Latest News and Views from Iran and the World

Iranian cabinet-selecting council hands over partial proposed list to President Pezeshkian

Iran’s former minister of foreign affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is at the helm of a council tasked with providing President Massoud Pezeshkian with a shortlist of cabinet members, said the proposed list contains no less than eight proposals for each post.

Erdogan, Assad to hold meeting next month: Report

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad are expected to meet in August, as the two neighboring states are taking steps towards normalization of diplomatic relations after over a decade of hiatus.

Russia claims Ukrainians playing games on negotiations

Moscow does not pay much attention to Kiev’s claims that it is ready for peace talks, as it is known to have flip-flopped on the issue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated.

Iran warns Israel against new adventurism following deadly attack in occupied Golan

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani has warned the Israeli regime against any new adventurism in Lebanon following the missile attack in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights.

Dozens of US NGOs urge Biden, Congress to impose arms embargo on Israel

More than 75 US non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the US Congress, calling upon President Joe Biden and the legislature to impose an immediate arms embargo on Tel Aviv amid the war in the Gaza Strip.

Hezbollah: Israeli anti-missile interceptor falls on Golan Heights

Hezbollah has announced that it did not target the village of Majdal Shams in the occupied Golan Heights, where 12 people from the local Druze mountaineer community were killed on Saturday, adding that the Lebanon's group’s leadership has notified the UN Interim Force in Lebanon command (UNIFIL).

UNIFIL ‘more concerned than ever’ about Lebanon-Israel escalation

The United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) has sounded the alarm about a possible escalation in the war between Israel and Lebanon, which has so far been largely confined to the border regions.

Iran acting FM: Shutting down Islamic centers in Germany against human rights, serves Israel interests

The acting Iranian foreign minister, in a phone conversation with the top German diplomat, said the German police move to shut down Islamic centers in the country is against the principles of human rights, serving Israel's interests.

Israel says 10 killed in Golan’s Majdal Shams attack, Hezbollah denies responsibility

The Israeli military has announced a rocket that struck a football pitch in the Golan Heights, which it occupies, has killed ten people and injured several others.

Iraq’s Kurdistan hands over 19 Iranian prisoners to Iran

The head of the Convicts Transfer Committee of Iran’s justice ministry says 19 Iranian prisoners were repatriated to Iran by Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

UNESCO lists Iran’s Hegmataneh as world heritage site

UNESCO has listed Hegmataneh, a well-known ancient area in western Iran, as a world heritage site.

Russia’s largest bank to participate in major Iranian financial event

The secretary of the policy-making council of the 14th Iranian financial industry event says Russia’s largest bank which holds an asset value of 290 billion dollars, will certainly participate in this year's Stock Exchange, Bank and Insurance Exhibition in the Islamic Republic.

Israel expands evacuation order for Gaza’s Khan Younis

The Israeli military has issued new evacuation orders in Khan Younis that further expand into an area where displaced Palestinians have been forced to shelter in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Dozens killed, scores wounded in Israeli attack on girls’ school in Gaza

Israeli air strikes on a girls' school in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, killed at least 30 people and wounded over 100 others on Saturday, the Palestinian health ministry has announced.

Islamabad claims 50,000 Pakistani pilgrims disappeared in Iraq

Almost 50,000 Pakistani pilgrims have disappeared in Iraq, Islamabad's minister for religious affairs has claimed.

Iranian offices, banks closed on Sunday amid unprecedented heat

All institutions, offices, and banks across in Iran will be closed on Sunday in order to sidestep health issues and energy consumption hike in extreme summer heat.

US armed Israel with 25,000-plus bombs, missiles since onset of Gaza war: Report

The United States has reportedly armed Israel with upwards of 25,000 bombs and missiles since October 7, 2023, which marked the onset of Tel Aviv’s yet-ongoing war against the Gaza Strip.

Italy says to appoint ambassador to Syria

Italy has decided to appoint an envoy to Syria "to turn a spotlight" on the country, its foreign minister announced on Friday, making it the first G7 nation to relaunch its diplomatic mission in Damascus since war consumed the nation.

UN says over 180k displaced from Gaza’s Khan Younis in four days

More than 180,000 Palestinians have fled bombardment around the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis in four days, the United Nations has announced.

Britain dropping objection to ICC arrest warrant for Israel’s PM

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will drop London's objection to an arrest warrant being issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying it was a matter for the court.

A third of all nations on earth under US sanctions: Report

The US government currently imposes sanctions on one third of the world in a situation that disproportionately affects low-income countries – 60 percent of which are under US sanctions of some kind – according to an analysis of the White House’s long-standing policy of economic warfare by the Washington Post.

Farmers cultivate rice in paddy fields in Iran’s Mazandaran

Rice farmers in the northern Iranian province of Mazandaran are busy cultivating rice these days, which is an integral part of their heritage.

US admits spread of disinformation about Chinese Covid vaccine

The US military has admitted that it ran a clandestine campaign aimed at discrediting China’s Sinovac vaccine in the Philippines and across Asia and West Asia, Reuters has reported.

Kremlin warns of retaliation over EU’s use of Russia’s frozen assets for Ukraine support

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to European Union (EU) moves to pilfer interest from frozen Russian assets to pay for military aid to Ukraine, warning that such actions will not go unanswered.

Extreme heat closes public institutions in Iran

All public institutions in Iran, except for service-providing and emergency centers, cut short working hours on Saturday due to health and energy consumption concerns.