Page 18 - Iran

Iran puts missiles on alert after Donald Trump's warning of massive strikes

In response to Donald Trump's threat, Iran has activated its missiles in underground facilities nationwide, ensuring they remain launch-ready and resistant to airstrikes

Trump threatens to bomb Iran if it does not agree to nuclear deal

There's a chance that if they don't make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago, Trump said

Iran rejects direct negotiations with the US in response to Trump's letter

Iran's president said on Sunday that Tehran had rejected direct negotiations with the United States in response to a letter from President Donald Trump over its rapidly advancing nuclear programme. The remarks from President Masoud Pezeshkian represented the first official acknowledgment of how Iran responded to Trump's letter. It also suggests that tensions may further rise between Tehran and Washington. Pezeshkian said: Although the possibility of direct negotiations between the two sides has been rejected in this response, it has been emphasised that the path for indirect negotiations remains open. It's unclear, however, whether Trump would accept indirect negotiations. Indirect negotiations for years since Trump initially withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers in 2018 have been unsuccessful. Trump's overture comes as both Israel and the United States have warned they will never let Iran acquire a nuclear weapon, leading to fears of a military confrontatio

Iran responds to letter from Trump as he seeks to jumpstart nuclear talks

Iranian state media said Thursday that Iran has sent an official response to a letter from US President Donald Trump to the Iranian supreme leader that was seen as an attempt to jumpstart talks over Tehran's nuclear programme. The Iranian response was appropriately sent through Oman on Wednesday, state-run IRNA news agency quoted Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as saying. No details have been released of the Iranian response nor the contents of Trump's letter to 85-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which came as the Trump administration levied new sanctions on Iran as part of its maximum pressure campaign. Araghchi, which not discussing details of the letters, said that Iran's policy "remains firm on not engaging in direct negotiations under maximum pressure and military threats. However, he said that indirect talks, which have taken place under previous administrations, could continue. Trump letter was handed to Iranian officials by Anwar Gargash, a senior Emirati diplomat, while h

US imposes Iran-related sanctions on oil tankers, China 'teapot' refinery

Trump aims to stop Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and funding militant groups

Happy Nowruz 2025: Date, importance, history, significance and more

Nowruz lasts for 13 days, beginning on the first day of the Persian calendar. Rooted in the ancient faith of Zoroastrianism, this festival marks the Parsi New Year and is celebrated on March 20

Google Doodle today: Celebrating Persian New Year to mark 'Nowruz 2025'

Google released a unique Doodle to celebrate 'Nowruz 2025'. Celebrated for more than 3,000 years, Nowruz is the Persian New Year and the first day of spring, signifying optimism and rebirth

Trump warns Iran of 'consequences' over further Houthi attacks from Yemen

The comments by Trump on his Truth Social website further escalate his administration's new campaign of airstrikes targeting the rebels

Iran using drones, facial recognition to enforce hijab laws: UN report

UN report comes against the backdrop of widespread protests against Iran's hijab laws and broader political and social grievances

Iran using digital surveillance & vigilantism to crush dissent: UN report

The UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission released a report on Friday, stating that Iran is making "concerted state efforts to stifle dissent

Iran increasingly electronically surveils for headscarf violations: UN

Iran increasingly relies on electronic surveillance and the public to inform on women refusing to wear the country's mandatory headscarf in public, even as hard-liners push for harsher penalties for those protesting the law, a United Nations report released on Friday found. The findings of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran come after it determined last year that the country's theocracy was responsible for the physical violence that led to the death of Mahsa Amini. Her death led to nationwide protests against the country's mandatory hijab laws and the public disobedience against them that continues even today, despite the threat of violent arrest and imprisonment. Two and a half years after the protests began in September 2022, women and girls in Iran continue to face systematic discrimination, in law and in practice, that permeates all aspects of their lives, particularly with respect to the enforcement of the mandatory hijab, the ...

China, Russia urge end to US sanctions on Iran, restart of nuclear talks

Representatives of China, Russia and Iran called Friday for an end to US sanctions on Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program and a restart to multinational talks on the issue. The talks are the latest attempt to broach the matter and come after US President Donald Trump wrote to Iran's supreme leader in an attempt to jumpstart talks. The letter, which hasn't been published, was offered as Trump levied new sanctions on Iran as part of his maximum pressure campaign that holds out the possibility of military action while emphasising he still believed a new deal could be reached. The three nations who met Friday morning emphasised the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions, China's Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu read from a joint statement, flanked by Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi. The three countries reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on t

Emirati diplomat with Trump's letter meets with Iran's foreign minister

Iranian state television showed Emirati official Anwar Gargash meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran, Iran's capital

Open to talk about concerns over militarisation of nuclear programme: Iran

Iran said Sunday it would consider negotiations with the United States if the talks were confined to concerns about the militarization of its nuclear program. In a statement posted on X, the country's U.N. mission said: If the objective of negotiations is to address concerns vis--vis any potential militarization of Iran's nuclear program, such discussions may be subject to consideration. A day earlier, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had rejected talks with the U.S., because he said they would be aimed at imposing restrictions on Iran's missile program and its influence in the region. Khamenei's remarks came a day after President Donald Trump acknowledged sending a letter to him seeking a new deal with Tehran to restrain its rapidly advancing nuclear program and replace the nuclear deal he withdrew America from during his first term in office. Khamenei said U.S. demands would be both military and related to the regional influence of Iran. He said such talks would not solve probl

Putin agrees to help Trump broker high-stakes nuclear talks with Iran

White House officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Neither Russia nor Iran have publicly confirmed or denied the request

US sanctions four Indian firms: What are the charges, and what happens now?

US sanctions four Indian firms for allegedly transporting Iranian oil, citing a covert network fueling Tehran's destabilising activities

US intelligence agencies warn about potential Israel strike on Iran

Iran and Israel have been engaged in a long-standing conflict that intensified following the war in Gaza. Israeli leaders believe that Iran is more vulnerable now, US intelligence findings revealed

Iran loosens import curbs on cars, iPhones in bid to mask its economic woes

All architecture student Amirhossein Azizi wanted for his 19th birthday was the latest iPhone and for Iran's cash-strapped theocracy, it was just the gift they needed as well. Just buying a top-of-the-line iPhone 16 Pro Max in Iran's capital cost him on the day 1.6 billion rials ($1,880). An additional 450 million rials ($530) is required for import fees and registration on government-managed mobile phone networks. I'm very happy to own one of the most expensive phones in the country," Azizi said. His father, Mohammad, laughed nearby and added: Maybe if they had to earn the money themselves, they wouldn't be so quick to spend it. The purchase is only possible after Iran lifted import bans on expensive goods like foreign cars and new iPhones, yielding to public demand for the products while also trying to mask the dire straits of its economy. While being described as a way to boost Iran's much-vaunted resistance economy," the decisions trapped Iranians into buying more affordable .

Iran-India share long-standing friendship, says Ambassador Iraj Elahi

Elahi asserted that Iran remains committed to protecting its national interests, ensuring security, expanding economic diplomacy, and promoting regional peace

With Trump in office, Iranians mark anniversary of 1979 Islamic Revolution

Tens of thousands of Iranians marked the anniversary of the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution, the first such rally since President Donald Trump returned to the White House and restarted his maximum pressure campaign targeting Tehran. The annual commemoration of the end of the rule of the American-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the creation of Iran's Shiite theocracy comes this year as deep uncertainty lingers across the country. Iran faces crushing sanctions wrecking its economy and the threat of more coming from Trump, even as the American president suggests he wants to reach a deal with Tehran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program. Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday criticised proposed talks with the United States and described negotiations with America as "not intelligent, wise or honourable. Khamenei also suggested that there should be no negotiations with such a government, though stopped short of issuing a direct order not to engage