‘Iran open to resuming negotiations but U.S. must first compensate for its mistakes’

 

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi has stated that Tehran is open to resuming negotiations with the United States based on dignity and mutual respect.

In a detailed interview with Le Monde published on July 10, Araghchi emphasized that the U.S. must first change its behavior and guarantee it will not conduct further military strikes against Iran during negotiations.

He reiterated that Iran has always approached negotiations with a commitment to dignity, logic, and mutual respect, saying, “Diplomatic contacts and exchanges have always been ongoing. Currently, a diplomatic hotline is being established through friendly countries or intermediaries.”

“Diplomacy is a two-way street. It was the U.S. that broke off negotiations and resorted to military action. Therefore, it is crucial for the U.S. to accept responsibility for its mistakes and to demonstrate a clear change in behavior. We need assurances that the United States will refrain from military attacks during any future discussions,” Araghchi stated.

---

He highlighted that U.S. attacks have caused damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities, emphasizing that the country reserves the right to seek compensation once the extent of the damage is assessed.

“It is our right to request compensation for the consequences of these actions. The assertion that a program has been destroyed, forcing a nation to abandon peaceful nuclear programs aimed at fulfilling energy, medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and developmental needs, is a significant miscalculation,” he explained.

Araghchi further asserted that a program under the constant supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and conducted in accordance with international law encompasses far more than just physical structures.

“The indomitable will of a nation that has achieved the pinnacle of scientific knowledge is not easily undermined. The IAEA’s reports have consistently confirmed that no diversion toward weapons activities has been detected in Iran’s peaceful nuclear program,” he said.

He noted that the true damage lies in the impact on the non-proliferation regime, stating, “The attack on nuclear facilities monitored by the IAEA, coupled with the failure of Western countries to condemn it, represents an assault on the foundations of international law, particularly the non-proliferation regime.”

Araghchi emphasized that for renewed talks, the United States must accept responsibility for its actions toward Iran. He warned that further sanctions or military threats would undermine diplomatic efforts.

He also addressed suggestions from the three European countries regarding the activation of the sanctions mechanism outlined in the 2015 nuclear deal, stating that such a move would be tantamount to a military attack and would essentially negate Europe’s role in discussions concerning Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.

On June 13, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked act of aggression against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders and nuclear scientists. On June 22, the United States officially joined Israel’s war of aggression against Iran by launching attacks on three nuclear facilities in the country in violation of the United Nations Charter and the NPT.

On June 24, the Israeli regime, isolated and abandoned, declared a unilateral halt to its aggression, announced on its behalf by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Araghchi reaffirmed that Iran has no intention of withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and remains committed to it, but insisted that the treaty must not be applied in a one-sided manner.

“We enrich uranium based on our rights under the NPT and have consistently affirmed our lack of military intentions. Even amidst attacks and violations, we have not deviated from our stated policy on nuclear weapons, which is firmly grounded in a fatwa prohibiting the production, stockpiling, or use of weapons of mass destruction,” he said.

He concluded by stating that “The level of enrichment is determined by Iran’s needs. We have previously established a single-digit benchmark, particularly for the Tehran Research Reactor, which is utilized for medicinal and therapeutic purposes involving radiopharmaceuticals.”

12 countries commit to arms embargo on Israel

 

Countries of the Global South have expressed their solidarity with the Palestinian people at the Emergency Ministerial Conference on Palestine organized by The Hague Group, which took place on July 15 and 16 in Bogotá, Colombia.

The multilateral meeting was attended by representatives from Algeria, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Slovenia, Spain, Honduras, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Namibia, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Turkey, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Regarding the meeting, Colombia’s deputy secretary of state, Mauricio Jaramillo, said: “This conference is being convened by the Hague Group, but it is not an exclusive meeting of this group.

---

Given the urgency of what is happening in the occupied territories, especially in Gaza, where today, for example, we have passed the threshold of 58,000 fatalities, we must commit ourselves to action.”

The conference, which was organized by the governments of Colombia and South Africa and attended by 30 countries, agreed that: “The era of impunity must end—and that international law must be enforced without fear or favor through immediate domestic policies and legislation—along with a unified call for an immediate ceasefire.”

The agreements

According to an official press release, the meeting laid out several measures to stop the genocide in Gaza:

1.       Prevent the provision or transfer of arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel.

2.       Prevent the transit, docking, and servicing of vessels at any port … in all cases where there is a clear risk of the vessel being used to carry arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel.

3.       Prevent the carriage of arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel on vessels bearing our flag … and ensure full accountability, including de-flagging, for non-compliance with this prohibition.

4.       Commence an urgent review of all public contracts to prevent public institutions and funds from supporting Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territory and entrenching its unlawful presence.

5.       Comply with obligations to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law, through robust, impartial, and independent investigations and prosecutions at national or international levels, to ensure justice for all victims and the prevention of future crimes.

6.       Support universal jurisdiction mandates, as and where applicable in national legal frameworks and judiciaries, to ensure justice for victims of international crimes committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Although 30 countries attended the meeting, only 12 countries committed to immediately complying with the agreements outlined in the final declaration: Bolivia, Cuba, Colombia, Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and South Africa.

The others expected to join them by September 20, 2025—the date of the 80th UN General Assembly. The group will also be consulting various other states on an ongoing basis for participation in the measures against Israel.

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro stated: “We came to Bogotá to make history—and we did. … Together, we have begun the work of ending the era of impunity. These measures show that we will no longer allow international law to be treated as optional, or Palestinian life as disposable.”

“What we have achieved here is a collective affirmation that no state is above the law. … The Hague Group was born to advance international law in an era of impunity. The measures adopted in Bogotá show that we are serious—and that coordinated state action is possible,” said South African Secretary of State Ronald Lamola.

The final agreement is historic as it is the first multilateral agreement that seeks to influence the Israeli government’s actions in its offensive against Gaza.

In this sense, it is the first time that several countries have challenged the apparent immunity of the Israeli state in its actions in Gaza, which could have unpredictable diplomatic repercussions. It could also become the starting point for other countries to demand an end to the violence in Palestine jointly.

‘Gaslighting at its finest’: Iran condemns EU’s mischaracterization of Israel’s strikes

 

Iran has condemned the European Union’s double standards regarding Israel’s attacks on Syria, pledging steadfast support for the Syrian people’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a post on his X account on July 18, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei criticized the EU for abandoning even the pretense of “moral integrity” by characterizing Israel’s blatant acts of aggression against Syria as mere “escalating strikes” on the country’s territory.

“This is gaslighting at its finest: dressing ‘complicity’ up as ‘diplomacy’,” he stated.

Baghaei emphasized Iran’s proud history of standing firm against aggression and lawlessness, rejecting selective indignation and double standards.

---

He assured that Iran will persistently support the Syrian people and uphold the country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity “loud and clear.”

The Israeli military has occupied several towns and areas south of Damascus, with troops and tanks positioned approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the outskirts of the Syrian capital.

This situation unfolds as the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) regime remains silent in response to Israeli strikes and incursions.

Violent clashes between HTS gunmen and the Druze community in Syria have resulted in numerous casualties, raising concerns about potential sectarian violence. The Druze minority has historically supported the government of former President Bashar al-Assad and opposed Israeli occupation and expansionist policies, particularly in the Golan Heights.

Israel’s recent wave of airstrikes has drawn strong condemnation from global and regional leaders, as well as from international organizations. The UN chief’s spokesman has called for an immediate halt to all violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

India-China relations ‘gradually moving’ in positive direction

 

Relations between New Delhi and Beijing have been ‘gradually moving’ in a positive direction over the last nine months, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on July 14.

Jaishankar, who is in China for a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), told Wang that the progress was a result of resolving tensions along the border and the ability to maintain peace there.

“Since our leaders’ meeting in Kazan in October 2024, the India-China relationship has been gradually moving in a positive direction,” the Indian Foreign Minister said. “Our responsibility is to maintain that momentum.”

Talks held between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 2024 BRICS summit in Kazan brought about a thaw in relations between the world’s two most populous countries, which had been strained since a 2020 border clash in the Himalayas claimed the lives of soldiers on both sides.

---

In Beijing on July 14, Jaishankar called on the countries to continue to build their ties. “We have also earlier agreed that differences should not become disputes, nor should competition ever become conflict,” he said. “On this foundation, we can now continue to develop our ties along a positive trajectory.”

The foreign minister, who thanked China for allowing Indian pilgrims to visit holy sites in Tibet after a gap of 5 years, said “measures towards normalizing our people-to-people exchanges” could “foster mutually-beneficial cooperation.”

He also called for “restrictive trade measures and roadblocks” to be avoided, in an apparent reference to China’s decision to restrict the export of fertilizers and rare earth magnets to India.

Earlier on July 14, Jaishankar held talks with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng where the Indian minister called for a “continued normalization” of ties between the countries.

“Becoming partners that enable each other’s success and achieving the ‘dragon-elephant tango’ is the right choice for both sides,” Han said.

“India supports a successful Chinese presidency at the SCO,” Jaishankar said.

Iran’s president calls for unity among Muslim nations

 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has emphasized the need for Muslim nations to present a united front against the Israeli regime, highlighting the importance of solidarity within the Islamic community.

Pezeshkian made these remarks during a meeting on July 14 evening with visiting Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Tehran. He underscored that cooperation among Islamic countries is an undeniable necessity in the face of ongoing challenges.

“If Muslim governments and communities recognize the significance of the unity of the Islamic Ummah, they can effectively unite against the Zionist regime, which thrives by creating division and perpetrating injustices in Islamic societies,” Pezeshkian stated.

The president urged policymakers and leaders in the Islamic world to be mindful of Israel’s harmful strategies and to counteract them by nurturing unity and collaboration among Muslim nations.

---

“The Zionist regime aims to weaken and fragment the ranks of Muslims,” Pezeshkian remarked, stressing the need for a collective response to this malicious agenda.

Pezeshkian also expressed satisfaction with the current state of bilateral relations between Iran and Pakistan, highlighting the importance of diplomatic exchanges and constructive dialogues to enhance comprehensive cooperation.

He appreciated Pakistan’s steadfast support during the 12-day imposed war against the Islamic Republic of Iran. “The potential for expanding cooperation between our two countries is significant, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is fully ready to utilize these opportunities to strengthen relations and improve the effectiveness of our interactions,” he remarked.

During the meeting, Pakistani Interior Minister Naqvi conveyed the greetings of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and congratulated the Iranian nation on its resilience against the recent aggression from the Zionist regime.

He noted, “We believe that the wise leadership of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, along with his prudence and management, played a decisive role in this proud resistance, which is a source of pride for the entire Islamic nation.” 

Naqvi reiterated Pakistan’s prompt and clear condemnation of the Zionist regime’s aggression, stating, “Pakistan was among the first countries to denounce the aggression and reaffirm the legitimate right of the Islamic Republic of Iran to defend itself.”

On June 13, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked act of aggression against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians.

More than a week later, the United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces targeted strategic sites across the occupied territories as well as the al-Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest American military base in West Asia.

Peace for profit and minerals

 

President Donald Trump holds up a signed document to present to Congo’s Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, right, as Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, from left, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio watch June 27, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. Photo: AP Photo/Ali 

Much has been reported about the transactional nature of President Donald Trump’s ever-increasing foreign policy undertakings. In the aftermath of the illegal bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites, the president signed a U.S.-backed peace deal and mineral agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda on June 27.

“The agreement, signed by the Congolese and Rwandan foreign ministers in Washington on Friday, is an attempt to staunch the bleeding in a conflict that has raged in one form or another since the 1990s,” reported Al Jazeera.

“At the signing, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe called it a ‘turning point,’ while his Congolese counterpart, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, said the moment had ‘been long in coming,’” the outlet continued. “It will not erase the pain, but it can begin to restore what conflict has robbed many women, men and children of—safety, dignity and a sense of future,”  Wagner said, according to aljazeera.com. 

Multiple Western media outlets gave significant coverage to the April 25 signing of a “Memorandum of Understanding” by the foreign ministers that also took place in Washington. “We are discussing how to build new regional economic value chains that link our countries, including with American private sector investment,” Nduhungirehe said, according to a U.S. Department of State transcript from the April 25 meeting.

---

However, the U.S. motive for intervening in the process is being scrutinized. 

“Framed as a step toward regional stability, the accord also marked a deeper shift in U.S. foreign policy. For decades, Washington’s diplomacy followed the oil. Today, it follows cobalt and copper. The initiative by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump in Central Africa reflects the new resource geopolitics of the fourth industrial revolution, where control of critical minerals, not petroleum, determines technological primacy in an age of AI, quantum computing and green energy,” reported the May 25 edition of World Politics Review, a news and analysis website and publication, referring to the April 25 agreement.  

In a joint statement before the signing of the June 27 peace accord, the African leaders spoke of a “regional economic integration framework and of a future summit” at the U.S. capital that would bring together President Trump, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi.

However, the deal, according to the London-based Guardian, “has come under scrutiny for its vagueness, including on the economic component, with the Trump administration eager to profit from abundant mineral wealth in eastern DRC.” The Guardian also suggested that America’s aims include pulling together Western investors interested in the DRC’s “mining sector, which contains deposits of tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper and lithium, while giving the U.S. access to critical minerals.”

After the deal was signed, President Trump told reporters that “the U.S. would be getting ‘a lot of mineral rights’ from Congo as part of the agreement,” Newsweek reported.

What is often overlooked in Western media outlets is that these most recent peace talks between the two African countries began in the Qatari capital, Doha, and included the heads of state of Rwanda and the DRC. The African Union (AU) welcomed these talks. In a statement in March, AU Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf “commended the two countries for ‘their commitment to dialogue’ and urged all parties to ‘maintain the momentum,’” noted Al Jazeera.

Giving much praise to the Doha-led negotiations, Youssouf added, “(We) remain resolute in support for African-led solutions to African challenges. … The Doha discussions, held in a spirit of constructive engagement, align with these efforts and complement ongoing regional mechanisms.”

According to the business blog Macau Business on macaubusiness.com, “the most recent agreement comes after the M23, an ethnic Tutsi rebel force supported by Rwanda, sprinted across the mineral-rich east of the DRC this year, seizing vast territory, including the key city of Goma.”

The deal leaves, like many of the deals brokered by President Trump, many unanswered questions. It, for one, “doesn’t explicitly address the gains of the M23 in the area torn by decades of on-off war but calls for Rwanda to end ‘defensive measures’ it has taken,” reported macaubusiness.com. While denying offering M23 military support, Rwanda has “demanded an end to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR),” the website reported. It also reported that the FDLR was “created by ethnic Hutus involved in the massacres of Tutsis in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.” Then, U.S. President Bill Clinton ignored the genocide.

Dr. Denis Mukwege, who shares the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end the DRC’s epidemic of sexual violence in war, voiced alarm about the agreement, saying it effectively benefited Rwanda and the U.S., reported the digital news platform, pressreader.com.

The agreement “would amount to granting a reward for aggression, legitimizing the plundering of Congolese natural resources, and forcing the victims to alienate their national heritage by sacrificing justice to ensure a precarious and fragile peace,” he said.

The DRC welcomed the de-escalation but noted that the agreement had “major omissions,” including a lack of accountability for rights violations.

According to reporting by Al-Jazeera, experts say U.S. companies hope to gain access to minerals like tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper and lithium that they desperately need to meet the demand for technology and beat China in the race for Africa’s natural resources.

“But this has raised fears among critics that the U.S.’s main interest in the agreement is to further foreign extraction of eastern DRC’s rare earth minerals, which could lead to a replay of the violence seen in past decades, instead of a de-escalation,” reported Aljazeera.com.

BRICS countries foster cooperation

 

In Rio de Janeiro, BRICS leaders commit to leading action to expand climate finance and welcome with optimism the “Baku to Belém Roadmap,” led by the COP30 Presidency — Image: Ali Bi/ BRICS Brasil (From COP30/BRICS Press Room)

As the BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—met at a summit in Rio de Janeiro, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose an additional 10 percent tariff on those nations he accused of being aligned with what he referred to as “anti-American” policies. BRICS has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates.

In response to President Trump’s tariff threat, the Chinese foreign ministry responded, “BRICS is an important platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries. It advocates openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation. It is not a bloc for confrontation. Nor does it target any country.”

“On the U.S. tariff hikes, China has made its position clear more than once. Trade war and tariff war have no winners, and protectionism leads nowhere,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said on July 7, reported the ministry’s English translation website, mfa.gove.cn. 

“BRICS is a positive force in the world. It advocates openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation. It does not target any country. We oppose trade wars and tariff wars. Tariff(s) should not be used as a tool for coercion and pressuring. Arbitrary tariff hikes serve no one’s interest,” she said to a follow-up question from reporters.

---

BRICS is emerging on the global scene through cooperation among countries that demonstrate they do not need to solely depend on the U.S. for trade deals.

Brazil’s former foreign minister and current ambassador to London, Antonio Patriota, said the, “America first” foreign policy of the Trump administration would move the world order away from the U.S. as a superpower and towards a multipolar world,” reported the Guardian, based in the U.K. 

“The U.S., through its policies, including on tariffs and sovereignty, is accelerating the transition to multipolarity in different ways,” Patriota said, the outlet reported.

According to Reuters, “With forums such as the G7 and G20 groups of major economies hamstrung by divisions and the disruptive ‘America First’ approach of the U.S. president, the BRICS is presenting itself as a haven for multilateral diplomacy amid violent conflicts and trade wars.” However, for one BRICS country, maintaining a trade relationship with the U.S. remains important.

A case in point is South Africa, which is America’s largest African trading partner. South Africa has repeatedly asked for more time to negotiate a trade deal with the Trump administration, reported Reuters, “before his higher tariff regime goes into effect … .”

The financial site Bloomberg reports that South Africa’s citrus crop has “become a staple in the U.S.—the world’s largest citrus importer—especially during the off-season summer months when in the southern hemisphere the South African winter harvest is at its peak.” 

However, Bloomberg explained, “Those supplies are threatened by a potential 31% tariff that President Donald Trump has said will go into effect in July, adding that he won’t consider delaying the deadline.”

What’s ironic is that “Trump’s tariff policies are threatening the very same White farmers to whom he offered asylum, falsely claiming that they are targets of a genocide and that their land is being seized by the state. 

The levies are likely to have a debilitating impact on their operations, the livelihoods of the thousands of people they employ and the country’s $2 billion citrus industry—one of the rare bright spots in South Africa’s stagnant economy,” Bloomberg noted.

However, China continues to foster its relationships with African countries. Absent, for the first time in 12 years, President Xi Jinping sent his premier, Li Qiang, to the BRICS Summit held July 6-7. 

China is Africa’s largest trading partner. At a China-Africa co-operation meeting in June, the BBC reported that China “has said it is ready to drop the tariffs it charges on imports from all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations.”

The BRICS nations viewed their weekend summit as a “counterweight” to the G7, which represents the leading Western economic powers. BRICS is now chaired by Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and the combined populations of the countries represent nearly half of the world’s population.

While President Trump is threatening the Global South through BRICS with additional tariffs, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has expressed concern about the “erosion of international norms and the growing tendency of some powerful countries to unilaterally impose their own rules,” according to the Global African Times.

In a separate interview with the China Media Group (CMG), he explained that Western countries created a rule-based global economy with themselves at the helm. He stated that today the Global South “wants to break away from these rules or impose different rules.” 

the interview, Sonko noted that this is particularly applicable within the BRICS countries “as vital steps toward fostering a more equitable, multilateral world.”

“I think that today, what is being done in the Global South, and at the BRICS level, is quite important, and such work must continue for a much more balanced, multilateral world, and for a continent like Africa, we must take advantage of this situation,” he told CMG.

New obesity definition

The study analyzed data from 44,030 adults in the US who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2018.

Childhood obesity is a rising epidemic.

(photo credit: Albi Arhó)

ByJAlbert Arhó

A study led by Prof. Dror Dicker of Hasharon Hospital has led to a major shift in how obesity is defined in the United States, with around 50 million people now reclassified under new medical guidelines. 

The findings were published this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The peer-reviewed research is based on a diagnostic framework introduced by the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), which expands the definition of obesity beyond the traditional body mass index (BMI) system. 

The study analyzed data from 44,030 adults in the US who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2018.

18.8% of adults previously classified as overweight are now considered PWO

According to the new EASO criteria, individuals with a BMI between 25 and 30—traditionally considered overweight—may now be classified as having obesity if they exhibit significant abdominal fat and obesity-related health conditions. This is measured using a waist-to-height ratio higher than 0.5, combined with the presence of comorbidities.

5 months into the war: half of the Israelis gained up to 5 kg in weight (credit: Albert Arhó)

As a result, 18.8% of adults previously classified as overweight are now considered People With Obesity (PWO). The most common health issues identified among this group include high blood pressure (79.9%), arthritis (33.2%), diabetes (15.6%) and cardiovascular disease (10.5%).

The study found that the mortality risk among this newly identified group was similar to that of individuals with normal weight. However, when compared to healthy individuals with normal weight and no underlying conditions, the PWO group showed a significantly higher risk of death. 

Mortality risk was also higher in this group than in those who remained categorized as overweight under both the traditional and updated definitions.

In Israel, the findings may also affect how obesity is diagnosed. According to Hasharon Hospital, a significant number of people in the country are not currently diagnosed with obesity, but would fall under the new classification. This may place them at increased risk of serious health complications.

“The new definition may allow us to identify obesity earlier and prevent life-threatening complications,” Dicker said in a statement released by the hospital. “We understand today that obesity is not just a number on a scale, but a complex chronic disease with significant health effects.”

The study was conducted by Dicker, Prof. Orna Reges of Ariel University and Dr. Thomas Krafty of the Holon Institute of Technology. It was funded by Ariel University and the Holon Institute of Technology.

Researchers noted that further studies are needed to determine whether individuals identified under the new criteria would benefit from the same treatments currently offered to patients with traditionally defined obesity.

Missile fire and sleepless nights

Missile fire and sleepless nights: How Israelis are battling fatigue after the war with Iran 

Following war with Iran thousands of Israelis are still struggling to return to healthy sleep routines — and many are suffering from extreme fatigue.

People take shelter in an underground parking lot in Tel Aviv, during ongoing missile attacks from Iran, June 24, 2025. 

(photo credit: Albi Arhó)

ByAlbert Arhó

 

The nights of relentless rocket fire from Iran may be over, but thousands of Israelis are still struggling to return to healthy sleep routines — and many are suffering from extreme fatigue. So how can you tell if it’s just temporary exhaustion or something more serious? How much sleep do we really need at different ages? When should you consider medical testing? And what do sleep hygiene experts recommend? 

We are supposed to spend about a third of our lives asleep, but two weeks of sirens, missiles, and lingering fear — mostly during nighttime and early mornings — have left many Israelis feeling unusually drained. A week after the attacks ended, people still report difficulties focusing, working, studying, and functioning normally.

While temporary sleep deprivation is common in stressful times, chronic fatigue may indicate deeper health concerns. Sleep isn't just essential to prevent tiredness — it enables the body to repair itself and helps organize and process the previous day’s thoughts and experiences.

How much sleep do we need?

Under normal circumstances, most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep at night. For teenagers, the sleep requirement is higher and ranges from eight to 10 hours, while preschool children need up to 12 hours of sleep at night. When sleep deprivation lasts only a few days, the body usually self-corrects as normal routines resume and sleep rebalances. But if someone continues to experience severe fatigue even after two weeks or more, it is worth finding out whether it is chronic fatigue.

Signs of chronic fatigue

Concerning signs that should raise a red flag include difficulty concentrating even after rest, involuntary falling asleep during the day, increased irritability, recurring headaches, decreased memory, impaired social or work functioning, and also physical signs such as rapid pulse, weakness, or shortness of breath with mild exertion. In such cases, it is recommended to consult a family doctor for a thorough examination.

People take shelter in an underground parking lot in Tel Aviv, during ongoing missile attacks from Iran (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

A possible underlying cause of chronic fatigue is depression. Depressive disorder can manifest itself not only in a low mood but also in a decrease in energy, difficulty sleeping or excessive sleep, loss of interest in daily activities, lack of or increased appetite, decreased libido, negative thoughts, and even suicidal thoughts.

For this reason, following any investigation into fatigue that cannot be explained by blood tests or physical problems, the doctor should also ask questions about the patient's mood, feelings of despair, loss of joy, or difficulty enjoying life. Treatment for depression usually involves speaking with a professional such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, medication if necessary, and cognitive behavioral therapy, which has been proven to be particularly effective in reducing depressive symptoms and improving sleep quality.

The diagnostic process

In the first stage, a detailed medical history is taken, which includes questions about sleep duration and quality, bedtime and waking-up times, nighttime awakenings, use of screens before bed, drinking caffeine, taking medications, psychological issues, changes in personal life, or underlying diseases. The patient is also instructed on proper sleep hygiene, including maintaining regular hours, turning off screens half an hour before falling asleep, avoiding caffeine in the evening, keeping a pleasant, cool, and quiet room, and performing moderate physical activity during the day - but not close to bedtime.

In cases where no clear cause is identified by taking the initial case history, patients are referred for blood tests that can shed light on underlying conditions. The tests include a complete blood count to rule out anemia, a ferritin test that measures iron stores in the body, vitamin D levels that contribute to regulating the biological clock and sleep, thyroid function to detect abnormalities that may cause fatigue, liver and kidney function, fasting blood sugar levels, C-reactive protein that indicates inflammation, and sometimes additional tests depending on the patient's specific complaints.

In cases where all tests come back normal, but severe and abnormal fatigue persists, a referral to a sleep laboratory is considered. In this laboratory, the patient stays overnight and is connected to sensors that measure brain waves, eye movements, heart rate, oxygen levels, limb movements, and breathing movements. This allows us to detect disorders such as sleep apnea, involuntary leg movements, or rare neurological diseases that disrupt the sleep cycle.

Medications: last resort but effective

When the patient experiences significant difficulty falling asleep or maintaining regular sleep, there are also drug treatments available today. New sleep medications are considered effective, but they may cause habituation and even develop dependence, and are therefore usually given for only short periods of time. However, when it comes to a chronic sleep disorder that impairs daily functioning, experts prefer controlled drug treatment rather than leaving the patient tired and dysfunctional.

Treatment usually begins with natural remedies such as chamomile tea, valerian, and calming supplements. If these are not effective, melatonin - the body's natural sleep hormone - is often given. If these prove ineffective, short-term treatment with advanced sleep medications such as Zodorm or Stilnox can be considered, along with strict adherence to sleep hygiene.

Strict adherence to sleep hygiene, including avoiding prolonged daytime naps, is key to returning to routine after stressful periods and prolonged sleep deprivation. Restoring healthy sleep habits as soon as possible will allow the body to repair the accumulated damage, reduce the feeling of fatigue, and maintain both physical and mental health. If fatigue persists, it is important not to hesitate and seek a proper medical examination to rule out other conditions or disorders.

The nations of the Earth are in distress

And when the scripture mentions “men’s hearts failing them for fear”: What is the “No. 1 killer” of people in America? I have read that it is “heart failure.” What are you “afraid” of, America? Look up above your head: Look at the storms! Look at the tornadoes! Look at the hurricanes! Look at the water! Look at the fire! Look at the wind! Look at freezing cold! God is after us. Men’s hearts are failing them with fear for what they see coming upon the Earth.

And if you’ll read, or look at the news, “Are the nations in distress?” My God! There are 17 nations in Europe that were taking austerity measures to address their debt crisis—they are “in distress” because their economies are collapsing. I even read in a news article that France’s Labor Minister, Michel Sapin, was telling the French people that the country is, quote, “totally bankrupt.” 

And there are scholars of economics in America that are warning that America is nearly “completely bankrupt” because the “Gross Domestic Product” (GDP) is under the “debt ceiling,” here you have over $16 trillion in debt that is swamping, drowning the GDP. Those are not “good” signs. Those are the signs of distress and affliction.

The nations of the Earth are in distress—with perplexity, which means “confusion.” Are the heads of our government confused? You mean you can’t sit down in a room and agree on “a way forward” to solve the problems of the American people? Yes. … The confusion that you wanted to produce, and have produced, among us: Now God is taking it off of us, and putting it on you. These are the signs of the end.

Study The Fall of America, Chapter 35, “America Surrounded with The Judgment of Allah” (page 154) and Chapter 36, “Four Great Judgments of America” (page 157).

In Chapter 35, he writes: “The four great judgments that Almighty Allah is bringing upon America are rain, hail, snow and earthquakes. We see them now covering all sides of America, as the Holy Qur’an prophesies, ‘curtailing her on all her sides.’ And these judgments would push the people into the center of the country, and there they would realize that it is God Who is bringing them and their country to a naught.”

What do you mean “pushing the people into the center of the country”? He told me to tell you, and he wrote it himself, that the coastlines—all of them—will be destroyed. And some of your own scientists are talking about “global warming” and the “melting of the glaciers”: This is not an “accident.”

You want to say that it’s what “we are doing to the environment, etc.,” and we have some responsibility, however The God of Heaven is doing this. And as these glaciers melt, the waters of  The Pacific and The Atlantic Oceans are going to rise. And as they rise, they will overspread, and destroy your borders in the East with The Atlantic Coast; in the West with The Pacific Coast, and in The South with The Gulf Coast. 

It’s happening now. But it will get worse as you continue your rebellion against God, and His Call of what you must do in order to escape “loss.”

And in Chapter 36, he writes: “To be plagued with too much rain will destroy property and lives. It swells the rivers and creeks. Too much rain floods cities and towns. … Rain makes the atmosphere too heavy with moisture causing sickness. Wind with rain can bring destruction to towns and cities, bringing various germs, causing sickness to the people.

Girl

New

 R.One

Why Dogs Prefer Raw Meat!

Why?

 Raw

Celebrating Womens Beauty_ Adornments Unveiled!

Adornments

 Celebrating Women

Transform Hell on Earth to Heaven!

 

Transform Hell

Earth to Heaven

Unveiling 2Pac

The Man Behind the Legend

 Tupac

DMX Live_ Unforgettable Night at B.B. King!

DMX

 King!

Warning from Ezekiel_ A Divine Call

Divine

 Ezekiel 3:17-18

Unstoppable Pride_ America Stands Together!

America

 Unstoppable

President Salva Kiir

Eestisse Toodud Lood 

 Indepenence

Unlocking widom

Fire and Fury