Page 2 - Iran

Explained: Why Iran is facing its worst-ever water crisis in decades

Iran is facing its worst drought in nearly a century.

Iran arrests journalists, researcher critical of govt; summons another

Iranian security forces arrested three critics of the government, summoned another and confiscated their electronic devices, media reported on Monday. Iranian news outlets, including the private, pro-reform Shargh daily, said that security forces in separate operations raided the homes of journalist Parviz Sedaghat, 61, Mahsa Asadollahnejad, a sociologist, and Shirin Karimi, a translator. The Shargh report said authorities confiscated electronic devices of Mohammad Maljou, a 53-year-old economist, and summoned him to appear before security officials. It said there was no information about Maljou after he willingly left his home to appear before the security body. Reportedly, the four are Leftist critics of the Islamic Republic's theocratic system of government. This is the first collective detention of Leftist researchers in recent years. However, the country has a long history of arresting dissidents There were no immediate reports on the arrests by official and semiofficial medi

West Asia raises toast to Indian teas, offsets export losses to Russia, US

Significant gains were made in China, with exports soaring to 9.64 mkg compared to 3.31 mkg last year

US ready to make deal with Iran when Tehran is ready, says Donald Trump

Tehran and Washington held five rounds of nuclear talks, prior to a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, which Washington joined by striking key Iranian nuclear sites

Turkey's gas shift threatens Russia, Iran's last major European market

Russia remains Turkey's largest gas supplier, but its share of the market has fallen from more than 60 per cent two decades ago to 37 per cent in the first half of 2025

Houthis detain nine more UN staff in Yemen amid ongoing crackdown

Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen have detained nine employees of the United Nations as part of a long-running crackdown on the organisation, the UN said. The detentions bring the number of detained UN workers in Houthi-held territories in Yemen to 53 since 2021, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement late Monday. No details about the circumstances or timing of the latest detentions were given. Dujarric said the crackdown has impeded the UN's ability to operate in Yemen and to deliver critical assistance to the local population in the Arab world's poorest country. He called for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN staff as well as workers from other international organisations and diplomatic missions who have been detained by the rebels. They must be respected and protected in accordance with applicable international law, Dujarric said. A spokesman for the rebels did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment. The rebels have previously said that th

Chabahar centre 93% complete, ready for satellite launch: Iran minister

The Chabahar centre, dedicated to medium-heavy liquid-fueled launch vehicles, is Iran's national space launch site and one of several bases currently under construction

Iran executes 6 death-row inmates for alleged attacks on behalf of Israel

Iran said Saturday it executed six death-row inmates it alleges carried out attacks in the country's oil-rich southwest on behalf of Israel. The men were put to death as part of a wider wave of executions, believed to be the highest in decades after the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June. Iran said the men killed police officers and security forces, as well as orchestrated bombings targeting sites around Khorramshahr in Iran's restive Khuzestan province.

UN imposes 'snapback' sanctions on hungrier, poorer, more anxious Iran

The United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran early Sunday over its nuclear programme, further squeezing the Islamic Republic as its people increasingly find themselves priced out of the food they need to survive and worried about their futures. After last-minute diplomacy failed at the UN, the sanctions took effect Sunday at 0000 GMT (8 pm Eastern). The sanctions will again freeze Iranian assets abroad, halt arms deals with Tehran, and penalise any development of Iran's ballistic missile programme, among other measures. It came via a mechanism known as "snapback", included in Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Iran had claimed the UN had no power to reimpose the sanctions while also insisting they'd have no effect on the country. However, they come after Israel launched a punishing 12-day war on the country in June that also saw the United States bomb the country's nuclear sites.

Iran weighs how to respond to reimposed UN sanctions over nuclear programme

Iran weighed Sunday how to respond to reimposed United Nations sanctions over its atomic program, with one lawmaker suggesting parliament would consider potentially withdrawing from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The sanctions again freeze Iranian assets abroad, halt arms deals with Tehran and penalise any development of Iran's ballistic missile programme, among other measures. It came via a mechanism known as snapback, included in Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, and comes as Iran's economy already is reeling. Iran's rial currency sits at a record low, increasing pressure on food prices and making daily life that much more challenging. That includes meat, rice and other staples of the Iranian dinner table. Meanwhile, people worry about a new round of fighting between Iran and Israel, as well as potentially the United States, as missile sites struck during the 12-day war in June now appear to be being rebuilt. Speaking to the Young Journalists Club, which is ...

Iran says Trump admin sought full uranium stock for temporary UN relief

A Russian- and Chinese-drafted resolution aimed at delaying the reinstatement of UN sanctions on Iran failed to pass at the Security Council

Iran recalls envoys from France, Germany, UK ahead of UN nuclear sanctions

Iran on Saturday recalled its ambassadors to France, Germany and the United Kingdom ahead of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear programme being reimplemented. The three nations had pushed forward what diplomats refer to as snapback sanctions on Iran over it not cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency and not holding direct talks with the United States. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported the move, saying the ambassadors would be recalled for consultations. The sanctions are due to resume at 0000 GMT Sunday (8 pm Eastern Saturday). The measure will again freeze Iranian assets abroad, halt arms deals with Tehran, and penalise any development of Iran's ballistic missile programme, among other measures.

UNSC rejects Russia, China's last-ditch effort to delay sanctions on Iran

The UN Security Council has rejected another last-ditch effort to delay the reimposition of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme a day before the deadline and after Western countries claimed that weeks of meetings failed to result in a "concrete" agreement. The resolution put forth by Russia and China Iran's most powerful and closest allies on the 15-member council failed to garner support on Friday from the nine countries required to halt the series of UN sanctions from taking effect Saturday, as outlined in Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. "We had hoped that European colleagues and the US would think twice, and they would opt for the path of diplomacy and dialogue instead of their clumsy blackmail, which merely results in escalation of the situation in the region," Dmitry Polyanskiy, the deputy Russian ambassador to the UN, said during the meeting. Barring an eleventh-hour deal, the reinstatement of sanctions triggered by Britain, France and Germany will onc

Iran likely conducted an undeclared missile test, satellite photos show

Iran has likely carried out an undeclared missile test at its Imam Khomeini Spaceport, satellite photos analysed by The Associated Press showed Thursday, underlining Tehran's effort to maintain its weapons programme despite the 12-day war with Israel in June. Iran has not formally acknowledged the test last week, carried out at a circular pad that has hosted other major launches by the country's civilian space programme. A single lawmaker in Iran's parliament, however, claimed, without offering evidence, that Tehran tested a possible intercontinental ballistic missile. The test and the claim raise concerns that Iran may be trying to expanding the reach of its missiles as tensions remain high ahead of United Nations sanctions, which are likely to be reimposed this weekend over Tehran's nuclear programme as it also repairs missile sites that were struck by the Israelis. Israel's successes in the 12-day war against Iran's missile attacks reinforced for Tehran the importance of ...

India urges US to ease Iran oil sanctions to offset reduced Russian imports

New Delhi's representatives traveled to the US for talks after Washington imposed crushing tariffs on the country in punishment for its oil trade with Russia

Iran president blames US, Israel for peace setback as sanctions loom

Addressing the world's leaders, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday blamed the United States and Israeli attacks for dealing a grievous blow to peace negotiations as Tehran braces for the reinstatement of sanctions in the next week, barring a last-minute diplomatic breakthrough. Hours before his speech, Iran's rial currency fell to a new all-time low. Pezeshkian's remarks before the UN General Assembly are the first in a global forum since the 12-day Israel-Iran war over the summer that saw the assassination of many of the Islamic Republic's highest military and political leaders and broke down weeks of negotiations with the United States. Ladies and gentlemen, you all bore witness that this past June, my country was subjected to a savage aggression and flagrant contravention of the most elementary principles of international law, said the president, who within Iran's political landscape is considered a moderate politician. Pezeshkian is in New York as Tehran seeks to .

Exercise 'strictest vigilance': MEA warns Indians over fake jobs in Iran

India on Friday cautioned its nationals seeking employment in Iran to exercise "strictest vigilance" in view of recent cases of fake job offers. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said there have been a number of recent cases of Indian citizens being lured to travel to Iran on false promises of employment or with assurances that they would be sent further to third countries for jobs. "Upon reaching Iran, these Indian nationals have been kidnapped by criminal gangs and ransoms have been demanded from their families for securing their release," it said. "In this context, all Indian citizens are strongly cautioned to exercise the strictest vigilance regarding such employment promises or offers," the MEA said. "In particular, it may be noted that the government of Iran allows visa-free entry to Indians only for tourism purposes. Any agents promising visa-free entry into Iran for employment or other purposes may well be in connivance with criminal gangs," it added. Indian citizens

UN Security Council votes down effort to halt Iran snapback sanctions

A UN Security Council resolution aimed at halting the reimposition of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme failed Friday after weeks of last-ditch diplomatic talks appeared to break down days before the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders. The resolution put forth by South Korea, the current president of the 15-member council, did not garner the support of the nine countries required to halt the series of sanctions from taking effect at the end of the month, as outlined in Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Only four countries China, Russia, Pakistan and Algeria supported the effort, with some using the meeting to blast the European leaders for what they called an unjustified and illegal action against Iran. Their only goal now is to use the council as a tool for their bad faith play, as a lever to exert pressure on the state in favour of a state which is trying to defend its sovereign interests, Vassily Alekseevich Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to

Iran withdraws resolution to ban attacks on nuclear sites after US pressure

Iran decided at the last minute Thursday to withdraw a resolution prohibiting attacks on nuclear facilities that it had put forward along with China, Russia and other countries for a vote before an annual gathering of the UN nuclear watchdog's member nations. Western diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said the US has been heavily lobbying behind the scenes to prevent the resolution from being adopted. The US has raised the possibility of reducing funding to the International Atomic Energy Agency if the resolution was adopted and if the body moved to curtail Israel's rights within the agency, the diplomats said. In 1981, the provision of assistance to Israel under the IAEA's technical assistance programme was suspended as a result of an Israeli strike on a nuclear reactor in Iraq. At the time, the attack was strongly condemned in resolutions by the UN Security Council, the IAEA General Conference and the IAEA Board of Governors. The ...

Iran, France near prisoner swap deal including woman held for posts on Gaza

Iran's foreign minister says Iran and France are close to agreeing to an exchange of prisoners, including the release of an Iranian woman arrested in France over her online posts related to the war in Gaza. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state TV late on Thursday that Mahdieh Esfandiari is expected to be released as part of a swap that he hoped would happen in the coming days. Esfandiari, a translator living in the French city of Lyon since 2018, was arrested in February on a terror-related charge for alleged posts on Telegram about the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza, according to French media reports. Araghchi did not elaborate on any French prisoners who might be released, but France has long sought the release of two French citizens held in Iran on suspicion of espionage. Ccile Kohler and Jacques Paris have been detained since May 2022. French Foreign Minister Jean-Nol Barrot declined on Friday to comment on Araghchi's remarks other