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5 killed, hundreds injured in blasts at Shahid Rajaee Port in southern Iran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Videos posted online from the moment of the explosions and their aftermath show that the blasts were powerful. Soon after the explosions, speculation ricocheted around social media about their cause with some people claiming foul play.

Government officials have urged people to avoid speculating about the incident.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered Interior Minister Eskandar Monei to fly to Bandar Abbas to launch an investigation into the explosions.
Pezeshkian also posted a message on X, extending sympathies to those affected by the blasts in Hormozgan Province.

He also said he had instructed the interior minister to find the cause of the incident and make necessary coordination to assist the injured.

Iran denies missile program discussed in indirect talks with US

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Esmael baghaei

“The country’s defensive and missile power has not been and is not subject to negotiations,” the spokesman stated on Saturday.

The talks are primarily focused on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA), with Oman continuing to facilitate communication between the two sides, he explained.

The third phase of talks, mediated by Oman, began on Saturday in Muscat.

The Iranian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, while the US side is headed by Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs Steve Witkoff.

Technical discussions are being handled by deputy-level officials, including Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s political deputy foreign minister, and Kazem Gharibabadi, who oversees international legal affairs.

The US technical team is being led by Michael Anton, a National Security Council spokesman.

Massive explosion rocks port in southern Iran, over 550 injured

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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According to reports, the explosion caused significant damage, shattering windows in dozens of vehicles and buildings in the vicinity.

Initial reports indicate at least 560 people have been hospitalized following the powerful explosion, according to Hormozgan Emergency Services.

Mokhtar Salahshour, head of the Hormozgan Red Crescent Society, confirmed the deployment of rapid response teams to the site.

“Our teams are currently assessing the situation and providing emergency assistance,” he stated, adding that the cause of the explosion remains unknown.

The blast was reportedly strong enough to be heard throughout Bandar Abbas and on Qeshm Island.

Local authorities have yet to release official details about the incident at Iran’s largest container port.

Iranian state media’s controversial broadcast draws criticism amid diplomatic thaw with Saudi Arabia

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan

Jomhouri-e Eslami newspaper sharply criticized the programming, calling it a “severe blow to national interests” that undermined Iran’s declared policy of Islamic unity and harmed the country’s negotiating position.

In another incident, the state television broadcast a controversial program, which contained sectarian material offensive to Sunni Muslims.

“At a time when our foreign policy is achieving important developments, how can those claiming to be revolutionary and Islamic work against our regional and international policies?” the article questioned.

While acknowledging some critical voices from expatriate opposition groups and Israeli commentators regarding warming Iran-Saudi relations, the newspaper emphasized that state media should support rather than undermine the country’s diplomatic initiatives.

The incident has raised questions about coordination between Iran’s foreign policy objectives and its media messaging, particularly during sensitive diplomatic engagements.

In rapid damage control, IRIB chief Peyman Jebelli condemned the content as “unforgivable,” while Deputy Director Mohsen Barmahani announced disciplinary actions against eight employees, including four arrests.

Fourth edition of Koocheh music festival kicks off in Bushehr

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Musician and festival organizer Mohsen Sharifian said concerts will be held on the Grand Ferry ship, while Lian Hall and Saadat School host free cultural events.

A classical literature night featuring Saadi and Rumi experts was held on Friday evening. Unlike previous years, no activities are planned in Bushehr’s historic district.

The grassroots festival marked its return after years of pandemic and obstacles.

The non-governmental cultural event, aimed at preserving local music and promoting Bushehr’s indigenous culture, nearly faced cancellation days before its scheduled opening.

The festival encountered last-minute hurdles when the Iranian deputy arts minister initially announced its cancellation.

Organizers responded with a statement congratulating “the real winners” of what they called a “lost cause.”

Following public backlash on social media and protests by artists, Bushehr’s Culture Ministry granted limited permission on Sunday, allowing events at Lian Hall while denying permits for the historic old quarter.

Iran denies destabilizing Syria, calls for end to occupation

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Amir Saeed Iravani

Iravani reiterated on Friday Iran’s “unwavering commitment” to Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, demanding the immediate withdrawal of all unauthorized foreign forces from Syrian territory.

“Iran has never taken any action to destabilize Syria or the region,” the envoy stated, dismissing contrary claims as “biased and unacceptable.” He affirmed support for a “stable, united Syria free from terrorism, occupation, and foreign interference.”

He condemned Israel’s military aggression on Syria as violations of international law and the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria, warning that continued attacks – enabled by US political and military support – systematically degrade Syria’s defensive capabilities.

The ambassador highlighted Syria’s worsening humanitarian crisis, with 16.7 million people (70% of the population) requiring aid – the highest level since 2011. He blamed US sanctions for obstructing reconstruction and refugee returns while noting only 10% of 2025’s $1.2 billion humanitarian appeal has been funded.

Iravani emphasized combating foreign militant groups in Syria and endorsed the Syrian-led political process under UNSC Resolution 2254, including holding free elections and forming an inclusive government.

Official: Iran hosts 6.1 million Afghan nationals, immigration growth rate stops

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Afghan Refugees

The announcement by the committee spokesperson, Ebrahim Rezaei, came during a parliamentary meeting on Friday attended by senior officials, including security and immigration representatives.

Officials highlighted key issues, including infrastructure strain in the northeastern provincial capital, Mashhad, where 1.2 million of the city’s 2.5 million marginalized residents are Afghans.

Economic burdens, such as subsidies for healthcare, education, and energy, were also discussed, alongside efforts to combat human smuggling networks.

Security concerns dominated the meeting, with officials citing geopolitical threats and the activities of Israel as major risks.

Criticism was directed at bureaucratic delays, with demands for stricter border enforcement and diplomatic talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban.

The committee urged balanced policies, stressing Iran’s civilizational ties to Afghanistan while demanding firm action against illegal entry.

Iran has been hosting Afghan migrants, millions of them undocumented, for several decades. However, their bulging presence in recent years, specifically since the Taliban takeover in 2021, has caused serious social and economic problems in the country, which has triggered outcries at home to expel them.

US plans to offer Saudi Arabia $100bn weapons deal: Reuters

By
IFP Media Wire
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The deal is reportedly in the works in advance of a planned trip by US President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates next month, Reuters reported.

Top defence contractors such as Lockheed Martin, RTX Corp, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and General Atomics are reported to be involved in the supply of advanced weapons systems, according to Reuters, and several executives from the companies are expected to join Trump’s delegation for the visit.

The sources cited by Reuters say the contractor could see Riyadh supplied with a range of weapons including C-130 transport aircraft, missiles and radar systems.

It is unlikely, however, that Saudi Arabia will gain access to Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet. Only a select number of countries can buy F-35s from the US, such as NATO allies, Japan, South Korea and Australia.

Trump’s predecessor, President Joe Biden, tried unsuccessfully to sign a new defence pact with Saudi Arabia with the broader aim of normalising relations with Israel. Biden’s pact also called for Riyadh to restrict Chinese investment and halt arms purchases from Beijing, but Reuters said it could not establish whether Trump’s proposed deal would call for similar restrictions.

Neither the White House nor Saudi officials immediately responded to the request for comment, but a US defence official told Reuters that “security cooperation remains an important component” of the US-Saudi relationship. None of the defence contractors named by Reuters replied to queries.

While the US has long supplied Saudi Arabia with weapons, sales dropped off in 2018 following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In 2021, the US Congress banned the sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia in the wake of the murder and Riyadh’s involvement in the war in Yemen.

The Biden administration began to soften its stance on Saudi Arabia in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine impacted global oil supplies, and the ban on offensive weapons sales was lifted in 2024 as Saudi Arabia was seen as a key partner by the US in the post-war reconstruction of Gaza.

Iran says ready to give assurances regarding peaceful nature of its nuclear work

By
Emad Askarieh
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Esmael baghaei

On the eve of the third round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the US, Esmail Baqaei, emphasized that ending the illegal and inhumane sanctions against the Iranian people is an immediate and tangible priority for the Islamic Republic of Iran.

On Friday Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Muscat for the third round of nuclear talks between Iran and the US.

Baqaei stated Tehran is determined to safeguard the legal and legitimate rights of the Iranian people to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The third round of the Iran-US talks is set to take place on Saturday under Oman’s mediation.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson added: “We must see to what extent the other side is serious and prepared for a fair and realistic agreement.”

The first round of the Iran-US  talks was held in Muscat, and the second round took place in Rome.

On Saturday, alongside expert-level meetings, talks will be held between Iran’s Foreign Minister Araqchi and US President’s Special
Envoy Steve Wittkof in the Omani capital.

Iran spokesman: Preventing aid from entering Gaza war crime

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

Esmail Baqaei, referring to the intensification of the Zionist regime’s attacks on Palestinian refugee camps and temporary shelters, called for decisive global action to prosecute and punish the leaders of the Zionist regime for genocide and war crimes.

Baqaei criticized the United Nations Security Council’s inaction regarding these crimes, stating that the US and certain European countries—which continue to provide military aid to the Zionist regime—are complicit in these atrocities.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stressed that the Zionist regime’s continued impunity, the ongoing slaughter of defenseless people in Gaza and the West Bank, and the occupation of parts of Lebanon and Syria severely threaten peace and security in West Asia.

Baqaei also strongly condemned the Zionist regime’s repeated violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, breaches of ceasefire agreements, and the assassination of political and social activists in the country.

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