Friday, January 2, 2026

Latest News and Views from Iran and the World

Armenian music performed at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall in Fajr Music Festival

Armenian music composer and wind instrument player, Levon Tevanyan alongside pianist Armen Asatourian, performed at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall as part of the 40th Fajr International Music Festival.

Tunisian qanun player praises similarities between Iranian, Tunisian melodies

Farah Al-Farsi, a qanun player from Tunisia, is visiting Iran for the first time to participate in the 40th Fajr International Music Festival.

Iran, Armenia plan joint cultural festivals to strengthen ties

Armenia’s ambassador to Tehran has announced plans for joint cultural and music festivals with Iran, highlighting the potential for deeper artistic collaboration between the two nations.

President Pezeshkian: Neighbors can take steps towards regional security

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has emphasized that the development of relations in all areas, including military and security, with neighboring states and the region is one of the key policies of the Iranian government.

Famous Iranian dubbing artist Manouchehr Valizadeh dies

Manouchehr Valizadeh Tehrani, a veteran voice actor, radio presenter, and actor, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 84.

Iran President officially welcomes Emir of Qatar

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian officially greets visiting Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at Sadabad Cultural and Historical Complex in northern Tehran.

Zelensky: Russia behind Trump’s false claim of 4% approval rating

Ukraine says it understands that U.S. President Donald Trump's false claim that President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a 4% approval rating comes from Russia.

Iranian expert: Accepting FATF improves currency management

An economic expert says that not accepting the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) does not mean that Iran is imperious to enemy infiltration.

Iran UN envoy deplores US’ Gaza plan for forced relocation of Palestinians

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has strongly condemned the US’ colonial plan to forcibly displace and uproot Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, describing it as a flagrant violation of international law and a grave assault on fundamental human rights.

Britain mulling alternative to troop deployment in Ukraine: The Times

The UK government is debating the possibility of an air policing mission over Ukraine, The Times reported on Tuesday. The potential deployment of Typhoon jets from bases in Poland is viewed as an alternative to stationing a significant number of ground forces and would require Moscow’s consent, the report says.

Iran’s president: Tehran-Moscow strategic partnership agreement significant manifestation of mutual collaboration

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership deal signed between Tehran and Moscow is a significant manifestation of mutual cooperation between the two sides.

Tehran University student’s murderers arrested, confess to crime

Tehran police have arrested the suspects involved in the recent robbery and murder of Amir Mohammad Khaleghi, a Tehran University student.

Iran starts Helium extraction from natural gas

Iran has launched a pilot project for extracting and purifying helium from natural gas for the first time.

Iranian officials urged to monitor Russia-US negotiations closely

A Tehran-based newspaper has urged Iranian diplomats and officials to closely monitor the fast-evolving and sensitive geopolitical developments in the region, stressing the importance of remaining vigilant to prevent Iran from falling behind political dynamics in West Asia.

Trump blames Ukraine for war with Russia, presses Zelensky to hold elections

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that he believes Ukraine should hold new elections as he apparently laid blame for the ongoing war on President Volodymyr Zelensky's wartime leadership.

Macron rules out dispatching French troops to Ukraine’s front line

Paris will not send its soldiers to the frontline in Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron has stated in a television interview.

West will have to reconsider Russia sanctions as part of Ukraine peace accord: Rubio

The US and its allies will have to address the sanctions imposed on Russia in order to achieve an “enduring, sustainable” solution to the Ukraine war, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told journalists in Riyadh. Washington is interested in developing economic cooperation with Moscow after the hostilities are brought to an end, he added.

Over $50bn needed to rebuild Gaza after Israel’s war: Report

Reconstruction bids in the Gaza Strip will require more than $50bn after 15 months of Israel’s devastating war, according to a new assessment by the United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank.

Lavrov says Russia and US agree on Ukraine peace negotiations

Moscow and Washington have agreed to establish a framework for ending the Ukraine conflict in the near future, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has announced.

Ayatollah Khamenei rejects US plan for Gaza as ‘foolish, futile’

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has refuted the US plan to displace the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip as "foolish and futile".

Germany will not send peacekeepers to Ukraine without ‘US involvement’: AFP

Berlin will not send peacekeepers to Ukraine unless the US commits its own forces as well, AFP has reported, citing a source in the German government.

Israeli onslaught on West Bank sees most Palestinians displaced in occupied territories since 1967 War: Report

Israel’s deadly aggression on the occupied West Bank has displaced about 45,000 Palestinians from their homes, according to human rights experts - more than any time since the 1967 War.

IRGC Ground Force conducts largest-ever operational readiness exercise

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has staged its largest-ever operational readiness exercise in the southwestern flank of the country, in order to raise its combat preparedness.

Israel partially withdrawing military forces from Lebanon as deadline expires

Israel is pulling its troops out of southern Lebanon as the deadline for their withdrawal under a fragile ceasefire accord has passed.

FM: Policy of excluding Iran from regional arrangements failed

Iranian Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araqchi, has stressed that the policy of excluding Iran from regional arrangements and sowing discord between Tehran and its neighbors in the Persian Gulf has failed.