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Iranian Astronomy Olympiad Team crowned world’s best for second consecutive year

They won the outstanding title in a competition in which 64 countries participated. The achievement brought the Iranian competitors prestigious medals and reaffirmed their position at the top of the global rankings.

The distinguished members of Iran’s national team in this edition of the Olympiad are: Ali Naderi, Hossein Masoumi, Hirbod Foodazi, Arshia Mirshamsi Kakhaki and Hossein Soltani.

This remarkable achievement has been described as the outcome of the students’ dedication, the unwavering support of their families, the tireless efforts of their coaches, and the unity of Iran’s scientific community.

Five police officers killed in terrorist attack in southeastern Iran

The attack took place on Friday when armed terrorists ambushed two police patrol vehicles in the Damen district of Iranshahr.

A source told Fars News that several other police officers were also injured in the incident.

According to the Sistan and Baluchestan Police Information Center, the two patrol units from the Damen police station—tasked with securing the Khāsh–Iranshahr road and protecting local residents—were specifically targeted in the attack.

Authorities confirmed that operations to identify and track down the perpetrators are still underway.

Iran warns future nuclear talks will be ‘armed negotiations’ amid rising tensions

In an interview with Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Saeed Khatibzadeh, Deputy Foreign Minister and head of Iran’s Political and International Studies Center, said the activation of the “snapback” mechanism by European states would be a “miscalculated move” and would strip Europe of its remaining influence as a mediator.

“Pressuring Iran is a mistake that will only push us toward tougher decisions,” Khatibzadeh said, emphasizing that negotiations can only resume if they are “results-oriented” and hostilities are halted during talks.

He revealed that, until just hours before the attack in June, Tehran had exchanged messages with US envoy Steve Witkoff, suggesting that military operations were planned in parallel with diplomatic engagement.

Khatibzadeh reiterated Iran’s right to enrich uranium under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), warning that any US insistence on “zero enrichment” would meet “strong resistance.”

“Any future talks will be armed negotiations,” he said, highlighting deep mistrust toward Washington after years of failed agreements and escalating tensions.

Rare manuscript on Prophet Muhammad displayed by Iran’s National Library

According to the National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI), the manuscript, considered one of the significant works detailing the life of the Prophet, was meticulously handwritten in elegant Nasta’liq script by Khwaja Muhammad Sangeen Vali Muhammad between the years 1048 and 1049 AH (1638–1640 CE).

Rare manuscript on Prophet Muhammad displayed by Iran’s National Library

The historical work offers an extensive biography of the Prophet, structured in a preface, four main sections, and a conclusion.

Each section contains multiple chapters, organized chronologically, and provides a rich and documented narrative of key events in the Prophet’s life.

Rare manuscript on Prophet Muhammad displayed by Iran’s National Library

The manuscript is preserved as part of the library’s rare collection of Islamic heritage.

Officials emphasized that the manuscript reflects not only the literary and historical significance of the era but also the artistic mastery of Persian calligraphy and bookmaking traditions of the Safavid period in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Rare manuscript on Prophet Muhammad displayed by Iran’s National Library

Flights resume over western Iran after temporary airspace closure

According to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), Iran restricted its western airspace, covering areas from the border through Zanjan, Hamedan, Arak, Yasuj, and the TULAX route over the western Persian Gulf, from 00:21 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time on Friday.

The closure, which applied to all overflying aircraft, was due to a military exercise conducted by the Iranian Armed Forces.

As of Friday morning, live radar data shows multiple flights traveling through the region, including aircraft en route to Batumi in Georgia, Najaf and Baghdad in Iraq, as well as domestic flights heading to Abadan and Ahvaz in southern Iran.

Authorities said the airspace has now fully reopened, and operations have returned to normal.

No delays or incidents were reported during the temporary restriction period.

Iran’s army chief vows strong response to any aggression

In a message addressed to Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, Major General Amir Hatami praised the rapid advancement of Iran’s defense capabilities, which “stems from the guidance of the Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and the resilience of the Iranian people under international sanctions.”

“The proud sons of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army are prepared, as always, to deliver a crushing and regretful response to any malicious aggressor,” General Hatami said.

The statement comes two months after Iran was dragged into a conflict with the US-Israeli alliance which lasted for 12 days and claimed the lives of over a thousand of civilians, vast majority of them civilians.

General Hatami also honored the memory of fallen defense officials, nuclear scientists, and military personnel in the Israeli aggression in June, emphasizing their sacrifices in building Iran’s defensive strength.

Iranian officials have consistently stressed that the country’s defense policy is based on deterrence, while warning that any attack on its territory or facilities would be met with a forceful reaction.

Iran’s FM to hold joint call with European counterparts on nuclear talks

Abbas Araghchi

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei said the call aims to address key issues in the Iran-Europe dialogue over the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“The discussions will focus on Iran’s demands, particularly the lifting of unjust sanctions, and on the responsibility of the European parties regarding recent criminal attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities,” Baqaei told the state-run IRNA news agency.

The announcement comes amid heightened tensions over the future of the nuclear agreement, amid European threats to trigger mechanism, which would restore draconian sanctions on Iran.

Armenia seeks LPG imports from Iran to address domestic shortages

Gevorg Papoyan said the request was made during a meeting with Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade Mohammad Atabak, as Yerevan seeks to diversify its energy suppliers and stabilize rising fuel costs.

“Securing additional LPG supplies from Iran is crucial for us,” Papoyan said. “Diversifying suppliers will enhance competition and help reduce prices in the domestic market.”

According to Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency, LPG prices at Armenian gas stations have risen by 50 percent since June, putting pressure on consumers and businesses.

Earlier this summer, Papoyan urged Armenia’s Competition Protection Commission to investigate the price surge, which officials partly attributed to logistical challenges with fuel imports from Russia through Georgia.

Armenia, a landlocked South Caucasus nation, currently relies heavily on fuel imports from Russia but has been exploring new trade options to boost energy security amid market volatility and regional supply issues.

Officials have not yet disclosed details regarding potential volumes or pricing of possible LPG imports from Iran.

Iran UN envoy Voices concern over transfer of ferrorists from Syria to Afghanistan

Addressing the UN Security Council meeting on “The Situation in the Middle East: (Syria)” on Thursday evening, Amir Saeid Iravani stressed that ISIS, al-Qaeda, and foreign terrorists continue to destabilize Syria and the wider region, seriously undermining regional and international peace and security.

He emphasized that all countries must fully comply with international law in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

According to Iravani, the only sustainable path for Syria’s future is a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process, facilitated by the United Nations in line with the core principles of Security Council Resolution 2254.

He added that such a process must uphold the rights and legitimate aspirations of all Syrians while preserving Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and national institutions.

He further underlined that accountability, including for crimes committed against Alawite communities in Latakia and Tartus, must be swift, credible, transparent, and impartial.

He called on authorities to ensure that all perpetrators are brought to justice.

Iravani also noted Iran’s continuing concern over clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces and interim authorities in the northeast.

He stressed that Israel’s repeated acts of aggression have caused civilian casualties, destroyed vital infrastructure, and heightened regional tensions.

He affirmed that Iran categorically rejects any attempts to undermine Syria’s sovereignty, alter its demographic composition, or partition its territory.

Israel ignoring truce attempts by launching new Gaza aggression: Hamas

Gaza War

In a statement, the Palestinian movement described the latest ground attack – dubbed “Gideon’s Chariots II” by Israel – as a “new act of genocide” against Palestinian civilians and a “deliberate disregard for the efforts of the mediators”.

Hamas said it had agreed to the latest ceasefire proposal put forward earlier this week by mediators Qatar and Egypt.

The agreement calls for a 60-day truce, during which negotiations for a permanent end to the war would begin. It also includes the release of nearly half of the remaining captives held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Israel has not officially responded to the proposal.

“We had agreed to the latest proposal put forward by the mediators, but the occupation government continues its aggression in a failed attempt to break our people’s will,” Hamas added.

“We affirm that this operation will fail, just as previous ones have, and we hold the occupation and the US administration fully responsible for its consequences.”

The statement came shortly after the Israeli army spokesman Effie Defrin said that they had begun “preliminary operations in Gaza City” ahead of a major new offensive aimed at occuping the city.

Defrin stated the Israeli army was “not waiting” and is “already taking control of the outskirts of Gaza City”.

In recent days, Israel has intensified air strikes and artillery shelling south, east and north of Gaza City.

According to the Palestinian health ministry, Israeli forces killed at least 70 Palestinians on Wednesday.

Overall, Israeli forces have killed more than 62,000 Palestinians since the genocide in Gaza began nearly two years ago.