Araghchi Warns of 'New Conspiracy' against Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a press conference following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, Russia, 17 December 2025. (EPA/Reuters/Pool)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a press conference following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, Russia, 17 December 2025. (EPA/Reuters/Pool)
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Araghchi Warns of 'New Conspiracy' against Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a press conference following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, Russia, 17 December 2025. (EPA/Reuters/Pool)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a press conference following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, Russia, 17 December 2025. (EPA/Reuters/Pool)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned of a "new conspiracy" being planned by Tehran's opponents, warning that they may seek to create economic and social unrest to destabilize the country.

Speaking at a forum in Isfahan, he explained that the conspiracy will not be based on a direct military confrontation, but an attempt to stir economic problems and weaken Iran internally.

Such a conspiracy will fail, he declared.

On Israel's 12-day war against Iran in June, Araghchi stressed that Tehran's "perseverance thwarted the enemy conspiracy that sought Iran's surrender."

He described the war as a "feat of historic resistance."

"Iran's enemies believed they could impose unconditional surrender within days, but they realized that they needed to retreat against the perseverance of the society and armed forces," added the FM.

The war "sent a message that the Iranian people will not succumb to oppression or dictates," he declared.

Israel killed dozens of Iranian commanders, officials and scientists tied to Iran's nuclear program during the June war. The US briefly joined the conflict to strike Iran's nuclear facilities.

On sanctions, Araghchi said: "We have to acknowledge that we have to live with them."

He stressed that he was aware of their impact and cost, but they also reveal opportunities to introduce reforms.

Moreover, he said sanctions are often used as a form of psychological warfare with the aim to destabilize the economy.

He vowed that the Foreign Ministry will maintain diplomatic efforts to lift the sanctions.

"It will not spare an effort" in investing in any opportunity to ease the international pressure, he added.

Netanyahu's meeting with Trump

Meanwhile, attention turns to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meeting with US President Donald Trump on Monday.

Washington has maintained its "maximum pressure" policy against Iran, while Israel has warned that Tehran was rebuilding its military capabilities after the war during which it dealt it heavy blows to its ballistic missile arsenal.

Araghchi said last week that Iran was not ruling out a new Israeli attack, "but it was prepared more than before."

Media reports have said that Netanyahu will discuss with Trump Iran's ballistic missile program.

Earlier, this week, he warned that Israel was aware of military drills Iran had recently carried out.

Israel is monitoring the situation and will respond firmly to any attack, he stressed without elaborating.



Cambodia Says Thailand Escalated Strikes During Border Talks

Members of a Thai Explosive Ordnance Disposal team inspect the site of a rocket attack during clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers in Kantharalak district of Sisaket province, Thailand, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Members of a Thai Explosive Ordnance Disposal team inspect the site of a rocket attack during clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers in Kantharalak district of Sisaket province, Thailand, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
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Cambodia Says Thailand Escalated Strikes During Border Talks

Members of a Thai Explosive Ordnance Disposal team inspect the site of a rocket attack during clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers in Kantharalak district of Sisaket province, Thailand, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Members of a Thai Explosive Ordnance Disposal team inspect the site of a rocket attack during clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers in Kantharalak district of Sisaket province, Thailand, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Cambodia accused Thailand on Friday of intensifying its bombardment of disputed border areas, even as officials from the two countries attend a multi-day meeting aimed at negotiating an end to deadly clashes.

The neighbors' long-standing border conflict reignited this month, shattering an earlier truce and killing more than 40 people, according to official counts. Around a million people have also been displaced.

Cambodian and Thai officials were in their third day of talks at a border checkpoint on Friday, with defense ministers from both countries scheduled to meet on Saturday.

However, Cambodia's defense ministry said Thailand's military carried out a heavy bombardment of disputed border areas in Banteay Meanchey province Friday morning.

"From 6:08 am to 7:15 am, the Thai military deployed F-16 fighter jets to drop as many as 40 bombs, to intensify its bombardment in the area of Chok Chey village," it said in a statement.

Thai media said Friday that Cambodian forces had launched heavy attacks overnight along the border in Sa Kaeo province, where several homes were damaged by shelling.

The two countries blame each other for instigating the fresh fighting, which has spread to nearly every province along their border.

Both countries also claim to have acted in self-defense and accuse the other of attacking civilians.

The United States, China and Malaysia brokered a truce to end five days of deadly clashes in July, but the ceasefire was short-lived.

Earlier Friday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Facebook that he had spoken by phone with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the two discussed "ways to secure a ceasefire along the Cambodia–Thailand border".

The conflict stems from a territorial dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometer (500-mile) frontier and a collection of temple ruins situated there.


Ukraine's Zelensky Says to Meet Trump in 'Near Future'

(FILES) US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, February 28, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
(FILES) US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, February 28, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
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Ukraine's Zelensky Says to Meet Trump in 'Near Future'

(FILES) US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, February 28, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
(FILES) US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, February 28, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that he would soon meet US leader Donald Trump, as part of efforts to end the Russian invasion.

"We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level –- with President Trump in the near future. A lot can be decided before the New Year," Zelensky said on social media.

The comments came after the latest round of negotiations between US and Ukrainian teams produced a 20-point plan to end the war, which has been sent to Moscow for feedback, said AFP.

The latest plan would freeze the frontline and remove a requirement for Kyiv to legally renounce its bid to join NATO, Zelensky said in a briefing Wednesday.

Moscow has up to now shown little inclination that it would abandon its hardline territorial demands that Ukraine withdraw from the eastern Donbas and relinquish its NATO ambitions.

Moscow has said it was "formulating its position" and declined to comment on the specifics of the latest plan.

On Thursday Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said progress to end the war was "slow but regular."


Malaysia Ex-PM Najib Convicted of Abuse of Power In 1MDB Trial

Jailed former Malaysian leader Najib Razak moved closer to serving the rest of his sentence at home after an appeal court ruled he could use a royal decree supporting his claim. Mohd RASFAN / AFP
Jailed former Malaysian leader Najib Razak moved closer to serving the rest of his sentence at home after an appeal court ruled he could use a royal decree supporting his claim. Mohd RASFAN / AFP
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Malaysia Ex-PM Najib Convicted of Abuse of Power In 1MDB Trial

Jailed former Malaysian leader Najib Razak moved closer to serving the rest of his sentence at home after an appeal court ruled he could use a royal decree supporting his claim. Mohd RASFAN / AFP
Jailed former Malaysian leader Najib Razak moved closer to serving the rest of his sentence at home after an appeal court ruled he could use a royal decree supporting his claim. Mohd RASFAN / AFP

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak was found guilty Friday of abusing his power in the 1MDB graft scandal, which saw billions plundered from the now-defunct sovereign wealth fund.

"The prosecution, I find, has thus proven its case against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt in respect of the first charge," Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah said, adding, "I therefore convict the accused of the first charge."