Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Iran News

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

Russia demands  intl. recognition of Crimea, other Ukrainian regions’ annexation in any peace negotiations

Moscow insists on the international recognition of its hold over Crimea, as well as the entirety of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, as a condition for peace talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Brazilian news outlet O Globo.

Iran’s president underlines Expansion of security cooperation with Azerbaijan Republic

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, emphasized the expansion of security cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan Republic, stating that the two countries can work together to establish peace and security in the region and resolve issues through mutual collaboration.

Iranian interior minister: Those accused of negligence in Bandar Abbas incident being questioned

Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni says it can now be definitively announced that the fire at Shahid Rajaee Port has been brought under control and put out, and firefighters are currently engaged in mopping-up operations.

Iran FM warns of Israel plot to derail nuclear talks with US

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi Araqchi, denounced the Israeli regime’s attempts to disrupt the Iran-US negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Iranian President affirms support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity during Baku visit

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian reiterated Iran's support for the Republic of Azerbaijan's sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh during a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Monday.

Iran’s Deputy FM: Zero enrichment ‘non-negotiable’

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi has stressed that zero uranium enrichment, Tehran’s defense power, and its regional power are non-negotiable as they are among the country’s redlines.

President Pezeshkian says Iran welcomes foreign investors, international traders

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that Tehran welcomes foreign investors and international traders to participate in economic activities and investment opportunities in the country.

65% of Gaza war victims women, children, elderly: Report

At least 65% of Palestinians killed in Israel’s ongoing military onslaught on Gaza are women, children, and the elderly, according to the Gaza local authorities.

Iranian parliamentary investigation finds ‘negligence’ in deadly port explosion, undermines ‘sabotage’ as unlikely

A parliamentary investigation has determined that “systemic negligence” caused Saturday’s deadly explosion at Shahid Rajaei Port, in southern Iran, according to a member of the delegation sent by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to the site of the massive blast that killed dozens and wounded hundreds.

Music festival cut short in solidarity with Bandar Abbas port tragedy

The "Koocheh" music festival in the southern Iranian city of Bushehr has been canceled following a deadly explosion at Shahid Rajaei Port in Bandar Abbas that killed dozens and injured hundreds.

Iran insists on domestic uranium enrichment, sanctions relief as nuclear talks continue

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei reaffirmed on Monday the country's non-negotiable demands in ongoing nuclear negotiations with the US, emphasizing that domestic uranium enrichment and the effective lifting of sanctions remain fundamental requirements for any agreement.

Worldwide military spending hit record $2.7 trillion last year, sharpest rise since Cold War

Global military expenditure saw its steepest rise in 2024 since the end of the Cold War, reaching $2.7 trillion as wars and rising tensions drove up spending, researchers announced Monday.

Pakistan threatens India with nukes

Pakistani Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi has threatened India with a nuclear strike amid growing tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi. It follows a terrorist attack in the Indian-administered Kashmir region on Tuesday that left 26 tourists dead.

North Korea confirms soldiers sent to fight in Ukraine war

Pyongyang has confirmed for the first time that it sent troops to Russia to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine, and that its forces had contributed to taking back Russian territory held by Ukraine’s military in the Kursk region.

Trump thinks Zelensky is ready to concede Crimea to Russia

US President Donald Trump has stated he believes Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is prepared to cede Crimea to Russia as part of a ceasefire deal, as truce talks entered what Washington called a critical phase. The American leader urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to "stop shooting" and agree to end the war sparked by Moscow’s 2022 invasion.

Coming week ‘very critical’ in Russia-Ukraine war negotiations: US

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that President Donald Trump hasn’t yet imposed penalties on Russia over its ongoing war with Ukraine because the White House is still hoping diplomacy can end the war.

Trump says he expects Iran talks will yield an agreement

US President Donald Trump told reporters that his administration’s ongoing nuclear negotiations with Tehran are going “very well” and that “a deal is going to be made there.”

Official: Large-scale cyber Attack on Iran’s infrastructure foiled

The CEO of Iran's Communications Infrastructure Company announced that one of the most extensive cyber attacks against the country's critical infrastructure was detected and intercepted. 

Iranian newspaper criticizes handling of port explosion, calls for stronger security measures

Following the deadly explosion and fire at Shahid Rajaei Port, the Jomhuri-e Eslami newspaper has sharply criticized the government's response, arguing that issuing statements after such incidents is insufficient without addressing underlying security weaknesses.

At least 8 killed in latest US air attacks on Yemen

United States military strikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, have killed at least eight people and wounded several others, Houthi-affiliated media reported, as Washington acknowledged carrying out more than 800 attacks on targets in Yemen since mid-March, bringing the total of those killed to more than 220 people.

Tehran holds prayer ceremony in memory of Pope Francis I

A prayer and memorial service honoring the late Pope Francis I, the leader of the world’s Catholics, was held on this Saturday evening at St. Joseph’s Church in Tehran.

Iran president underlines stronger Azerbaijan ties with focus on economy, energy

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian has emphasized deepening bilateral relations with the neighboring Republic of Azerbaijan, citing shared cultural bonds and economic potential.

Iran’s Leader calls for full probe into deadly port incident

Following the devastating fire and explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, which resulted in significant casualties and widespread sorrow, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, issued a message of condolence and called for thorough accountability.

Death toll from Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port explosion rises to 40

The tragic explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, has claimed the lives of at least 40 people so far, according to the Governor of Hormozgan Province.

Severe thunderstorm hits Tehran, 2 killed, 41 injured

A powerful thunderstorm swept across Tehran Province on Sunday, killing 2 people and injuring 41 more, according to the spokesperson for the Tehran Emergency Medical Services.