Friday, December 26, 2025
type here...
Home Blog Page 519

Zoroastrian era Sadeh festival celebrated in Sheshtamad, northeastern Iran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Mohammad Hossein Davtalab, a cultural heritage expert and the festival organizer, in an interview with IRNA news agency, highlighted the festival’s rich history, dating back to ancient Iran and Zoroastrian traditions.

The Sadeh celebration, honoring the deity Mithra, is also observed in the Zoroastrian communities of Yazd and Kerman provinces.

Zoroastrian era Sadeh festival celebrated in Sheshtamad, northeastern Iran

Davtalab explained that the main event of the Sadeh festival involves lighting a fire at night. Participants connect metal wires with thread and kindling, creating a fiery ball that is thrown to symbolize hope and joy.

The ancient tradition serves as a prelude to the larger Nowruz, or Persian New Year, celebrations in Sheshtamad. It is celebrated 57 days before Nowruz, with residents lighting fires on hilltops and reciting traditional poems.

Zoroastrian era Sadeh festival celebrated in Sheshtamad, northeastern Iran

Sheshtamad boasts numerous historical and cultural landmarks, including the mausoleum of the renowned writer and historian Abul-Hasan Beyhaqi and various sanctuaries.

The town’s temperate mountainous climate and lush nature make it an attractive destination for tourists as well.

President Pezeshkian Emphasizes Ikran-Russia Security Interactions

By
IFP Media Wire
-

In an interview with Russia’s Channel One TV, President Pezeshkian added that under this agreement, Iran and Russia collaborate in three areas of security, political, and economic domains, at both bilateral and regional levels.

Pezeshkian also referred to the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza, stating that what unfolded before the eyes of the world in Gaza was genocide. However, the United States and Europeans not only defend the Zionist regime and its crimes but also arm and support it to continue these atrocities.

He added that the Zionist regime and the United States have demonstrated through their actions in the region, including the crimes in Gaza, the assassination of Iran’s senior anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the assassination of Iran’s nuclear scientists, and similar actions, that they are seeking to create insecurity and expand terrorism in the region.

In another part of this interview, referring to the West’s claims regarding Iran’s attempts to produce a nuclear bomb, he emphasized that both the views of Iran’s Supreme Leader and our policies, beliefs, and convictions are based on the premise that we are not seeking, have not sought, and will not seek nuclear weapons.

President Pezeshkian also stressed the importance of strengthening Iran’s defensive and military capabilities, especially in the missile field, stating that we must enhance our military capabilities day by day so that enemies cannot easily even think of attacking Iran or act like they did in Gaza without the world reacting.

Envoy: Iran, Russia inch closer to finalizing agreements on Rasht-Astara railway, gas transfer plan

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

In an interview with IRNA, Kazem Jalali said high-level talks took place on January 17 in Moscow, with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in attendance.

Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadegh, provided a comprehensive report, and the discussions progressed smoothly, Jalali explained.

The Rasht-Astara railway agreement was initially signed in May 2023 during the tenure of the late Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi.

Weekly online meetings between Iranian and Russian officials have been held to expedite the project, with construction set to commence by the end of March.

Discussions also covered the transfer of Russian gas to Iran. The Russian and Iranian presidents as well as Iranian Petroleum Minister Mohsen Paknejad addressed the remaining minor issues, expressing optimism for a swift resolution.

President Pezeshkian traveled to Moscow on January 17 to sign a comprehensive strategic treaty between Iran and Russia which aims to strengthen ties and ensure future cooperation.

Iranian voices concern over violence against Syria alawites

By
IFP Media Wire
-

In a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, on Thursday night, Araqchi stressed the need to safeguard the rights of minorities in Syria.

The top Iranian diplomat emphasized the necessity of avoiding internal conflicts and forming an inclusive government with the participation of all political, ethnic, and religious groups in the country.

He reiterated the Islamic Republic of Iran’s principled policy of supporting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Iranian and Turkish Foreign Ministers also discussed issues related to bilateral relations and regional developments.

Israeli military continues Jenin raid, two more killed in West Bank

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Israel Palestine West Bank

Hundreds of Palestinians in Jenin refugee camp started leaving their homes on Thursday.

“The Israeli army, using loudspeakers on drones and military vehicles, ordered them to evacuate the camp,” where Israel’s military launched an intense military operation this week, Jenin governor Kamal Abu al-Rub told AFP news agency.

Elsewhere, two Palestinian men were killed overnight in attacks by Israeli forces in Burqin, taking the death toll to 12 across Jenin governorate in the first two days of large-scale raids.

The raids are part of Israel’s Iron Wall campaign across the Palestinian occupied territory, launched just days after a ceasefire in Gaza.

Palestinian news network Al Quds Today reported Muhammad Abu al-Asaad and Qutaiba al-Shalabi were killed in “an armed clash with the occupation forces that lasted for several hours”.

The Israeli military confirmed the killings on Thursday, claiming that the two were affiliated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and were wanted for carrying out the shooting attack in the village of Funduq in the Qalqilya governorate earlier this month, which killed three Israelis and injured six.

However, al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, said the two men were Hamas members.

Palestinian General Authority of Civil Affairs said Israeli forces have refused to release their bodies.

Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli troops involved in the killings surrounded a house in Burqin, and fired shots and missiles at it before razing it to the ground using a bulldozer.

Hassan Sobh, Burqin’s mayor, was quoted as saying in the report that Israeli soldiers used women as human shields during the attack.

On Wednesday, the Defence for Children International Palestine (DCIP) reported that a 16-year-old, Motaz Imad Mousa Abu Tabeekh, was shot dead by Israeli forces.

According to the Ramallah-based organisation, he was one of the seven Palestinian minors killed in Israeli attacks across the occupied West Bank this year. Four of them had been killed by Israeli drone attacks and three were shot dead.

Israeli troops arrested 22 Palestinians across the occupied territory between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, according to the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society.

The joint statement on Telegram said the arrests took place in the governorates of Hebron, Nablus, Tulkarem, Ramallah and Jerusalem, and involved “abuse and destruction of infrastructure, and vandalism and destruction of citizens’ homes”.

Zelensky says he might engage in direct talks with Putin

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Zelensky Putin

Zelensky signed a decree banning himself from any negotiations with Putin in the fall of 2022 after the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, along with the Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions, officially became part of Russia as a result of referendums. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga said earlier this month that the legislation remains in force.

However, in an interview with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Zelensky appeared to have changed his stance on the issue. According to the agency, the Ukrainian leader said he wants to secure a commitment from Trump to defend Ukraine before engaging with Putin.

“The only question is what security guarantees and honestly I want to have understanding before the talks. If he can guarantee this strong and irreversible security for Ukraine, we will move along this diplomatic path,” he stressed.

Last year, Putin stated he would only be able to negotiate with Zelensky if he were to hold an election and win it, to restore his legitimacy.

Zelensky remains in power in Ukraine despite his term having officially expired in May last year. The Ukrainian leader canceled the presidential vote, citing martial law that he imposed due to the conflict with Russia.

According to Putin, the move violated the Ukrainian constitution, leaving parliament as the sole legitimate authority in the country.

On Tuesday, Trump said he is ready to meet with Putin “anytime” to discuss a diplomatic settlement to the conflict between Moscow and Kiev.

“We are talking to Zelensky. We are going to be talking with President Putin very soon and we will see how it all happens,” he added.

Earlier this week, the Russian leader commended Trump’s intention to resume contacts between Moscow and Washington, which had been halted by the Joe Biden administration. However, he stressed that dialogue can only happen on an “equal and mutually respectful basis.”

Putin noted Moscow noted the US president’s apparent willingness to restore communication and “do everything to prevent World War Three.”

Two Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza despite ceasefire

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Gaza War

The Israeli military said they were looking into the report of the attack, the Reuters news agency said on Thursday.

The attack comes after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire that took effect on Sunday.

The initial phase is scheduled to last six weeks, and involves a limited prisoner exchange, the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops in Gaza and a surge of aid into the enclave.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 47,283 Palestinians and wounded 111,472 since October 7, 2023. At least 1,200 people were also killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks that day and 250 taken captive.

Russia says Trump’s sanctions threats usual routine

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Kremlin

“We do not see any particularly new elements here,” he said on Thursday.

“You know that Trump, during his first term, was the US president who resorted to methods of sanctions too often.”

Trump has announced that he would impose new tariffs and sanctions on Russian exports if the conflict in Ukraine was not resolved soon.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in January that Moscow was open to dialogue on the Ukrainian conflict resolution with the new US administration, but that the priority should be to address the root causes of the crisis.

He confirmed that Russia was taking note of statements by Trump and his team members about their willingness to restore contact and the need to do everything possible to prevent World War III.

Iran injects 70 billion kWh nuclear electricity into national grid

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Mohammad Eslami

Eslami said this output has saved 105 million barrels of oil, equivalent to $8 billion, while requiring only $1.8 billion in startup investment, emphasizing the advantages of nuclear energy in meeting national needs.

He highlighted the significant economic potential of heavy water, stating that its global price is approximately $1,000 per kilogram.

Eslami went on to say that 300 derivatives can be produced from heavy water, with some priced at tens of thousands of dollars per gram.

He noted that methanol derived from heavy water fetches $1.2 million per ton compared to less than $500 per ton from petrochemical processes.

Eslami further added that Iran’s heavy water production is recognized for its high purity based on international certifications, including from the U.S. and other Western countries.

Currently, Iran holds a 12.5% share of the global heavy water market. Eslami added that this share could grow further, as international demand for Iranian heavy water continues to rise.

Turkmen Horse important cultural symbol of ancient and modern Iran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Iran Turkmen Horse

In North Khorasan Province, the counties of Raz, Jargalan, Maneh, and Samalghan are recognized as the main hubs for breeding Turkmen horses and are among the most important regions for producing this breed in Iran.

Every year, horse racing competitions and festivals are held in these areas to introduce and preserve the purebred Turkmen horse.

More in pictures:

1...518519520...5,015Page 519 of 5,015

© 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