Friday, December 26, 2025
type here...
Home Blog Page 889

Iran’s new Assembly of Experts convenes for 1st biannual meeting

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Iran's Assembly of Experts

The 88-member Assembly of Experts officially started the first session of its new term on Tuesday. The 6th term of the assembly kicked off in the presence of high-ranking governmental and military officials.

Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kermani was elected as the chairman of the assembly with 55 votes for two years.

The Assembly of Experts elects and oversees the activities of the leader of the Islamic Revolution.

Members of the assembly are directly elected to office by people for an eight-year term. It holds biannual meetings to appoint a new chairman.

Countrywide Assembly of Experts elections and the parliamentary polls were held in Iran simultaneously on March 1.

Around 61 million Iranian people were eligible to vote, including 3.5 million first-time voters.

In a message read out at the opening of the 6th session of the Assembly of Experts, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei highlighted the important position of the 88-member body in Iran’s Islamic establishment.

“The Assembly of Experts is the epitome of Islamic democracy. It is responsible for electing the Leader according to Islamic criteria, and it is itself chosen by the people … This is the clearest symbol and icon of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the Leader said.

“The Assembly is one of the main pillars of the democratic Islamic establishment, which is strengthened … by the nation and guarantees the soundness and continuation of the system,” he added.

US offers condolences to Iran over President Raisi’s demise

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Funeral Procession Iran's President

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller offered the condolences in a statement on Monday.

“The United States expresses its official condolences for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian, and other members of their delegation in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran.”

Raisi lost his life alongside his accompanying delegation after their chopper crashed in the Dizmar forest in East Azarbaijan Province on Sunday.

North Korea’s leader sends condolence message to Iran over death of President Raisi

By
IFP Media Wire
-
North Korea Kim

In the message, Kim said the death of Raisi was a “great loss” to Iran and he hoped the bereaved families would recover as soon as possible.

He was “an outstanding statesman and a close friend” who made a “great contribution to the cause of the Iranian people for safeguarding the sovereignty, development and interests of their country and the gains of the Islamic revolution”, Kim was quoted as saying by KCNA.

The helicopter, which was part of a convoy, was carrying President Raisi and other senior leaders, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian. Contact with the aircraft was lost almost 30 minutes after it took off, reportedly after it experienced bad weather while crossing a mountainous region in the country’s east Azerbaijan province.

Ceremony held in Tehran to honor President Raisi, companions

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Funeral Procession Iran's President

Below you can find the pictures of the event:

US lashes out after Israeli officials targeted with arrest warrants

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu consults with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (L) and Mossad chief David Barnea (C).
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu consults with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (L) and Mossad chief David Barnea (C).

Biden offered a full-throated rejection of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant requests for Israeli leaders amid the ongoing war against Hamas.

“Let me be clear, we reject the ICC’s application for arrest warrants,” Biden said at an event in the Rose Garden celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month.

“There is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas,” Biden continued, adding, “It’s clear Israel wants to do all it can to ensure civilian protection. Let me be clear, what’s happening is not genocide.”

Biden also acknowledged “the trauma” of October 7 and reiterated his “ironclad” commitment to Israel’s safety and security. He promised not to rest until the hostages being held by Hamas are released.

The president also pledged his commitment to a two-state solution.

Biden and his top officials have said the creation of a Palestinian state with guarantees for Israel’s security is the only way to bring peace and stability to the Middle East.

Blinken also stated the US “fundamentally rejects” the announcement by the ICC prosecutor Karim Khan that he is applying for arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials “together with” Hamas leaders, saying that it “could jeopardize” ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas.

“We reject the prosecutor’s equivalence of Israel with Hamas. It is shameful. Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization that carried out the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and is still holding dozens of innocent people hostage, including Americans,” Blinken said in a statement.

“Fundamentally, this decision does nothing to help, and could jeopardize, ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement that would get hostages out and surge humanitarian assistance in, which are the goals the United States continues to pursue relentlessly,” Blinken added.

The ICC’s request targets top Israeli officials and Hamas leaders.

The warrants against the Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav, mark the first time the ICC has targeted the top leader of a close ally of the United States.

Israel and the US are not members of the ICC. However, the ICC claims to have jurisdiction over Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank after Palestinian leaders formally agreed to be bound by the court’s founding principles in 2015.

Iraq’s Shia leader, Pope Francis send condolences on death of Iran’s president

By
IFP Media Wire
-

Ayatollah al-Sistani said in his message of condolence to the Iranian nation that news of the deaths of Raisi and his delegation is regretful, according to Iraq’s official news agency.

The report added al-Sistani “offered his condolences to the honourable nation and the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran for this painful loss”.

The Holy See Press Office also published the text of the telegram in which Pope Francis writes, “Entrusting the souls of the deceased to the mercy of the Almighty, and with prayers for those who mourn their loss, especially their families, I send the assurance of spiritual closeness to the nation at this difficult time.”

The telegram was sent to Leader the Islamic Revolution of Iran Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who has announced five days of mourning.

President Raisi and his entourage died in a helicopter crash in a mountainous area of the northwest of the country on Sunday.

Hamas denounces ICC request for arrest warrants against three of group’s leaders

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Hamas

In a statement Monday, Hamas stressed it “strongly condemns the attempts of the ICC Prosecutor to equate victims with aggressors by issuing arrest warrants against a number of Palestinian resistance leaders without legal basis”.

The ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, issued requests for arrest warrants for Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ military leader in Gaza, as well as two other top Hamas figures — Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, the leader of the Al Qassem Brigades and better known as Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ political leader.

Hamas said that arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza had come “seven months late”, during which time “the Israeli occupation committed thousands of crimes against Palestinian civilians, including children, women, doctors, journalists, and the destruction of private and public properties, mosques, churches, and hospitals”.

The prosecutor should have issued arrest warrants against “all responsible leaders of the occupation who gave orders, and soldiers who participated in committing crimes”, according to the court’s statutes, the militant group added.

“Hamas calls on the ICC Prosecutor to issue arrest warrants against all war criminals among the occupation leaders, officers, and soldiers who participated in crimes against the Palestinian people, and demands the cancellation of all arrest warrants issued against Palestinian resistance leaders.”

Located in The Hague, Netherlands, and created by a treaty called the Rome Statute first brought before the United Nations, the ICC operates independently. Most countries – 124 of them – are parties to the treaty, but there are notable exceptions, including Israel, the US and Russia.

That means that if the court grants the application made by ICC prosecutor, and issues arrest warrants for the five men, any country that is a member would have to arrest them and extradite them to The Hague.

Under the rules of the court, all signatories of the Rome Statute have the obligation to cooperate fully with its decisions. This would make it extremely difficult for Netanyahu and Gallant to travel internationally, including to many countries that are among Israel’s closest allies – including Germany and the United Kingdom.

Iranian presidential election to be held on June 28 following Raisi’s demise

By
IFP Media Wire
-

According to state-run news agency IRNA, the announcement of the date for the country’s 14th presidential elections came after a meeting between the heads of the judicial, executive and legislative authorities.

Candidate registrations will begin on May 30, the report said, adding that campaigning would take place on June 12-27.

Raisi was returning from the inauguration ceremony of a dam on the Iran-Azerbaijan border on Sunday when the crash took place, according to Iranian state broadcasters. The crash also resulted in the deaths of Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Mohammad Mokhber, Iran’s first vice president, was appointed acting president Monday after Raisi’s death.

US claims there is no genocide in Gaza

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Gaza War

On Monday, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, announced that he is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, and Ismail Haniyeh, accusing them of “war crimes and crimes against humanity”.

Speaking at the White House later in the day, Biden condemned the ICC move as well as separate allegations by the UN’s International Court of Justice that Israel’s actions in Gaza could be genocidal.

“Let me be clear, contrary to allegations against Israel made by the International Court of Justice, what’s happening is not genocide. We reject that,” Biden said.

Palestinian group Hamas carried out an attack into Israel on October 7 which resulted in about 1,200 people being killed and 250 taken hostage. The Israeli government responded by launching a large-scale military operation in Gaza, which according to the Palestinian enclave’s health ministry has killed over 35,500 people and left almost 80,000 others wounded. Israel has vowed to continue the offensive until Hamas is completely eliminated.

“We stand with Israel to take out Sinwar and the rest of the butchers of Hamas,” Biden stated on Monday, adding, “We want Hamas defeated. We’ve worked with Israel to make that happen.”

In January, an interim ruling by the ICJ, the UN’s top court in The Hague, ordered Israel to take steps to prevent genocide and improve humanitarian conditions for Gaza’s population. The lawsuit, filed by South Africa late last year, accuses Tel Aviv of committing systematic war crimes in the Palestinian region.

Latin American leaders offer condolences over tragic death of Iran’s president

By
IFP Media Wire
-

Colombia conveyed deep regret over the incident. The government extended condolences to the families of Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and others who lost their lives in the crash.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva said he was saddened to learn about the incident. He sent condolences to the families of all the victims, the government, and the Iranian people.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro expressed his shock at the news of the death. He praised Raisi, calling him an exemplary leader and friend.

Maduro emphasized Raisi’s dedication to his people’s sovereignty and extended heartfelt condolences to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and Raisi’s family.

Bolivian President Luis Arce recalled his meeting with Raisi, highlighting his leadership and commitment to cooperation.

Arce extended condolences to the Iranian government and its people.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez expressed sorrow, honoring Raisi as a great friend and admired politician.

1...888889890...5,125Page 889 of 5,125

© All Content by IFP News ( Iran Front Page ) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Us

Popular Articles

Editor Picks