NOURNEWS- The following headlines appeared in English-language newspapers in the Iranian capital on Saturday, December 16, 2023.
TEHRAN TIMES:
- 11 police forces killed in terrorist assault in southeast Iran
In a tragic incident, a terrorist assault on a police outpost in southeast Iran has resulted in the brutal murder of 11 police officers, with at least six others wounded. The attack unfolded at around 2 AM local time on Friday in Rask County, located in the southern part of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, as reported by Iranian media. The Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack. Authorities have sealed off the region and are actively searching for the assailants. Iranian police forces have deployed helicopters to aid in the swift apprehension of the terrorists. This terrorist group has consistently sought refuge in the border regions of Sistan and Baluchestan province following their operations, establishing operational bases within the territory of Pakistan. The Jaish-ul-Adl anti-Iran terrorist group has a concerning history of perpetrating bomb attacks and kidnappings in southeastern Iran, targeting both civilians and security forces in recent years
- Iran’s non-oil export to its neighbors increases 9%
The value of Iran’s non-oil export to the neighboring countries increased by nine percent during the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-November 21), the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) announced. Mohammad Rezvani-Far said that Iran exported 48 million tons of non-oil goods worth $18.38 billion to its neighbors during the eight-month period, also indicating 21 percent growth in terms of weight, year-on-year. The official said that Iran had exported 40 million tons of non-oil commodities valued at $16.9 billion to those countries in the first eight months of the previous year. The IRICA head further announced that Iran imported 14.6 million tons of non-oil goods worth $20 billion from the neighboring countries in the first eight months of the present year, with 14 percent growth in value, and seven percent rise in weight, as compared to the same time span of the past year. Increasing non-oil exports to the neighboring countries is one of the major plans that the Iranian government has been pursuing in recent years. Iran shares land or water borders with 15 countries namely UAE, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Saudi Arabia.
- Boiling the Red Sea: Just the beginning
When Israel began its deadly attacks on Gaza, few thought that Yemen would become one of the key players in this war. The intervention of Ansar Allah in Yemen in the recent war is subject to several considerations and analyses. One dimension of this intervention is economic. In fact, Ansar Allah has opened the third economic front against Israel. The first front is related to Gaza. Tel Aviv has called up 360,000 reserve forces in attacking Gaza, and tens of thousands have also left southern Israel. On the second front, Hezbollah’s movements in northern Israel have also paralyzed the economy of this region. The economic costs on these two fronts have been high for the regime. Official sources in Israel have admitted that the regime’s economy has shrunk by 15 percent in the last three months of the year. The tourism industry has almost stopped, and retail has also declined significantly. The unemployment rate has reached about 10 percent, while in the month before October, this rate was less than 4 percent.
- Palestinian support for Hamas rises
As the Israeli regime continues to mount its devastating war against civilians in Gaza, Hamas has seen its popularity increase among the starving population of the coastal enclave and the occupied West Bank. The findings of the survey in which interviews with the residents were conducted face-to-face have been published by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, which is funded by the European Union. In what will be seen as a major blow to the regime and its staunchest allies, the rise in Palestinian support for Hamas has come during the Israeli bombing campaign against Gazan civilians, according to the new study that shows higher approval levels in the Gaza Strip, which the regime has reduced to rubble with its relentless attacks. The survey reveals that a majority of the 1,231 adults polled are satisfied only with the performance of Hamas, its leaders Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyah. The report also shows that support for Hamas has more than tripled in the occupied West Bank compared to three months ago.
- Is a shift happening in Moscow’s policies in West Asia?
While Russia sought to appear even-handed during previous Israel-Gaza conflicts, the country seems to be looking at the latest wave of onslaughts against the besieged territory through a slightly different prism. Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned both warring sides, while also holding Israel accountable for the eruption of the latest round of violence. “I think that many people will agree with me that this is a vivid example of the failure of United States policy in the Middle East,” Putin said a few days after the October 7 Operation by Hamas, adding that Israel and the U.S. have not been taking the needs of the Palestinians into account. That need, he said, is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, which has been sidelined by Israeli politicians since the very first day of occupation. Russia then proceeded to host a high-ranking Hamas delegation, during the group’s first international trip after October 7.
NOURNEWS