Thursday, January 1, 2026

Latest News and Views from Iran and the World

Zelensky says US should not let Putin out of global isolation

It is critical that the United States not to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin out of political and economic isolation, President Volodymyr Zelensky has stressed in an interview with Eurovision News.

North Korea dispatches 3,000 more troops to Russia: South Korea

North Korea transferred around 3,000 additional soldiers to Russia in January and February to compensate for battlefield losses sustained during fighting Ukrainian forces, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff has claimed.

Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen stage joint naval exercises in support of Gaza

Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen have kicked off joint naval drills in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 1,900 people arrested in Turkey protests over jailed mayor

Ankara said on Thursday that it rejected 'prejudiced' international statements regarding the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and the nationwide demonstrations it sparked, as authorities detained nearly 1,900 protesters.

Minister: Over 45mn domestic trips recorded during Nowruz holidays in Iran

Iran's Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Reza Salehi Amiri announced on Thursday that approximately 45 million domestic trips were made during the Nowruz holiday season, marking a significant rebound in the country's tourism sector.

Iran Greco-Roman team crowned at 2025 Asian championship

Iran's Greco-Roman team won the title at the Asian Wrestling Championship in 2025.

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.