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Americans sympathy for Israel hits historic low: Survey

By
IFP Media Wire
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Pro-Palestine Rally

The pollster interviewed 2,005 registered voters; 29.1% said they side with Israel, while 21.4% expressed support for the Palestinians. Nearly 30% said they sympathize with neither side of the conflict, which BDP interprets as a “clear indication of growing weariness over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

“The only notable demographic that remains majority sympathetic to Israel is Republican voters over 50 years old,” BDP Director Rich Baris has stated.

According to BDP, sympathy for Israel spiked to 54% shortly after the surprise Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and prompted Israel’s bombing campaign and ground invasion of Gaza. Support for Israel has since declined as the death toll in Gaza has risen.

Nearly 70,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to local health officials. The BDP poll indicates that nearly 40% of registered US voters believe Israel’s actions amount to genocide, while nearly 30% said they disagree with this.

A ceasefire took effect last month, after which Hamas returned the last remaining living Israeli hostages captured during the 2023 attack in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

 

Iranian firm ready to mass-produce advanced dressings for EB patients, awaits institutional support

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The firm announced that despite Iran operating under some of the toughest US and Western sanctions, its researchers have developed an EB-specific dressing that does not damage skin during application or removal.

However, it stressed that large-scale production requires support from national medical authorities.

Ali Sanjari, head of the company’s scientific division, told ISNA that developing EB dressings has been a primary research focus.

He said the team currently produces various medical dressings, including collagen, antimicrobial and polyurethane forms, and recently introduced a new antimicrobial foam product.

According to Sanjari, the upgraded EB dressing uses technology that ensures controlled, safe adhesion to prevent injury during dressing changes. Because EB patients require continuous wound care from infancy throughout life, access to reliable, gentle dressings is essential.

Sanjari said that while some of the company’s products have reached pharmacies and clinics, the EB dressing, now in the prototype phase, cannot enter mass production without institutional backing.

He called for support from healthcare regulators and hospitals to establish a full production line and ensure nationwide availability for patients.

Trump urges Japan’s PM to avoid further escalations in dispute with China: Reuters

By
IFP Media Wire
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Takaichi sparked the biggest diplomatic bust-up with Beijing in years when she told parliament earlier this month that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger Japanese military action.

Her words drew a furious response from Beijing – which claims democratically governed Taiwan – and demanded Takaichi retract her remarks, which to date she has not done, although the Japanese government said its policy on Taiwan was unchanged.

On the call on Tuesday, the US president expressed a desire for Takaichi to avoid further infuriating Beijing, according to the sources speaking to Reuters. Trump, who is seeking to maintain a fragile trade war truce with China, did not make any specific demands of Takaichi regarding the matter, one of the sources said.

Trump’s request for Takaichi to dial down the volume in the dispute was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

The call immediately followed another Trump held with Xi Jinping, in which the Chinese leader said Taiwan’s “return to China” is a key part of Beijing’s vision for the world order, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported.

Taiwan, which rejects Beijing’s ownership claim, has said a return to China is not an option for its 23 million people.

In an editorial published by the newspaper of the ruling Communist party on Thursday, the US was urged to rein in Japan to prevent “actions to revive militarism”.

“China and the United States share a common responsibility to jointly safeguard the post-war international order and oppose any attempts or actions to revive militarism,” the article said, highlighting how the two countries shared a common enemy during the second world war, Japan.

“The United States’ relationship with China is very good, and that’s also very good for Japan, who is our dear and close ally,” the White House announced in a statement attributed to Trump.

Asked for comment, the office of Japan’s prime minister referred Reuters to its earlier official readout of the call between Takaichi and Trump which stated that the two leaders discussed US-China relations, without elaborating.

 

Iran says contained another wildfire in Hyrcanian forests

By
IFP Media Wire
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Local officials in the north-central province of Semnan said on Wednesday that the wildfire in the Clouds Forest of the Shahrud region was brought under control just hours after it started.

Shahrud’s governor, Mohammad Hassan Asafari, said Iranian army units had assisted in the firefighting operation.

“The forest has not suffered serious damage, and most of the losses are in the rangelands,” he said.

The director of the local Natural Resources and Watershed Management department in Semnan province had earlier said the fire was most likely caused by human activity.

Alireza Rahayi said that the blaze had affected 10 hectares of woodland near the border of Semnan and the northern province of Golestan.

The incident comes just days after Iran announced it had fully contained a large-scale fire in the Hyrcanian forests near the northern city of Chalus in Mazandaran province. That blaze in the Elit forests destroyed more than eight hectares of woodland before it was extinguished, according to government officials.

Iran’s Environment Protection Organization said it had also deployed a firefighting squadron from neighboring Turkey to help put out the Elit blaze.

Authorities have attributed the sudden outbreaks of fires in the Hyrcanian forests to diminished rainfall and the buildup of dry leaves on the forest floor.

Stretching for around 1,000 kilometers along Iran’s Caspian Sea coast and extending into neighboring Azerbaijan, the Hyrcanian forests were recognized as a World Heritage Site in 2019 for their antiquity and exceptional biodiversity.

 

Iran says US should stop excessive and coercive attitudes

By
IFP Media Wire
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Araghchi, who has traveled to Paris at the invitation of his French counterpart, held talks on Wednesday afternoon with Jean-Noël Barrot at the French Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting, Franco-Iranian relations were reviewed. Both sides underlined the importance of continuing consultations to remove obstacles and facilitate mutual relations.

The two ministers discussed developments in West Asia, the conflict in Ukraine, international security issues, and Iran’s peaceful nuclear program. They also stressed the need for responsible efforts to help reduce tensions and strengthen international peace and justice.

Referring to the unjustified detention of Iranian national Ms. Mahdieh Esfandiari, Iran’s Foreign Minister welcomed the French court’s decision to grant her conditional release and called for expediting the process of her acquittal and full release so she can return to Iran.

Araghchi voiced deep concern over the increasing erosion of the rule of law at the international level and the weakening of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, particularly in the West Asia region, and over the continued crimes and acts of aggression by the Zionist regime against the people of Palestine and Lebanon and other nations of the region.

The top Iranian diplomat underscored the responsibility of all governments to safeguard the rule of law, stop the genocide of Palestinians, uphold the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and prevent violations of countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He further reaffirmed Iran’s legal right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and reiterated the goodwill and seriousness of the Islamic Republic of Iran in pursuing reasonable and rational negotiations aimed at ensuring confidence regarding the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.

Araghchi stressed that the parties who, through blatantly violating international law, first withdrew from the JCPOA and subsequently committed military aggression against Iran and attacked the country’s safeguarded facilities must cease their excessive and coercive approaches and be held accountable for their actions.

He also criticized the conduct of the three European countries in the UN Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors, highlighting their responsibility for the current situation. Araghchi called for the adoption of a responsible and independent approach based on international law, particularly Article 4 of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

 

Negotiation means dialogue, not dictation: Iran

By
IFP Media Wire
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“Negotiation means dialogue, not dictation, and we reject anything based on dictates,” the top diplomat said during an interview with France 24 in Paris on Wednesday.

He went on to decry a lack of genuine intent on the American side, blaming it for the absence of any underway negotiation track.

“The reason is clear: There is no will in America for real, fair negotiations,” he said, recalling that Iran had already proven its commitment to diplomacy in earlier years.

The official cited the Islamic Republic’s joining the negotiation process that yielded the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world countries, which was ditched by Donald Trump during the latter’s former tenure.

He also referred to the negotiation process that began earlier this year, but was irreversibly disrupted by an imposed and illegal joint Israeli-American war on Iran.

Despite all this, Araghchi stated, Tehran’s stance does equate rejection of diplomacy, but rejection of negotiation shaped by coercion.

“The day the US government announces that it is ready to set aside imposed and excessive demands and pursue a serious, win-win dialogue based on mutual interests, Iran will never say ‘no,’” he added.

“But we don’t see that readiness now. We’re not rushing. We’re waiting, and we will be patient until the US shows real intent instead of inflated demands,” the foreign minister noted.

The interview also touched on regional diplomacy and recent media claims regarding a letter sent by President Masoud Pezeshkian to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Araghchi roundly dismissed allegations that the communication concerned potential Riyadh-mediated talks between Iran and the United States.

He, however, stated that the Islamic Republic “completely trusts” the kingdom in the nuclear issue, asserting that the bilateral ties and confidence between the two sides have been improving over the past years.

The official, meanwhile, reiterated that the challenge faced by Iran on the nuclear file was not a shortage of mediators, but Washington’s approach to negotiations.

Araghchi went on to address the Islamic Republic’s rejection of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors’ most recent anti-Iranian resolution, which has demanded rapid and unconditional access to the Iranian nuclear sites hit during the Israeli-American war.

The resolution, he said, has ignored “field realities,” including the attacks and their aftermath.

The official noted that such bombing of civilian nuclear sites was unprecedented, and the agency had no protocol for inspecting bomb-damaged nuclear facilities.

Access to the attacked sites remains dangerous due to unexploded munitions, chemical and radioactive contamination, and the risk of renewed Israeli or US strikes, making a new safety-driven framework essential before inspectors could approach damaged areas, he added.

He called on board members to avoid further escalatory decisions until such new framework was finalized defining the manner of inspection of the affected facilities.

Addressing the issue of the war, Araghchi said the Israeli regime and the United States misread Iran’s level of strength during the war, which saw Iranian missiles strike enemy targets “with rising power and accuracy” in retaliation.

The reprisal, he reminded, forced both Tel Aviv and Washington to request a ceasefire, despite their early demands for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”

Araghchi also commented on the case featuring French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris.

The individuals used to be detained in Iran over espionage charges, but are now at the French Embassy in Tehran awaiting exit permits pending exchange with Iranian academic Mahdieh Esfandiari, who was arrested in France in February over her pro-Palestinian activism.

“This exchange has already been negotiated between Iran and France, and an agreement has been reached. Everything on our side is ready. We are now waiting for the legal and judicial processes in both countries to conclude,” the foreign minister continued.

He added that the exchange timeline, though, depended on French judicial schedules, particularly Esfandiari’s upcoming hearing.

“Her court hearing in France is set for mid-January. Depending on the duration of judicial procedures, the process may conclude within one or two months. But at the very latest, the prisoner swap will take place by mid-January, provided the French court finalizes its process.”

 

Tehran ranked most polluted city in world

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached approximately 233, placing it in the “Very Unhealthy” category and making it the most polluted urban center in the world at the time of measurement.

Authorities and health experts report that the dangerous spike is primarily driven by elevated concentrations of PM2.5, ultrafine particulate matter small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.

Prolonged or repeated exposure to such particles is linked to increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, aggravated asthma, reduced lung function, and other serious health complications.

With pollution levels exceeding the threshold considered hazardous for the general population, officials are urging residents to limit outdoor activities.

People who must leave their homes are advised to wear well-fitted N95 or FFP2 masks to reduce inhalation of fine particles.

Europe bid to be involved in Ukraine negotiations ‘unnecessary’: Russia

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Kremlin

“The Europeans meddling in all these affairs is, as I see it, completely unnecessary,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told a state TV reporter.

Russia has seen the latest copy of a US plan to end the Ukraine war and views some of it positively, but other points require discussion, the Kremlin announced Wednesday.

In comments to a Russian state TV reporter, Ushakov said the new draft required “truly serious analysis” and that Russia had not yet discussed it with anyone.

“Some aspects can be viewed positively, but many require special discussions among experts,” he added.

Washington’s latest plan has not yet been published.

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that it was a “fine-tuned” version of an earlier 28-point plan that would have seen Ukraine withdraw from its Donetsk region and cut the size of its army, points that Kyiv had criticised.

Ukraine announced later it had reached an “understanding” with the US and that the two sides had pared back some of the points it disagreed with following talks in Geneva.

US officials will now meet with both sides in the hope of finalising the agreement, Trump stated Tuesday.

The Kremlin confirmed earlier Wednesday that US special envoy Steve Witkoff would visit Moscow next week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Israeli military launches new operation in West Bank

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Israel Palestine West Bank

The Israeli military and internal security service said in a brief joint statement that they had begun “a broad counter-terrorism operation” in the north of the Palestinian territory.

They added they would “not allow terrorism to take root in the area and are acting proactively to thwart it”, noting further details on the operation would follow at a later stage.

The Israeli army confirmed to AFP that it was a new operation, and not part of the one launched in January 2025 dubbed “Iron Wall”, which primarily targeted Palestinian refugee camps in the northern West Bank.

The operation, which began overnight, was taking place in predominantly agricultural Tubas, the northeasternmost of the 11 governorates in the West Bank.

Ahmed al-Asaad, governor of the Tubas region, told AFP: “This is the first time that the entire governorate is included — the whole governorate is now under Israeli army operations.”

Asaad said Israeli forces raided the towns of Tammun and Tayasir, and the Al-Faraa Palestinian refugee camp.

“The army has closed the city entrances with earth mounds, so there is no movement at all,” he added.

He told AFP that “an Apache helicopter” was involved in the operation, and claimed it had fired in the direction of residential areas.

“This is a political operation, not a security one.”

Hamas and Islamic Jihad condemned the Israeli operation.

Violence in the West Bank has soared since Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war, and has not ceased despite the fragile truce between Israel and Hamas came into effect last month.

Israeli troops or settlers have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian health ministry figures.

 

Iranian FM: Recent attacks on nuclear and chemical sites pose cross-border contamination risks

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

He was speaking on the sidelines of the annual Conference of State Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention in The Hague.

Araghchi said such strikes threaten human life and the environment and cannot be contained within national boundaries once contaminants are released.

He also criticized several Western countries for their historical role in supplying chemical agents and equipment to Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War, saying they must be held accountable.

Araghchi noted that some Western states still claim to be “investigating” their companies’ involvement, but Iran has not received any concrete results. Tehran, he said, continues to pursue compensation for chemical-weapon victims in both Iran and Iraq and insists that responsible individuals and entities must face legal consequences.

The foreign minister also condemned US unilateral sanctions, saying the bans have deprived Iranian chemical-attack survivors of essential medicines.

He urged the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to address this issue.

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