Friday, December 19, 2025

Latest News and Views from Iran and the World

NATO says needs to be ‘more aggressive’ towards Russia

NATO members should find ways to be more aggressive towards Russia, the US-led alliance’s top military chief has stressed.

Iran’s president highlights importance of unity, cooperation among Muslim states

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that borders across which trade, science, and culture flow, will never be crossed by terrorism or weapons.

Navy chief reaffirms Iran’s sovereignty over Persian Gulf Islands, says foreign claims to fail

The commander of the Iranian Navy reaffirmed the historical and undeniable right of the Iranian nation to the islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf, stressing that foreign powers’ policies and ambitions toward the trio  are destined to fail.

Iran offers to extend Gas deal with Turkey, calls for boost in energy, economic cooperation

The Iranian foreign minister emphasized that the Islamic Republic is one of the most reliable energy suppliers for Turkey and expressed Iran’s readiness to extend the gas contract and expand cooperation in the electricity sector.

Israeli PM submits formal pardon request

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing long-running corruption cases, has submitted a formal pardon request to President Isaac Herzog, the head of state's office announced Sunday.

Tehran emergency services report 357 deaths in eight days as air pollution calls surge

Tehran’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) reported 357 deaths over the past eight days, with officials saying air pollution may have played a contributing role.

Egypt trains Palestinians for future Gaza police force

Cairo is training hundreds of Palestinian police officers with an eye towards integrating them into a post-war security force in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian official told AFP.

Four die in Iran after drinking bootleg alcohol, three detained

Iranian police have made three arrests after four people died from drinking bootleg alcohol, according to reports.

Iran confiscates Eswatini-flagged vessel for smuggling fuel

Tehran seized on Sunday an Eswatini-flagged vessel carrying 350,000 litres of smuggled fuel.

Saudi deputy foreign minister visits Tehran for bilateral and regional talks

Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that the Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Saud bin Mohammed Al-Sati, has traveled to Tehran as part of ongoing diplomatic consultations between the two countries.

Israel has ‘de facto state policy’ of organised torture: UN

Israel has “a de facto state policy of organised and widespread torture”, according to a United Nations report covering the past two years, which also raised concerns about the impunity of Israeli security forces for war crimes.

Iran’s foreign trade surpasses $76.5 billion in first eight months of year

Iran’s foreign trade reached $76.54 billion in the first eight months of the current Iranian year, according to new data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA). Total trade volume during the period amounted to 131.05 million tons of goods.

Iran condemns US move to declare Venezuela airspace closed

Iran has strongly condemned the US decision to close Venezuela’s airspace, calling it a blatant violation of international law and a threat to civil aviation safety.

Russian attack on Ukraine kills six as Kyiv envoys travel to US for peace negotiations

A Russian attack on Ukraine has killed six people and wounded dozens more, officials confirmed. Emergency crews have restored power to over 400,000 households in Kyiv after strikes on the power grid, as the United States moves to broker peace talks.

Tens of thousands rally in Europe, demanding justice over Israeli war on Gaza

Tens of thousands of people have marched in cities across Europe, denouncing Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip and demanding tougher global action against its continued and deadly violations of a United States-brokered ceasefire.

Gaza death toll surpasses 70,000: Health Ministry

The health ministry in the Gaza Strip on Saturday announced more than 70,000 people have been killed since the Israeli war erupted more than two years ago.

Kiev behind drone attacks on Black Sea tankers: Ukrainian source

Kiev was responsible for attacks on two oil tankers in the Black Sea that it believed were covertly transporting sanctioned Russian oil, a Ukrainian security source told AFP on Saturday.

Iran’s Navy receives homegrown forward base ship, overhauled destroyer

Iran's Navy has taken delivery of a domestically-designed and manufactured forward base ship, along with an optimally overhauled destroyer, which capsized during repairs last year.

Saint Mary Metro Station inaugurated in Tehran 

The Saint Mary Metro Station was inaugurated  on Saturday, in the Karim Khan district of Tehran, with the presence of city officials, and its doors were opened to the public.

3rd day of Fajr Intl. Film Festival held in Shiraz

The third day of the Fajr International Film Festival was held on Friday evening in Shiraz, southern Iran.

Russia confirms receipt of US draft peace plan on Ukraine

Russia has received the “main parameters” of the revised Ukraine peace plan, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated.

Palestinians forced into lockdown as Israel’s West Bank invasion continues

Entire Palestinian communities have been forced into lockdown in parts of the occupied West Bank, a human rights group warned, as the Israeli military continues to carry out wide-scale, deadly attacks in the territory.

Air pollution remains severe across Iran as Tehran records seventh consecutive ‘red’ day

Air quality in the Iranian capital, Tehran, remained in the “unhealthy” range for the seventh consecutive day on Saturday, according to the Tehran Air Quality Control Company. 

Iran Army Chief: Active defense, smart deterrence form core of military strategy

The Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Army stressed that the Islamic Republic’s defense strategy is built on active defense and smart deterrence, meaning that Iran will not wait for an enemy attack and is fully prepared to deliver a decisive and crushing response wherever national interests require.

US pauses visas for Afghan travelers after National Guard shooting

The U.S. State Department has suspended visa processing for Afghan nationals after two West Virginia National Guard members were shot near the White House.