Iranians told to use less water as heatwave worsens shortages
Tehran, Iran - Iranian authorities have urged residents to limit water consumption as the country grapples with severe shortages amid an ongoing heatwave, local media said Sunday. Water scarcity is a major issue in Iran, particularly in arid provinces in the country's south, with shortages blamed on mismanagement and overexploitation...
UN sends emergency food aid for one million Lebanese amid fresh Israeli attacks
The World Food Program says it had launched an emergency operation to provide meals for one million people affected by the escalating conflict in Lebanon, calling on the international community to mobilize US$105 million to fund the operation.
Death of Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut an inflection point in the Middle East conflict
Rarely seen in public, Nasrallah enjoyed cult status among his supporters and was the only man in Lebanon with the power to wage war or make peace.
Tens of thousands protest against Lebanon ‘bloodbath’ in Iran, Yemen
The demonstrations in Tehran and other Iranian cities were responding to a call by authorities on Wednesday to demonstrate in support of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon "and to condemn the barbaric crimes of the Zionist regime in Palestine," the official IRNA news agency said.Israeli air strikes hit densely populated Hezbollah bastion in Beirut
The strikes were by far the largest in scale. Iran embassy in Lebanon warns that the strikes 'change the rules of the game'.
Israel defies ceasefire calls and vows to keep battling Hezbollah
"There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organization with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a post on X.US offers $20 mn for info on Iranian behind Bolton assassination plot
Washington, United States- The US State Department announced a $20 million reward on Thursday for information leading to the arrest of the alleged Iranian mastermind behind a plot to assassinate former White House official John Bolton.US officials said in August 2022 that they had uncovered a plot by Shahram Poursafi, a...World leaders gather at UN as Mideast tensions explode
Escalating clashes between Israel and Hezbollah threatened to overshadow US President Joe Biden's final appearance at the UN's signature annual event on Tuesday as diplomats scrambled to avert an all-out regional war.
Biden’s United States powerless as Israel pounds Lebanon
US President Joe Biden's top priorities for the past 11 months has been to prevent the Gaza war from spiraling into an all-out regional conflict. With the unstoppable Netanyahu, the haughty has beaten the mighty - black and blue.Iran’s president calls Israel warmonger as he seeks talks with West
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused Israel of seeking regional war, as he attempted to cast Tehran as restrained and appealed to the West, including the United States, for talks on flashpoint issues.UN alarmed as Israeli strikes kill more than 180 people in Lebanon
Lebanon's health ministry said more than 700 were injured on Monday in the worst toll by far in nearly a year of cross-border clashes with Israel, while Iran warned Israel of "dangerous consequences". The United Nations has also expressed concerns about Israeli escalation against Lebanon.
Iran arrests 12 accused of collaborating with Israel
Iranian authorities have announced the arrest of 12 people accused of "collaborating" with the country's arch-foe Israel, local media reported on Sunday. Meanwhile, Iran has enhanced efforts to build relations with its Arab neighbors by holding talks with Arab leaders at the United Nations.Coal mine blast in Iran kills more than 50 mine workers
A blast caused by a gas leak at an Iranian coal mine has killed at least 51 people, state media said Sunday, in one of the country's deadliest work accidents in years. "The number of dead workers increased to 51" in the explosion at the Tabas mine in eastern Iran,...Lebanon device blasts: what we know about deadly attacks
Hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah exploded across Lebanon in unprecedented attacks this week, killing 37 people and wounding more than 2,900. The blasts spanning two days have dealt a major blow to the Iran-backed resistance groupIsrael infiltration in Hezbollah supply chain likely behind pager explosions; 9 dead, 2,800 injured
Lebanon's health minister said nine people were killed and some 2,800 wounded Tuesday when pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded across the country. The blasts "killed nine people, including a girl", minister Firass Abiad said in a casualty update.
Iran’s president to visit Iraq on first foreign trip, sign MoU on security
Tehran, Iran -- Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian will visit neighboring Iraq on Wednesday, state media reported Sunday, in what will be his first trip abroad since he took office in July.Pezeshkian will head a high-ranking Iranians delegation to Baghdad to meet senior Iraqi officials.The visit comes at the invitation of Iraq's...Iran former top diplomat Zarif returns to VP post
"After the follow-ups and consultations conducted by the president and with his written order, I will continue to exercise my duties as Strategic Vice President," Zarif said in a post on X. Zarif -- who attended on Tuesday the new cabinet's first meeting with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei...Iran probe finds Raisi helicopter crash caused by weather: media
Iran's army in May similarly said it had found no evidence of criminal activity in the crash that also killed Raisi's foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. "The case of the crash of Ayatollah Raisi's helicopter has been fully completed by the regulatory and security institutions," Fars reported.US says Iran responsible for Trump campaign hack
The statement from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) confirmed the Trump campaign claim from earlier this month that it had been targeted, potentially by Iran.Qatar to host high-stakes Gaza ceasefire talks
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told several Middle Eastern counterparts in recent days that "this ceasefire deal is of vital importance, that we need to do everything we can to get it done, and that escalation is in no one's interest", State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said on Wednesday.West tells Iran to ‘stand down’ Israel attack threats; Tehran says ‘no way’
With tensions soaring in the Middle East, the United States says that Iran along with its proxies might attack Israel as early as this week. The world leaders are trying to persuade Iran and Israel to avoid war, but Iran says it has a right to defend itself just like...Hamas names Sinwar new chief as region braces for Iran retaliation against Israel
Iran blames Haniyeh's death on Israel and has vowed to avenge him, while Hamas's Lebanese ally Hizbollah has also pledged to retaliate for his killing and that of its military commander Fuad Shukr in an Israeli strike in Beirut hours earlier.
US personnel injured in rocket attack on Iraq base
US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on the attack, the White House said. "They discussed the steps we are taking to defend our forces and respond to any attack against our personnel in a manner and place of our choosing," it said in a statement.Biden to meet national security chiefs as Mideast war fears grow
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his counterparts from the G7 nations that any attack could happen within 24 to 48 hours, as early as MondayJordan FM meets Iran president as Middle East tensions soar
The political head of Palestinian group Hamas was killed early on Wednesday in Tehran, where he had attended the inauguration of Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian. Iran and the Hamas, which Tehran supports, vowed to retaliate and blamed the strike on Israel, which has declined to comment.Fears of Middle East war grow after Hamas leader’s killing
Israel on Saturday again traded fire with Hezbollah, carried out a deadly raid in the occupied West Bank, and struck a school compound in Gaza City in an attack that the Hamas-ruled territory's civil defence agency said killed at least 17 people.Thousands bid farewell to Ismail Haniyeh in Qatari capital
Haniyeh was laid to rest in Lusail, north of the capital Doha, following funeral prayers at the Gulf emirate's largest mosque attended by thousands of people. he burial was restricted to a small number of people including one of Haniyeh's daughters, Sara, who shared a video on social media showing her...Biden says US committed to defend Israel against ‘all threats from Iran’
Biden, who was joined on the call by Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, also emphasized the "ongoing efforts to de-escalate broader tensions in the region," the White House said in a statement. The call between the leaders also came after Israel announced it had "eliminated Hezbollah military...Iran, allies ready Israel response as funerals held for Haniyeh, Shukr
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, addressing the funeral of the Lebanese group's top military commander, said Israel and "those who are behind it must await our inevitable response" to Fuad Shukr's and Haniyeh's killings within hours of each other. "You do not know what red lines you crossed," Nasrallah said, addressing...Iran to hold funeral for Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh
Khamenei, who has the final say in Iran's political affairs, said after Haniyeh's death that it was "our duty to seek revenge for his blood as he was martyred in the territory of the Islamic republic of Iran". The Hamas leader was in Tehran for the inauguration ceremony of newly...UNSC to hold emergency meeting over Hamas chief’s killing
The meeting has been requested by Iran and supported by representatives of Russia, China and Algeria, said a spokesman for the Russian presidency, which holds the rotating leadership of the council. Separately, UN chief Antonio Guterres denounced the attacks on Tehran as well as Beirut as a "dangerous escalation".
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh killed in Tehran: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards
"The residence of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political office of Hamas Islamic Resistance, was hit in Tehran, and as a result of this incident, him and one of his bodyguards were martyred," said a statement by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps's Sepah news website.Iran’s Khamenei formally grants Pezeshkian presidential powers
In a message read by the director of Khamenei's office, he said: "I endorse the vote (for) the wise, honest, popular and scholarly Mr Pezeshkian, and I am appointing him as the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran". The new reformist president is due to be sworn in before...Calling for better ties with West, Iran reformist wins presidency
In the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini in southern Tehran, Pezeshkian gave a speech thanking his supporters, saying their votes have "given hope to a society plunged into an atmosphere of dissatisfaction". "I did not give false promises in this election," said Pezeshkian, flanked by former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Israel says negotiators to hold fresh Gaza truce talks next week
Jerusalem, Undefined - Israel said Friday that "gaps" remained with Hamas on how to secure a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release but that it will send a delegation for fresh talks with Qatari mediators next week.The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman came after a delegation led by the head...Early returns show reformist Pezeshkian leading Iran runoff vote: interior ministry
Iran held the first round of its snap presidential election last week which was marked by a record low turnout. Only 40 percent of Iran's 61 million eligible voters cast their ballots in the first round -- the lowest turnout in any presidential election since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.Reformist faces ultraconservative as Iran votes for president
In a contest between reformist Masoud Pezeshkian and ultraconservative Saeed Jalili, the election comes amid heightened regional tensionReformist hopes for breakthrough as Iran goes to polls
Tehran, Iran - Iranians voted in a presidential election on Friday marked by a lone reformist's bid to break through against a divided conservative field.Voting was extended three times and eventually ended at midnight (2030 GMT), with around 61 million Iranians eligible to cast ballots after the death of ultraconservative president...
Polls open in Iran for presidential election amidst vote boycott calls
Polls in Iran opened on Friday for a presidential election following the death of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month.Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to vote in the polls where reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, 69, hopes for a breakthrough win against a divided conservative camp.The Guardian...Iran picks new president at turbulent time
Iranians vote on Friday to elect a new president from six candidates, including a lone reformist who hopes he can challenge the dominance of conservatives in the Islamic republic.A presidential election had not been due until 2025 but was brought forward after ultraconservative Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash...Tens of thousands bid farewell to Iran’s Raisi ahead of burial
Men and women thronged the main boulevard of Mashhad, Iran's second city in the northeast where Raisi was born, bidding farewell to the late President
Allies mourn Raisi’s death, hailed as supporter of Palestinian resistance
Paris, France -- Iran's powerful allies on Monday mourned the death of its President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, while regional groups hailed him as a supporter of the Palestinian cause.Russia and China called the deceased leader a "friend", while Iran's arch-foes the United States and Israel had yet to...Iran media declares President Raisi dead, no official confirmation yet
"The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi, had an accident while serving and performing his duty for the people of Iran and was martyred," Iran's Mehr agency said as other media outlets also reported the news.Prayers and concern in Iran as President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter remains missing
Search and rescue teams are looking for the crash site in the remote mountain area, says Iranian state media, adding that Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was also aboard the aircraft.India, Iran sign 10-year agreement to develop port project
Tehran, Iran - India and Iran on Monday signed a 10-year contract to develop and equip the strategic Chabahar port in Iran as India seeks to grow trade in west and central Asia.The agreement will give India 10-year access to use the port, located close to Iran's southeastern border with Pakistan,...Blinken promotes Gulf Arab defence in sign to Israel and Iran
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Monday for tighter defence integration among Gulf Arabs in response to Iran, part of efforts to encourage moderation by Israel by dangling the prospect of better ties with the region.Blinken was starting his seventh visit to the Middle East since the October 7...
Syria has held ‘meetings’ with US: Assad
The United States was among the first to cut ties with Assad over the repression of anti-government protests that sparked war in 2011, and many Western and Arab states also severed relations.Iran, Israel appear to pull back from brink as US approves military aid
Iran downplayed Israel's reported retaliation for its unprecedented drone and missile attack, tamping down fears that escalating attacks between the arch enemies could tip over into a broader war in the Middle East. However a deadly blast at an Iraqi military base underlined the persisting tensions in the region.
Despite sanctions, Iran oil exports hit six-year high: report
Tehran, Iran - Iran managed to sell an average of 1.56 million barrels per day during the first quarter of this year, primarily to China, data from Vortexa reveals. This marks the highest export level since the third quarter of 2018.The success in oil exports highlights the challenges faced by...Calls for calm after reported Israeli strike on Iran
An unidentified Israeli official told The Washington Post the "strike" was retaliation for Iran's drone and missile barrage and was intended to signal that Israel was able to hit inside Iran. Iran's Tasnim news agency, citing "informed sources", denied that Iran had been attacked from outside.
Israel strikes Syria again following overnight ‘retaliatory’ attack on Iran
Israeli strikes on Friday targeted a Syrian army position in the country's south, a war monitor said, as US media reported Israel had carried out hits on its arch-rival Iran.Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the strikes, which he attributed to Israel, "targeted...
