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Kremlin says Putin ready to meet with Iran’s Pezeshkian in October

By
IFP Media Wire
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Kremlin

“The Iranian side has an invitation and we hope that the new president comes to the summit. We will be happy to see him, and President Putin is getting ready for the upcoming meeting,” the Kremlin official said.

Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told TASS that Moscow and Tehran had put the finishing touches on a comprehensive cooperation treaty, setting the stage for the signing of this historic document.

In turn, IRNA reported that Iran’s new president told his Russian counterpart in a telephone conversation about his readiness to sign this treaty at the Kazan summit in October.

US raises Ukraine war in talks with India

By
IFP Media Wire
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Russia Ukraine War

The US official met with his Indian counterpart at a gathering of the so-called ‘Quad’ nations – Australia, India, Japan and the US – in Tokyo on Sunday. During the discussion, Blinken “underscored the importance of realizing a just and enduring peace for Ukraine consistent with the UN Charter”, the State Department announced.

The meeting came ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Ukraine later this month, the details of which are currently being finalized, according to an official cited by The Hindu daily newspaper.

The trip is seen as an attempt to balance New Delhi’s ties with the West, which was reportedly frustrated by Modi’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this month. Russia was chosen as Modi’s first bilateral visit after he assumed office for a third term.

After the meeting with Blinken, Jaishankar noted on X (formerly Twitter) that bilateral ties are progressing “steadily”, but did not mention Ukraine.

The Ukraine conflict did feature in a joint statement released after the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in Tokyo, which expressed “deepest concern” over the hostilities and their “terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences”.

The ‘Quad’ is an informal grouping largely seen as a Washington-led initiative aimed at balancing China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.

India has so far refused to condemn Russia or downgrade ties over the Ukraine conflict, despite pressure from the West. Jaishankar has repeatedly stated that New Delhi aims to balance its ties with both the West and Moscow, also stressing that peace can be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy. Last month, New Delhi refused to sign the final document of a Swiss-hosted ‘peace summit’ on Ukraine, to which Russia was not invited.

During his visit to Moscow, Modi again stressed that there is no “peace on the battlefield” and that solutions “can only be found through dialogue”.

Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky reacted angrily to Modi’s meeting with Putin, which he described as a “devastating blow to peace efforts”. New Delhi reportedly summoned the Ukrainian ambassador over the remarks.

Modi’s visit to Russia came under similar scrutiny in Washington. US State Department official Donald Lu told a congressional hearing last week that the White House had been disappointed by the “symbolism” and “timing” of Modi’s visit. Senior officials in the administration of President Joe Biden were also “frustrated” that the visit coincided with a NATO 75th anniversary summit in the US capital, the Washington Post reported.

Responding to the criticism, New Delhi told the West to recognize the reality of multipolarity, and that countries have “freedom of choice” in terms of their engagements on the global stage.

Israel says it struck Hezbollah sites deep inside Lebanon

By
IFP Media Wire
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Israel Fighter Jet

The Israeli military said on Sunday its jets bombed weapons depots and infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah in Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, in Shabriha and Burj al-Shemali near the southern city of Tyre, and the villages of Kfar Kila, Rab el-Thalathine, Khiam and Tayr Harfa.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday blamed Hezbollah for the rocket attack on a football ground that killed 12 people.

“Saturday’s massacre constitutes the crossing of all red lines by Hezbollah. This is not an army fighting another army, rather it is a terrorist organisation deliberately shooting at civilians,” the ministry said in a statement.

Hezbollah has “categorically denied” responsibility for the attack. There have been unconfirmed claims that a failed Israeli interceptor missile may have caused the incident.

Iran, Hezbollah’s regional ally, warned Israel against any “new adventure concerning Lebanon” using the Majdal Shams incident as an “excuse”.

“After 10 months of mass killing in the Gaza Strip and mass murder of Palestinian children and women, the apartheid Israeli regime is trying to distract public opinion and global attention from its wide-ranging crimes in Palestine using a fabricated scenario,” Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Nasser Kanaani said in a statement on Sunday, adding that Israel will be responsible for any moves that will further destabilise the region.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated there was “every indication” that Hezbollah was behind the rocket strike, renewing Washington’s backing for “Israel’s right to defend its citizens from terrorist attacks”.

Speaking at a news conference in Tokyo alongside the US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday, he said the US does not want to see the conflict escalate following the Majdal Shams incident.

“We are determined to bring the Gaza conflict to a close. It’s gone on for far too long. It’s cost far too many lives. We want to see Israelis, we want to see Palestinians, we want to see Lebanese live free from the threat of conflict and violence,” Blinken continued, adding that the US is maintaining contact with the Israeli government.

In a video message from the site of the attack on Sunday morning, Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi reiterated the claim that an Iranian-made Falaq rocket carrying a 53kg (116 pounds) warhead hit the football field.

“This is a Hezbollah rocket. And whoever fires such a rocket into an urban area wants to kill civilians, wants to kill children,” he stated, adding that the Israeli military is “increasing our readiness for the next stage of fighting in the north” as it keeps attacking the Gaza Strip to deadly effect.

He and other commanders met Druze leaders and community members in the area.

The United Nations, the US and the European Union condemned the attack. The UN and the EU urged all parties to exercise “restraint” to prevent an all-out war, with the 27-member bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell calling for an “independent international investigation”.

More than 350 people, including about 100 civilians have been killed in repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon since the start of the war on Gaza, according to the UN. Israeli officials say more than 30 people, including 10 civilians, have been killed in attacks originating from Lebanon.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib has stated a flurry of diplomatic activity is under way to contain an expected Israeli response against Hezbollah.

The United States, France and others were trying to prevent a regional conflict, he said in an interview with local broadcaster al-Jadeed.

“Israel will escalate in a limited way and Hezbollah will respond in a limited way … These are the assurances we’ve received,” Bou Habib added.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has also announced in a statement that “talks are ongoing with international, European and Arab sides to protect Lebanon and ward off dangers”.

Fires continue to burn Iran’s southwestern forests

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Wildfires Iranian forests

The Director General of Natural Resources and Watershed Management in Iran’s Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Saeed Javidbakht, stated that forest rangers were dispatched to the area immediately upon receiving the report and, together with local forces, have been striving to combat the fire.

Despite their efforts, the operation to control the fire is still ongoing.

He further explained that the fire is spreading in Bahrehana and Chah Talkhab-e Olya due to strong winds and dense vegetation.

Javidbakh noted that the recent spate of wildfires in Basht’s forests and pastures has left the rangers extremely exhausted.

Javidbakht emphasized the need for fresh manpower, adding that extreme heat, difficult terrain, and strong winds are making it challenging to control the fire in these areas.

Turkey threatens to attack Israel in order to help Palestine

By
IFP Media Wire
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“We must be very strong so that Israel can’t do these ridiculous things to Palestine. Just like we entered Karabakh, just like we entered Libya, we might do similar to them,” he said during a meeting of his ruling AK Party in his hometown of Rize.

“There is no reason why we cannot do this … We must be strong so that we can take these steps,” Erdogan added in the meeting, which was televised.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded to Erdogan’s comments saying on X that the Turkish President is “following Saddam Hussein’s footsteps and threatens to attack Israel”.

Katz stated Erdogan should “remember what happened there and how it ended”.

Erdogan was referring to his country’s military intervention in Libya in 2020 to support the UN recognised government of National Accord of Libya.

Last year, Turkey said it was using “all means” including military, to support Azerbaijan, which launched a military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkey denied, however, any direct intervention in Azerbaijan’s military operations there.

China ranks 1st, Iran secures 4th place at 54th intl. physics Olympiad in Isfahan

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The closing ceremony of the 54th International Physics Olympiad was held on Sunday at Isfahan University of Technology, in central Iran.

China achieved first place by winning five gold medals, while Russia followed with four golds and one silver, Romania with three golds and two silvers, and Iran with one gold and four silvers, ranking them first to fourth based on individual and team scores.

The 54th International Physics Olympiad began last week at Isfahan University of Technology, featuring 198 elite students from 46 countries. Previously, in 2007, Isfahan University of Technology hosted the 38th International Physics Olympiad.

Taliban accept Iran’s reservations for acting consul in Mashhad

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Taliban’s unofficial envoy Iran

The mission of Abdul Jabar Ansar, the Afghan consul in Mashhad, has ended. In accordance with the legal procedures outlined in the Vienna Convention, the Taliban interim government has introduced Ansar’s successor as the “acting” consul for this consulate.

Sources stated that the acting consul has been accepted by Iran and will soon be officially introduced.

Previously, the Islamic Republic of Iran had rejected the Taliban-appointed diplomat in Mashhad, due to the Taliban not following the legal procedures stipulated by the Vienna Convention.

At that time, Nasser Kanaani, the spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, stated that any changes in the consular staff of Afghanistan in Mashhad must comply with the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

Kanaani’s reaction was in response to reported changes in the Afghan consulate’s staff in Mashhad, made by the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry without informing Iranian authorities.

The acceptance of the Taliban-appointed envoy is solely to facilitate consular services for millions of Afghan migrants in Iran. It does not signify Tehran’s formal recognition of the Taliban government.

Iran’s says it stance on the necessity of forming an inclusive government with domestic legitimacy in Afghanistan remains unchanged.

Tehran air quality deteriorates to unhealthy levels for all age groups

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran Air Pollution

According to data from Tehran Air Quality Control Company, the average air quality index (AQI) in the capital reached 171 on Sunday noon, categorizing it as “unhealthy for all age groups.”

Citizens are advised to avoid outdoor activities.

Over the past 24 hours, the AQI has consistently remained at 171, placing the air quality in the red, unhealthy zone.

Since the beginning of this year, Tehran residents have experienced five days of clean air, 97 days of healthy air, 27 days of air unhealthy for sensitive groups, and two days of air unhealthy for all groups.

Meanwhile, From Thursday to Sunday, unprecedented heat has hit many Iranian cities.

In Tehran temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius during the period. In southern cities, the heat rose above 45 degrees Celsius.

The offices and banks were closed on Sunday amid unprecedented heat.

Pezeshkian names reformist politician Aref as first VP

By
IFP Media Wire
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Pezeshkian received his validation edict from Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and was officially validated into the office as the ninth president of Iran for four years, during a ceremony in Tehran on Sunday.

Hours after the endorsement ceremony, Pezeshkian issued a decree, appointing Aref as the first vice president.

Arerf, 73, used to serve as the first vice president in the administration of former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami from August 2001 until September 2005.

He is also an incumbent member of the Expediency Council and represented Tehran in the Iranian Parliament from 2016 to 2020.

Aref finished a PhD in electrical and communication engineering in Stanford University in 1980.

Iran’s footballer Taremi scores more goals for Inter Milan

By
IFP Media Wire
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Taremi, who has recently moved in from Porto netted the ball in the 11th minute from the penalty spot and doubled it in the 37th minute on an assist from American teammate Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The 32-year-old former Porto player’s brace and a finish by Federico Dimarco secured a 3-2 victory for Inter against Las Palmas.

Inter’s coach Simone Inzaghi hailed the ‘huge enthusiasm’ among his plays in preseason matches.

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