Latest News and Views from Iran and the World

US officials secretly meeting with Zelensky rivals: Politico

Senior members of US President Donald Trump’s administration have engaged in back-channel communications with political rivals of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Politico has reported, citing insider sources.

Investigation reveals Israeli soldiers selling loot stolen from Gaza and Lebanon

Israeli soldiers have been selling looted valuables from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, a new investigation has disclosed.

FM: Iran pursues path of independence in a turbulent world laid bare by Trump-Zelensky showdown

The Iranian foreign minister has asserted that as the White House grapples with internal strife and shifting global alliances, Iran stands firm on its path of independence, rejecting dependence on external powers, in a world where diplomacy is increasingly overshadowed by domestic politics and power struggles, evidenced by the recent sparring between the Ukrainian and American heads of state.

Iran’s president joins national campaign to reduce road accidents, calls for responsible driving

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian has joined the national campaign "No to Accidents" to address the country’s alarming road accident statistics, urging citizens to prioritize safety and responsibility while driving.

Zelensky’s face-off with Trump sparks debate in Iran on implications of Tehran-Washington negotiations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent meeting with former US President Donald Trump has drawn global attention, with many praising Zelensky for standing firm against Trump’s assertive demands.

Trump threatens Palestinian people in Gaza

United States President Donald Trump has issued a threat to Hamas and the people of the Gaza Strip as part of a demand to release all Israeli captives in the besieged territory.

US approves $95mn in aid to Lebanon’s military

The administration of President Donald Trump has approved a waiver for $95m in military assistance to Lebanon in a sign that it sees it's making progress against Hezbollah.

34 foreign airlines operate flights to Iran with no restrictions: IKIA CEO

34 foreign airlines and 14 domestic airlines currently operate flights in Iran, with no restrictions on international routes, says the CEO of Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKIA).

VP: Iran’s president refuses to enforce hijab law amid rising tensions

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian has stated that he will not enforce the country’s controversial hijab law that imposes penalties on women who fail to observe Islamic attire, despite pressure from the principlist factions.

West’s ‘ineffective’ pressure campaign against Iran to backfire: Envoy

The Western strategy of exerting pressure on Tehran to force its unilateral compliance with nuclear obligations is “not only ineffective but also counterproductive”, Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohsen Naziri Asl has warned.

US confirms direct talks with Hamas over Gaza war

Washington is engaging in direct talks with Hamas as negotiations on a ceasefire accord between the Palestinian armed group and Israel are hanging by a thread.

Poll shows almost half of Britons want Trump UK  visit cancelled after clash with Zelensky

A poll has shown Britons’ fury at US President Donald Trump’s second state visit invitation, with almost half saying it should be cancelled after his White House clash with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.

Israel’s Gaza aid blockade could breach humanitarian law: E3

The blockade of aid to the Gaza Strip announced by Israel last week would risk violating international humanitarian law, three European foreign ministers have warned in a statement.

CIA confirms freeze of intelligence sharing with Ukraine

Washington has brought all intelligence sharing with Kiev to a halt, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed to Fox Business on Wednesday.

Israel reports $2.5bn in damage from war with Hezbollah

Israel has reported damage worth 9 billion shekels ($2.5 billion) in the war with the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Oil minister: Turkmen gas starts flowing to Turkey via Iran

Iran's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad says Turkmenistan's gas export to Turkey via Iran has started.

Trump says received an important letter from Zelensky

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated he appreciates Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement in support of peace talks, but did not directly discuss his decision to halt military aid to Ukraine in his address to a joint session of the Congress.

Israel’s Shin Bet investigation finds government-wide policy failures leading to Hamas October 2023 attack

A long-awaited investigation by Israel's internal law enforcement agency, the Shin Bet, has found that both political and intelligence failures led to the Hamas attack in October 2023, including a lack of coordination between the Israeli military and the Shin Bet itself.

Ukraine president says White House clash ‘regrettable’, proposes steps for peace

Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House "did not go the way it was supposed to be", calling the fallout "regrettable".

US VP dismisses criticising Britain, France over Ukraine peacekeeping proposal

United States Vice President JD Vance has denied that his criticism of a potential European peacekeeping force in Ukraine was aimed at Britain and France, both of which have supported US-led wars in the past.

Russia: Threats of using military force against Iran’s nuclear facilities ‘unacceptable’

Russia has dismissed threats of using military force against Iran's nuclear sites, cautioning that such actions would have catastrophic consequences.

Iran’s parliament approves Thursday holidays for government offices

Iran’s Parliament has approved a bill mandating a five-day workweek for government offices, effectively making Thursdays a day off.

Arab leaders endorse Egypt’s reconstruction plan for Gaza

Arab leaders have endorsed an Egyptian plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip that would allow its residents to remain in the besieged enclave, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has stated.

White House turmoil reflects global diplomatic shifts, says Iranian FM

In an op-ed titled "Chaos in the White House; Dizziness in Global Politics," published in the Tehran-based Ettelaat Newspaper, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi analyzed the implications of a recent public dispute between US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Sea buckthorn saplings planted in Tehran’s Pardisan Park to mark Arbor Day

On the occasion of National Tree Planting Day, a ceremony for planting Sea buckthorn saplings was held on Tuesday afternoon at the Pardisan Park in the Iranian capital, Tehran.