iranian delegation at the Russian Foreign Ministry before discussions commenced.

During the meeting, Araghchi said consultations between Tehran and Moscow have continued on a close and regular basis at all levels.

He described relations between the two countries as comprehensive and multidimensional, encompassing political, economic, cultural, defense, and security cooperation.

He also noted that the presidents of Iran and Russia have met five times over the past 18 months, reflecting the intensity of high-level contacts.

Referring to the recent meeting between Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ashgabat, Araghchi said the current talks offered an opportunity to review bilateral ties in greater detail and enhance coordination on regional and international developments.

Lavrov described the comprehensive strategic treaty as the most significant development in bilateral relations this year, saying it sets a long-term, 20-year direction for cooperation.

FM: Iran not to renounce nuclear rights, including uranium enrichment

By
IFP Media Wire
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Speaking on Wednesday at a joint press conference in Moscow following talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Seyed Abbas Araqchi said that Iran is a committed member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and will not forgo its rights under the treaty, including the peaceful use of nuclear energy and enrichment activities.

Araqchi noted that Russia has consistently recognized and supported Iran’s right to uranium enrichment, adding that Moscow has maintained nuclear cooperation with Tehran and played a very positive and constructive role in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Addressing cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Iranian foreign minister said Iran remains an NPT member and is committed to its obligations.

However, he emphasized that on-the-ground realities must be taken into account, noting that following attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the situation has fundamentally changed.

He said that until a clear framework is established for inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites, and until the new realities on the ground are acknowledged, inspections cannot take place due to existing security and safety threats.

In response to a question about negotiations with the three European countries (the UK, France, and Germany) Araqchi said the European trio no longer have any capacity for talks, having unlawfully used the only mechanism available to them.

He added that there is no reason, subject, or capacity for dialogue with the three European countries regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

Commenting on developments in the Caucasus, Araqchi said the Caucasus and Central Asia are regions where security and stability must be ensured by regional countries themselves.

He stressed that no country outside the region should have a presence there or interfere in its affairs.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at the same press conference, said Russia, like Iran, seeks the normalization of the situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.

He noted that Russia cooperates with Iran in the nuclear field, having built the Bushehr nuclear power plant and currently expanding it.

On cooperation between Iran and the IAEA, Lavrov said Araqchi had provided explanations on the matter, adding that what is needed is political will and goodwill—qualities he said Iran possesses.

US readies new Russia sanctions if Kremlin rejects peace accord: Bloomberg

By
IFP Media Wire
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Trump and Putin

The U.S. is considering options such as targeting vessels in Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of tankers used to transport Moscow’s oil, and traders who facilitate the transactions, the report said.

The new measures could be announced as early as this week, the report added.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discussed the move when he met a group of European ambassadors earlier this week, the report noted.

 

Body of missing Iranian female mountaineer found on Mount Damavand

By
Emad Askarieh
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The recovery was carried out with the assistance of Mazandaran and Amol Red Crescent rescue teams and supported by operational drones and UAVs.

This came after five days of search operations in the area. Specialized mountain rescue teams from the Reyneh base and the Amol branch conducted the search, despite adverse weather conditions and freezing temperatures.

Ms. Haseli attempted a solo ascent of Mount Damavand via the southern route on December 10, 2025, despite safety warnings. She was 50.

American senators introduce bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russian oil profits

By
IFP Media Wire
-

The bill was brought forth by Republican Dave McCormick, Democrat Elizabeth Warren, Democrat Chris Coons, and Republican Jon Husted. If passed, it would require U.S. President Donald Trump to sanction any purchasers, transporters, or facilitators of Russian oil products within 90 days.

The sanctions would effectively bar any dealers in Russian oil from the U.S. financial system.

“Any nation or entity that buys Russian oil is actively funding Russia’s aggression in Ukraine,” Senator McCormick said in a press release.

“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin has demonstrated he is unserious about bringing this war against Ukraine to a close, and continuing to fuel the war machine should carry consequences.”

Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S., Olha Stefanishyna, praised the legislation on social media and stated that the measure indicates “strong bipartisan support for further economic pressure on the aggressor.”

The proposed legislation allows for limited exceptions to the sanctions, including the possible option to exempt purchasers from penalties if they pay a fee into an account designated for Ukraine for every barrel of Russian oil they buy.

The new bill arrives as the White House is once again pressing for negotiated settlement to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, held two rounds of talks in Berlin Dec. 14-15 with a Ukrainian team led by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

While Trump has made winning a peace deal in Ukraine a priority of his administration, he has been slow to impose economic sanctions against Russia. In October 2025, Trump lodged the first sanctions against Russia of his term, targeting the oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil.

The measures froze the firms’ U.S.-based assets and threatened secondary penalties for foreign entities engaging with them, but Washington has extended a waiver that lets Lukoil-branded gas stations abroad stay in business through late April 2026.

Another bipartisan sanctions bill, separate from the DROP Act, was heavily edited at the administration’s request, giving Trump broad powers to waive penalties. The sanctions bill, sponsored by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, has lagged in Congress.

 

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