The Shia cleric especially admires Victor Hugo. He has called Les Miserables the best novel ever written: a miracle; a book of history, criticism, love, and feeling. Its protagonist, Jean Valjean, returns to the righteous path thanks to the forgiveness and compassion of a religious figure: Bishop Myriel. Les Miserables is a tale of piety and redemption.
Israel closed its airspace and declared a state of emergency, in anticipation of Iranian drone and missile strikes in response. An Israeli military spokesman said the country had launched a pre-emptive strike against Iran to remove threats to the state of Israel.
Britain is focused on 'supporting the political process' between Washington and Tehran, Sir Keir Starmer has said, as tensions escalate over the potential use of British air bases for US military action against Iran. The government is believed to be resisting Donald Trump's request to utilise the Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands, citing concerns over international law.
Iran's president also says his country does not seek a nuclear weapon, and apologises for his government's shortcomings. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for national unity in the face of external threats while insisting that his government is willing to negotiate over its nuclear programme, at a huge public ceremony in Tehran commemorating the 47th anniversary of the founding of the Islamic Republic.
Iran has sentenced the Nobel peace prize laureate Narges Mohammadi to more than seven more years in prison after she began a hunger strike, her supporters said Sunday, as Tehran cracks down on all dissent following nationwide protests and the deaths of thousands at the hands of security forces. The new convictions against Mohammadi come as Iran tries to negotiate with the US over its nuclear programme to avert a military strike threatened by Donald Trump.