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Tehran was far from its usual hustle and bustle on Tuesday, but life was regaining some colour despite concerns from residents that a tentative ceasefire between Iran and Israel may not hold, after nearly two weeks of war.In Tajrish bazaar in north Tehran, everyone had their own opinion on whether the end to the fighting announced by US President Donald Trump would last.”I don’t think it is sustainable,” said Ahmad Barqi, a 75-year-old vendor of electronics. “We would like a ceasefire… but they don’t implement it, they don’t keep to their promises,” he said, referring to the Israelis.”It seems Israel is violating the truce,” said Alireza Jahangiri, another merchant, who heard state media reporting that Israel had carried out three rounds of strikes after the ceasefire was announced.Nevertheless, no strikes had been recorded in Tehran since the early morning, after a night in which residents were woken by explosions more numerous than previously in the war.”Fortunately, we have survived,” said one relieved Tehrani taking advantage of the truce and the good weather to walk in the park, while nearby cafes were welcoming young people happy to be able to meet up again. They were among those who had stuck it out in the capital, but the question remains whether those who fled Tehran will be convinced to return.”We will see. I think that we will stay another week in the north to see how things develop,” said Amir, 28, who spoke to AFP by phone. – ‘Boom, peace’ -Amir said he “froze for a minute” on hearing that Trump had announced a ceasefire on social media in the middle of the night.”It was really shocking. Trump just said he would think for two weeks before making a decision (to bomb Iran), but all of a sudden he bombed everywhere. He said he wasn’t pursuing regime change and all of a sudden, boom, peace. I really don’t know… about the ceasefire but honestly, I don’t think things will return to normal,” he said.Benyamin, 28, said he too was doubtful about peace but that he had no choice but to return to the capital from the shores of the Caspian Sea, because his income had been slashed.The 12-day crisis has badly impacted economic life in Tehran, with large numbers of businesses as well as public offices forced to close while private offices in the most exposed neighbourhoods were deserted. Israeli strikes destroyed or damaged public buildings, in particular those related to the military, the Revolutionary Guards or Iran’s nuclear programme, as well as killing civilians in buildings where high-ranking officials and scientists lived.”When there’s a war, everyone suffers economically,” said Jahangiri, the Tajrish merchant. “But I don’t think we should think about that right now. The priority is the aggression against our beloved country, to which we must respond, the sixty-year-old said.Iranian authorities presented the halt in strikes as a “triumph that forced the enemy to regret, accept defeat and unilaterally cease its aggression”. But they added that Iran “does not trust its enemies at all” and “keeps its finger on the trigger for a decisive response” in the event of renewed “aggression”.

The United Nations on Tuesday condemned what it said was Israel’s “weaponisation of food” in Gaza and called it a war crime, urging its military to “stop shooting at people trying to get food”.The head of the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees also called a new US- and Israel-backed food-distribution system in the Gaza Strip an “abomination”.The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began handing out food in Gaza on May 26 after Israel completely cut off supplies into the occupied Palestinian territory for more than two months, sparking warnings of mass famine.The UN and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF — an officially private effort with opaque funding — over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives.”Israel’s militarised humanitarian assistance mechanism is in contradiction with international standards on aid distribution,” said UN human rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan.”The weaponisation of food for civilians, in addition to restricting or preventing their access to life-sustaining services, constitutes a war crime.”He stressed that only a court could make a legal determination on whether war crimes have been committed.- Fatalities -Kheetan noted “scenes of chaos around the food distribution points” of the GHF.”Desperate, hungry people in Gaza continue to face the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risk being killed while trying to get food,” he told reporters in Geneva.Since the GHF began operating, “the Israeli military has shelled and shot Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points, leading to many fatalities”, he said.Kheetan pointed to reports that “over 410 Palestinians have been killed as a result, (while) at least 93 others have also been reportedly killed by the Israeli army while attempting to approach the very few aid convoys of the UN and other humanitarian organisations”.He said those figures came from the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip and from other sources, including NGOs.Kheetan said the UN human rights office was in the process of verifying the figures — and in both cases, further people may have been killed from other sources of fire — something his office cannot confirm.”At least 3,000 Palestinians have been injured in these incidents,” he added.”Each of these killings must be promptly and impartially investigated, and those responsible must be held to account.”Kheetan cautioned that the system “endangers civilians and contributes to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza”. The UN said in May that “100 percent of the population” of the besieged territory were “at risk of famine”.”Humanitarian assistance must never be used as a bargaining chip in any conflict,” he said.The UN rights office demanded immediate action to rectify the situation.”The Israeli military must stop shooting at people trying to get food,” said Kheetan.- ‘Abomination’ -Meanwhile Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA, slammed GHF as “an abomination that humiliates and degrades desperate people”. “It is a death trap costing more lives than it saves,” he told a press conference in Berlin.Israel has accused UNRWA of providing cover for Hamas militants and earlier this year banned the agency from operating on Israeli soil or contacting officials. Lazzarini called for UNRWA to regain access to the Palestinian territory and restart its aid efforts.”The humanitarian community, including UNRWA, has the expertise and must be allowed to do their job and provide assistance with respect and dignity,” he said.”There is no other alternative to address the challenges of spreading hunger in the Gaza Strip.”GHF said Monday it had distributed roughly 680,000 food boxes so far.”GHF workers continue to provide meals safely and securely,” said the foundation’s interim chief John Acree, adding: “Our system is working, and we will press on.”nl-burs/rjm/apo/phz

Israel said Tuesday it has agreed to US President Donald Trump’s declaration of a ceasefire with Iran, adding that it has achieved all its objectives in the 12-day war with its arch-foe.Hours after Trump said his ceasefire had taken effect, Israel said it intercepted two Iranian missiles, with Defence Minister Israel Katz vowing that the military would “respond forcefully”.Iran denied launching missiles at Israel after the ceasefire announcement, and said it had “compelled” Israel to “unilaterally halt its aggression”, while stopping short of officially accepting the ceasefire plan.Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier said that if Israel stopped “its illegal aggression,” Tehran would have “no intention” to continue fighting.The US leader had said the truce would be a phased 24-hour process beginning at around 0400 GMT Tuesday, with Iran unilaterally halting all operations first. He said Israel would follow suit 12 hours later.”THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. The Israeli government said: “Last night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the cabinet… to announce that Israel had achieved all the objectives of Operation ‘Rising Lion’ and much more.”It added that it had removed “an immediate dual existential threat: nuclear and ballistic”.”Israel will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire,” the statement said, while the army added that the “danger persists” despite the truce announcement.Iran’s top security body said the Islamic republic’s forces had “compelled” Israel to “unilaterally” cease fire, adding that they remained “on high alert” to respond to “any act of aggression”.Referring to a “divine gift”, the Supreme National Security Council said Iran’s actions against Israel led to “victory and triumph that compelled the enemy to regret, accept defeat, and unilaterally halt its aggression”.- ‘Respond forcefully’ -After Trump said the truce had taken hold, Israel’s Katz said he had ordered the Israeli army “to respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire” after incoming Iranian missiles were reported by the military.A military official told AFP on condition of anonymity that “two missiles were launched from Iran and they were intercepted”.Iran however denied launching missiles at Israel after the announcement.Earlier, Israeli rescuers said four people were killed in an Iranian strike, with state media in the Islamic republic reporting waves of missiles were headed toward Israel.In Iran, state television said an overnight Israeli strike in northern Iran killed nuclear scientist Mohammad Reza Seddighi Saber, who was under US sanctions.- Strikes on US base -Any cessation in hostilities would come as a huge relief to world leaders frantic about an escalation in violence igniting an even wider war.Israel launched “preemptive” strikes against Iran on June 13, hitting nuclear and military sites as well as residential areas, and prompting waves of Iranian missile attacks on Israel. While Iran and Israel have been in a shadow war against each other for decades, this has been by far the most destructive confrontation between the arch-foes.The war has also seen US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, followed by an Iranian missile launch towards the largest US military facility in the Middle East — Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.Calling for de-escalation, Trump said Tehran had given advance notice of the barrage. Iran’s National Security Council confirmed having targeted the base “in response to the US aggressive and insolent action against Iran’s nuclear sites and facilities”. It added that the number of missiles launched “was the same as the number of bombs that the US had used” against Iran.Ali Vaez, a senior advisor at the International Crisis Group, told AFP: “This was calibrated and telegraphed in a way that would not result in any American casualties, so that there is an off ramp for both sides.”According to a US defence official, the attack was conducted using “short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles”.Qatar summoned the Iranian ambassador on Tuesday after Iran’s assault, with the foreign ministry expressing its “strong condemnation” and repeating that the country “retains the right to respond to this egregious violation”.The assault came after the United States joined its ally Israel in the war with Iran, attacking an underground uranium enrichment centre with massive bunker-busting bombs and hitting two other nuclear facilities.- Hopes for truce -AFP reporters heard blasts in central Doha and in Lusail, north of the capital, on Monday evening, and saw projectiles moving across the night sky.Some Israelis on Tuesday welcomed the prospect of a truce after 12 days of intense fighting.”I really hope so,” said Tel Aviv resident Tammy Shel of the prospect of a lasting ceasefire.”Really. I am so tired. Everyone is tired. We just want to have some peace of mind… For us, for the Iranian people, for the Palestinians, for everyone in the region. For all human beings.” Iranians meanwhile gathered in central Tehran to celebrate, images on state TV showed, with some waving the flag of the Islamic republic and chanting “Death to America”.Israeli strikes on Iran have killed more than 400 people, Iran’s health ministry has said. Iran’s attacks on Israel have killed 28 people, according to official figures and rescuers.Saudi Arabia and the European Union welcomed Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire, while China urged Iran and Israel to seek a “political resolution” to their conflict.burs-ser/jsa

A $45 million corruption trial against 41 people including state officials began in Vietnam on Tuesday, part of the communist state’s wide-ranging anti-graft drive.The so-called “burning furnace” campaign against corruption has swept up dozens of senior government figures, including two presidents and three deputy prime ministers, as well as top business leaders.In the latest case, …

Vietnam puts 41 on trial in $45 mn corruption case Read More »

US President Donald Trump said a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was in force on Tuesday, urging both sides to “not violate it” on the 12th day of the war between the two arch-foes.”THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform. The US leader had earlier said the truce would be a phased 24-hour process beginning at around 0400 GMT Tuesday, with Iran unilaterally halting all operations first. He said Israel would follow suit 12 hours later.Israeli rescuers said four people were killed in an Iranian strike, after state media in the Islamic republic reported waves of missiles were headed toward Israel.Neither Iran nor Israel have confirmed the agreement touted by Trump on ending the conflict that has killed hundreds in Iran and two dozen in Israel.Only hours before Trump’s latest announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said that “as of now, there is NO ‘agreement’ on ceasefire or cessation of military operations”.”However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards,” he said on social media.But Israel’s army said sirens were activated in northern Israel — where moments before Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported a wave of missiles were headed.At least four people were killed in the multi-wave Iranian missile attack shortly before the staggered ceasefire announced by Trump was meant to enter into force, emergency services and the military said.The Magen David Adom rescue service said three people were pronounced dead at the scene of a strike in the southern city of Beersheba while a fourth was added in an update to its figures.Explosions also continued to rock Tehran overnight, with blasts in the north and centre of the Iranian capital described by AFP journalists as some of the strongest since the conflict broke out.Any cessation in hostilities would come as a huge relief to world leaders frantic about an escalation in violence igniting a wider conflagration.The adversaries had been swapping missile fire since Israel carried out surprise “preemptive” strikes against Iran on June 13, targeting nuclear and military sites, and prompting Trump to warn of a possible “massive” regional conflict.- Strikes on US base -The US leader’s truce announcement came hours after Iran launched missiles at the largest US military facility in the Middle East — Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar — in a move Trump shrugged off as “very weak.”Calling for a de-escalation, Trump said Tehran had given advance notice of the barrage. Iran’s National Security Council confirmed having targeted the base “in response to the US aggressive and insolent action against Iran’s nuclear sites and facilities”. But it added that the number of missiles launched “was the same as the number of bombs that the US had used” — a signal that it had calibrated its response to be directly proportional rather than escalatory.”This was calibrated and telegraphed in a way that would not result in any American casualties, so that there is an off ramp for both sides,” Ali Vaez, a senior advisor at the International Crisis Group, told AFP.The offensive came after the United States joined its ally Israel’s military campaign against Iran, attacking an underground uranium enrichment centre with massive bunker-busting bombs and hitting two other nuclear facilities overnight Saturday into Sunday.As international concern mounted that Israel’s campaign and the US strikes could ignite a wider conflict, French President Emmanuel Macron insisted that “the spiral of chaos must end” while China warned of the potential economic fallout.- ‘Blatant aggression’ -Iran said its assault in Qatar wasn’t targeting the Middle Eastern neighbour, but the government in Doha accused Tehran of “blatant aggression” and claimed its right to a “proportional” response.Iran’s state media quoted the Revolutionary Guard Corps announcing that six missiles had hit Al Udeid, which had been evacuated beforehand, according to the Qataris. The broadside was made up of “short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles,” a US defence official said.AFP reporters heard blasts in central Doha and in Lusail, north of the capital, on Monday evening, and saw projectiles moving across the night sky.Iranians gathered in central Tehran to celebrate, images on state TV showed, with some waving the flag of the Islamic republic and chanting “Death to America”.Qatar earlier announced the temporary closure of its airspace in light of “developments in the region”, while the US embassy and other foreign missions warned their citizens to shelter in place.Israeli strikes on Iran have killed more than 400 people, Iran’s health ministry has said. Twenty-four people have died in Iran’s attacks on Israel, according to official figures.burs-ft/hmn/dv/tc