Monday, December 29, 2025
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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.

Iranian MP warns Israel against attacking nuclear facilities: “We’ll make atomic bomb”

Iran Nuclear Program

Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani stated that an attack would be a “major mistake,” effectively granting Iran a legitimate justification to develop nuclear weapons.

Bakhshayesh argued that if Israel were to strike, it would validate Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear bomb as a necessary measure for deterrence.

He, however, expressed skepticism about the likelihood of such an attack, given its potential ramifications for regional stability.

In a separate discussion regarding the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Bakhshayesh suggested that intelligence infiltration within Iranian institutions could have played a role in the incident.

He indicated that a detailed assessment pointed to a micro-drone or a similar short-range weapon being utilized in Haniyeh’s assassination.

Reacting to threats from Israeli officials, including those from the Mossad, Bakhshayesh reaffirmed Iran’s right to self-defense, outlining that any aggression towards Iran would enable the country to act on its right to protect itself.

Russia should admit guilt over downing airliner, pay compensation: Azerbaijan’s president

Azerbaijan Plane

Flight J2-8243 was flying from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to Grozny in Chechnya before changing course and crashing in Kazakhstan on Dec. 25, killing 38 people. Multiple reports and official statements indicated that Russian air defense fire was responsible for the disaster.

“We can say with complete clarity that the plane was shot down by Russia… We are not saying that it was done intentionally, but it was done,” Aliyev said in the interview with the state-run Azerbaijan Television, accusing Russia of attempting to “hush up” the incident.

“Of course, the final version will be known after the black boxes are opened. But the initial versions are also well-founded and based on facts,” the head of state added.

“And the facts are that the Azerbaijani civilian aircraft was damaged from the outside, over Russian territory, near the city of Grozny, and practically lost control.”

“We also know that our aircraft was rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare,” the Azerbaijani president said, adding that the tail section was seriously damaged as a result of fire from the ground.

Aliyev further stated that on Dec. 27, Baku delivered its list of demands to Russia, including an apology, an admission of responsibility, holding the perpetrators criminally responsible, and paying compensation to the Azerbaijani state and the affected passengers and crew members.

“These are our conditions. The first of them was already fulfilled yesterday. I hope that our other conditions will be accepted as well,” Aliyev noted in the interview, according to the Azerbaijan State News Agency.

President Vladimir Putin, who has fostered close economic and political ties with Azerbaijan, called Aliyev on Dec. 28 to apologize “for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace” without commenting on whether the plane was hit by Russian air defenses.

The Kremlin announced that the plane made multiple attempts to land at Grozny airport during a Ukrainian drone attack, which was reportedly repelled by Russian air defenses.

Western countries say the disaster was a result of Russia’s “reckless” behavior and called for a transparent investigation.

Putin and Aliyev held another phone call about the plane crash on Dec. 29, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated, without revealing details.

Gaza Government Media Office releases key statistics on carnage of Israel’s war

Gaza War

The Gaza Government Media Office has released a detailed report providing a grim insight into Israel’s ongoing genocidal campaign in Gaza and the humanitarian disaster unfolding in the besiged territory.

Here are some of the key figures:

  • 1,413 Palestinian families wiped out, with 5,455 family members killed
  • 17,818 children killed in Israeli attacks
  • 12,287 women killed in Israeli strikes
  • 238 newborns and 853 infants killed
  • 35,060 children now living without one or both parents
  • 44 people dead due to malnutrition and starvation
  • Six deaths from extreme cold in displacement tents, including five babies
  • 1,068 medical staff and 94 Civil Defence personnel killed
  • 520 bodies retrieved from seven mass graves inside hospitals
  • 216 shelter and displacement centres targeted

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.