Thursday, January 1, 2026

Latest News and Views from Iran and the World

Trump administration arrests another pro-Palestine student

United States immigration authorities have detained and revoked the visa of a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University near Boston who had voiced support for Palestinians during Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.

Leader’s advisor: Iran open to indirect talks with US, but rejects pressure

Iran remains willing to engage in indirect negotiations with the United States but will not accept talks under pressure, a former foreign minister and senior aide to the Leader, Seyyed Kamal Kharrazi said.

Iran’s Army, IRGC issue stern warnings to Israel ahead of Quds Day rallies

Iran's Army and the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), in separate statements on the eve of the International Quds Day, launched scathing attacks against Israel while mobilizing supporters for nationwide rallies on Friday.

Iran calls on Iraq to counter ‘enemy provocations’ in oil trade

Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad, in a phone call on Wednesday with his Iraqi counterpart, Hayan Abdul Ghani, emphasized vigilance against what he called "enemy provocations,” according to Iran's official government news portal.

Israel kills 103 Palestinians daily in Gaza onslaught: Monitor

Israel's army has killed 830 Palestinians and wounded 1,787 in the Gaza Strip since restarting its offensive on 18 March, according to the Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor.

Petition urges British government to launch inquiry into anti-Palestinian racism

A new parliamentary petition has been launched urging the UK government to adopt a definition of anti-Palestinian racism and launch an inquiry into its impact on politics and the media.

Iran slams EU diplomat’s remarks, accuses West of ‘double standards’ over Gaza

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baqaei has strongly criticized comments by the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, calling her accusations against Iran "baseless" and "hypocritical."

Hamas spokesman killed in Israeli attack in Gaza

Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua was killed Thursday in a predawn Israeli airstrike targeting the town of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.

Iran Quds Force commander says Tehran to continue supporting Palestine until Quds liberation

The commander of Iran’s Quds Force says the Islamic Republic will continue supporting Palestinians until they achieve their ultimate goal of liberating Palestine and the holy city of Quds from the Zionists.

Iran rejects claims of hosting al-Qaeda members on its soil

Iran’s Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeed Iravani has strongly denied claims that some al-Qaeda members are inside Iran.

Lebanon refutes any normalization of relations with Israel

The Lebanese people reject any normalization of ties with Israel, the country's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has stressed.

Istanbul elects Aslan interim mayor amid ongoing demonstrations over Imamoglu arrest

Istanbul’s municipal government has chosen Nuri Aslan as interim mayor to replace Ekrem Imamoglu, who has been imprisoned on corruption charges.

Iran’s leader pardons hundreds of convicts on occasion of Nowruz, Eid al-Fitr

Iran’s leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has approved a request by the Judiciary’s chief to pardon or reduce the sentences of 1,526 convicts on the occasion of Nowruz, Eid al-Fitr, and the Islamic Republic Day.

Israeli court upholds six-month detention order for Gaza hospital boss

An Israeli court has upheld a six-month detention order for doctor Hussam Abu Safia, director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in the Gaza Strip.

Around 400 people die in road accidents in Iran during Nowruz holidays

Iran’s traffic police say 396 people have been killed in road accidents across the country since the beginning of the Nowruz holidays on March 15. 8,816 people have also been wounded.

Iran intercepts major fuel smuggling involving oil export company

Iranian authorities have seized a ship carrying smuggled fuel in the Persian Gulf in a significant crackdown on illicit petroleum trade.

Death sentence issued in murder case of female Iranian journalist

A Tehran criminal court has issued a preliminary death sentence for a husband convicted of murdering IRNA journalist and researcher Mansoureh Ghadiri Javid, according to the victim's family lawyer.

Iran opens nuclear sector to private investment

Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) has formally opened three key sectors to private investment, marking a significant shift in the country's nuclear development strategy.

At least six killed in Israeli strikes on Syria’s Daraa

At least six people have been killed in an Israeli raids on Koya in southern Syria, the foreign ministry in Damascus has announced.

Iran to unveil oil investment opportunities as crude output rises

Iran's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad announced plans to showcase new investment opportunities in the oil sector, coinciding with increased crude production of 50,000 barrels per day.

Iran showcases ‘missile megacity’

The Aerospace Division of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has unveiled a “missile megacity"— one of its largest underground such facilities.

Iran’s UN envoy denies destabilizing role in Syria

Iran’s UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani rejected allegations of Iranian interference in Syria during a Security Council briefing on the Middle East on Tuesday, stating Tehran supports "a Syrian-led political solution" through free elections.

Russia and Ukraine agree on Black Sea ceasefire

Moscow and Kiev have agreed to “eliminate the use of force” in the Black Sea after parallel talks with US negotiators in Saudi Arabia.

US offering conditional partial sanctions relief in Syria: Reuters

The United States has dangled the prospect of partial sanctions relief in front of Syria in return for a list of demands.

US  judge blocks deportation of pro-Palestinian Korean American student activist

An American judge has ruled that Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old Korean American student at Columbia University who is being sought for deportation by the administration of President Donald Trump, cannot be detained as she fights endeavours to remove her from the United States over her pro-Palestinian views.