Thousands of Israeli settlers, led
by Ben-Gvir, storm Aqsa Mosque
July 23rd, 11:16am
(PressTV)
Thousands of Israeli settlers ------ have stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque
compound in the occupied Old City of al-Quds under the pretext of
marking the destruction of ancient Jewish temples there, in yet
another provocative move against Palestinian worshippers.
The official Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing the al-Quds
Governorate, reported on Wednesday that among those who
broke into the mosque were far-right Israeli minister Itamar
Ben-Gvir and Knesset member Amit Halevi.
During the incursion, Halevi performed Talmudic rituals inside the
compound and raised the flag of the Zionist regime, in what the
governorate described as a provocative act that constitutes
a violation of the historic and legal status quo governing
the mosque.
The governorate noted in a statement that the Israeli
police allowed the size of each group to increase to
approximately 150 settlers during the break-ins.
It also reported that Israeli forces are continuing to implement
rigorous restrictions at the gates of the al-Aqsa Mosque and
in the surrounding areas of the Old City, with a substantial
deployment across the mosque's courtyards, which
prevents worshippers from accessing the site.
The governorate highlighted that only a small number of
worshippers managed to reach the mosque for dawn
prayers ---- before the Israeli forces assaulted
several individuals.
Earlier, the Hamas resistance movement had cautioned against a
plan by extremist Jewish groups to organize large-scale settler
break-ins at the Aqsa Mosque on Thursday, which they claim
is in commemoration of the destruction of the first and
second temples in al-Quds ......by the ancient
Babylonians and Romans, respectively.
The Gaza-based group denounced the move as a “blatant violation
of the sanctity of the Islamic holy site --- and a direct provocation
to Muslims worldwide.”
Hamas stated on Wednesday, that the ongoing attempts in al-Quds
to alter its religious and historical identity, along with the recent
act of painting the 'Messiah' symbol on the stones of the
eastern courtyard of the Aqsa Mosque, represent
aflagrant act of aggression - that must not
be overlooked.
“Such actions will incite greater anger, more confrontations, and
resistance against the occupying regime and its settler groups,
who will find no peace on our land and within our holy sites,”
the movement said.
“We affirm that the Aqsa Mosque will remain purely Islamic,
indivisible and impervious to Judaization,” Hamas added.
The resistance movement finally called upon Palestinian citizens
from al-Aqsa and the territories occupied in 1948 to regularly
visit the Aqsa Mosque, and increase their presence in its
courtyards and surrounding areas to safeguard it from
desecration and Judaization.
The al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which sits just above the
Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock
and the al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Jewish visitation of al-Aqsa is permitted, but as part of a
decades-old agreement between Jordan, the custodian of
Islamic and Christian sites in al-Quds, and Israel in the
wake of Israel’s occupation of East al-Quds, in 1967,
non-Muslim worship at the compound is prohibited.
______________________________________________
Iran, Iraq vow to deepen strategic
partnership as PM Al-Zaidi
visits Tehran
July 23rd, 11:22am
(PressTV)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali
Falih Al-Zaidi pledged to strengthen strategic ties during talks in
Tehran, highlighting the deep historical bonds between the two
neighbours, as the Iraqi premier began an official visit to Iran.
Pezeshkian held talks with Al-Zaidi, who arrived in Tehran on
Thursday at the head of a high-level delegation to discuss
bilateral relations and regional issues.
According to a statement from the Iranian presidency, the two
leaders underscored the deep historical, cultural, religious
and people-to-people ties between Iran and Iraq,
describing them as a valuable asset - that
should be preserved and strengthened -
to expand strategic cooperation.
They also called for the swift implementation of existing bilateral
agreements, saying this would help advance relations and serve
the mutual interests of both countries.
The two sides stressed the need to make better use of shared
capacities in politics, trade, the economy, transit, energy and
regional cooperation. They also emphasized continued
coordination and closer integration, saying broader
cooperation would contribute to stability, security
and prosperity in both countries while reinforcing
regional solidarity.
Earlier in the day, Pezeshkian formally welcomed
Al-Zaidi at Tehran's Saadabad Complex.
The Iraqi prime minister's itinerary also includes a private
meeting with Pezeshkian, a joint session of senior
delegations and the signing of bilateral
cooperation documents.
Ahead of the visit, Al-Zaidi said in a post on X that he would
meet senior Iranian officials to discuss issues of mutual
interest ...and ways to expand bilateral cooperation.
He said the talks would also cover regional developments and
efforts to strengthen security and stability across the region.
"Iraq and Iran are bound by historical and civilizational ties,
shared borders and common interests," Al-Zaidi wrote.
"These... require continued dialogue, cooperation and mutual
respect to promote sustainable development and prosperity
for both nations, while supporting regional & international
security and stability."
The visit comes one week after Al-Zaidi met US
President Donald Trump at the White House.
Some media reports have suggested the Iraqi premier
may be - carrying messages from Washington,
although neither Baghdad nor Tehran has
publicly confirmed those claims.
_______________________________________
US violations of MoU not surprising; war against
Iran ---- to spell end of US imperialism: Activist
July 23rd, 10:35am
(Press TV Website Staff)
US conduct following the signing of the Islamabad memorandum
of understanding (MoU) with Iran reveals a consistent pattern of
diplomatic contempt, says a US singer and activist, noting that
Washington began violating the MoU .....almost as soon as it
was inked.
Speaking to the Press TV website, Oregon-based songwriter, singer,
podcaster and activist David Rovics noted that the MoU, signed by
the presidents of Iran and the US on June 18, to end the imposed
war, was clear but was quickly undermined by the United States.
“I don't think many people who follow Trump were at all surprised
that immediately after signing it, the US started violating it and
wildly misinterpreting the text, which is not a complicated
text,” he asserted.
Rovics, however, said many US citizens were surprised that
Trump agreed to sign the Pakistan-mediated memorandum
in the first place --- because it effectively acknowledged
Iran's victory against the US-Israeli war of aggression,
which began on February 28.
“Many people in the US were surprised that Trump signed
it in the first place, because it basically reads as an
acknowledgement that Iran won the war,” he said.
Iranian armed forces delivered heavy blows to the US and Israeli
military assets across the region during Operation True Promise
4, which began immediately following illegal and unprovoked
strikes on February 28, that led to the assassination of top
officials and military commanders --- including the Leader
of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
An attack on an elementary school in southern Iran’s Minab city
on the same day ---- killed more than 160 schoolchildren inside
their classrooms.
In response, Iran carried out large-scale military
operations ---- and closed the Strait of Hormuz.
Faced with economic repercussions and heavy pressure at home
as well as losses on the battlefield, Trump was forced to accept
the understanding, but violations of the truce by Washington
started almost immediately.
According to the document, Iran was responsible for reopening the
Strait of Hormuz, on which it had imposed restrictions targeting
vessels linked to aggressors and their supporters. However,
Washington tried to undermine this clause in the
memorandum by opening a new unauthorized
route in the strait, which prompted Iran’s
legitimate response.
After weeks of sporadic incidents, the US military launched a fresh
wave of largescale attacks on Iranian soil two weeks ago amidst
the funeral for Iran’s martyred Leader, targeting military and
civilian sites mainly in southern provinces.
The attacks - have so far destroyed several infrastructure sites, such
as bridges and water desalination plants, and killed over 50 Iranians.
Rovics --- denounced Western media for
their coverage of the war, and the MoU.
“The way the Western media just pretended they couldn't read
the MoU to see whether the US was really violating it or not
was a new low for the already completely debased and
servile institutions that we inaccurately refer to as
the 'free press,’” he told the Press TV website.
Asked about the “quagmire”... the US finds
itself in, Rovics pointed to the Israeli role.
“My impression is Trump believed the Israelis who told him all
the nonsense about how the Iranian government would fall
quickly after the leadership was assassinated, and once
that didn't happen, he had no plan B,” he stated.
He noted that ------ regardless of any broader
strategy, the war itself had been misguided.
“Whatever strategy the administration may or may not have had,
it was a terrible initiative, making war on Iran, that will ----
hopefully spell the end of US imperialism in the region.”
Rovics is known for writing and singing songs against US wars
worldwide, using art .....as a medium to raise awareness.
“Music, art, and other forms of culture are essential in so many
ways. It is the most effective way to communicate, in a way
that actually communicates,” he said.
“But.... when you communicate through songs, poetry, and other
artistic forms, you can reach people emotionally, so they really
understand what you're trying to say,” said the artist.
He also referred to popular Lego videos Iranian social media
content creators produced during the recent war that were
circulated widely and attracted attention worldwide.
“The people in Iran making those Lego
videos know this very well,” he said.
These short clips --- recreated battlefield events, Iran’s military
operations and political developments, using characters and
settings, combining humour with patriotic messaging.
__________________________________________
‘Do not commit war crimes for anyone’:
Iran urges US troops to reject
unlawful orders
July 23rd, 10:37am
(PressTV)
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says
US military personnel should not follow “unlawful orders”
as obedience to “superior orders” --- does not absolve
individuals of responsibility for war crimes.
In a post on X on Thursday, Baghaei called on US service
members to refrain from committing “war crimes”,
on behalf of others.
He said the ruling establishment in the US seeks to sacrifice
the remaining principles of international humanitarian law
and the basic standards of human ethics and civilization
in pursuit of its “insatiable appetite for war & slaughter.”
He added that any policy calling for the destruction of civilian
infrastructure, including bridges and power plants, is
“manifestly unlawful and criminal.”
Do Not Commit War Crimes for Anyone; citing superior orders
to justify war crimes does not absolve the perpetrators of
criminal liability.
“It constitutes reprisal and collective punishment — both
of which are explicitly prohibited as war crimes under
international humanitarian law and U.S. domestic
law alike, specifically under 18 U.S.C. § 2441
(the War Crimes Act),” the Iranian
spokesperson reiterated.
Baghaei emphasized that there is no statute of limitations for
such offenses, saying, “The Uniform Code of Military Justice
and the Department of Defense Law of War Manual, make it
unequivocally clear ------- that service members have both a
legal and moral duty to refuse manifestly unlawful orders.”
He affirmed Iran’s seriousness and resolve to stand
against “lawlessness and the flouting of the law.”
‘Eye for an eye’: Iran vows ‘powerful, decisive’
response ------- if infrastructure attacked
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asserts that any attack on Iran’s
infrastructural facilities entails a befitting response --- targeting
the aggressors and those aiding them.
The remarks came after US President Donald Trump said US forces
would target Iranian bridges or power plants, in response to the
Islamic Republic’s efforts to prevent illegal vessel movement
through the waterway.
In a post on X, on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi,
asserted that any attack on Iran’s infrastructural facilities entails a
befitting response targeting the aggressors and those aiding them.
“Our defense doctrine is clear:
eye for an eye,” the top
diplomat stated.