Friday, January 2, 2026

Iran News

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

Trump planning major NATO policy shift: NBC

US President Donald Trump is considering a major change in Washington's unvolvement in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, according to three current and former senior American officials and one congressional official.

Iran’s Kiani becomes world’s best taolu athlete in 2024

Zahra Kiani, an Iranian wushu practitioner, has been selected as the top taolu athlete of 2024.

US wants to sideline EU: Politico

US President Donald Trump wants to sideline and destroy the European Union, an entity that he has long disliked, Politico has claimed in an article. The outlet argued that Trump is taking advantage of the cracks within the bloc caused by the Ukraine conflict.

Iranian Parliament commissoin rejects IAEA chief claims, calls for technical conduct

The National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament rejected the recent claims made by Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), regarding Iran's nuclear program, urging him to focus solely on technical matters and avoid political remarks.

Iran’s foreign trade reaches $117bn despite sanctions

In the face of sanctions and currency transfer restrictions, Iran's non-oil foreign trade volume has reached $117 billion in the past 11 months, marking an 11.2% growth compared to the same period last year.

Mobile cafés in Iran: Where nostalgia meets modern experience

In a delightful blend of nostalgia and innovation, mobile cafés in Iran have emerged as one of the most creative trends in the food and beverage industry over the past decade.

Iran sets recordbeaking non-oil trade milestone

The Iranian Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade announced that, according to customs statistics, Iran's non-oil trade reached over $117 billion in the first eleven months of the current Iranian year (March 20 to February 18), marking the highest level of non-oil exports in the past two years.

Iran sentences 2 ex-ministers over economic corruption in Debsh tea case

Tehran’s Revolutionary Court has sentenced two former ministers from President Raisi’s administration to prison for their involvement in the high-profile Debsh Tea corruption case.

Iran warns against undermining cooperation with IAEA

Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Vienna has emphasized that its constructive cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should not be weakened by short-sighted political interests. 

US seeking to disrupt Iran’s oil by halting vessels at sea: Reuters

President Donald Trump's administration is considering a plan to stop and inspect Iranian oil tankers at sea under an international accord aimed at countering the spread of weapons of mass destruction, sources familiar with the matter have told Reuters.

Majority of western Europeans believe Trump is threat to peace: Poll

Large majorities in five western European countries think Donald Trump is a threat to peace and security in Europe, a survey has found, after the US president assailed his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and suspended military aid to Kiev.

Putin appoints new Russian envoy to US

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree appointing Aleksandr Darchiev as Moscow’s new ambassador to Washington.

Trump’s threats complicate ceasefire attempts, encourage Israel to backtrack on deal: Hamas

Palestinian group Hamas on Thursday has stressed that the threats made by US President Donald Trump demanding the immediate release of all hostages held in the Gaza Strip are complicating ceasefire efforts and encouraging Israel to backtrack on the agreement.

Iran’s reformist gov’t faces sabotage from hardliners, calls grow for ‘strategic resilience’

Iran’s reformist government, led by President Massoud Pezeshkian, is under increasing pressure from hardline factions, accused of using disruptive tactics to undermine its agenda, Etemad daily analyzed the issue on Thursday.

France says providing intelligence to Ukraine after US freeze

Paris is providing military intelligence to Ukraine, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said after Washington halted intelligence sharing with Kyiv, the BFM TV channel reported.

US officials secretly meeting with Zelensky rivals: Politico

Senior members of US President Donald Trump’s administration have engaged in back-channel communications with political rivals of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Politico has reported, citing insider sources.

Investigation reveals Israeli soldiers selling loot stolen from Gaza and Lebanon

Israeli soldiers have been selling looted valuables from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, a new investigation has disclosed.

FM: Iran pursues path of independence in a turbulent world laid bare by Trump-Zelensky showdown

The Iranian foreign minister has asserted that as the White House grapples with internal strife and shifting global alliances, Iran stands firm on its path of independence, rejecting dependence on external powers, in a world where diplomacy is increasingly overshadowed by domestic politics and power struggles, evidenced by the recent sparring between the Ukrainian and American heads of state.

Iran’s president joins national campaign to reduce road accidents, calls for responsible driving

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian has joined the national campaign "No to Accidents" to address the country’s alarming road accident statistics, urging citizens to prioritize safety and responsibility while driving.

Zelensky’s face-off with Trump sparks debate in Iran on implications of Tehran-Washington negotiations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent meeting with former US President Donald Trump has drawn global attention, with many praising Zelensky for standing firm against Trump’s assertive demands.

Trump threatens Palestinian people in Gaza

United States President Donald Trump has issued a threat to Hamas and the people of the Gaza Strip as part of a demand to release all Israeli captives in the besieged territory.

US approves $95mn in aid to Lebanon’s military

The administration of President Donald Trump has approved a waiver for $95m in military assistance to Lebanon in a sign that it sees it's making progress against Hezbollah.

34 foreign airlines operate flights to Iran with no restrictions: IKIA CEO

34 foreign airlines and 14 domestic airlines currently operate flights in Iran, with no restrictions on international routes, says the CEO of Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKIA).

VP: Iran’s president refuses to enforce hijab law amid rising tensions

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian has stated that he will not enforce the country’s controversial hijab law that imposes penalties on women who fail to observe Islamic attire, despite pressure from the principlist factions.

West’s ‘ineffective’ pressure campaign against Iran to backfire: Envoy

The Western strategy of exerting pressure on Tehran to force its unilateral compliance with nuclear obligations is “not only ineffective but also counterproductive”, Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohsen Naziri Asl has warned.