Saturday, December 20, 2025

Iran News

Iran Front Page offers a handpicked set of the latest news and views from Iran and the Middle East

Coming week could be ‘pivotal’ for Ukraine: EU

EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas has stated that this week could be crucial for the push to end the Ukraine war, as US representatives head to Moscow after talks with Kyiv's negotiators.

AP releases 2025 Photos of the Year, highlighting global conflict and political unrest

The Associated Press has released its annual selection of 100 top photographs, capturing defining moments from major global events throughout 2025. This year’s collection places particular focus on the Israeli military aggression in the Gaza Strip, which continues to dominate international headlines.

Iran’s envoy to China calls for structured planning to boost economic, investment ties

Iran’s Ambassador to China, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, said strengthening economic and investment cooperation between Tehran and Beijing requires precise and medium-term planning.

Shanghai Bloc conducts Sahand-2025 anti-terror exercise in Iran

The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) is hosting the Sahand-2025 joint anti-terrorism drill with members of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Iran’s East Azarbaijan Province.

At least 357 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since ceasefire: Report

At least 357 Palestinians have been killed and 903 others injured in Israeli attacks since a ceasefire accord took effect on Oct. 10, local authorities have announced.

Florida talks aimed at ‘creating a pathway’ for sovereign Ukraine: Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday stated that negotiations with a Ukrainian delegation in Florida were aimed at "creating a pathway" for a sovereign Ukraine, as the United States pushes to end Russia's war against its neighbor.

Israelis protest outside Herzog’s home to demand rejection of Netanyahu pardon request

Scores of Israelis protested near President Isaac Herzog’s home in Tel Aviv on Sunday night to oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a presidential pardon from corruption charges.

Trump says sets no deadlines for Russia on Ukraine war

US President Donald Trump has stated that he is not seeking to set any deadlines for Moscow regarding the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.

NATO says needs to be ‘more aggressive’ towards Russia

NATO members should find ways to be more aggressive towards Russia, the US-led alliance’s top military chief has stressed.

Iran’s president highlights importance of unity, cooperation among Muslim states

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that borders across which trade, science, and culture flow, will never be crossed by terrorism or weapons.

Navy chief reaffirms Iran’s sovereignty over Persian Gulf Islands, says foreign claims to fail

The commander of the Iranian Navy reaffirmed the historical and undeniable right of the Iranian nation to the islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf, stressing that foreign powers’ policies and ambitions toward the trio  are destined to fail.

Iran offers to extend Gas deal with Turkey, calls for boost in energy, economic cooperation

The Iranian foreign minister emphasized that the Islamic Republic is one of the most reliable energy suppliers for Turkey and expressed Iran’s readiness to extend the gas contract and expand cooperation in the electricity sector.

Israeli PM submits formal pardon request

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing long-running corruption cases, has submitted a formal pardon request to President Isaac Herzog, the head of state's office announced Sunday.

Tehran emergency services report 357 deaths in eight days as air pollution calls surge

Tehran’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) reported 357 deaths over the past eight days, with officials saying air pollution may have played a contributing role.

Egypt trains Palestinians for future Gaza police force

Cairo is training hundreds of Palestinian police officers with an eye towards integrating them into a post-war security force in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian official told AFP.

Four die in Iran after drinking bootleg alcohol, three detained

Iranian police have made three arrests after four people died from drinking bootleg alcohol, according to reports.

Iran confiscates Eswatini-flagged vessel for smuggling fuel

Tehran seized on Sunday an Eswatini-flagged vessel carrying 350,000 litres of smuggled fuel.

Saudi deputy foreign minister visits Tehran for bilateral and regional talks

Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that the Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Saud bin Mohammed Al-Sati, has traveled to Tehran as part of ongoing diplomatic consultations between the two countries.

Israel has ‘de facto state policy’ of organised torture: UN

Israel has “a de facto state policy of organised and widespread torture”, according to a United Nations report covering the past two years, which also raised concerns about the impunity of Israeli security forces for war crimes.

Iran’s foreign trade surpasses $76.5 billion in first eight months of year

Iran’s foreign trade reached $76.54 billion in the first eight months of the current Iranian year, according to new data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA). Total trade volume during the period amounted to 131.05 million tons of goods.

Iran condemns US move to declare Venezuela airspace closed

Iran has strongly condemned the US decision to close Venezuela’s airspace, calling it a blatant violation of international law and a threat to civil aviation safety.

Russian attack on Ukraine kills six as Kyiv envoys travel to US for peace negotiations

A Russian attack on Ukraine has killed six people and wounded dozens more, officials confirmed. Emergency crews have restored power to over 400,000 households in Kyiv after strikes on the power grid, as the United States moves to broker peace talks.

Tens of thousands rally in Europe, demanding justice over Israeli war on Gaza

Tens of thousands of people have marched in cities across Europe, denouncing Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip and demanding tougher global action against its continued and deadly violations of a United States-brokered ceasefire.

Gaza death toll surpasses 70,000: Health Ministry

The health ministry in the Gaza Strip on Saturday announced more than 70,000 people have been killed since the Israeli war erupted more than two years ago.

Kiev behind drone attacks on Black Sea tankers: Ukrainian source

Kiev was responsible for attacks on two oil tankers in the Black Sea that it believed were covertly transporting sanctioned Russian oil, a Ukrainian security source told AFP on Saturday.