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Iran’s UN mission says Israel will be the ‘ultimate loser’ in war with Lebanon

Hezbollah

Iran’s mission to the UN said in a statement on Friday that Israel would be the “ultimate loser” of any military action against Lebanon.

“Undoubtedly, this war will have one ultimate loser, which is the Zionist regime. The Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, has the capability to defend itself and Lebanon – perhaps the time for the self-annihilation of this illegitimate regime has come,” Iran’s mission to the United Nations said.

The statement added Hezbollah is capable of defending both itself and Lebanon.

It also warned that any action by Israel against Lebanon could plunge the region into a new conflict.

“Any imprudent decision by the occupying Israeli regime to save itself could plunge the region into a new war, the consequence of which would be the destruction of Lebanon’s infrastructure as well as that of the 1948 occupied territories,” the statement read.

The Israeli regime and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire along Lebanon’s southern border almost on a daily basis since the Gaza onslaught began on October 7.

The tensions have flared over the past week especially after Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander last week.

The exchange of fire has intensified following the Israeli assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Sami Taleb Abdallah.

The movement has retaliated by firing hundreds of rockets into the northern parts of the occupied territories.

Hezbollah says its operations are meant to support the Gaza resistance and to put pressure on the regime to stop the genocide in Gaza, which has so far left over 37,400 Gazans dead, most of them women and children.

On Tuesday, the Israeli army said it had approved plans for an attack on Lebanon, raising concerns that the regime might carry out threats that it will turn Lebanon into another Gaza.

On Wednesday, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah vowed that “no place” in the Israeli-occupied territories would “be spared our rockets” if a wider war began.

Nasrallah emphasized that an incursion into the Galilee region remains an option on the table should Israel invade southern Lebanon.

He also stated they would attack any other country in the region that assisted Israel in the war effort, citing Cyprus, which has hosted Israeli forces for training exercises.

Putin says Russia could arm North Korea

Putin Kim

Putin was speaking with reporters in Hanoi following his meetings with Vietnam’s leadership. One of the questions related to his previous suggestion that Moscow could send missiles to adversaries of the West, in response to the US and its allies greenlighting Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia.

”We do not rule out supplying weapons to other countries, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” Putin said, adding, “Let the West think where they might end up.”

Western countries that have supplied long-range and other weapons to Ukraine have said they can’t be held responsible for how Kiev uses them, and insist that it does not make them parties to the conflict, Putin elaborated, adding that Russia therefore reserves the same right for itself.

The Russian president also noted that Moscow is considering modifications to its doctrine on the use of atomic weapons, as the West appears to be working on low-yield weapons to lower the nuclear threshold.

“We don’t need a first strike,” he stated in response to another question.

“Because our return strike is guaranteed to destroy any attacker.”

When asked about the peace terms he offered Ukraine last week, Putin stressed that Russia has always been willing to negotiate, while Kiev and its Western backers sabotaged both the Minsk process and the Istanbul talks. However, the terms he outlined will not be valid forever, Putin cautioned.

”Our terms will change depending on the situation on the ground.”

More than 70% of public facilities in Gaza’s Rafah destroyed by Israel: Mayor

Gaza War

“Over 70% of public facilities and infrastructure have been destroyed in the Israeli onslaught,” Ahmed al-Soufi told Anadolu.

He said the Israeli army on Tuesday blew up dozens of homes in the Saudi neighborhood of western Rafah.

“Israel seeks to turn Gaza into an uninhabitable area by destroying the Rafah crossing and preventing the entry of humanitarian and relief aid,” the mayor added, warning of a possible famine in the Palestinian enclave.

Last month, the Israeli army invaded Rafah and captured the city’s crossing, the Palestinian enclave’s only window to the outside world, worsening the already difficult humanitarian conditions in the territory.

On Wednesday, the Israeli Army Radio reported that the Rafah crossing was no longer usable after its Palestinian side in Gaza was destroyed by the army.

Videos and photos shared on social media showed extensive destruction caused by the Israeli army at the crossing, with the main hall appearing leveled and surrounding buildings demolished.

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, Israel has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.

Nearly 37,400 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, most of them women and children, and more than 85,500 others injured, according to local health authorities.

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

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its operation in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded in early May.

Armenia says recognised Palestinian statehood

Palestine

Armenia supports a United Nations resolution on an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza and is in favour of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, a ministry statement read.

Israel’s foreign ministry summoned the Armenian ambassador ‘for a serious reprimand’ following Armenia’s recognition of a Palestinian state, a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.

The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank under Israeli military occupation, welcomed Armenia’s decision.

“This recognition contributes positively to preserving the two-state solution, which faces systematic challenges, and promotes security, peace, and stability for all parties involved,” the Authority’s presidency announced in a statement.

Spain, Ireland and Norway are among Western countries to officially recognise a Palestinian state, prompting Israel to pull its ambassadors from Madrid, Dublin and Oslo last month.

Iran’s Kanaani: Canada’s move regarding IRGC best service to Zionist regime

Nasser Kanaani

In a post on X, Kanaani said that it comes as no surprise that servants and allies of the Zionist regime designate the world’s biggest anti-terror force as terrorist at the height of the genocide of Palestinians and the killing of women and children by this murderous regime in Gaza.

He noted however that the history and awakened human consciences will remember these false defenders of human rights and real accomplices in crimes against humanity, along with Zionist criminals and terrorists.

Kaanani said without a doubt, the IRGC is more powerful and proud than before and it will remain a thorn in the eyes of the enemies of Iran and Islam.

Some Iranians among people drowned following shipwreck off Italy 

The diplomatic mission

offered some explanations regarding the presence of Iranian nationals on a boat carrying refugees that wrecked off Italy.

The Iranian Embassy said that after being notified of the possible presence of some Iranians on the boat of refugees, it took necessary actions including coordinating with the Foreign Ministry, the Interior Ministry, and the Coast Guard of Italy to obtain accurate information about the situation of the migrants and it’s now getting updated on an hourly basis by the governor’s office of Calabria.

The Iranian Embassy added that according to the announcement of some families, unfortunately, a number of drowned people are Iranian nationals.

The Embassy offered condolences to the respected families of the victims, adding that authorities in Calabria are trying to find the bodies and missing people and identifying them.

Imam Reza dome washed ahead of Eid Ghadir 

The Eid marks Prophet Muhammad’s final sermon at Ghadir Khumm between the Saudi cities of Mecca and Medina almost 1400 years ago during which the holy prophet appointed Imam Ali as his successor.

The event falls on Tuesday, June 25, this year.

Below you find images of the ceremony.

Imam Reza dome washed ahead of Eid Ghadir 

campaigning underway for Iran’s 14th presidential vote

The six vetted candidates for the 14th presidential election are Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Masoud Pezeshkian, Saeed Jalili, Alireza Zakani, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and Seyyed Amirhossein Qazizadeh Hashemi.

The presidential vote is set to be held on June 28.

More in pictures:

Iran defeated by France at 2024 VNL

Iran Volleyball

The Iranian team lost the match against France in three straight sets, 25-21, 25-17, 25-20.

Iran had won its past two contests in the VNL but failed to overcome France at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Iranians secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Netherlands, in Ljubljana, Slovenia on Thursday.

A day earlier, the Iranian side played in the first match against the US and won the match 3-2.

It will face Germany next on Sunday.

Iran defeats the Netherlands 3-2 in Volleyball Nations League

Iran Volleyball

The match took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, as part of Group 5, while Group 6 matches are being held in Manila, the Philippines.

In a tightly contested battle, Iran won the first set 25-22. The Netherlands came back to take the second set 25-22. Iran then clinched the third set 25-21, but the Netherlands responded by winning the fourth set 25-20. In the decisive fifth set, Iran triumphed 15-10.

This intense encounter came less than 24 hours after Iran’s grueling five-set match against the USA. Despite the short recovery time, the Iranian team managed to outlast the Dutch team in five sets.

Amin Esmaeilnezhad was the standout player for Iran, scoring an impressive 28 points.

With this victory, Iran earned 6.4 ranking points, closing the gap to just 4 points behind Ukraine and climbing one spot in the Volleyball Nations League standings.

The Dutch team, known for their strong Olympic history with six appearances, including a gold medal in 1996 and a silver in 1992, were aiming to boost their chances of qualifying for the Paris Olympics. However, Iran’s national team managed to avenge their past defeats, having lost the last three encounters against the Netherlands. This win marks Iran’s first victory over the Dutch team in their five historical matchups.