Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Latest News and Views from Iran and the World

Israel should be ‘scared’ of all-out war against Lebanon: Hezbollah chief

Hezbollah chief Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah has issued a stern warning to Israel, threatening a war with “no restraint and no rules and no ceilings” in case of a major offensive against Lebanon.

Hundreds of Hajj pilgrims die of extreme heat

Hundreds of Hajj pilgrims have died during the annual Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca in Saudi Arabia amid scorching heat, according to press reports and diplomats.

Iran and Russia hold security consultations in Tehran

Iranian and Russian officials have held a meeting in Tehran at which they explored ways of fighting terrorism, organized crime, and narco-trafficking as well as regional and international strategic issues.

Iran’s national volleyball team climbs up 2 spots in world ranking

Iran's national volleyball team climbed up two spots in the world ranking after defeating the United States at the beginning of the third week of the Men’s Nations League.

Russia and North Korea sign mutual defence pact during Putin visit

Moscow and Pyongyang have pledged to assist each other against foreign aggression, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday during a visit to North Korea.

China slams NATO as Cold War relic amid warnings on Russia aid

The North Atlantic alliance is a relic of the past, and should do some soul-searching about its purpose, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian has stated at a briefing.

Israel approves plans for military operation in Lebanon

Israel's military has announced that it approved plans for an offensive in Lebanon as tensions rise with the Hezbollah group.

Biden admin. cancels meeting with Israel officials over Iran

The White House has canceled a high-level US-Israel meeting on Iran that was scheduled for Thursday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video claiming Washington was withholding military aid, two American officials have told Axios.

UN warns situation in West Bank ‘dramatically deteriorating’

The top United Nations human rights official has warned of the worsening situation for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the “unconscionable death and suffering” in the Gaza Strip.

Iran approves plan to establish AI organization

The Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution in Iran has given the go-ahead to a national document for establishing an artificial intelligence organization.

Top commander: Advanced drones to join Iran’s Army soon

A senior commander with the Iranian Army’s naval forces says Iran has gained access to advanced drones which will join the naval fleet along with several other achievements in the near future.

Hezbollah broadcasts drone footage of Israeli military sites in Haifa

The Lebanese movement Hezbollah has released footage purportedly taken by a surveillance drone over the northern port city of Haifa, in an apparent warning to Israel.

Risk of hunger threatens lives of thousands of children in Gaza

Local authorities in the Gaza Strip have raised the alarm of thousands of children across the besieged enclave being at risk of hunger amid Israel’s ongoing tightened siege and the closure of aid crossings.

Netanyahu claims Blinken made secret arms promise to Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed to have pressured the United States over weapons supplies that Tel Aviv needs in its war with the Palestinian group Hamas.

Iran minister says oil production surged by 1.4mn barrels in current administration

Iran’s crude production increased by 1.4 million barrels per day during the late President Ebrahim Raisi’s administration despite over 600 new sanctions imposed by the West on exports, the country’s oil minister says.

Russia’s Putin arrives in North Korea, and Kim welcomes him

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived at Pyongyang International Airport, marking the start of his two-day visit to North Korea, during which he is expected to have a lengthy face-to-face meeting with the Asian country's leader Kim Jong-un.

UN report shows Israel’s war on Gaza has caused major environmental damage

Israel's war on the Gaza Strip has created unprecedented soil, water, and air pollution, destroyed sanitation systems, and left tons of debris from explosive devices, according to a United Nations report on the environmental impact of the war published on Tuesday.

Relatively strong quake jolts Iran’s southeast

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 on the Richter scale shook Sistan and Baluchistan province in southeastern Iran early on Wednesday, according to the country's seismological center.

Iranian actress Fatemeh Motamed-Arya appointed head of jury in Italy’s Amicorti festival

Renowned Iranian actress and director Fatemeh Motamed-Arya has been named the head of the jury at Italy's Amicorti Festival. Joining her on the jury panel is Hossein Soleimani, a celebrated Iranian actor.

Russia claims Ukraine will never join NATO

Ukraine will never become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has claimed, warning the US-led military bloc against repeating "past mistakes."

Four dead in earthquake in northeast Iran

An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale struck the area between Khalilabad and Kashmar in Iran’s Khorasan Razavi Province at approximately 1:24 PM local time, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuring at least 120 others.

Israel turned Gaza Strip into “hell on earth”: UN official

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, has stated that the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip since October last year has turned the besieged enclave into a hell on earth.

Israel ignored warning of Hamas’ October attack: Report

Israeli security authorities ignored an intelligence document last September that predicted the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, according to a report.

US says Ukraine must win war to join NATO

To become a NATO member, Kiev has to “win the war” with Moscow first, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told journalists.

Iranian ambassador to Saudi Arabia meets with crown prince

Alireza Enayati, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Saudi Arabia, met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Mina region.