Iran deputy speaker warns Ukraine
of ‘regret-inducing’ response
to any mischief in region
July 27th, 10:56am
(PressTV)
Iran's deputy parliament speaker has warned Ukraine
that any "mischievous" act in the region or the
Caspian Sea will be met with Tehran’s
"regret-inducing" response.
Hamid-Reza Haji Babaei issued the stark warning on Monday
as tensions escalate between Tehran and Kiev following a
Ukrainian drone strike on an Iranian commercial vessel
that killed one sailor.
"We warn Ukraine's masters that any mischief through your stooge
in the region and the Caspian Sea will be met with a regret-
inducing response from the great Iranian nation,"
he said.
He added that Iran would not allow the United States to determine
the time of war and ceasefire, stressing the importance of
standing firm in the face of Washington’s demands
and preventing it from acting as a rogue
element in the region.
“The will of the great Iranian nation has shown that
the United States ...is in a state of passivity,” the
lawmaker said, emphasizing that the US must
remain in this state in Iran’s political policy.
He questioned America's so-called peace and dialogue,
saying they are all equal to war.
Haji Babaei stressed the need for Iran to remain vigilant
because genuine understanding with the US will never
be achieved but “it is the nation's will that will always
be a determining factor."
Ukraine’s attack on Iranian commercial vessel
--------- aims to drag Europe into war: Iran FM
In a strongly worded post on X on Sunday, Iranian Foreign
Minister Abbas Araghchi said Ukraine’s military attack
on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea
was carried out at the Israeli regime's behest
in a bid to drag Europe into its war in the
West Asia region.
Araghchi said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
orchestrated the attack, which constituted a “blatant”
violation of the United Nations Charter.
In his remarks, Haji Babaei also emphasized the strategic
importance of the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a
major source of power for the Iranian nation and
the pinnacle of the country’s power that must
be protected.
He noted: that national unity remains the key to the country’s
progress, saying Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah
Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has repeatedly underscored the
importance of solidarity.
The lawmaker added that both Ayatollah Khamenei and the
Iranian nation remain committed to preserving the legacy
of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution and to
confronting the "global arrogance" front, emphasizing
that the country should continue moving forward on
that basis.
_____________________________________
Palestinian woman loses fetus after
Israeli forces delay ambulance at
West Bank checkpoint
July 27th, 10:45am
(PressTV)
A Palestinian woman, who was six months pregnant, lost her fetus
after Israeli forces delayed the ambulance carrying her at a
military checkpoint in the occupied West Bank, as
restrictions on Palestinian movement reached
levels not seen in decades.
Bashar al-Qaryouti, an ambulance officer from the town of Qaryut,
told the official Palestinian news agency WAFA on Monday - that
the Israeli forces blocked the ambulance at the Awarta military
checkpoint, located south of Nablus, after shutting its gates.
Qaryouti reported that the ambulance team was held for more than
30 minutes and subjected the pregnant woman, who was suffering
from severe bleeding, to a search despite her critical condition.
He added that Israeli soldiers ordered the crew to switch off
the ambulance’s engine, causing its onboard medical
support equipment to stop operating.
The ambulance was finally permitted to proceed to the hospital,
where the doctors succeeded in saving the woman’s life but
could not preserve her fetus, according to Qaryouti.
The incident comes nearly a week after 30-year-old Sajoud Fuqaha
from the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, died of a heart attack
after Israeli forces delayed an ambulance from entering the
town by closing an iron gate at its entrance.
Movement limitations have historically characterized life in the
West Bank; yet in the past 3 years, the number of roadblocks,
checkpoints, and various barriers has surged, hitting highs
not witnessed since the Second Intifada more than two
decades ago, according to the UN.
Palestinians report that the heightened restrictions have caused
considerable difficulties, hampering economic activity and
complicating both everyday life and emergencies.
The rise in movement limitations has emerged as one of the most
frequently mentioned complaints among Palestinians throughout
the West Bank.
As of October 7, 2023, after the start of the genocidal war on Gaza,
the Israeli military has set up numerous new gates at the
entrances of Palestinian communities, allowing roads
to be closed at short notice.
The United Nations reports a significant increase in roadblocks,
manned checkpoints, and closures created with earth mounds
and concrete barriers.
Data gathered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) show that the number of barriers to movement ----
has hit its peak in 20 years.
According to OCHA, as of March 2026, there were 925 movement
obstacles across the West Bank — representing a 43 percent
increase over the average of 647 recorded annually
during the previous two decades.
____________________________________________
Any agreement with Israel
‘meaningless’ ....without
withdrawal from south
Lebanon: Amal
Movement MP
July 27th, 9:47am
(PressTV)
Lebanese lawmaker Qassem Hashem, from the political wing
of the Amal Movement says that any agreement with the Tel
Aviv regime will be “meaningless” without the withdrawal
of Israeli occupation forces from southern Lebanon.
Qassem Hashem, a member of the Development and Liberation bloc,
underlined the need to adhere to implementation of the ceasefire
between Lebanon and the Israeli regime, and the necessity for
the Israeli army .......to withdraw from the occupied areas in
southern Lebanon.
“The occupation should not continue indefinitely, and the Zionist
enemy must not have the upper hand by any means. Any deal or
agreement between the Beirut government and the Israeli
regime will be pointless without the latter’s withdrawal
from occupied areas [in southern Lebanon],”
Hashem said on Sunday.
He added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s
emphasis on continuation of the occupation, and refusal
to pull military forces out of southern Lebanon carries
an important message to the Lebanese nation, and
should not be overlooked.
“Therefore, any future accord that does not force the Israeli troops
to withdraw from the occupied territories, whether through direct
pressure or a clear guarantee to expand the so-called pilot
zones, will be meaningless,” Hashem pointed out.
The Lebanese army says the ongoing Israeli attacks in southern
Lebanon are preventing its full deployment under a US-
mediated ceasefire agreement.
Qassem noted ---- that a national position is necessary to protect
Lebanon’s sovereignty and dignity and not to surrender to any
kind of dictate in the wake of preparations for a new round
of face-to-face negotiations with Israel, which have not
yielded any concrete results.
“This unified position must be a powerful factor in confronting
the Zionist regime’s ever-present threats,” the Lebanese
legislator said.
On March 2, Hezbollah launched military operations against the
Israeli regime in response to the US-Israeli aggression against
Iran, Israel’s repeated violations of the 2024 ceasefire, and
its continued occupation of Lebanese territory ---- in the
country’s south.
After the Iran-US ceasefire on 8 April, Tel Aviv was compelled to
accept a ceasefire in Lebanon as well, after Tehran demanded
an end to Israeli attacks on Lebanese soil as one of its
primary conditions in indirect negotiations
with Washington.
The Israeli military, however, quickly resumed its assaults
on southern Lebanon ---- in violation of the agreement.
The July 17 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between
Iran and the US, which was intended to bring the war to an end,
stipulated that hostilities would cease -- on all fronts, including
Lebanon. However, Israel again - violated that agreement and
failed to abide by its commitments.
On June 26, Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement,
mediated by the US, which outlines a phased withdrawal of
Israeli forces from all occupied territories in Lebanon,
starting with a pilot model in two zones that have
not been publicly revealed.
The agreement does not establish a timeline for the withdrawal,
tying its completion to the Lebanese army taking full security
responsibility in the areas that have been evacuated and
the disarmament of armed groups, specifically
referring to Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has rejected the agreement, saying the framework
deal legalizes the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon.
Amal Movement also rejected the so-called agreement, saying
that most of the deal’s clauses are detrimental to Lebanon’s
national interests ---------- and serve the interests of the
Israeli regime.
Official Lebanese statistics indicate that Israeli strikes in
Lebanon have resulted in 4,330 fatalities and left 12,236
others injured since March 2.
Israel continues to occupy swathes of southern Lebanon, with
some areas held for many years and others taken during the
recent war between October 2023 and November 2024.
________________________________________
CENTCOM chief urges halt to
Strait of Hormuz bombing
over 'limited' impact:
Report
July 27th, 9:31am
(PressTV)
Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) Brad Cooper
has reportedly recommended halting the US bombing of Iran
around the Strait of Hormuz, saying the offensive ....had
largely reached the limits of its effectiveness.
The report by Axios, citing two sources familiar with his
assessment, comes on Sunday, after the second night
in a row without US strikes on Iran, following nearly
two weeks of nightly attacks and retaliations by
Tehran - targeting US allies across the region.
According to Axios, Cooper gave his recommendation to the
Pentagon, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the White House,
ahead of a Friday meeting between US President
Donald Trump and senior advisers, during
which the president decided to pause
the attacks.
“It was an acknowledgement by both military and civilian
advisers to the president that there are limits to what
can be accomplished through military action, and
specifically an air power campaign,” the
report said.
Cooper said that there was little value in continuing the limited
strikes, claiming that any further action would require
escalating into a broader military aggression to
target sites left untouched during the
previous assault on Iran, which
began on February 28.
The sources said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen.
Dan Caine, also -- cautioned War Secretary Pete Hegseth and
Trump in private that a shortage of air defense interceptors
could hamper the ability to protect US forces and allies
in the region.
Following 13 consecutive nights.. of US attacks on southern
Iran that targeted civilian infrastructure, including bridges,
telecommunications networks and transport facilities,
Iran responded by striking US bases in the region
and once again closing the Strait of Hormuz.
Vessel traffic through the strategic waterway... remained well
below normal levels, with fewer than 10 commodity vessels
transiting the strait each day over the weekend.
The developments come amid heightened tensions between Iran
and the United States over security and navigation in the Strait
of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints
for global energy shipments.
Iran continues to exert ‘decisive control’
over Strait of Hormuz: Report
Iran and the US signed a Pakistani-brokered Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) last month to end the US-Israeli
aggression against the Islamic Republic, which had
begun on February 28.
Under the understanding, Iran agreed to allow fee-free
maritime transit through the strait ......for 60 days.
In compliance with the MoU, the Islamic Republic devised
a special maritime route, for vessels to cross the choke-
point and warning vessels against using illegal routes.
The US has, however, been trying to escort transit through
the strait along an illegal passageway, prompting the
Islamic Republic to shut the corridor until
Washington ended its interference in
regional maritime movement.
_________________________________________
Iranian army pleges stronger response
to any future aggression
July 27th, 9:22am
(PressTV)
The Iranian Army has pledged to confront any future aggression
against the country with a stronger and more forceful response.
In a statement marking the anniversary of Operation Mersad and
honouring the martyrs of the Islamic Revolution, the Army noted
that the 1988 operation, carried out during the 8-year imposed
war on Iran by Iraq’s Ba’athist regime, stands as a symbol of
Iran’s strength and resilience.
It added that the operation reflected the determination
of the country’s armed forces to defend the nation.
“The fifth of Mordad (July 27) is one of the golden chapters in the
history of the Iranian nation’s resistance and demonstrates that
the Army and the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran
have always been prepared to confront ruthless enemies and
their mercenary proxies,” read the statement.
“They will sever the hand - of any aggressor that dares to
encroach upon even a fraction of the country’s territory,”
the statement added.
In the final stages of the war imposed on Iran.... in the 1980s, the
Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MKO) terrorist group, launched a large-scale
military attack against Iran, under the name “Operation Eternal
Light,” with full support from Saddam Hussein’s Ba’athist army.
In response, Iranian armed forces swiftly mobilized and launched
“Operation Mersad” near Chaharzebar in Kermanshah province.
Within days, the MKO’s advance was halted, and the group
suffered heavy losses. Estimates indicate that more than
1,500 MKO fighters were killed in the failed assault.
The Army also highlighted the performance of Iran’s armed forces in
the 12-day US-Israeli war on Iran in June 2025, the recent US-Israeli
aggression which began on February 28, and the Battle of Hormuz,
saying those operations - demonstrated Iran’s indigenous military
strength, national resolve, and confidence in divine support.
“Today, the Army, alongside the other Armed Forces, stands as
always on the front line of defending the country’s territorial
integrity, the Islamic Republic, and the Iranian nation. It
has already set the depth of the enemy’s front, as a
target for any potential hostile move,” the
statement said.
The statement added that Iran’s armed forces remain on full alert
across the country, from the western highlands and the Mersad
region ---- to the Strait of Hormuz in the south.
The army “will not hesitate in safeguarding the country’s
independence and territorial integrity and will respond
to any enemy aggression ---- with even harsher and
more crushing strikes,” it warned.
____________________________________________
UN chief: Golan Heights belong to Syria,
Israeli violations must end
July 27th, 9:08am
(PressTV)
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, has firmly declared
that the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights are Syrian territory,
urging the Tel Aviv regime to stop violations of Syria's
sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Guterres made the statement during a press conference on Saturday
following his meeting with Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, head of Syria’s
Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham-led regime. He was in Damascus marking the
first visit by a UN secretary-general to Syria since 2009, before the
14-year US-Israeli covert war on the Arab country began.
"I'd like to remind the international community that the Golan
Heights are Syrian territory," he said. "Violations of Syria's
sovereignty and territorial integrity are unacceptable
and must cease."
He condemned the Israeli regime's ongoing violations of Syria’s
sovereignty and expressed hope for a future determined by the
Syrians themselves and "defined by peace, dignity, and
opportunity" in Syria.
Guterres pledged a stronger UN role in supporting Syria's future,
stressing the need for international “partnership and solidarity.”
"No country emerges from a very severe conflict and rebuilds itself
on its own," the UN chief said. "We have no UN agenda for Syria.
Our agenda is the agenda of the Syrian government and the
Syrian people."
The secretary general is scheduled to address Syria's
parliament on Monday before leaving for Cyprus.
Separately, in an interview with Al Jazeera on Sunday, Jolani said
he is actively working with several countries to reach a security
agreement with Israel, insisting -- that such a deal would not
compromise Syria's right to the occupied Golan Heights.
Jolani, once affiliated with al-Qaeda and Daesh, also ruled out
“any military intervention in Lebanon,” saying discussions
were underway with the Lebanese government on
solutions that would help ensure the
country's safety.
"The solution in Lebanon is not necessarily a security one,
and we are working on a comprehensive approach to the
crisis," he said, noting that "any chaos in Lebanon....
could have repercussions for Syria."
He voiced support for "the Lebanese state's monopoly over
arms," implicitly supporting Hezbollah's disarmament.
Since late 2024, following the fall of president Bashar al-Assad
government during an Israeli-backed onslaught overwhelming
Syria, Israeli forces have advanced into a United Nations-
designated Area of Separation created in 1974.... after
a UN-brokered ceasefire.
The 235-square-kilometre zone was originally intended as neutral
territory to prevent escalation, patrolled by UN peacekeepers.
Most countries still reject Tel Aviv’s annexation
of the broader Golan Heights, seized in 1967.
The regime alleges that some of its deeper strikes inside Syria are
meant to defend the Druze minority, a claim met with skepticism
by independent analysts, who note that the Israeli military has
simultaneously bombed civilian infrastructure and political
targets far from any verified sectarian frontlines.
The Druze, themselves, have also
rejected “Israeli protection.”
Trump, has embraced the new Syrian ruler, who rose to power
as a result of the Israeli-backed military drive. He has hosted
him at the White House.
_______________________________________
Iran ‘will not allow’ US to dictate
timing of war and peace:
FM spox
July 27th, 10:13am
(PressTV)
The Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson says Iran will not allow the
United States to determine when war begins or ends, stressing
that the country's decisions on defense and diplomacy.... are
guided solely by its national interests and national security.
Esmaeil Baghaei made the remarks at a press conference on
Monday --- in response to a question about media reports
claiming that Iran and the US had responded to a joint
proposal by Pakistan and Qatar for a ceasefire and a
return to negotiations, while US weapons transfers
to the region continued.
Addressing Iran's decision-making process, Baghaei said
the country's policies are shaped --- through established
institutional mechanisms rather than external pressure.
“As a matter of principle, we are neither concerned about oil
nor about America's concerns. What matters to us is our
national interests and national expediency,” he said.
“Determining a country's national interests and expediency, is not
a one-variable equation; it involves many different considerations.
Ultimately, what guides our decisions is our national security and
national interests. Decisions in this regard are made through a
fully transparent and well-defined process ....involving all the
relevant decision-making bodies of the Islamic Republic,”
the official went on.
“We have never allowed, and never will allow, the United States to
dictate the timing of war and peace. We will continue to defend
ourselves ....for as long as our national interests and national
expediency require. Whenever we conclude that diplomacy
can serve as an effective instrument for safeguarding our
national interests, we will certainly make use of it.”
‘Ukrainian attack on Iranian vessel
bears dire consequences’
Elsewhere in his remarks, the spokesperson strongly
condemned a recent deadly Ukrainian attack on an
Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea,
saying the atrocity took place.. while the
Islamic Republic --- has never had any
involvement in the conflict between
Russia and Ukraine.
The atrocity serves... as an “unlawful act” --- that would not
go unanswered, he added, asserting --- that countries that
consider themselves supporters of the Ukrainian regime
should also be accountable -- for recent developments.
“[Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky's owners should
control him ----- and exercise caution” in light of the dire
consequences that such aggression could have, the
spokesperson stated, describing the attack as a
symbolic action taken to attract international
attention and “demonstrate your limited
weight in international affairs.”
Pointing to scheduled meetings of Zelensky and Israeli
prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu with US President
Donald Trump, Baghaei criticized the destructive
alignment among the trio.
“This grouping can only be described as a kind of triangle of
evil,” he said, adding, "Such triangles have never had any
positive effect on international peace and security.''
‘Iran seeks good relations with
neighbouring countries’
The official stressed that Iran does not seek confrontation
with its neighbours. “We have absolutely no hostility
towards any of them. On the contrary, there are
extensive ties and shared interests between
Iran and the countries on the southern
shores of the Persian Gulf.”
Some regional countries have, however, allowed their
territories to be used by parties carrying out attacks
against Iran & in certain cases, have independently
participated in those operations --- prompting
retaliatory action by the Islamic Republic
against US interests in those states,
he added.
According to the official, the Islamic Republic views such
cooperation ----- as an instance of a “war crime” and
expects it to cease.
‘Iran-Oman talks constructive,
have nothing to do with US’
Baghaei also provided an update on bilateral talks between
Iran & Oman, saying several rounds of discussions held on
Friday and Saturday had been “useful and constructive.”
He said the negotiations concern the management of
maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and are
aimed at developing mechanisms.... to ensure safe
navigation while respecting the sovereign rights
of the two coastal states.
Baghaei emphasized that the negotiations
are strictly bilateral.
“These negotiations have no connection whatsoever
with the United States. They are a bilateral matter
between Iran and Oman, and the talks.....
are continuing.”
______________________________________
Red Sea shipping slumps -------
after Yemen strikes on Saudi
oil facilities: Report
July 27th, 7:59am
(PressTV)
Commercial shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has
reportedly dropped to its lowest level in months after
Yemeni forces targeted Saudi oil facilities along
the Red Sea coast.
According to shipping data released by Kpler on Monday,
only 11 commodity vessels transited the Bab el-Mandeb
Strait on Sunday, as the Yemenis ---- seek to block
Saudi exports.
The decline in maritime traffic pushed prices for physical
crude cargoes in West Asia, Europe and Africa to
two-month highs last week.
Of the vessels passing through Bab el-Mandeb on Sunday,
seven were oil tankers, including three entering the Red
Sea. Two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) were en
route to Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port to load crude,
while the third was a Russian-linked tanker.
Four vessels departed the Red Sea the same day, including
the Hong Kong-flagged VLCC New Explorer, carrying
around two million barrels of Saudi and Emirati
crude, bound for China’s Ningbo port.
Other outbound shipments included one million barrels of
Russian crude destined for China ...and approximately
750,000 barrels of Saudi crude heading to Pakistan.
Another Hong Kong-flagged VLCC, New Pearl, carrying two
million barrels of Saudi crude, was also transiting Bab el-
Mandeb toward China’s Zhoushan port... becoming the
4th Chinese-bound supertanker to leave the Red Sea
since the Yemenis announced a naval blockade.
Yemen hit three Saudi-linked tankers in two days: Report
Exclusive source tells Al-Mayadeen no Saudi oil vessel has
passed through Bab el-Mandeb since the blockade began;
16 ships turned back in one week.
On July 13, Saudi forces struck Sana’a International Airport,
violating a 4-year-long ceasefire, and prompting Yemen’s
armed forces to resume retaliatory operations.
In the following days, the Yemeni forces targeted strategic
sites in Saudi Arabia, including Abha International Airport
----------- in a direct response to the continued Saudi
military aggression.
Last Monday, Ansarullah announced the start of a “siege for
siege” policy, declaring a naval blockade against Saudi
maritime traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The movement said the measure was intended to match
the restrictions & military pressure imposed on Yemen,
stressing ------- that its operations will continue until
attacks on the country come to an end.
Yemen’s military spokesman Yahya Saree also said
on Saturday - that the resistance group targeted
facilities belonging to Saudi state oil company
Aramco --- in the cities of Jizan and Yanbu.
Meanwhile, vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz
- also remained well below normal levels. Fewer than
10 commodity vessels crossed the strategic water-
way each day.... over the weekend.
Seven vessels transited the strait on Sunday, including
three Iranian-linked oil product tankers departing
the Persian Gulf.