China urges citizens in Iran to evacuate

Prince Reza Pahlavi on Friday praised the “brave presence” of people in Nurabad Mamasani in rejecting Iran’s ruling system and raising the pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flag.

Residents gathered in large numbers in the town on Thursday to mark the 40th day since those killed in the January protests.

In a post on X, Pahlavi said their actions, despite the “great massacre,” showed firm resolve and marked a path toward victory for the Iranian nation.

He addressed Iran’s people, saying they had historically acted as guardians of the country and had used their “arms and honor” to defend the homeland and its territorial integrity.

“Together and united, we will take Iran back and rebuild it freer and more prosperous than before,” he wrote, ending his message with “Long live Iran.”

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee urged embassy staff in Jerusalem on Friday to leave the country immediately if they wish to depart, citing security concerns, New York Times reported.

In an email sent to mission employees at 10:24 a.m. local time, Huckabee said those who want to leave “should do so TODAY” and advised them to secure seats on outbound flights from Ben-Gurion Airport as soon as possible.

The embassy has shifted to an “authorized departure” status, allowing nonessential personnel and their family members to leave at government expense, he wrote, describing the move as taken out of “an abundance of caution” after consultations with the State Department.

“There is no need to panic,” Huckabee said in the email, but added that it was important to make plans to depart “sooner rather than later.”

The warning comes as tensions rise over the prospect of a US strike on Iran. Israel could face retaliation by Iran or its allies in the event of military action.

A State Department travel advisory issued earlier on Friday authorized the departure of non-emergency US government personnel from Israel due to safety risks.

The US State Department on Friday authorized the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and their family members from Israel due to safety risks, according to an updated travel advisory.

The department said the decision reflects security concerns and warned that the US Embassy may further restrict or prohibit travel by US government employees to certain areas of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem and the West Bank without advance notice.

It said persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available.

The advisory urged US citizens to reconsider travel to Israel and the West Bank due to terrorism and civil unrest, and said they should not travel to Gaza due to terrorism and armed conflict.

It also advised against travel within 4 km (2.5 miles) of the Lebanese and Syrian borders and within 11.3 km (7 miles) of the Gaza demarcation line.

The department said the security environment remains complex and can change quickly, and that violence can occur without warning.

US citizens in Israel were advised to remain vigilant, avoid demonstrations and review contingency plans.

The UN human rights chief Volker Turk on Friday called for an immediate moratorium on the death penalty in Iran, warning that more people could face execution after a court issued the first death sentence linked to January mass protests this week.

“I am horrified by reports that at least eight people, including two children, have been sentenced to death in connection with the protests,” Turk told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

He added that another 30 people appear to be at risk of receiving the same sentence.

Turk urged Iranian authorities to halt executions and review the cases in line with international human rights law.

A group of Iranian filmmakers renewed a January statement condemning the suppression of anti-government protests, with 83 additional signatories joining the declaration in recent days, bringing the total to 266.

“We, the filmmakers of Iran, condemn the suppression of people’s protests under any pretext. Protest is the natural and civil right of every human being. No power has the right to consider itself above the people,” the signatories wrote.

In a statement on January 25, the editorial board of Iran International said more than 36,500 people were killed during the targeted suppression of the Iranian protesters on the orders of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Continue reading...