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Iran suspends IAEA cooperation but has not finalized NPT exit, lawmaker states

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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IAEA

Vahid Ahmadi, a member of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told the media that discussions over leaving the NPT remain ongoing and need “greater precision.”

He emphasized that any decision must be backed collectively by Iran’s governing institutions. “If a decision is made, it should be one that the entire system supports so that it is implemented with unity,” he said.

Ahmadi noted that Iran has already suspended its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), citing the agency’s violations of its own rules and international law.
He noted that while non-cooperation is already in effect, withdrawal from the NPT remains undecided.

He added that the issue is complex and requires weighing the benefits, costs, and national interests.
Future developments at the international level could influence Iran’s decision, he said, but for now, “the system has not reached a conclusion.”

Iran FM says UNSCR 2231 sanctions must end on October 18

By
IFP Media Wire
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Araqchi made the remarks in a meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in New York on Monday.

During the talks, Araqchi outlined Iran’s positions on the developments in West Asia, particularly the grave threat posed by the Israeli regime’s continued aggression and violations of international law to regional and international peace and stability.

He stressed the special responsibility of the United Nations and its secretary general in safeguarding the principles and objectives of the UN Charter.

Referring to the military aggression by the Israeli regime and the US against Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in June, Araqchi condemned the unlawful attacks on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities amid ongoing diplomatic negotiations as a flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter, describing it as a betrayal of diplomacy. He underlined the need to hold the aggressors accountable.

Araqchi further dismissed the US and EU3’s move to exploit the JCPOA’s snapback mechanism as baseless and illegal, warning that such an unprecedented blow to diplomacy exposes the absence of good faith in those countries. He reiterated that Resolution 2231 and all its nuclear-related restrictions must be deemed terminated in line with the resolution’s provisions on October 18.

For his part, Guterres stressed the importance of diplomacy and adherence by all sides to international commitments, reiterating the UN Secretariat’s readiness to provide any assistance in this regard.

 

US gears up for possible conflict with China: WSJ

By
IFP Media Wire
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The US Department of Defense launched the drive in June, when it invited top missile makers to a Pentagon roundtable, sources told the daily.

Led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, the meeting drew major arms contractors, startups like Anduril Industries and crucial component suppliers.

Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg is playing an “unusually” hands-on role in the effort, reportedly known as the Munitions Acceleration Council. The WSJ noted that the top official personally calls some executives on a weekly basis to track their progress.

“President Trump and Secretary Hegseth are exploring extraordinary avenues to expand our military might and accelerate the production of munitions,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told the newspaper.

“This effort has been a collaboration between defense industry leaders and senior Pentagon officials.”

The new acceleration council is focused on 12 weapons that the Pentagon wants on hand for a potential conflict with China, the WSJ relayed.

Some officials and experts have reportedly expressed concerns that the Pentagon’s goals may be unrealistic, citing the fact that assembling certain missile systems can take up to two years. At the same time, certifying new suppliers requires hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure the products meet military standards.

Funding remains another major concern, according to analysts cited by the news outlet. While the “Big, Beautiful Bill” recently approved by Washington provided an extra $25 billion in munitions spending over five years, meeting the Pentagon’s new targets could require tens of billions more.

China is viewed by the US as its primary strategic rival due to its rapid military modernization, expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific, and alleged growing pressure on Taiwan. Washington fears that Beijing may attempt to forcibly reunify with the self-governing island, potentially triggering a regional conflict that could draw in American forces.

Beijing has rejected the allegations, maintaining that Taiwan is an internal matter and has repeatedly accused the US of stoking tensions by arming the island and encouraging separatist sentiment.

 

Iran’s military chief: Army, IRGC ready for any future confrontation

By
IFP Media Wire
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Abdulrahim Mousavi

During an inspection visit to naval units of both the Army and the IRGC in the Southern province of Hormozgan, Mousavi evaluated their offensive and defensive capabilities, praising their high level of readiness to carry out assigned missions.

“Our forces in the South are prepared to execute their missions, and all defensive and offensive plans to counter the enemy are being continuously updated and practiced,” he said.

Mousavi added that significant improvements have been made in the Navy based on experiences gained during the 12-day “Sacred Defense,” referring to a recent short-term conflict.

Visiting various IRGC naval sites in Hormozgan, he emphasized that the force is fully capable of both defensive and offensive operations against any adversary.

“What we witnessed today was an extraordinary level of readiness for a possible future confrontation,” Mousavi concluded.

 

US announces peace deal for Israel’s war on Gaza

By
IFP Media Wire
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In a press briefing with the two leaders at the White House that began more than an hour late, Trump said: “We’re at a minimum, very, very close. And I think we’re beyond, very close” to securing the proposed ceasefire deal for Gaza, calling it “one of the greatest days in civilization”.

Much of Trump’s speech was peppered with his assertions that the achievement was a “historic first” and that allies had commended his administration’s ability to reach a Middle East “peace” deal.

The US president added that there had been “extensive consultation with friends and partners across the region” and that the plan had the support of Arab and Muslim leaders and European allies.

He hailed it as a “new chapter of security, peace and prosperity for the entire region”, and heaped praise on the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, Pakistan and Egypt, whom he had met with last week at the United Nations General Assembly.

He stated in many cases there had been “great men” helping and “some great women too, but they tend to be mostly men however”.

If accepted by Hamas, Trump said the proposal called for the release of living Israeli captives within 72 hours, as well as the bodies of captives who had died, and the immediate end to the war itself.

He added that “Arab and Muslim” leaders had committed to “demilitarise Gaza” and “decommission” the military capabilities of Hamas.

Trump then said he had heard Hamas wanted the deal too, and that it would result in the destruction of “terror infrastructure” including “tunnels” and “production facilities”.

Trump added that a new transitional authority would agree on timelines for Israel to withdraw and that Israel would be withdrawing in phases.

Trump then thanked his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff and commented that “no one else could have come close”, and that it was the first time in “thousands of years” such a feat had been achieved.

Trump then added that if Hamas chose to reject the 20-point proposal, which was released shortly before the press conference, then “Bibi”, referring to Netanyahu, would “have our full backing to do what you have to do”.

Qatar and Egypt announced shortly after that they had delivered the proposal to Hamas.

Trump said his plan called for an international oversight body to ensure the success of the plan, which he said would be called the Board of Peace, a name he went on to say was “beautiful” and would be headed by himself as chairman.

He announced that former British prime minister Tony Blair would be on the board along with several others, who would be revealed over the next few days.

Trump then proceeded to announce that Israelis seem to really “like me”. They say two things, he added: “Please get the hostages back and please end the war. They’ve had it.”

He praised Netanyahu as being a warrior.

“Israel is lucky to have him,” he continued.

“There are many Palestinians who wish to live in peace. Many, many, many. I’ve seen so many of them. They have support. I challenge Palestinians to take control of their destiny.”

“We’re giving them responsibility for their destiny”, he said, but they must “prohibit terrorism and earn their way to a brighter future”.

“They’ve had a rough life with Hamas,” Trump said, adding, “If the Palestinian Authority does not complete the reforms that I laid out in my vision for peace in 2020, they’ll have only themselves to blame. We’re giving them an amazing footprint.”

He did not state what the “footprint” was. His focus was primarily on returning the captives.

Trump called for Hamas to accept the deal, saying: “It’s a different Hamas we’re dealing with, as 20,000 people have been killed. Their leadership has been killed three times over.”

Netanyahu then took the stage, and announced he agreed to the peace deal and “supported” Trump’s plans to end the war in Gaza. But he also took a further step – in a disconnect with Trump – and indicated that he and Trump were working on a longterm strategy to change the face of the Middle East, rather than working with Arab and Muslim leaders on Gaza only.

Netanyahu began by thanking and praising Trump, something that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy famously failed to do on his first visit to the White House when Trump had tried to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Netanyahu called Trump the “greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House” and said that the competition wasn’t “even close”.

He then went on to say that Trump’s leadership was “changing the world for the better. Ending wars and advancing peace”.

“When our nations stand shoulder to shoulder, we achieve the impossible,” the Israeli prime minister stated referencing the US’s “bold decision” to help Israel in its 12-day war on Iran in June, adding it “made the region safer, and the world safer”.

He said that Israel would now take steps to “win the war and expand the peace” under Trump’s leadership.

He added Hamas would be disarmed, and that Gaza would have a civilian administration that would be run by neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Netanyahu’s plans go against European recognition of a Palestinian state where the PA would be the governing authority.

Netanyahu praised Trump for overseeing the body, despite his busy schedule, and added: “If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr President, or if they supposedly accept and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself.”

“This can be done the easy way or the hard way,” Netanyahu continued, adding, “We prefer the easy way. But it has to be done.”

He rejected the recognition of a Palestinian state and said “it would endanger Israel’s very existence”.

“Under your leadership, we can re-energise the Abraham Accords” and expand them to more Arab and Muslim nations, he added.

He ended with declaring that “Israel and America can change the face of the Middle East”, and took a completely different direction from the one Trump had.

Netanyahu travelled to the White House to meet with Trump to discuss a ceasefire in Gaza following his appearance at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday.

The meeting is the fourth between the two leaders since Trump returned to the White House at the end of January.

 

UK Labour conference votes to sanction Israel and recognise Gaza genocide

By
IFP Media Wire
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The unprecedented move means that the Labour conference has officially accepted the findings of a recent UN Commission of Inquiry report, which found that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and has backed comprehensive sanctions on Israel and a full arms embargo.

Delegates from constituencies and affiliated organisations are voting on motions covering a range of topics at the governing party’s annual conference, which began in Liverpool on Sunday.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal said: “This is a huge defeat for the government, with the Labour Party finally accepting that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

“This historic vote must now become government policy: imposing comprehensive sanctions on Israel and a full arms embargo.”

Maryam Eslamdoust, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Union (TSSA), stated: “Today the Labour movement stood on the right side of history and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, sending a clear message to the Labour leadership: we will not remain silent on the crime of genocide.”

Delegates also voted on Monday evening against another motion understood to broadly support Labour policy on Israel.

On Sunday, Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer backed that motion, which falsely claimed a 16 September UN Commission of Inquiry report found “a risk of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza”.

In fact, the UN report concluded that Israel has committed genocide and is still committing genocide in Gaza.

By contrast, Middle East Eye understands the emergency motion – which Falconer spoke against on Sunday – received strong trade union support.

A copy of the motion seen by MEE notes: “Conference accepts the findings of the UN Commission of Inquiry and calls on the Labour government to… employ all means reasonably available to it to prevent the commission of genocide in Gaza.”

The motion further demands that the government “apply sanctions to put pressure on the Israeli government to respect international law” and “ensure individuals and corporations in the UK are not involved in aiding and assisting the genocide”.

Sara Husseini, Director of the British Palestinian Committee stressed: “The Labour leadership must now join their own party members, along with the UN, genocide scholars and countless human rights organisations in confirming Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people, and end the UK’s complicity in it.”

The motion’s passing piles further pressure on the beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer to cut political and military ties with Israel over its genocide in Gaza.

It signals significant discontent among the Labour rank and file with government policy. Britain recognised a Palestinian state last week but has rejected calls to denounce Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide.

Last September, the government suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licences to Israel after a review found a clear risk that British-made weapons could be used in violation of international humanitarian law.

Licences for parts for F-35 fighter jets, which are directly used in Gaza, were among those exempted from the embargo.

Recent polling found that 72 percent of Labour’s 2024 voters back a full arms embargo on Israel.

Recent months have seen a series of diplomatic spats between the UK and Israel, two historical allies.

The UK government banned Israeli officials from Britain’s largest arms trade show earlier this month.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the UK’s move to recognise a Palestinian state last week as “rewarding Hamas”.

However, Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Britain last week and met Starmer at Downing Street.

Herzog said afterwards that he both “argued” and had points of agreement with Starmer, whom he called Israel’s “ally”.

Advisor to Iran’s leader: True security requires readiness for war

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Yahya Rahim Safavi

Rahim Safavi said the attacks caused extensive damage to facilities in Haifa and other areas, including refineries, power plants, and research centers.

He added that at least 16 Israeli pilots were killed in strikes on a pilot training center, though the Israeli regime has reportedly suppressed details of casualties and damage. The adviser to Iran’s leader described some rocket impacts as so powerful that they caused destruction in a three-kilometer radius, akin to a small earthquake.

Rahim Safavi noted that the US and Israel failed to achieve their objectives in the war.

He underscored that Israel, seeking to continue the conflict, was ultimately forced to request a ceasefire through the US, signaling the regime’s strategic failure against the resistance.

Rahim Safavi also said that popular resistance and unity within the resistance front can disrupt global power calculations and protect Iran and oppressed peoples in the region.

In other comments, he called for strengthening national cohesion, enhancing defensive and offensive capabilities, and improving strategic intelligence.

Rahim Safavi noted that true security requires readiness for war and that the best defense is offense.

Iranian parliament considers proposals for withdrawal from NPT

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Ebrahim Rezaei added that the proposals were presented in response to the European troika’s move to activate the so-called snapback mechanism.

He noted that the parliamentary commission had reached a conclusion on one of the drafts, though it has not yet been placed on parliament’s agenda.

“In the current circumstances, we must withdraw from the NPT, as there is no justification for Iran’s continued membership”, Rezaei said.

He underlined that while Iran accepted extensive inspections to prove its nuclear program was peaceful, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) failed to meet its commitments.

“The IAEA not only failed to assist in developing our nuclear industry but its inspections ultimately paved the way for hostile actions against our country”, the MP maintained.

Rezaei also responded to recent remarks by Iran’s president, who chairs the Supreme National Security Council, that Iran would not exit the treaty.

“Parliament is independent”, he underscored. “Withdrawal from the NPT requires national consensus, and the president cannot impose his personal views on parliament.”

The lawmaker also said maximum consensus, particularly among the three branches of government, is essential for such a decision.

According to Rezaei, the draft proposal under review says if the snapback mechanism is fully enforced, the government of the Islamic Republic will be required to submit its request for withdrawal from the NPT to the IAEA’s Board of Governors.

Women Firefighters of Iran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

The twelve-member team of women firefighters in Shiraz, Iran, who work 24/7 in three shifts, rush to the aid of citizens from their station located at the beginning of Kholdbarin Street.

More in the following pictures:

Iran introduces public reporting hotline as part of new phase in unauthorized Afghan migrant regulation

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Afghan Refugees

The initiative was outlined Monday by Seyed Kamal Sadat, acting deputy for security and law enforcement at Tehran Governorate, during a meeting with provincial officials and media representatives.

According to Sadat, the second phase of the government’s plan to organize undocumented Afghans began in early September after the completion of the first phase earlier this year.

He stressed that the approach is not one of “absolute expulsion” but rather “organization and regulation,” with deportation limited to those residing illegally.

Official figures show that about half of all Afghan nationals in Iran live in Tehran Province.
Sadat said that by September 18, one-third of those identified as unauthorized had already left the country.

The backdrop to these measures is the mounting strain on Iran’s economy, housing market, and public services, which officials often link to the presence of millions of Afghan migrants.

Authorities say that since the beginning of the year, over a million illegal Afghan migrants have left the country as part of the broader campaign.

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