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Iran Judiciary: No complains lodged against ex-FM Zarif over dual citizenship

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Javad Zarif

“As of now, no complaints have been submitted to the judiciary concerning Mr. Zarif or any other individual in relation to dual citizenship or relatives with foreign citizenship,” the spokesperson stated on Tuesday.

He added, “If such complaints are filed, and upon investigation, if they are deemed criminal under the law and carry prescribed punishments, the Judiciary will certainly take the necessary actions to address them.”

This comes as some members of the Iranian Parliament have requested the annulment of Mohammad Javad Zarif’s appointment as Masoud Pezeshkian’s vice president for strategic affairs on the grounds of his family holding dual citizenship.

Zarif says his children automatically received US citizenship after being born in New York while he served a large part of his career with the Iranian delegation at the United Nations in New York.

Although his children now reside in Iran, the Law on the Appointment of Individuals to Sensitive Positions, enacted in October 2022, bans Zarif from holding his position as vice president for strategic affairs, his opponents claim.

Iran to unveil first AI-equipped oil well

By
Golrokh Askarieh
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Azadegan oil field

Hossein Afshin said the center marks a significant step from business intelligence to artificial intelligence (AI) in the oil industry.

He also revealed that the country’s first AI-equipped oil well will be unveiled next year in Sepehr and Jofair oil fields, southern Iran.

Afshin also mentioned that the first smart refinery in Qeshm, in the Persian Gulf, is currently being prepared.

Highlighting the importance of AI in the oil industry, he stressed the need for a foundation in business intelligence before transitioning to AI.

The WRFM Center, managed by the Pasargad Energy Development Company, utilizes advanced sensors, data management systems, AI, and real-time data analysis to oversee and optimize operations related to wells, reservoirs, and surface facilities.

The project, completed with domestic capabilities, positions Iran at the forefront of technological advancements in the region.

The smart refinery in Qeshm will be another milestone for the country, showcasing Iran’s ability to implement high-tech solutions independently, the vice president said.

Syrian rights group compiles list of over 16k Assad gov’t affiliates accused of crimes against civilians

By
IFP Media Wire
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“The ousted Assad regime committed serious violations that affected millions of Syrians,” the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) announced in a statement.

The rights group highlighted its efforts to establish a comprehensive database of atrocities committed under the rule of Assad, who was overthrown by armed groups on Dec. 8.

The network divided the perpetrators into two categories: 6,724 individuals from the military and security apparatus and 9,476 members of allied militias.

The group emphasized the importance of focusing legal and judicial efforts on the senior leadership of the military and security services over their responsibility for planning and overseeing crimes against civilians.

The SNHR stressed the need to ensure all victims have the right to file lawsuits against those responsible for their suffering and underscored the broader scope of accountability to include non-military supporters of the regime.

“Among the implicated are actors, writers, and politicians who supported the regime’s crimes through various means, including incitement to violence. Their actions should be evaluated under transitional justice frameworks,” it added.

Israel violates cease-fire in Lebanon, killing 2 people

By
IFP Media Wire
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Lebanon War

Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported that “two martyrs and one wounded” were the result of an airstrike that targeted a group of people near the Tayibe Official School in the area.

This raid brings the total casualties from Israeli violations of the cease-fire in southern Lebanon to 32 killed and 38 wounded, according to data from the Health Ministry and the official news agency.

The Israeli military continues to violate the cease-fire agreement daily, with widespread destruction of homes and villages in southern Lebanon under the pretext of targeting Hezbollah positions.

On Monday, Israeli army spokesperson Ella Wawia stated that as part of the October ground incursion into southern Lebanon, the military conducted extensive operations around 20 villages in southern Lebanon, without naming them.

As of yet, Hezbollah has not commented on the Israeli military’s statement.

Under the terms of the Nov. 27 cease-fire, Israel is required to withdraw its soldiers south of the Blue Line – a de facto border – in phases, while the Lebanese army is to deploy in southern Lebanon within 60 days.

More than 4,000 people have been killed and over 16,500 injured in Israeli attacks in Lebanon, in addition to over 1 million displaced since October 2023, according to Lebanese health authorities.

UN General Assembly seeking ICJ advisory opinion on Israel’s obligations in occupied Palestinian territory

By
IFP Media Wire
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ICJ

The decision comes amid heightened tensions in the region and increased international focus on the humanitarian and developmental needs of Palestinians.

Israel’s decision to ban the operations of the UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, in the country, along with challenges faced by other UN agencies in delivering aid to Gaza over the past year, prompted the move.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), also known as the World Court, is the UN’s highest judicial body.

While its advisory opinions carry significant legal and political weight, they are not legally binding and lack enforcement mechanisms.

Under international humanitarian law, occupying powers are obligated to consent to relief efforts for those in need, facilitate such programs “by all means at their disposal”, and ensure adequate food, medical care, hygiene, and public health standards.

Although the new Israeli law does not explicitly ban UNRWA operations in the West Bank and Gaza, it is expected to severely hinder the agency’s ability to function effectively.

Senior UN officials and the Security Council have described UNRWA as the cornerstone of humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza.

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 Prime Minister Benjamin 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.

Vank Church, Jolfa district in Iran’s Isfahan decorated for New Year

By
Seyedeh Maryam Hosseini Lahijani
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With the start of the New Year celebrations, people in Isfahan join their Armenian compatriots at Vank Church to welcome the New Year together.

Iran is home to a diverse population, including various religious minorities such as Christians.

These communities have representatives in the Iranian Parliament and are free to practice their religious ceremonies within the framework of the law.

While some Iranian Christians celebrate Christmas in Iran on December 25 and New Year’s Day on January 1, Armenians celebrate Christmas on January 6 at the same time as the Epiphany.

Kremlin says several countries to become BRICS partners next year

By
IFP Media Wire
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BRICS

The new ‘partner country’ status was approved at the BRICS summit in October, hosted by Russia in Kazan, and is intended to serve as an alternative to membership after more than 30 nations applied to join the organization. The status provides for permanent participation in special sessions of BRICS summits and foreign ministers’ meetings, as well as other high-level events. Partners can also contribute to the group’s outcome documents.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Ushakov emphasized the importance of the partner state status’ approval, saying that Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Cuba, Uganda, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan will officially become BRICS partners from January 1. Confirmation is expected in the near future from four more countries, which were also invited to become partner states.

BRICS initially comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, and was expanded earlier this year to include Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Saudi Arabia has paused its process of joining BRICS because the necessary “internal procedures” for becoming a full member have not yet been completed, according to Ushakov, citing representatives from Riyadh.

The Kremlin aide highlighted that 35 applications to join BRICS in one status or another were received ahead of the Kazan Summit.

“Some countries wanted to immediately receive full-scale participation, while others wanted to participate in individual events as observers,” he explained.

At the moment, more than two dozen countries are showing interest in cooperation with BRICS, according to Ushakov. The countries are Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Venezuela, Honduras, Zimbabwe, Cambodia, Colombia, the Republic of Congo, Laos, Kuwait, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Syria, Chad, Sri Lanka, Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan.

Ushakov pointed out that the role of BRICS in international politics is growing. The group has also enhanced its authority in the sphere of economics and finance, as well as in responding to climate challenges and strengthening global food and energy security.

WHO warns Yemen bears ‘highest burden’ of cholera worldwide

By
IFP Media Wire
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Yemen Cholera

The UN agency said in a statement that as of Dec. 1, Yemen had reported 249,900 suspected cases of cholera, with 861 associated deaths since the beginning of the year.

This accounts for 35% of the global cholera burden and 18% of global reported mortality, the WHO added.

The number of cases and deaths reported in November 2024 is 37% and 27% higher than the same month in 2023, according to the global health body.

The increase this year is “largely due to updated data” from Yemen, with adjustments made to account for more detailed information from all governorates, it noted.

“The outbreak of waterborne diseases like cholera and acute watery diarrhea imposes an additional burden on an already stressed health system facing multiple disease outbreaks. WHO and humanitarian actors are strained in their efforts to address the increasing needs due to severe funding shortages,” WHO representative and head of mission in Yemen, Arturo Pesigan, said.

“Lack of access to safe drinking water, poor community hygiene practices and limited access to timely treatment further hinder efforts to prevent and control the disease,” Pesigan added.

Addressing cholera in Yemen requires “urgent and comprehensive” interventions, covering coordination, surveillance, laboratory capacity, case management, community engagement initiatives, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and oral cholera vaccinations, the agency underlined.

It underscored that timely and sufficient funding is necessary for these interventions.

According to the WHO, Yemen has experienced persistent cholera transmission for many years, including the largest outbreak — between 2017 and 2020 — recorded in recent history.

Hamas says fate of captives depends on Israeli military

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Israel Hostages

Abu Ubaida’s comments came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed there had been “certain progress” in negotiations with Hamas, without providing a specific timeline. Opposition critics have accused Netanyahu of sabotaging the negotiations and prolonging the war.

The spokesperson warned that “the fate of some Israeli prisoners depends on the progress of the occupation army by hundreds of meters in certain areas under attack”, without elaborating further.

In recent weeks, families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza have intensified their calls for a cease-fire in Gaza.

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 captives 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.

UN declares Gaza Strip most dangerous place for aid delivery

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Gaza War

Fletcher has urged governments to “break the cycle of violence” and “defend humanitarian law” in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The UN official made the comments after visiting Jordan, Syria and Lebanon to meet aid teams, including those working in the occupied Palestinian territory.

He condemned the “sustained intensity” of Israel’s violence in Gaza, saying that there is nowhere safe for civilians in the Strip, with schools, hospitals and civilian infrastructure reduced to rubble.

“We deal with tough places to deliver humanitarian support. But Gaza is currently the most dangerous, in a year when more humanitarians have been killed than any on record,” Fletcher added.

“As a result, despite the massive humanitarian needs, it has become almost impossible to deliver even a fraction of the aid that is so urgently required. The Israeli authorities continue to deny us meaningful access – over 100 requests to access North Gaza were denied since 6 October. We are also now seeing the breakdown of law and order and the systematic armed looting of our supplies by local gangs.”

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 the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.

Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamim 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.

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