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Envoy denies as baseless US, UK claims about Iran’s involvement in Red Sea tensions

Amir Saeed Iravani

In identical letters addressed to the UN Secretary General António Guterres and the Security Council president on Monday local time, Amir Saeid Iravani reacted to the claims made by representatives of the US and the United Kingdom, and orchestrated by the representative of the Israeli regime, against the Islamic Republic of Iran during the open briefing of the UN Security Council on December 30.

He wrote that the unsubstantiated allegations made by the Israeli representative Danny Danon and supported by the regime’s closest ally, the United States, are an obvious attempt to scapegoat Iran to justify their own illegal actions and malicious activities in the region.

“It is not Iran but the belligerent regime of Israel that has relentlessly pursued a policy of provocation and destabilizing activities, which poses a grave threat to peace and security in the region and beyond,” Iravani pointed out.

The senior Iranian diplomat underlined that his country, as a responsible member of the United Nations, has always adhered to its obligations under international law and the United Nations Charter and has not been involved in any activity inconsistent with the relevant Security Council resolutions.

“Therefore, Iran categorically denies any violation of arms embargoes or any involvement in fueling the conflict in Yemen or elsewhere,” he underscored.

Iran’s UN ambassador went on to describe it as both deeply troubling and highly ironic that the US and Britain, instead of upholding their responsibilities as permanent members of the Security Council to maintain international peace and security, persist in providing political cover and military support for Israel’s reckless actions and violations while fabricating baseless accusations against Iran.

“This blatant complicity has emboldened Israel to act with impunity, fueling regional conflicts and undermining any prospects for lasting peace in Yemen under UN leadership,” he noted.

Iravani emphasized that Iran’s position on Yemen has been consistent and unwavering. From the very onset of the crisis in 2015, Tehran has supported a political resolution to the conflict and called for a comprehensive ceasefire, inclusive dialogue, and a peaceful process that respects the Arab nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Regarding the situation in the Red Sea, Iran reiterates its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of international shipping lanes. Accusations of Iranian interference in the Red Sea are baseless fabrications designed to inflame tensions and serve as a pretext for further destabilization of the region by the United States and its allies,” he stated.

The senior Iranian diplomat then called upon the Security Council not to be swayed by Israel’s propaganda, which seeks to divert attention from the ongoing atrocities and ethnic cleansing by the apartheid regime in Gaza.

Instead, the Security Council must confront the root causes of instability in the region, foremost among them Israel’s illegal occupation, aggression, systematic and widespread violations of international law, and blatant disregard for the Council’s resolutions, Iravani highlighted.

Iran’s UN ambassador finally urged the Security Council to live up to its responsibility under the UN Charter and act decisively to hold the occupying regime of Israel and its supporters accountable for grave violations of international law.

“Failure to do so will only erode trust in the United Nations and its ability to fulfill its mandate to maintain international peace and security,” Iravani concluded.

WHO chief urges Israel to stop attacks on Gaza hospitals

WHO

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X that “Hospitals in Gaza have once again become battlegrounds and the health system is under severe threat”.

He stressed that the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza was “out of service”, and its director doctor Hussam Abu Safiya’s “whereabouts are unknown” since he was detained two days ago.

“The critical patients were moved to Indonesian Hospital, which is itself out of function,” the WHO chief added.

He noted that some patients were detained during hospital transfers, and urged “Israel to ensure their health care needs and rights are upheld”.

“Al-Ahli Hospital and Al-Wafa Rehabilitation Hospital in Gaza City also faced attacks today and both are damaged,” he added.

“We repeat: stop attacks on hospitals. People in Gaza need access to health care. Humanitarians need access to provide health aid. Ceasefire!” he concluded.

On Friday, Israeli forces raided Kamal Adwan Hospital, located in the northern town of Beit Lahia, burning large sections of the medical facility and forcing patients and displaced civilians to flee.

Israel has killed more than 45,500 people in Gaza since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 and reduced the enclave to rubble.

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.

Russia says no grounds for ending Ukraine war

Russia Ukraine War

Peskov was asked by RIA-Novosti on Monday if there are currently any prerequisites for ending the Ukraine conflict.

The spokesman gave a short but conclusive reply: “No.”

He had reiterated last week that Russia “remains open to talks” to end the hostilities.

“However, since there has been no progress in terms of Ukraine’s readiness for negotiations, we are continuing with our [military] operation,” Peskov stressed.

According to the spokesman, the dynamics on the battlefield “are self-evident: we are on the advance”.

In the fall of 2022, Ukrainian leader Voldymyr Zelensky signed a decree banning the Kiev government from any talks with Moscow. The legislation remains in force.

Throughout the conflict, Zelensky and his Western backers have been discussing his so-called ‘peace formula’, which demanded that Russia withdraw from Crimea and the other territories claimed by Ukraine – the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, and the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, which officially became part of the Russian state as a result of referendums in late 2022. It also called for Moscow to pay reparations and for the formation of a war crimes tribunal.

Russian authorities have rejected this proposal as unacceptable, “detached from reality” and a sign of Kiev’s unwillingness to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

However, the Ukrainian leader has recently abandoned his talk of “victory”, claiming instead that he wants a “just peace,” coupled with security guarantees from the West in the form of NATO membership, with the status of the new Russian regions undetermined.

Last week, the Washington Post reported, citing a senior member of Zelensky’s government, that officials in Kiev are “starting to believe” that the conflict with Russia will be resolved in 2025. The shift in attitude is a direct result of US President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to put a swift end to the fighting once he returns to office, according to the paper.

During his end-of-year press conference earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow is open to negotiations with Kiev without any preconditions other than those already agreed in Istanbul in 2022.

These terms involve a neutral, non-aligned status for Ukraine – prohibiting it from joining NATO – as well as restrictions on the deployment of foreign weaponry in the country. Putin also stressed that any talks must take into account the realities on the ground that have emerged since 2022.

Ministry: Italian Journalist Cecilia Sala remains in custody in Iran amid ongoing investigations

Sala had entered Iran on a journalist visa on December 23, 2024, to cover news stories.

The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, which handles journalists’ affairs among others, emphasized its commitment to supporting foreign journalists and ensuring their legal rights while pursuing a policy of welcoming international media’s presence in the country.

According to a report from IRNA, Sala’s case is currently under investigation, and her arrest was conducted in compliance with relevant regulations.

The Italian embassy in Tehran has been informed and has ensured that Sala has access to consular services during her detention.

The journalist has also been able to communicate with her family via phone.

The Italian Foreign Ministry is actively monitoring the situation, with Ambassador Paola Amadei meeting with Sala to assess her conditions.

President Pezeshkian: Iran favors boosting ties with regional, Muslim nations to promote peace, security

Massoud Pezeshkian made the remarks on Monday in a meeting with visiting Foreign Minister of Oman Badr al-Busaidi.

President Pezeshkian described the relationship between Iran and Oman as long-standing, sincere, and friendly, with extensive ties in various fields and at different levels, but called for stronger cooperation.

The Iranian president also noted the two countries will hold the next meeting of the Joint Economic Cooperation Commission in the near future.

He further said robust measures and follow-ups are underway to expedite the implementation of the past agreements and achieve new understandings between the two countries.

For his part, al-Busaidi conveyed greetings from the Sultan of Oman to the Iranian Leader, president, and nation.

The foreign minister of Oman described the relationship between the two countries as rooted in trust and goodwill, which has grown and strengthened over time.

Al-Busaidi emphasized, “Expanding relations with Iran based on mutual respect and trust is an unchanging principle for Oman.”

Both sides expressed a shared vision for enhancing collaboration to promote stability and unity in the region, reinforcing their dedication to addressing common challenges.

Officials: 6th infant dies of hypothermia in Gaza

Medical sources have told the Wafa news agency that a one-month-old infant, Ali al-Batran, died in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital due to extreme weather conditions this morning.

He is the twin of the baby Jumaa al-Batran, who died yesterday due to the cold weather in a tent in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, the sources added.

Cold weather, rainfall and storms are worsening the already tragic living conditions for Palestinian civilians in Gaza City, municipal authorities said on Monday.

“Displaced civilians are suffering very tragic conditions due to rains and storms and there are no enough capabilities to help them,” Gaza Municipality said in a statement.

(The current cold wave) poses a danger to the worn-out tents of the displaced,” it warned.

The authorities said municipal teams are facing major difficulties discharging the rainwater and sewage due to the massive damage caused by Israeli attacks on the sewage discharge network.

The Gaza Municipality appealed to international aid groups to intervene to provide Gaza’s civilians with shelter amid the cold weather.

The Palestinian enclave has been hit by a cold wave and torrential rains since Sunday, bringing more misery to the territory’s 2.3 million population.

The Israeli army has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed over 45,500 people, mostly women and children, since a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

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.

Russia says won’t make concessions on Ukraine in NATO

NATO Ukraine

In an interview with TASS news agency published on Monday, Lavrov said Russia has not received any signals from Trump’s team regarding talks to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

“We have always been and remain ready for negotiations. But it is important to understand with whom and about what to conduct them,” he stressed.

Lavrov added that if discussions with the next US administration take place, Moscow will not accept the proposals reported in the media, coming from members of Trump’s team.

During his campaign, Trump repeatedly promised to find a swift diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis if elected, but did not provide specifics on how he would achieve the goal.

The Wall Street Journal reported in November that Trump’s advisers had drafted a plan to resolve the conflict. The proposal includes delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership for two decades, a freeze along the current front line, and establishing a demilitarized zone controlled by peacekeepers from Ukraine’s European allies.

Lavrov said peace between Moscow and Kiev can only be achieved through “reliable, legally binding agreements” that address the root causes of the conflict and include mechanisms to prevent future violations.

The foreign minister noted that Russia’s position on settling the hostilities is “well known” and has been articulated by President Vladimir Putin on numerous occasions, including during his end-of-year press conference earlier this month.

At that event, Putin reiterated that Moscow remains open to negotiations with Kiev without any preconditions, aside from those already agreed upon in Istanbul in 2022.

These terms involve a neutral, non-aligned status for Ukraine – preventing it from joining NATO – as well as restrictions on deploying foreign weaponry in the country. Putin also stressed that any talks must take into account the realities on the ground that have emerged since 2022. This includes the status of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, which became part of Russia following referendums held in the fall of that year.

Hamas says Israel blocking Gaza ceasefire talks

Gaza War

Speaking in an interview with Al-Aqsa TV, Hamdan condemned Israel’s refusal to meet key conditions set by Hamas for halting hostilities.

“We went to the maximum flexibility regarding the prisoners,” Hamdan said, emphasising that Hamas was willing to negotiate if Israel agreed to cease its aggression, withdraw fully from Gaza, and allow for reconstruction efforts without preconditions.

However, he added that Israel continuously reneges on agreements made during the negotiations, particularly on the issues of withdrawal and stopping the violence.

Hamdan also condemned Israel’s attacks on hospitals, saying that the Israeli military is attempting to eradicate Palestinian presence in the region.

He called for unity within Palestinian ranks, insisting that confronting the occupation was a national duty, not the actions of outlaws, in reference to the actions of the Palestinian Authority, which is working with Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank to fight resistance groups.

The official also sharply criticised the Palestinian Authority’s security behaviour, urging Palestinian security forces to focus their efforts on resisting the occupation, as this was the only legitimate course of action.

Egyptian sources have also told Al-Araby TV that ceasefire talks are on the verge of collapsing due to Israeli intransigence.

The Doha-based outlet reported Egypt and Qatar were attempting to make the deal work but are struggling due to Israel.

The sources added the political leadership in Israel was hindering the efforts made by their security officials to strike an agreement, which may fail if the Israeli approach doesn’t change.

Israel currently holds over 10,300 Palestinian prisoners, while around 100 Israeli hostages are believed to be held in the besieged enclave. Hamas has announced that dozens of Israeli prisoners have been killed in indiscriminate Israeli attacks.

Hamas has repeatedly expressed its willingness to reach a deal, and in May, it agreed to a proposal put forward by US President Joe Biden.

However, Netanyahu later rejected the proposal, adding new conditions, including the continuation of the military operation and the refusal to withdraw Israeli soldiers from Gaza. Hamas, on the other hand, insists on a full ceasefire and complete Israeli withdrawal.

Israel has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed more than 45,300 people, most of them women and children, since an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.

Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

FM Araghchi: Iran, Oman welcome peace, stability, inclusive government in Syria

Araghchi hosted Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi in Tehran on Monday and discussed various regional and bilateral issues, particularly Palestine and the Israeli occupation of Syrian territories and attacks on Syria’s infrastructure.

Araghchi called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the opening of aid corridors.

The ministers agreed on the need to respect Syria’s territorial integrity, non-interference in its internal affairs, and the establishment of an inclusive government representing all ethnic groups.

They also condemned the military attacks by Israel and the US on Yemen and emphasized the importance of preserving Yemen’s territorial integrity.

As for bilateral ties, Araghchi highlighted the expanding relations between Iran and Oman across multiple sectors, mentioning ongoing regional consultations.

He noted that the next Joint Economic Commission meeting would take place in Muscat next month.

The Iranian foreign minister pointed out that trade volume between the two countries had more than tripled compared to the previous year.

Araghchi also acknowledged Oman’s role in facilitating Iran’s relations with other countries, particularly during nuclear negotiations.

Former Iranian minister: Occupation of US embassy, turned the world against us

US Embassy Iran

In an interview with Eghtesad 120 economic news website, Kalantari stated that since the takeover of the US Embassy in November 1979, Iran has been on a path that has turned the world against it.

He lamented that Iran has failed to define a proper foreign policy, resulting in global animosity towards the country.

Reflecting on the transient nature of US politics, the former minister pointed out that while former US President Donald Trump came and went, Iran’s flawed foreign policy has persisted for 46 years.

He argued that the world did not inherently seek enmity with the Islamic Republic; rather, it was Iran’s policies that fostered this hostility.

Kalantari highlighted the limited alliances Iran has, noting that its only friendship is with Russia due to shared interests.

He urged for improved relations with neighboring countries, suggesting that resolving conflicts at home could alleviate some of Iran’s international isolation.