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Millions of Iranians participate in Laylat al-Qadr night vigils

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Laylat al-Qadr, believed to be worth more than a thousand months, is a night when Muslims believe their destiny for the year is decided. According to Islamic scriptures, angels descend to Earth to listen to the prayers of worshippers.

While the exact date of Laylat al-Qadr is disputed, it is widely observed on the 19th, 21st, and 23rd nights of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. Many worshippers hold vigils on all three nights to ensure they do not miss the blessed occasion.

Massive congregations were held in the holy cities of Mashhad and Qom, home to the shrines of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia Imam, and his sister, Hazrat Masoumeh, respectively.

Similar large-scale gatherings took place in other cities, including Tehran, where worshippers filled mosques and religious centers for night-long prayers and Qur’an recitations.

The 21st night of Ramadan holds additional significance for Shia Muslims, as it marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Ali, the first Shia Imam and the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad.

Israeli defense minister orders military to occupy more areas in Gaza

By
IFP Media Wire
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Israeli Army

The Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported Katz ordered further occupation of Palestinian areas in Gaza under the pretext of protecting Israeli soldiers and communities near the blockaded Strip.

“The more Hamas insists on refusing to release the hostages, the more land it will lose, which will be annexed to Israel,” KAN quoted Katz as saying.

He added that the Israeli military operation in Gaza “will escalate until all hostages held by Hamas are freed.”

For the past 16 months, the Hamas group has been engaged in talks with Israel mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US. However, these negotiations have yet to result in the release of all Israeli captives or the end of the ongoing war, largely due to Israel’s repeated violations of agreements and Netanyahu’s refusal to honor previous commitments.

More than 700 Palestinians have been killed and over 900 injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since Tuesday, shattering a ceasefire deal that had held since January.

Nearly 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 112,000 injured in Israel’s military onslaught on Gaza since October 2023.

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.

Quakes hit Iran’s Natanz, Isfahan Province

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Earthquake Iran

The first quake measuring 5 on the Richter scale hit on Friday morning. The second tremor measured 4.5 and struck before noon.

There have been at least five aftetrshocks.

Reports say the earthquakes left no casualties but they broke windows of houses in some villages.

Officials say there has been no damage to Natanz Nuclear site.

Most of the Iranian territory is criss-crossed by seismic fault-lines that cause earthquakes several times each year.

Iran atomic chief: Outstanding achievements of nuclear industry to be unveiled in April

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Mohammad Eslami

Mohammad Eslami noted that on April 10, as in previous years, a number of outstanding achievements of the nuclear industry will be unveiled in the presence of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

He added that in the past year, Iran made more than 100 scientific, technological, and industrial achievements, which demonstrate the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran’s commitment to implementing the comprehensive strategic document for the nuclear industry in order to maintain the organization’s efficiency as much as possible.

Eslami said the progress of nuclear power projects in previous years was slow, but fortunately, Iran has had an upward trend in the last two years, and it will implement the plan to build 20,000 megawatts of nuclear power as national megaprojects more quickly.

167 lives lost in road accidents in Iran over 5 days during Nowruz Holiday

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran Road

Deputy Commander of Iran’s Traffic Police, Brigadier General Hassan Momeni, provided the latest statistics on Friday, highlighting a 4% increase in vehicle traffic compared to the same period last year, with approximately 150 million trips recorded on urban and intercity roads.

General Momeni emphasized the critical role of public cooperation in reducing accidents, urging citizens to join the “No to Accidents” campaign and avoid dangerous driving behaviors such as speeding, sudden lane changes, and distracted driving.

He noted that 46% of urban accidents were caused by inattention, while 44% of intercity accidents resulted from similar factors, with vehicle rollovers accounting for 31% of severe incidents. The busiest hours for accidents were between 4 pm and 8 pm, accounting for 26-27% of all crashes.

Despite increased traffic, General Momeni assured that traffic police continue to enforce safety measures to secure roads.

European countries plan to replace US in NATO by 2035: FT

By
IFP Media Wire
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NATO

The UK, France, Germany, and the Nordic nations are now in talks about a potential proposal that would shift the military and financial burden of the bloc’s defense away from Washington, four unnamed European officials told the Financial Times. The ultimate goal is to present the plan to the US before NATO’s annual summit in The Hague this June, according to the report.

The effort reflects widespread fears among European NATO members that the US, under President Donald Trump, could renege on its defense commitments or leave the bloc altogether. While the talks are reportedly being framed as offering a managed, long-term transition, European officials have admitted to the FT that the timeline of five to ten years seems extremely ambitious.

“Increasing spending is the only play that we have: burden sharing and shifting the dial away from US reliance,” one official told the FT.

“We’re starting those talks, but it’s such a big task that many are overwhelmed by the scale of it.”

According to the paper, the plan could include EU commitments to increasing defense spending and ramping up military capabilities, which could potentially convince Trump to agree to a gradual transfer of responsibilities and allow the US to concentrate on Asia.

However, some European countries are said to be reluctant to support the talks at all, fearing they could encourage a faster US exit. Meanwhile, others are doubtful whether Washington would agree to a structured transfer of responsibilities, given the “unpredictable nature” of the Trump administration.

Trump has demanded that NATO members raise defense spending to 5% of GDP – more than double the alliance’s 2% target. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has statedwar that the country “will no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship” with its allies, stressing that Washington “will prioritize empowering Europe to own responsibility for its own security.”

Earlier this month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged the EU to create a “defense union.” The EU has also backed a plan known as ReArm Europe to mobilize up to €800 billion ($875 billion) in debt and tax breaks for the bloc’s military industrial complex.

UK discussing deploying military aircrafts to Ukraine under potential peace deal: Telegraph

By
IFP Media Wire
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According to the report, the discussion took place at the Permanent Joint Headquarters, which oversees all of Britain’s overseas military operations.

The plan is part of a broader “coalition of the willing” initiative led by the U.K. and France, aimed at providing security guarantees to Kyiv.

The peacekeeping initiative was first introduced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a March 2 summit in London, where leaders from European nations and Canada discussed military support for Ukraine.

Starmer participated in additional talks at Northwood Headquarters, hosted by Lt. Gen. Nick Perry, the chief of joint operations, alongside representatives from over 30 countries.

A senior RAF source told the Telegraph that providing “overhead cover” was a key topic of discussion, particularly in scenarios where British troops might enter Ukraine.

The RAF could reportedly deploy either Typhoon or U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets to conduct air patrols, given their advanced air-to-air capabilities.

Starmer has pledged that British forces would be involved in securing a peace deal if U.S. President Donald Trump successfully negotiates one with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Washington has instead backed the idea of European-led peacekeeping forces monitoring a potential ceasefire but has not offered concrete security guarantees to Ukraine.

More than 30 countries have expressed willingness to contribute to a peacekeeping force, with the U.K. and France leading the initiative.

Canada and Australia have also indicated their openness to participating, according to Starmer’s office. Trump previously claimed that Putin would allow European peacekeepers to operate in Ukraine as part of a settlement, though Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov publicly rejected the idea.

Israel’s cabinet agrees to Netanyahu’s dismissal of Shin Bet chief

By
IFP Media Wire
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Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar will end his term on April 10 or as soon as his permanent replacement is appointed, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement earlier on Friday.

Bar, who has led the internal security service since 2021, declined to attend the cabinet meeting about his position.

In a letter circulated by Shin Bet, Bar accused the government of being motivated by “improper considerations” and “personal and institutional conflicts of interest of the highest order”.

The move comes after Netanyahu said on Sunday that he would bring a vote on Bar’s dismissal to cabinet due to his “ongoing distrust” of the security official.

Netanyahu and Bar have been at loggerheads for months amid tensions over a bribery investigation focused on the prime minister’s office and recriminations over the failure to prevent Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks.

Bar stated in his letter that his ouster was motivated by a desire to halt the “pursuit of truth” about the events leading up to October 7.

Shin Bet earlier this month released a report that acknowledged it should have thwarted Hamas, while criticising Netanyahu for helping to create the conditions for the attacks.

Netanyahu’s proposal to dismiss the security chief prompted condemnation from opposition parties and renewed protests by Israelis opposed to his right-wing government.

On Thursday, police fired water cannon and made at least 12 arrests following clashes with demonstrators in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

White House says Trump ‘fully supports’ Israel’s military operation in Gaza

By
IFP Media Wire
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Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt continued to blame Hamas for Israel’s decision to renew its offensive following a breakthrough ceasefire that endured for roughly two months, saying Trump “has made it very clear that he wants all of those hostages to come home.”

“And he fully supports Israel and the IDF and the actions that they’ve taken in recent days,” she added, using an acronym to refer to Israel’s military.

More than 700 Palestinians have been killed and over 900 others injured in a surprise aerial campaign on Gaza that Israel began on Tuesday, shattering the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold in January.

Nearly 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 112,000 others injured in a brutal Israeli military campaign in Gaza since October 2023 when Hamas led a cross-border attack on Israel. Some 1,200 people were killed in the attack.

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.

US puts new round of sanctions against Iran

By
IFP Media Wire
-
United States Department of the Treasury

The sanctions were imposed on Thursday. The refinery targeted for sanctions is the China-based Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., Ltd.

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that the refinery purchased oil from vessels linked to Yemen’s Houthi movement, which the US designated this month as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. China is the largest importer of Iranian oil.

The US also placed Wang Xueqing, who is allegedly linked to the refinery, on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List. Americans are prohibited from conducting business with individuals on this list, and their US assets are blocked.

Donald Trump’s new administration has issued four rounds of sanctions against Iran since February, the latest of which also includes eight vessels carrying Iranian crude.

The US Treasury blocked vessels, including the Panama-flagged Aurora Riley and Catalina, as well as the Barbados-flagged Brava Lake.

Additionally, the State Department announced sanctions on a Chinese oil terminal, Huaying Huizhou Daya Bay Petrochemical Terminal Storage, for purchasing and storing Iranian crude oil from a sanctioned vessel.

These fresh sanctions are part of the US’s “maximum pressure” campaign, aimed at reducing Iran’s oil exports to zero and ultimately undermining the Islamic Republic’s efforts to exercise the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Iran has long been subjected to Western sanctions over its nuclear activities and other pretexts, the latest of which was imposed on Thursday, March 20.

The new sanctions come amid Trump’s claim that he is “ready to negotiate with Iran.”

Leader of the Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei nullified Trump’s overtures for a new agreement earlier this month, calling them a “deception aimed at misleading global public opinion.”

“We sat down and negotiated for several years, and this very person took the completed, finalized, and signed agreement off the table and tore it up,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated.

Earlier this month, the US Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on Iran’s Oil Minister, Mohsen Paknejad.

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