Latest News and Views from Iran and the World

Drop in Afghan repatriations from Iran raises questions amid tighter controls

The once-crowded Afghan repatriation camp in eastern Tehran now sits noticeably empty, signaling a slowdown in the return of undocumented Afghan migrants from Iran.

US imposes tariffs on India over Russia trade

US President Donald Trump has announced that India will face 25% tariffs and additional penalties starting next month over its continued trade with Russia. The move comes after the White House gave Moscow a ten-day deadline to reach a peace accord with Ukraine.

Hezbollah dismisses calls to disarm, says demands serve Israel

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has stressed that calls for the Lebanese group’s disarmament serve only Israel, amid pressure from the United States on Beirut to take such steps.

Iran’s UN ambassador underlines need to establish independent Palestinian state

Iran’s Ambassador to the UN Saeed Iravani has said lasting peace in the West Asia region can only be achieved through the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.

Iran’s non-oil trade hits $34.2bn in 1st 4 months of 2025

According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), the country's non-oil trade in the first four months of 2025 reached 61.02 million tons valued at $34.175 billion.

US Treasury Secretary says China will resist American sanctions on buying Russian oil

China remains committed to buying Russian oil despite the threat of US tariffs, Washington’s Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has stated.

Iran UK envoy says Tehran open to honest talks, rejects use of diplomacy as a tool for deception

Iran’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Seyed Ali Mousavi, said Tehran remains committed to diplomacy as the best means of resolving disputes, but warned that talks must be genuine and not a cover for coercive or deceitful agendas.

Iranian president to visit Pakistan on Saturday amid efforts to boost bilateral ties

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian is set to visit Pakistan on Saturday, following an official invitation from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Authorized Afghan nationals permitted to join Arbaeen pilgrimage, says Iranian official

Iran’s Deputy Interior Minister for Security and Law Enforcement, Majid Pourjamshidian, announced that authorized Afghan nationals will be allowed to participate in the upcoming Arbaeen pilgrimage, marking the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shia Imam, in Iraq under the same conditions as Iranian pilgrims.

Dozens of lawyers ask ICC to investigate Macron and French ministers for Gaza genocide complicity

French lawyers have submitted a request to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for an investigation into the role of French officials "in the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide" by Israeli forces against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Russia claims Western and Ukrainian officials held ‘secret meeting’ on ousting Zelensky

US and UK officials have secretly met with key Ukrainian powerbrokers to discuss ousting President Volodymyr Zelensky and replacing him with former military chief Valery Zaluzhny, according to Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).

Iran FM meets President of Tajikistan, calls for boost in ties

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, emphasized the Islamic Republic of Iran’s determination to expand relations with Tajikistan across all areas of mutual interest.

Iran’s cabinet withdraws controversial internet regulation bill

The Iranian government has officially approved the withdrawal of a controversial bill on regulating online content, following public criticism and a directive from President Massoud Pezeshkian.

New poll finds plunging US public support for Israel’s war on Gaza

A new poll from the research firm Gallup suggests that only 32 percent of Americans approve of Israel’s military action in Gaza, a 10-point drop from September 2024, as anger over atrocities against Palestinians continues to rise.

Trump issues ten-day ultimatum to Russia over Ukraine war

Washington will impose new sanctions against Moscow if it fails to reach an accord with Kiev to settle the Ukraine conflict within ten days, US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday. His initial deadline was due to expire in early September.

EU fails to agree Israeli suspension from research fund over Gaza war

A European Commission proposal to deny Israel partial access to the EU's €95 billion Horizon Europe research fundfailed to garner the necessary qualified majority support when EU ambassadors met in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

Britain to recognise Palestinian state by September if no Gaza ceasefire reached

The United Kingdom will recognise a Palestinian state by September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip by then, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday after an emergency cabinet meeting in London.

Israeli PM ‘presents plan to annex parts of Gaza’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Tel Aviv will move to annex parts of the Gaza Strip if a ceasefire accord with Hamas is not reached, according to Israeli media.

Ayatollah Khamenei attends commemoration for martyrs of Israel’s recent war

A solemn and powerful ceremony marking the 40th day since the martyrdom of those fallen in the Zionist regime of Israel’s imposed war was held at the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah in Tehran, with the presence of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Iranian wushu fighter bags silver at Asian Championships in China

Amir Mehdi Shirdel, a promising young wushu athlete from Iran’s Ardabil Province, secured a silver medal in the 75kg weight class at the ongoing Asian Junior Wushu Championships in China.

MP says Iran rejected European proposal to delay snapback mechanism

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, senior member of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, revealed that during recent negotiations in Istanbul, European countries sought a six-month extension on the snapback mechanism under the JCPOA framework — a request firmly rejected by Iran.

Gaza death toll surges past 60,000 amid Israel’s war

At least 60,034 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, the Health Ministry announced on Tuesday.

Palestinian activist who worked on Oscar-winning film ‘No Other Land’ killed by Israeli settler in West Bank

Awdah Hathleen, a Palestinian activist who was part of the crew on the Academy Award-winning documentary No Other Land, was shot dead by an Israeli settler on Monday, the film's co-directors announced.

Iran’s Parliament chief: Israel’s actions in Gaza reminiscent of Nazi crimes

Iranian Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, has described Israel’s actions in Gaza as reminder of Nazi crimes, warning that every moment of delay in confronting Israel is tantamount to complicity in the crimes of the “Nazis of the 21st century.”

Iran’s president orders broad consultation on controversial internet regulation bill

Iran’s government spokesperson announced on Tuesday that President Massoud Pezeshkian has issued a firm directive to ensure that public and expert opinions are heard regarding the recently proposed internet regulation bill.