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Yemen’s Houthis announce new phase of attacks on Israel-linked ships

By
IFP Media Wire
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The armed group has been targeting ships in the Bab el Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime route linking the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, in what it describes as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.

Military spokesman Ameen Hayyan announced the escalation in a televised address, describing it as a new phase of the group’s campaign.

“This phase includes targeting all ships belonging to any company that deals with the ports of the Israeli enemy, regardless of the nationality of that company, and in any location within the reach of our armed forces,” he stated.

Hayyan also urged countries to sever ties with Israel and pressure it to lift the “blockade” of Gaza.

According to Reuters, the Houthis have attacked more than 100 vessels in the Red Sea since November 2023, sinking four ships, seizing one, and killing at least eight sailors. Earlier this month, the group seized and sank the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carriers Eternity C and Magic Seas.

The Houthis have also launched ballistic missiles at the occupied territories, most of which have been intercepted. In response, Israel has intensified airstrikes in Yemen, hitting Houthi-linked targets and port infrastructure, including a series of strikes on Monday.

“Yemen will be treated like Tehran. The Houthis will pay heavy prices for firing missiles at the State of Israel,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stressed.

In May, the Houthis reached an Omani-mediated ceasefire with the US, ending a series of strikes ordered by US President Donald Trump.

1 in 3 people in Gaza Strip hasn’t eaten for days: UN

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

Tom Fletcher, under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, welcomed Israel’s decision to support a one-week scale-up of aid, including lifting customs barriers and easing movement restrictions.

“This is progress,” Fletcher said, “but vast amounts of aid are needed to stave off famine and a catastrophic health crisis.”

He called for urgent, sustained access, faster convoy clearances, multiple daily trips to crossings, consistent fuel supplies and safe humanitarian corridors free from attacks.

“People are being shot just trying to get food to feed their families,” he continued, adding, “Aid must not be blocked, delayed or come under fire.”

Fletcher also reiterated the UN’s demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

“Ultimately of course, we don’t just need a pause – we need a permanent ceasefire,” he stated.

The Israeli army, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing nearly 60,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has destroyed the enclave and led to food shortages.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

Daily: President Pezeshkian orders expert panel on ‘false content’ bill, outcome to decide its fate

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Masoud Pezeshkian

According to the paper, the president has committed to accepting the outcome of this expert consultation as final.

If the majority consensus among the participants favors withdrawing the bill from parliament, the government will comply and remove it from the legislative agenda. Conversely, if the justice minister successfully persuades experts of the bill’s necessity, it will proceed as planned.

The bill, initially proposed by the judiciary following the conflict with Israel last month, has faced widespread criticism from political figures, civil society, and reformist cabinet members.

Critics argue it contradicts the government’s own discourse on transparency and open dialogue, while defenders stress its focus on curbing harmful misinformation.

Legal and political commentators, including Abbas Abdi and Azar Mansouri, have warned that the bill risks undermining digital freedoms.

Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry insists it targets only those who knowingly spread harmful, false information and does not threaten legitimate expression.

Iran’s oil sector ready to deal with potential return of UN sanctions: Minister

By
IFP Media Wire
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Iran Oil

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Paknejad said that Iran is ready to deal with the impacts of UN sanctions on its oil sector, including on exports, investment, and equipment imports.

He made the remarks amid threats by Britain, France, and Germany that they would trigger the so-called snapback mechanism under a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers if Tehran fails to reach a new agreement on its nuclear program in the upcoming months.

The move could allow for a return of six UN sanctions resolutions that were adopted between 2006 and 2010 in response to Iran’s alleged non-compliance with UN nuclear regulations.

Experts say a re-imposition of the UN sanctions would have almost no impact on Iran’s ability to supply oil to international markets, as they do not directly target Iran’s oil sector.

However, they say the sanctions can affect Iran’s oil-related financial dealings with other countries, including with China, which has been the largest buyer of Iranian oil at the height of US sanctions on the country in recent years.

Iran: Europeans have no authority to trigger snapback mechanism

By
IFP Media Wire
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Esmael baghaei

Referring to the recent talks between Iran and the three European countries—Britain, France, and Germany—in Istanbul, Baqaei said the discussions focused on the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions.

He added, “We emphasized that the European parties have no authority to use the snapback mechanism. Such a right does not exist, and we oppose the very principle of it.”

Baqaei noted that the Europeans have long tried to use a clause in UN Security Council Resolution 2231 as leverage, but Iran has stressed that it is ineffective.

“If Europe misuses it, Iran will certainly respond,” he warned.

The spokesman further said that the European parties undermined the credibility of this resolution by supporting the recent aggression against Iran by the United States and Israel.

Baqaei also underlined that Iran’s defensive capabilities are non‑negotiable, stating, “What can help us defend ourselves are the capabilities that are the result of our own scientists’ efforts.”

Iranian lawmakers urge withdrawal of “false content” bill amid free speech concerns

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The MPs, in a letter published by parliamentarian Farid Mousavi, said the bill contradicts Article 24 of the Constitution, which protects press freedom, and runs counter to repeated statements by Iran’s Leader emphasizing the need to hear public voices and strengthen social trust.

“It is shocking that a government founded on transparency, justice, and national dialogue has submitted such a bill,” the letter reads. “Censorship is neither a tool for explanation nor a guarantee of security.”

The MPs noted that the bill comes shortly after “a wave of public” unity during a 12-day conflict with Israel, which “the government is now undermining by silencing critical voices.”

In response, the Ministry of Justice defended the bill, citing public safety and national interest. Officials stated that the law targets only those who knowingly spread false information with broad reach and stressed it aligns with global standards and constitutional rights.

Syria to hold first parliamentary elections since al-Assad’s overthrow

By
IFP Media Wire
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Ahmad Al Sharaa

Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, chairman of the Higher Committee for People’s Assembly Elections, told state news agency SANA on Sunday that elections will take place between September 15 and 20.

They will be the first to take place under the country’s new authorities after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December.

One-third of the 210 seats will be appointed by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, with the rest to be elected.

In a recent interview with the Erem News site, another member of the elections committee, Hassan al-Daghim, said an electoral college will be set up in each of Syria’s provinces to vote for the elected seats.

A temporary constitution signed by al-Sharaa in March called for a People’s Committee to be set up to serve as an interim parliament until a permanent constitution is adopted and general elections held, a process that could take years.

The announcement of impending elections comes at a time when the country is increasingly divided in its views of the new authorities in Damascus after sectarian violence broke out in the southern province of Suwayda earlier this month.

The fighting killed hundreds of people and threatened to unravel Syria’s fragile postwar transition.

The violent clashes, which broke out two weeks ago, were sparked by tit-for-tat kidnappings between armed Bedouin clans and fighters from the Druze religious minority.

Syrian government forces intervened, ostensibly to end the fighting, but effectively sided with the clans.

Some government troops reportedly executed Druze civilians and burned and looted houses.

Israel intervened, launching air strikes on government forces and on the Defence Ministry headquarters. Israel said it was acting to defend the Druze minority.

Israel’s attack on Gaza-bound aid ship blatant example of ‘piracy’: Iran

By
IFP Media Wire
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Esmail Baghaei

The boat called Handala, led by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was roughly 100km west of Gaza late Saturday night when Israeli forces “violently intercepted” it and boarded the vessel, the coalition announced in a statement.

The regime’s forces also detained all 21 international crew members, including journalists and lawmakers.

According to the legal rights center Adalah, Israeli naval vessels dragged the aid ship to the occupied port of Ashdod.

In a statement on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the Israeli regime’s move was a “clear example of piracy and a gross violation of international law.”

It was aimed at advancing the Israeli regime’s policy of genocide in occupied Palestine, continuing the oppressive and inhumane blockade, and intensifying the policy of imposing famine and hunger on the defenseless people in the besieged Strip, he added.

He emphasized that Israel’s attack on the Handala and, before that, the Madleen aid ship were a blatant violation of the principles and rules of international law, urging all governments and international organizations to condemn them.

The Israeli forces, early in June, attacked Madleen, a humanitarian aid vessel that was attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.

The Iranian spokesperson stated that the blockade imposed on Gaza must be lifted immediately, and that adequate humanitarian aid should reach the Palestinian people exclusively through a recognized international mechanism.

The Handala, a refurbished fishing boat, had been en route from Malmö, Sweden, to break Israel’s deadly blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid—including baby formula, nappies, food, and medicine—to Palestinian residents.

Support for Palestinians in Britain rises amid humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza: Poll

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

The findings, by the think tank More in Common, revealed that 29 percent of respondents sympathised more with the Palestinian side in the war, compared to 15 percent who sympathised more with Israel.

This marks an 11-point rise in support for Palestinians since November 2023, just weeks after the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October.

This growing support comes against the backdrop of catastrophic conditions in Gaza, where at least 127 Palestinians, including more than 85 children, have died of starvation since Israel’s blockade resumed in March.

More than 1,121 Palestinians have also been killed while seeking aid at distribution sites manned by Israeli soldiers and US security contractors.

Earlier this week, the UK and 27 other countries condemned what they described as “the drip-feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians” seeking food and water.

When asked about Israel’s conduct in the war, 48 percent of respondents said the Israeli military response in Gaza has been disproportionate, compared to 28 percent who disagreed.

The UK’s arms exports to Israel have also been under increasing scrutiny. While dozens of arms export licences were suspended last year, campaigners and many MPs argue the steps do not go far enough. Last week, nearly 60 MPs and peers called for a full arms embargo.

The poll suggests public support for such a move: 41 percent said the UK should stop exporting any weapons to Israel, while only 14 percent supported exporting both offensive and defensive arms.

However, 41 percent of respondents said it was right for the UK government to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, while 29 percent said the decision was wrong.

Palestine Action, known for its direct action targeting UK-based arms manufacturers linked to Israel, was banned earlier this year under terrorism legislation – a move criticised by human rights organisations that argue it criminalises non-lethal protest against military complicity.

Meanwhile, half of Britons surveyed believed Hamas does not represent the views of ordinary Palestinians, compared with 16 percent who did.

Trump claims Hamas stealing food amid Gaza hunger crisis

By
IFP Media Wire
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The president, while sitting next to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Turnberry, Scotland, was asked for his response to the images of starving children in Gaza.

“When I see the children and when I see, especially over the last couple of weeks people are stealing the food, they’re stealing the money, they’re stealing the money for the food. They’re stealing weapons, they’re stealing everything,” the president said.

He added, “It’s a mess, that whole place is a mess. The Gaza Strip, you know it was given many years ago so they could have peace. That didn’t work out too well.”

The Israeli military has reported that there is no proof that the Palestinian group had systematically stolen aid.

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