Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Latest News and Views from Iran and the World

Iran’s Leader: No benefit for Islamic Ummah greater than unity

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has stated it is imperative on Muslim countries to unite and prevent tribulations similar to what is befalling on Gazans and the people of Yemen.

Iran unveils three cutting-edge MedTech innovations at INOTEX 2025

Three groundbreaking Iranian medical technologies were unveiled on the final day of INOTEX 2025, signaling major advancements in cardiovascular care, biomaterials, and medical training.

Iran’s Meymand welcomes tourists for annual rosewater festival

Each spring, the town of Meymand in Iran’s southern Fars Province, becomes a vibrant destination for tourists drawn by its famous rose fields and traditional rosewater distillation practices.

Missile launched by Yemen’s Houthis hits Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Intl. airport

A ballistic missile launched from Yemen has hit the perimeter of Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport, damaging a road and a vehicle and causing air traffic to stop, the Houthi rebels and Tel Aviv have confirmed.

Saudi Arabia executed its 100th prisoner in 2025: AFP

Riyadh has executed two people on terrorism-related charges, bringing the total number of executions in the kingdom this year to at least 100, according to an AFP tally.

Putin says he hopes there will be no need to use atomic weapons in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine had not arisen, and that he hoped it would not arise.

Israel urges Qatar to ‘stop playing both sides’ in Gaza negotiations

Israel called on Qatar, a key mediator between Tel Aviv and Hamas, to "stop playing both sides with its double talk and decide if it's on the side of civilization or if it's on the side of Hamas", the Israeli Prime Minister's office has announced.

Iran launches first satellite data station for natural disaster forecasting

In response to escalating dust storms and droughts, Iran has inaugurated its first satellite data reception station dedicated to environmental monitoring and natural disaster forecasting.

Thousands of Israelis protest for captives, against PM’s Gaza war expansion

Thousands of Israelis have gathered outside the Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv, urging the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prioritise the release of captives still held in the Gaza Strip instead of escalating military operations in the Palestinian territory.

UK detains eight men including seven Iranians over suspected terrorist plot

UK police have arrested eight men, including seven Iranian nationals, on suspicion of “terrorism offences”, police have announced.

Hamas releases video of injured Israeli captive in Gaza

The armed wing of Hamas, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, has released a video showing an Israeli captive in the Gaza Strip, identified by Israeli media as Maxim Herkin.

Iran’s decorated wrestler Yazdani to miss 2025 World Championships

Iran’s most decorated freestyle wrestler of the past decade, Hassan Yazdani, has announced he will not compete in the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Croatia as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery.

Russia responds to Ukraine’s Victory Day threats

President Volodymyr Zelensky’s refusal to join Russia in observing a 72-hour ceasefire to mark the Victory Day celebrations exposes Kiev’s “neo-Nazi essence” and amounts to a threat by an “international-level terrorist,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has stated.

Senior analyst: Deep gaps could derail Iran-US talks

Amir Ali Abolfat’h, a senior Iranian analyst of US affairs, says the delay in the latest round of Iran-US negotiations was foreseeable, given the deep-rooted differences between the two sides.

57 Palestinians in Gaza dead from starvation amid Israeli blockade

At least 57 Palestinians have died from starvation since October 2023 due to Israel’s ongoing siege of the Gaza Strip, the Government Media Office in the enclave announced.

Official: Iran advances key AI document implementation

A significant portion of Iran's Artificial Intelligence (AI) document has been implemented by the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, according to the Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution.

UN calls for independent probe into Gaza aid ship attack

The United Nations human rights office has urged an independent investigation into the drone attack on a Gaza-bound aid ship in international waters off Malta and renewed its call for Israel to lift its blockade on Gaza, which it says constitutes "collective punishment."

Israeli military calls up tens of thousands of reservists to expand Gaza war

The Israel army has announced that it was sending call-up orders to tens of thousands of reservists to expand its offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Trump could skip NATO upcoming summit over tensions with Europe: Spiegel

United States President Donald Trump could snub NATO’s upcoming summit unless European member states commit to significantly higher defense spending, Der Spiegel has reported.

Dust storm in southern Iran sends over 800 to hospitals due to respiratory, cardiac issues

A severe dust storm in the southwestern Iranian province of Khuzestan has resulted in 802 individuals seeking medical attention over the past 24 hours, primarily due to respiratory and cardiac complications, according to Dr. Meysam Moazzi, Deputy Director of Treatment at Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences.

Families of missing victims rally outside site of Iran port blast

A group of 30 to 40 people have gathered in front of the main entrance of Shahid Rajaee Port, in southern Iran, seeking answers about their missing family members a week after the explosion at the port.

India blocks Pakistani exports, transit amid tensions

New Delhi has imposed a ban on imports and transit of Pakistan-produced goods, the Indian Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) announced in an order.

Ukraine refutes Russia’s Victory Day truce proposal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected Russia's proposal for a three-day ceasefire on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in World War II.

Pakistan says successfully test-fired ballistic missile as tensions with India rise

Pakistan’s military announced it has successfully test-fired a ballistic missile as tensions with New Delhi over a deadly shooting attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month remain high.

Israeli military prepares mass reserve call-up to expand Gaza offensive amid shortage of soldiers: Report

The Israeli army is preparing for a large-scale mobilization of reserve forces in anticipation of expanding its ongoing onslaught on the Gaza Strip amid a growing crisis in troop numbers and escalating public tensions over the fate of Israeli captives held in the besieged enclave, according to a report.