Tuesday, December 30, 2025
type here...
Home Blog Page 388

Iranian canoeing champion dies in tragic port explosion

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

The accident, which occurred at the port’s dock, resulted in severe casualties, including the death of Nozarzadeh, who had earned recognition in national and provincial water sports competitions.

In a statement issued shortly after the incident, the Iranian Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs extended its condolences, honoring the memory of all those who lost their lives in the tragic explosion.

The latest death toll from the explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port stands at 28. Over 700 individuals were injured, of whom approximately 400 have been discharged from hospitals. Around 300 others remain hospitalized, and a number of those requiring further medical care are scheduled to be transferred to hospitals in Shiraz, Kerman, and Tehran.

Russia deploys emergency teams to Iran after major port explosion

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

The Russian Embassy in Tehran confirmed on Sunday that the deployment came at Iran’s official request.

Aircraft carrying teams from Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) are en route with fire containment experts, the embassy announced.

The Russian Embassy stated, “We wish success to both Russian responders and their Iranian counterparts in saving lives and protecting this vital economic hub.”

The specialists will assist local crews battling ongoing fires at the strategic Shahid Rajaee port, where the Saturday blast has so far killed 28 and injured about 750 people.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian traveled to Bandar Abbas on Sunday to personally oversee response efforts.

He had previously dispatched the interior minister and coordinated crisis measures through emergency meetings since the incident began.

Authorities continue investigating the explosion’s cause.

DeepMind UK staff seeking to challenge deals with Israel links: FT

By
IFP Media Wire
-

About 300 London-based staff of Google DeepMind have been seeking to join the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in recent weeks, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Media reports that suggest Google is selling its cloud services and AI technology to the Israeli Ministry of Defence have caused disquiet among employees, according to the report.

Google has run into trouble previously regarding its connections to Israel when it dismissed 28 employees last year who protested against the tech giant’s cloud contract with the Israeli government.

Hamas deplores US decision to scrap UNRWA immunity

By
IFP Media Wire
-
UNRWA

“The US Justice Department’s decision to strip the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) of legal immunity embodies once again the American administration’s bias towards the Zionist occupation’s policies and its systematic attempts to liquidate UNRWA,” Hamas said in a statement.

The statement highlighted that UNRWA is a political and humanitarian symbol representing the Palestinian refugees’ right to relief and return to their home from which they were expelled.

The decision was made public in a legal document submitted by the US Department of Justice to a federal court in New York on Thursday.

The document is part of a lawsuit that accuses UNRWA employees of involvement in the retaliatory Palestinian operation against the occupied territories on October 7, 2023, and demands exorbitant financial compensation.

“The Hamas Movement strongly condemns this grave decision and demands the US administration immediately reverse it,” the statement added.

“Hamas also urges the international community to reject it and highlight the importance of continuing to fund UNRWA and preserve its political and legal status as a UN body.”

The Palestinian resistance movement also called on the US administration to stop supporting and assisting the Israeli regime in its crimes against the besieged Gaza Strip.

“Hamas renews its call for Washington to cease its blind bias towards the occupation and its crimes, end its actual participation in the ongoing aggression against our people, particularly in Gaza, and work on correcting its political course, which makes it a direct partner in the international law’s violations and genocidal crimes,” the statement stressed.

The US Justice Department’s latest decision reflects Washington’s hardline stance toward the UN agency, especially in light of repeated Israeli accusations against UNRWA.

Since his first term as US president in 2017, President Donald Trump has worked to combat UNRWA and cut its funding with the aim of eliminating the refugee issue.

UNRWA’s legal defense team has described accusations as “not serious,” asserting that the agency enjoys legal immunity as a UN agency, a position adopted by previous US administrations.

The ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza since October 7, 2023, has so far resulted in at least 51,400 documented Palestinian fatalities, with over 117,500 others injured.

Thousands of victims are feared trapped under rubble, inaccessible to emergency and civil defense teams due to Israel’s unrelenting onslaught.

The regime’s merciless attacks continue unabated despite calls from the UN Security Council for an immediate ceasefire and directives from the International Court of Justice urging measures to prevent genocide and alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Death toll in Iran port explosion rises to 25

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Forensic teams have been on high alert since the incident to expedite identification.

The bodies of the victims have been transferred to the provincial forensic center.

Judicial authorities have authorized the release of identified remains to families. The identified victims include two women and eight men.

The incident, which occurred after a fuel tanker exploded for unknown reasons at the port in Hormozgan Province, also injured around 750 people.

Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said on Sunday specialized teams are investigating the cause, and legal action will be taken against negligence.

Iran says ready to de-escalate tension between India, Pakistan

By
IFP Media Wire
-

Pezeshkian made these remarks during a phone conversation with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday, underscoring the need for a united effort to confront terrorism.

Citing a recent terrorist attack in the Indian-administered Kashmir region, the Iranian president called for increased regional cooperation to eradicate terrorism and its financial and arms support networks.

He noted that the terrorist attack in Pahalgam not only resulted in the loss of innocent lives but also heightened tensions among regional countries.

Regarding preparations for the 22nd joint economic commission between Iran and Pakistan, scheduled to take place in Tehran in the coming months, Pezeshkian expressed hope for leveraging existing economic capacities to enhance trade relations between the two nations.

He also advocated for scientific, economic, and cultural collaborations among Islamic countries, stating that such cooperation would lead to sustainable development and the welfare of their peoples.

The Iranian president expressed his readiness to host the Pakistani prime minister in Tehran, hoping that such dialogues would serve as effective steps toward consolidating peace and security in the region.

For his part, Sharif thanked Pezeshkian for his attention to regional developments, noting that such efforts reflect the depth of brotherly ties between Iran and other regional countries.

He condemned all acts of terrorism, highlighting that Pakistan has been a victim of such violence and understands the necessity of combating this sinister phenomenon.

The Pakistani prime minister expressed his willingness for transparent cooperation in investigating the recent terrorist attack in India, welcoming Iran’s positive and constructive role in this regard.

He also expressed his readiness to visit Tehran, proposing that foreign ministers from both countries engage in discussions to facilitate the trip.

Sharif supported Iran’s diplomatic approach to resolving international issues, affirming Tehran’s right to possess peaceful nuclear technology.

Furthermore, he expressed solidarity with Iran regarding the explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port, stating that Islamabad is ready to assist Tehran in addressing this incident.

President Pezeshkian urges regional unity to uproot terrorism

By
IFP Media Wire
-

In a phone call with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Pezeshkian stated that the Islamic Republic categorically condemns such inhumane acts of terrorism.

These tragic events amplify the shared responsibility of all countries in the region and compel the regional states to eradicate the roots of terrorism through empathy, solidarity, and close cooperation, ensuring lasting peace and tranquility for the nations in the region, Pezeshkian stressed.

Referencing the valuable legacy of renowned Indian leaders, the president noted that Iran holds the Indian nation and its prominent figures, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru—who were messengers of peace, friendship, and coexistence—in high regard. He also expressed hope that this spirit will remain in India’s relations with all countries.

Regarding mutual economic ties between Iran and India, he expressed hope for the expansion of cooperation in trade and infrastructure more than ever before.

The development of Chabahar Port can serve as a hub for strategic interactions in the region and as a vital connection point between Iran, India, and Russia, the president added.

Pezeshkian also invited the Indian prime minister to visit Tehran, noting that Iran is keen to discuss ways to strengthen comprehensive collaboration with India in a friendly and constructive atmosphere.

In turn, Modi appreciated Iran’s sympathy regarding the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, noting that New Delhi fully agrees with Tehran’s perspective that the fight against terrorism requires the unity and comprehensive cooperation of all countries in the region.

He also praised Iran’s constructive role in fostering peace and security, adding that India supports the Islamic Republic’s efforts to enhance regional and international stability. The prime minister further emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution to differences, including those between Iran and the United States.

He expressed deep sorrow over the massive explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port and conveyed India’s readiness to assist Iran in addressing the aftermath of this incident.

Modi also extended his heartfelt wishes to the Iranian president, expressed his hopes for the health of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, and conveyed his aspirations for the ongoing progress of the great nation of Iran.

President Pezeshkian says Iran backs any measure to strengthen peace, tranquility

By
IFP Media Wire
-

Pezeshkian made the remarks in a phone conversation with Turkmenistan’s National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow on Saturday, stressing that peace and trust will deepen and stabilize economic, trade, cultural, and political cooperation between countries.

He further expressed hope that the upcoming Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation between Iran and Turkmenistan will play an effective role in accelerating the implementation of the agreements between the two sides and in enhancing the level of interactions between the two countries.

Pezeshkian also thanked Berdimuhamedow for inviting him to visit the country and participate in the international conference on Peace and Trust, saying, “Peace and trust are the missing things of humanity today, and your initiative in presenting this proposal deserves appreciation.”

Berdimuhamedow, for his part, hailed the development and deepening of bilateral relations on the basis of respect and mutual benefits, expressing Turkmenistan’s readiness to comprehensively develop cooperation with its long-time friend and neighbor, Iran.

He further voiced deep concern about the continuous and severe decrease in the water level of the Caspian Sea, proposing that a summit of the Heads of State of the Caspian littoral states be hosted by Tehran in this regard.

Berdimuhamedow also expressed sympathy for the explosion in the Shahid Rajaee Port of Bandar Abbas, announcing his country’s readiness for any cooperation and assistance in addressing the incident.

Strengthening ties with Turkmenistan has been among the priorities of Iran’s foreign policy in recent years.

In February, Iran and Turkmenistan agreed to expand their cross-border railway links to increase the volume of cargo transit passing through the two countries to regional states.

Also in September 2024, Berdimuhamedow paid a high-profile visit to Tehran, where the two sides signed an important agreement to expand gas swap cooperation.

Palestinian President appoints close aide as PLO deputy

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Mahmoud Abbas

Hussein al-Sheikh was named “deputy [vice president] of the PLO leadership,” Wasel Abu Yousef, a member of the PLO’s Executive Committee, said on Saturday.

Abbas, 89, created the vice presidency position during the 32nd session of the Palestinian Central Council in Ramallah earlier this week.

During the session, Abbas reaffirmed his commitment to initiating a “comprehensive national dialogue”, which aims to engage “all Palestinian factions to achieve reconciliation and reinforce national unity,” the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

Abbas also informed the committee on “upcoming political efforts aimed at halting the ongoing Israeli aggression and war of genocide in the Gaza Strip”.

These include ensuring the rapid entry of humanitarian and medical aid, full Palestinian governance over Gaza and pushing for a total Israeli withdrawal from the enclave as “a step towards launching a political process to end the occupation and realize an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital”, according to WAFA.

The appointment follows years of international pressure to reform the PLO and comes as Arab and Western powers envision an expanded role for the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the Gaza Strip’s post-war governance.

Founded in 1964, the PLO is tasked with negotiating and signing international treaties on the Palestinian people’s behalf, while the PA is responsible for governance in limited parts of the occupied Palestinian territory.

The PLO is an umbrella organisation comprising several Palestinian factions, but not the Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups.

Sheikh, 64, is a veteran leader of Abbas’s Fatah movement, which dominates the PA, and is considered close to the president.

The PLO Executive Committee is set to hold another meeting next Saturday to appoint a new secretary-general.

UN expresses condolences over deadly port explosion in Iran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary general, expressed deep sorrow over the high number of casualties in Saturday blast.

“We extend our sympathies to the victims’ families, the people, and the government of Iran and wish the injured a swift recovery,” he told IRNA news agency.

The incident occurred after a fuel tanker exploded for unknown reasons at the port in Hormozgan Province and has so far claimed tens of lives and injured some 750 people.

Health officials reported on Sunday 729 of the injured have been discharged, while 357 remain hospitalized – including 21 in ICU and five with severe burns.

Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni confirmed rescue efforts have concluded, though firefighting teams remain on alert.

“Specialized teams are investigating the cause, and legal action will be taken against negligence,” he stated. Despite challenging conditions, port operations have resumed normally.

The cause of the explosion remains unknown. Authorities urged citizens to avoid speculation and promised transparency as the investigation continues.

Hormozgan Province declared three days of public mourning.

1...387388389...5,021Page 388 of 5,021

© All Content by IFP News ( Iran Front Page ) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Us

Popular Articles

Editor Picks