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North Korea voices ‘unconditional’ support for Russia in Ukraine

Lavrov is on a three-day visit to North Korea, which has provided troops and arms for Russia’s war on Ukraine and pledged more military support as Moscow tries to make advances in the conflict.

Kim met Lavrov in the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, where Lavrov and his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui, held their second strategic dialogue, pledging further cooperation under a partnership treaty signed last year that includes a mutual defence pact.

Kim told Lavrov the steps taken by the allies in response to radically evolving global geopolitics would contribute greatly to securing peace and security around the world, North Korea’s state news agency KCNA reported.

“Kim Jong Un reaffirmed the DPRK is ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis,” KCNA said, using the acronym for the country’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a video on Telegram of the two men shaking hands and greeting each other with a hug.

The North Korean leader also expressed a “firm belief that the Russian army and people would surely win victory in accomplishing the sacred cause of defending the dignity and basic interests of the country”.

The two men otherwise discussed “important matters for faithfully implementing the agreements made at the historic DPRK-Russia summit talks in June 2024”, KCNA added.

Relations between Russia and North Korea have deepened dramatically during the last two years of the war in Ukraine, which started with Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022, with Pyongyang deploying more than 10,000 troops and arms to back Moscow.

The two heavily sanctioned nations signed a military deal last year, including a mutual defence clause, during a rare visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea.

Lavrov told Kim that Putin “hopes for continued direct contacts in the very near future”, according to the Russian state news agency TASS.

Ahead of the visit, Russia announced that it would begin twice-a-week flights between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Lavrov lauded Wonsan as “a good tourist attraction”, adding: “We hope it will be popular not only with local citizens, but also with Russians.”

Iran says in no rush to enter talks with US

The top diplomat made the remarks during a press conference that followed a Saturday meeting with ambassadors, chargés d’affaires, and heads of foreign and international missions residing in Tehran.

“We are meticulously assessing the situation and weighing all aspects, and at any moment and place where the interests of the Iranian people are secured, we will do what needs to be done,” he noted.

Araghchi considered the United States attacks against several Iranian nuclear installations last month to be a key factor dissuading Tehran from making haste towards fresh talks.

The official reminded how the aggression targeted the Islamic Republic while it was in the process of an indirect diplomatic exchange with the US.

“This was a betrayal not of us, but of diplomacy itself, by the Americans,” he stated.

If the United States insists on returning to the negotiation table, which it does and has conveyed this insistence to Iran on multiple occasions, it has to convince the Islamic Republic that “such conduct will not be repeated,” the foreign minister added.

Washington, Araghchi stressed, must persuade Tehran that it would not seek to achieve through aggression, what it has not been able to achieve at the negotiation table.

He clarified that, although, the nature of international relations did not permit any absolute guarantees, Iran was still entitled to be convinced about the US’s resolve not to go back to such hostile approach.

“When we are confident that the rights of the Iranian people and the paramount interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be safeguarded through negotiations, we will have neither fear nor reluctance to engage in talks.”

The official noted how the Islamic Republic dealt with the aggression victoriously, stating that a nation that has emerged triumphant from warfare is not afraid of entering negations.

“We fought this war heroically and exhibited very excellent resistance. There is no doubt that the Islamic Republic and the Iranian people were the victors in this war, and naturally, whoever is victorious has no fear of negotiation.”

Araghchi was referring to the Iranian Armed Forces’ targeting al-Udeid, the US’s most critical airbase in the West Asia region that is located in Qatar, with ballistic missiles in retaliation for the attacks.

The counterstrike achieved direct hits that were corroborated by locals, who reported hearing many explosions at the outpost throughout the reprisal.

Separately, the official addressed efforts that were underway by some European countries to restore the United Nations sanctions against Iran.

He said the European parties’ recourse to such approach, namely their invoking the so-called “snapback” mechanism, would be a great mistake, which would be as grave as the US’s staging military attacks against the Iranian soil.

Syrian president arrives in Baku for official visit to Republic of Azerbaijan

During his visit, Jolani is scheduled to hold meetings with senior Azerbaijani officials to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments.

Azerbaijan’s APA news agency also said a formal welcoming ceremony was held at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, where a military honor guard was present.
National flags of both Syria and Azerbaijan were raised as well.

Jolani was received by Yaqub Eyyubov, First Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, along with Fariz Rzayev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other senior government officials.

Jolani introduced himself as Syria’s temporary president after the fall of the government of president Bashar al-Assad amid a foreign-backed putsch last year.

Tehran environmental official dismisses presence of cyanide, arsenic in wetland dust

Air Pollution

Hassan Abbasnejad said while the wetland, one of the main sources of dust in southeastern Tehran, has dried up in recent years due to lack of natural water flow, no scientific evidence supports the presence of dangerous contaminants in its airborne dust.

“Available data and environmental samples show no traces of cyanide or arsenic”, Abbasnejad said.

He further urged local residents not to pay attention to baseless rumors. Abbasnejad acknowledged that trace amounts of elements like chromium have been found in the wetland bed in previous years due to wastewater discharge from nearby industrial units.

He however underlined that the levels are not high enough to contaminate dust storms.

Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport denies explosion rumors

Mehrabad Airport

In an official statement, airport authorities clarified that no incident has taken place at Mehrabad Airport and that all flight operations are proceeding according to schedule.

The statement underscored that the smoke column seen by some observers is unrelated to the airport, as the location of the smoke was outside the airport’s premises.

Mehrabad authorities urged the public and media to avoid spreading unverified information that may cause unnecessary public concern or confusion.

Iranian official: No government-owned essential goods left at ports

Chabahar Port

Rad confirmed to IRNA that both the government and the private sectors have played key roles in maintaining food security, especially amid recent regional tensions. “Thanks to meticulous and early planning, the supply of wheat, flour, and other essential goods was ensured weeks and months in advance”, he noted.

“Even during times of crisis and war, the public never experienced shortages, and the markets remained calm and stable.”

Rad reaffirmed that the supply chain is functioning efficiently and that no shortages of staple goods are expected in the foreseeable future.

Over 409,000 cases of animal bites, nearly 20,000 brucellosis infections reported in 2024 in Iran

Congo fever

Dr. Ghobad Moradi, head of the Center for Communicable Diseases Control, said during a press briefing that 60% of infectious diseases are transmitted from animals to humans.
He noted that 80% of emerging and re-emerging diseases, such as MERS and avian influenza, have animal origins.

He emphasized that while industrialized nations have reduced zoonotic infections through veterinary oversight and public health measures, Iran’s ecology poses a higher risk due to favorable conditions for disease-carrying organisms.

According to Moradi, 19,972 brucellosis cases were reported in 2024, primarily linked to the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products and contact with infected livestock.
He called for stronger cooperation with veterinary services to control the disease at its source.

Animal bites also remain a major concern, with 24 deaths caused by rabies in the past year.
Moradi highlighted the high cost of rabies treatment, noting each vaccine dose costs €7 and requires three doses per patient.

He urged better public awareness and stricter hygiene regulations for pet ownership to prevent further transmission of zoonotic diseases.

FM: Iran to stay in NPT, but reshape cooperation with IAEA

Abbas Araghchi

Araqchi said on Saturday in a meeting with ambassadors, chargés d’affaires, and heads of foreign and international missions based in Tehran that, in accordance with a law passed by Parliament, all of Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA will henceforth be managed through the Supreme National Security Council. Requests from the Agency for continued monitoring in Iran and further cooperation will be reviewed and decided upon by this Council.

Araqchi continued: “We are not satisfied with the performance of the IAEA. The report prepared by the Agency led to the adoption of a completely political resolution by the Board of Governors, and that resolution and the report themselves became pretexts for military attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities.”

Referring to the Supreme Leader’s fatwa banning the production of nuclear weapons, he said: “If Iran intended to pursue nuclear weapons, it would have done so already. The Islamic Republic adheres to principles rooted in Islamic and humanitarian beliefs.”

He also said: “We have always been ready to engage in dialogue regarding our nuclear program, and we will continue to be in the future. But naturally, there must be assurances that any future negotiations will not once again be turned into war by the US or other countries.”

Araqchi also referred to the threat by the three European countries—Britain, Germany, and France—to reimpose sanctions against Iran through the so-called snapback mechanism, saying: “Snapback would mean the end of Europe’s role in the Iranian nuclear issue.”

He stressed that: “In any negotiation-based solution, the rights of the Iranian people regarding the nuclear issue—particularly the right to enrichment—must be respected. We will not accept any agreement that excludes enrichment.”

Araqchi further emphasized the importance of preserving Iran’s military capabilities, stating: “Our defensive capabilities are for the protection of the Iranian people, and these capabilities will not be the subject of any negotiation.”

First vice president: Negotiations remain Iran’s state’s strategy

Mohammad Reza Aref

Speaking during a meeting with professors at Sharif University of Technology, Aref stated, “There is no conflict between the field and diplomacy. Differences may arise during decision-making, but once a decision is finalized, all sides align.”

Aref praised the public’s unity during the 12-day war with Israel last month, calling it an “unprecedented show of national cohesion.”

He said this social capital must be preserved, noting that even those who boycotted the last presidential election actively supported the country’s defense.

The first vice president called on universities to offer practical strategies for maintaining social unity, proposing that Sharif University host research-based dialogues to assess strengths and weaknesses of national responses.

Aref also revealed that the government has approved a “wartime economic” plan, anticipating scenarios like reduced oil sales.
He urged greater public engagement to strengthen trust in the state.

On technology, he highlighted Iran’s advances in areas like nanotech and peaceful nuclear energy, and stressed the need for strategic focus on AI and cybersecurity.

67 children starved to death in Gaza since start of war

Gaza War

The office warned that the number could rise dramatically, with more than 650,000 children aged under 5 now facing severe and life-threatening malnutrition in the coming weeks due to the continued denial of food, medicine, and fuel.

“Starvation is now killing what bombs have not,” the office stated, describing the ongoing siege as one of the “most extreme forms of collective punishment in modern history.”

The media office said “dozens of additional deaths had been recorded in just the past three days alone, as Israeli forces continue to block the entry of flour, infant formula, and vital nutritional and medical supplies.”

It accused Israel of “deliberately pursuing a policy of mass starvation.”

As of now, around 1.25 million people in Gaza are enduring catastrophic hunger, while 96% of the population, including over 1 million children, suffers from acute food insecurity, the office added.

It held Israel fully responsible for a “systematic and organized starvation campaign” and placed legal and moral blame on its international backers for their support or silence.

“We are sounding the alarm: this is a mass death sentence unfolding before the eyes of the world,” the office said, adding, “Immediate international intervention is not optional, it’s a matter of life or death.”

Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 57,800 Palestinians so far, most of them women and children.

The relentless bombardment has destroyed the enclave and led to food shortages and the spread of diseases.

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.