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Europe must shoulder ‘lion’s share’ of Ukraine’s security: US VP

By
IFP Media Wire
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Russia Ukraine War

In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Vance said the US should not have to “carry the burden” of underpinning Kyiv’s post-war security.

“I think that we should be helpful if it’s necessary to stop the war and to stop the killing. But I think that we should expect, and the president certainly expects, Europe to play the leading role here,” Vance stated.

“What he said very clearly is: Look, the United States is open to have the conversation, but we’re not going to make commitments until we figure out what is going to be necessary to stop the war in the first place.”

Vance’s comments came a day after US President Donald Trump ruled out the possibility of US troops in Ukraine, while suggesting that Washington could provide support “by air”.

The issue of post-war security guarantees for Ukraine has been a major question mark over Trump’s push to end the three-and-a-half-year-long conflict.

After hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and top European leaders at the White House for talks on the war on Monday, Trump said that European countries would be the “first line of defence”, but that Washington would provide “a lot of help”.

While Trump has ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine, his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte have raised the possibility of offering Kyiv a security guarantee resembling the 32-member alliance’s collective defence mandate.

Under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, an armed attack against one NATO member nation is considered an attack on all members of the alliance.

While Trump has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to European peacekeepers being stationed in Ukraine, Moscow has repeatedly dismissed the possibility of troops from NATO countries along its border.

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that his country would need to be included in negotiations on security guarantees, warning that excluding Moscow would be a “road to nowhere”.

“We cannot agree with the fact that now it is proposed to resolve questions of security, collective security, without the Russian Federation. This will not work,” Lavrov added.

Despite the sticking points between the sides, Vance stated on Wednesday that the Trump administration had made “great progress” in its efforts to end the war.

“You can never say with certainty what the outcome in this situation is going to be,” Vance added.

“But we now have the Russians talking to the Ukrainians; they’re talking details about what would be necessary on each side to stop the fighting, to stop the killing.”

Ayatollah Khamenei offers condolences on passing of master of Persian miniature Farshchian

By
IFP Media Wire
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Ayatollah Khamenei

In his message, the Leader hailed the artist as a “shining star” of Iranian art, saying his commitment and spirituality served to elevate his art.

“The prominent and renowned artist, Mahmoud Farshchian, was a shining star in the sky of Iranian art. His commitment and religiosity put his valuable essence at the service of religious concepts and affections, and he left behind eternal works.”

Farshchian passed away on August 9 in the US state of New Jersey at the age of 95.

He was widely regarded as a master of Persian miniature painting, credited with founding a new style that blended the traditional art form with modern techniques.

His works, known for their spiritual depth and vibrant energy, often drew themes from classical poetry, the Quran, and religious narratives.

One of his most famous pieces, “The Evening of Ashura,” is a masterpiece depicting the grief of Imam Hussein’s family.

President Pezeshkian says Iran seeking peaceful coexistence with all nations

By
IFP Media Wire
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In a meeting with Iranian expatriates in Minsk on Wednesday, President Pezeshkian stated that the Islamic Republic seeks a peaceful life with all nations, but global powers do not want Iran to follow its path of growth and prosperity.

The president expressed his pleasure in meeting with the Iranian community residing in Belarus. He characterized their presence as a blessing and expressed hope that they would serve as ambassadors of Iranian culture, beliefs, and civilization.

President Pezeshkian hailed the unity and cohesion within Iran as a significant achievement, asserting that this solidarity continues to thrive despite external pressures. He countered the notion that military aggression could lead to the downfall of the Iranian government, stating that enemies believed military attacks would drive people to the streets and shatter the system, but they were mistaken.

Pezeshkian reiterated the principled policy of the Islamic Republic in advocating for peace and avoiding an arms race, affirming that from the very beginning, Iranian authorities declared that they are not seeking weapons and their primary goal is unity and cohesion within Iran’s borders and fostering regional harmony.

Addressing the issue of US maximum pressure policies, he remarked that the United States and its allies mistakenly believe that cutting off Iran would lead to starvation among its people. He asserted that the Iranian nation would continue to persevere through self-reliance and resilience.

The president described Iran’s defensive capabilities as a deterrent against threats, emphasizing that without these capabilities, Iran would face daily bombardments similar to those experienced by the people of Gaza. He added that the Zionist regime, with the support of the United States and Europe, attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities and would not have been able to carry out such an action without their backing.

Pezeshkian lamented the humanitarian crisis resulting from Israeli atrocities, pointing out that nearly 60,000 Palestinians have been killed, and many remain defenseless and impoverished. He highlighted the closure of vital resources like water and food in Gaza, which has led to heartbreaking images of starving children.

In conclusion, President Pezeshkian articulated his vision for Iran as a prosperous, beautiful, and advanced nation for current and future generations. He called for collaboration among all citizens and intellectuals to achieve true independence and national pride.

UK business leaders call for action against Israel over Gaza war

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

As of Thursday morning, 762 people had signed a statement calling on the UK to cease all arms trade with Israel, sanction those accused of violating international law – ostensibly including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he is wanted for arrest by the International Criminal Court, invest in screening to stop the UK financing “complicit” companies, and enforce the United Nations’s principles on business and human rights across the UK’s economic systems.

“We see this not only as a moral imperative, but as a matter of professional responsibility – consistent with our duty to act in the best interests of long-term societal and economic resilience,” the letter reads.

“The UK must ensure that no business – whether through products, services, or supply chains – is contributing to these atrocities, directly or indirectly,” it added.

They have pledged to support the UK government with an “ongoing process of reflection and action – reviewing our operations, supply chains, financial flows, and influence to help foster peace, uphold human rights, and strengthen respect for international law”.

The number of professionals signing the letter is growing as Palestinians in the Gaza Strip face their darkest days. Israel is beginning a feared invasion into Gaza City while thousands endure hunger and famine due to the blockade of the enclave.

Israel’s latest war on Gaza, termed a genocide by leading rights groups, has killed more than 60,000 people in the 22 months since October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked the occupied territories, during which about 1,200 were killed and 250 taken captive – “grave crimes under international law”, according to the letter.

“However, the Israeli government’s ongoing military campaign amounts to an unrelenting and indefensible assault on civilians, breaching both moral boundaries and the core principles of the Geneva Conventions,” it stressed.

Iranian navy successfully tests cruise missiles in Eghtedar 1404 drill

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran Navy Forces

According to the Army’s Public Relations Office, naval missile units and surface vessels carried out coordinated strikes using the Nasir, Qadir, and Qader cruise missiles, engaging and destroying surface targets in simultaneous launches from both coastal batteries and naval platforms.

As part of the exercise, the missile boat Genaveh and the destroyer Sabalan executed precision strikes with Nasir and Qadir cruise missiles, while the coastal Velayat-2 system deployed the medium-range Qader anti-ship missile.

Military officials described the Qader as a medium-range, radar-evading cruise missile with high destructive power and advanced targeting accuracy, designed to engage both naval vessels and coastal installations.

The Qadir and Nasir missiles, with long- and short-range capabilities respectively, are also radar-evading systems optimized for precision strikes against maritime targets.

The Army emphasized that the exercise, which comes two months after the Israeli strikes, demonstrates Iran’s growing indigenous missile technology and its ability to conduct complex, synchronized operations under real combat conditions.

Iran denies security incident at Tabriz Air Base

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Army’s Public Relations Office said the large plume of smoke seen earlier in the day resulted from a fire at a municipal workshop near Azarbaijan Square, where piles of rubber and plastic materials had ignited.

The fire caused widespread concern among residents, prompting speculation about a possible security event at the nearby air base, with Israeli strikes on the country in June in hindsight .

Authorities stressed that the situation was quickly brought under control and that the incident posed no threat to public safety or military operations.

The statement added that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the blaze and that any evidence of sabotage or deliberate arson will be handled with “firm legal measures.”

The Army also reassured the public that its forces remain on full alert, emphasizing their readiness to deliver a “decisive response” to any potential threat or hostile action.

US sanctions more ICC judges over cases against Israel

By
IFP Media Wire
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The International Criminal Court (ICC)

“The Court is a national security threat that has been an instrument for lawfare against the United States and our close ally Israel,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement, using a term popular with President Donald Trump’s supporters.

Rubio said that the four people targeted from the tribunal based in The Hague had sought to investigate or prosecute nationals from the United States or Israel “without the consent of either nation.”

The four include Judge Nicolas Guillou of France, who is presiding over a case in which an arrest warrant was issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The case was brought forward by the State of Palestine, which is not recognized by Washington but, unlike Israel or the United States, has acceded to the statute that set up the tribunal in The Hague.

Guillou, a veteran jurist, had worked for several years in the United States assisting the Justice Department with judicial cooperation during Barack Obama’s presidency.

Also targeted in the latest US sanctions was a Canadian judge, Kimberly Prost, who was involved in a case that authorized an investigation into alleged crimes committed during the war in Afghanistan, including by US forces.

Under the sanctions, the United States will bar entry of the ICC judges to the United States and block any property they have in the world’s largest economy — measures more often taken against US adversaries than individuals from close allies.

Rubio also slapped sanctions on two deputy prosecutors — Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji and Mame Mandiaye Niang of Senegal.

The State Department said the two were punished by the United States for supporting “illegitimate ICC actions against Israel,” including by supporting the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.

The Trump administration has roundly rejected the authority of the court, which is backed by almost all European democracies and was set up as a court of last resort when national systems do not allow for justice.

Trump on Friday welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Alaska even though Putin faces an ICC arrest warrant, a factor that has stopped him from traveling more widely since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine.

Rubio slapped sanctions on four other ICC judges in June.

The International Criminal Court on Wednesday denounced new US sanctions against two more of its judges and two prosecutors, calling them a “flagrant attack” on its independence.

“These sanctions are a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution,” the court said in a statement.

The ICC noted it stood “firmly behind its personnel and victims of unimaginable atrocities”.

It added it would “continue fulfilling its mandates, undeterred” and “without regard to any restriction, pressure or threat”.

Iran launches major missile drill Eghtedar 1404

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iranian Navy

The two-day exercise aims to enhance combat readiness, test advanced weaponry, and demonstrate Iran’s defensive and deterrent capabilities.

According to senior commanders, the exercise features simultaneous launches of long-range cruise missiles from both naval vessels and coastal batteries, as well as the operational deployment of the domestically developed Bavar-5 drone.

The unmanned system, introduced two years ago in Tehran and showcased at Russia’s Army-2024 exhibition, is designed for precision strikes.

Various naval units, including surface and subsurface vessels, electronic warfare divisions, and special diving teams, are also taking part in coordinated operations.

Among the missiles to be tested is the Qader, known for its low-altitude sea-skimming capabilities and versatility for ship- or air-based launches, enhancing radar evasion.

Military analysts say the drill underscores Iran’s progress in indigenous missile and drone technologies, achieved despite years of international sanctions.

The drill comes two months after Israel launched an invasion against Iran, which faced retaliatory missile and drone strikes by Iranian forces.

Poll finds most Americans oppose Russia seizing Ukrainian land

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Russia Ukraine War

When asked in The Economist/YouGov poll about “how much of Ukraine’s territory” they want Russia to have at the end of the war, 68 percent of respondents said “none of it.”

Twenty-one percent of survey participants said they were “not sure” how much territory Russia should get, 5 percent said they wanted Russia to have “some of” Ukraine’s territory, 2 percent said they wanted Russia to get “half of” Ukrainian territory and 1 percent said they wanted Russia to have “most of it.”

President Trump separately met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin on U.S. soil within the past week. Putin reportedly wants most of the eastern Donbas region as part of a deal, while Ukraine has rejected ceding territory.

Trump is now pushing for Zelensky and Putin to meet face-to-face, as they remain far apart on the terms for peace. Ukraine has demanded a ceasefire before any formal negotiations, a request that Trump previously backed but dropped after meeting Putin in Alaska last week.

Russia has sent signals this week that it’s in no hurry to have Putin meet with Zelensky.

Moscow also announced Wednesday that talks between NATO allies and Ukraine about postwar security guarantees were a “road to nowhere” unless Moscow takes part in the discussions.

The Economist/YouGov poll took place from Aug. 15 to 18, with 1,568 respondents and and a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

Most Americans believe countries should recognize Palestinian state: Poll

By
IFP Media Wire
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Some 33% of respondents did not agree that U.N. members should recognize a Palestinian state and 9% did not answer.
The six-day poll, which closed on Monday, found a pronounced partisan divide on the issue, with 78% of Democrats supporting the idea, far more than the 41% of President Donald Trump’s Republicans who agreed.
A narrow 53% majority of Republicans did not agree that all U.N. member nations should recognize a Palestinian state.
Israel has long counted on the U.S., its most powerful ally, for billions of dollars a year in military aid and international diplomatic support. An erosion of U.S. public support would be a worrisome sign for Israel as it faces not only Hamas fighters in Gaza but unresolved conflict with Iran, its regional arch-foe.
A widely condemned Israeli settlement plan that would cut across occupied West Bank land which the Palestinians seek for a state received final approval on Wednesday, according to an Israeli government statement.
The poll was taken within weeks of three countries, close U.S. allies Canada, Britain and France, announcing they intend to recognize a Palestinian state. This ratcheted up pressure on Israel as starvation spreads in Gaza.
The survey was taken amid hopes that Israel and Hamas would agree on a ceasefire to provide a break in the fighting, free some hostages and ease shipments of humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip.
Britain, Canada, Australia and several of their European allies said last week that the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn Palestinian enclave has reached “unimaginable levels,” as aid groups warned that Gazans are on the verge of famine.
The United Nations human rights office announced on Tuesday Israel was not letting enough supplies into the Gaza Strip to avert widespread starvation.
Some 65% of the Reuters/Ipsos poll respondents said the U.S. should take action in Gaza to help people facing starvation, with 28% disagreeing. The number disagreeing included 41% of Republicans.
Trump and many of his fellow Republicans take an “America First” approach to international relations, backing steep cuts to the country’s international food and medical assistance programs in the belief that U.S. funds should assist Americans, not those outside its borders.
The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel’s offensive has since killed more than 62,000 Palestinians, plunged Gaza into humanitarian crisis and displaced most of its population, according to Gaza health authorities.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll also showed that 59% of Americans believe Israel’s military response in Gaza has been excessive. Thirty-three percent of respondents disagreed.
In a similar Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in February 2024, 53% of respondents agreed that Israel’s response had been excessive, and 42% disagreed.
Officials at the Israeli embassy in Washington and mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the poll.
The latest Reuters/Ipsos survey, conducted online, gathered responses from 4,446 U.S. adults nationwide and had a margin of error of about 2 percentage points.
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