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Iranian editor criticizes deputy FM for “misinterpretation” of law on IAEA cooperation

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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IAEA

In an editorial on Monday titled “A Distorted Interpretation of Parliament’s Law on the IAEA”, Shariatmadari responded to comments made by Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh, who stated in a Chinese TV interview that Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) is the sole authority for managing Iran–IAEA relations, and that cooperation would continue under this framework.

Shariatmadari argued that the law passed by Iran’s parliament in July 2025 explicitly mandates the suspension of all cooperation with the IAEA until two conditions are met: full respect for Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and recognition of Iran’s nuclear rights under Article 4 of the NPT.

He emphasized that the SNSC’s role is limited to verifying IAEA compliance, not defining bilateral relations.

He further warned that bypassing the law constitutes a criminal offense under Article 19 of Iran’s Penal Code.

Top Trump aide accuses India of financing Russia’s war against Ukraine

By
IFP Media Wire
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“What he (Trump) said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia,” said Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff at the White House and one of Trump’s most influential aides.

Miller’s criticism was some of the strongest yet by the Trump administration about one of the United States’ major partners in the Indo-Pacific.

“People will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil. That’s an astonishing fact,” Miller said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”

Indian government sources told Reuters on Saturday that New Delhi will keep purchasing oil from Moscow despite U.S. threats.

A 25% tariff on Indian products went into effect on Friday as a result of its purchase of military equipment and energy from Russia. Trump has also threatened 100% tariffs on U.S. imports from countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches a major peace deal with Ukraine.

Miller tempered his criticism by noting Trump’s relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which he described as “tremendous.”

Dozens dead after migrant boat sinks off Yemen

By
IFP Media Wire
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The International Organization for Migration’s country chief of mission, Abdusattor Esoev, told AFP that “as of last night, 68 people aboard the boat were killed, but only 12 out of 157 have been rescued so far. The fate of the missing is still unknown.”

On Sunday, two security sources in southern Yemen’s Abyan province — a frequent destination for migrant smuggling boats — gave a preliminary toll of 27 killed in the shipwreck.

Despite the war that has ravaged Yemen since 2014, the impoverished country has remained a key transit point for irregular migration, in particular from Ethiopia which itself has been roiled by ethnic conflict.

Each yeah, thousands brave the so-called “Eastern Route” from Djibouti to Yemen across the Red Sea, in the hope of eventually reaching oil-rich Persian Gulf countries.

The vessel that sank off the coast of Yemen’s Abyan was carrying mostly Ethiopian migrants, according to the province’s security directorate.

It said on Sunday that security forces were conducting operations to recover a “significant” number of bodies.

Last month, at least eight people died after smugglers had forced migrants to disembark from a boat in the Red Sea, according to the UN’s migration agency.

The International Organization for Migration says tens of thousands of migrants have become stranded in Yemen and suffer abuse and exploitation during their journeys.

Last year, the IOM recorded at least 558 deaths on the Red Sea route, with 462 resulting from shipwrecks.

Witkoff may visit Russia this week: Trump

By
IFP Media Wire
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“I think next week, Wednesday or Thursday, (he) may be going to Russia,” Trump told reporters on Aug. 3. “They would like to see him. They’ve asked that he meet, so we’ll see what happens.”

Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in April despite being appointed as Trump’s envoy to the Middle East. His interactions with Putin, including the use of Kremlin-provided translators and repetition of Russian narratives about the war, drew criticism from officials in Washington and abroad.

Trump reiterated that sanctions would take effect if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire by Aug. 8.

“There’ll be sanctions, but they seem to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions,” he said. “They’re wily characters, and they’re pretty good at avoiding sanctions, so we’ll see what happens.”

On July 29, Trump announced that tariffs on Russian exports would be implemented within 10 days if the Kremlin failed to end its war in Ukraine.

The proposed measures include sweeping secondary tariffs on countries that continue to import Russian oil, gas and other goods — a move that would significantly affect major trading partners such as China and India.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman: IAEA official to visit Tehran

By
IFP Media Wire
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Esmail Baghaei

Esmail Baqaei stressed that Iran remains a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Safeguards Agreement, and as a law-abiding country, it will continue to honor its commitments as long as it retains membership.

He added that Iran’s grievances regarding the IAEA’s politicized conduct are clear, emphasizing that the Agency must act strictly within its technical mandate and avoid succumbing to external pressures.

Baqaei noted that currently no inspectors are present in Iran, and any cooperation with the Agency must be regulated strictly in line with the Iranian Parliament’s resolution.

Regarding the “snapback mechanism” for reimposing anti-Iran sanctions, Baqaei said that the three European countries — the UK, France, and Germany — have no legal right to misuse this mechanism.

He warned that it has become clear to them that resorting to such a tool would certainly have consequences both for the non-proliferation regime and for those three countries themselves.

Baqaei also responded to remarks made by the British foreign secretary against Iran, saying: “He is in no position to make such statements.”

He added that the comments follow the long-standing tradition of that country’s politicians, who, driven by a colonial mindset, are accustomed to making such claims.

Ukraine puts sanctions against dozens of individuals, several entities from Russia, Iran

By
IFP Media Wire
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In his evening address, Zelensky said that the imposed sanctions mark the first of three planned packages that will be imposed in the near future.

“Sanctions have been imposed on the captains of Russia’s shadow fleet, and we will synchronize all of this – all of these packages – with our partners to ensure the pressure is effective across most jurisdictions,” Zelensky added.

Russia’s shadow fleet refers to Moscow’s aging and poorly insured tankers, which Moscow uses to evade sanctions and conduct espionage, among other objectives.

The sanction target citizens of Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Myanmar, China, Bangladesh, India, and Georgia. Russia regularly has vessels registered in other countries as a means to circumvent Western sanctions and oil price caps.

Russia’s shadow fleet has been increasingly targeted by Kyiv and Western sanctions as international partners seek to curb Russian oil revenues, which help fund its war machine.

Zelensky signed a law on July 30 enabling sanctions against vessels and aircraft involved in covert Russian schemes to transport oil, weapons, and military personnel.

More than 100 shadow fleet ships were targeted in the EU’s 18th sanctions package approved in mid-July. Only a few days later, the U.K. sanctioned 135 Russian oil tankers and two shipping companies linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.

Both the EU and the U.K. also agreed to lower the price cap imposed on Russian crude oil from $60 per barrel to $47.60.

Four killed after armed groups attack Syrian security forces

By
IFP Media Wire
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The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said three Syrian security forces personnel were killed “as clashes erupted with local factions around Tal Hadid in the western Sweida countryside”.

The Observatory also reported the death of a “local fighter”.

Fighting also erupted around the city of Thaala, the Observatory added, “following bombardment of the area with shells and heavy weapons launched from areas under the control of government forces, while the sound of explosions and gunfire was heard in various parts of Sweida city”.

A security source told the outlet the armed groups had violated a ceasefire agreed in the predominantly Druze region, which has seen more than 1,000 killed in fighting over the past month.

Violence in Sweida erupted on 13 July between Bedouin fighters, Druze factions and government forces.

Israel also carried out strikes on Syrian cities, claiming they were coming to the assistance of the Druze.

A US-brokered truce ended the fighting, while the government said it would investigate the clashes, setting up a committee to investigate the attacks.

Since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December, Syria has been rocked by waves of sectarian violence which new President Ahmed al-Sharaa has struggled to manage.

Attacks by Assad loyalists in the coastal province of Latakia provoked a violent sectarian backlash against the minority Alawi population, which the former president and his family were members of.

At least 1,500 Alawis were killed in the subsequent violence, with a Reuters investigation tracing much of it back to officials in Damascus.

Iran sends official letter to UN rejecting legality of snapback mechanism

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Kazem Gharibabadi

Ebrahim Rezaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, reported the letter was signed by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.

During a parliamentary briefing, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi outlined recent diplomatic efforts, including meetings in Istanbul with European parties and discussions in New York.

Gharibabadi emphasized that European countries lack the legal standing to trigger the snapback process, as they have not upheld their commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal.

He also confirmed coordination with Russia and China on countering any such efforts, including a recent trilateral meeting.

Iran reaffirmed its adherence to parliamentary law mandating suspension of cooperation with the IAEA, while rejecting any proposal to extend UN Security Council Resolution 2231, mandating the JCPOA.

Gharibabadi warned of the psychological impact of snapback threats, though no new sanctions would be imposed.
Talks with the US remain suspended, with Iran demanding firm guarantees on the part Washington that the attacks last month on Iran’s nuclear facilities would be compensated before any negotiations.

Iran’s top security body approves establishment of Defense Council

By
IFP Media Wire
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The SNSC said on Sunday that the decision was made in line with Article 176 of the Constitution, which outlines national security responsibilities.

The newly formed council will be responsible for developing defense strategies and enhancing the capabilities of the Armed Forces.

The Iranian president will head the council, which also includes the heads of the three branches of government, senior military commanders, and designated ministers relevant to defense affairs.

The council’s formation comes after the Israeli regime on June 13 launched a war of aggression against Iran, assassinating senior military commanders and nuclear scientists in targeted strikes and killing hundreds of civilians.

On June 22, the United States escalated the war by bombing three civilian nuclear facilities in Iran.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces carried out retaliatory strikes on strategic Israeli positions across the occupied territories and targeted the al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American military installation in West Asia.

Through its successful retaliatory operations, Iran managed to impose a halt to the aggression on June 24.

Seddiqi steps down as Tehran Friday Prayer leader amid real estate scandal

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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In a letter to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Seddiqi requested to be relieved of his duties to focus on academic and religious teaching.

The Leader accepted his resignation, thanking him for 17 years of sermons in defense of the Islamic Republic and moral guidance.

Seddiqi’s resignation follows mounting criticism over a real estate controversy involving his family.

In 2025, it was revealed that a 4,200-square-meter orchard in Tehran’s upscale Ozgol district—owned by the Imam Khomeini Seminary, which Seddiqi oversees—had been transferred to a private company where his sons and daughter-in-law were board members.

Iran’s judiciary later confirmed the arrest of his son and daughter-in-law on financial charges, along with four others, though Seddiqi himself was not found culpable.

His continued presence at Friday prayers, particularly his appearance on July 18, drew sharp backlash from media and political figures. Conservative outlets labeled it “ill-timed” and “defiant.” Seddiqi had been under increasing pressure to step aside.

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