Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Latest News and Views from Iran and the World

Australia’s envoy leaves Iran amid diplomatic rift

Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Australia’s ambassador has left Tehran following Canberra’s decision to downgrade diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic.

Not for Russia to ‘decide’ if west can deploy forces to Ukraine: NATO

NATO chief Mark Rutte has stated that Russia did not have a veto on whether Western powers can deploy troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees if a truce is reached.

Iran’s ex-resident Rouhani warns against snapback sanctions, urges Europe to return to dialogue

Former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has strongly criticized European efforts to trigger the “snapback” mechanism under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, warning that it would return Iran to the era of six pre-2015 sanctions resolutions.

Iran’s defense minister: Shanghai Cooperation Organization could form security alliances

Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has the potential to expand its activities and establish robust security alliances in the future.

Israeli military database indicates 25% of Gaza detainees are fighters

Only one in four detainees from the Gaza Strip are identified as fighters by Israel’s military intelligence, classified data indicated, with civilians making up the vast majority of Palestinians held without charge or trial in abusive prisons.

Iran denies use of smartphones in tracking slain commanders, stresses civil defense priorities

The head of Iran’s Civil Defense Organization, Brigadier General Gholamreza Jalali, dismissed speculation that smartphones or apps were used to track senior Iranian commanders who were killed in Israeli strikes earlier this year.

Google involved in $45mn contract with Netanyahu’s office to amplify propaganda: Report

Google is in the middle of a six-month $45 million contract with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office to promote government messages and downplay the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, according to a report Wednesday by Drop Site News.

Iran’s FM says Tehran unafraid of talks or war, rejects speculation on SCO membership

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi declared that Tehran has no fear of negotiations and, if necessary, no fear of war either.

Kiev refutes Putin-Zelensky meeting in Moscow

Kiev has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal that he meet with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in Moscow.

Hamas says agrees to formation of ‘independent administration of technocrats’ to run Gaza Strip

The Palestinian group Hamas announced Wednesday that it has agreed to the formation of an independent national administration made up of technocrats to run the Gaza Strip.

Former Iranian President Rouhani urges national strategy based on people’s will, not mere slogans

Former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for the drafting of a new national strategy that reflects the demands of the people and avoids reliance on slogans.

Official says Iran still under cyber attacks two months after Israel’s assault

A senior Iranian official responsible for internet monitoring operations has confirmed that the country is still under recurrent cyber attacks more than two months after the end of a 12-day military aggression by the Israeli regime.

Iranian lawmakers urge withdrawal from NPT amid rising tensions

Sixty members of Iran’s parliament have called on the government to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and to halt any negotiations requested by the US or the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Iran seeks guarantees before resuming talks with US, EU troika

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi has said Tehran requires firm guarantees against future attacks before entering a new round of negotiations with the US.

Israeli drones drop grenades near peacekeepers in Lebanon: UNIFIL

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced that Israeli drones have dropped four grenades close to its peacekeepers in southern Lebanon near the border with the occupied territories.

Pentagon chief: US seeking ‘deter’ Russia and China

The United States is seeking to restore deterrence against both Russia and China, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has stated.

Trump warns Putin on Ukraine war

United States President Donald Trump has issued a thinly veiled threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine war, warning of unspecified consequences if he is unhappy with Moscow’s next steps in the conflict.

Putin says ready to host Zelensky in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his readiness to host Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in Moscow. Holding meetings for the sake of meetings is a “path to nowhere,” however, and such talks must be meaningful, he stressed.

Foreign peacekeepers ‘unacceptable’ in Ukraine: Russia

Moscow is not open to foreign peacekeeping troops securing a ceasefire or peace accord in Ukraine, Russian state media reported, citing Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

Trump urges Hamas to free all 20 hostages in Gaza ‘immediately’

US President Donald Trump has called on Palestinian group Hamas to immediately release captives held in the Gaza Strip, warning that "things will change rapidly."

Rare footage of endangered Persian leopards captured in Iran’s Bamou National Park

A rare video has documented two Persian leopards playing in Bamou National Park, a protected area in southern Iran.

Over 1.2 million illegal Afghans return from Iran this year

Deputy Commander of Iran’s Law Enforcement Force Brigadier General Ghassem Rezaei says 1.2 million undocumented Afghan nationals have returned to Afghanistan since the beginning of this year.

Illegal settlers’ unit paid $1,800 a day to demolish Gaza homes: Haaretz

An irregular militia of illegal settlers from the West Bank has been operating in the Gaza Strip to demolish houses in the enclave under the supervision of the Israeli army, according to a report by Haaretz newspaper.

Israel says plans to annex 82% of occupied West Bank

Israel plans to annex 82% of the occupied West Bank to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has stated.

UN Committee says at least 21k Gaza children disabled during war

At least 21,000 children in the Gaza Strip have been disabled since the war began on October 7, 2023, a United Nations committee announced Wednesday.