Thursday, January 1, 2026

Iran News

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

Russia claims US working to replace Zelensky with “less corrupt” figure

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has claimed that Washington is working on options to replace Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky with a more manageable and less corrupt figure.

Israeli settlers raid Al-Aqsa Mosque with police protection

Israeli settlers have raided occupied East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque with Israeli police protection, the Wafa news agency reported. The Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, also known as the Waqf, announced that thousands of settlers raided the mosque's grounds, and the Israeli police complicated Palestinians' entry to the holy site and were heavily present to ensure the settlers' movement.

Iran not asking for permission from West in using recognized rights: Spokesperson

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has stated that Tehran is determined to defend its national security and sovereignty, stressing the Islamic Republic does not get permission from anyone to use its recognized rights.

Analyst: Iran won’t outsource right to legitimate defense against Israel

Iran has the legitimate right to retaliate after the Israeli regime violated its territorial integrity and assassinated top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, a senior analyst says.

Israeli PM office accuses defense minister of adopting ‘anti-Israel narrative’ over Gaza war

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has accused Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of adopting an "anti-Israel narrative in a damning statement" released on Monday.

Western states call for restraint amid expected Iran response to Israel

Five Western countries have urged Iran and its allies to refrain from anticipated attacks on Israel in retaliation for the regime's recent killings of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah in Tehran and Beirut.

President Pezeshkian: Mutual respect, friendship key to boosted Iran-Europe ties

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that Iran seeks to expand relations with all European countries based on friendship, confidence-building and mutual respect.

UN says Israel placed nearly 84% of Gaza Strip under evacuation orders

The United Nations has highlighted the extensive nature of the Israeli military’s evacuation orders in the Gaza Strip, saying they cover nearly 84% of the blockaded enclave.

Iran President to UK PM: West support for Israel, encouraging more crimes

Iran's President Massoud Pezeshkian, in a phone call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said the inaction of the international assemblies towards the unprecedented crimes by the Zionist regime, and also some Western states' support for the regime, have emboldened it to continue its crimes and jeopardize regional and international peace and security.

Tehran Toy Museum, a captivating place for young and old

The Tehran Toy Museum with over 1500 toys is considered a paradise on earth for kids.

Iran: US primary promoter of terror in West Asia

Iran’s permanent ambassador to the United Nations Amir-Saeed Iravani has called the United States the primary defender and promoter of terrorism across the region and the world.

One Israeli captive killed, two women ‘seriously wounded’: Hamas

The spokesperson for Hamas's armed wing has claimed that one Israeli hostage was killed by his guard and two women captives were seriously wounded in two separate incidents in Gaza.

Putin says Ukraine to receive proper response in Russia’s border regions

The enemy will receive a proper response in the border regions of Russia, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday. He added any peace talks with Kiev are impossible as long as it conducts strikes on civilian populations and threatens nuclear power plants.

FM pick of President Pezeshkian vows strong ties with China and Russia 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s pick for foreign minister Abbas Araqchi has outlined his plan if he is approved for the post by the parliament.

Iran says Israel’s terror actions expanded scope of Gaza war

Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a phone call that Israel’s terrorist activities, including raids on war-torn Yemen, Beirut and Tehran have expanded the scope of the Gaza war beyond the occupied territories.

Ayatollah Khamenei lauds Iran’s Olympic athletes

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has lauded the Iranian athletes who attended the 2024 Olympic Games in France.

Russia orders more evacuations as Ukraine’s attacks continue

Russian authorities were on Monday evacuating thousands of civilians from more areas along the Ukrainian border, a week into Kyiv’s surprise cross-border attack against Russian territory.

Israeli Air Force suspends travel abroad for its personnel amid regional tensions

The Israeli Air Force has suspended international travel for its personnel, an Israeli military spokesperson stated on Monday.

Iran gives illegal migrants ultimatum to leave country

A senior Iranian military commander has notified that illegal immigrants in Iran, mostly from neighboring Afghanistan, have until the end of the current year on the Persian calendar, March 20, to leave the country.

Three-story suspension bridge inaugurated in Iran’s tourist region of Sareyn

A three-story suspension bridge, the first of its kind, was inaugurated on Monday in Iran’s northwestern Sareyn County, in Ardabil province.

Iran’s Pezeshkian to European Council chief: US double standards emboldening Israel to commit crimes

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a phone call with the head of the European Council, has stated double standard policies of the US and some European states have emboldened Israel to commit further heinous crimes in the Gaza Strip and across West Asia.

EU says sanctions against Israeli ministers ‘must be on agenda’

Israeli ministers who incite “war crimes” should face EU sanctions, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has stressed.

E3 issues joint statement amid heightened tensions in West Asia

The Leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom have called for de-escalation of tensions between Iran and Israel. Fears are rising that the region could be tipped into a full-blown war following vows by Iran and Hezbollah to avenge the Israeli assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran and the Lebanese group's top commander in Beirut.

Pentagon orders submarine to West Asia, carrier strike group to sail faster

United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has ordered a guided missile submarine to West Asia and the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the region.

Russia governor says nuclear plant on fire, Zelensky says Moscow behind incident

The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has caught fire during Ukraine shelling, according to the governor of the Russian region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims that the Russian military had started a fire on the grounds of the plant, warning of potential damage but assuring that radiation levels remain normal.