Israel, US attempt to weaken Iran by inciting division: Iranian president

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that forces such as Israel, the United States, and some European countries have long attempted to weaken and divide Iran by inciting and creating division, according to local media reports on Saturday.

In a televised speech, he said that the priority of the Iranian government is to listen to the voices of the protesters and effectively address the legitimate concerns of the people, adding that the government has been ready for this.

Mohammad Eslami, president of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said on Saturday that at the upcoming meeting for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors, scheduled for March, the Iranian nuclear issue might be submitted to the United Nations Security Council for discussion, and that Western countries, including the United States, would not miss this opportunity to pressure Iran.

Eslami emphasized that inspections of undamaged nuclear facilities have been conducted in accordance with IAEA safeguards measures, adding that Iran has not been seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

Even without nuclear weapons, Iran still has the capability to defend itself and possesses the necessary deterrent force, he said.

Iran's Army Chief Amir Hatami on Saturday warned that if the United States makes any mistakes, it will certainly jeopardize its own security, as well as that of Israel and the entire West Asia region.

Speaking at a national festival in Tehran, Hatami emphasized the Iranian armed forces' readiness amid escalating tensions with Washington.

Hatami said that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are fully prepared for defense and are closely monitoring the enemy's movements in the region, stressing that they "have their fingers on the trigger."

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) is scheduled to hold "live-fire" exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday and Monday as tensions remain extremely high between Tehran and Washington, Iran's Press TV news network reported.

In a post on the social media platform X on Thursday, Press TV said that the drills will be carried out by the IRGC's Navy, describing the strait as "a chokepoint for the flow of 20 percent of the world's oil and natural gas."

Israel, US attempt to weaken Iran by inciting division: Iranian president

Cities of Shanghai and Guangzhou launched a series of night-time shows these days to fill both cities with a strong festive atmosphere with the approach of the upcoming Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, which falls on Feb 17 this year.

In Shanghai's Lujiazui area, a spectacular light show was staged to offer people a vivid visual experience on Saturday. Along the banks of the Huangpu River, traditional folk performances, such as molten iron fireworks, added festive atmosphere for the upcoming holiday. Besides, cultural activities were also held in the Shanghai Library to mark the Chinese New Year, including a traditional wedding ceremony and an intangible cultural heritage market.

Just a day earlier, Guangzhou City, south China's Guangdong Province, kicked off its annual lantern show in the Yuexiu Park with a 20-meter-tall lion head installed over the main gate. The lantern show sets up 85 groups of distinctive lantern displays scattered throughout the 10 major tourist areas.

As the upcoming Chinese New Year will be the Year of Horse, the show embraces a group of lanterns featuring horses galloping over a lake inside the park.

"[The lantern show] is really fun, and I highly recommend everyone come, because each place has its own culture that is worth experiencing," said a local.

This year's Guangzhou Spring Festival lantern show takes Yuexiu Park as its main venue and started simultaneously with seven other parks as sub-venues. The citywide celebration is scheduled to run through March 8.

Shanghai, Guangzhou light up for upcoming Spring Festival with light, lantern shows