According to Shi’a belief, Prophet Ibrahim rebuilt the Kaaba by God’s command and invited people to perform Hajj. Hajj reminds Muslims of his devotion, sacrifice, and complete submission to God.

The Kaaba is a symbol of monotheism and the oneness of God. In Shi’a belief, the Kaaba is not worshipped itself; rather, it serves as a unified direction so that all Muslims turn toward God in an organized and united way.

Hajj is one of the branches of religion and an obligatory duty commanded by God. Hajj strengthens monotheism (Tawhid), obedience to God, and unity among Muslims. It is a renewal of the covenant between the servant and God.

1. Deterrence Framework in Iran’s Defense Policy

According to many Iranian experts, Iran’s defense doctrine is based on the principle of deterrence. Deterrence means creating defensive and response capabilities to make any potential military action against the country costly and risky. The main objective of this approach is to prevent war and preserve national and regional stability.

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2. Iran’s Warnings About Regional Consequences in Case of an Attack

Some Iranian analysts point out that Iranian officials have warned in recent years that any military attack by the United States could lead to broader regional consequences. According to these analysts, such warnings are part of a deterrence strategy and are intended to demonstrate that a military confrontation may not remain limited to one specific area.

In this context, some experts believe these warnings indicate that residents of various parts of the region, including Israel, could face risks and consequences resulting from the expansion of conflict.

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3. The Role of Missile and Defense Capabilities in This Equation

Iranian military experts emphasize that the country’s missile and defense capabilities serve as a key element of deterrence. These capabilities are designed to maintain strategic balance and reduce the likelihood of military action. According to these analysts, the existence of such capacities encourages military decision-makers to consider the broader consequences of any potential action.

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4. Primary Objective: Preventing Escalation

Many Iranian security experts stress that the purpose of expressing such positions is to prevent escalation and reduce the likelihood of direct conflict. They emphasize that effective deterrence contributes to stability by demonstrating that military action could lead to unpredictable and widespread consequences.

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Conclusion

From the perspective of some Iranian analysts, warnings about regional consequences in the event of a military attack are part of a deterrence strategy. This approach is intended to increase awareness of the potential costs of conflict and to reduce the likelihood of war, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining regional stability and security.

1. What is Autophagy?

Autophagy is a scientifically proven biological process in which cells break down and recycle damaged components and waste materials. This process helps:

Clean and repair cells

Reduce the risk of diseases

Slow down aging processes

Improve immune system function

Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries related to autophagy.

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2. Why Islamic fasting helps activate this process

Islamic fasting has specific characteristics:

Complete abstinence from food and drink for several hours (typically 12–16 hours)

No calorie intake during the fasting period

A fixed daily schedule (from dawn until sunset)

Repetition of this pattern consistently for one month

Scientifically, when the body does not receive energy for several hours, it begins using internal energy reserves. During this state, autophagy becomes more active, helping the body repair and renew itself.

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3. A key scientific advantage of Islamic fasting structure

One important feature of Islamic fasting is its alignment with the body’s natural circadian rhythm (day–night biological clock). This alignment helps:

Regulate hormones more effectively

Improve insulin sensitivity

Enhance fat metabolism

Allow the body to enter a cellular repair state

Because eating is restricted to specific hours and follows a natural daily cycle, the body has sufficient time to perform maintenance and recovery processes.

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4. Important note about other types of fasting

Scientifically, abstaining from food for extended periods can activate similar biological processes. However, Islamic fasting combines several beneficial features:

Precise timing

Consistent daily repetition

Balanced fasting duration (not too short and not excessive)

Alignment with natural biological rhythms

This combination allows the body to benefit from repair processes in a balanced and sustainable way.

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Scientific conclusion

Islamic fasting helps activate autophagy, regulate metabolism, and improve immune and hormonal function. These effects are among the most important scientifically

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

English translation:

O you who have believed, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous.

Brief explanation:

This verse teaches that fasting is a command from God given not only to Muslims but also to earlier communities. The main purpose of fasting is to develop righteousness (taqwa), which means self-control, awareness of God, and avoiding wrongdoing. Fasting is therefore a spiritual practice that strengthens a person’s character and discipline, not just abstaining from food and drink.

Hamas has condemned Israel’s repeated threats to eliminate the resistance movement, stating that ongoing violations of the Gaza ceasefire reflect a complete disregard for international agreements and diplomatic efforts aimed at halting the genocide.

In a statement on Tuesday, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem criticized remarks by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who reaffirmed that Israel’s objective remains the “destruction of Hamas” and suggested giving US President Donald Trump room to intervene “in his own way.” 

Qassem said the comments reveal Israel’s blatant dismissal of political processes and international negotiations, underscoring the urgent need to defend Palestinian lives and sovereignty.

He described the renewed references to war as a form of psychological warfare, coming after two years of genocide in Gaza that left tens of thousands dead and caused widespread destruction, yet failed to achieve Israel’s stated objective of breaking Palestinian resistance.

The spokesperson said Israel’s continued military aggressions and threats reveal a deliberate effort to sabotage the ceasefire and intensify pressure on the Palestinian population.

Qassem called on the international community to impose sanctions on Israel. He welcomed a joint statement by 20 countries condemning Israel’s recent measures to tighten control over the occupied West Bank, stressing that such policies only deepen instability and oppression in the region.

Addressing governance in Gaza, Qassem stated that Hamas had agreed from the outset to establish a Gaza administrative committee and remains ready to transfer responsibilities in coordination with Palestinian factions, under the oversight of civil society representatives and international parties.

He attributed delays to Israeli obstruction and insufficient political and financial support from guarantor states.

Responding to statements by the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) foreign minister about readiness to assume control of Gaza, Qassem condemned the PA for limiting itself to media statements without taking practical steps and previously missing opportunities to establish unity mechanisms.

Qassem also condemned comments by US Ambassador to Occupied Palestine, Mike Huckabee as a “scandal” for US foreign policy.

In an interview released on Friday, Huckabee said that it would be “fine” if Israel occupied all of the land between the Nile River in Egypt and the Euphrates river in Syria and Iraq.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 172,000, most of them women and children.

Press TV’s website 

A group of Israeli settlers has been offered a lavish meal during a rare visit to a high-security prison where Palestinian detainees face harsh conditions, including restrictions during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The visit was reportedly organized by Israel Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi, who hosted more than 20 settlers from Har Homa, an illegal settlement in the occupied Quds, the Middle East Eye reported on Monday.

According to the report, the group was transported to Nitzan Prison near Ramla for what was described as a “safari tour”. The tour’s itinerary included visits to multiple prison wings, among them a maximum-security section housing Palestinians accused of involvement with armed groups.

During the visit, detainees were made to lie on the floor in handcuffs as part of what prison officials characterized as standard security protocol during operational procedures, the report said.

The tour also featured a religious lesson and concluded with a lavish lunch for the settlers, it said.

Observers noted the unusual nature of the visit, as access to Israeli prison facilities is typically restricted.

The Israeli regime has historically limited entry, barring many rights organizations and tightening rules on family and legal visits. In recent months, officials reaffirmed a ban preventing Red Cross representatives from meeting Palestinian detainees, citing security concerns.

That comes as Palestinian prisoner advocacy groups have reported worsening conditions inside Israeli prisons during the ongoing holy month of Ramadan. Lawyers and rights organizations say Palestinian detainees have struggled to observe the fast, with some prisoners not having been informed of the beginning of Ramadan and denied adequate pre-dawn and evening meals.

Advocates argue that such measures deepen the hardship faced by Palestinians already enduring severe restrictions in Israeli prisons.

Press TV’s website 

Dozens of international humanitarian organizations have petitioned Israel’s top court to block an order that would force at least 37 NGOs to halt humanitarian operations in the besieged Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank, and east al-Quds.

The NGOs argued that, as an occupying authority, the Israeli regime “must facilitate relief for civilians under its control” in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.

Leading organizations, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Oxfam, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and CARE, were notified on December 30, 2025, that their registrations had expired. They were given 60 days to renew by submitting lists of their Palestinian staff.

Failure to comply would force these organizations to suspend operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, including east al-Quds, beginning March 1.

The NGOs warned that compliance with the Israeli order would expose local Palestinian employees to potential retaliation and violate data protection laws.

“Turning humanitarian organizations into an information-gathering arm for a party to the conflict stands in total contradiction to the principle of neutrality,” the petition states.

Since the onset of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, at least 133 NGO workers have been killed in the besieged Palestinian territories, including 15 MSF staff members.

Filipe Ribeiro, MSF head of mission in the Palestinian territories, noted that the enforcement of the Israeli ban is already taking effect in practice, with aid supplies blocked and visas denied to foreign staff.

“We haven’t been able to get international staff inside Gaza since the beginning of January. Israeli authorities denied any entry to Gaza, but also to the West Bank,” Ribeiro said last week.

The humanitarian organizations said they collectively provide more than half of all food assistance in the besieged Palestinian territories and oversee 60 percent of field hospital operations.

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Netherlands says US “double standards” have been exposed after the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) published a Persian-language video instructing Iranians on how to make contact with the agency.