Latest News and Views from Iran and the World

Iranian minister warns against provoking ethnic, religious divisions

Iran’s Minister of Culture Seyyed Abbas Salehi has issued a warning against inciting ethnic and religious tensions in the country particularly in light of recent unrest in the northwestern city of Urmia.

Israel’s cabinet casts no-confidence vote against attorney general

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet approved a no-confidence motion against the attorney general on Sunday, in its latest move on officials deemed hostile to the government, defying protesters who took to the streets for a sixth straight day.

EU afraid US will cut off arms support: WaPo

Officials from EU member states are worried that the Donald Trump administration could stop supporting US-made weapons systems used by its NATO allies in Europe, the Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Tehran ranks as third cleanest capital city worldwide amid holiday exodus, rain

Tehran experienced a rare moment of clean air on Sunday, March 23, 2025, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of just 22 — placing it among the cleanest capitals in the world for the day.

Iran crushes Afghanistan 14-0 in AFC beach soccer championship

Iran’s national beach soccer team delivered a dominant performance in their second group-stage match at the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup, defeating Afghanistan 14-0 in Thailand.

Iran’s Esteghlal F.C. protests omission of club legends from AFC Nowruz poster

Iranian Football Club, Esteghlal F.C.has formally protested to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over the absence of its legendary players in a Nowruz greeting poster published on the AFC’s Persian-language Instagram page.

Tehran’s air quality worsens with fewer clean days in 2025

Tehran experienced a sharp decline in air quality over the past year, recording only seven days of clean air throughout 2024.

US believes Ukraine war ceasefire could be agreed by Easter: Bloomberg

The United States is hopeful for a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict by April 20, despite Russia’s ongoing attacks, Bloomberg has reported, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

Turkish court orders detained Istanbul mayor jailed pending trial on corruption charges

A court has formally arrested the mayor of Istanbul, a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and ordered him jailed pending the outcome of a trial on corruption charges.

Attempts to end Ukraine war ‘somewhat under control’: Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated efforts to end the war in Ukraine are "somewhat under control" just hours before a massive Russian drone strike on Kyiv killed three people including a five-year-old girl and her father.

Gaza’s confirmed death toll surges past 50,000: Health Ministry

Dozens more Palestinians were killed in relentless Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, bringing the overall death toll since October 2023 to more than 50,006, the Health Ministry in the besieged enclave said in a statement on Sunday.

24,190 accidents in 8 days claim 218 lives in Iran; Fars Province tops accident rates

Deputy Commander of  Iran's Traffic Police, Brigadier General Mohammad Baqer Soleimani, reported that 24,190 traffic accidents occurred across Iran during the first eight days of the Nowruz holiday traffic plan from March 15 to 22, resulting in 177 fatal crashes and 218 fatalities.

Official: Bushehr nuclear power plant units 2, 3 to join grid within five years

Deputy Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Mohammad Qanadi, announced that Units 2 and 3 of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant are expected to be operational within the next four to five years to boost Iran’s nuclear electricity production capacity.

China considering joining Ukraine peacekeeping mission: Die Welt

Beijing is reportedly considering joining a peacekeeping force as part of the European-led "coalition of the willing" to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine, the German media outlet Die Welt has reported, citing unnamed diplomatic sources.

Iran’s nuclear spokesperson: No country faces more IAEA oversight than Iran

The spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), says Iran has consistently cooperated with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), adding no country is subject to as much international atomic agency’s scrutiny as Iran.

Tehran’s Milad Tower joins global Earth Hour initiative

Tehran’s iconic Milad Tower turned off its lights on Saturday night for one hour to participate in the global Earth Hour campaign.

Tens of thousands of Israelis rally for hostages, against dismissal of Shin Bet chief

Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated Saturday night to demand an end to the war in the Gaza Strip to protect the lives of the captives, and reject the dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.

Afghanistan says US lifted bounties on senior Taliban officials, including Sirajuddin Haqqani

The United States has lifted bounties on three senior Taliban figures, including the interior minister who also heads a powerful network blamed for attacks against Afghanistan’s former Western-backed government, officials in Kabul have claimed.

FM Araghchi: Iran focuses on diplomacy to avoid war, open to business with US

Iranian Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, has stressed Iran’s commitment to diplomacy and avoiding war, while raising the possibility of reviving the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) and engaging with the United States.

Senior Hamas leader killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza

Senior Hamas official and Palestinian lawmaker Salah al-Bardawil was killed in an Israeli airstrike on western Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip, the Palestinian group confirmed on Sunday.

Most Americans slam Putin for Russia-Ukraine war: Poll

Nearly all Americans blame the Kremlin’s leader Vladimir Putin for the Russia-Ukraine war rather than President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a survey.

Lebanon warns of ‘new war’ as Israel strikes southern city

Israel's military struck southern Lebanon following an alleged rocket attack, killing at least seven people and endangering a ceasefire agreement reached with Hezbollah four months ago.

Detained Istanbul Mayor dismisses ‘terrorism’ charges: Reuters

Arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has refuted “terrorism” charges brought against him, according to a court document seen by the Reuters news agency

2  Iranian experts warn of European trio’s move to snap back UNSC sanctions on Iran

A former Iranian diplomat has dismissed claims that the US will definitely attack Iran if the two sides fail to reach an agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program.

Around two dozen injured in residential apartment explosion in Tehran

A gas leak has caused an explosion inside a building in downtown Tehran, leaving a number of people injured.