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Tehran’s development faces challenges: President Pezeshkian

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Addressing a conference marking Clean Air Day, President Pezeshkian pointed out that while other countries hold emergency meetings for minor land subsidence, Tehran faces subsidence of up to one meter without adequate response.

He criticized the construction of high-rise buildings in narrow streets, which exacerbates the city’s resource and capacity mismatch.

The president stressed the need to halt the creation of imbalances and to reform development policies.

He noted that the first step in addressing these issues is to prevent further imbalances.

He also criticized the lack of implementation of the Clean Air Act, attributing it to the mismatch between resources and consumption.

During the conference, President Pezeshkian emphasized that the alphabet of development is the balance between resources and consumption, which has not been maintained in the development programs pursued by the government, parliament, and judiciary.

He also highlighted the need for honest governance and the importance of public satisfaction in ensuring national power and defeating enemy conspiracies.

President Pezeshkian says ‘Gaza people demonstrate resilience against terrorism’

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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In a meeting on Monday with members of the Islamic Development Coordination Council, President Pezeshkian referred to the newly established ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which ended over 15 months of intense Israeli aggression, and congratulated the people of Gaza and Palestine on their victory.

He commended their strength and honor in resisting the Zionist regime.

President Pezeshkian also reflected on the 46th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, noting the ongoing challenges faced by the country, including the assassination of its officials and elites by enemies aim to create obstacles.

“Our enemies think they can defeat us, but if the people stand with us, no power can defeat us,” he added.

The president also emphasized the need for all Iranians to feel a sense of ownership of their country, advocating for merit-based responsibilities regardless of ethnicity, gender, or religion.

He highlighted the government’s efforts to reform the education system, aiming to foster societal improvement and educational justice.

Syrian defence minister rejects Kurdish-led SDF’s proposal for own military bloc

By
IFP Media Wire
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Syria Kurds

Speaking to the Reuters news agency in Damascus, Abu Qasra said on Sunday that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was procrastinating in its handling of the complex issue.

The SDF, which has carved out a semi-autonomous zone through 14 years of war, has been in talks with the new administration in Damascus led by former rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad on December 8.

SDF commander Mazloum Abdi (also known as Mazloum Kobani) has said one of their central demands is a decentralised administration, saying in an interview with Saudi Arabia’s Asharq News channel last week that the SDF was open to integrating with the Ministry of Defence but as “a military bloc”, and without dissolving.

Abu Qasra rejected that proposal on Sunday.

“We say that they would enter the Defence Ministry within the hierarchy of the Defence Ministry and be distributed in a military way – we have no issue there,” said Abu Qasra, who was appointed defence minister on December 21.

“But for them to remain a military bloc within the Defence Ministry, such a bloc within a big institution is not right.”

One of the minister’s priorities since taking office has been integrating Syria’s myriad anti-al-Assad factions into a unified command structure.

However, doing so with the SDF has proved challenging. The United States considers the group a key ally against ISIL (ISIS), but neighbouring Turkiye regards it as a national security threat linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Abu Qasra stated he had met the SDF leaders but accused them of “procrastinating” in talks over their integration, and added incorporating them in the Defence Ministry like other former rebel factions was “a right of the Syrian state”.

He was appointed to the transitional government about two weeks after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel group to which he belongs, led the offensive that overthrew al-Assad.

The minister noted he hoped to finish the integration process, including appointing some senior military figures, by March 1, when the transitional government’s time in power is set to end.

Asked how he responded to criticism that a transitional council should not make such appointments or carry out such sweeping changes to the military infrastructure, he said “security issues” had prompted the new state to prioritise the matter.

“We are in a race against time and every day makes a difference,” he added.

The new administration was also criticised over its decision to give some foreigners, including Egyptians and Jordanians, ranks in the new military.

Abu Qasra acknowledged the decision had created a firestorm but said he was not aware of any requests to extradite any of the foreign fighters.

Persistent snow, rain in Tehran to continue until Tuesday, temperature to drop to freezing

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Watch scenes of snow-covered Tehran in the following pictures.

Trump team preparing phone call with Putin: CNN

By
IFP Media Wire
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Putin Trump

According to people familiar with the matter interviewed by the network, the primary aim of the call would be to discuss a face-to-face meeting in the coming months to explore ways to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

Officials within Trump’s national security team reportedly began planning for the call several weeks ago, CNN reported, adding that it remains unclear whether a date for the conversation has been finalized. The network noted that the phone call would be a significant shift from President Joe Biden’s approach, who has not spoken directly with Putin for nearly three years.

Earlier this month, Trump confirmed his intention to speak with Putin, stating that the Russian leader “wants to meet, and we are setting it up.” The president-elect, who has been critical of US aid to Kiev, has repeatedly vowed to swiftly end the Ukraine conflict.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that Putin is open to negotiations with the US president without any preconditions. However, he stressed that there have been no substantial preparations for talks, while suggesting waiting until Trump is sworn in.

Commenting on the potential Ukraine talks, Putin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov suggested that the incoming US president would be the one to initiate a dialogue.

“We are calmly waiting for Trump’s team to take over. After that, let’s see what happens,” he said.

In recent weeks, US media outlets have reported that Trump’s team is mulling a peace plan for Ukraine which could include a ceasefire along the current front lines and the creation of an 1,300-km (800-mile) demilitarized zone patrolled by European troops. Additionally, Ukraine would agree to delay its aspirations for NATO membership for at least 20 years.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has criticized parts of the reported plan, saying Moscow “is of course not satisfied” with the proposals to postpone Ukraine’s NATO ambitions and deploy a Western peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine.

Moscow has also rejected a freezing of the conflict, insisting that it must achieve all of the goals of its military operation, including permanent Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification. Russia has also signaled that it would immediately declare a ceasefire once Kiev begins withdrawing from Russian territory, including the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye.

UN relief chief cautions “no time to lose”, as hundreds of aid trucks enter Gaza

By
IFP Media Wire
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“At least 630 trucks with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Sunday, with at least 300 of them going to the north. There is no time to lose,” Tom Fletcher said in a statement Sunday.

“After 15 months of relentless war, the humanitarian needs are staggering. We recognize the logistical challenges facing those delivering this aid, including mountains of rubble and unexploded remnants of war. The safety of all civilians, including aid workers, remains our top priority.”

The ceasefire agreement allows for a dramatic uptick in humanitarian relief to enter Gaza. However, the UN has warned the increased aid allotment would be “only a start” in addressing the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the enclave, where Israeli strikes have laid waste to large swathes of territory and human rights groups have described “unspeakable” living conditions.

Fletcher called on countries “with influence over the parties to ensure that this lifesaving aid reaches those who need it most.”

“This is a moment of tremendous hope – fragile, yet vital – as we continue to navigate the complexities of the days and weeks ahead,” Fletcher 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.

Cindy McCain, the head of  UN World Food Programme (WFP), has stated that while this is a “critical first step”, the needs in Gaza are “immense”.

“This is a critical first step, but the needs in Gaza are immense; two million people have been in urgent need of food and other basics for far too long,” she said in a statement.

“After 15 months of war, we need all border crossings to stay open and function efficiently, effectively and reliably. And we need humanitarian teams to be able to move freely and safely across Gaza to reach those in need,” the statement read.

The statement added that WFP has “enough food pre-positioned along the borders, and on its way to Gaza, to feed over a million people for three months”.

Iranian Army Ground Forces stage ‘successful’ missile, drone strike drill

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran Drone

Their mission was to capture and detain the leaders of hypothetical terrorist forces.

During this phase, after gathering intelligence and identifying the locations of cross-border terrorist forces threatening Iran’s security and territorial integrity, the 65th NOHED Brigade’s special units carried out specialized operations.

According to reports, after collecting and analyzing information, various stealth and reconnaissance drones attacked the terrorist groups’ headquarters.

Following the destruction of the bases using Fajr-5 missiles with a range of over 110 kilometers and Mohajer-6 drones equipped with Qaem bombs, the brigade’s rapid reaction special units, supported by heavy fire from Army Aviation helicopters and armored and artillery units, conducted a heliborne operation to arrest the terrorist elements.

Iran, Pakistan set to enhance military cooperation

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Mohammad Bagheri

Major General Bagheri, leading a high-ranking military delegation, arrived in Islamabad on Sunday at the invitation of Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir.

The senior commander highlighted the security challenges along the Iran-Pakistan border and emphasized efforts to transform the areas into a “border of friendship” and foster economic connections.

He noted the significant relation between Iran and Pakistan, two major Muslim countries in the sensitive West and South Asia region, underscoring their extensive ties and shared stances on many regional issues.

Talks with Pakistani officials will focus on regional developments, aiming for coordinated positions in international circles.

The discussions will also cover defense cooperation, especially in border areas, counter-terrorism efforts, and recent regional and Muslim world developments.

Major General Bagheri’s visit includes meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

WHO welcomes Gaza ceasefire but warns of immense health challenges ahead

By
IFP Media Wire
-

Israel’s 15-month military campaign in Gaza has pulverized neighborhoods, depleted food, water and fuel supplies, and decimated health care infrastructure, and aid groups are now scrambling to step up their response to the humanitarian catastrophe.

“Only half of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain partially operational, nearly all hospitals are damaged or partly destroyed, and just 38% of primary health care centres are functional,” the World Health Organization (WHO) said Sunday.

WHO warned that the number of Palestinians killed and wounded was likely much higher than the official count from the Ministry of Health, and said an estimated 30,000 people had sustained injuries that needed ongoing rehabilitation largely unavailable in Gaza.

“Transmission of infectious diseases has massively increased, malnutrition is rising, and the risk of famine persists. The breakdown of public order, exacerbated by armed gangs, raises further concerns,” the WHO added.

In response to the challenges outlined in the statement, WHO said it would work with its partners to implement a 60-day plan to restore and expand the health system in the strip.

“Given the high level of malnutrition and disease outbreaks, WHO is working with partners to expand infant and young child feeding programmes, enhance immunization efforts and reinforce disease surveillance systems for timely prevention, reporting, and outbreak management,” the agency noted.

“WHO calls on all parties to uphold their commitment to fully implement the ceasefire agreement and to continue working towards a political solution to address the protracted crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory, which is essential for lasting peace,” it added.

The Gaza ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel took effect on Sunday.

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.

90 Palestinian freed from Israeli jails

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

At about 1am local time on Monday (23:00 GMT), 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.

Among them was Khalida Jarrar, 62, a leading member of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, who had been held for six months in solitary confinement under “administrative detention”, which allows Israeli authorities to jail suspects indefinitely without charge or court verdict.

In the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, crowds lifted many of the returned prisoners up onto their shoulders in an emotional show of support, as others shouted and whistled. Some attending the gathering carried the flags of Fatah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other armed resistance groups.

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

Bushra al-Tawil, a Palestinian journalist jailed in Israel in March 2024, was also among the prisoners released on Monday.

Tawil said she began her journey at 3am on Sunday morning (01:00 GMT), when she was taken from another Israeli prison ahead of release. In the second prison, she was grouped with other Palestinians awaiting release.

“The wait was extremely hard. But thank God, we were certain that at any moment we would be released,” she said.

Tawil said her father, who is also in an Israeli jail, will be released soon, too.

“I was worried about him. He is still a prisoner, but I just received good news that he will be released as part of this deal,” she added.

Amanda Abu Sharkh, 23, from Ramallah, was among the crowd of hundreds who gathered to greet the freed prisoners.

“We came here to witness it and feel the emotions, just like the families of the prisoners who are being released today,” Abu Sharkh said.

“All the prisoners being released today feel like family to us. They are part of us, even if they’re not blood relatives,” she told the AFP news agency.

Muhammad, 20, said he had come from Ramallah with his friends as soon as he heard the prisoners would be released.

Recently freed from Israel’s Ofer Prison himself, he expressed “great joy” at the thought of families being reunited.

“I know a lot of people in prison, there are innocent people, children and women,” he said.

The prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel marks the first of its kind since November 2023.

The exact number of Palestinians due to be released as part of the ceasefire deal is still unknown, with reported estimates ranging from approximately 1,000 to nearly 2,000.

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.

The second phase of ceasefire negotiations is due to begin in two weeks.

More than 46,000 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.

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