Monday, December 29, 2025

Latest News and Views from Iran and the World

Israel’s army deploys regular infantry, armored brigades to Gaza: Report

The Israeli military has deployed the regular infantry and armored brigades to the Gaza Strip as part of a military buildup following its decision to expand a ground offensive in the enclave that is facing genocidal attacks.

Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident Wins Palme d’Or at Cannes

It Was Just an Accident, the latest film by famous Iranian director Jafar Panahi, has won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival.

Iran has 1st air taxi service

Iran’s first air taxi service began operations on Saturday, coinciding with the anniversary of Khorramshahr’s liberation during the Iraqi imposed war if 1980's.

Former Iranian diplomat: Chances of nuclear negotiation failure low

Nosratollah Tajik, a retired Iranian diplomat, says he's optimistic about the ongoing nuclear talks with the US, adding that the likelihood of failure is low.

Nuclear chief: Iran chooses its path based on national interests

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Mohammad Eslami, has said the Islamic Republic and its people determine their direction based on their own goals and interests. Eslami added that no foreign country can dictate the country’s path.

Aramco considers asset sales to free up funds: Reuters

Saudi state oil giant Aramco is exploring potential asset sales to free up funds, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters news agency, as it pursues an international expansion and weathers lower crude prices.

Iran’s para-karate team wins 4th Asian championship title

The Iranian national para-karate team has claimed the championship title at the 4th Asian Para-Karate Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Iran marks Khorramshahr liberation anniversary

Iran commemorates the anniversary of the liberation of Khorramshahr, a key event during the Iran-Iraq War, which occurred on May 24, 1982 (3 Khordad 1361 in the Iranian calendar).

Beirut launches process to disarm Palestinian factions in Lebanon’s refugee camps

A joint Lebanese-Palestinian committee has tasked with the removal of weapons held by Palestinian factions in Lebanon’s refugee camps has met for the first time to begin hashing out a timetable for disarming the groups.

Israeli actions in Gaza amount to ‘ethnic cleansing, genocide’: Council of Europe rapporteur

The ongoing humanitarian crisis and aid blockade in the Gaza Strip may amount to "ethnic cleansing and genocide", a leading rapporteur from the Council of Europe warned on Friday.

Russia, Ukraine exchange 307 captives each

Moscow and Kyiv have exchanged 307 captives each in the second phase of the largest prisoner swap during the full-scale war, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on May 24.

Israel allows only ‘teaspoon of aid’ into Gaza amid ‘atrocious levels of death and destruction’: UN head

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has sounded the alarm over "atrocious levels of death and destruction" by Israel in Gaza, emphasizing that recent aid delivery "now amounts to a teaspoon of aid."

Trump admin. lifts first sanctions on Syria

The administration of United States President Donald Trump took its first concrete action to deliver sanctions relief for Syria, following a surprise policy pivot earlier this month.

Hamas strongly condemns US lawmaker’s demand to nuke Gaza as genocide incitement

The Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, has denounced US congressman Randy Fine's demand to nuke the Gaza Strip as an "incitement to genocide."

Poll: Most Israelis believe Netanyahu cares more about holding power than releasing hostages

Most Israelis think Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is more interested in remaining in power than winning the Gaza war or freeing captives, according to an Israeli television poll aired Friday.

Iranian women crowned Asian Alysh wrestling champions

Iran’s women’s national Alysh wrestling team clinched the championship title in the classic style category at the Asian Alysh Wrestling Championships held Friday in New Delhi, India.

Iran’s Armed Forces mark Khorramshahr liberation anniversary with strong messages to adversaries

On the anniversary of the liberation of Khorramshahr during the Iran-Iraq War, Iran’s Army and Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) issued on Saturday statements reaffirming their readiness to defend the country and warning adversaries against hostile actions.

Former Iranian diplomat: No impasse in nuclear talks as Oman mediation offers path forward

Former Iranian diplomat to the UN, Kourosh Ahmadi, says recent developments in the indirect talks between Iran and the US indicate that negotiations remain on track and should not be viewed as a failure.

PM condemns wave of Israeli air attacks on Lebanon

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has denounced a wave of Israeli attacks across southern Lebanon, calling on the international community to pressure Tel Aviv to respect a ceasefire reached in November with Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Almost 95%% of Gaza hospitals partially or completely destroyed: WHO

At least 94% of all hospitals in the Gaza Strip have been damaged or destroyed, and people in the north of the besieged enclave have practically lost the opportunity to receive any medical care, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced in a report.

Putin says Russia set on creating ‘buffer zone’ in Ukraine

The Russian military has been tasked with creating a “security buffer zone” along the border with Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has stated.

FM Araghchi: New round of Iran-US talks held professionally

Iranian Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi says the 5th round of indirect talks between Iran and the US was held in a calm and professional atmosphere.

Fifth Round of Iran-US Nuclear Talks Begins in Rome

The fifth round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, chaired by the Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi and US Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkowsky, with Oman mediating, began on Friday in Rome, Italy.

Fifth round of Iran-US talks ends, with “with progress without final conclusion”

The fifth round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States concluded with Oman's Foreign Minister, who mediated the talks, reporting some progress but no final agreemen

Iran Deputy Foreign Minister: US Insistence on Zero Enrichment to Lead Talks Nowhere

Majid Takht-Ravanchi, the Iranian senior nuclear negotiator and deputy foreign minister for political affairs, emphasized that if the US position in negotiations with the Islamic Republic is "zero enrichment for Iran," the talks will not lead anywhere.