E3 warn Iran: Sanctions return without August deal
(JNS) — The United Kingdom, France and Germany have told the United Nations that they are ready to reimpose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear activities if a diplomatic solution is not reached by the end of August, AFP reported on Wednesday.
A joint letter from the three European powers, known as the E3, addressed to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the U.N. Security Council and seen by the outlet, reportedly states that the three countries are “committed to using all diplomatic tools at our disposal to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon” unless Tehran meets the deadline.
The letter goes on to threaten “snapback sanctions,” which would allow the international body to quickly reinstate penalties on the Islamic Republic for violations of the 2015 nuclear deal.
U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, adopted on July 20, 2015, paved the way for removing sanctions against Iran. The snapback mechanism allows any country that signed the agreement to automatically reinstate sanctions in the event of a serious violation by the Iranian regime, revoking all relief granted as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Hamas praises Australia’s Albanese on Palestinian statehood
(JNS) — The Hamas terrorist group has welcomed Australia’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state at the U.N. General Assembly annual general debate in September.
“We welcome Australia’s decision to recognise the state of Palestine, and consider it an important step towards achieving justice for our people and securing their legitimate rights,” Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef said in a statement to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age on Wednesday.
“This position reflects political courage and a commitment to the values of justice and the right of peoples to self-determination,” the statement continued.
“We call on all countries, especially those that believe in freedom and human dignity, to follow Australia’s example and translate their positions into practical steps to support the Palestinian people and end their suffering under occupation.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the move on Monday, following declarations by France, the United Kingdom, Canada and other countries that they will recognize a Palestinian state, although the conditions for recognition differ by country.
Holocaust museum in Guatemala vandalized by anti-Israel activists
(JNS) — The Museum of the Holocaust — Museo del Holocausto in Guatemala City was vandalized this week by pro-Palestinian activists, in a rare incident of antisemitism in the Central American country, the museum’s director said on Thursday.
The vandals spray-painted “Gaza Viva” on the museum’s walls in Guatemala City on Sunday night, and affixed some 18 posters referencing the Gaza Strip.
“With all the problems happening in far-away Guatemala with criminal gangs, it is disturbing how a small group of people is using the excuse of the war in Gaza to target the Jews,” Marco Gonzalez, director of the museum, told JNS on Thursday.
The vandalism took place the night after about two dozen pro-Palestinian protesters held a small demonstration in Guatemala City, he said.
Security cameras caught the images of three vandals just before midnight, the museum director said. No arrests have been made in the case.
The museum, which opened in 2016 and is operated by a Paris-based Christian organization, is the only Holocaust museum in Central America.
Former Iranian regime official leaves Princeton
(JNS) — Seyed Hossein Mousavian resigned from his job as a visiting research collaborator at Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security in May after 15 years at the school, according to his official biography.
Before joining the faculty, Mousavian served as a senior Iranian nuclear negotiator from 2003 to 2005 and as the Islamic Republic’s ambassador to Germany from 1990 to 1997.
U.S. lawmakers and Iranian dissidents have accused Mousavian of continuing to serve the regime and of culpability for Iranian terrorist attacks, including the 1992 Mykonos Restaurant assassinations in Berlin, in which an Iran-linked hit squad gunned down four Iranian-Kurdish opposition leaders.
UEFA displays ‘Stop killing children’ banner at PSG-Tottenham match
(JNS) — Two Palestinian children took part on Wednesday in the medal ceremony of the 2025 UEFA Super Cup soccer match in Udine, Italy, while a banner reading “STOP KILLING CHILDREN — STOP KILLING CIVILIANS” was displayed during the teams’ line-up before kickoff.
UEFA (The Union of European Football Associations) decided to display the message on the pitch in front of the players despite its own rules that prohibit the conveying of political, ideological and religious messages in stadiums.
Article 44 of the UEFA Safety and Security Regulations states: “The promotion or announcement, by any means, of political messages or of any other political actions inside or in the immediate vicinity of the stadium is strictly prohibited before, during and after the match
Rolex founder suspected of being Nazi spy, per declassified British intel documents
(JNS) — The luxury Swiss watch company Rolex told The Telegraph that it has hired a noted Holocaust-era historian to investigate a report published in the paper that the company’s founder was suspected of being a Nazi spy.
The Telegraph reported on the matter, drawing on recently declassified British documents, which suggested that British intelligence was monitoring Hans Wilsdorf, concerned that the German businessman was spreading Nazi propaganda. (JNS sought comment from Rolex.)
Wilsdorf was “well known for his strong Nazi sympathies,” according to the intelligence documents.
UN watchdog altered key metric, lowering bar to declare Gaza famine
(JNS) — The United Nations–affiliated Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) recently declared a “worst-case scenario of famine” in Gaza but quietly adjusted one of its core measurement standards in the process — making it easier to issue such a designation, The Washington Free Beacon reported on Tuesday.
In its July 29 assessment, the IPC, a coalition of Western governments, U.N. agencies, and humanitarian groups, reported that “mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths” in the Hamas-controlled territory.
Oct. 7 documentary pulled from Toronto film festival allegedly over use of Hamas-owned footage
(JTA) — The Toronto International Film Festival has rescinded an invitation to screen an Israeli documentary about Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel — in part over concerns that the filmmakers did not have Hamas’ right to use its footage from the deadly day.
The film festival, known as TIFF, also said it was seeking to avert a “potential threat of significant disruption” over the film. Some events focusing on Israeli perspectives on Oct. 7 have faced protests from pro-Palestinian demonstrators who oppose Israel’s military response in Gaza.
The documentary, titled “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” tells the story of retired IDF General Noam Tibon’s rescue mission of his son Amir Tibon and his family during Hamas’ attack on Kibbutz Nahal Oz, where over a quarter of residents were killed or taken hostage. It was made by a Canadian filmmaker, Barry Avrich.
