Iran urges UNESCO for protection of cultural heritage

Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council issued a statement condemning US President Donald Trump’s remarks and declaring that surrender or accepting imposed peace is not an option.

"Trump and the dreamers of the camp supporting the false Zionist regime must know that the surrender of the great Iranian nation or acceptance of an imposed peace is a futile illusion and an unattainable fantasy."

The council reaffirmed the country’s resolve to defend its national and ideological principles under the leadership of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

It criticized Trump’s call for an unconditional surrender as irrational and dismissive of Iran’s strength.

Iran will likely be a topic of discussion at next week's NATO summit, a German government spokesperson said during a news conference on Friday.

"We do not comment on allies' possible attack plans," the spokesperson said, referring to possible US military involvement in the Israel-Iran war.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would decide within two weeks whether his country would join Israeli strikes.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Friday that Iran must demonstrate serious willingness to curb uranium enrichment and include its missile program in negotiations, ahead of planned nuclear talks in Geneva.

Wadephul is set to meet with his British and French counterparts—known collectively as the E3—alongside EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas at Germany’s permanent mission in Geneva, before a joint meeting with Iran’s foreign minister.

“If this serious willingness exists, then the consequence on our part will also be that we are prepared to hold further talks,” Wadephul said before departing.

He added that Germany remains committed to Israel’s security. “Israel can rely on Germany to always keep an eye on and defend the security and existence of the Israeli state. That is part of our raison d’être,” he said.

Supporters of Venezuela’s government marched through Caracas on June 19, 2025, expressing solidarity with Iran amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.