“Iran hosts int’l conference in support of Palestinians,” Xinhua, 12-24-23. “Iran hosted here an international conference to rally support for the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank on Saturday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The one-day Tehran International Conference on Palestine aimed to lift the blockade of Gaza and ensure more humanitarian aid for the coastal territory, said the statement. The conference, as part of Iran’s diplomatic efforts to back the Palestinians, was attended by officials, political, religious, media figures and scholars from more than 50 countries, the statement added. [Actually, most of the attendees were from Iran, from Tehran]. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, speaking at the conference, accused the United States of being the “first and biggest violator of democracy in the world,” and urged it not to “draw up plans for the future of Gaza, as the future of this region will be determined by its people and legal government,” according to the statement. Raisi denounced the “global hegemonic system” for violating human rights in Gaza, expressing regret for the deaths of many Palestinian civilians, including children and women, and the destruction of many homes in the war-torn enclave over recent weeks. In a separate event on Saturday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei criticized the U.S. veto of several UN Security Council resolutions demanding a ceasefire in Gaza as a “shameless move and complicit” with Israel in its bombardments of civilians in Gaza, according to a statement published on his website. The Iranian leader called again on Muslim countries to stop exports of commodities, oil and fuel to Israel.”
As these things always are, when Iran attacks Israel, it doesn’t mind attacking the world. It was a Japanese-owned commercial tanker, Liberian-flagged, Netherlands-operated, and the AP reported the tanker had ties with Israel. The crew was 20 Indians and one Vietnamese, and had left Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and was heading to Mangalore, India. It is now in Mumbai for repairs with the assistance of the Indian Coast Guard. “Japan-owned tanker attacked by drone fired from Iran in Indian Ocean,” Kyodo News, 12-24-23.
As much as the relationship is symbiotic, Iran doesn’t get everything it wants from Russia, and vice versa. This story is also reflective of Russia’s refusal to give carte blanche to Iran over the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf entryway straits, fearing the blowback from other countries against Russia. Of course, it also funny to read Iran’s justification for its territorial claims and that they are “forever,” something foreign to international law and international relations. “Iran summons Russia’s envoy again over islands dispute,” Al Jazeera, 12-24-23.
“Khamenei Silent As Russia Again Undermines Iran’s Territorial Integrity,” Iran International, 12-24-23. This is an example of Iran International reporting on a rift at the highest levels of the Regime, news the Iranian government doesn’t want out.
“Iran’s navy adds ‘fully smart’ cruise missiles with 1,000-km range to its armory,” Times of Israel, 12-24-23. “State TV quotes navy chief boasting of 2 new cruise missiles: Talaeieh can change targets during travel, while Nasir, with a range of 100 km, can be installed on warships.”
“Why Iran-backed Houthi attack on MV Chem Pluto is a threat to global maritime security,” Hindustan Times, 12-24-23.