Iran Judiciary Calls for Regime-Aligned Gov’t

On Sunday, newly elected President Massoud Pezeshkian met with former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, who congratulated him on his election victory (Jamran)
On Sunday, newly elected President Massoud Pezeshkian met with former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, who congratulated him on his election victory (Jamran)
TT

Iran Judiciary Calls for Regime-Aligned Gov’t

On Sunday, newly elected President Massoud Pezeshkian met with former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, who congratulated him on his election victory (Jamran)
On Sunday, newly elected President Massoud Pezeshkian met with former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, who congratulated him on his election victory (Jamran)

The Iranian judiciary has called for the formation of a government that aligns with the nation’s governance regime.
“We must be proactive in forming the government and help the president-elect establish a government that aligns with the Islamic Republic,” said Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei.
Ejei highlighted a 9% increase in voter turnout in the second round of the presidential elections held on June 28, compared to a 60% abstention rate in the first round.
“This shows the intelligence and alertness of our people,” he said.
Ejei echoed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s satisfaction with the elections being held in a “safe atmosphere” without disturbances.
“It was a strong blow to the enemies and opponents of Iran, thwarting their hopes to harm our country,” said Ejei.
Ejei then emphasized that the president-elect has significant responsibilities and must be supported.
Newly elected President Massoud Pezeshkian has promised to improve economic and living conditions in Iran.
Pezeshkian’s advisor, former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, urged the world to “set aside sanctions” following the elections.
The president-elect continued consulting his advisors to form his government. On Sunday, Pezeshkian met with former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, who congratulated him on his election victory.
No details of their conversation were disclosed.
Iranian state television aired a brief report on the meeting, a rare move due to past restrictions on reformist leaders following the 2009 protests.
On Monday, Pezeshkian met with former Economy Minister Ali Tayebnia to discuss the economic situation. Tayebnia is expected to be the top candidate for the economy and finance ministry. Pezeshkian reaffirmed his commitment to improving economic and living conditions.
Pezeshkian aims to lift sanctions and revive the nuclear deal to address economic issues, as the deteriorating living conditions were a major concern in the elections. All candidates acknowledged the public’s dissatisfaction with the economic crisis.
Pezeshkian received his first international call from Russian President Vladimir Putin, with both leaders agreeing to meet in person later this year, according to the Tass news agency.

 



Sweden Summons Iran Envoy after Reports of Citizen's Death Sentence

A Pakistani woman holds a national flag of Iran during a rally in solidarity with the Iranian people, in Karachi, Pakistan, 22 June 2025. EPA/SHAHZAIB AKBER
A Pakistani woman holds a national flag of Iran during a rally in solidarity with the Iranian people, in Karachi, Pakistan, 22 June 2025. EPA/SHAHZAIB AKBER
TT

Sweden Summons Iran Envoy after Reports of Citizen's Death Sentence

A Pakistani woman holds a national flag of Iran during a rally in solidarity with the Iranian people, in Karachi, Pakistan, 22 June 2025. EPA/SHAHZAIB AKBER
A Pakistani woman holds a national flag of Iran during a rally in solidarity with the Iranian people, in Karachi, Pakistan, 22 June 2025. EPA/SHAHZAIB AKBER

Sweden summoned the Iranian ambassador this week following reports that a Swedish citizen had been sentenced to death in Iran, the country's foreign minister said on Friday.

"Sweden and the EU's position on the death penalty is very clear. We always oppose it. Everywhere and regardless of circumstances, this is well known. On Wednesday, the foreign ministry therefore summoned Iran's ambassador to convey our protests against the sentence," Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told a press conference, while noting that the reports were still unconfirmed.


Putin Tells His Annual News Conference that the Kremlin's Military Goals Will Be Achieved in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds his annual end-of-year press conference in Moscow on December 19, 2025. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / AFP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds his annual end-of-year press conference in Moscow on December 19, 2025. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / AFP)
TT

Putin Tells His Annual News Conference that the Kremlin's Military Goals Will Be Achieved in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds his annual end-of-year press conference in Moscow on December 19, 2025. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / AFP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds his annual end-of-year press conference in Moscow on December 19, 2025. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Moscow’s troops were advancing across the battlefield in Ukraine, voicing confidence that the Kremlin's military goals would be achieved.

Speaking at his highly orchestrated year-end news conference, Putin declared that Russian forces have “fully seized strategic initiative” and would make more gains by the year's end, The Associated Press said.

Russia's larger, better-equipped army has made slow but steady progress in Ukraine in recent months.

The annual live news conference is combined with a nationwide call-in show that offers Russians across the country the opportunity to ask questions of Putin, who has led the country for 25 years. Putin has used it to cement his power and air his views on domestic and global affairs.

This year, observers are watching for Putin’s remarks on Ukraine and the US-backed peace plan there.

US President Donald Trump has unleashed an extensive diplomatic push to end nearly four years of fighting after Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, but Washington’s efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands by Moscow and Kyiv.

Putin reaffirmed that Moscow was ready for a peaceful settlement that would address the “root causes” of the conflict, a reference to the Kremlin’s tough conditions for a deal.

Earlier this week, Putin warned this week that Moscow would seek to extend its gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its Western allies reject the Kremlin’s demands.

The Russian leader wants all the areas in four key regions captured by his forces, as well as the Crimean Peninsula, which was illegally annexed in 2014, to be recognized as Russian territory. He also has insisted that Ukraine withdraw from some areas in eastern Ukraine that Moscow’s forces haven’t captured yet — demands Kyiv has rejected.


Hundreds of Migrants Land in Greece after Search Operation at Sea

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020 file photo, a Turkish coast guard vessel approaches a life raft with migrants in the Aegean Sea, between Türkiye and Greece.   (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel, File)
FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020 file photo, a Turkish coast guard vessel approaches a life raft with migrants in the Aegean Sea, between Türkiye and Greece. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel, File)
TT

Hundreds of Migrants Land in Greece after Search Operation at Sea

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020 file photo, a Turkish coast guard vessel approaches a life raft with migrants in the Aegean Sea, between Türkiye and Greece.   (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel, File)
FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020 file photo, a Turkish coast guard vessel approaches a life raft with migrants in the Aegean Sea, between Türkiye and Greece. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel, File)

Greece's Coast Guard rescued about 545 migrants from a fishing boat off Europe's southernmost island of Gavdos on Friday, one of the biggest groups to reach the country in recent months.

The migrants were found during a Greek search operation some 16 nautical miles (29.6 km) off Gavdos, Reuters quoted a Coast Guard statement as saying. ‌They are all ‌well and are ‌being ⁠taken to ‌the port of Agia Galini on the nearby island of Crete, it added.

Greece was on the front line of a 2015-16 migration crisis when more than a million people from the ⁠Middle East and Africa landed on its shores ‌before moving on to ‍other European countries, mainly ‍Germany.

Flows have ebbed since then, ‍but both Crete and Gavdos - the two Mediterranean islands nearest to the African coast - have seen a steep rise in migrant boats, mainly from Libya, reaching their shores over the past year and ⁠deadly accidents remain common along that route.

Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Italy will be eligible for help in dealing with migratory pressures under a new EU mechanism when the bloc's pact on migration and asylum enters into force in mid-2026.

The center-right government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said deportation of rejected ‌asylum seekers