Saturday, January 17, 2026
type here...
Home Blog Page 2136

US General in UAE to bolster defenses amid Yemen attacks

By
IFP Media Wire
-

The Yemeni Army has launched at least three recent attacks targeting the UAE, which is a member of the Saudi-led coalition that has waged an aerial campaign against Yemen since 2015.

McKenzie, who oversees US forces in the Middle East as head of Central Command, said he moved up his planned visit in response to the Houthi attacks, hoping to underscore the US commitment to the Persian Gulf state’s defense.

“I think it’s a very worrisome time for UAE. They’re looking for support. We’re here to help them to provide that support,” McKenzie told reporters shortly before landing in Abu Dhabi.

Earlier this month, the Pentagon announced a US deployment of advanced F-22 fighter jets and a guided missile destroyer, the USS Cole, to partner with the UAE navy ahead of a port call in Abu Dhabi.

McKenzie added the F-22s would provide the UAE with “one of the best look-down radars in the world,” capable of identifying targets including land attack cruise missiles and drones.

The USS Cole will operate in waters around the UAE, he stated, keeping a lookout for shipments of illegal contraband.

The US military has so far described its support to the Emirates as bilateral, defensive assistance, as opposed to any assistance to the Saudi-led coalition itself.

Asked about the latest Houthi attacks, McKenzie noted they could have been prompted by a range of scenarios, including as a response to battlefield setbacks.

“Hard to know all the Houthi reasons behind this,” he said, adding, “I think the Houthis aren’t used to losing ground in Yemen.”

Washington accuses Tehran of supplying high-end weaponry to the Houthis.

“Medium range ballistic missiles that were fired from Yemen and entered UAE were not invented, built, designed in Yemen,” McKenzie claimed, stating, “All that happened somewhere else. So I think we certainly see the Iranian connection to this.”

Iran has repeatedly dismissed allegations about supplying weapons to Yemeni forces.

“Medicine and medical goods are sent to Yemenis with difficulty; then how could military equipment go through and sent to them?” an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson had asked.

The spokesman noted that the Yemeni nation has made astonishing progress in the military field and manufacturing weapons and military equipment after facing the Saudi-led aggression.

Saudi Arabia and its allies launched a war against the Arab world’s most impoverished nation in March 2015. The war has been seeking to restore power in Yemen to Riyadh’s favorite officials.

The death toll of the war, now in its seventh year, will reach an estimated 377,000 by the end of 2021, according to a recent report from the UN’s Development Programme.

The fighting has seen some 80 percent of the population, or 24 million people, relying on aid and assistance, including 14.3 million who are in acute need.

Iranian sailors rescue crew on fire-struck Panama-flagged ship: Official

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

The PMO picked up a distress signal from the Golden Tree tanker vessel, which is Panama-flagged but Chinese-owned and whose engine room had caught fire some 30 miles from Iran’s Dayyer Port on Saturday, Nader Pasandeh, the director general of safety and maritime security at the PMO, said on Sunday.

Maritime search and rescue units and fireboats were immediately dispatched to the offshore location despite increment weather at sea and large waves, transferring the 17 crewmembers, who were of different nationalities, to their own ships and then to the Dayyer Port. Two other crewmembers from Golden Tree stayed to help with the firefighting.

All the foreign crewmembers were on the way back to their vessel, as the fire has been put out, Pasandeh said.

Iranian filmmaker Alireza Sajjadpour dies

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Sajjadpour had recently produced the film “Red Rectangle” directed by Hassan and Hossein Seidkhani.

Sajjadpour was also a screenwriter and, production manager.

He started his cinematic activity in 1984 by producing and writing the screenplay for “Little Soldier”.

His other activities included managing the screenplay unit of the Islamic Propagation Organization (1987-1991), director general of the Center for the Development of Documentary and Experimental Cinema of Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance (1995-1998), managing the design of Shahed TV (1991-1993), producing movies and TV series, director general of the film and television department of Tehran Municipality’s Cultural-Artistic Organization, director of the Art Cultural Center (Arasbaran) and the founder and executive director of the Islamic Board of Artists.

Raisi’s visit to Moscow to enhance Iran-Russia business ties: Official

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Hadi Tiz-housh Taban, the head of the Iran-Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce, said on Sunday that “good things will happen” as a result of the visit by Raisi to the Russian capital in January, “including the development and facilitation of (bilateral) business.”

“The president’s trip can pave the way for the use of opportunities for the economic development of the two countries. The elimination of obstacles in the way of those involved in the business sector can be helpful to that end,” the Iranian official said.

“Russia’s imports total 200 billion dollars per annum,” Tizhoush Taban said, adding, “Iranians businessmen can make good use of that opportunity and gain entry to… (Russia’s) market to offer their goods.”

During his visit to the Russian capital last month, the Iranian president met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, where the two sides reached agreements to expand cooperation in the industry, defense, and aerospace sectors.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian later described the visit as “a great achievement” for Iran.

In the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (1400), Russia purchased 700,116 tons of goods from the Islamic Republic, worth 375,229,584 dollars, according to figures provided by IRNA. Iran also purchased 5,777,656 tons of goods from Russia, worth 2,561,059,150 dollars.

Iraqi court suspends Hoshyar Zebari’s presidential bid

By
IFP Media Wire
-

The court held a session on Sunday in response to cases filed against Zebari by a number of MPs, and ruled to temporarily suspend his candidacy status until the case is completely resolved.

According to the court’s decision published by Iraqi state media, the ruling against Zebari’s candidacy was made on the grounds that he did not meet the conditions of “good reputation and integrity” required by the constitution.

The legislature is scheduled to meet on February 7 to elect a new president for the country. The KDP had fielded Zebari, who has previously held several positions in Baghdad, while the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has nominated the incumbent Iraqi President Barham Salih for the position.

The KDP was expected to hold an advantage over the PUK for the presidency race given their alliance with the Sadrist Movement, the largest parliamentary bloc, led by Muqtada al-Sadr. In a turn of events on Friday, Sadr called on members of his bloc not to vote for the KDP candidate for the Iraqi presidency if he does not meet the necessary requirements to fulfill the position. Sadr has promised to enact political reforms and to form a government free from corruption.

Zebari served as the Iraqi finance minister from 2014 to 2016 before he was removed from his position following a secret parliamentary vote of no-confidence over alleged corruption and misuse of public funds. Despite Zebari denying the allegation brought against him at the time, 158 MPs out of 249 present in the meeting voted against him. He was later cleared of the charges.

Iran interior minister calls for development of border markets with Pakistan

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Vahidi made the remarks in a Sunday meeting with Pakistani ambassador to Tehran Rahim Hayat Qureshi.

He added Iran and Pakistan have good capacities and opportunities to expand cooperation in the fields of trade, security and culture.

The interior minister also said the development of border markets and trade exchanges will create a suitable platform for the development of cooperation between the two countries, and it is expected that the officials of both sides will provide the necessary conditions for this.

He underlined the importance of cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in economic areas such as energy and transit, saying the will of the two nations is to expand relations.
Vahidi also described the plight of Afghan refugees as a common issue for Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. He said the way should be provided through tripartite cooperation so that fewer people decide to migrate.

Rahim Hayat Qureshi also said Pakistan is building six border markets to expand interactions with the Islamic Republic of Iran in various fields, especially trade.

Referring to the numerous resources that exist in Iran, he noted the two countries can have an acceptable volume of trade regarding energy, including exports of electricity and gas from Iran.

The Pakistani ambassador also said the cooperation between the two parts will benefit the entire region.

Iran sends more humanitarian aid to Afghanistan

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Afghan People
A man distributes bread to Burka-wearing Afghan women outside a bakery in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Dec, 2, 2021. According to U.N. figures from early November, almost 24 million people in Afghanistan, around 60% percent of the population, suffer from acute hunger, including 8.7 million living in near famine. Increasing numbers of malnourished children have filled hospital wards. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

After the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, Iran stressed that it would continue aiding Afghan people, standing by them in hard times.

About 30 tons of food items, including rice, oil, and flour donated by Iran, were distributed on Sunday among 450 needy families in Sozma Qala district of Sar-e-Pul province of Afghanistan.

The deputy Ambassador of Iran to Afghanistan Hassan Mortazavi stated that the aid to the Afghan people would continue, especially in winter, as the Leader of the Islamic Revolution called for.

COMSTECH awards two Iranian scholars

By
IFP Media Wire
-

According to COMSTECH Website, COMSTECH Awards are conferred biennially in ‘Basic Sciences’ and in ‘Excellence in Science and Technology’ to recognize the outstanding research work carried out by scientists who are citizens of, and working in, OIC member states. Each award carries a certificate, shield of honor and a cash prize.

Ali A. Mousavi-Movahedi of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, won COMSTECH Lifetime Achievement Award in Chemistry 2021 and Esmael Ghavanloo as Associate Professor, Shiraz University of Iran has won COMSTECH Award for Best Scientific Book.

COMSTECH the Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) was established by the Third Islamic Summit of OIC held at Makkah, Saudi Arabia in January 1981.

The COMSTECH Executive Committee decided in its 15th meeting in 1996 to institute awards to recognize outstanding research work carried out by scientists who are citizens of, and working in, OIC member states.

Anti-Iran terror group leader linked with FBI, CIA, Mossad: Prosecution

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Prosecutors charged Jamshid Sharmahd, the leader of the terrorist group Tondar, with having been linked with the FBI, the CIA, and the Mossad, during a first court hearing in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Sunday.

Sharmahd already faces charges of corruption on earth by plotting and leading acts of terror, including a 2008 bombing in the Iranian city of Shiraz that killed 14 people and wounded almost 300 others.

The terrorist ringleader is also accused of plotting a bombing attack on the Sivand Dam in Shiraz, among other charges. At the court hearing on Sunday, prosecutors said that he had been aiming to detonate an explosive device at either Iran’s Foreign Ministry building or China’s Embassy in Tehran as well, but those plots were foiled with his arrest.

After the deadly 2008 bombing in Shiraz, the prosecution said, US officials first established contact with Sharmahd, providing security information. His last contact with the FBI and CIA officials was in January 2020.

According to the prosecutors, Sharmahd also contacted two Mossad operatives through an intermediary, attempting to win the spy agency’s support for his plots.

Iran Covid: Death toll hits new high

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Yesterday’s daily death toll was 64.

The latest fatalities push to 132,830 the total death toll since the Covid pandemic started two years ago. Over the past 24 hours, 35,429 new Coronavirus were also logged in Iran.
They include 2,199 hospitalizations.

The jump in Covid deaths and infections is blamed on the new variant of the disease known as Omicron. The strain is highly contagious than other variants, though less deadly.

The hike in the number of Covid deaths and infections come as Iran is vaccinating citizens at a high speed. The number of third shots of vaccine administered so far is nearly 20 million in the country with vaccination centers working relentlessly to inoculate citizens.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Health Minister Bahram Einollahi has said in a tweet that the upward trend in Covid deaths and cases shows Iran is in the middle of the sixth wave of the outbreak.

Einollahi urged all citizens to observe health protocols including wearing masks and getting their booster jabs.

Meanwhile, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus director general of the World Health Organization, has warned of a tsunami of Omicron and Delta strains. He also called for fair access to Covid vaccines worldwide.

The Covid pandemic has so far killed 5 million people in the world.

1...2,1352,1362,137...5,148Page 2,136 of 5,148

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

About Us

Popular Articles

Editor Picks