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IRGC busts Zionist-affiliated terror safehouse

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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IRGC

In a statement released by the Quds Regional Headquarters of the IRGC Ground Forces, the operation follows the recent takedown of six armed and foreign-trained terrorists in the city of Chabahar. Subsequent investigations led security forces to the safehouse, where a massive cache of weapons and explosives was found.

Among the items seized were 13 ready-to-detonate bombs, 11 electric detonators, 9 remote circuits, 3 explosive traps, 8 radios, 47 kilograms of high explosives hidden in objects, 38 meters of detonation cord, 800 rounds of ammunition for M16 rifles and machine guns, and 2 vehicles.

According to the IRGC, the terrorist group—affiliated with the Zionist regime—had plotted to attack vital economic infrastructure and crowded civilian areas in an attempt to sow chaos and advance Tel Aviv’s broader regional agenda.

The statement praised local residents for their vigilance and reaffirmed that the people of Sistan and Baluchestan stand firm with the Islamic Republic against all foreign-backed subversion.

259 dengue fever cases detected in Iran; Aedes mosquito found in 8 provinces

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Fever

According to the national communicable disease surveillance system, 255 cases were recorded in Chabahar, including 249 local transmissions and six cases linked to travel from Pakistan.

Additional cases were reported in Zahedan and Iranshahr, in Sistan and Baluchestan pdovince, involving individuals who had recently traveled to Chabahar.

In 2024, over 1,100 dengue cases were recorded nationwide, of which 922 were locally transmitted.

The dengue virus is spread by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Authorities have detected these mosquitoes in eight provinces, including Hormozgan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Bushehr, Fars, Gilan, Mazandaran, Ardabil, and East Azarbaijan.

Health officials emphasize preventive measures such as using mosquito nets and eliminating stagnant water in plant trays, air cooler pans, and other containers where mosquitoes lay eggs.

Dengue symptoms include high fever, nausea, rash, joint pain, and in severe cases, abdominal pain and internal fluid accumulation.

Iranian envoy: Afghan repatriation plan is long-term, not abrupt

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Speaking to TOLOnews, Alireza Bikdeli emphasized that over six million Afghans currently reside in Iran, with only a small fraction, estimated at 300,000, having recently returned through border crossings such as Eslam Qala and Milak.

He stated that the return process, officially called the “Afghan Nationals Organization Plan,” began in 2022 and aims to document and regulate migrants, distinguishing between legal and illegal residents.

Bikdeli stressed that the plan gave undocumented Afghans until July 5, 2025, to return voluntarily. Those who left by the deadline can re-enter legally with valid documents; otherwise, they face a five-year entry ban.

The Iranian diplomat also acknowledged the humanitarian concerns raised over border conditions and said Tehran has coordinated with Afghan authorities to address the needs.

He praised Afghanistan’s stance during recent regional tensions and affirmed that both nations share deep cultural and historical ties.

On recognizing the Taliban-led government, Bikdeli said such recognition follows legal processes and noted that Iran maintains ongoing cooperation with Afghan authorities.

Iran inaugurates nation’s largest solar power plant amid water, energy challenges

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The project, led by Mobarakeh Steel Company, aims to eventually generate 600 megawatts of solar electricity, with the first 120-megawatt phase now operational.

The solar farm, spanning 1,200 hectares, is expected to play a key role in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and expanding Iran’s renewable energy capacity.

Built with a €305 million investment, the plant features advanced tracking technology to optimize solar capture and is projected to prevent one million tons of CO₂ emissions annually.

President Pezeshkian praised stakeholders for their role in advancing clean energy, especially during a time when Iran faces serious water shortages that have reduced hydropower generation.

Officials emphasize the urgency of diversifying energy sources. With hydropower output declining due to drought, solar expansion is viewed as critical for energy stability in Iran.

Isfahan Governor Mehdi Jamalinejad said solar capacity in the province is expected to reach 5,300 megawatts by 2028, contributing over 30% to the country’s solar power output.

Saudi Arabia executed more than 100 foreigners in 2025 so far: AFP

By
IFP Media Wire
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Saudi Execution

“Khalil Qasim Muhammad Omar and Murad Yaqub Adam Siyo -– both of Ethiopian nationality -– were found guilty of smuggling hashish,” read the statement published by the Saudi Press Agency.

“Upon referral to the competent court, a verdict was issued confirming the charges against them and sentencing them to death.”

In total, 189 people have been executed in 2025, according to AFP’s count, including 88 Saudis.

In 2024, the 100-foreigners execution mark was only surpassed in November in the Gulf kingdom, one of the world’s leading users of the death penalty.

According to a previous AFP tally, at least 338 people were executed last year, compared with 170 in 2023 — far surpassing the previously known record of 196 in 2022.

British parliamentary committee seeks answers over US firm BCG’s role in Gaza

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza

Labour Party MP Liam Byrne, who chairs the House of Commons Business and Trade Select Committee, asked Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in a letter on Wednesday for “clarification and information” about its work in the besieged enclave, adding that the query was part of the committee’s “scrutiny of the UK’s commercial, political and humanitarian links to the conflict”.

Byrne’s letter to BCG CEO Christoph Schweizer comes after The Financial Times daily reported on Friday that the firm had drawn up an estimate of the costs of relocating Palestinians from Gaza and signed a multimillion-dollar contract to help create the Israel- and US-backed GHF.

Gaza health authorities say that more than 700 Palestinians have been killed trying to access aid at distribution centres run by the GHF, which has been disavowed by the United Nations and numerous aid organisations.

The UK newspaper also reported on Monday that the Tony Blair Institute (TBI), run by the former British prime minister, participated in message groups and calls for a post-war development plan for Gaza that relied on BCG modelling.

In his letter, Byrne asked for a “clear and comprehensive response” to a list of questions, including a “detailed timeline” of when BCG began work on establishing the GHF.

Byrne also demanded information from BCG about other companies and institutions, as well as funding sources, linked to the creation of the group.

The GHF, which began operating in the bombarded Palestinian enclave in late May, has drawn widespread criticism amid numerous reports that its US security contractors and Israeli forces have opened fire on aid seekers.

While noting that BCG had ended its involvement with the GHF, and that some of the associated work had been “unauthorised”, Byrne said the firm should provide specific details on what activities were not authorised, “when and how” the work was undertaken, and what actions were made to correct those activities.

Byrne also called for more information about BCG’s work on proposals to relocate the population of Gaza, which have been condemned by Palestinians in the enclave, rights groups and the UN.

“Who commissioned or requested this work? Which individuals or entities . . . did BCG engage with in this context? Is any such work ongoing or active in any form? Were any UK-based organisations – including companies, NGOs, academics or think-tanks – involved?” Byrne said in the letter.

Byrne directed BCG to respond by July 22, “given the seriousness of these issues and the high level of public interest”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also floated the idea of relocating Palestinians during his meetings this week with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

In a statement issued earlier this week, BCG said that “recent media reporting has misrepresented” the firm’s potential role in the post-war reconstruction of Gaza.

The firm said that two of its partners “failed to disclose the full nature of the work” they carried out without payment in helping to establish the GHF.

“These individuals then carried out subsequent unauthorised work. Their actions reflected a serious failure of judgment and adherence to our standards,” the company said, adding that the two partners had been fired.

Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders meet for peace negotiations in UAE

By
IFP Media Wire
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Pashinyan Aliyev

The meeting in Abu Dhabi on Thursday between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, confirmed by both their governments, comes after the two countries finalised a draft peace deal in March.

The South Caucasus countries have fought a series of wars since the late 1980s when Nagorno-Karabakh, a region in Azerbaijan that had a mostly ethnic-Armenian population at the time, broke away from Azerbaijan with support from Armenia.

Peace talks began after Azerbaijan recaptured Karabakh in a lightning offensive in September 2023, prompting a huge exodus of almost all of the territory’s 100,000 Armenians, who fled to Armenia.

But the timeline for sealing a deal remains uncertain.

Ceasefire violations along the heavily militarised 1,000km (620-mile) shared border surged soon after the draft deal was announced, though there have been no reported violations recently.

In a potential stumbling block to a deal, Azerbaijan has said it wants Armenia to change its constitution, which it says makes implicit claims to Azerbaijani territory.

Yerevan denies this, but Pashinyan has repeatedly stressed in recent months – most recently this week – that the South Caucasus country’s founding charter needs to be updated.

Azerbaijan also asked for a transport corridor through Armenia, linking the bulk of its territory to Nakhchivan, an Azerbaijani enclave that borders Baku’s ally, Turkiye.

Pashinyan and Aliyev’s last encounter was in May, on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit in Tirana, Albania.

In June, Pashinyan made a rare visit to Istanbul to hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a meeting Armenia described as a “historic” step towards regional peace.

This week, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope for a swift peace deal between the Caucasus neighbours.

The outbreak of hostilities between the two countries in the late 1980s prompted mass expulsions of hundreds of thousands of mostly Muslim Azeris from Armenia, and Armenians, who are majority Christian, from Azerbaijan.

President Pezeshkian says Iran’s cooperation with IAEA depends on end to double standards

By
IFP Media Wire
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In a phone conversation with European Council President Antonio Costa on Wednesday evening, Pezeshkian said Iran has a long record of principled cooperation with the IAEA, but continuation of this engagement requires an end to double standards regarding the country’s nuclear dossier.

He stressed that any repetition of hostile acts would be met with an even more decisive response.

Pezeshkian and Costa discussed international developments, including the 12-day aggression against Iran and prospects for relations between Tehran and the European Union.

The Iranian president underlined the country’s commitment to peace, regional stability, and constructive global dialogue, especially in the new political period.

Pezeshkian condemned the criminal actions of the Zionist regime and its destructive role in undermining global security, stating that Iran was targeted by Israel and the United States while it pursued dialogue.

He added that when faced with Iran’s firm response, they were compelled to request a ceasefire, and made clear that Israel could not have acted without US support.

Responding to Costa’s concerns over Iran’s suspension of cooperation with the IAEA, Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s adherence to dialogue, diplomacy, and respect for international law, describing recent parliamentary legislation as a reaction to the agency’s biased and unprofessional conduct.

He said the IAEA’s failure to remain impartial, its silence over attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, and its disregard for international law have undermined its credibility and forced the adoption of new measures by Iran’s parliament.

He noted that membership in international bodies like the IAEA must deliver balanced benefits; otherwise, such memberships lose their value.

Pezeshkian reiterated that cooperation will depend on correcting discriminatory behavior.

He thanked Costa for efforts to promote diplomacy and expressed Iran’s willingness to expand relations with the EU through respectful dialogue.

Costa, for his part, emphasized the European Union’s willingness to pursue diplomatic solutions to existing issues and expand cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“I fully agree with you that international organizations must avoid any form of double standards,” he stated.

He added that the European Union holds deep respect for the history, civilization, and culture of the Iranian people and is fully prepared for dialogue and collaboration.

The European Council President also extended his sincere condolences over the martyrdom of Iranian citizens in the recent attacks by the Israeli regime.

He said the European Union condemns Israel’s human rights violations in Gaza and stresses the need to end the war, deliver humanitarian assistance, and provide effective support for the Palestinian people.

Intl. Red Cross says socked by extent of Israeli strike on Evin prison

By
IFP Media Wire
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Vincent Cassard made the remarks on Wednesday as he visited the facility. He was accompanied by Pir Hossein Kolivand, head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), and Heshmatollah Hayat al-Ghaib, director general of Tehran Province Prisons Organization.

Cassard thanked Kolivand for allowing him to see firsthand the destruction caused by the Israeli attack on the Evin prison’s visitation hall, kitchen, infirmary, administrative building, and other sections.

He also noted that he was shocked that civilians, families of prisoners, and ordinary people were targeted and affected by the Israeli strike.

He further said the ICRC monitors the implementation of international humanitarian law, which strictly prohibits any attack on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including prisons.

Hospitals and medical centers are also protected under international humanitarian law, and they should never be a target for attacks.

The Israeli airstrike on the Evin prison took place on June 23 during the inmates’ visitation hours with their families and social workers.

It killed 80 people, including prison administrative staff, soldiers, inmates, families of the prisoners who had come for visitation or legal follow-ups, humanitarian workers, and people living nearby.

Kolivand said that Iran has sent reports to the ICRC and the prosecutor of The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the Israeli atrocity.

The Geneva Conventions prohibit the bombardment of civilian targets, including prisons, and consider them to be a crime, he added.

On June 13, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked aggression against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians.

More than a week later, the United States also jumped on the bandwagon and bombed three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of international law.

In response, Iranian armed forces targeted strategic sites across the occupied territories as well as the al-Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest American military base in West Asia.

On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, managed to impose a halt to the illegal assault.

Over 100 premature babies in Gaza at risk as hospitals run out of fuel

By
IFP Media Wire
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The warnings from al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza City and Nasser Hospital in southern Khan Younis came on Wednesday, as Israeli forces continued to bombard the Palestinian enclave.

Muhammad Abu Salmiyah, the director of al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest facility, told reporters that the lives of more than 100 premature babies and some 350 dialysis patients were at risk.

“Oxygen stations will stop working. A hospital without oxygen is no longer a hospital. The lab and blood banks will shut down, and the blood units in the refrigerators will spoil,” Salmiyah said.

“The hospital will cease to be a place of healing and will become a graveyard for those inside,” he added.

Abu Salmiyah went on to accuse Israel of “trickle-feeding” fuel to Gaza’s hospitals, and said that al-Shifa’s dialysis department had already been shut down to conserve power for the intensive care unit and operating rooms, which cannot be without electricity for even a few minutes.

In Khan Younis, the Nasser Medical Complex said it, too, has entered “the crucial and final hours” due to the fuel shortages.

“With the fuel counter nearing zero, doctors have entered the battle to save lives in a race against time, death, and darkness,” the hospital announced in a statement.

“Medical teams fight to the last breath. They have only their conscience and hope in those who hear the call – save Nasser Medical Complex before it turns into a silent graveyard for patients who could have been saved.”

Mohammed Sakr, a spokesman for the hospital, told the Reuters news agency that the facility needs 4,500 litres (1,189 gallons) of fuel per day to function, but it now has only 3,000 litres (790 gallons) – enough to last 24 hours.

Sakr added doctors are performing surgeries without electricity or air conditioning, and the sweat from staff is dripping into patients’ wounds, risking infection.

A video from Nasser Hospital, posted on social media, shows doctors sweating profusely as they perform a surgery.

“Everything is turned off here. The air conditioning is turned off. No fans,” a doctor says in the video as he demonstrates conditions in the ward.

“All the staff are exhausted, they are complaining [about the] high temperature.”

Israel’s relentless bombardment has decimated Gaza’s healthcare system in the 21 months since it launched its assault on the Palestinian enclave in the wake of the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023.

Since then, there have been more than 600 recorded attacks on health facilities in Gaza, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). As of May this year, only 19 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain partially operational, with 94 percent of all hospitals damaged or destroyed.

Israeli forces have also killed more than 1,500 health workers in Gaza, and detained 185, according to official figures.

The WHO, meanwhile, has described Gaza’s health sector as being “on its knees”, with shortages of fuel, medical supplies and frequent arrivals of mass casualties from Israeli attacks.

Marwan al-Hams, the director of field hospitals in Gaza, told Al Jazeera that “hundreds” of people could die in the territory if fuel supplies are not brought in urgently.

This includes “dozens” of premature babies who could die within the next two days, he stated. Dialysis and intensive care patients would also lose their lives, he added, adding that the injuries of the wounded were worsening amid deteriorating conditions, while diseases like meningitis were spreading.

UNICEF spokesperson James Elder, who recently returned from Gaza, said, “You can have the best hospital staff on the planet”, but if they are denied medicine and fuel, operating a health facility “becomes an impossibility”.

Israel has imposed a suffocating siege on Gaza since early March.

Over the past weeks, it has allowed some food into Gaza to be distributed through a United States-backed group at sites where hundreds of aid seekers have been shot dead by Israeli soldiers.

But fuel has not entered the territory in more than four months.

“What little fuel remains is already being used to power the most essential operations – such as intensive care units and water desalination – but those supplies are running out fast, and there are virtually no additional accessible stocks left,” the UN’s humanitarian agency (OCHA) announced on Tuesday.

“Hospitals are rationing. Ambulances are stalling. Water systems are on the brink. The deaths this is likely causing could soon increase sharply unless the Israeli authorities allow new fuel in – urgently, regularly and in sufficient quantities.”

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 57,575 people and wounded 136,879, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7, 2023 attacks, and more than 200 were taken captive.

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