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Iran’s FM calls Islamic unity religious obligation, rejects military solutions

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Abbas Araghchi

Speaking at a gathering with foreign ministry officials and participants of the 39th International Islamic Unity Conference, he said the current conditions facing Muslim nations demand collective action.

Araghchi highlighted that this year marks the 1,500th anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad’s birth, which he said provides a unique opportunity for greater celebrations across the Muslim world.

He recalled Iran’s proposal at the latest Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting to designate the current year as the “Year of Unity,” a suggestion that received positive attention.

Addressing the conflict in Gaza, Araghchi castigated the Israeli regime for committing “war crimes” by using starvation as a weapon and condemned the international community’s silence.

He argued that threats from Israel extend beyond Palestine to the entire region, stressing that only unity among Muslim nations can counter such dangers.

On talks over Iran’s nuclear program, Araghchi also reiterated that Iran “has never left the negotiating table” and that the US and Israel have realized “there is no military solution regarding Iran,” leaving diplomacy as the only viable path forward.

Israeli attacks kill five in Lebanon in latest ceasefire breach

By
IFP Media Wire
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The attacks on Monday hit the Bekaa and Hermel districts, with state media saying at least eight air raids were carried out. According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, seven bombs fell on the outskirts of Hermel, while another strike targeted the nearby town of Labweh.

Israel’s military claimed the raids hit weapons depots and military facilities used by Hezbollah, though the claims could not be independently confirmed. Hezbollah has not yet commented.

Israel has continued launching near-daily assaults on Lebanese territory, particularly in the south, while maintaining an occupation at five border outposts despite the truce requiring a full withdrawal earlier this year.

The conflict erupted on October 8, 2023, when Israel opened a military offensive in Lebanon. By the time the ceasefire was reached in November the following year, more than 4,000 people had been killed and almost 17,000 wounded.

The fragile truce is under further strain as Lebanon grapples with a contentious plan pushed by the United States and Israel to disarm Hezbollah.

Earlier this month, Lebanon’s army presented a proposal to the cabinet outlining steps to begin dismantling the group’s arsenal. Information Minister Paul Morcos said the government welcomed the move, but stopped short of confirming cabinet approval.

The plan prompted a walkout by five Shia ministers, including representatives of Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement, who insist the group will not disarm while Israel continues air strikes and occupation in the south.

The US and Hezbollah’s political rivals in Lebanon have increased pressure on the group to surrender its weapons. Hezbollah has resisted, warning that even raising the issue while Israeli attacks persist would be a “serious misstep”.

Last week, Israeli strikes killed four people in Lebanon, underlining the escalating tension despite the ceasefire. Israel was also slammed for dropping grenades close to peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) last week.

 

UN says 362 earthquake-hit villages in Afghanistan still not reached

By
IFP Media Wire
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In a news briefing on Monday from Jalalabad, near the epicentre, Shannon O’Hara, who oversees the coordination of the UN’s humanitarian office in Afghanistan, said the earthquake had struck “some of the most remote, rural areas in the country”, making the delivery of humanitarian aid difficult.

O’Hara stated an initial assessment only took account of 49 out of 411 affected villages in Afghanistan’s eastern regions, and found 5,230 homes destroyed and 672 damaged.

“Even before the earthquake, these villages were difficult to reach. Now, with the earthquake, it takes extraordinary effort to get there,” O’Hara added.

The magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Afghanistan at the end of August, killing at least 2,200 people, Taliban authorities said, with rescue operations ongoing to reach more affected villages.

The UN believes half a million people may have been affected by the earthquake, including 250,000 children.

Entire villages have been destroyed, and road conditions were made even more difficult due to aftershocks, O’Hara added. She said it took her team more than 6 hours to reach Jalalabad, the largest city near the area most affected by the earthquake.

Humanitarian teams often had to drive long distances to reach villages, including hours spent on foot, highlighting the logistical barriers to aid delivery.

In the mountains of southeast Afghanistan, whole villages have been reduced to piles of stone and mud.

More than a week after a devastating earthquake struck, residents are mourning their families and figuring out how they can survive, having lost everything.

“As we drove towards the epicentre, we saw families walking in the opposite direction – displaced, carrying what little they could. Many were still wearing the same clothes from the night of the earthquake,” O’Hara said.

“Mothers and fathers were carrying their children, some with fresh bandages covering their injuries.”

The UN representative also warned that seasonal weather changes, including the possibility of heavy rain and snow in the coming months, could further complicate aid efforts.

“Time is running out,” she added.

“At the end of October, the winter season will begin, and snow will cut off access to these mountain valleys.

“If we don’t act now, these communities may not survive the winter.”

South Korea takes next step in snapback mechanism process

By
IFP Media Wire
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Iran nuclear program

On August 28 Britain, France and Germany launched a 30-day process to reimpose U.N. sanctions, accusing Tehran of failing to abide by a 2015 nuclear accord with world powers.

Under that process, known as snapback, the council must now vote by late September on a resolution to permanently lift sanctions on Iran, requiring at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, or France to pass.

If no member had put forward such a resolution 10 days after the snapback process was triggered then it would be up to the council president to do so, which is South Korea for September.

By finalizing the text on Monday South Korea can now put it to a vote at any time before the 30-day deadline expires. The resolution is unlikely to be adopted.

Britain, France and Germany are still trying to convince Iran to meet three requirements so their threat of reimposing U.N. sanctions can be delayed for a limited amount of time to allow space for talks on a long-term deal to address their concerns about Tehran’s nuclear program. Such a delay would require a Security Council resolution.

Separately Iran’s strategic allies Russia and China finalized a draft Security Council resolution late last month that would extend the 2015 accord for six months and urge all parties to immediately resume negotiations. But they have not yet asked for a vote.

If Russia and China put their resolution to a vote before Germany, France and Britain have reached agreement with Iran on a delay, then it could be vetoed by France, Britain or the U.S. if needed.

 

Iran rejects “false claims” in Arab League foreign ministers’ statement

By
IFP Media Wire
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Iranian Foreign Ministry

It also urged the Arab League to refrain from any actions or rhetoric that divert regional and global attention from the central issue of the region and the Islamic world, namely the ongoing genocide in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran once again reaffirmed Iran’s indisputable sovereignty over the islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb as inseparable parts of Iran’s territorial domain, condemning any territorial claims against Iran and emphasizing that repeating baseless assertions in similar statements will not alter the geographical, historical, or legal realities of these islands.

It said all measures taken on these three Iranian islands are in line with Iran’s sovereign rights to safeguard their security and safety and to protect Iran’s national interests.

The Foreign Ministry categorically denied the unfounded accusation of sending military shipments from Iran to Yemen or interfering in its internal affairs.

It noted that while the Zionist regime continues its genocide in occupied Palestine, its aggression and occupation in Syria and Lebanon, and repeated terrorist and aggressive attacks on Yemen under the full support of the United States, raising such fabricated claims, mostly orchestrated by the Zionist regime, do nothing to advance the interests of the Islamic Ummah.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, reiterating its principled policy of good neighborliness, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, stressed the importance of strengthening unity and coordination among regional countries and avoiding divisive positions.

It said Iran is the most effective provider of maritime security in the Persian Gulf and regional and international waters, and has always guaranteed the safe passage of ships and vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Within the framework of protecting its national interests and territorial sovereignty, and through full and responsible oversight of the strategic Hormuz Strait’s entry and exit points, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to take any action necessary to ensure freedom of navigation in accordance with international laws and regulations, while preventing any violation of its national sovereignty.

The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasized the need to establish lasting security and stability in West Asia, the Persian Gulf, and the Sea of Oman through intra-regional mechanisms and the participation of all regional countries, free from destabilizing and destructive interference by external actors.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry also welcomed the Arab League’s strong condemnation of the Zionist regime’s continued genocide in Gaza and the occupying regime’s crimes against the oppressed Palestinian people.

Hundreds of artists vow boycott of Israeli film institutions amid Gaza war

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

In a pledge released on Monday, the artists – who include Olivia Colman, Ayo Edebiri, Mark Ruffalo, Riz Ahmed, Tilda Swinton and Javier Bardem – decried the “unrelenting horror” in Gaza, where Israel has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians and flattened most of the territory.

“Inspired by Filmmakers United Against Apartheid who refused to screen their films in apartheid South Africa, we pledge not to screen films, appear at or otherwise work with Israeli film institutions – including festivals, cinemas, broadcasters and production companies – that are implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people,” the statement read.

Examples of being complicit in Israeli rights violations include “whitewashing or justifying genocide and apartheid, and/or partnering with the government committing them”, it added.

The pledge cited International Court of Justice rulings that concluded a genocide charge against Israel is plausible and found the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal.

Over the 23 months of the Gaza war, leading academics, rights groups and United Nations experts have accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians.

Genocide – defined by the UN as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group” – is one of the gravest war crimes.

Palestinian rights advocates have long called for celebrities to use their reach and status to bring awareness to the plight of Palestinians.

Hollywood has been historically pro-Israel, producing movies like the 1960 film Exodus, which valorised the founding of Israel, and regularly inserting positive references to Israel in blockbusters.

But in recent years, many actors and directors have spoken out against Israel’s policies – sometimes to the detriment of their own careers.

For example, in 2023, actor Susan Sarandon, who signed Monday’s pledge, was dropped by her talent agency after attending a Palestine solidarity rally.

After the outbreak of the war in Gaza, Melissa Barrera, who also joined the boycott call, lost her role in the horror franchise Scream over social media posts critical of Israel.

Still, voices sympathetic to Palestinians continue to grow louder in the film industry.

In March, No Other Land, an Israeli-Palestinian film focused on the ongoing destruction of the Palestinian community of Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank, won the Oscar for best documentary feature.

More recently, The Voice of Hind Rajab, which tells the story of a five-year-old Palestinian girl who was trapped in a car with slain family members before Israeli soldiers also killed her, received a 23-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival.

The movie centres on Rajab’s heart-wrenching calls to rescuers while under Israeli fire in Gaza City.

Monday’s pledge comes as Israel pushes to systematically destroy Gaza City, having already levelled most of the besieged enclave.

“As filmmakers, actors, film industry workers, and institutions, we recognise the power of cinema to shape perceptions,” the statement said.

“In this urgent moment of crisis, where many of our governments are enabling the carnage in Gaza, we must do everything we can to address complicity in that unrelenting horror.”

EU may impose sanctions on China over Russia: FT

By
IFP Media Wire
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European Parliament

The British newspaper reported that EU officials began discussing the matter on Sunday. A source said that the talks are still at a “very early stage.” Before committing to any punitive measures against Beijing, Brussels reportedly wants to have the “full backing of the US and co-ordination with Washington,” according to the FT.

To ensure this, EU officials travelled to the US on Monday, while US Energy Secretary Chris Wright will head to Brussels later in the week, the paper wrote.

Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, China emerged as the top importer of Russian oil.

Earlier this year, the EU sanctioned several Chinese firms over their alleged support for industries that aid Russia’s military. Beijing slammed the move as “unreasonable” and accused the bloc of “double standards.” It emphasized that China strictly regulates dual-use goods and insisted it has not supplied any lethal weapons to parties involved in the Ukraine conflict.

On Sunday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested the US and EU could impose more sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil.

Beijing earlier vowed to “ensure its energy supply” in ways that protect its interests, and cautioned that “tariff wars have no winners.”

Last month, US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on India to 50% citing New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil. Indian officials denounced the move as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said last week that India will continue to buy Russian crude, stressing that the nation’s oil purchases are driven by its economic priorities and not external pressure.

Last week, during his four-day visit to China, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West against talking to such global economic powerhouses as China and India in an “unacceptable” tone. He argued that pressure on Beijing and New Delhi is intended to slow their economic rise.

 

Spain announces several measures against Israel, including arms embargo

By
IFP Media Wire
-

At the heart of the package is a royal decree law to formalise and make permanent Spain’s embargo on the purchase and sale of weapons, ammunition and military equipment to Israel.

Although the embargo has been applied de facto since October 2023, Sanchez said the decree would remove any ambiguity after months of controversy and doubt.

Additional measures include banning ships carrying fuel for the Israeli army from docking in Spanish ports, and denying access to Spanish airspace for state aircraft transporting defence material bound for Israel.

Spain will also bar entry to individuals “directly involved in genocide, human rights violations and war crimes” in Gaza, a prohibition that could apply to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his government.

Madrid will also prohibit imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, while restricting consular services to Spanish citizens living in those settlements to a bare minimum.

On the humanitarian front, Sanchez pledged enhanced support for the Palestinian Authority, including a larger Spanish presence in the EU mission in Rafah and new cooperative projects.

Spain will also contribute an additional €10 million to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, and increase its overall humanitarian aid to Gaza to €150 million by 2026.

“These nine measures will be implemented immediately,” Sanchez added.

In response to Spain’s announcement, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticised the measures as “antisemitic”, while his government announced it would bar left-wing Spanish Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz and Youth Minister Sira Rego from entering Israel.

The Spanish government immediately hit back at Saar’s comments.

“The Spanish government strongly rejects the false and slanderous accusations of anti-Semitism made by the Israeli government against Spain and the Spanish people, as well as the unacceptable ban on two members of the Spanish government entering Israel,” an official statement read.

“The measures relating to the inhumane situation in Gaza and the West Bank, announced today by the President of the Spanish Government, reflect the majority opinion of Spanish society and are adopted within the framework of its sovereignty and in line with its defence of peace, human rights and international law.”

The prime minister opened his address on Monday by recalling the “countless persecutions and injustices” endured by the Jewish people throughout history, including the Holocaust.

He expressed Spain’s support for Israel’s existence and condemned the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023. But he drew a distinction between legitimate defence and Israel’s current actions: “One thing is to protect your country and your society, and another very different thing is to bomb hospitals and starve innocent children.”

He argued that what Netanyahu’s government claims is a military response to terrorism “has ended up becoming a new wave of illegal occupations” and “an unjustifiable attack on the Palestinian civilian population”.

Sanchez stated that the campaign is now widely recognised as genocide, citing the opinion of the UN special rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese and other legal experts.

Sanchez has been among the most outspoken European leaders in criticising Israel’s onslaught on Gaza and was the first EU diplomat to call it out as genocidal.

“63,000 dead, 159,000 wounded, 250,000 people at risk of acute malnutrition and nearly two million displaced, half of them children,” he said, adding, “This is not self-defence; it is extermination of a defenceless people and a flagrant breach of humanitarian law.”

Sanchez criticised the international community for failing to halt the war, accusing major powers of being mired between “indifference” and “complicity” with Netanyahu. While acknowledging that Spain cannot stop the offensive on its own, he insisted it would not give up trying.

The prime minister recalled Spain’s recognition of the State of Palestine last year as part of earlier efforts and said the new measures were designed to “take another step forward to stop the genocide in Gaza, pursue its perpetrators and support the Palestinian people”.

Although he admitted the measures would not be enough to halt Israel’s invasion or its alleged war crimes, Sanchez said they were intended both to increase pressure on Netanyahu’s government and to ease some of the suffering in Gaza.

He concluded: “I want Spanish society to know that, faced with one of the most infamous episodes of the 21st century, your country, Spain, was on the right side of history.”

Sanchez has repeatedly accused the EU of double standards for failing to apply sanctions to Israel.

“It makes absolutely no sense that we’ve passed 18 sanction packages on Russia for its aggression against Ukraine and Europe but, with double standards, haven’t even been able to suspend the Association Agreement with Israel when they are flagrantly violating Article 2 in terms of human rights,” he stressed in June.

Madrid has been among a minority of EU states, including Slovenia, Ireland and the Netherlands, that have led efforts calling for the EU to review the EU-Israel Association Agreement since February 2024.

In their meeting in mid-July, the EU’s 27 foreign ministers failed to agree on the suspension of the controversial agreement, which covers both trade and political relations. They also failed to agree on nine other possible measures against Israel put forward after it was found to have breached the human rights provisions of the trade agreement.

The measures that would have been agreed included full suspension of the agreement, suspension of its preferential trade provisions, an arms embargo, sanctions on Israeli ministers, and imposing a ban on trade with Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine.

Slovenia last month became the first EU country to take action independently, imposing a full arms embargo on Israel. Later in August, Germany announced the suspension of military exports to Israel that could be used in Gaza, in response to Israel’s plan to fully occupy the Palestinian enclave.

Sweden and the Netherlands have also called on the EU to suspend the agreement with Israel over the continued Gaza siege and its ban on the UN’s humanitarian aid operations.

But Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned last month citing his government’s failure to impose additional sanctions on Israel.

Iran’s President stresses BRICS’ role in countering unilateralism

By
IFP Media Wire
-

In the extraordinary meeting of BRICS leaders, which was held on Monday virtually, the Iranian president argued that unilateral policies not only jeopardize the national interests of independent nations but also disrupt global cooperation and hinder sustainable development.

Pezeshkian stressed the urgent need for a serious overhaul of global governance structures. He called for a reevaluation of the United Nations Security Council’s composition and functionality, as well as reforms in the international financial system.

He emphasized that groups like BRICS and other Global South institutions bear a special responsibility in guiding the transition to a multipolar, democratic, and equitable order where the voices of developing countries are heard.

Pezeshkian pointed out the recent geopolitical tensions and the growing impact of climate change as factors threatening economic growth and international peace.

He criticized the disproportionate influence of a few powerful nations and the politicization of economic tools, which erode trust among countries and undermine effective global governance.

The president proposed several initiatives for BRICS during his virtual speech. The initiatives include reforming international financial structure, promoting inclusive multilateralism by strengthening the UN to amplify the voices of developing nations, ensuring equitable access to essential resources through global public goods cooperation, establishing a support mechanism for members facing illegal sanctions, and fostering sustainable development by encouraging innovation and cooperation in green and digital economies.

Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to active collaboration within BRICS, emphasizing that effective countermeasures against unilateralism would benefit not only member nations but the entire international community.

He concluded by stressing the importance of strengthening multilateralism and adhering to sustainable development principles for a better future.

New sanctions won’t force Russia to change course: Moscow

By
IFP Media Wire
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Kremlin

“No sanctions will be able to force the Russian Federation to change the consistent position that our president has repeatedly spoken about,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told a Russian state media reporter.

The comments come as the European Union is preparing a 19th package of sanctions targeting Russian banks and the energy sector, Bloomberg reported. U.S. President Donald Trump has also repeatedly threatened to implement secondary sanction on Russian oil if Moscow’s invasion continues, although he has yet to do so.

Peskov further claimed that sanction “turned out to be absolutely useless in terms of exerting pressure on Russia.”

Despite Peskov’s claims, sanction have undeniably played an impact on Russia’s economic fortunes, vastly limiting the country’s trade with international partners, and weakening the country’s ability to sell oil to fuel the country’s war machine.

Following an initial economic surge led by the country’s defense industry following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Russia’s economy has continued to face uncertainty amid high inflation, slowed economic growth, and near-record interest rates.

Despite the challenges faced by Russia’s economy, Moscow has shown no indication it is ready to halt its war in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly repeatedly refused to attend an in-person meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump.

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