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Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ to be announced in early 2026: Trump

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

“We’ll do it early next year, and the Board of Peace are going to…it’ll be one of the most legendary boards ever,” he told reporters at the White House.

“They want to all do it. Basically, it’ll be the heads of the most important countries. They all want to be on (it).”

The board is a key component of Trump’s ceasefire deal for the besieged Gaza Strip, though key details including its membership have yet to be announced. It is slated to play an assisting role in the administration of Gaza under the terms of Trump’s ceasefire deal.

The US president has stated that he will serve as the group’s chairman.

Since October 2023, Israel has killed more than 70,000 people, mostly women and children, and injured nearly 171,000 others in Gaza in a more than two-year war that came to a halt under a ceasefire deal that took effect on Oct. 10.

 

Ukraine sends revised peace plan to US: AFP

By
IFP Media Wire
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A first US plan that involved Ukraine surrendering land that Russia has not captured was seen by Kyiv and its European allies as caving in to too many of Russia’s hardline demands, and has since been revised.

A Ukrainian official briefed on the latest version told AFP that it “takes into account Ukraine’s vision — it is a further proposal for adequate solutions to problematic issues”.

“We are not disclosing the details pending the reaction of the American side,” the official added.

But Trump, who has been pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to a US plan, swiftly expressed impatience with both Kyiv and its European allies in France, Britain and Germany.

His comments come amid a growing divide with Europe after he described it as “decaying” and “weak” on immigration and Ukraine, days after a new US national security strategy said the continent risked “civilisational erasure”.

“We discussed Ukraine in pretty strong words,” Trump told reporters when asked about the phone call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

On Monday, Ukraine’s European allies put on a show of support for Zelensky as they expressed scepticism about parts of the latest US proposal to end the war launched by Russia in February 2022.

Trump added that the Europeans wanted to hold fresh talks this weekend but warned that they risked “wasting time”.

“I think we had some little disputes about people, and we’re going to see how it turns out. And we said, before we go to a meeting, we want to know some things,” Trump continued.

“They would like us to go to a meeting over the weekend in Europe, and we’ll make a determination depending on what they come back with. We don’t want to be wasting time”.

Talks between US officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin last week also failed to reach a breakthrough.

The threats of a full Trump pull-out have come at a delicate time for Zelensky, whose army is on the back foot in the war-torn eastern Donbas region while a corruption scandal engulfs several of his close associates.

The Ukrainian leader — who Trump has accused of not reading the plan — said on Tuesday the plan had been broken down into three documents — a framework 20-point agreement, and two separate papers: one on security guarantees and another on Ukraine’s post-war recovery.

Earlier on Wednesday, Zelensky stated that he had held an online meeting with US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink to discuss Ukraine’s recovery.

“This could be considered the first meeting of the group that will work on a document concerning reconstruction and economic recovery of Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote on social media.

“We have also updated our reflections on the 20 points of the framework document for ending the war. It is overall security that will determine economic security and underpin safe business environment,” he added.

But US leader gave the latest in a series of hints that he may walk away from a conflict he blames on his predecessor Joe Biden, and which he once said he could end within 24 hours of returning to office in January.

“Sometimes you have to let people fight it out and sometimes you don’t,” Trump said on Wednesday.

“But the problem with letting people fight it out is yet you’re losing thousands of people a week. It’s ridiculous. The whole thing is ridiculous,” he added.

 

Kazakhstan formally receives Iranian President Pezeshkian in Astana

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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According to Iran’s presidential office, the ceremony began with the national anthems of both countries, followed by a formal introduction of the senior members of the Iranian and Kazakh delegations.

The two leaders then proceeded to bilateral talks focused on strengthening political, economic, and regional cooperation.

A joint meeting of high-ranking delegations from both countries is scheduled to follow the private discussions.

President Pezeshkian arrived in Astana on Wednesday evening at the official invitation of President Tokayev and was greeted at the airport by Kazakhstan’s deputy prime minister and deputy foreign minister.

During his visit, the Iranian president is expected to hold several rounds of negotiations aimed at expanding bilateral ties.

Following the talks, the two presidents will attend a signing ceremony for cooperation documents and later brief the media on the outcomes.

President Pezeshkian’s program also includes a visit and address at the Kazakhstan Medical University, as well as participation in a joint forum of Iranian and Kazakh business leaders to explore new trade and investment opportunities.

US highlights ‘close cooperation’ with Syria against Daesh threats

By
IFP Media Wire
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Daesh

Speaking virtually at a Middle East Institute event on Wednesday, Cooper said the US military is working to “foster cooperation” with Syrian authorities.

“We have now had multiple instances of collaboration with the Syrian government to counter very specific IS threats,” Cooper added.

The US general’s comments came on the first anniversary of the start of the Syrian transition after the fall of the government of President Bashar al-Assad in a lightning offensive by opposition fighters.

Cooper’s statement emphasising security cooperation in Syria underscores the stunning transformation in Damascus, which had close ties to US rivals Russia and Iran for decades under al-Assad’s rule.

The US commander also stated that the US is helping efforts to integrate the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces with the Syrian government.

Backed by the US, the SDF controls large parts of the country’s northeast, where it enjoys de facto self-rule. Despite an agreement in March to merge SDF fighters into Syrian state institutions, occasional clashes have broken out between the two sides.

“SDF’s successful integration with the Syrian government forces will lead to a more predictable and stable security environment,” Cooper said.

Syria joined the US-led global coalition against Daesh last month after President Ahmed al-Sharaa – a former rebel commander who formerly led a group with ties to al-Qaeda – visited Washington, DC, and met US President Donald Trump.

“Just the other week, we worked with the Syrian Ministry of Interior in locating and destroying 15 IS weapon sites in southern Syria,” Cooper stressed on Wednesday.

“This operation eliminated over 130 mortars and rockets, multiple small arms, antitank mines, IED [improvised explosive device] material and illicit drugs.”

Daesh controlled large areas in Syria and Iraq between 2014 and 2019. Despite the terror group’s territorial defeat, US officials say Daesh remnants continue to pose a threat to the region.

The US deployed as many as 2,000 troops to Syria during the fight against Daesh, but the Donald Trump administration announced earlier this year that it will slash the number of US bases and soldiers in the country.

Cooper added the US military will continue to play an “active role” in supporting US envoy Tom Barrack to realise Trump’s “vision of a prosperous Middle East and a stable Syria at peace with itself and its neighbours”.

He also reiterated his gratitude to the Syrian authorities for intercepting weapons intended for Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“These are the types of tangible security gains we can make on the ground through close cooperation with Syrian government forces,” he continued.

Since the fall of al-Assad, Israel – the top US ally in the region – has been carrying out air strikes in Syria and expanding its military presence in the south of the country.

Israeli soldiers have also been regularly launching raids in southern Syria and abducting and disappearing residents.

On Wednesday, Cooper failed to mention the Israeli campaign in the country, but he hailed what he called “hoops diplomacy”, referring to footage of himself playing basketball with al-Sharaa earlier this year.

“While much work remains, I believe there’s great reason for optimism and hope about the historic opportunity ahead,” he stated.

 

Nationwide ceremonies mark Mother’s Day and Women’s Day in Iran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The occasion is traditionally held on the 20th of Jamadi al-Thani in the Islamic lunar calendar, aligning with the birth anniversary of Hazrat Fatima Zahra, daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBHU).

Revered by Muslims for her compassion, piety, and moral strength, Hazrat Fatima is regarded as an exemplary figure whose life continues to inspire women across the Islamic world.

Throughout the country, families express their appreciation by presenting mothers and women with flowers, gifts, and heartfelt messages of gratitude.

Many households also hold small gatherings to commemorate the day and reflect on the importance of maternal influence.

In public institutions, schools, and cultural centers, special ceremonies and educational programs were organized on Wednesday to highlight women’s achievements in fields such as science, education, healthcare, and social development.

Influenza wave in Iran claims over 100 lives as new vaccine-evasive strain spreads

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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COVID in Iran

Hossein Kermanpour, head of the ministry’s public relations center, said on the sidelines of a communications conference that the strain has been spreading rapidly since mid-November, prompting nationwide alerts for medical facilities.

Health authorities had not expected the surge to reach current levels, he noted, but the volume of recent patient visits has increased pressure on hospitals across the country.

Most of those who have died had not received the seasonal flu vaccine, Kermanpour added.

The ministry forecasts that the peak of the outbreak will likely continue until mid-January before declining.

Schools are playing a significant role in transmission, officials said, renewing calls for strict adherence to hygiene and prevention guidelines.

Kermanpour stressed that influenza vaccines must be supplied and administered in a timely manner due to their limited shelf life.

Lebanon’s foreign minister declines Iran visit, calls for meeting in third country

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji

In a letter addressed to his Iranian counterpart Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Raji emphasized that Beirut remains ready to open a new phase of constructive relations with Iran, grounded in full respect for the sovereignty of both states.

According to a report by the Lebanese outlet Elnashra, Raji stressed that turning down the invitation should not be interpreted as rejecting dialogue. Instead, he proposed holding a bilateral meeting in a neutral third country agreed upon by both sides.

Raji reiterated Lebanon’s readiness to develop ties with Iran while underscoring his government’s position on state authority.

He stated that building a strong state is only possible when all weapons are exclusively under the control of the government and the national army, and when decisions related to war and peace rest solely with the country’s official institutions.

Iran offered an invitation to Raji earlier this month to visit Tehran and discuss bilateral ties, amid growing debate in Lebanon over the future of the Iran-aligned Hezbollah and calls for state control over the resistance movement’s weapons.

Iranian woman spared execution after victim’s family grants pardon

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Iran Prison

The case of Goli Kouhkan, which had recently drawn significant public attention, was resolved through a formal pardon granted “in honor of Lady Fatemeh Zahra,” Prophet Muhammad’s daughter, on her birthday anniversary, according to provincial judicial authorities.

Haidar Asiabi, the head of the Golestan Judiciary, said the murder occurred in 2018, involving Kouhkan and an accomplice.

Following proceedings in a criminal court and final confirmation by the Supreme Court, a death sentence had been issued and all legal steps for carrying it out had been completed.

Asiabi said efforts for reconciliation intensified due to Kouhkan’s young age, her role as a mother, and the presence of a small child.

The provincial prosecutor’s office, members of the Dispute Resolution Council, and local community elders played key roles in facilitating negotiations. The victim’s family ultimately agreed to pardon her, citing religious values and compassion.

The victim’s father said concern for the future of the couple’s child was a major factor in the family’s decision.

Judicial authorities noted that this is the eleventh death sentence in the province to be resolved through forgiveness since the beginning of the year.

Kouhkan, 25, was reportedly forced into marriage at the age of 12 to her cousin.

Iran’s president highlights Kazakhstan trip as platform to deepen bilateral ties

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Speaking at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran before his departure, he noted that the trip is being made at the formal invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

President Pezeshkian said that expert committees from both governments have prepared a series of planned agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral collaboration.

He added that Iran seeks deeper and more sincere ties with other Muslim-majority countries based on shared beliefs, stressing the importance of mutual assistance and the exchange of experience across the region.

The president will then travel from Kazakhstan to Turkmenistan at the invitation of President Serdar Berdimuhamedow to attend the World Conference on Peace and Trust.

The event will host leaders from across the region and, according to President Pezeshkian, provides an important platform for presenting Iran’s views on international peace and stability.

He criticized widespread warmongering by those claiming to defend peace and humanity, saying regional nations are witnessing atrocities against civilians.

President Pezeshkian added that the conference would allow for direct dialogue with regional leaders to promote practical steps toward peace and trust.

Iran’s President Pezeshkian raps US naval deployment near Venezuela in call with Maduro

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The remarks came on Wednesday during a telephone conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in which the two sides discussed bilateral ties and recent regional developments.

President Pezeshkian said the US deployment, carried out under “baseless pretexts,” violates international norms and constitutes an unlawful escalation.

US President Donald Trump defended the provocative campaign, arguing it was a necessary escalation to stem drug trafficking into the United States, claiming that the nation is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels.

The Iranian president reaffirmed Iran’s support for Venezuela’s independence, stability, and territorial integrity, emphasizing that Tehran regards Caracas as a “true friend and ally.”

He added that Iran remains committed to backing the Venezuelan government and people, and is prepared to expand cooperation across all sectors.

Maduro, for his part, thanked Iran for its longstanding support and said the two nations have built a durable partnership that serves as a model of cooperation.

He labeled recent US actions in the Caribbean as provocative and contrary to the UN Charter, adding that American allegations against Venezuela have faced international and domestic criticism.

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