Spanning an area of about 40 square kilometers, the mine features numerous tunnels.
Turquoise minerals are visually categorized into two main types: Ajami and Shajari.
Known for their luster and captivating color, these minerals have attracted human attention since ancient times. One of Iran’s oldest prehistoric sites where turquoise was sourced is the Tape Borj site, located east of the Nishapur plain, dating back around 4,300 BCE.
A recent poll published on Saturday revealed that 73% of Israelis support the prisoner exchange and ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, brokered through international mediation.
The survey, conducted by the Israeli daily Maariv in partnership with the Lazar Research Center, was carried out on Jan. 15-16, showed overwhelming support for the deal among the Israeli public.
The survey found that 45% strongly support the agreement, while 28% somewhat support it, bringing the total approval to 73%. Only 19% of Israelis oppose the deal and 8% remain neutral on the matter.
The survey also indicated that 91% of opposition voters in Israel back the agreement, while 52% of voters from the ruling right-wing coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also support it despite 37% opposing the deal.
The Israeli government officially approved the agreement early on Saturday morning, following nearly eight hours of deliberations.
The approval came with 24 ministers voting in favor and eight ministers opposing.
Qatar announced a three-phase ceasefire agreement on Wednesday to end more than 15 months of deadly Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip with the ceasefire set to take effect on Sunday.
Nearly 46,900 Palestinians, mostly women and children, were killed and more than 110,600 injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for 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.
In an article published in The Hill, Mousavian noted that Donald Trump has expressed his support for negotiating with Iran to resolve existing issues between the two countries.
The highlights of his article are as follows:
“During his 2024 campaign, Trump indicated a shift from his first-term policies, rejecting “regime change” and emphasizing his opposition to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian has also shown readiness for constructive dialogue with the West.
However, bridging the gaps between Washington and Tehran will be challenging. Trump will face opposition within the U.S., Iran, and the region.
A new nuclear agreement is essential, with Iran agreeing to full transparency and stringent IAEA verification. The agreement should apply to all regional countries, ensuring permanent non-proliferation limits.
Following the nuclear deal, Washington and Tehran must engage in regional security discussions, temporarily suspending threats and hostilities. Both sides need to address each other’s security concerns through fair dialogue.
A fair deal requires mutual recognition of legitimate regional interests and a sustainable model for regional stability, potentially through a new collective security framework. The agreement could also include significant economic cooperation, making the new arrangements more robust.”
In a written statement, the directorate reported that Israeli attacks across all areas of the Gaza Strip have killed 123 Palestinians and injured 270 others since the ceasefire was announced on Wednesday.
The victims included 33 children and 33 women.
The latest fatalities were five Palestinians, including women and children of the same family, who were killed when Israeli forces bombed a tent sheltering displaced civilians in the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
The Al-Mawasi region, designated by the Israeli army as a “safe humanitarian zone,” has seen repeated attacks on displaced civilians despite such assurances.
Israeli forces also launched artillery and aerial strikes in other parts of Khan Younis, according to eyewitnesses.
In central Gaza, an Israeli drone dropped a bomb on a home near Al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp setting the building ablaze. Sporadic shelling was also reported in northwestern Nuseirat.
Northern Gaza saw a continuation of heavy bombardment, particularly in Jabalia, where Israeli forces have destroyed residential buildings and conducted an intensive military operation for over three months.
The violence came amid preparations for the implementation of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US.
Qatar announced a three-phase ceasefire agreement on Wednesday to end more than 15 months of deadly Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip with the ceasefire set to take effect on Sunday.
Nearly 46,900 Palestinians, mostly women and children were killed and more than 110,600 injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 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.
Washington reportedly provided financial and technical assistance to Kiev’s drone program, the sources have told the outlet. While the US had publicly admitted sending billions of dollars in missiles, air defense systems, tanks and training, details about support in other areas remained under wraps.
A tranche of some $1.5 billion paid in September 2024, reportedly allocated direct financial aid to drone manufacturers, intelligence-sharing, and collaboration between American technology firms and Ukrainian producers.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan also said in a statement on Thursday that US involvement had “a real strategic impact” on the battlefield, as drones have become central to Ukraine’s defense strategy.
The funding reportedly began after Kiev’s first counteroffensive in fall 2022 and intensified after the 2023 effort, which ultimately failed due to Russia’s extensive defensive use of mines, artillery, and drones.
US officials reportedly stated that the losses incurred by Kiev pushed them to rapidly increase support to Ukrainian drone makers.
People familiar with the matter told the New York Times that the US effort also included sending American intelligence officials to Ukraine to help build its drone program. However, CIA Director William J. Burns has so far only indirectly acknowledged this, stating earlier this week that US intelligence support extended beyond information-sharing to assisting with key defense systems.
Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that Washington has provided around $100 billion in financial aid and military assistance to Kiev since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Kiev’s other backers, meanwhile, have “spent about $150 billion”, he said.
Moscow has repeatedly condemned the West’s continued military aid to Ukraine, arguing that it makes it party to the conflict. Russia has also argued that no amount of Western aid will change the ultimate outcome or prevent Moscow from achieving the goals of its military operation.
Ali Razini, 71, and Gholamreza Moghiseh, 66, were killed in the act.
Initial investigations reveal that the assailant had no case in the Supreme Court and was not a visitor to its branches.
Immediately after the terrorist act, efforts were made to arrest the armed individual, who quickly committed suicide.
According to initial reports, a third judge along with his bodyguard were also targeted in the assassination attempt, who sustained injuries.
Investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the masterminds behind the terrorist act.
The Army’s public relations office praised the courage and resilience of the people of Gaza, acknowledging their bravery in facing oppression, crime, and displacement.
The statement emphasized that despite the brutal atrocities of the Israeli regime, the steadfast determination of Gaza’s people has prevailed, marking a “historic victory for the ancient land of Palestine.”
The Army noted that Gaza’s resistance serves as a pivotal point in the fight against Zionism and the liberation of Palestine, inspiring future generations and freedom-loving nations worldwide.
The statement also recognized the sacrifices of the resistance fighters in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, and honoring the martyrs, veterans, and resilient men, women, and children who have endured hardships in their quest for victory.
The Iranian Army reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian cause until complete liberation from the Israeli occupation.
The agreement, signed by Presidents Massoud Pezeshkian and Vladimir Putin, covers key economic sectors such as trade, investment, tourism, transport, and energy.
Araghchi emphasized that the agreement aims to enhance economic cooperation in various domains, including joint trade, mutual investment, and new energy projects, adding, “We expect this to improve our bilateral relations across multiple domains.”
The agreement also covers cultural, judicial, legal, and parliamentary cooperation, ensuring a broad spectrum of collaboration.
Araghchi highlighted that the partnership is not a military alliance, but a comprehensive framework designed to provide a long-term vision for Iran-Russia relations.
He also explained, “This treaty is not against any third party and is a treaty for cooperation between Iran and Russia. It regulates the relations between the two countries and outlines the prospects for cooperation, creating no restrictions for their relations with third countries.”
The Iranian foreign minister expressed optimism that the agreement will facilitate smoother economic, cultural, and political collaborations between the two nations.
Mohammad Mehdi Shahriari, in an interview with Shafaqna, mentioned that given the government’s team, including officials like Vice President for Strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif and Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi, it is likely that essential steps have been taken, although neither the commission nor the lawmakers have been informed, possibly due to concerns about hardliners in the parliament.
Shahriari expressed disappointment with the foreign policy performance of the former administration, noting that the expected active diplomacy, especially in negotiations and lifting sanctions, has not been realized.
Highlighting the economic and livelihood challenges faced by the society, Shahriari stressed that the public voted for President Massoud Pezeshkian with the hope of resolving these issues. He called for a more proactive foreign policy beyond just neighboring countries.
The parliamentarian also pointed out that relations with Europe have been affected by recent policies and need repair.
He also urged officials to recognize the consequences of not joining the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which is currently under review by the Expediency Council.
James Elder told a UN briefing in Geneva that a peer-reviewed report in The Lancet had reported numbers of casualties exceeding those reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry, which had reported upwards of 15,000 children having been killed.
“That’s around 35 children killed reportedly every single day for 14 months,” Elder said.
In 2025 alone, he added, an average of 10 children have lost their lives daily in Gaza.
“This moment (ceasefire deal) is so absolutely critical and so overdue,” he said. “This deal should have happened much earlier.”
He noted that what is needed now is phase one, phase two, and phase three of the ceasefire to take place simultaneously.
Qatar announced on Wednesday a cease-fire agreement to end over 15 months of deadly Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stated the 3-phase deal will be effective on Sunday.
The deal includes a prisoner exchange and sustained calm, aiming for a permanent truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
More than 46,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children were killed and over 110,000 others injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since the October 2023, according to local health authorities.
The war has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters ever.
In 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.
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