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Iran’s Leader’s message: “Hamas is Alive and Will Remain Alive” Amid Gaza Ceasefire

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Ayatollah Khamenei

The tweet by Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei reads, “The people of Gaza stand firm like a mountain, and the resistance front, despite the martyrdom of prominent figures like Yahya Sinwar, will not stop even the slightest. Hamas is alive and will remain alive.”

The message comes after the recent ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, which took effect on Sunday.

The ceasefire, brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, has brought a temporary halt to 15 months of Israeli aggression.

As part of the agreement, three Israeli hostages were released by Hamas, and Israel freed 90 Palestinian prisoners.

Aid and commercial supplies have started flowing smoothly into Gaza, providing much-needed relief to the region.

IMF says Iran’s economy will continue to grow in 2025

By
IFP Media Wire
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imf

IMF forecasts cited in a Monday report by the Tasnim news agency showed that Iran’s economy would expand by 3.1% in 2025, lower than a regional average growth rate of 3.9%.

IMF expected that Iran’s gross domestic product (GDP) would increase by $29 billion to $463 billion next year.

It said Iran’s non-oil sector of the economy would also expand by 2.3% in 2025.

The IMF estimated that Iran’s oil production will average 3.1 million barrels per day (bpd) next year while its natural gas production would amount to the equivalent of 5.2 million bpd, making the country the second-largest hydrocarbon producer in the region after Saudi Arabia.

Iran’s oil exports would reach an average of 1.6 million bpd while gas exports would reach the equivalent of 0.4 million bpd in 2025, the global lender said.

The inflation rate will continue to fall in Iran next year to reach 29.5%, the lowest in four years but still higher than all other economies in the West Asia region, IMF forecasts indicated.

It expected that Iran will continue to maintain a positive balance of current accounts in 2025 at $13.9 billion, higher than many economies in the region.

The IMF data showed that Iran’s accessible foreign assets will reach $33.8 billion next year despite a continued regime of US sanctions that restrict the country’s access to banking services.

Iran would maintain a foreign debt-to-GDP ratio of 1.8% in 2025, the lowest in the entire region, the figures showed.

US Senate confirms Iran hawk Marco Rubio as secretary of state

By
IFP Media Wire
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The Senate backed Rubio by a vote of 99-0, days after the long-term member of the Senate foreign relations and intelligence committees sailed through his friendly confirmation hearing.

Rubio became the first of Trump’s cabinet nominees to be confirmed by the Senate, just hours after the president was sworn in for a second White House term.

Additional votes on Trump nominees were expected this week.

Rubio, 53, is a harsh critic of China. The son of immigrants from Cuba, he has also pushed for tough measures against the Communist-ruled island and its allies, especially the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

During his confirmation hearing, he warned that the US must change course to avoid becoming more reliant on China, and promised a robust foreign policy focused on American interests.

Rubio also stated it should be US policy that the war in Ukraine must end. He said reaching an agreement to stop the fighting would involve concessions from both Moscow and Kyiv, and he suggested that Ukraine would have to give up its goal of regaining all the territory Russia has taken in the last decade.

Rubio is the first person of Hispanic origin to serve as the nation’s top diplomat.

Trump began announcing his selections for cabinet positions almost as soon as he won his second term as president on Nov. 5. His supporters had clamored for the Senate to confirm all of his picks as quickly as possible but some faced tough questioning about their experience and qualifications even from members of his own Republican party.

Americans believe US spends too much on Ukraine: Survey

By
IFP Media Wire
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US Weapons

According to the findings, 51% of respondents say the country is “spending too much” on Kiev, while 28% believe the current amount is appropriate. Only 17% say the country should boost spending on Ukraine.

Similarly, 53% of those surveyed say US aid to Israel is excessive, with 30% considering it adequate. The survey, conducted from January 2 to 10, involved 2,128 people nationwide.

Public sentiment reflected in the survey suggests that most Americans want Washington to prioritize domestic issues over foreign aid. Among the respondents, 60% say the US “should pay less attention to problems overseas and concentrate on problems here at home,” while only 38% believe the country should continue to be active in global affairs. The poll also indicates that 60% believe the US government is “almost always wasteful and inefficient,” while 72% say it is “working to benefit itself” and its own agenda, not the people.

Congress has appropriated a total of over $175 billion on assistance for Kiev since the conflict with Russia escalated in February 2022, of which $65.9 billion has been direct military assistance, according to the latest data from the Pentagon.

Moscow has warned that Western aid to Ukraine only serves to prolong the conflict without changing the outcome. It has announced it is willing to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict, but maintained that any settlement must begin with Kiev ceasing military operations and acknowledging the reality that it will not regain control of former Ukrainian regions that voted to join Russia. Moscow has also insisted upon Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification.

Released Palestinian prisoners show signs of neglect: Hamas

By
IFP Media Wire
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“The pictures of the three female prisoners being handed over to the enemy showed them in full physical and psychological health, while our male and female prisoners showed signs of neglect and exhaustion,” the statement read.

Ninety Palestinians have been freed from Israeli prisons and were greeted by large crowds of jubilant relatives, friends and supporters as they returned home to the occupied West Bank in the first prisoner exchange of the ceasefire between Tel Aviv and Hamas following the release of three Israeli captives in the besieged Gaza Strip.

On Monday, Red Cross buses carrying the 90 Palestinian prisoners arrived in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, where they were greeted by crowds of thousands despite warnings from Israeli forces that celebrations would not be allowed.

The freed Palestinians included 69 women and 21 teenage boys – some as young as 12 – from the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.

Hours earlier, three Israeli women captives in their mid-20s to early 30s were released in Gaza.

In the first phase of the deal, Hamas is expected to return a total of 33 Israeli captives over the next 42 days – with the next release due on Saturday.

More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began on October 7, and nearly 90 percent of Gaza’s population has been forcibly displaced by Israeli evacuation orders and attacks.

Gaza’s first responders searching rubble for 10k missing bodies

By
IFP Media Wire
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The rescuers said these casualties have not yet been included in the official death toll of Israel’s war on Gaza.

Over the course of the 15-month war, 99 of its rescuers were killed in Israeli attacks, with 319 others injured, including dozens left with permanent disabilities, the agency reported. It also said 27 members have been detained by Israeli forces, and their fate remains unknown.

The civil defence teams have rescued more than 97,000 injured Palestinians since 7 October 2023. The agency also stated that around 2,840 bodies were “evaporated without a trace” by Israeli weapons that generated extreme temperatures of up to 9,000 degrees Celsius (16,000 Fahrenheit).

More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 111,7000 others injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, according to local health authorities.

In November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) 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.

Yemen’s Houthis says to target only Israel-linked vessels after Gaza ceasefire

By
IFP Media Wire
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Yemen Houthis

The HOCC, which liaises between Houthi rebels and commercial shipping operators, also said in an email that if the US, UK or Israel resumed strikes on Yemen, then attacks on vessels affiliated with these countries would resume.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched nearly 100 attacks on ships in the Red Sea, actions they say are in solidarity with Palestinians suffering under Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed more than 46,900 people and wounded over 110,000 Palestinians.

The Houthis have stressed they will stop their attacks if Israel’s war on Gaza stops.

Despite attacks by the United States, Britain and Israel on Yemeni territory, the Houthi military operations have continued unabated.

Iranian health minister: 15 percent of under-5 child mortality blamed on air pollution

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Air Pollution

Zafarghandi made the comment at the National Conference of Clean Air attended by a number of other Iranian government officials.

He added that 8.1 million people die each year worldwide due to air pollution, making it the second leading cause of deadly disease burden, with hypertension being the first.

The minister noted that 700,000 children under five die annually due to air pollution in the world. Zafarghandi said during the last Persian year the average air quality in Iran was polluted for 247 days with Tehran lacking clean air for 353 days.

According to the minister, statistics show that 12.56% of natural deaths in that period were attributed to air pollution.
Zafarghandi cited to the installation of solar panels as a potential solution to the problem of air pollution. He said Iran has about 250 sunny days per year which can be of great assistance.

Iran warns European troika of retaliatory response to snapback mechanism

By
IFP Media Wire
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Esmael baghaei

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Baqaei warned that Iran will show a retaliatory response if the three European parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action intend to put pressure on Tehran by initiating the dispute mechanism of the JCPOA.

Should the snapback mechanism be triggered against Iran, there will basically be no reason or justification for Iran to stay in the deal, he added.

The spokesman also ruled out the possibility of negotiations over Iran’s missile program in the talks with the EU3, stressing that negotiations about Iran’s defense and military capabilities are out of the question.

Baqaei stated that the recent talks between Iran and the European troika have been confined to the nuclear issue.

He noted that Iran has seriously castigated the European parties for supporting the Israeli regime.

“We have explicitly expressed those issues. We have talked about Syria and Ukraine as well.”

 

Over 90% of homes destroyed or damaged in Gaza: UN

By
IFP Media Wire
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Some 436,000 housing units — 92% of Gaza’s homes — have been affected, with 160,000 destroyed and 276,000 severely or partially damaged, OCHA said.

Additionally, more than 1.8 million people are in urgent need of emergency shelter and essential household items.

The UN announced on its website that approximately 90% of the population across Gaza have been displaced, many of whom have been forced to move repeatedly, “some 10 times or more.”

“Much of Gaza is rubble, while Israeli airstrikes and military operations have damaged or destroyed around 60 per cent of buildings, including homes, schools and hospitals,” according to the UN.

“The relentless bombing campaign has pushed healthcare to the brink, the solid waste system has collapsed, causing serious environmental and health risks, and the water system has been drastically cut,” it added.

The Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect at 11:15 a.m. local time (0915GMT) on Sunday after a few hours’ delay.

Nearly 47,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli 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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