
Al-Yahmadi: Iraq's Hosting of Arab Parliament Sessions Underscores Deep-rooted Solidarity with the Palestinian Cause
President of the Arab Parliament, Mohammed Ahmed Al-Yahmadi, asserted on Saturday that Iraq's hosting of the Arab Parliament's sessions serves as a powerful testament to the Arab world's unwavering solidarity in support of Palestine.
In his address while chairing the Palestine Committee—attended by an Iraqi News Agency (INA) correspondent—Al-Yahmadi stated:
'We extend our sincerest greetings as we convene the first session of the Palestine Committee within the fourth legislative term, here in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. This session is dedicated to deliberating the Palestinian issue and the ongoing atrocities being inflicted upon its people—including mass killings, forced displacement, and the wholesale destruction of essential infrastructure such as healthcare facilities, administrative centers, water networks, electricity grids, and transportation routes. These acts constitute some of the most egregious violations of international humanitarian law, committed by the Zionist occupation in both Gaza and the West Bank, leaving thousands of civilians—primarily women and children—dead, countless others missing beneath the rubble, and over two million Palestinians displaced and struggling to survive amidst severe shortages of food and potable water.'
He continued:Firm in our conviction that the Palestinian cause remains the Arab world's foremost and most sacred issue, the Arab Parliament categorically rejects any and all efforts aimed at liquidating or undermining the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The Parliament reaffirms its resolute commitment to the Palestinian struggle through sustained diplomatic engagement and coordinated efforts with regional legislative bodies. We call for the mobilization of international support, not only in solidarity with the Palestinian people's suffering, but also to help them achieve their full legitimate rights. Furthermore, we demand a firm international stance to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable, initiate immediate reconstruction in Gaza, halt all forced displacements, and support the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, as a pathway to enduring peace and stability in the region.'
Al-Yahmadi added: Our presence today within the halls of the Iraqi Parliament—and Iraq's initiative in hosting these critical deliberations—reflects the depth of mutual solidarity between the Iraqi and Arab parliaments, and a shared commitment to supporting our Palestinian brothers and sisters. This meeting affirms the imperative of reinforcing Arab unity in defense of the Palestinian cause, and in pursuit of a just and lasting peace. We reiterate our support for the Palestinian people's steadfastness on their ancestral land, reject all forms of demographic engineering or forced migration, and call for robust Arab contributions toward the swift and comprehensive reconstruction of Gaza in a manner that guarantees the population's continued existence on their homeland.'
He emphasized:We call for the immediate return of all displaced persons, an urgent and comprehensive ceasefire, the full withdrawal of occupying forces from the entirety of Gaza, and the unconditional lifting of the siege to facilitate the unhindered delivery of humanitarian and medical aid. We categorically condemn the targeted bombings of hospitals and humanitarian institutions by the occupation forces.'
Al-Yahmadi warned that 'the occupying power has flagrantly crossed all red lines and is actively engaged in policies of ethnic cleansing. We denounce its ongoing campaign of assassinations and its attempts to silence voices of truth and justice. We call upon the international community—particularly the United Nations Security Council and the International Criminal Court—to undertake immediate, concrete action to halt the aggression in Gaza and hold the leaders of the occupation fully accountable for their continuous war crimes.'
He concluded by welcoming 'the outcomes of the emergency Arab Summit hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt on March 4, 2025, which reaffirmed the unity of the Arab position and its categorical rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians under any pretext—rightly identifying such acts as crimes of ethnic cleansing and violations of human rights. The Arab Parliament fully endorses the reconstruction plan proposed by Egypt and adopted by the summit, as it ensures the resilience and permanence of the Palestinian people on their historic homeland. We commend the tireless efforts of Arab leaders who continue to champion the Palestinian cause and uphold the legitimate rights of its people in the face of ongoing aggression.'
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Hamas Member In Unusual Article: Iran And The Resistance Axis Sustained A Heavy Blow In The War; We Must Act To End The Hostilities In Gaza
Following the announcement of the ceasefire between Israel and Iran on June 24, 2025, Ibrahim Al-Madhoun, a member of the national relations department of the Hamas movement abroad, published an unusual article in which he admitted that the unity of the resistance axis – led by Iran and encompassing Hamas, Hizbullah, the Houthis and other Shi'ite militias in the region – has been severely damaged. Madhoun called on Hamas to take "courageous decisions" and advance political measures to put an end to the war in Gaza. In the article, which was posted on Al-Madhoun's social media accounts and on Palestinian and Arab news sites, he tried to outline the power-balances after the Israel-Iran war. In contrast to the Iranian narrative about an absolute victory for Iran, he wrote that Israel had dealt "a severe and significant blow to Iran's nuclear program, which will delay it for decades," and called this an important strategic achievement for Israel. At the same time, he argued that Israel had failed to achieve an absolute victory, because it too sustained severe damage and because Iran was not "directly defeated." He assessed that the Iranian regime will survive and will not give up its nuclear program, but will instead gain strength in preparation for the next confrontation. Moreover, it will "launch a stronger regional Iranian initiative" instead of the resistance axis, "albeit in a different style and through milder and more flexible means." Al-Madhoun added that the U.S. was the biggest winner in this war, since it managed to curb the ambitions of both sides and to prevent the war from escalating and spreading to other fronts. Ibrahim Al-Madhoun (Image: The following are translated excerpts from Al-Madhoun's article: "If the war [indeed] stops now, in accordance with Trump's vision, Iran may not be at its best, but it will emerge [from the war] without having been directly defeated, and then there will be no possibility of pronouncing an absolute loser or winner. Iran will continue to maintain its regime and will refuse to halt its nuclear program. I fact, it will work to rehabilitate itself, address its security vulnerabilities and rebuild its defense infrastructure. [Moreover,] this confrontation will provide it with experience and resilience in any future conflict, and the world will see it as a country that managed to stand firm against Israel and the U.S…, which will open new horizons for strengthening its international relations, especially with China and Russia. 'At the same time, Iran will pay a political and military price [for this war], and will not be able to restore the former unity of the 'resistance axis.' It will be forced to rearrange its priorities and revise its policies, yet it will have a real opportunity to launch a stronger regional Iranian initiative [instead of the resistance axis], albeit in a different style and through milder and more flexible means. "As for Israel, it did not achieve a complete victory, but it did deal a severe and significant blow to Iran's nuclear program, which will delay it for decades. This is an extremely important strategic achievement. Due to this blow, Iran will be preoccupied for decades with rebuilding [its nuclear program], while the Israeli sword will remain hanging over its head, in full coordination with Washington. But Israel, [too], did not emerge from this confrontation without losses. It sustained blows unlike any it had experienced before, and the missiles reached deep into its territory. Moreover, it will no longer be able to impose new equations on the Middle East as it wishes. On the contrary, following this confrontation, it may enter a phase of being constrained [by the U.S.]. "At present, it appears that the U.S. is the biggest winner of this campaign, for it managed to contain Iran and force it to rethink its considerations without needing to topple its regime. It also sent a clear message to Israel, that the ceiling of its ambitions is determined by Washington and must not be exceeded. Additionally, it maintained the stability of the Gulf and prevented the eruption of additional fronts that would have complicated the regional scene. "As for Gaza, it is the most complex element in this scene... Now that this war [between Iran and Israel] has ended, there will be a real opportunity to end the aggression against Gaza… This is where the responsibility of the Palestinian political leadership and the [Palestinian] factions comes in. The time has come for [national] unity... and for [everyone] to come together under one roof: Fatah, Hamas, [Palestinian] Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine [PFLP], and all the national factions. We need deep and realistic political thinking in order to leverage Iran's position – especially in light of its continued steadfastness [in the face of Israel and the U.S.] – and strengthen our ties with our Arab and Islamic depth. We need a wise political initiative that preserves our principles, saves our people from the current massacre [in Gaza], and opens a new horizon for reorganizing our internal affairs, with the participation of all. This moment demands courageous decisions and thinking outside the traditional box, in order to create a real opportunity to protect Palestinian lives, safeguard the [national] cause and give it renewed hope."[1]


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Russian Columnist Dmitry Drize: 'Iran Is No Longer A Regional Leader'
On June 27, 2025, Russian columnist Dmitry Drize wrote in the Russian daily Kommersant an article, titled "The Middle East is Already Changing," in which he assessed that, after the 12-day Israel-Iran war, the main conclusion is "obvious": "Iran is no longer a regional leader, much less a superpower that terrifies its neighbors." "Kommersant FM" columnist, Dmitry Drize (Source: Yuri Martyanov / Kommersant) Below are excerpts of Drize's article:[1] "Iran's Nuclear Program Has Not Been Completely Destroyed, Thus Sooner Or Later Its Opponents Will Have To Repeat The Strikes" "The 12-day war is over; the progressive world community discusses how long the peace will last. There are different conclusions, but it all boils down to the fact that Iran's nuclear program has not been completely destroyed, thus sooner or later its opponents will have to repeat the strikes. The question is in the timing. As is known, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proclaimed a total and unconditional victory not only over the 'Zionist entity,' but even over America, which committed an act of aggression against absolutely peaceful objects of the Islamic Republic... "Be that as it may, Tehran admits that the nuclear program has been damaged, perhaps even critically. The meaning of these statements is clear – they are made so that [Israel and the U.S.] will no longer bomb Iran... "Donald Trump also harshly criticized journalists who question the success of the American bombing operation. The press reports that the White House will soon present a plan for the New Middle East, as a result of which wars will become a thing of the past and peace and absolute idyll will be established. Naturally, this is hard to believe. "There Are Reports That Iran Plans To Buy J-10 Jet Fighters From China" "So, what's next? The sides are now calculating their losses and evaluating their options. There are reports that Iran plans to buy J-10 jet fighters from China, which are believed to have demonstrated a great performance during the three-day war between India and Pakistan. By the way, the vehicles are supposed to be purchased instead of Russian Su-35, primarily because the Chinese models are cheaper and less fastidious in terms of maintenance. "However, it is not certain that the deal will take place. Meetings on this issue have been going on for a long time. Beijing is extremely cautious regarding such a step. America, of course, is a competitor and even an adversary, but on the other hand, it is an important trading partner [for China]. Why provide an unnecessary reason for disagreement? Especially since the future of the current power in Tehran, as mentioned above, does not look cloudless at all." "The Middle East Is Already Changing" "The main conclusion is obvious – Iran is no longer a regional leader, much less a superpower that terrifies its neighbors. So, someone else will claim this high title from now on. There are many candidates, including Turkey and the Gulf monarchies. Israel, for its part, has re-established its position, where it wields the power of the strongest. It may not be a contender for leadership, but it is better not to anger this state or test its strength. "In fact, the Middle East is already changing. It remains to be seen what the outcome of it will be. However, something tells me that the situation will not change for the worse; it is quite possible that it will be better. The process is underway and it is gaining momentum every day. This is the essence of changes in the current world order. It would be good, of course, to do without wars, but there is nothing to be done. Man is still imperfect."


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Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei After Israel-Iran War: 'We Won'; Israel Was 'Almost Completely Crushed Beneath The Missiles Of The Islamic Republic'; Iran 'Dealt A Severe Blow To America's Face'
In a celebratory victory speech from his bunker on June 26, 2025, marking the end of the 12-day Israel-Iran war, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stressed that the Zionist regime had been almost completely crushed by Iran's missiles. He congratulated the Iranian people for three main triumphs: the collapse of Israel's military due to Iran's strikes; the failure of the U.S., that had entered the fray to save Israel but had been defeated and humiliated; and the national unity shown by the Iranian people, who had stood as one alongside Iran's armed forces. According to Khamenei, the U.S. responses – first and foremost President Trump's demand that Iran surrender – revealed that the U.S.'s main intention all along was not negotiations but forcing Iran into complete surrender. Calling this demand unreasonable, he said that it only shows the scope of Washington's fear of an independent Islamic regime, and clarified that Iran will never surrender. In addition, during the days he spent in his secure bunker, Khamenei posted several announcements on his X account about Israel's collapse and about reenacting the seventh-century battles fought by Imam Ali and the Prophet Muhammad against the Jews at Khaybar in the Arabian Peninsula. The following is a translation of Khamenei's speech and X posts: Supreme Leader Khamenei: "The Zionist Regime Was Almost Completely Crushed Beneath The Missiles Of The Islamic Republic" In his June 26 victory speech, from his bunker, Khamenei congratulated the Iranian people on Iran's double victory – against Israel, which he said had been "almost completely crushed" by Iran's missiles, and against the U.S. He stated that all the U.S.'s excuses were aimed at concealing one single demand – that the Iranian people concede its position in the negotiations – but that this would never happen. He concluded his speech with a prayer for continued Iranian victories and for the help of the Hidden Imam, the Mahdi. He said: "Peace and blessings to the dear and noble people of Iran. First of all, I express esteem for the dear martyrs of the recent events – the martyr commanders, the martyr scientists – who were, truly and sincerely, precious and valuable to the Islamic Republic, and who served it. Today, with Allah's help, they are being rewarded for their excellent service before the Creator. "I see fit to congratulate the storied Iranian people [on three main issues]...:" "The Victory Over The Artificial Zionist Regime" "First, [I extend] congratulations for the victory over the artificial Zionist regime. The Zionist regime, with all its commotion and all its pretensions, was trampled and almost completely crushed under the blows of the Islamic Republic. The thought that such blows could be dealt to this regime [Israel] by the Islamic Republic had never occurred to them – but it happened." We thank Allah, who helped our armed forces overcome their advanced, multilayered defense system, and to raze to the ground many areas, both civilian and military, with [our] missiles and advanced weapons. "This [victory] is one of the greatest divine blessings. It shows the Zionist regime that it must know that aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran will cost it dearly and cause it great damage. And this happened, with Allah's help. The honor for this belongs to the armed forces and to our dear people, who established these forces from amongst themselves, who educated them, supported them, and strengthened their hand so that they could carry out such a great operation." "The Victory Of Our Dear Iran Over The American Regime" "The second congratulations concerns the victory of our dear Iran over the American regime. The American regime entered into a direct clash [with Iran] because it felt that if it did not intervene, the Zionist regime would have been completely destroyed. It entered the battle to save it, but gained nothing. They attacked our nuclear centers – in itself a matter for independent legal handling in the international courts – but did not succeed in carrying out any significant action. "The U.S. president's description of what happened was extremely exaggerated, and in the end this exaggeration was necessary. Anyone who heard his words realized that beneath the surface was a different truth. They [the Americans] did not manage to do a thing; they did not attain their aims; and they are inflating [what they managed to do] in order to hide and obscure the truth. "Here too, the Islamic Republic triumphed, and dealt a severe blow to America's face. It attacked one of America's main bases in the region, the Al-Udeid base [in Qatar], damaging it. Those who exaggerated the first incident tried to downplay [this Iranian attack] and pretend that nothing had happened, when this was a major event. The fact that the Islamic Republic succeeded in reaching America's important centers in the region, and that it will [now] be able to act against them whenever necessary, is not a small thing – it is important. Such an event could recur in the future, and, in the event of [more] aggression, the price paid by the enemy and the aggressor will certainly be heavy." Khamenei speaks from his bunker (Source: Tasnim, June 26, 2025) "The Unity And Exceptional Consent Of The Iranian People" "The third congratulations is for the unity and the exceptional consent of the Iranian people. With Allah's help, a people who numbers 90 million souls stood as one, with one voice, shoulder to shoulder, side by side, with no difference in the demands and goals that they expressed. They shouted, spoke, and supported the activity of the armed forces, and it will be like this in the future as well. The Iranian people demonstrated its nobility and its prominent and unique character, and showed that in times of need, one voice will be heard from them. With Allah's help, this happened. "A point I would like to make is that the U.S. president said in one of his declarations that 'Iran must surrender.' Surrender! The discussion is no longer about enrichment or about the nuclear industry. We are talking about Iran surrendering. Of course, these words are too big for the American president's mouth. Noble Iran, with its history, with its culture, with its national and steely determination – the mere mention of the word 'surrender' in the context of such a country is ridiculous to anyone who knows the Iranian people. "At the same time, his words revealed an important truth. The Americans have been clashing with Islamic Iran since the beginning of the [1979 Islamic] revolution, and they try to get to it every time under a different pretext. One time it's the name of human rights, sometimes it's in the name of defending democracy, and another time it's the name of women's rights; other times it is in the name of enrichment, the nuclear issue itself, or because of [Iran's] missile development. They come up with different excuses, but the essence is always the same – subjugating Iran. "Previous [presidents] did not say this openly, because no human reason accepts saying 'let's surrender' to an entire people. Thus, they concealed their intention behind other titles. But this man [President Trump] exposed the truth, showing and clarifying that the Americans will settle for nothing less than Iran's surrender, and this is a very important point. The Iranian people must know that this is the reason for the confrontation with America, and that the Americans are carrying on their backs a grave insult to [deliver to] the Iranian people. But such an event will never happen. Never. "The Iranian people is a great people. Iran is a strong and vast country, with an ancient culture. Our cultural and civilizational treasures are several hundred times greater than those of America and its ilk. The expectation that anyone will think that Iran will surrender to another country is one of those baseless nonsensical [statements] that will surely be the butt of jokes by the intelligent and knowledgeable. The Iranian people is and will remain a noble people, and is victorious and will continue to triumph, with the help of divine guidance. We hope that the Almighty God will continue to protect this nation under His grace, that He will elevate heavenward the greatness of our great Imam... "Peace and God's mercy and blessing be upon you."[1] Khamenei On X: "With All Its Commotion And Pretensions, With All Its Statements, The Zionist Regime Was On The Verge Of Collapse, Crushed Under The Blows Of The Islamic Republic" The same day, June 26, Supreme Leader Khamenei posted on his official X account a message from his speech, accompanied by an AI-generated image demonstrating his words. He wrote: "With all its commotion and pretensions, with all its statements, the Zionist regime was on the verge of collapse, crushed under the blows of the Islamic Republic." The image showed a giant army boot stomping on the Israeli flag as Iranian missiles rained down on Israeli cities.[2] June 16, 2025. The next day, June 27, Khamenei posted another AI-generated graphic on his X account demonstrating what he described as Israel being crushed. It depicted the Jewish menorah, the symbol of the State of Israel, with its seven arms set on fire by Iranian missiles and crumbling into ash amid the ruins of the city, as Israel's population thronged like vermin to the shore to try to board boats, since Israel's airspace was closed. It stated: "The Zionist regime, with all its commotion and all its pretensions, was trampled and almost completely # crushed under the blows of the Islamic Republic. The thought that such blows could be dealt to this regime [Israel] by the Islamic Republic had never occurred to them – but it happened." It concluded in Hebrew, "Israel is crushed."[3] June 27, 2025. Khamenei On X: "[Imam] Ali Returns To Khaybar With [His Double-Bladed Sword] Zulfiqar – Allah Akbar" Earlier, on June 18, Khamenei posted on X a well-known Muslim battle cry for massacring Jews. In 627 CE, Ali (aka Haidar), the first Shi'a imam and the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, participated in the campaign against the Jewish tribe, the Banu Qurayza in the Arabian Peninsula. The Jews were massacred in the Battle of Khaybar, where they lived. To this day, the antisemitic call "Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return" is chanted as a threat to Jewish communities.[4] Zulfiqar is Ali's double-bladed sword, and it is considered a symbol of Islam. The post was accompanied by an AI-generated image of the Battle of Khaybar. Khamenei wrote in his post: "In the name of the renowned # Haidar [Ali], the battle begins. [Imam] Ali returns to # Khaybar with his Zulfiqar. # Allah Akbar."[5] June 18, 2025.