Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the arrest of 50 Mossad agents over the past two weeks in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan.

On Tuesday, the IRGC confirmed confiscating weapons and military ammunition, including American-made equipment that was in the possession of the detainees.

The IRGC revealed that these agents were planning to carry out acts of sabotage targeting the country’s infrastructure and economic centers.

Since the Israeli attack on Iran on June 13, Iranian authorities have continued to crack down on agents and spies across various provinces.

Iranian police foil ammunition smuggling attempt in Pol-e Dokhtar, arrest three

In a related context, police in Lorestan Province, Western Iran, have dismantled a smuggling ring involved in transporting a large cache of military ammunition, confiscating over 22,000 rounds of Kalashnikov bullets and arresting three suspects in the city of Pol-e Dokhtar.

Brigadier General Yahya Elahi, police chief of Lorestan, announced on Tuesday that the operation was launched after police intelligence units flagged suspicious activity involving two vehicles on one of the region’s highways.

Officers attempted to intercept the vehicles, but the drivers tried to flee. Police forces responded by disabling the vehicles through gunfire, successfully apprehending all three occupants.

Over 22,000 rounds of Kalashnikov ammo seized

A thorough search of the vehicles revealed more than 22,000 rounds of Kalashnikov ammunition. Authorities suspect the shipment was part of a broader arms trafficking network operating within Iran.

According to Brigadier General Elahi, the suspects had loaded the ammunition in Iran’s western provinces and intended to smuggle it to the southern regions of the country.

The case is currently under further investigation to determine the full scope of the operation and identify additional collaborators.

Iran thwarted Israeli attempts to undermine domestic security, judiciary spokesperson says

On Monday, Iranian Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir stated that the Israeli occupation had attempted to undermine domestic security through a network of hostile operatives and spies, aiming to sow chaos and carry out acts of sabotage alongside military strikes.

Jahangir stressed that these plots were thwarted thanks to the decisive measures taken by judicial and security agencies.

He added that urgent orders were issued to establish special judicial branches across provinces to prosecute traitorous elements and to begin tracking virtual accounts linked to the Israeli occupation, in coordination with the relevant security bodies.

AL MAYADEEN, 1.7.2025

ISTANBUL – The US said on Monday that it may remove the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group from its terror list, following the lifting of sanctions on post-Assad Syria.

According to a statement, the US State Department announced it will review the terror designation of HTS and consider fully suspending the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, in line with a directive by US President Donald Trump.

It will also review the Specially Designated Global Terrorist designations of HTS and Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa, as well as Syria’s State Sponsor of Terrorism designation, while exploring further sanctions relief through the UN.

“Today’s actions mark the beginning of a new chapter for the people of Syria as they work to shape a future that is safe, stable, and successful,” the statement said.

The White House said on Monday that Trump signed an executive order to terminate the US sanctions program on Syria.

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the move aims to support Syria’s “path to stability and peace.”

In May, Trump announced at an investment forum in Riyadh that he would lift the “brutal and crippling” sanctions on Syria. A day later, he held a landmark meeting with Sharaa in Saudi Arabia – the first meeting between the US and Syrian leaders in 25 years.

Bashar Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups captured Damascus on Dec. 8 in a swift offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

ANADOLU, 1.7.2025

NEW DELHI – At least 41 people have died in two separate explosions in southern India, at a pharmaceutical plant and firework factory, officials said Tuesday.

The death toll from a fire which broke out due to a suspected explosion at a pharmaceutical plant in the Telangana state rose to 36, according to a senior fire official.

The incident took place at a unit of Sigachi Industries in the Sangareddy district of Telangana.

“36 bodies have been recovered from the debris,” Nageswara Rao, a fire department official said.

The fire caused part of a building to collapse, trapping workers under the debris.

The state government has put together a high-powered committee to “review and investigate the mishap and its underlying causes.”

“A panel has been tasked with submitting recommendations on preventing such accidents in the future,” said a Monday night statement by the chief minister’s office.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said he was “anguished” by the loss of lives. He also announced compensation for the relatives of the deceased and the injured.

In a separate incident, at least five people died in an explosion in a firework factory in the southern Tamil Nadu state.

A fire official in the state’s Virudhunagar district told Anadolu that five workers were killed in the blast at a firecracker factory in the Sivakasi area.

ANADOLU, 1.7.2025

JERUSALEM, July 1 – More than one-third of businesses in Israel reported a sharp drop in revenue due to the recent 12-day conflict with Iran, according to a new survey issued by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday.

The survey, titled “Struggles of Business During the Israel-Iran War,” found that approximately 35 percent of businesses experienced a revenue decline of more than 50 percent in June.

Only 17 percent of businesses said they did not expect any impact on their revenue for the month.

The food and beverage industry was hit hardest, with about bout 65 percent of businesses expecting severe revenue losses, compared to just 11 percent in the hi-tech and financial sectors.

The conflict also led to a significant drop in employment across many businesses. Between June 23 and 25, when the survey was conducted, 35 percent reported reducing their workforce by more than 80 percent, with some reporting a complete suspension of operations.

The food and beverage industry was still the most affected, with around 70 percent of businesses operating with less than 20 percent of their usual workforce, while only 12 percent of high-tech and financial companies reported such a drop in staffing levels.

According to the survey, the main causes of disruption included security-related closures, employee absences, decreased demand, transportation and supply issues, and school closures.

The survey was based on responses from 1,840 companies, representing 66,936 businesses that cover 2.14 million jobs in the Israeli private sector.

Israel launched a series of major airstrikes on June 13 targeting nuclear and military sites across Iran, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians, and injuring many others.

Iran retaliated with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory, causing casualties and damage.

A ceasefire between the two countries was reached on June 24, ending 12 days of fighting.

XINHUA

ZHENGZHOU, July 1 – Two people have died and six others are still missing following torrential rains in Xixia County in the city of Nanyang, central China’s Henan Province, the local emergency response headquarters said Tuesday.

Torrential downpours with total precipitation of 225.3 mm in two townships triggered a sudden surge in the water level in the downstream of a local river on Monday, damaging infrastructure and leaving some residents trapped.

Following the flooding, rescue efforts were immediately implemented, with two people successfully rescued.

Further search and rescue efforts are underway in the quest to locate the missing individuals.

XINHUA

TEHRAN, June 30 – The death toll from a recent Israeli attack on Evin Prison in the Iranian capital Tehran rose to 79, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Monday.

The victims of the June 23 attack included visiting family members, prison staff, inmates and residents of nearby buildings, Tasnim quoted Iranian judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir as saying.

He added that several others were wounded in the “criminal” attack, without specifying the exact figure.

The spokesman noted that 935 Iranians were killed during Israeli attacks on Iran between June 13 and 24, including 38 children and 132 women.

On June 13, Israel launched major airstrikes on different areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. Iran responded by launching several waves of missile and drone attacks on Israel.

After 12 days of fighting, a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was reached on June 24.

XINHUA

NEW DELHI, June 30 – At least four people, including an elderly woman, were shot dead Monday by unidentified gunmen in India’s northeastern state of Manipur, officials said.

The attack took place near Mongjang village in Churachandpur district, about 96 km south of Imphal, the capital city of Manipur.

“Unidentified assailants today afternoon ambushed a car, killing a rebel leader affiliated Kuki insurgent group along with his two bodyguards. An elderly woman also lost her life near the spot in the incident after being hit by a stray bullet,” an official said.

The bodies have been sent to a hospital for post-mortem.

Preliminary investigations carried out by the police suggested the victims were fired barrage of shots from a point-blank range.

So far, no group has claimed the killings.

XINHUA

AMMAN, June 30 – The death toll from methanol poisoning in Jordan has risen to nine, with 17 others still receiving medical treatment, the Public Security Directorate (PSD) said in a statement on Monday.

The announcement followed an investigation into a series of poisoning cases reported last Thursday in the northeastern Zarqa Governorate.

PSD spokesperson Amer Sartawi said on Sunday that several people had experienced symptoms including nausea, dizziness, and respiratory distress after consuming tainted alcoholic beverages.

Investigators traced the toxic alcohol to a single factory, which had distributed the product under multiple brand names, Sartawi said.

Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of methyl alcohol — a toxic substance unfit for human consumption — in both the victims’ biological samples and the confiscated products, he added.

The factory has been shut down and several suspects arrested, pending legal proceedings, according to the state-run Petra news agency. Authorities have also launched a recall of the contaminated products.

Methanol, or wood alcohol, is typically used for industrial purposes. Ingesting it can cause severe health effects, including blindness, organ failure, and death.

XINHUA, 30.6.2025

TEHRAN, Jun. 30 – The Iranian education minister says that as many as 30 students and 7 teachers were martyred by the Israeli regime during the imposed 12-day.

Speaking to reporters, the Iranian education minister Alreza Kazemi said that as many as 30 students and 7 teachers were martyred by the Israeli regime during the imposed 12-day.

He added that measures have been taken in his ministry to protect the lives of students and their teachers at the time of war, explaining “14 committees have been established and contingency scenarios for special circumstances have been developed.”

MEHR, 30.6.2025