Saturday, April 25, 2026
type here...
Home Blog Page 209

Iran environment chief: Crisis in Fars wetlands “tragic and unbearable”

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Iran Water Crisis

Speaking at a meeting of the provincial Wetland Restoration Task Force on Thursday, Ansari criticized contradictory national policies that promote agricultural expansion while acknowledging water scarcity.

She said such inconsistency undermines effective water governance and contributes to the wetlands’ decline.

Referring to Bakhtegan Wetland, which was in relatively good condition in 1976, Ansari noted that it has now reached a critical state due to mismanagement and climate change.

She warned that continued disregard for ecological needs could worsen Iran’s drought crisis.

Ansari stressed the need to move restoration plans from paper to implementation, urging Fars officials to ensure ongoing oversight and submit progress reports to the national office.

She also highlighted the UNDP-supported international project for the restoration of Parishan Wetland, which involves local communities in sustainable management.

She emphasized that the current allocation of environmental water falls far short of legal targets outlined in Iran’s Development Plan, particularly the 10.7 billion cubic meters earmarked for such needs.

Iran rejects US accusations at UN Security Council meeting on Yemen

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Yemen Houthi

In an official statement, the Iranian mission criticized Washington for deflecting attention from its own actions, stating that the US is attempting to avoid accountability for “brutal attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Yemen.”

“At today’s UNSC meeting on Yemen, the US once again launched a cynical and baseless accusation against Iran, desperately trying to deflect from its own brutal attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Yemen,” the statement read.

“The US must be held fully accountable for such severe violations. Blame games won’t wash away US heinous crimes,” it added.

The remarks come amid ongoing tensions over the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where years of war have left millions in need of aid.

Tehran has repeatedly denied allegations of providing military support to Sanaa-based Yemeni forces and accuses, saying the US and its allies are exacerbating the conflict through military intervention.

Iran’s Ayat Sharifi crowned strongest man of Asia at 2025 Asian Weightlifting Championships

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Sharifi secured silver in the snatch with a lift of 195kg, following successful attempts at 185kg and 191kg. He then dominated the clean and jerk event, lifting 227kg for gold. Although he managed 235kg in his second attempt, the jury ruled it invalid, and he withdrew from his third lift. His combined total of 422kg earned him the overall gold medal.

Iran concluded the tournament with eight medals: five gold, two silver, and one bronze, placing second in the medal standings behind host nation China.

Other Iranian medalists included Ali Alipour, who claimed two golds and one silver in the 96kg category, and Alireza Moeini, who earned a gold in snatch and a bronze overall.

Sharifi’s performance capped off a strong showing for Iran, reaffirming the country’s status as a weightlifting powerhouse in the region.

Iran reaffirms commitment to talks despite US contradictions

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Esmael baghaei

Speaking to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed on Wednesday, Baqaei criticized recent US statements and actions as “contradictory,” citing ongoing sanctions alongside calls for dialogue.
He said such behavior reflects neither seriousness nor goodwill from Washington.

Baqaei noted that no time or venue has been set for the fifth round of indirect talks and warned that the US’s dual approach – pressure and negotiation – complicates progress.

Responding to remarks made by US President Donald Trump at a Saudi-US investment summit on Tuesday in Riyadh, Baqaei accused American officials of trying to incite regional division with “baseless claims” about Iran’s role in instability.

He reaffirmed Iran’s key conditions for any agreement are preserving its peaceful nuclear achievements and securing the full removal of unjust sanctions.

He stressed that Iran remains committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and will not compromise on its red lines.

Iran condemns Trump’s “divisive, offensive” remarks aimed at sowing discord

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Iranian Foreign Ministry

In a statement issued Wednesday night, the ministry said that Donald Trump shamelessly blames Iran for destructive acts at a time when the Zionist regime — acting as a U.S. proxy — is committing the most horrific acts of colonial genocide in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Calling the allegations a “distortion of truth,” the statement says U.S. policymakers are seeking to divert attention from Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its other atrocities in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, while also working to shield the Zionist regime from accountability for its crimes against the nations of the region.

It reads: “The deceptive and insulting remarks of the U.S. President will by no means undermine the national solidarity of Iranians, both inside and outside the country. Such comments can never alter the reality that successive U.S. administrations, over the past seven decades, have spared no evil in their efforts to hinder Iran’s progress and development.”

The Foreign Ministry also highlighted the United States’ imposition of the most severe sanctions and economic and financial pressures, flagrantly violate the human rights of every Iranian citizen.

The statement further said that while Trump delivers “divisive and deceptive” remarks, “Palestinian women and children in Gaza and the West Bank are being torn to pieces with American-supplied weapons, and the project of genocide against the Palestinian people continues with unprecedented intensity — backed by direct political, financial, and military support from the United States.”

It concludes by warning that the divisive statements are intended to sow discord between Iran and its Arab neighbors and to obscure the direct role of the U.S. in the crimes committed by the Zionist regime.

Robert De Niro slams Trump as ‘philistine president’ and enemy of arts at Cannes Film Festival

By
IFP Media Wire
-

The legendary actor was on hand to accept the fest’s honorary Palme d’Or, which was presented to him by his “This Boy’s Life” and “Killers of the Flower Moon” collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio. After giving DiCaprio a kiss on the cheek, De Niro launched into an impassioned speech about the threat U.S. democracy is currently under.

“In my country, we’re fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted. And that affects all of us here because the arts are democratic,” De Niro said.

“Art is inclusive. It brings people together, like tonight. Art looks for truth, art embraces diversity and that’s why art is a threat — that’s why we are a threat — to autocrats and fascists,” he added.

De Niro then turned to Trump’s proposed 100% tariff on all films produced outside of the U.S., which was announced just over a week before the festival.

“Let that sink in for a minute,” he said, adding, “You can’t put a price on creativity, but apparently you can put a tariff on it.”

He continued, “Of course, this is unacceptable. All these attacks are unacceptable, and this isn’t just an American problem. It’s a global one. And like a film, we can’t just all sit back and watch. We have to act now. Without violence, but with great passion and determination. It’s time for everyone who cares about liberty to organize, to protest, and when there are elections, of course to vote. Tonight, and for the next 11 days, we show our strength and commitment by celebrating art in this glorious festival.”

De Niro — who has won two Oscars over the course of his six-decade career — is best known for his 10 collaborations with director Martin Scorsese, including “Mean Streets” (1973), “Taxi Driver” (1976), “Raging Bull” (1980), “Goodfellas” (1990), “The Irishman” (2019) and 2023’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” He’s no stranger to Cannes, having first attended with “Mean Streets” followed by Sergio Leone’s 1984 crime film “Once Upon a Time in America,” Barry Levinson’s satirical comedy “What Just Happened” in 2008 and serving as president of the competition jury in 2011. De Niro was most recently on the Croisette for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which received a nine-minute standing ovation.

The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival runs from May 13 to 24.

Iran’s Expediency Council approves Palermo Convention accession with conditions

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

The decision came after extensive discussions at three plenary sessions and five meetings in a joint commission.

Expediency Council Spokesman Seyed Mohsen Dehnavi confirmed the development through his personal X account. He said Iran’s Guardian Council had already approved the bill prior to this decision.

He also stressed that Iran’s acceptance of the Palermo Convention will be in accordance with its Constitution and national laws.

The decision was further confirmed by head of the Financial Intelligence Center and Secretary of the Supreme Council for the Prevention and Fight Against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing, Hadi Khani.

Khani said after months of expert discussions, the Palermo Convention was officially approved during a session on Wednesday afternoon.

The Palermo Convention is a UN treaty aimed at combating transnational organized crime, including money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Iran’s move to consider this convention is directly linked to its ongoing discussions with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organization established to develop policies aimed at combating money laundering and terrorist financing worldwide.

The conditions Iran has attached to the decision reflect its insistence on maintaining sovereignty over its legal and financial systems, the official added.

Governor: Nearly half of Iran’s undocumented Afghan migrants reside in Tehran Province

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Fakhari stressed the need for a systematic and lawful approach to the presence of the illegal Afghan migrants in the capital region.

“These individuals must be identified in accordance with the law and repatriated respectfully to their home country,” he said.

The governor’s remarks reflect increasing national and local attention on migration management, particularly in urban centers like Tehran, where irregular migration poses social, economic, and security challenges.

Iran hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the world, primarily from neighboring Afghanistan.

While many reside legally under temporary protection or refugee status, a significant number remain undocumented due to a porous border and also instability inside Afghanistan, which forces people there to contemplate migrating to Iran.

Iran has frequently urged the UN to assist Tehran in dealing with the issue.

Unofficial sources say around 10 million Afghan migrants reside in Iran.

Iranian filmmaker Mehrjui’s daughter rejects retribution for parents’ killers

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Dariush Mehrjui

The statement comes after Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the sentences issued for those convicted of the October 2023 double homicide.

According to Hossein Fazeli-Herkandi, head of the Alborz Province Judiciary, the principal defendant was sentenced to two counts of qisas (retributive execution) for the murders, along with 27 years in prison for additional charges, including theft. Three other defendants received a total of 77 years in prison for charges ranging from attempted murder to aiding and abetting and assault.

The Judiciary reports that the suspects were arrested within five days of the killings, and a swift investigation led to indictments within two months. Court hearings were held in January 2024, and the initial verdict was issued in February. After a brief review by the Supreme Court, the original sentences were upheld in March 2025.

Trump meets Syrian president, calls on him to establish ties with Israel

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Trump Jolani

Trump met al-Sharaa, who once pledged allegiance to al Qaeda and swept to power at the head of a group that Washington has called a terrorist organisation, before a summit between the United States and Persian Gulf Arab countries.

Photos posted on Saudi state television showed them shaking hands in the presence of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MbS.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan joined Trump and MbS virtually in the meeting, Turkey’s Anadolu News Agency reported.

Trump urged Sharaa to join the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, which normalised relations with Israel under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020, the White House press secretary posted on X.

The United States also hopes Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords, but discussions came to a halt after the Gaza war erupted and the kingdom insists there can be no normalisation without Palestinian statehood.

Trump stated on Tuesday Saudi Arabia would join the accords in its own time.

Despite concerns within sectors of his administration over Syria’s leaders’ former ties to al Qaeda, Trump added he would lift sanctions on Syria in a major policy shift. He also said Washington was exploring normalising relations with Syria’s government beginning with his meeting with Sharaa.

The lifting of sanctions came despite deep Israeli suspicion of Sharaa’s administration.

Israeli officials have continued to describe Sharaa as “a jihadist”, though he severed ties with al Qaeda in 2016.

The decision is a major boost for Sharaa, who has been struggling to bring the country under the control of the Damascus government after toppling former President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Removing U.S. sanctions that cut Syria off from the global financial system will clear the way for greater engagement by humanitarian organizations working in Syria, easing foreign investment and trade as the country rebuilds from a civil war.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud told a press conference Riyadh will support Syria’s economic recovery and that there are many investment opportunities in the country after sanctions are lifted.

U.S. ally Israel has opposed sanctions relief for Syria and has escalated its military operations since Assad was toppled.

Israel has seized ground in the southwest of the country, warned the Syrian government against deploying forces there, and has blown up much of the Syrian military’s heavy weapons and equipment in the days after Assad fell.

The challenges facing Syria’s new government were also laid bare in March when Assad loyalists attacked government forces, prompting revenge attacks in which gunmen killed hundreds of civilians from the Alawite minority, drawing strong U.S. condemnation.

Sharaa was for years the leader of al Qaeda’s official wing in the Syrian conflict. He first joined the group in Iraq, where he spent five years in a U.S. prison. The United States removed a $10 million bounty on Sharaa’s head in December.

The Syrian foreign minister announced in a statement on Wednesday that the meeting between Trump and Sharaa included discussions about combating terrorism and cooperation in eliminating the influence of non-state actors and armed groups that threaten Syrian stability, including Daesh.

This meeting will be followed by another between the Syrian foreign minister and his U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio.

1...208209210...4,079Page 209 of 4,079

© All Content by IFP News ( Iran Front Page ) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Us