Thursday, February 29, 2024

Enemies afraid of electoral miracle in Iran

TEHRAN- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei met with a number of first-time voters as well as the honorable families of martyrs on Wednesday.

During the meeting, he said a vibrant and strong participation by the Iranian nation in the elections would be a manifestation of national power, guarantee the national security, and disappoint the enemies who have their eyes on Iran, according to khamenei.ir

He noted that holding a vibrant election is one of the pillars of proper administration of the country’s affairs and would pave the wave for resolving the country’s problems and moving the country forward.

Ayatollah Khamenei, referring to the writings of some elements of the Pahlavi regime about the sham elections before the Revolution, said: “As they have also admitted, the list of the elected candidates was already determined at the [Shah’s] court and sometimes even in some foreign embassies, and the same list had to come out of the ballot boxes.”

Pointing to the rule of dictatorial groups after major revolutions such as the French Revolution and the former Soviet Revolution, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said, "Imam Khomeini (ra), with complete trust in the people and giving primacy to the ballot box, put the type government to a referendum only about 50 days after the victory of the Revolution, so that the people, as the owners of the country and the Revolution, would become the decision-makers of all important matters."

He also drew attention to the evil enemies keeping a watchful eye on “dear Iran” and Friday’s elections, saying, “The U.S., the policies of most Europeans, the evil Zionists, capitalists and big companies that follow Iran’s affairs closely with various motives and reasons are more than anything else afraid of the people’s participation in the elections and the power of the Iranian people."

"The enemies have seen that this decisive popular power destroyed the tyrannical regime supported by the U.S. and the UK and disgraced Saddam in the imposed war despite his Western, Eastern and regional supporters," Ayatollah Khamenei remarked.

That is why, he hastened to add, elections are a manifestation of showing off the country’s national power.

He called the strong participation of people in the elections a manifestation of national power, which in turn guarantees national security, asserting that "nothing will exist without national security."

"If the enemy sees a weakness in Iranians in the field of national power, it will threaten the national security from various angles," the Leader warned.

He also argued that the election of strong candidates, the formation of a strong parliament, and consequently resolving the country’s problems and securing its progress are the outcomes of a strong and vibrant election.

"Political growth and increasing the analytical power of the youth during the elections are invaluable, because they lead to gaining knowledge about the enemy and its methods and actions, and as a result, gaining knowledge about the ways to confront and neutralize the conspiracies of the ill-wishers," he said.

In the final part of his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei called the Gaza issue an essential issue of the Islamic world and said: "The Gaza issue introduced Islam to the world, and it became clear that Islam and religion as a factor lead to people’s power and resistance and their not surrendering in the face of all the bombings and catastrophes of the Zionists."

This issue, he went on, showed the truth of the Western culture and civilization to the world and it became clear that the politicians born from this culture are not even willing to acknowledge that the Zionists are committing genocide against Palestinians.

He said despite their empty rhetoric, they veto UN Security Council resolutions aimed at halting the Zionist regime’s crimes.

Ayatollah Khamenei also said the self-immolation of a U.S. Air Force officer in protest against the crimes of the Zionist regime was the peak of scandal and disgrace for the U.S.’s inhumane policies and the West’s cruel culture".

He further added that even this person who was brought up in Western culture recognized the depth of the disgrace of this culture.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution then expressed hopes that God would grant complete victory to Islam, Muslims and Palestine, especially Gaza.

High turnout to guarantee Iran’s independence

By Mohammad-Mehdi Abd-Khodaei

Leader, Fada’iyan-e Islam Party 

Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution stands out as a unique phenomenon globally. Rooted in both domestic and international arenas, this revolution waged a battle against domestic tyranny while striving to secure and uphold the cherished freedoms of its people. At the same time, the revolution emerged as a flag-bearer of resistance against colonialism and imperialism, endowing it with a global significance.
The birth of the Islamic Republic of Iran marked a watershed moment following the unparalleled revolution. Diverging from major revolutions like the French Revolution, the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, or the Cuban Revolution, Iran’s Islamic revolution is distinguished by its distinct ideological underpinnings.
The Iranian revolution sprang forth from within the fabric of society, challenging foreign-imposed tyranny and rejecting its shackles. Unlike certain revolutions confined to specific societal segments, Iran’s revolution engaged a broad spectrum of society, encompassing intellectuals, laborers, businesspeople, etc., all contributing to its inception and the establishment of the Islamic Republic.
In its mission to combat foreign domination, the Islamic Revolution not only succeeded in its primary objective but also served as a catalyst for awakening other oppressed nations in the region. This stands in contrast to many other revolutions around the world that failed to ignite similar fervor beyond their borders.
The Islamic Revolution championed the cause of anti-colonialism, with the founder of the Islamic Republic unequivocally asserting, “America cannot do a damn thing.” Despite lacking state-of-the-art weapons Iran’s military might has advanced significantly. The US soon felt the danger of the revolution and therefore pushed Saddam Hussein to fight an eight-year war with Iran, and provided all kinds of military support to the Iraqi Baath regime.
As a dominant global imperialist power, the US has unleashed a barrage of sanctions against Iran over the past four decades, in response to the Islamic Revolution’s anti-hegemonic stance. Yet, resolute in the face of diverse pressure, the Islamic Republic has remained steadfast, unwavering in its commitment to its ideals.
Elections in Iran are held in a situation where the country has weathered all sorts of enemy conspiracies over the years. Despite facing sanctions and economic pressure, and being surrounded by foreign powers, the nation has stood firm. It even withstood an all-out war for eight years, bravely confronting Saddam’s regime, which was backed by numerous world powers.
Now is the time to draw on past experiences to mend the country’s wounds, pave the way for a brighter future, and elevate Iran’s reputation. The key here is for the people to rally behind the Islamic Republic and the revolution, as they have done in the past, by turning out massively in the upcoming elections. This will demonstrate that the Islamic Establishment still derive their strength from the people’s support and will, without compromising on the nation’s ideals such as the fight against colonialism and will follow the path of progress.
The Iranian nation stands as the sole independent entity that resists global arrogance and hegemonic powers without bowing down to them, enduring numerous hardships and sacrifices for this independence. To uphold and advance this independence, and to progress toward implementing pure Islamic laws and a truly Islamic government, the masses must turn out in large numbers for the upcoming elections, just as they have done in the past. I am confident that our people will once again participate actively in the two parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections on Friday, emerging from the electoral challenge with pride and dignity.

Assembly of Experts, its position in Iran political structure

Assembly of Experts, its position in Iran political structure

TEHRAN, (MNA) – The Assembly of Experts is formed with the purpose of selecting the Leader and monitoring his performance. It consists of 88 qualified mujtahids who have vital duties in the structure of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Assembly of Experts is one of the bodies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose main task is to elect the Leader and monitor his performance. Each term of this Assembly is 8 years and its members are elected by the people.

The fifth round of the elections of the Assembly of Experts was held on February 26, 2016, and the sixth round will be held on March 1st at the same time as the twelfth parliamentary elections.

The number of the Assembly's representatives is 88. 16 representatives for Tehran province, 6 for Khuzestan and Razavi Khorasan provinces each, 5 for the provinces of Isfahan, East Azarbaijan, and Fars, 4 for each provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran, 3 for West Azarbaijan and Kerman provinces each, 2 for each of the provinces of Ardabil, Alborz, Sistan and Baluchestan, Qazvin, Kordestan, Kermanshah, Lorestan, Golestan, Markazi, and Hamadan, and 1 for each of the provinces of Ilam, Bushehr, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, South Khorasan, North Khorasan, Zanjan, Semnan, Qom, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Hormozgan and Yazd.

Any increase in the number of representatives will be decided upon in the last year of each period after conducting necessary investigations and according to the population, geographical divisions, and the country's national interests.

How representatives are selected

The Assembly of Experts representatives are elected by direct vote of the people. These elections are held in every province and each person is a representative of a province.

The representatives must be educated in religion and at least be a mujtahid. They should have political and social insight and be familiar with today's issues. They must believe in the Islamic Establishment of Iran and also must not have unfavorable political and social records.

A look at different terms of Assembly

First Assembly:

The Assembly of Experts was established for the first time in 1983. After the demise of Imam Khomeini (RA), who was the founder of the Islamic Revolution and its first Leader, the Assembly selected Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as the Leader of the Islamic Revolution on 4 June 1989. This selection was temporary. After the change of the constitution and holding the related referendum, they chose Ayatollah Khamenei as the permanent Leader in a meeting on August 6 of the same year.

Second Assembly:

The election for the second Assembly of Experts was held on 1990 October 8. Its first session was held on 1991 February 21. Ayatollah Ali Meshkini was elected as the chairman of the Assembly of Experts.

Third Assembly:

The election for the third Assembly of Experts was held in 1998. Its first session was held on 1999 February 23. Ayatollah Ali Meshkini was the chairman of the third Assembly of Experts as well.

Fourth Assembly:

The election for the fourth Assembly of Experts was held in 2006. Due to the approval of the coordination of elections in the Islamic Republic of Iran, this term lasted 10 years. Its first chairman was Ayatollah Meshkini and after his demise, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani replaced him. Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani and Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi were the next two chairmen of this term.

Fifth Assembly:

The election for the fifth Assembly of Experts was held on 2016 February 26. Its first session was held on 2016 May  24. During the session, Ahmad Jannati was elected as the Assembly's chairman with 51 votes.

During this term, 21 representatives passed away. Among these 21 people, 13 people replaced them in mid-term elections, but 8 of them have not been replaced.

Sixth Assembly:

The election for the 6th Assembly of Experts is scheduled to be held on March 1st. 510 people candidated for this term of the elections of which the qualifications of 144 people were confirmed.

Among the 88 current representatives, 65 have become candidates for this round of election as well.

Save the Children: Israel is killing kids in “slow motion”

Children in Gaza are on the brink of starvation while food aid sits just across the border, Alexandra Saieh of Save the Children warned.

“What we are witnessing right now in Gaza is the killing of children,” Saieh told Al Jazeera. “There is almost no aid left and nothing is getting to them.

“Children are being starved while trucks full of food are sitting literally a few miles away waiting to get in.

“We know this is happening largely because of Israeli bombardment and restrictions that are preventing the safe delivery of humanitarian aid, including food.”
 

Iran launches indigenous Pars 1 satellite to space

Iran launches indigenous Pars 1 satellite to space

TEHRAN, (MNA) – Iranian total indigenous satellite 'Pars 1', a research-measurement satellite launched by a Russian satellite-carrying rocket Soyuz.

The primary objectives of the Pars 1 satellite encompass the creation of a detailed map of the water sphere at a scale of 1:200,000, as well as mapping the biosphere and human sphere at a scale of 1:100,000.

The Pars 1 satellite boasts a mass of under 150 kg and orbits at an altitude of 500 km with an inclination of 55 degrees. Its mission revolves around transmitting images to the ground, facilitated by a transmitter operating in the X-band telecommunication spectrum at a rate of Mbps.

This satellite marks the inaugural use of the X-band link, a significant achievement poised to enhance data transmission speeds from satellite to Earth for subsequent satellites.

Ground stations are equipped to receive satellite images efficiently, further bolstering the functionality of the Pars 1 mission.

'Self-immolation of American officer result of disgrace of Western policies on Gaza'

The self-immolation of the American officer is the result of the disgrace of Western policies in the case of Gaza - Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Khamenei

Iranian president to visit Algeria after almost 14 years

Iranian president to visit Algeria after almost 14 years

TEHRAN, (MNA) – Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi is scheduled to pay an official visit to Algeria on Saturday for bilateral meetings and participation in the 7th Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit of Heads of State and Government.  

President Raeisi’s visit to Algiers, which is taking place upon an invitation by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, is the first visit to the North African country by an Iranian president after almost 14 years.

Raeisi’s trip to Algeria is in line with his administration’s efforts to bolster cooperation with regional and international organizations and to expand relations with Muslim and “like-minded” countries.

Raeisi’s trip also comes on the backdrop of Iran’s efforts to boost relations with countries in North Africa, including Sudan, with which Iran had strained relations in recent years, and with Egypt, a country with no diplomatic relations with Iran since 1979.

On the first day of his trip, the president is scheduled to address the GECF Summit and also have meetings with heads of states and top-ranking officials from other participating countries.   

On the second day, President Raeisi will meet with his Algerian counterpart and the delegation from the two countries are due to sign several documents.

Iran, Russia agree to speed up construction of Rasht-Astara railway

Tehran, IRNA – Iranian and Russian officials have held talks in the capital Tehran, discussing a host of issues including the Rasht-Astara railway project, with both sides stressing the need for speeding up the construction of the crucial railway.

Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash hosted Russian Presidential Aide Igor Levitin and his accompanying delegation on Wednesday, according to a press release by the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development.

The two sides discussed several issues including transit and transportation between Iran and Russia, exploring ways to boost cooperation in those fields.

They particularly stressed the need for accelerating the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway, a project in northern Iran that will be key to transit of cargo through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Iran and Russia signed an agreement to build the 164-kilometer railway in May 2023. The railway will connect the Iranian city of Rasht, near the Caspian Sea, to Astara on the border with Azerbaijan.

Introduction to local councils of Iran

Introduction to local councils of Iran

TEHRAN, (MNA) – In Iran, Islamic councils of cities and villages are elected within the framework of local elections and by direct vote of the people.

Cooperation in the advancement of the administrative affairs of the country requires the formation of councils so that part of the relevant duties will entrusted to the city and village councils.

The first election of the Islamic city and village councils was held on 1999  February  26  and the sixth election was held on  2021 June 18.

Dual elections; village and city council

The councils include the village council and the city council, which are directly elected by the people. In the following, we will examine the details of each one and their duties.

 Village Council

The village council is an important arm in the administration of the village, which is run by the people.

The tasks of the village council include electing a village head and presenting proposals to eliminate deficiencies. All proposals should be entirely in favor of the good of the village and the will of the people.

The number of members of this council is determined based on the population of each village. The number and duties of councils are determined by the law.

The number of members of the Islamic Council in villages with a population of up to 1500 people must be three, and in villages with a population of more than 1500 people must be 5.

According to Article 68 of the law on the elections, the duties of the village council include:

1. Monitoring the implementation of the decisions of the Islamic Council of village

2. Checking and recognizing deficiencies

4. Explanation of government policies

5. Efforts to resolve local disputes

6. Electing a qualified village head for 4 years, etc.

City council

The representatives of the city council are elected by direct vote of the people in the Iranian cities.

The main duty of the city council is to elect the mayor, approve the budget, and monitor the performance of the municipalities.

According to Article 71 of the law on the elections, the duties of the city council include:

1. Electing a mayor for 4 years

2. Investigating and recognizing deficiencies and needs, and social and cultural inadequacies and preparing corrective plans and proposals

4. Cooperating with executive officials and state institutions and organizations

5  Arranging people's participation in social, and economic issues

6. Formation of associations and social, relief, and guidance institutions

7. Approving the budget 

8. Approving transactions and monitoring them by the municipality

9. Approval of proposed municipal loans

10. Naming passages, streets, and alleys

11. Approving the rates of taxies

12. Supervising the affairs of theaters, health centers, creating cemeteries and other public places

Conditions of electors and electees

According to the election law, voters must be eligible for the following;

1. Having Iranian citizenship

2. Having at least 15 years of age

3. Residing at least one year in the place of election

According to the election law, electees must meet the following requirements;

1. Iranian citizenship

2. Being 25 years old 

3. Belief and practical commitment to Islam and the absolute authority of the jurist

4. Loyalty to the constitution

5. Being literate in reading and writing

Other councils with indirect elections

According to the law in Iran, various councils have been provided for the rapid advancement of social, economic, construction, health, cultural, educational, and other welfare programs through the cooperation of people according to local requirements.

Therefore, in addition to the village and city councils that were mentioned before, the affairs of the district and province are managed through councils under the titles of district council and provincial council.

District Council

The number of members of the Islamic Council of the district is five. Of course, the members of the Islamic council of the district are elected from among the representatives or members of the councils of the villages located within the same district.

According to the law, the duties and powers of the ward council are as follows:

1. Investigation of social, cultural, educational, economic, and civil problems and deficiencies, health, and other welfare matters of the district

2. Cooperation with the executive authorities of the country

3. Creating the necessary coordination between the village councils located in the district and...

Supreme Council of Provinces

The Supreme Council of Provinces is the largest council in the political structure of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The members of this council consist of council representatives of each province, who are selected from the representatives of city and village councils.

The Supreme Council of Provinces has the right to prepare plans within its duties and propose them to the Islamic Council directly or through the government. These plans must be examined in the parliament.

Governors, heads of districts, and other officials appointed by the government are required to comply with their decisions within the limits of the powers of the councils.

Commissions of Iranian parliament

Commissions of Iranian parliament

TEHRAN, (MNA) – The Islamic Consultative Assembly, better known as Majles, enjoys specialized commissions, each of which provides an in-depth survey of government bills or legislators’ bills and other matters related to the parliament.

In the constitutional revision in Iran, the National Consultative Assembly was renamed the Islamic Consultative Assembly.

The 12th round of the parliamentary election is scheduled to be held on March 1 to elect 290 representatives for a four-year term.

Education, Research and Technology Commission

The Commission performs the assigned tasks in the fields of general education, technical and vocational education, higher education, research, and technology.

Social Commission

The Commission is formed to carry out the assigned duties in the areas of administrative and employment affairs, labor, occupation, labor relations, and cooperation.

Article 90 of the Constitution Commission

Article 90 says “Whoever has a complaint concerning the work of the Assembly or the executive power, or the judicial power can forward his complaint in writing to the Assembly. The Assembly must investigate his complaint and give a satisfactory reply.”

“In cases where the complaint relates to the executive or the judiciary, the Assembly must demand proper investigation in the matter and an adequate explanation from them, and announce the results within a reasonable time. In cases where the subject of the complaint is of public interest, the reply must be made public.”

Commissions of Iranian parliament

Economy Commission

The Commission is established to execute the assigned duties in the field of economy and property, domestic trade, and foreign trade.

National-Security and Foreign-Policy Commission

The Commission is established to carry out its assigned duties in the sphere of foreign policy and relations, defense, intelligence, and security.

Energy Commission

The Commission aims to carry out the tasks assigned to it in oil, gas, electricity, dams and hydropower and nuclear power plants, nuclear energy, and new energies.

Program, Budget and Accounting Commission

The Commission is tasked to carry out the assigned duties within the scope of the program, budget, program and budget supervision, the Court of Accounts and Finance, and statistics and general technical services.

Health and Medical Commission

This Commission is formed to perform its duties in the areas of health, treatment, relief, welfare, social security and social insurance, and the Red Crescent.

Investigative Commission

To review the credentials that have not been approved by the branches or have been challenged by the representatives, the Commission is set up.

Each branch is obliged, after appointing its board of directors, to immediately select two of its members who have more knowledge of legal issues and have the necessary qualifications as the main and alternate members of the Investigative Commission.

Internal Regulation Commission

Examines the plans related to the amendment of the internal by-laws of the parliament and reports its opinion to the parliament to be inquired per the Law on Internal Regulations of the Islamic Consultative Assembly.

Each branch will choose one member who is qualified to form the Internal Regulation Commission.

Industries and Mines Commission

The Commission is formed to perform its assigned duties in the fields of industries, post, telecommunications, mines, petrochemical, aerospace, and communications industries.

Civil Commission

To perform the assigned duties in the areas of roads and transportation, housing, urban and rural development, and civil affairs of municipalities, the Civil Commission is established. 

Sub-commission

Sometimes the duties of a commission have different aspects that require separate and specialized review.

In this case, a group of members of the main commission who are assigned to examine specific aspects are placed in the form of sub-commissions.

Cultural Commission

The Commission's primary role is to fulfill its assigned tasks pertaining to culture, art, radio and television, mass communication, physical education, youth, and women and family affairs.

Judiciary and Legal Commission

The Judiciary and Legal Commission is formed to carry out the assigned duties within the judicial and legal framework.

Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources and Environment Commission

To carry out its assigned duties in the areas of agriculture, water resources, livestock and poultry, fisheries, environment, and meteorology, the Commission is established.

Joint Commission

The Board of Directors has established the Joint Commission to oversee plans and bills that have a significant connection to two or more commissions, as deemed appropriate by the Board.

Special Commission

In important and exceptional issues that arise for the country, the Commission is set up to review and prepare a report, on the proposal of at least fifteen members and the approval of the parliament.

The fifteen members of the Special Commission will be elected directly by the representatives by secret ballot by a relative majority in a public meeting.

The commission which features seven to 15 people, is elected by secret votes in the open session of the parliament, based on most of the votes of the present parliamentarians.

Diverse backgrounds represented among Iran parliamentary candidates: official

TEHRAN – On Wednesday, the spokesperson for Iran’s Guardian Council informed journalists that the candidates running for seats in Iran’s Parliament on Friday hail from diverse professional and religious backgrounds.

The Guardian Council is the body responsible for vetting and approving candidates for Iran’s elections including legislative votes. 

“The approved candidates for the Islamic Consultative Assembly come from various backgrounds, including lawyers, judges, doctors, educators, and teachers, who are among the approved candidates. Additionally, women are participating as candidates for the elections at a rate six times that of parliamentary seats,” Hadi Tahan Nazif explained, adding that though the majority of Iranians are Muslims, minorities hold fixed seats in parliament. 

“This year's election will be held in approximately 60,000 polling stations. In the process of reviewing the qualifications of the candidates for parliament, about 75% of the eligible candidates have been approved, which is almost all of the registrants from the previous term, with 52 candidates competing for each parliamentary seat,” he said.

Iranians will decide on March 1 who they want to see occupy seats at Iran’s parliament for the next 4 years. 

A record-breaking 15,200 candidates have been greenlit by the selection committee to vie for the 290 seats in the Iranian parliament, marking a significant milestone post the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Of these candidates, 1,713 are women—a substantial increase from the 2020 election's 819 female entrants. Notably, the Tehran constituency is witness to a staggering 3,545 candidates competing in the upcoming elections.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi has emphasized the conducive atmosphere for a spirited competition among a variety of political outlooks. He has stressed the importance of candidates and their supporters adhering strictly to election rules, advocating for a disciplined campaign without resorting to mudslinging.

Incumbent parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf is gearing up to run from his native northeast, having secured a seat in Tehran four years ago. Concurrently, 144 clerics are gearing up for the 88-seat Assembly of Experts, an advisory body to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, serving eight-year terms.,

Within Iran's constitutional framework, this assembly oversees the country's leader and determines a successor. President Ebrahim Raisi, eyeing re-election to the assembly from South Khorasan province, is among the contenders.

While some Western media outlets discourage Iranian voter participation this Friday, urging them to abstain from voting, it is anticipated that a significant portion of eligible Iranian voters will engage in the electoral process, mirroring past turnout levels. The Leader of the Islamic Revolution has advised Iranians to disregard these calls and actively shape their country's future.

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Iran lambasts foreign intervention in Syria as violation of international law

TEHRAN - Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani says terrorism and the ongoing Zionist attacks on Syria are a flagrant violation of international law.

Iravani announced that Iran, along with other contributors, is committed to working on a long-term and stable normalization of the situation in Syria.

In a meeting at the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, Iravani highlighted that despite the seemingly calm security situation, Syria faces significant challenges. The challenges, as he noted, include the presence of foreign forces in parts of the country, terrorist groups controlling specific areas, and ongoing Israeli regime invasions, which constitute a clear violation of international laws.

The Iranian diplomat explicitly stated that amid these challenges, the continuous missile attacks by the Israeli regime against civilians and non-military infrastructure further complicate the situation in Syria. “This not only interrupts humanitarian activities but also disrupts humanitarian aid access. Iran strongly condemns the Israeli regime for these blatant violations,” he added.

Iravani emphasized that Iran consistently advocates for a peaceful resolution of the Syrian crisis based on the United Nations Charter, international laws, and full respect for Syria's independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

He emphasized the imperative for the UN Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities in ensuring Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Iranian envoy highlighted the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, underscoring the deep economic challenges faced by the Syrian people. 

Iravani asserted that despite efforts by the UN and humanitarian partners to provide essential aid, the persistent impact of unilateral and unlawful sanctions, coupled with the politicization of humanitarian assistance, continues to disproportionately affect the Syrian people, including women and children.

while claiming concern for the dire humanitarian situation, he stressed that the imposition of unilateral sanctions is “hypocritical.” Iravani stated, “These illegal and destructive actions must cease immediately.”

The Iranian envoy added that humanitarian aid and reconstruction projects in Syria should not be manipulated as tools for political pressure on the Syrian government.

Iravani praised the Syrian Arab Republic's efforts to support and facilitate humanitarian access throughout the country. He welcomed Syria's decision to extend the UN's authorization for the ‘Bab al-Hawa,’ ‘Bab al-Salameh,’ and ‘al-Rai’ crossings for an additional six and three months, respectively. The humanitarian aid supplies will be delivered to the Syrian people from these crossings.

The Iranian diplomat emphasized the importance of unimpeded access to humanitarian aid, especially through the cross-border mechanism, in full coordination with the Syrian government.

He continued, highlighting Iran's support for essential reconstruction projects crucial for fortifying Syria and enabling the return of refugees. “Unfortunately, due to the harmful effects of unilateral coercive measures, these projects face financial and implementation challenges,” Iravani noted.

Iravani condemned the renewed exploitation of Syria's natural resources in areas under the occupation of U.S. forces, labeling it as opportunistic theft from the Syrian people.

He reiterated Iran's emphasis on the political process, led and owned by Syria, facilitated by the United Nations, as the only practical approach to resolving the Syrian crisis.

Iravani expressed support for the resumption of constitutional committee sessions as an effective mechanism to advance the political process. He noted Iraq's willingness to host upcoming meetings in Baghdad, a positive development acknowledged by the Syrian government and the guarantor countries of the Astana process. Iran urged the involved parties to prioritize substantive discussions in these sessions.

In conclusion, the Iranian envoy reiterated the country's ongoing contacts with the Syrian government, the UN special envoy, and partners within the Astana process, aiming to swiftly end the crisis and alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.

Aaron Bushnell and growing anger, discontent in US with Zionist ‘deep state’

By Ali Salaam

An active duty member of the US Air Force, Aaron Bushnell, protested outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. through the act of self-immolation, which led to his tragic death.

Authorities failed to extinguish the fire on time while the Israeli guard pulled a gun out on the clearly incapacitated man as if he were some kind of a threat smoldering in his own ashes.

Whatever Bushnell's own personal politics was, his extreme act of protest was to tell the world that he was not going to be complicit in the genocide unfolding in Gaza that is backed by the US government.

According to a summons letter, Bushnell knew he and other airmen were going to be deployed to occupied Palestine. He could likely have lost his life while aiding the genocide of Palestinians.

Even if he did not lose his life, due to likely being on standby as a means of threatening Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq, he still would be complicit in the genocide.

It is not like he was some reservist on an army base in the US. He was stuck between choosing complacency and acting based on his conscience, and he rightly chose the latter.

While many are referring to him as a hero, many Zionists on social media have been brazenly displaying their mask-off barbarism by mocking him.

While Zionist voices from both the neoconservative side and the neoliberal side are happy to see US soldiers die in wars that benefit the Israeli regime and a handful of powerful elites in the US, they do not like to see a US soldier lose his life by standing on the side of truth against the wicked oppressors.

People on all sides of the political spectrum took to social media to condemn the absolutely wicked insults from the semi-official Mossad account to pseudo-” conservative” grifter Laura Loomer.

While there are large numbers of American people who are still in blissful slumber, hypnotized by propaganda from the latest live appearance of Taylor Swift who has been recruited to promote the re-election of Biden and the encouragement of people to take the untested Pfizer genetic vaccine, there are Americans who are waking up and are sick of the performance of the elite politicians, bankers, corporate heads, and other prominent figures, elected and unelected.

When this awakening reaches the critical mass, it might signal some change in the US.

The Zionist lobby is one of those special interest groups coming under fire from the left and right, as well as independents, as it offers zero benefit, or rather harm and detriment, to the average American.

On the left wing side, they see the Zionist regime as the immoral, unjust oppressor mercilessly slaughtering and subjugating people who are struggling for self-determination.

The Zionists are intertwined with wealthy finance capitalists, such as the recently deceased Jacob Rothschild (head of the usury-eating Rothschild banking dynasty), so the Zionist agenda is not just limited to Palestine but is involved with much evil around the world, especially with the economic phenomenon of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.

The only exception would be the Trotskyite left, which comprises a large percentage of the Western left, whose ideological origins stem from Labour Zionism or left Zionism, and so they will, at best, only oppose Netanyahu and hope for a liberal makeover of the illegitimate Zionist occupation.

It is a fallacy to think that the cause of Palestine is only for leftists. The wild card Zionists had not expected was that many right-wingers also see Zionism as a threat to various issues they care about.

US airman protesting genocide in Gaza dies after setting himself on fire

It is no secret that Zionists have a prominent role in the promotion of pornography, immoral Hollywood movies, the militant LGBTQP agenda, attacks on Christianity, and other things that many conservatives hold dear.

Devout Christians, such as traditional Catholics, do not criticize Jews from a racialist perspective, and oppose the notion of biological determinism.

This is the same as the Islamic view, which does not ascribe to biological determinism either and goes a step further, as Muslims do not believe in original sin, but rather that all children are born pure, and this purity is either maintained or corrupted after birth.

The issue then is with Jewish behavior, as behavior can change while race cannot be changed.

Only a small fringe views the issue of Jews and Zionists from a racialist perspective, but the irony is that they share the same beliefs as Jewish supremacists and only differ on who is the “chosen” race that is superior to all other races.

Even the issue of immigration does not have to equate to racism and xenophobia if we understand that the entire immigration debate between racism and open borders is a false dichotomy.

While racism is abhorrent, we must understand liberal immigration policies are primarily written by capitalists and Zionists. Capitalists need relatively cheaper labor sources to increase profit margins and make up for the population decline in liberal countries that have abandoned the God-centric family unit and thus experience a decline in birth rates, so they take advantage of the wars their countries have waged that destroyed many parts of the world and generated mass migration.

They take advantage of both high-skilled workers from countries not experiencing acute danger (such as war) but experiencing financial hardship (due to economic strain caused by the IMF and World Bank), as well as low-skilled workers among refugees who had to urgently escape their homelands.

Zionists support liberal immigration policies in order to foment a clash of civilizations between Muslims and Christians, while the wealthy elites, which the Zionists are a large portion of, sit back and watch the people fight each other while avoiding striking at the financial elites.

One example of this is the conflict of interest that US Secretary of Homeland Security Alexander Mayorkas descends from anti-Castro Cuban Jews who left Cuba during the revolution of Fidel Castro to avoid prosecution for their various crimes and exploitation of the Cuban people, as most Cuban expats who live in the US left to avoid, as much as they will cry crocodile tears of “victimhood.”

Mayorkas was a board member of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) just before becoming Secretary of Homeland Security. Despite the involvement of Mossad in creating the war against Syria to oust the democratically-elected president, Bashar al-Assad, in order to weaken the resistance axis, the HIAS cynically funded the resettlement of Syrian refugees into Jordan.

This is part of the typical pattern of many hypocritical “refugees welcome” liberals: they cheer on the wars that destroy countries and create refugees (such as Syria) and then hold up “refugees welcome” banners when the refugees they created reach Western shores.

HIAS may also be involved in the migrant crises on the US southern border.

Naturally, in Europe, respecting the demographic majority of the native peoples is a logical and moral thing, because it is their land – irrespective of the historical crimes of their godless empires.

However, with the US, the question becomes a lot more complex because we have to ask the hard question: what is America and what makes an American?

Many people think that the US was founded by Christians to establish a nation free from monarchy. The reality is that the founding fathers of the US were mostly godless liberals who belonged to the secretive paganistic cult of Freemasonry.

They established the US on an anti-Christian socio-political philosophy. The ideals of moral relativism, separation of church and state, and unlimited individual liberties are totally contrary to the values expressed in divine religions, which believe in objective morality, harmony between church and state at the very least, and that at sins and vices should be curtailed in the public space (without invading peoples' private space, which is between them and God).

Additionally, the concept of the US being loyal to the Zionist movement is not something new in US history, or that the US was “hijacked.”

Israel routinely trains American police officers to see the American public through an "us vs. them" mentality, rather than their slogan "to protect and serve" the public.

The US has always been embedded with politically organized Jewish supremacists, such as when George Washington – a Freemason – gave a friendly address to the Touro Synagogue in the wealthy town of Newport, Rhode Island, following his ascendance to the presidency of the new republic.

America is therefore based on an idea, not a people, civilization, nor any authentic roots. While the first settlers were puritanical Protestants who sought to escape the British monarch – oddly having a strange attachment to the Jewish Bible, perhaps the precursor to dispensationalism, the Scofield Bible, and Christian Zionism – the official founding of the US as a colony of the British empire was done by finance capitalists in the southern colonies, a key node in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

To showcase how Zionism is not a new phenomenon in American history or that the US has been “hijacked,” Jewish merchants were among the most powerful slave traders along with their Anglo-Saxon and Dutch counterparts and the blood of the 100 million Africans murdered in this grave crime is just as much on their hands as it is on the hands of Anglo-Americans.

Even though the US originally had racial restrictions on who could become an American, still the stipulation of admission into the new republic was “free white men of good character.” Good character meant following a religion or ideology compatible with “enlightenment” liberal ideals, such as Protestantism, Judaism/Kabbalah, Freemasonry, naturalism, empiricism, and liberalism.

Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Muslims need not apply, as they are too “backward” and illiberal to be part of the liberal utopia of the US.

This naturally led to the exclusion of most light-skinned Europeans. According to Benjamin Franklin, “the number of purely white people in the world is proportionally very small. All of Africa is black or tawny. Asia chiefly tawny. America (exclusive of the new Comers) is wholly so.

And in Europe, the Spaniards, Italians, French, Russians and Swedes, are generally of what we call a swarthy complexion; as are the Germans also, the Saxons only excepted, who with the English, make the principal  body of white people on the face of the Earth.”

Even among the limited races that could be considered white and thus admitted to America, they could not be illiberal either and must ascribe to liberal ideals. Therefore, when someone from Europe comes to America, they are deracinated and stripped of their traditional, “old world” values and re-made into the image of the “enlightened” liberal utopia.

Interestingly, Sephardic (Latin-speaking) Jews such as the Portuguese Monsanto family could become Americans while non-Jewish Spaniards were barred from becoming so due to their “swarthy” skin complexion and illiberal Catholic religion.

Eventually, racial restrictions were slowly widened to include previously non-white Europeans, such as French, Italians, Poles, and Slavs. However, they had to abandon their illiberal, “old world” views and adopt American liberal ideals in order to be assimilated.

The American political spectrum is thus divided into racist liberals and cosmopolitan liberals, with the former prioritizing racial restrictions over philosophical restrictions, while the latter is okay with any race coming to America so long as they are philosophically liberal.

The cosmopolitan liberals have been in control of the US for much of the recent decades, supporting liberal immigration policies from countries that have illiberal values, allowing them to assimilate so long as they worship the idol of the self, remove their traditions except the superficial, make their religion nothing more than a cultural identity instead of a set of divinely-guided principles to live by, wear Levi's & Nike, and wave the rainbow flag.

To be an American is to strip yourself of your previous identity and be re-made as a liberal. Therefore, anyone can be an American. The children of South American immigrants are just as much American as those who were in America before, so long as those children of immigrants abandon the Catholicism of their parents, believe in individualism and moral relativity, and wave the rainbow flag.

Therefore, America is in an identity crisis that cannot be solved until people recognize the pitfalls of liberalism and the need to repent to God, for the US has become modern-day Babylon, in the words of Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Various issues that frustrate the American people from left to right include the LGBTQP agenda, the usury-eating Federal Reserve banking cartel robbing the average person of their purchasing power, crumbling infrastructure, destruction of the family, cold-hearted individualism, mass migration, supranational corporations happy to put thousands of Americans into unemployment by sending their factories abroad, and of course the support of the Zionist occupation of Palestine all trace their roots to the godless liberalism that America was founded on.

For if the cornerstone of American beliefs is the liberal/libertarian ideal of unlimited personal freedom and pursuit of self-interest, then it is clear to see that Bill Gates, Pfizer, Wall St., the Rothschilds, Goldman Sachs, AIPAC, Monsanto, and many other powerful corporations and groups that have taken their own financial and political benefit at the expense of the American people have been clearly pursuing their own self-interest and did so by maximizing their utilization of their individual liberties.

The American people are fed up with the symptoms, but until they turn to God and reject liberalism and Zionism, they will never be able to properly cure the illness that affects them.

They won't find the answers in Trump, Ramaswamy, nor even the independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who displays bravery in the face of Big Pharma but cowardice in the face of the Zionist lobby, having adopted positions on Palestine and Iran that make neoconservatives like Nikki Haley look like Ron Paul in comparison.

Yet, these symptoms suffocate them and drive them to feel desperate. They can barely pay their light bills, thanks to the Federal Reserve, and their conscience eats away at them as they watch their tax dollars be used to kill over 10,000 children in Gaza over a few months.

This sense of desperation acutely affected Bushnell, who when realizing that he was no longer a reservist, but would be deployed to support the Zionist genocide of Gaza with the US Air Force, decided he was not going to die for the benefit of Israel, but die to oppose the crime of genocide and occupation.

This desperation will continue until the American people soul search and turn to God.  Can a nation that wages war against “barbaric” Muslims claim they are doing so in the name of God when they have Las Vegas, legal prostitution in Nevada, free access to pornography, cultural normalization of premarital sex, legalized homosexual “marriages,” alcoholism, gambling, and more?

American politics is a reflection of the filth and corruption that the people have drowned in, and it is a self-feeding cycle since sin and vice make the people dumb and docile so that the tyrants have easy control over the people.

While his death is painful, Bushnell is a hero for all those who seek a better world, regardless of which side of the political spectrum, or independent-minded people who do not fall within that spectrum.

While ZIonists on Twitter mocked Bushnell, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas honored him and respected his sacrifice. Hamas does more to respect the American people than the Zionists and American liberal imperialists who see average Americans as cannon fodder for their various wars, let alone subjects of economic suffocation through usury, and destruction of moral values.

While Bushnell resorted to an extreme measure, due to the dilemma he faced, many other Americans who are not stuck between this tough choice are taking a route that preserves their lives, by immigrating to sane countries that are not based on godless liberal values, not involved in genocide, and do not sexualize children from a young age.

There is a small but growing trend of Christian Americans migrating to Russia and Muslim Americans migrating to the Islamic Republic of Iran to seek refuge from the liberal tyranny of the Zionist West.

This trend has been recognized by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who recently instructed migration services to come up with a plan to allow foreigners who seek to live in a society based on traditional, religious values to come to live in Russia.

Migrating for the sake of God is thus a hopeful solution for those sick of living under Satanic tyrannies.

While the stance of Bushnell is heroic and a means of waking people up, the hope is that people can take bold stances against their Satanic regimes without ending their lives.

Ali Salaam is a Muslim convert who lives in Iran. He is the editor-in-chief of Basira Press.