Monday, December 22, 2025

Latest News and Views from Iran and the World

A country with 16 neighbors ‘cannot be easily sanctioned’: President Pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stressed that Tehran is well capable of overcoming pressures and will never bow to force and bullying.

Israel releases nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners under Gaza ceasefire agreement

Almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners were freed from Israeli detention  under the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal.

Iran: US largest producer of terrorism, greatest supporter of genocidal Zionist regime

Iran's Foreign Ministry says the US is the world's largest producer of terrorism and the supporter of the terrorist and genocidal Zionist regime, adding the Iranian people will never forgive or forget the brutal American crime of assassinating Martyr General Qassem Soleimani who played an unparalleled role in combating the Daesh terrorism manufactured by the US.

“Group sexual assault charges against Iranian athletes in S. Korea dropped”

The Iranian Athletics Federation says the charges of group sexual assault involving members of the national athletics team in South Korea have been dropped after new evidence was presented in court.

FATF invites Iran for direct talks after 6 years

After six years, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has formally invited Iran’s Financial Intelligence Unit chief Hadi Khani for direct negotiations aimed at normalizing Tehran’s case and potentially removing the country from the FATF blacklist, ILNA reported.

Netanyahu praises Trump as ‘Israel’s greatest friend’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised US President Donald Trump as “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House.”

Iranian army chief: 12-Day war taught us lessons equal to 12 years

Iran’s Army Commander-in-Chief Major General Amir Hatami has said the recent 12-day war was as instructive as twelve years of experience, emphasizing that the Iranian armed forces have drawn significant strategic lessons from it.

NATO conducts nuclear drills

NATO kicked off its annual nuclear exercise in the Netherlands on Monday. The bloc’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, has stated the drills are necessary to send a “clear signal to any potential adversary.”

Russia ‘gambling with war’ through airspace violations: EU

The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas has warned that Moscow is "gambling with war", after a spate of Russian drones and military jets crossed into the bloc's airspace.

Tasnim exclusive images: Dozens of Palestinian prisoners freed from Israel’s Ofer prison as exchange begins

The exchange of Palestinian and Israeli prisoners began early Monday, with large numbers of Palestinian detainees released from Israel’s Ofer Prison near the Beitunia settlement, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.

Kurdish leader says reached first deal on merging forces with Syria’s army

Syrian Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi has announced that he has reached a "preliminary agreement" with Damascus on the integration of his troops into Syria's military and security forces.

Hamas releases all living Israeli hostages in Gaza Strip

The Palestinian group Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, concluded on Monday the release of 20 living Israeli captives.

Iran reaffirms commitment to NPT and safeguards, criticizes Europe’s “hostile” approach

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baqaei reaffirmed that the Islamic Republic of Iran remains a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and is fully committed to its Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Ukraine to get Tomahawks if ‘war not settled’: US

US President Donald Trump has stated that he might talk to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, about the possibility of sending long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kiev. He did not elaborate on whether he has made the decision, speaking to reporters on Sunday.

Isreal’s war on Gaza ‘over’: Trump

US President Donald Trump has declared to reporters that the war in the Gaza Strip “is over".

Ukraine warns Russia exploiting lack of ‘attention’ on war

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky lobbied his allies for more air defences on Sunday, warning that Russia was "taking advantage" of attention shifting away from the Ukraine war to intensify its bombardment of the country.

US ‘wants to help China, not hurt it’: Trump

President Donald Trump has stated that the United States wants to help China, not hurt it, striking a conciliatory tone days after threatening an additional 100 percent tariff on the world's second-largest economy.

Tehran rejects invitation to Gaza summit, says it cannot sit with those who attacked Iran

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has denied an invitation to attend the Sharm El-Sheikh summit on Gaza, saying he cannot sit down with leaders who have “attacked the Iranian people and continue to threaten and sanction us.”

Ex-Sepahan coach: France order, Israeli war forced my Iran exit

Patrice Carteron, the French coach who led Irabian club Sepahan to last season’s Super Cup title and a runner-up finish in the Persian Gulf Pro League, revealed that his sudden departure from the Iranian football club was compelled by directives from the French government and the outbreak of the recent 12-day conflict, not by disagreements with club management.

Israel says instructed to prepare for demolition of ‘Hamas tunnels’ after hostage release

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has stated that he instructed the army to prepare for the demolition of what he claimed are underground tunnels used by the Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Leaked files disclose secret Israeli-Arab pact against Iran amid Gaza war: WaPo

Leaked American military documents have exposed a covert US-led partnership between Israel and six key Arab countries against Tehran amid Tel Aviv’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

Israel abusing Palestinian prisoners ahead of their release under exchange agreement with Hamas: Report

A circulated video shows Israeli security officers abusing Palestinian prisoners assembled at the Negev prison in southern Israel, ahead of their release as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.

Shamkhani: “If we returned to 1990s, we would definitely build nukes”

Ali Shamkhani, member of the Expediency Council and former Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has said that recent developments proved Iran’s need for a nuclear deterrent, declaring that if he could return to the 1990s, “we would definitely build the atomic bomb.”

Over 75% of Americans support additional sanctions on Russia: Survey

Despite United States President Donald Trump's reluctance to impose additional economic pressure on Moscow, some 77% of Americans are in favor of implementing additional sanctions on Russia to force an end to its war effort, a recent poll Harvard/Harris X poll showed.

Iran marks National Hafez Day with ceremonies in Shiraz

Iran on Sunday marked National Hafez Day, honoring the 14th-century Persian poet Hafez Shirazi, whose works continue to inspire readers and scholars around the world.