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Russia claims Ukrainian chemical attack against defense plant foiled

By
IFP Media Wire
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FSB

The suspect is a Russian citizen who was working for Kiev, and who planned to poison workers of the facility with toxic substances, according to a statement from the agency on Tuesday.

The man was detained after receiving two containers with “dangerous chemicals” from a cache prepared by the Ukrainian special services, the FSB said. The substances in question can cause potentially fatal respiratory burns, it added.

The suspect planned to pour the chemicals into the air ducts of vehicles driven by employees of the defense enterprise, according to the agency.

“The terrorist’s activities were coordinated from the territory of Ukraine via foreign internet messaging apps,” the FSB stressed.

Yaroslavl is located on the Volga River, around 250km (160 miles) northeast of Moscow. The city, which has a population of over 570,000, is the capital of the Yaroslavl Region.

It is not the first time that Kiev’s spy services have tried to use toxic chemicals to carry out attacks inside Russia since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, the FSB stated.

Previously, a Ukrainian agent was detained for allegedly trying to poison food and drinks at a gathering of graduates from a military pilot school in the southern city of Armavir, the agency said.

Four people who were planning to contaminate food products prepared by volunteers for Russian frontline troops were also arrested in St. Petersburg, the FSB added.

Last February, a terrorist attack using the 3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate military agent (which NATO calls BZ) was reportedly thwarted in Russia’s Zaporozhye Region. US-designed chemicals were seized from the suspects, according to the agency.

Lavrov: Iran-Russia comprehensive agreement not directed against any country

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran and Russia Flags

According to IRNA News Agency, he stressed: “Instead, it is aimed at ensuring the security and development of both nations.”

Lavrov asserted that the agreement, like Russia’s recent pact with North Korea, carries a constructive nature.

“It is designed to bolster the capabilities of Russia, Iran, and our global allies,” he stated.

Lavrov further explained that the accord focuses on accelerating economic exchanges, addressing bilateral social challenges, and establishing reliable defense mechanisms.

He added: “This agreement reflects a commitment to mutual growth and enhanced collaboration, benefiting both nations and their allies globally.”

The agreement will be signed during the upcoming visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Moscow.

Approval of US leadership among NATO member states declines: Poll

By
IFP Media Wire
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NATO

In 2024, the median approval of U.S. leadership among adults in NATO member countries was 35 percent, the lowest during Biden’s four years. The median disapproval rating was 51 percent.

The results from 2024 represent a slight shift from the previous few years. The median approval rating was 40 percent in 2023, 38 percent in 2022, and 41 percent in 2021. The median disapproval rating was 49 percent in 2023, 48 percent in 2022, and 38 percent in 2021.

Overall, Biden has enjoyed higher approval ratings of US leadership across NATO member countries than Donald Trump did when he was in the White House.

In 2020, during Trump’s final year in office, 18 percent of adults in NATO countries approved of U.S. leadership, while 72 percent disapproved. By comparison, Trump entered office in 2017 with 25 percent median approval of U.S. leadership and 59 percent median disapproval.

The survey included 1,000 interviews with adults from 30 NATO countries in 2024. The margin of error ranges from 3.4 to 4.9 percentage points.

It was released hours before Biden is set to deliver his last foreign policy address. The speech on Monday afternoon will focus on his administration’s work to strengthen America’s standing around the world, a senior administration official said, and will be delivered at the State Department in Washington, D.C.

The president is expected to discuss America’s standing on the global stage when he first took office in 2021 and argue the U.S. is in a stronger position in the four years since. He is also set to argue that international alliances and partnerships are the strongest they’ve ever been under his administration.

Iran to launch first national AI platform demo

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Mojtaba Alizadeh said the platform, which focuses on the medical and diagnostic fields, represents a significant advancement in the country’s artificial intelligence sector.

He expressed gratitude to the ministry of communications for issuing the first AI operator license, aligning with the broader AI architecture.

One of the major recent agreements involves the establishment of the AI Management Center for the oil industry on Kish Island, southern Iran, within the next year.

Alizadeh also mentioned the upcoming launch of the country’s first GPU farm by next spring, which will meet all domestic infrastructure needs. He hinted at ongoing international agreements that will be announced soon.

He emphasized that the Iranian president’s directive on AI has unified various efforts within the country.

The demo of the National AI Platform is anticipated to astonish the public, officials, and AI ecosystem participants alike, showcasing the extensive efforts in the AI domain, Alizadeh pointed out, hoping that the path would lead to further national and international achievements.

Trump says wants to meet Putin ‘very quickly’ after inauguration

By
IFP Media Wire
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Putin and Trump

The incoming U.S. president echoed his previous comments on his intent to meet the Russian leader and hammer out a deal to end Russia’s full-scale war, which nears its third anniversary. Trump initially declared during his presidential campaign he would end the war within 24 hours, though he recently extended this timeline to up to six months.

Talking to Newsmax, Trump said that Putin wants to meet as the war “hasn’t gone so well for him either.”

“I know he wants to meet, and I’m gonna meet (him) very quickly,” the president-elect said, adding that the meeting has to take place after his inauguration. Trump also noted that Ukraine is “being decimated” while both Russian and Ukrainian soldiers “are being killed in large numbers.”

The Kremlin has already signaled Putin’s willingness to meet Trump after he takes office, though no firm date has been set. Switzerland and Serbia said they are open to hosting an in-person meeting between the two leaders.

According to Trump’s incoming national security advisor, Mike Waltz, the president-elect and Putin are also expected to hold a telephone call “in the coming days and weeks.”

Trump has often voiced sympathies for the Russian leader while criticizing the level of support the outgoing Joe Biden administration threw behind Kyiv. This prompted concerns that the new U.S. leadership might cut a deal unfavorable to Ukraine.

Trump’s incoming peace envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, stated that the president-elect’s aim is not to “give something to Putin or the Russians” but to “save Ukraine and save their sovereignty.”

Trump noted that specific peace proposals are still being worked out. A pitch leaked from his team — freezing the front lines, postponing Ukraine’s NATO accession by 20 years, and deploying European peacekeepers on the ground — has already been rejected by Russia.

NBC to air Iran president’s ‘important message’ on ‘honorable, equal negotiation’

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Masoud Pezeshkian

In a tweet, Mehdi Tabatabaei stated that Iran is prepared for ‘honorable negotiations’ with the US to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries.

He wrote, “President Pezeshkian’s important message in an interview with renowned American anchor Lester Holt will be broadcast tomorrow on NBC.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran seeks peace and de-escalation in the region and the world, condemns the war-mongering, aggression, and genocide by the Zionist regime, and is ready for honorable and equal negotiations,” he further noted.

There have been growing hints in recent days that Iranian officials are ready to hold talks with the incoming US President Donald Trump to resolve the differences.

Ali Abdolalizadeh, the head of President Pezeshkian’s election campaign and the president’s representative in maritime economy, announced on Monday that the Iranian government has reached a consensus on the necessity of direct talks with Washington, rather than relying on intermediaries.

Putin failed to meet any of his strategic goals in Ukraine: Biden

By
IFP Media Wire
-

Biden’s remarks come as his term as president comes to an end and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears its third year.

Biden reflected on his foreign policy record, including his role in Ukraine’s fight against Russia, one week before US President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office on Jan. 20. The president defending his administration’s policies and said they prevented Putin from reaching his goals.

“When Putin invaded Ukraine, he thought he’d conquer Kyiv in a matter of days,” Biden said.

“The truth is, since that war began I’m the only one that stood in the center of Kyiv, not him, Putin never has.”

Biden visited Kyiv in February 2023, becoming the only US commander-in-chief to visit a war zone not controlled by US forces.

“Putin has failed to achieve any of his strategic objectives,” Biden added.

“He has failed thus far to subjugate Ukraine, failed to break the unity of NATO, and failed to make large territorial gains. There is more to do, we can’t walk away.”

Biden praised Washington’s coalition-building and readiness to provide military aid, saying the US brought together 50 nations to stand with Ukraine and delivered “massive numbers of munitions” and other crucial assistance to Kyiv.

The address also touched on the effectiveness of US sanctions in weakening Russia’s economy.

The US has “enacted relentless unprecedented sanctions to keep Ukraine in the fight … Russia is struggling to replace what they are losing on the battlefield in terms of military equipment and fighters and the ruble is under enormous pressure,” Biden continued.

Biden echoed earlier remarks by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who stated that the White House was preparing a strong Ukraine policy foundation to hand off to the incoming Trump administration.

“(W)e laid the foundation for the next administration so they can protect the bright future of the Ukrainian people,” Biden noted.

Trump has previously criticized US military support for Ukraine and promised to negotiate an end to the war. He is reportedly in the process of planning an in-person meeting with Putin, set to take place at an unspecified time after his inauguration.

Biden has urged the US congress to continue sending aid to Ukraine even if Trump is opposed to further assistance. In a speech on Jan. 10, Biden said he did everything he could to help Ukraine during his time in office.

Ministry of Energy says Saudi Arabia seeking to enrich and sell uranium

By
IFP Media Wire
-

Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud told a conference in Dhahran on Monday that the move is part of a strategy to monetise all minerals, according to Reuters news agency.

“We will enrich it and we will sell it and we will do a ‘yellowcake’,” he said, referring to a powdered concentrate used to prepare uranium fuel for nuclear reactors. It requires safe handling although it poses few radiation risks.

Saudi Arabia is developing a fledgling nuclear programme and has plans to expand it to include uranium enrichment – a sensitive issue due to its potential link to nuclear weapons. Riyadh insists it aims to use nuclear power to diversify its energy mix.

However, it is unclear where Saudi nuclear ambitions might end.

In 2018, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated the kingdom would develop nuclear weapons if regional rival Iran did so. Two years later, the kingdom’s minister of state for foreign affairs reiterated that call.

The kingdom announced last year it planned to scrap oversight of its nuclear facilities by the United Nations atomic watchdog and switch to regular safeguards by the end of 2024.

Riyadh has yet to fire up its first nuclear reactor, which allows its programme to still be monitored under the Small Quantities Protocol (SQP), an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency that exempts less advanced states from many reporting obligations and inspections.

Fellow Persian Gulf state the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is home to the Arab world’s first multi-unit operating nuclear energy plant. The UAE has pledged not to enrich uranium itself and not to reprocess spent fuel.

Tehran has repeatedly declared that its nuclear program remains purely peaceful as always and that the Islamic Republic had no intention of developing nuclear weapons as a matter of an Islamic and state principal.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei issued an official fatwa (religious decree) clearly establishing that any form of acquisition, development, and use of nuclear weapons violate Islamic principles and are therefore forbidden.

In 2015, Iran proved the peaceful nature of its nuclear program to the world by signing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with six world powers.

However, Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran left the future of the deal in limbo.

Winter delights in Iran’s Sorkhrud: Whooper swans bring joy

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

The presence of the birds has invigorated the region and enhanced birdwatching activities.

Every year, from mid-September to mid-winter, various bird species migrate from colder regions around the Caspian Sea to Mazandaran’s wetlands in search of warmer habitats and food.

According to the Mazandaran Department of Wildlife, over 70 species of migratory birds visit the province’s wetlands. This year’s arrivals include geese, flamingos, sandpipers, cormorants, and herons. The water levels in these wetlands are crucial for creating a suitable environment for these birds.

Mazandaran is home to the internationally recognized Miankaleh Wetland, as well as local wetlands like Fereidoonkenar and Kiassar, with over 800 ponds spanning 17,000 hectares.

Korous Rabiei, head of the Mazandaran Wildlife Department, reported that approximately 700 whooper swans have arrived at Sorkhrud Wetland, with more expected.

He emphasized that the presence of all three swan species in a 25-hectare wetland is unique to Sorkhrud.

The wildlife department continues to ensure the safety and well-being of the swans by providing food and monitoring for potential diseases.

Official: Iran reconsidering FATF accession to smooth international relations

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
FATF

In an interview with Etemad Online, Elias Hazrati highlighted that the government is striving to manage issues effectively, adding that the current administration of President Massoud Pezeshkian operates with “transparency and honesty,” ensuring that nothing remains hidden from the public.

Hazrati pointed out the government’s commitment to transparency in major projects, such as the discussions around internet filtering and car imports, which involved extensive debates among supporters and opponents.

He also addressed the country’s energy imbalance, noting that $6 billion from next year’s budget has been allocated for gasoline imports, despite Iran being one of the world’s largest oil and gas producers.

The shortage of 20,000 megawatts of electricity, expected to rise to 25,000 megawatts next year, leading to frequent blackouts, is another critical issue that needs urgent resolution, he raised the alarm.

Hazrati stressed that resolving the country’s problems cannot be achieved through conflict.

President Pezeshkian has recognized the deep polarization within society and has focused on national unity, avoiding alignment with any single faction, he noted.

The Iranian president’s message at the 79th UN General Assembly Session in September last year was one of peace, reconciliation, and engagement, despite ongoing external threats, Hazrati pointed out.

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