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Iran envoy to UN warns all options on table if Israel unleashes war against Hezbollah

Lebanon Hezbollah

“Albeit Iran deems as psychological warfare the Zionist regime’s propaganda about intending to attack Lebanon, should it embark on full-scale military aggression, an obliterating war will ensue. All options, incl. the full involvement of all Resistance Fronts, are on the table,” the mission said in a post published on its official X account on Saturday.

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging deadly fire since early October last year, shortly after the regime launched a genocidal aggression against the Gaza Strip following a surprise operation by the Palestinian Hamas resistance group.

Hezbollah has vowed to keep up its retaliatory attacks as long as the Tel Aviv regime continues its Gaza war, which has so far killed at least 37,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 86,700 others.

Hezbollah officials have repeatedly stressed they do not want a war with Israel but if it happens they are ready.

Majority of Israelis say Netanyahu should leave politics, not seek reelection: Poll

Israel Protest

That figure falls to 37% among voters for parties in Netanyahu’s right-religious bloc, 53% of who think Israel’s longest-serving leader should stick around, according to the Channel 12 news survey.

Overall, 27% of poll respondents want him to compete in the next elections, versus 66% who say otherwise and 7% who do not know.

Asked who should lead a prospective right-wing electoral alliance, a plurality — 30% — say former prime minister Naftali Bennett, followed by Yisrael Beytenu party leader Avigdor Liberman and former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen at 10% each. Four percent of respondents say New Hope faction head Gideon Sa’ar and the remainder of respondents say none of them or don’t know.

A whopping 85% of respondents want a state commission of inquiry to probe the failures surrounding October 7, with only 6% opposed and the rest not knowing.

Since the start of the Israeli devastating onslaught against the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, Israeli opposition along with families of Israeli captives held in Gaza have been staging protests to show dissatisfaction about his conduct with cease-fire negotiations.

Netanyahu also met public opposition with his controversial judicial overhaul plan that limits the power of the judiciary.

Israel, flouting a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7 attack last year by Hamas.

More than 37,800 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, most of them women and children, and over 86,800 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Over eight months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Human rights organizations have warned that thousands of people in the besieged enclave are facing the risk of famine amid ongoing Israeli devastating onslaught.

Iran’s Leader praises Defenders of Holy Shrine as saviours of Iran, West Asia

Ayatollah Khamenei

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks during a meeting with the organizers of the International Congress of Martyrs of Resistance and Defenders of the Holy Shrine a few days ago, although his statements from that session were published on Saturday.

Referring to the presence of the youth from various nationalities within the Defenders of the Holy Shrine, the Leader added that this movement demonstrates Iran’s capability to revive the fervor and heroism of the early days of the revolution after more than forty years of the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that a group of faithful youth, supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran, thwarted the enemies’ conspiracy to dominate the region and impose economic, political, and ideological pressures against Iran and the Islamic system.

He also stressed that terrorist groups like Daesh and its affiliates, backed by Western countries including the United States, aimed to destabilize the region, especially Iran, but their conspiracy was defeated.

Furthermore, Ayatollah Khamenei praised the movement of American university students in defense of the people of Gaza as an example of pure conscience existing in the world.

Israel-Hezbollah war could erupt without notice in weeks if Gaza agreement not reached: Report

Israel Army

The report said that the US assessment is more conservative than intelligence-based predictions from some European countries which believe a war could erupt in days.

The Politico article follows Middle East Eye’s reporting last week that the US had signalled to Hezbollah via Lebanese intermediaries that it would support an Israeli offensive on the group in the coming weeks.

Amos Hochstein told Lebanese officials that Israel anticipates roughly five more weeks of intense fighting in Gaza, after which it will pause its main offensive across the enclave. However, it will continue to target senior Hamas officials and conduct attacks to recover hostages.

Hochstein added that the mentioned lull in Gaza fighting gives Hezbollah and Israel an opportunity to end their conflict and start negotiations, with or without a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the Arab official who spoke to MEE on condition of anonymity stated.

Israel claims it has drawn up plans for a limited offensive on Hezbollah. Hezbollah has also stressed it is prepared for war and has a bank of Israeli targets, including in the Mediterranean.

But Politico reported that the US believes the war is likely to start with both sides miscalculating. Citing US officials, Politico noted “the catalyst for war – a major attack by either side, for example – is likely to happen with little notice”.

On a visit to the US on Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Israel would prefer a diplomatic resolution to the conflict with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

MEE reported on Friday that US officials are concerned an Israeli offensive on Hezbollah could further ignite Iran’s allies in the region and cement Tehran’s military ties with Russia.

The fears of what current and former US officials described to Middle East Eye as “secondary” and “tertiary” effects of an Israeli ground assault on Hezbollah are being driven by US intelligence that claims Russia is considering stepping up its support for Iran’s so-called Axis of Resistance.

Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged near-daily fire since 8 October, but the conflict ratcheted up in June after Israel killed Taleb Sami Abdullah, one of the most senior members of Hezbollah.

The group responded by launching hundreds of drones and rockets at Israel.

Iran warns of spillover of Israel’s Gaza war into Lebanon

Ali Bagheri Kani

In a telephone conversation, Bagheri and Lavrov discussed the latest state of cooperation between Tehran and Moscow and regional issues.

Referring to the recent developments in bilateral ties between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation, especially the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the transfer of Russian gas to Iran and the telephone conversation between the acting president of Iran and Vladimir Putin the Russian president, Bagheri said the Tehran-Moscow relations are moving in the right direction at an appropriate speed.

He expressed hope that the administrative process and legal formalities of finalizing important documents on bilateral cooperation, especially the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty and cooperation agreements regarding gas and transit between Iran and Russia, will be completed as soon as possible.

He stressed that Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah is fully prepared for the possible aggression of the Zionists against Lebanon.

Bagheri added it’s important to prevent the continuation of the Israeli regime’s crimes and the spillover of the tension to Lebanon for the good of the entire region and international stability because this crisis risks spreading to other parts of the region.

In response to Russia’s plan to raise the Palestinian issue and the crimes of the Zionists in the Gaza war during Russia’s rotating presidency at the UN Security Council in July, Bagheri announced Iran’s readiness to participate in the relevant meetings at the highest level.

The Russian foreign minister, for his part, wished Iran success in holding Friday’s presidential election and expressed his satisfaction with the process of bilateral cooperation with Tehran.

He highlighted advancing the issues on the agenda of relations with Iran.

Lavrov then pointed to Russia’s common concern about the possibility of expanding the war and all-out aggression by the Zionist regime against Lebanon. He stated Russia seeks to prevent this from happening and underlined the responsibility of all parties in this regard.

In this phone conversation, Bagheri and Lavrov also discussed some consular issues.

Bagheri also held a phone call with bin Farhan، exchanging views on topics of mutual interest as well as the latest developments on Palestine and the Zionist regime’s crimes.

The caretaker Iranian foreign minister appreciated the facilities and services provided to the Hajj pilgrims, especially the Iranian ones.

Pointing to the Saudi deputy foreign minister’s participation in the 19th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) member states’ foreign ministerial meeting recently held in Tehran, Bagheri said the growing cooperation between Tehran and Riyadh is promising.

The ranking Iranian diplomat highlighted the Zionist regime’s ongoing savage crimes against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, stressing, “The Zionist regime’s threats against Lebanon are the continuation of the regime’s crimes against the people in Gaza, and the delusional regime that has occupied al-Quds, in its own opinion, is trying to make up for the failure in Gaza by spreading the scope of the war and crimes to other regions.”

The interim foreign minister also added, “It is incumbent upon Islamic states to make efforts and implement all their capacities to stop the Zionists’ crimes, threats, and aggressions in Gaza and other areas as soon as possible.”

For his part, the Saudi foreign minister noted talks between the two countries on the sidelines of the ACD meeting in Tehran were positive, adding the process of ties between Tehran and Riyadh is sufficiently firm.

Bin Farhan expressed concern over the escalating tensions between the Zionist regime and Lebanon and called for efforts to stop the war from spreading.

Both sides also stressed the significance of promoting relations between the two countries in all fields.

No outright winner in Iran presidential election, voters to go for runoff

Iran Presidential Election

Mohsen Eslami, the spokesman for the Election Headquarters, in an update on the latest results earlier on Saturday, said with over 24.5 million of the votes counted so far, reformist candidate Massoud Pezeshkian is ahead with over 10.41 million of the votes.

Right-wing principlist Saeed Jalili is second with over 9.47 million of the votes.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has gained 3.38 million and Mostafa Pourmohammadi a little over 206,000 votes.

Based on the results, voters will once again have to go to the polls on Friday, July 5, to choose between Pezeshkian and Jalili to be at the executive helm in the country for at least the next four years.

The participation rate is put at about 40 percent in the country and 23 percent in the capital Tehran. Southern Khorasan Province had the highest turnout with about 61 percent and Kordestan Province, had the lowest with 23 percent.

Vote counting in snap presidential election underway in Iran

Iran Presidential Election

According to the latest report, so far the 37024 out of the total 58640 polling stations across the country, 63.1 percent, have counted the ballots.

With over 14 million of the votes counted so far, reformist candidate Massoud Pezeshkian is ahead with 5.95 million of the votes.

Right-wing principlist Saeed Jalili is second with a little over 5.5 million of the votes.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has gained nearly 1.9 million and Mostafa Pourmohammadi about 112,000 votes.

According to the Constitution, the winner needs half of the votes, plus one, for an outright victory.

A run-off vote between Pezeshkian and Jalili next Friday is highly likely.

2 security forces killed in gunmen attack on election vehicle in Iran

Iran Presidential Election

The attack targeted the vehicle as it was carrying the boxes out of a polling station in the Jakigur Rural District of Rask County in Sistan and Baluchestan Province on Saturday, Tasnim News Agency reported.

An investigation has been ordered into the incident, further details about which are yet to emerge.

The incident took place after midnight local time (20:30 GMT on Friday), the deadline for the voting process in the country’s snap presidential elections.

The election was called after President Ebrahim Raisi was martyred along with seven others on May 19, when the helicopter carrying them crashed in northwestern Iran.

More than 61 million Iranians have been eligible to vote at 58,000 polling stations throughout the Islamic Republic.

The race is contested by Saeed Jalili, a former lead nuclear negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iranian Parliament speaker, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, former interior minister, and Masoud Pezeshkian, former health minister.

US has sent Israel thousands of 2,000-pound bombs since Gaza war started: Report

Gaza War

The US has transferred at least 14,000 of the MK-84 2,000-pound bombs, 6,500 500-pound bombs, 3,000 Hellfire precision-guided air-to-ground missiles, 1,000 bunker-buster bombs, 2,600 air-dropped small-diameter bombs, and other munitions, according to the officials.

The tally of shipments suggests there has been no significant drop-off in US military support for Israel.

“While these numbers could be expended relatively quickly in a major conflict, this list clearly reflects a substantial level of support from the United States for our Israeli allies,” Tom Karako, a weapons expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Reuters.

Earlier this week, a senior Biden administration official said that the US sent $6.5bn worth of weapons to Israel since the war began.

Israel, flouting a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7 attack last year by Hamas.

More than 37,700 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, most of them women and children, and over 86,500 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Over eight months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Human rights organizations have warned that thousands of people in the besieged enclave are facing the risk of famine amid ongoing Israeli devastating onslaught.

Iran blasts Canada for depriving half a million Iranians of voting

Iran Presidential Election

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary, and Expatriates Affairs, Alireza Bikdeli, said the Canadian government ignored several official requests by Iran to allow the Iranians in the country to cast their ballots in the presidential election.

Iran and Canada severed their diplomatic ties in 2012 over Iran’s support for Syria in its fight against foreign-backed militants. Italy and Switzerland act as the protecting powers in the absence of diplomatic representation.

Bikdeli said, “We express our protest against the Canadian government for violating Iranians’ right to participate (in the election),” cutting off the Iranian citizens’ connection with their motherland.

“Over 500,000 Iranians in Canada were denied the ballot box. It will be a disgrace for a country that claims to be democratic and an advocate of human rights,” he stated.

Iranian voters in Canada had to head to polling stations along the US border.

Over 344 polling stations were set up for Iranians around the world to take part in the election on Friday, held to fill the top executive post left vacant after former president Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage died in a helicopter crash last month.