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Hamas dismisses Trump remarks on Gaza talks breakdown

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza

Trump made the allegation of Friday a day after Israel and the United States quit indirect negotiations with Hamas in Qatar that had lasted nearly three weeks.

“Trump’s remarks are particularly surprising, especially as they come at a time when progress had been made on some of the negotiation files,” Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP.

“So far, we have not been informed of any issues regarding the files under discussion in the indirect ceasefire negotiations”, he added.

Nunu, who is close to Hamas’s most senior political officials, said he was “surprised” that Israel and the United States had left the talks.

Announcing the recall of US mediators on Thursday, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff accused Hamas of not “acting in good faith”.

Though not part of the Hamas negotiating team, Hamas politburo member Izzat al-Rishq insisted the group had shown “flexibility” in the talks.

“The American statements deliberately ignore the real obstructionist to all agreements, Netanyahu’s government, which continues to put obstacles, deceive and evade commitments,” he stated.

Both Hamas officials called on the United States to be more even-handed in its role as mediator in the quest for a ceasefire after more than 21 months of fighting.

“We call for an end to the US bias in favour of Netanyahu, who is obstructing any agreement”, Nunu noted.

Iranian FM stresses legitimacy in self-defense

By
IFP Media Wire
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“Our personnel at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended the innocence of the Iranian people and the legitimacy of self-defense in response to a clear aggression,” the minister stated.

Araqchi delivered the remarks on Saturday, during a high-level meeting with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Ministry officials, stressing that the ministry’s personnel stood shoulder to shoulder with the nation’s armed forces throughout the 12-day conflict, ensuring seamless coordination between the diplomatic front and military operations.

“From 6 a.m. on the day of the attack, June 13, officials were present at the ministry. Many did not return home for days,” he added.

Araqchi stressed that the Foreign Ministry’s role was part of a broader government performance that forced the enemy to retreat and seek a ceasefire without preconditions.

“The enemy stepped back due to the resistance of our armed forces and the extraordinary management shown by the government, which allowed no room for weakness or failure,” he said.

Highlighting diplomatic efforts, he noted that over 120 countries condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity with Iran due to extensive communications by Iranian embassies worldwide.

“All key international organizations—except for the UN Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors—stood firmly with Iran. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Non-Aligned Movement, Persian Gulf Cooperation Council, Arab League, African Union, and numerous global leaders acknowledged and endorsed Iran’s rightful stance,” Araqchi continued.

He pointed out that the attack came during ongoing diplomatic talks, making clear who pursued diplomacy and who resorted to force and domination.

“This 12-day period confirmed the legitimacy of the Iranian nation,” he added.

Araqchi also mentioned ongoing cooperation with the Legal Affairs Office of the presidency to document Israeli war crimes.

He said the Foreign Ministry has recently focused on Gaza, with multiple calls made to coordinate international efforts to stop Israeli crimes and prevent starvation used by the Zionist regime as a weapon of war.

“The resistance of the people in Gaza has blocked the (Zionist) enemy from gaining political concessions during ceasefire negotiations,” he stated.

Concluding, Araqchi praised Pezeshkian’s strong and energetic leadership, which, he said, boosted morale and enabled effective coordination amid the crisis.

Iran’s president vows to focus foreign policy on regional outreach, ties with Russia, China

By
IFP Media Wire
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Masoud Pezeshkian

Pezeshkian made the remarks on Saturday as he met with Iranian deputy foreign ministers and senior diplomats at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the capital Tehran.

“Through established coordination and policies, we will seek to prioritize expansion of closer, deeper, and better relations with our neighbors, and then develop and advance our ties with the countries with which we have good interactions, including Russia, China, the BRICS group, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Eurasian Union,” he said.

“We will also continue the process of cooperation with European countries and other countries based on wisdom, dignity, and expediency.”

Turning to the June 13-25 Israeli aggression on Iran that took place amid unprecedented American support, Pezeshkian said the occupying regime aggressively sought during the recent 12-day war to bring the country to its knees, but the dear Iranian nation took outstanding measures that need to be appreciated earnestly.

He underlined that Iran’s diplomacy, as shown by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and other Iranian media outlets, was active round-the-clock throughout the war.

“Even though some departments were shuttered down for a while, our loved ones were present in relevant bodies and established international ties,” the president said.

Pezeshkian also pointed to the efforts of Iran’s diplomatic apparatus during the 12-day Israeli-imposed war, saying that the result of such efforts was that almost all international agencies, except for the Security Council and the United Nations, condemned the aggression.

He further said that the Israeli regime initiated a war that was fundamentally unlawful under all international principles and regulations. “Unfortunately, in today’s world, such aggressive actions are often justified by major powers,” he added.

He also said that the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, emphasized that Iranian security and defense forces must prepare themselves to defend the country, while also noting that diplomacy must be placed on the agenda.

The Iranian president finally expressed gratitude for the remarkable efforts of the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in implementing the Islamic Republic’s foreign policy and diplomacy.

Iran’s FM praises Tehran’s missile power for defeating Israel

By
IFP Media Wire
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Iran Missile

Seyyed Abbas Araghchi made the remarks on Friday, meeting with the family of Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)’s Aerospace Force, who was martyred during the war.

“Iran’s missile defense power forced the Zionist enemy to request a ceasefire,” the top diplomat told Hajizadeh’s survivors.

“It has now been proven that the flag of esteem and strength of [our] dear Iran will never fall to the ground,” he added.

“The path towards ensuring Iran’s dignity, independence, and security will continue with unwavering resolve.”

Iran’s Armed Forces, including the Aerospace Force, launched at least 22 phases of determined counteroffensives in the face of the war, targeting many critical Israeli nuclear, military, and industrial sites.

The retaliation that deployed hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones forced the Israeli regime to request a ceasefire only after 12 days into the war, despite receiving unprecedented American military and intelligence support throughout the course of the aggression.

Also on Friday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the country’s military and scientific advancements would move forward with greater speed and determination.

The Leader made the remarks in a message marking the 40th day since the martyrdom of Hajizadeh and other senior Iranian commanders during the aggression.

Ayatollah Khamenei condemned the “wicked and criminal Zionist ruling group” for the atrocities, calling the attacks “a blow delivered by the vile and spiteful enemy of the Iranian nation.”

“But the foolish and shortsighted enemy did not achieve its goal,” the Leader stated, pointing to the triumph scored by the Iranian defense forces.

Death toll in southeast Iran terrorist attack rises to six, 22 injured

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran Police

According to official statements from the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) and provincial judiciary officials three assailants, affiliated with Jaish al-Adl terrorist group, armed with grenades and wearing explosive vests, attempted to storm the courthouse but were stopped by security forces before entering the building.
A gunfight broke out outside the complex, during which the attackers opened fire on civilians.

According to provincial judicial chief Mojtaba Mohebi Rad, most casualties were ordinary citizens. Three security personnel were also reported killed in the line of duty.

Tragically, among the dead are a baby less than one year old and a woman believed to be a 60-year-old Baluch, whose identity remains unconfirmed. The child’s mother was among the wounded.

Of the 22 injured, several were treated on-site for stress and trauma, while others were transferred to hospitals. Some remain in critical condition.

Authorities say all three terrorists were neutralized. The situation in Zahedan is now under control, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Trump says may fast-track sanctions on Russia over Ukraine war

By
IFP Media Wire
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Speaking to reporters outside the White House before embarking on a trip to Scotland, Trump said that secondary sanctions, which would impose tariffs on countries and entities doing business with Russia, could be expedited.

“It could be that we’ll have to put secondary sanctions on,” Trump stated. Asked whether the sanctions could materialize before the 50-day deadline to end the Ukraine conflict runs out on September 3, the US president said he could “maybe” opt to do so.

Moscow has previously said that Trump’s new sanctions threats serve primarily “as signals to continue war” for Kiev and urged the US to put pressure on Ukraine instead. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that the “hypothetical arrival” of secondary sanctions would not impact Moscow’s policy and that Russia would “continue to move along our independent, sovereign, and sustained path.”

The US president also insisted a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, would eventually happen. Trump did not provide a timeframe on when that might occur.

“It’s going to happen. But it should have happened three months ago. It’s going to happen,” he told reporters.

Moscow has insisted that a potential Putin-Zelensky meeting should only deal with final agreements rather than preliminary discussions. Speaking to reporters earlier on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the groundwork had to be laid first.

“A summit meeting can and should put a final point in the settlement and record the modalities and agreements that are to be developed in the course of expert work. It is impossible to do the opposite,” Peskov stressed.

US military claims killed senior Daesh leader in Syria

By
IFP Media Wire
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Daesh

Centcom said Friday that U.S. forces killed Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, a senior ISIS (ISIL or Daesh) leader, along with his two sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani, who Centcom says are affiliated with ISIS.

“These ISIS individuals posed a threat to US and Coalition Forces, as well as the new Syrian Government,” Centcom announced in a statement.

Three women and three children who were on site when the raid took place were not injured, Centcom added.

No U.S. forces were harmed during the raid, a U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Hill on Friday.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in late June to get rid of most U.S. sanctions on Syria, lifting decades of restrictions and providing relief to Damascus’s new government that overthrew Syria’s Bashar Assad.

The president first announced the axing of sanctions during his May 13 speech in Saudi Arabia, where he hammered “interventionists” and “neocons” for destroying “far more nations than they built.”

Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, Centcom’s chief, said the U.S. will continue to “relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they are.”

“ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide. Alongside our partners and allies, U.S. Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies, and our homeland,” Kurilla added.

Dozens of UK MPs urge PM to recognize Palestine

By
IFP Media Wire
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The appeal follows French President Emmanuel Macron’s pledge to recognize Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September. Both Israel and the US have criticized the move, arguing that it would embolden Hamas.

In a letter published on Friday, 221 MPs from nine parties urged Starmer and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to grant recognition as part of the country’s longstanding support for a two-state solution.

“Whilst we appreciate the UK does not have it in its power to bring about a free and independent Palestine, UK recognition would have a significant impact due to our historic connections and our membership on the UN Security Council,” the letter said. The MPs argued that Britain has a particular responsibility, having administered the Mandate for Palestine from 1919 to 1948.

According to The Guardian, UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood are among the cabinet ministers lobbying for the move.

Despite growing pressure, Starmer has stopped short of an immediate commitment. “Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis,” he said on Friday after a phone call with Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The three leaders called for a ceasefire and urged Israel to “immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid” into the besieged enclave. They also said Hamas must disarm and “must have no role in the future of Gaza.”

The Kremlin reaffirmed on Friday that Russia has recognized Palestinian statehood since Soviet times and continues to support a two-state solution under international law.

European countries urge end to Gaza ‘humanitarian catastrophe’

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Gaza War

Alarm has been mounting about the deepening crisis in Gaza, with aid groups saying that “mass starvation” is spreading after more than 21 months of conflict.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the three European powers urged Israel “to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and urgently allow the UN” and NGOs to “take action against starvation”.

“The most basic needs of the civilian population, including access to water and food, must be met without any further delay,” they said.

“Withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law.”

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani added his voice to the criticism, stating his country cannot accept “carnage and famine” in Gaza.

Concern is growing in particular about surging numbers of malnourished children. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says that a quarter of the young children and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers it had screened at its clinics last week were malnourished.

Warning that the crisis had reached “new and astonishing levels of desperation”, the United Nations food agency announced: “Nearly one person in three is not eating for days.”

“Malnutrition is surging with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment,” said the Rome-based World Food Programme.

“Food aid is the only way for people to access any food as food prices are through the roof… People are dying from lack of humanitarian assistance,” it added.

Israel has rejected accusations it is responsible for the deepening crisis in Gaza, which the World Health Organization has called “man-made”.

Israel placed the Gaza Strip under an aid blockade in March, which it only partially eased two months later while sidelining the longstanding UN-led distribution system.

In their joint statement, Germany, France and Britain also stressed that “the time has come to end the war in Gaza.

“We urge all parties to bring an end to the conflict by reaching an immediate ceasefire.”

In a separate statement Friday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signalled that London will not imminently recognise a Palestinian state, after French President Emmanuel Macron said a day earlier that his country intended to do so in September.

Starmer stated that he was “unequivocal” Britain should eventually recognise a Palestinian state, but that this step “must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution”.

He is facing mounting pressure however, with more than 220 British MPs, including dozens from the ruling Labour party, demanding that his government formally recognise a Palestinian state.

Britain’s position is similar to that of Germany, which noted it regarded the recognition of a Palestinian state as “one of the final steps on the path to achieving a two-state solution”.

Deadly armed attack on courthouse in Iran’s Zahedan leaves at least five dead, 13 injured

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Crime Scene

The attack was carried out by armed assailants, and explosions and gunfire were heard from the scene shortly afterward.

Security forces and emergency responders quickly arrived at the site, evacuating wounded individuals and courthouse staff.

Ambulances transported the injured to local medical centers, while police forces secured the surrounding area and entered the building.

The extremist terror group Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for the attack through an online statement.

Initial reports suggest the possibility of a suicide bomber, although the exact cause of the explosion has not been confirmed.

According to security sources, three attackers were killed during the assault, which began with gunfire directed at the courthouse and later extended indiscriminately to nearby civilians. Damage was also reported to private property.

Investigations are ongoing to assess the full scope of the incident.

Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, has experienced periodic unrest and militant attacks in recent years.

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